GB2337640A

GB2337640A - An electrical connector

Info

Publication number: GB2337640A
Application number: GB9810684A
Authority: GB
Inventors: I-Ching Hsu; I-Cheng Hsu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-02-11
Filing date: 1998-05-19
Publication date: 1999-11-24
Also published as: DE29802336U1; FR2779280B3; GB9810684D0; FR2779280A3

Abstract

An electrical connector is provided for connecting a computer to a power source. The electrical connector includes additional power outlets (13, 14, 15) for supplying power from the power source to computer peripherals, e.g., monitor (not shown). The electrical connector comprises a current sensor (3) for sensing current flow to the computer and a relay contact (7) which couples the additional outlets (13, 14, 15) to the power source only when the current sensor senses a current flowing to the computer. An overload protection circuit (6) is also provided to block power to the additional outlets (13, 14, 15) when overloaded.

Description

1 f An Electrical Connector

Field of the Invention

2337640 The present invention relates to an electrical connector, more particularly, 5 to a power supply socket having automatically controlled on/off function by which the power supply to the peripherals of the computer can be readily controlled by the computer. Accordingly, the ATX or NLX models which are the advanced models and can be switched on/off directly through the software or net. By this arrangement, the computer and its peripherals can be simultaneously and directly powered on through the software or manually operated manner. As a result, a simplified operating procedure and power saving can be attained.

Description of Prior Art

The conventional and existing personal computers are AT series in which the power supply of the computer is provided with a main receptacle for receiving external power supply and a monitor receptacle for plug of the monitor. The power supply to the monitor is controlled by the switch onloff of the host computer.

However, this existing power supply is not suitable for the application of the workstation, such as Window 95, and which is provided with "software power onloff". In this newly developed workstation, it can be automatically powered on/off by the user end directly through the internet. In order to meet the new requirements, newly developed series ATX or NLX series have been provided. Although the power supply of the ATX, NLX, PS/2, and MAC has been managed intellectually, i.e., the power onloff can be controlled by the software or the rings of the modem. However, the power supply used thereon has merely a single receptacle thereon for power cord. As a result, there is no other receptacle to seat the monitor plug. Consequently, the monitor can not be simultaneously powered onloff with the host computer. Furthermore, the personal computer is also connected with other peripherals, such as the speaker, printer, M/0, scanner and which can not be simultaneously controlled. Once the host computer is switched, those peripherals shall be switched off one by one. This is really inconvenient to the end user. Because the host computer can be suitable switched off by the software, the user may often forget to switch off the power of the peripherals. As a result, an unnecessary power waste will be occurred. This is really not a good design.

There is a desire to provide an intellectual power supply socket which can be readily installed to the power outlet of the host computer.

According to the present invention, there is provided an electrical connector as defined in claim 1. Preferred features of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims to which reference should now be made. The electrical connector or power supply socket may be configured with a plurality of receptacles by which a plurality of plugs of the peripheral can be plugged on for power supply.

Consequently, the power on/off of the peripherals may be readily and centrally controlled. As a result, the man power may be reduced, the electrical power may be saved via the automatic management. The power saving function of the computer may be readily attained.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a simplified connection is attained through the connecting socket or an extended socket. As a result, the user may readily arranged the power supply for both the host computer and the peripherals. The space used for these facilities can be readily made while no excess space required.

According to another aspect of the present invention, wherein the controlling socket is provided with an overload protecting device. Not only will the host computer and its peripherals be centrally and simultaneously controlled, but also will prevent an overload resulted from those peripherals.

1 1 Brief Description of Drawings

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood the following description is given, merely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the power supply socket rnade according to the present invention'.

Figure 2 is a schematic and perspective view of the power supply socket armched to the host computer'.

o Figure 3 is a circuitry of the power supply socket.

Figure 4 is a schematic Illustration showing the plugs of the peripherals are plugged on thereof..

Flaure 5 is still a schematic Illustration showina the top of the power supply socket is provided wit-h a plurality of receptacles.

c second embodiment of the power FIzure 6 is a perspective view of d, supply socket..

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the power supply socket in which an adaptor is incorporated for diSerent plugs. and Figure 8 I's a schematic Illustration of the socket of the power supply disposcd at ffic rear panel of the host computer.

Ficure 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the power supply socket.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, the power supply socket specially designed for the ATX or 'X1-X models of the computer in which the power supply 21 is provided with only one receptacle 22. By the provision of the present Invention, not only can the power supply 21 be connected to the external power supply, but also may 1 provide operational power to monitor and the peripherals. By this arrangement, the peripherals and the host computer can be directly controlled via the software or through the host computerThe power supply socket 1 is generally configured with a L-shape housing having a main receptacle 11 having three slots, i.e. hot slot, neutral slot and ground slot. A main three-blaude plug '11-2 is disposed at the opposite side of the L-shape housing. The side portion of the L-shape housing of the socket 1 is provided with a monitor receptacle 13 and a plurallity of receptacles 14 which are all provided with ground slot. The top of the L- shape housing is provided with a general recep=le 15 having only a hot slot and a 10 neutral slot.

Referrin2 to Figures 2 and 4, the main plug 12 of the socket 1 can be readily inserted into the receptacle 22 of the power supply 21 of the host computer. Afterward, the power cord of the host computer can be readily plugged into the main receptacle 11 of the socket 1 such that both the powersupply '21 and ihe soclfl-et 1 are supplied with electrical power. Afterward, the user may attach the plugs of the peripherals sequentially on the suitable receptacles 13. 14 and 15. For example. the plug of the monitor can be plugged onto the monitor receptacle 13, and the speaker, printer, NI/0, scanner can be selectively plugged into the receptacles 14 and 15.

As shown in Figure 3, a detailed circultry disposed withlin the soclKet 1 is disclosed. Except the circuit for the main receptacles 11 and the main plua 12, a current sensor 3, an amplifying and triggering c'rcu't 4 and a relay 5 are connected to the circuit. A relay contact 7 is further connected in serial on the circuit by which the power supply to those receptacles 14 and 15 of the socket 1 can be readily controlled. An overload protecting circuit 6 is further provided between the relay contact 7 and the receptacle 11.

BY this arrangement, as shown in Flaures 2 and 4. after the main plugs of the peripherals are completely seated and the computer 2 is powered on. The current sensor 3 may detect a current since there is a load and then send a signal such that the current can be amplified by the amplifying and triggering circuit 4. Afterward, the relay contact 7 will be closed as actuated by the relay 5 and those receptacles 14 and 15 can be supplied with power. Accordingly, those connected peripherals are also provided with electfic power for normal operation. When the host computer 2 is switched off manually or by software, the current sensor 3 will not detect a current since the load from the power supply 21 is removed. Consequently, the amplifying and triggering circuit 4 will disable and the relay 5 is opened accordingly. As a result, the power supply to the receptacles 14 and 15 is intem.upted and the per-1pherals are switched off accordingly. By this arran ement, via a single operation, the host computer 2 c 9 and the peripherals can be simultareoussly switched off without switching one by one.

In order to prevent an overload of the socket 1 resulted excess power e.-<jhaus-,eu' by the peripherals and winlich may raise an overload or sparking, the socket 1 is well protected by a overload protecting ci. rcuit 6. By thlis a.-ran,----rent, when an overload is encountered, the power supply to the peripheral's will be automatically blocked by the overload protecting circuit 6.

As a result, the host computer 2 and the peripherals can be well protected and fi-ce ftom any fetal or permanent damage. BY this provision, the power supply to the peripherals is independently from the power to the power supply 21 of the host computer 2. The host computer 2 can be therefore well protected.

Referring ic 1 g to F-cure 5, another embodiment of the socket 1 made according to the present invention is disclosed. In this feasible embodiment, those two- slot 2 5 receptacle 15 are replaced by three-slot receptacles 14. As a result, the application can be suitable expanded.

Referring to Figure 6, the socket 1 embodied in a L-shape housing can be modified into a socket 8 having an elongate housing or an elongate housing 1 1 having an extending cord. In this embod merit, the extended socket 8 includes a typical plug 82 which can be seated into a two-slot receptacle and a special plug 81 for receptacle 22 having three connecting blades. The inner configuration of the socket 8 is identical to the socket 1. Accordingly, the user may control the host computer and the peripherals in a more efficient way and the power supply to the penpherals can be simultaneously controlled.

Referring to Figures 7 and 8, because there are many a maker for poweT supply 21 of the host computer 2. Accordingly, the connection of the receptacle 22 can be divided Y-type (right of Figure 8) and delta-ty igure g).

pc (left of Fi In order to facilitate an easy mounting of the plug 12 of the socket 1 to the receptacle 22, the plug 12 of the socket 1 Is designed to have an adaptor 9 Which can be readily modified to meet the Y-ty-pc or delta-type receptacles- The adaptor 9 is provided with a post having a square cross section. _Fne square pos-E can be insened into the receivincy hole 16 of the controlling panel such that It caj-1 be clectTical'l-,. connected with the conductive leg 1717 within the reccivin2 holc 16. The other side of the adaptor 9 is configured with a plue, 91 which can be scateAinto the delta-type receptacle 22. When a Y-ty-pc receptacle 22 is encountere,- -'.the adaptor 9 can be pulled upward and then rotated through 180 degree, ,. After-ward, the adaptor 9 can be pulled backward such that the plug 91 can 2) 0 seated into the Y-ty-pc receptacle 22. BY this a,-anzcment-, the adaptor 9 can readily seated onto the receptacle 22 of both delta or Y types.

Referrina to Floure 9, this shows alternate form of the present inveptior__ in which the power supply socket having automatically controlled on/off f-unctjct' has two rows of electric outlets arranged in parallel for providing electricity!--3 multiple peripheral apparatus.

lle particular embodiment of the present invention has been I'llustrate-, and described. it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various othe.changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and 0 scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claim all such changes and modifications that are- within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1 1. An electrical connector for connecting electrical apparatus to a power source, comprising:

means for connecting the electrical apparatus to the power source, the connecting means including a power outlet for supplying power to the electrical apparatus; a body having at least one additional power outlet for supplying power received from the power source to other electrical apparatus; a current sensor for sensing current flow from the power source to the said electrical apparatus; and means for coupling the at least one additional power outlet to the power source in dependence upon the current sensor sensing current flow to the said electrical apparatus.

2. An electrical connector according to claim 1, further comprising an overload protection circuit which decouples the at least one additional power outlet from the power source when the at least one additional power outlet is being overloaded.

3. An electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2, in which the connecting means are selected from the group consisting of a plug and a socket.

4. An electrical connector according to any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, in which the coupling means couples the at least one additional power outlet 5 to the power source when the current sensed exceeds a threshold value, and decouples when the current sensed falls below the threshold value.

5. An electrical connector substantially as hereinbefore described, and as illustrated, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

6. An electrical system comprising first electrical apparatus and second 10 electrical apparatus, the first and second electrical apparatus being connected to a power source with an electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the second electrical apparatus being connected to the at least one additional power outlet of the electrical connector housing.

7. An electrical system according to claim 6, in which the first electrical apparatus is provided with software-implemented power on/off.

8. An electrical system substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1

9. A power supply socket having automatically controlled on/off function of the type which includes a socket configured with a L-shape hosing, said socket being provided with th-ree-slot receptacles, three-blade plug and a plurality of receptacles. said L-shape housing being further provided with a current sensor, an amplifying and trcaen"ng circuit, a relay, an overload protecting cLrcuit, a relay contact, characterized in that.

sid socket is configured with a Lshape housing which is provided with a al 1 main three-slot receptacle at one side of the lower portion, a main three-blade plug being disposed at the other side and can be coinnected with a threeslot receptacle, said L-shape housing being further provided with a monitor receptacle, a plurality of three-slot receptacles and a plurality of t,,,,o-slot receptacles; s'd three-slot receptacles and sa'd three-blade plue, being connected in al 1 c parallel and the connecting, circuit being further connected with a cur- rent sensor, an arnplifi'nc, and triggering circuit and a relay in serial, a relay contact being disposed between said three-slot receptacle and said receptacles disposed at top of said L-shape housing, an overload protecting circuit beLing dispose I I etween (1 D said relay, contact and said main three-slot receptacle, -10 where n when those above descrIed components are completely and integrally assembled, said main plug of said socket can be readily seated into the receptacle of the power supply of the host computer, the power cord can be also seated into said rnain receptacle of said socket such that said three-slot receptacles and said two-slot receptacles and the peripherals connected thereof are supplied with operational power, wherein ihe circult disposed within said housing may automatically detect the power on/off of said host computer and the power supply to said three-slot and two-slot receptacles can be automatically connected or blocked and the power- supply to said peripherals can be cent-ally and simultaneously controlled.

10. A power supply socket having automatically controlled on/off function as recited in claim 9, wherein said two-slot receptacles can be completely replaced with three-slot receptacles to increase the application ranges.

11. A power supply socket having automatically controlled onloff function as recited in claim 9, wherein said socket can be configured to have an elongate housing or an elongate housing having an extending cord, said socket is provided with a mina three-blade plug and a two-blade plug at the other end, said socket is provided with inner circuitry such that the receptacles disposed thereon are suitably and efficiently supplied with power.

12. A power supply socket having automatically controlled onloff function as recited in claim 9, wherein said main plug is provided with an adaptor which can be readily modified to seat into a delta-type or Y-type receptacle, a square post being provided at one side of said adaptor and which can be electrically connected with a conducting leg within a receiving hole of said socket when said square post is inserted, the other side of said adaptor is configured to be seated into the receptacle of delta-type of Y-type.

13. A power supply socket having automatically controlled on/off function as 20 recited in claim 9, wherein said socket can have two rows of electric outlets arranged in parallel for providing electricity to multiple peripheral apparatus.