JP2011526036A - Power supply circuit controlled by load conditions - Google Patents

Abstract

  In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, methods and circuits for reducing power consumption in power strips, wall plate systems, power modules, etc. are presented. In an exemplary embodiment, the power supply circuit is configured to reduce or eliminate power during idle mode by disconnecting the electrical connection from the power input. An exemplary power supply circuit can be in communication with an AC power input and can include a current transformer, a control circuit, and a switch. The current transformer secondary provides an output power level signal that is proportional to the outlet load. If the behavior of the current transformer secondary winding indicates that the power supply circuit is substantially free of power drawn from the AC power input, the switch facilitates disconnecting the current transformer primary from the power supply circuit. To do.

Description

  The present invention relates to reducing power consumption of an electronic device. More specifically, the present invention disconnects the power output of the power module, wall plate system, and / or power strip from the power input when an idle load condition exists. Circuit and method for the same.

  The growing demand for lower power consumption and environmentally friendly consumer devices has generated interest in power supply circuits along with “green” technology. For example, a notebook machine power adapter that is “plugged in” continuously uses, on average, 67% of its time in idle mode. Even with power adapters that meet regulatory requirements for losses of less than 0.5 watts / hour, these long idle times eventually result in wasted energy up to 3000 watt hours per adapter per year. When the wasted energy of many idle power adapters is calculated, the power loss becomes significant.

  Each device and power adapter in a commercial or residential building is plugged into the wall plate outlet in some way. Standard wall plates have two outlets, but there are a variety of types, from a single outlet to more than two outlets. In the work or home environment, computers, monitors, printers, scanners, and other electronic devices are connected to the wall plate. When not in use, these connected devices often remain on and enter a self-configured idle mode, which typically consumes less than 1 watt per device. Each device consumes standby power, but the total power delivered from the wall plate will be as much as the number of outlets used multiplied by the idle power, possibly over 4 watts. Similarly, power strips are used to double the number of AC outlets available from a single AC socket. In work or home environments, computers, monitors, printers, scanners, and other electronic devices are often connected to the same power strip. When not in use, these connected devices are often left on and enter a self-configuring idle mode, which typically consumes less than 1 watt per device. Each device consumes standby power, but the total power delivered from the power strip will be as much as the number of outlets used multiplied by idle power, possibly over 6 watts. If the wall plate or power strip can learn or can be programmed to detect the idle state of each outlet, and if the outlet can be turned off if there is an idle state, this much wasted idle power is reduced. Or can be deleted.

  In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, methods and circuits are presented for reducing power consumption in idle power supply modules, wall plate systems, power strips, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, a power module controlled by load conditions can be configured to reduce or eliminate power during idle mode by disconnecting at least one power output from the power input. . The power supply module can be connected to one or more power output units and a power input unit capable of supplying alternating current (AC) to the one or more power output units. The power module can include a current measurement system, a control circuit, and a switch. The current measurement system provides an output power level signal that is proportional to the load of the power output. In an exemplary embodiment, if the behavior of the current measurement system indicates that at least one power output is substantially free of power drawn from the AC power input, the switch Facilitates disconnecting the power input from

  In one exemplary embodiment, the wall plate system is configured to reduce or eliminate power during idle mode by disconnecting at least one outlet from the power input. The wall plate system may include one or more outlets and one or more wall plate circuits, with an AC power input connected to the outlets through the wall plate circuit (s). Yes. The wall plate circuit may include a current measurement system, a control circuit, and a switch. The current measurement system provides an output power signal proportional to the outlet load via a switch. In one exemplary embodiment, if the behavior of the current measurement system indicates that there is substantially no power that at least one outlet is drawing from the AC power input, the switch may Promote the separation.

  The wall plate system can also include both standard wall plates and circuitry to reduce power during idle mode. The wall plate circuit can be housed inside and behind a standard wall plate. In another embodiment, the wall plate system may be a wall plate adapter configured to fit over and connect to a standard wall plate. Wall plate adapters can be connected to a standard wall plate by plugging into one or more outlets of a standard wall plate, and electronic devices can be connected to a wall plate instead of the standard wall plate. -Can be plugged into an adapter.

  In one exemplary embodiment, the power strip is configured to reduce or eliminate power during idle mode by disconnecting at least one outlet from the power input. The power strip can include one or more outlets and one or more outlet circuits, with an AC power input connected to the outlet via the outlet circuit (s). The outlet circuit can include a current transformer, a control circuit, and a switch. In one exemplary embodiment, the secondary winding of the current transformer provides an output power level signal that is proportional to the outlet load. In one exemplary embodiment, if the behavior of the secondary winding of the current transformer indicates that there is substantially no power that at least one outlet is drawing from the AC power input, the switch Facilitates disconnecting the primary circuit of the current transformer from the outlet.

  A more complete understanding of the present invention can be obtained by reference to the detailed description and claims when considered in conjunction with the drawings. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the figures.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example power supply module controlled by a load condition, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example power supply module controlled by a load condition, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example power supply module controlled by a load condition, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an exemplary control circuit for use in an exemplary power module circuit controlled by a load condition, according to an exemplary embodiment. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary wall plate system controlled by load conditions, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. FIG. 4 is another block diagram of an exemplary wall plate system controlled by load conditions, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is yet another block diagram of an exemplary wall plate system controlled by load conditions. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary wall plate system controlled by load conditions, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of an exemplary control circuit for use in an exemplary wall plate system controlled by a load condition, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary wall plate system controlled by load conditions, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example control circuit for use in an example wall plate system controlled by a load condition, according to an example embodiment. 1 is a drawing of an exemplary wall plate system controlled by load conditions as an adaptive device according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary power strip controlled by load conditions. FIG. 5 is another block diagram of an exemplary power strip controlled by load conditions, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary power strip controlled by load conditions, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an exemplary control circuit for use in an exemplary power strip controlled by a load condition, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an exemplary power strip controlled by load conditions, according to an exemplary embodiment.

  The invention can now be described with respect to various functional components and various processing steps. It should be understood that such functional components can be realized by any number of hardware or structural components configured to perform a particular function. For example, the present invention provides a variety of integrated components such as various electrical devices whose values can be appropriately configured for various intended purposes such as buffers, current mirrors and logic devices comprising resistors, transistors, capacitors, diodes, etc. Can be used. Furthermore, the present invention can be implemented in any integrated circuit application field. However, illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described herein with reference to sensing and control systems and methods for use with power strip circuits, power supply modules, outlets, etc. for illustrative purposes only. In addition, various components can be suitably coupled or connected to other components in the exemplary circuit, such connections and couplings being made by direct connection between each component or they Note that this can be achieved by connecting through other components and devices located between the two.

Power Modules Various embodiments are possible with a power module configured to reduce or eliminate power during idle mode. In an exemplary embodiment, circuitry for implementing a power supply module is incorporated into or otherwise part of a larger device portion to power input to the larger device under various load conditions. Control based on. In another exemplary embodiment, the power module is a component that can be removable or secured as part of an electronic device. The power module can be a printed circuit board, pot block, integrated circuit, MEMS device, or any other structure configured to be implemented in a larger device or system. In another exemplary embodiment, the power module can be in a housing configured to facilitate easy installation of the power module. This embodiment can be added to existing electrical devices.

  In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a power module is disclosed that is configured to reduce or eliminate power during idle mode by disconnecting a power input. In one exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 1, the power supply module 100 includes a power input unit 110, a power output unit 120, and a power supply module circuit 130. Therefore, the power supply module 100 includes a system of any configuration in which the power input unit is accommodated, power is supplied to the power output unit, and the circuit disconnects the power supplied to the power output unit in order to reduce power consumption. be able to.

  In one exemplary embodiment, power input 110 and power output 120 are 3-pin or 2-pin plugs or receptacles. In another exemplary embodiment, power input 110 and power output 120 include flying leads for connection to various electrical components. Other connections can be made with terminal boards, spade connectors, or fixed connectors mounted on a printed circuit board. However, the power input unit 110 and the power output unit 120 can be appropriately configured with any other input unit and / or output unit configuration. Further, the power input 110 may be connected to a 110 volt or 220 volt power source in an exemplary embodiment.

  In an exemplary embodiment, the power supply module 100 includes a power input 110 that is communicatively coupled to a power supply module circuit 130, which in turn includes a power output section as shown in FIG. 120 is communicatively coupled. The power output 120 can also be connected or coupled to a ground line and a neutral line in one embodiment. The power supply module circuit 130 includes a current measurement system 231, a control circuit 232, and a switch 233. In an exemplary embodiment, for illustrative purposes, the current measurement system 231 includes a current transformer 231 having a primary circuit and a secondary winding. However, the current measurement system 231 may also be a differential amplifier, current sensing chip, Hall effect device, or any other currently known or devised device configured to measure current in conjunction with resistance. Appropriate components can also be included. The current transformer 231 supplies an output power level signal proportional to the load of the power output unit 120 to the control circuit 232. Further, the switch 233 connects the primary circuit of the current transformer 231 to the power output unit 120.

  In an exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 232 can include at least one of a latch circuit, an analog circuit, a state machine, and a microprocessor, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the control circuit 232 monitors the state of the secondary winding of the current transformer 231 and controls the operation of the switch 233. Further, in an exemplary embodiment, control circuit 232 receives a low frequency signal or a direct current signal from current transformer 231. The low frequency signal may be 60 Hz, for example. This low frequency signal or DC signal is interpreted by the control circuit 232 as a current required for the load of the power output unit 120.

  The control circuit 232 can include various structures for monitoring the state of the secondary winding of the current transformer 231 and controlling the operation of the switch 233. In one exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 3, the control circuit 232 includes a current sensor 301 and a logic control unit 302. The current sensor 301 monitors an output that is an AC voltage proportional to the load current of a current measurement system such as a secondary winding of the current transformer 231. The current sensor 301 also supplies a signal to the logic control unit 302. In one embodiment, this signal can be a DC voltage that is proportional to the current monitored by the current sensor 301. In another embodiment, this signal may be a current proportional to the current monitored by current sensor 301.

  In one exemplary embodiment, logic control unit 302 is powered from an energy storage capacitor. In order to continue supplying power to the logic control unit 302, the logic control unit 302 can connect this storage capacitor to the power input 110 for a short time. In another embodiment, the logic control unit 302 can be powered from a battery or other energy source. This energy source, also called housekeeping power supply or hotel power supply, functions as an auxiliary low power source. In one embodiment, auxiliary power is taken from the power input 110. For further details of similar current monitoring, see US Provisional Application No. 61 / 052,939 entitled “Circuit and Method for Ultra-Low Idle Power”, which is incorporated herein by reference.

  In one exemplary embodiment, the logic control unit 302 is a microprocessor that can be programmed before and after the power supply module 100 is incorporated into an electronic device. In one embodiment, a user can contact the logic control unit 302 to customize the parameters of the power supply module 100. For example, the user can set the threshold level and sleep mode duty cycle of the power supply module 100. For example, data regarding power consumption and / or energy saving history can be transmitted from the power supply module 100. Bi-directional data transmission between the power supply module 100 and the display device can be performed by wireless signals, such as infrared signals, radio frequency signals, or other similar signals. Data transmission can also be implemented using a wired connection, such as a USB connection or other similar connection.

  According to an exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 232 can further include a power disconnect 303 in communication with the logic control unit 302. The power disconnection unit 303 is configured to separate the logic control unit 302 from the power input unit 110 and reduce power loss. While isolated, the logic control unit 302 is powered from a storage capacitor or other energy source and enters sleep mode. If the storage capacitor reaches a low power level, the power disconnection unit 303 is configured to reconnect the logic control unit 302 to the power input unit 110 to recharge the storage capacitor. In one exemplary embodiment, the power disconnector 303 can reduce power loss from a leakage current in the microampere range to a leakage current in the nanoampere range.

  In another exemplary embodiment, control circuit 232 receives a control signal applied to power input 110 by another controller. This control signal can be, for example, an X10 control protocol or other similar protocol. The control circuit 232 couples the power input 110 to the control circuit 232 from the coupled power input 110 via the secondary winding of the current transformer 231, or as currently known or devised. The control signal can be received via any other suitable means configured. This control signal may come from inside the power supply module 100 or may come from an external controller. The control signal can be a high frequency control signal, or can be a control signal having a frequency different from at least the frequency of the power input unit 110. In one exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 232 interprets the high frequency control signal to engage and disconnect the switch 233. In another embodiment, an external controller can send a signal to change the power supply module 100 to an “on” or “off” state.

  In an exemplary embodiment, if the behavior of the secondary winding of current transformer 231 indicates that power output 120 is not substantially drawing power from power input 110, then switch 233 may Facilitates or controls the disconnection of the primary circuit of the device 231 from the power output unit 120. In other words, the switch 233 facilitates disconnecting the power source from the power outlet 120. In one exemplary embodiment, the secondary winding of current transformer 231 is monitored for an AC waveform of the AC line frequency of power input 110, which AC waveform is connected to the primary circuit of current transformer 231. It has an effective voltage proportional to the load current that passes through to the power output unit 120. In another embodiment, the AC waveform is rectified and filtered before being received by the control circuit 232 to generate a DC signal. This DC signal is proportional to the load current reaching the power output unit 120 through the primary circuit of the current transformer 231.

  In one embodiment, the phrase “substantially no power” is meant to indicate that the output power is in the range of about 0-1% of a typical maximum output load. In one exemplary embodiment, the switch 233 is configured to control connecting the primary circuit of the current transformer 231 to the power output unit 120, and the primary circuit of the current transformer 231 is connected to the power output unit 120. Including a switching mechanism for substantially detaching from. The switch 233 can include at least one of a relay, a latching relay, a triac (TRIAC), and an optical isolation triac.

  By substantially disabling the primary circuit of current transformer 231, power consumption of power output unit 120 is reduced. In one embodiment, the fact that the power output unit 120 is substantially disabled means that the output signal of the secondary winding of the current transformer 231 is sufficiently low, so that the switch 233 is disconnected and power from the power output unit 120 is reduced. This means that the control circuit 232 interprets that removal is appropriate.

  In another embodiment, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the power supply module circuit 130 further includes a reconnection device 234 that is configured to allow the switch 233 to be closed via the logic control unit 302. When the switch 233 is closed, the power output unit 120 is reconnected to the primary circuit of the current transformer 231 and the power input unit 110. In one exemplary embodiment, reconnection device 234 includes a switch device that can be opened and closed in various ways. For example, the reconnection device 234 includes a push button that can be manually operated. In one embodiment, the push button is disposed on the surface of the power supply module 100. In another embodiment, the reconnect device 234 is remotely affected by a signal traveling through the power input 110 and the control circuit 232 interprets this signal as an on / off control. In yet another embodiment, the reconnect device 234 is controlled by a wireless signal, such as an infrared signal, a radio frequency signal, or other similar signal.

  In one exemplary embodiment, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the power module circuit 130 further includes a reconnect device memory state 304. The reconnection device memory state 304 is configured to indicate whether the reconnection device 234 has been recently activated so that the logic control unit 302 can determine the circuit state upon power up. In this exemplary embodiment, reconnection device memory state 304 includes a capacitor C5 that is charged when reconnection device 234 is activated. Therefore, the logic control unit 302 can measure the voltage on the capacitor C5 as an indication of whether the reconnection device 234 has been activated. In one exemplary embodiment, reconnect device memory state 304 provides a digital reading to the PB1 input of logic control unit 302. If there is enough voltage on capacitor C5, the PB1 input reads “1”. If the capacitor C5 does not have enough voltage, the PB1 input reads “0”. The determination of how many volts is sufficient depends in part on the ratio of resistors R6 and R7 and can be interpreted by the logic control unit 302 as is known to those skilled in the art. Capacitor C5 serves to store the state of reconnection device 324 until logic control unit 302 can read the voltage of capacitor C5.

  According to another exemplary embodiment, the switch 233 is automatically activated periodically. For example, the switch 233 can automatically reconnect after 2-3 minutes or 5-6 minutes, or after tens of minutes, or after any period of some short interval. In one embodiment, the switch 233 automatically switches the battery-operated device connected to the power supply module 100 at a sufficiently short interval that does not completely discharge the internal battery during periods when there is no power at the input to the connected device. Reconnected. After the power output unit 120 is reconnected, in an exemplary embodiment, the power module circuit 130 examines or evaluates a load condition such as the power demand of the power output unit 120. If the load state of the power output unit 120 increases above a pre-measured level, the power output unit 120 has the load state at a selected threshold level or a predetermined threshold level indicating “low load”. It remains connected to the primary circuit of current transformer 231 until it returns. In other words, when the power demand of the power output unit 120 increases, power is supplied to the power output unit 120 until the power demand decreases and shows a prescribed idle mode. In one exemplary embodiment, the determination of load conditions upon reconnection is made after a selected time has elapsed, for example a few seconds or minutes, so that current inrushes or initialization events are ignored. . In another embodiment, the load conditions can be averaged over a selected time of seconds or minutes, so as to average high bursts of short bursts. In yet another exemplary embodiment, power supply module 100 includes a master reconnection device that can reconnect all power output 120 to power input 110.

  In the exemplary operation method, the power supply module 100 has the switch 233 closed at the first power-up so that power flows to the power output unit 120. If the load state of the power output unit 120 is below a certain threshold level, the control circuit 232 opens the switch 233 to form an open circuit and disconnects the power output unit 120 from the input power signal. By disconnecting in this manner, idle power lost by the power output unit 120 is substantially eliminated. In one embodiment, the threshold level is, for example, a predetermined level where the power flowing through the power output unit 120 is about 1 watt or less.

  In an exemplary embodiment, another power output 120 has various fixed threshold levels so that devices with higher power levels during idle can be effectively connected to the power supply module 100 for power management. Can do. For example, a large device may draw about 5 watts even when idle, but will never be disconnected from the power input 110 if the connected power output 120 has a threshold level of about 1 watt. . In various embodiments, some power output units 120 may have a high threshold level to accommodate high power devices or a low threshold level in the case of low power devices.

  In another embodiment, the threshold level is a learning level. The learning level can be established by monitoring the load state of the power output unit 120 for a long time by the control circuit 232. Monitoring creates a long-term history of power levels and can serve as a power demand template. In one exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 232 examines the power level history, and whether the long low power demand period was the time that the device connected to the power output 120 was in the low power mode or the lowest power mode. Determine if. In one exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 232 disconnects the power output 120 during low power usage times when the low power period matches the template. For example, the template may indicate that the device draws power through the power output 120 for 8 hours, followed by 16 hours of low power demand.

  In another exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 232 determines an approximate low power level of the electronic device connected to the power output 120 and results in a percentage value of the determined approximate low power level. The threshold level is set as follows. For example, the control circuit 232 can set the threshold level to be about 100-105% of the approximate low power level demand. In another embodiment, the threshold demand can be set to about 100-110% or 110-120% or more of the approximate low level power demand. Further, the low power level percentage ratio range can be any variation or disclosed range.

  Further, the learning threshold level can be set manually. According to one exemplary embodiment, the threshold level is set based in part on activating the reconnection device 234 for a period of time and measuring the current power level. For example, the user can measure the power level by depressing the reconnect device 234 for a few seconds while the power module 100 is operating in idle mode. The measured power level is used to set a power threshold level. In one exemplary embodiment, the threshold level is set by adding an offset value to the measured power level. The offset value can be configured at various power levels. Furthermore, the offset value can be increased or decreased to suit a particular configuration. For example, if the measured threshold is about 1 W and an offset value of about 0.5 W is used, the threshold will be about 1.5 W. In one exemplary embodiment, power supply module 100 is configured to operate in an ultra-low idle mode when the load drops below about 1.5 W in this example. Advantageously, the threshold level is set more accurately by manually activating the power level measurement.

  Having disclosed various functions and structures of an exemplary power supply module configured to reduce or eliminate power during idle mode by disconnecting a power input, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention A detailed schematic diagram of an exemplary power supply module 400 may be presented. Referring to FIG. 4, in an exemplary embodiment of the power supply module 400, the power supply module circuit 130 includes a current transformer 231, a current sensor 301, a logic control unit 302, a power disconnection unit 303, a reconnect device / memory state 304. , And a switch 233.

  In one embodiment, current transformer 231 and current sensor 301 together measure the current from power input 110 and convert the current to a proportional DC voltage that can be read by logic control unit 302. Further, the switch 233 can include a latching relay, such as a relay coil K1, which provides reliable connection / disconnection of the power input unit 110 to the power output unit 120 in accordance with commands from the logic control unit 302. . The switch 233 becomes an open contact or a closed contact. Furthermore, the switch 233 holds the contact state until it is reset by the logic control unit 302, and maintains the contact state without consuming any power in the relay coil K1.

  In an exemplary embodiment, the logic control unit 302 includes a microcontroller that receives a current input on the power input line, controls the state of the switch 233, Read or estimate settings. Furthermore, the logic control unit 302 learns and stores the power profile of the electronic device connected to the power output unit 120. In another exemplary embodiment, the power module circuit 130 further includes a reconnection device 234 and a reconnection device memory state 304. The reconnect device 234 is activated to turn on the power output unit 120 when the power module circuit 130 is first connected to the power input unit 110 or when the power output unit 120 immediately needs maximum power. . Reconnect device memory state 304 is configured to indicate to logical control unit 302 whether reconnect device 234 has been recently activated.

  In one exemplary embodiment, the power disconnection unit 303 includes a network of transistors Q1, Q2, Q3, which are used in conjunction with zener diodes Z1, Z2 to logically control the power input unit 110. Conditioning to a safe level suitable for unit 302 and separating logic control unit 302 from power input 110. In another embodiment, the power disconnector 303 includes a relay in addition to or instead of the transistor of the previous embodiment.

  The initial connection of the power supply module 400 requires that the power supply module 400 be connected to a power supply that may be AC or DC. In one exemplary method, when power module 400 is first plugged into power, all circuits of power module circuit 130 are not energized and switch 233 is in the last position or state set by logic control unit 302. . In this initial state, power may or may not be supplied to the power output unit 120. When all the circuits are not energized, no current flows into the power supply module circuit 130. This is because the power disconnection unit 303 and the reconnection device 234 in the normally open contact state are separated. In an exemplary embodiment, the power disconnector 303 includes transistors Q1, Q2, Q3, and a capacitor C3. In this state, only leakage current flows through the transistors Q1 and Q2, and this leakage current is about several tens of nanoamperes. Furthermore, the current transformer 231 performs dielectric separation from the primary side to the secondary side, so that only a slight leakage current due to the inter-winding capacitance of the current transformer 231 flows.

  With continued reference to FIG. 4, in an exemplary embodiment for purposes of illustration, the user reconnects the circuit using reconnect device 234 to connect diode D1, zener diode Z1, reconnect device 234, resistor A current path through R4, diode D6, and zener diode Z3 can be established. The diode D1 serves to reduce the peak-to-peak voltage by half by half-wave rectifying the AC line. Zener diode Z1 further reduces the voltage from diode D1 to, for example, about 20 volts. Zener diode Z3 and resistor R4 form a current limiting zener regulator that provides an appropriate DC voltage to the VDD input of logic control unit 302 while reconnection device 234 is held. In addition, the capacitor C2 smoothes the DC signal of the Zener diode Z3 and supplies electricity during the rebound of the reconnection device 234. Capacitor C2 is sized to sufficiently charge during the start-up time of logic control unit 302, and capacitor C2 in combination with resistor R4 provides a fast rising edge to the VDD input to cause logic control unit 302 to Reset properly. Further, the diode D5 separates the capacitor C2 from the capacitor CS, and therefore the rising time constant of the capacitor C2 and the resistor R4 is not affected by the large-capacitance capacitor CS. When the capacitor CS is supplying power to the logic control unit 302, the current of the capacitor CS passes through the diode D5. Diode D6 serves to isolate the voltage on capacitor C2 when reconnection device 234 is released. Thereby, the voltage stored in the capacitor C5 during the time when the reconnection device 234 is closed is held when the reconnection device 234 is opened, and the logic control unit 302 can be notified of the open state.

  In one exemplary method, if the reconnection device 234 is activated for a few milliseconds, the logic control unit 302 initializes and immediately sets up to provide its own power before the reconnection device 234 is released. Configured to do. This is realized by the voltage doublers VD1 to VD3 and the output ZG1 of the logic control unit 302. First, the output ZG1 is driven high to turn on the transistor Q2. When transistor Q2 is turned on, a current path through resistor R3 and zener diode Z2 is established and a regulated voltage is obtained at the drain of transistor Q1. This regulated voltage is similar to that generated by Zener diode Z3 and is suitable for the VDD input of logic control unit 302. Next, after the voltage of the Zener diode Z2 stabilizes for several microseconds, the outputs VD1 to VD3 of the logic control unit 302 start switching to generate a gate drive signal that turns on the transistor Q1. A signal generated by the outputs VD1 to VD3 and the components including the capacitor C3, the transistor Q3, the capacitor C4, the diode D3, and the diode D4 causes a voltage about twice the VDD input voltage of the logic control unit 302 to be output from the transistor Q1. Generated on the gate. This double voltage surely turns on the transistor Q1. When the transistor Q1 is turned on, the capacitor CS is charged with the voltage of the Zener diode Z2. In one exemplary embodiment, the capacitor CS is a large storage capacitor that is used to power the logic control unit 302 when the reconnection device 234 is not activated. After capacitor CS is charged for a few milliseconds, outputs VD1-VD3 and ZG1 return to a dormant state and transistors Q1 and Q2 are turned off. In this embodiment, the logic control unit 302 operates by being separated from the electric charge stored in the capacitor CS, and does not draw power from the power input unit 110. Capacitor CS continues to power logic control unit 302 when reconnect device 234 is no longer active.

  If the power output 120 is idle and is not substantially drawing power, the logic control unit 302 can be disconnected from drawing power and enter a “sleep” mode. With further reference to FIG. 4 in one exemplary manner, when the logic control unit 302 is operating with energy stored in the capacitor CS, the timing function is enabled in the logic control unit 302 and the logic control unit 302 A timing function is implemented using capacitor C6. Capacitor C6 is charged for a short time by the CAPTIME output of logic control unit 302, and the discharge rate of capacitor C6 over time is very similar to the voltage drop of capacitor CS. When the voltage of the capacitor C6 reaches a low level at the input CAPTIME, the logic control unit 302 sets the states of the outputs VD1 to VD3 and ZG1 so as to recharge the capacitor CS from the AC line. This process is repeated many times, so power to the logic control unit 302 is never lost. The recharging process only takes a few milliseconds or less to operate and depends on the size of the capacitor CS.

  Further, in one exemplary method, when the logic control unit 302 is not in use in recharging the capacitor CS, switching the relay K1, or measuring power drawn from the power output 120, the logic control unit 302 Operating in the deep sleep mode, this operation stops all or almost all internal operations and waits for the capacitor C6 to discharge. In this sleep mode, very little power is consumed, and the charge of the storage capacitor CS can last for many seconds. If reconnect device 234 is activated during sleep mode, capacitor C5 is recharged and logic control unit 302 resumes normal operation and sets or resets relay K1. Alternatively, when the voltage of the capacitor C6 becomes too low, the logic control unit 302 recharges the capacitor CS again and returns to the sleep mode.

  While the electronic device is in idle mode, the power supply module 100 can continue to monitor for changes in the power drawn by the electronic device. In one exemplary method, while the logic control unit 302 continually enters and exits sleep mode and powers itself, the logic control unit 302 also periodically power draws from the power output 120. Inspect. The period for checking the power is much longer than the period for charging the capacitor CS, for example, every 10 minutes or more. According to one exemplary method, there are at least three possible outcomes as a result of the power test. That is, 1) the device is operating and the switch is not in the standby state, 2) the device is not operating but the switch is not in the standby state, or 3) the switch is in the standby state.

  As a result when the device is operating and the switch is not in standby, the relay K1 has been previously set to supply power to the power output 120, and the power check will be significant depending on the connected electrical device. It shows that the load current is drawn. A “significant load” can be defined by some fixed value that can be programmed into the logic control unit 302, or it can be the result of several power tests or a typical load current of the electronic device. Here, the power test result is interpreted as a normal state, and the logic control unit 302 returns to the sleep mode cycle until a time elapses, such as 10 minutes, until the power test is performed again. In another exemplary embodiment, the duration of the sleep mode cycle is determined by the user. For example, the user can set the sleep mode duration to 1 minute, 2 minutes, or 5 minutes, such as a dial, digital input, push button, keypad, or now known or devised. This can be done using any other suitable means.

  As a result when the device is not operating but the switch is not in the standby state, the relay K1 has been previously set to supply power to the power output 120 and the power check can be ignored by the connected device. It shows that a small load current is drawn. “Negligibly small load” can be any fixed value that can be programmed into the logic control unit 302 or, as a result of several power tests, as a typical minimum value found in this electronic device. Also good. In either case, the operation performed by the logic control unit 302 is to set the relay K1 in the released state using the outputs RELAY1 to RELAY2 of the logic control unit 302 for energizing the relay coil K1. The state of the relay K1 is checked by the logic control unit 302 by checking whether the resistor R5 is present in the RELAY3 since the logic control unit 302 cannot know the previous state of the relay K1, for example, starting from the power off state. It is determined.

  In the result when the switch is in the standby state, i.e., when the relay K1 is set to remove power from the power output 120, the logic control unit 302 can apply AC power to the power output. Thus, the relay K1 must be set to the closed state. One exemplary method allows a certain amount of time to elapse after the relay K1 is set and before a power test is performed. By this delay, the electronic device connected to the power output unit 120 is initialized and can enter the stable operation mode. Power measurements can now be made over a period of time to determine whether the electronic device is in a low power state or a high power state. If a high power state is determined, relay K1 remains set. When the low power state is determined, the relay K1 is reset to the open state, and the power is removed from the power output unit 120 again. Also, the logic control unit 302 again initiates a sleep mode cycle and a power check every certain time, for example every 10 minutes.

  If the user wants to operate a device connected to the power output 120 and that power output is turned off, in an exemplary embodiment, the logic is achieved by activating the reconnection device 234. The control unit 302 starts immediately from the sleep mode. Since this activation is due to the activation of the reconnection device 234 and not due to a power test or recharging of the capacitor CS, the logic control unit 302 will power the electronic device connected to the power output 120. Immediately set the relay K1 to the closed position.

  In addition to the embodiments described above, various other factors can be implemented to improve control and user experience. One way to improve user control is to allow the user to select the operating mode of the power output unit. In an exemplary embodiment, the power supply module 100 further comprises a “green mode” switch that enables or disables “green” mode operation. The green mode switch can be a hardware manual switch or it can be a signal to the logic control unit 302. In the “green” mode operation, the power output unit 120 is disconnected from the power input unit 110 when there is substantially no load on the power output unit 120. The user can disable green mode operation using the green mode switch for various power outputs as needed. For example, this additional control switch may be desirable for a power output that powers a device that has a clock or that needs to be turned on immediately, such as a facsimile machine.

  In one embodiment, the power supply module 100 includes an LED indicator that can indicate whether a power output unit is connected to a power supply line and draws a load current. This LED indicator has power that can be used even if the power output is active, i.e. whether power is being drawn by the electronic device and / or the power output is not connected to the electronic device. You can display whether or not. In addition, a blinking LED can be used to indicate when a power test is being performed, or to display a “heartbeat” for sleep mode recharge.

  In another embodiment, the power supply module 100 comprises at least one LCD display. The LCD display can be operated by the logic control unit 302 to display the load power supplied to the power output unit 120, for example, during the operation time. The LCD may also provide information about the power saved or consumed by the power supply module 100 operating in or out of “green” mode. For example, the LCD can display the lifetime of the power supply module 100 or the total wattage saved during a particular period, such as one day.

  Various embodiments can also be used to improve the effective usage of the power module and / or individual power output within the power module. One such embodiment is an implementation of a photovoltaic cell or other light sensor monitored by the logic control unit 302. The photovoltaic cell determines whether light is present at the position of the power supply module 100, and the logic control unit 302 can use this determination to disconnect the power output unit 120 according to the state of ambient light. For example, the logic control unit 302 can disconnect the power output unit 120 during darkness. In other words, the power output unit of the power supply module can be turned off at night. Another example is a device that does not require power when placed in a dark room such as an unused conference room in an office. The power output can also be turned off when the ambient light conditions exceed a certain level that can be predetermined or user-determined.

  In another embodiment, the power supply module 100 can further have an internal clock. Using this internal clock, the logic control unit 302 can learn at which time interval the high power usage is indicated in the power output unit 120. This knowledge can be included to determine when the power output should make power available. In one exemplary embodiment, the internal clock has crystal accuracy. Also, the internal clock need not be set to the actual time. Furthermore, the internal clock can also be used in combination with a photovoltaic cell to obtain higher power module efficiency and / or accuracy.

Wall Plate System Various embodiments are also possible with a wall plate system configured to reduce or eliminate power during idle mode. In one exemplary embodiment, the wall plate system and associated circuitry are configured to couple or engage with a wall plate having one or more outlets. For example, a wall plate system can be housed inside and back of a standard wall plate. This embodiment can be added to an existing standard wall plate at a residential or commercial location. In another exemplary embodiment, the wall plate system includes both a standard wall plate and circuitry for reducing power during idle mode. In yet another exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 10 for illustration purposes, the wall plate system used herein was configured to fit over and connect to a standard wall plate. It can be defined as a wall plate adapter. The wall plate adapter can be connected to a standard wall plate by plugging into one or more outlets of the standard wall plate. In this embodiment, the electronic device can be plugged into a wall plate adapter instead of a standard wall plate. Other configurations for coupling and / or engaging the wall plate system to the electrical outlet are also contemplated within the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention.

  In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a wall plate system is disclosed that is configured to reduce or eliminate power during idle mode by disconnecting a power input from at least one outlet. In one exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 5A, the wall plate system 500 includes two or more outlets 520 and a wall plate circuit 530. In another exemplary embodiment, the wall plate system 500 includes a single outlet 520 and a single wall plate circuit 530. In yet another exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 5B, the wall plate system 500 includes at least one outlet 520 coupled to the wall plate circuit 530 and at least one connected directly to the AC line input 510. And two outlets 520. In another exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 5C, the wall plate system 500 includes two or more outlets 520 and two or more wall plate circuits 530, with each wall plate circuit being an individual outlet. It is configured to control power input to 520. Thus, the wall plate system 500 can include any configuration of systems in which power is received, power is supplied to the outlet, and the circuit disconnects power supplied to the outlet to reduce power consumption. .

  In one exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 6, the wall plate system 500 includes an AC line input 510 communicatively coupled to the wall plate circuit 530, which can communicate with the outlet 520. Combined with Outlet 520 is also connected or coupled to a ground line and a neutral line. Further, the AC line input 510 may be connected to a 110 volt or 220 volt power source in an exemplary embodiment. The wall plate circuit 530 includes a current measurement system 631, a control circuit 632, and a switch 633. In one embodiment for illustrative purposes, the current measurement system 631 includes a current transformer 631 having a primary circuit and a secondary winding. However, the current measurement system 631 may also be a differential amplifier with a resistor, a current sensing chip, a Hall effect device, or any other configuration currently known or devised to measure current. It can also contain elements. The current transformer 631 supplies an output power signal proportional to the load of the power output unit 520. Further, the switch 633 connects the primary circuit of the current transformer 631 to the outlet 520.

  In one exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 632 can include at least one of a latch circuit, an analog circuit, a state machine, and a microprocessor, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the control circuit 632 monitors the state of the secondary winding of the current transformer 631 and controls the operation of the switch 633. Further, in an exemplary embodiment, control circuit 632 receives a low frequency signal or a direct current signal from current transformer 631. The low frequency signal may be 60 Hz, for example. This low frequency signal or DC signal is interpreted by the control circuit 632 as a current required for the load of the outlet 520.

  The control circuit 632 can include various structures for monitoring the state of the secondary winding of the current transformer 631 and controlling the operation of the switch 633. In one exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 7, the control circuit 632 includes a current sensor 701 and a logic control unit 702. The current sensor 701 monitors an output that is an AC voltage proportional to the load current of a current measurement system such as the secondary winding of the current transformer 631. Current sensor 701 also provides a signal to logic control unit 702. In one embodiment, this signal can be a DC voltage proportional to the current monitored by current sensor 701. In another embodiment, this signal can be a current proportional to the current monitored by current sensor 701. In another exemplary embodiment, referring briefly to FIG. 8, the wall plate circuit 530 of the wall plate system communicates with and controls a plurality of current transformers 631 and a plurality of switches 633. including.

  In one exemplary embodiment, logic control unit 702 is powered from an energy storage capacitor. In order to continue supplying power to the logic control unit 702, the logic control unit 702 can connect this storage capacitor for a short time. In another embodiment, the logic control unit 702 can be powered from a battery or other energy source. This energy source, also called housekeeping power supply or hotel power supply, functions as an auxiliary low power source. In one embodiment, auxiliary power is taken from the AC line input 510. For further details on similar current monitoring, see US Provisional Application No. 61 / 052,939 entitled “Circuit and Method for Ultra-Low Idle Power”.

  In one exemplary embodiment, the logic control unit 702 is a microprocessor that can be programmed before and after the wall plate system 500 is incorporated into an electronic device. In one embodiment, a user can communicate with the logic control unit 702 to customize the parameters of the wall plate system 500. For example, the user can set the threshold level and sleep mode duty cycle of the wall plate system 500. For example, data regarding the history of power consumption and / or energy savings can be transmitted from the wall plate system 500. Bi-directional data transmission between the wall plate system 500 and the display device may be performed by wireless signals, such as infrared signals, radio frequency signals, or other similar signals. Data transmission can also be implemented using a wired connection, such as a USB connection or other similar connection.

  According to an exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 632 can further include a power disconnect 703 in communication with the logic control unit 702. The power disconnection unit 703 is configured to separate the logic control unit 702 from the AC line input unit 510 and reduce power loss. While isolated, logic control unit 702 is powered from a storage capacitor or other energy source and enters sleep mode. If the storage capacitor reaches a low power level, the power disconnector 703 is configured to reconnect the logic control unit 702 to the AC line input 510 to recharge the storage capacitor. In one exemplary embodiment, the power disconnect 703 can reduce power loss from leakage in the microamp range to leakage in the nanoamp range.

  In another exemplary embodiment, control circuit 632 receives a control signal applied to AC line input 510 by another controller. This control signal can be, for example, an X10 control protocol or other similar protocol. The control circuit 632 couples the AC line input 510 to the control circuit 632 from the coupled AC line input 510 via the secondary winding of the current transformer 631 or now known or devised. The control signal may be received via other suitable means configured to do so. This control signal may come from inside the wall plate system 500 or from an external controller. The control signal can be a high frequency control signal, or can be a control signal having a frequency different from at least the frequency of the AC line input unit 510. In one exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 632 interprets the high frequency control signal to engage and disconnect the switch 633. In another embodiment, an external controller may send a signal to change the wall plate system 500 to an “on” or “off” state.

  In one exemplary embodiment, if the behavior of the secondary winding of current transformer 631 indicates that there is substantially no power drawn from AC line input 510 at outlet 520, switch 633 is a current transformer. Promotes or controls the disconnection of the 631 primary circuit from the outlet 520. In other words, the switch 633 facilitates disconnecting the power source from the outlet 520. In one exemplary embodiment, the secondary winding of current transformer 631 is monitored for an AC waveform at the AC line frequency, which AC waveform passes through the primary circuit of current transformer 631 to outlet 520. It has an effective voltage proportional to the load current. In another embodiment, the AC waveform is rectified and filtered before being received by the control circuit 632 to generate a DC signal. This DC signal is proportional to the load current that reaches the outlet 520 through the primary circuit of the current transformer 631.

  In one embodiment, the phrase “substantially no power” is meant to indicate that the output power is in the range of about 0-1% of a typical maximum output load. In one exemplary embodiment, the switch 633 is configured to control connecting the primary circuit of the current transformer 631 to the outlet 520, and the primary circuit of the current transformer 631 is substantially removed from the outlet 520. Includes a switching mechanism for disconnecting. The switch 633 can include at least one of a relay, a latching relay, a triac (TRIAC), and an optical isolation triac or other switching mechanism for disconnecting.

  By substantially disabling the primary circuit of current transformer 631, the power consumption of outlet 520 is reduced. In one embodiment, the fact that the outlet 520 is substantially disabled means that the output signal of the secondary winding of the current transformer 631 is low enough so that the switch 633 can be disconnected to remove power from the outlet 520. This means that it is interpreted by the control circuit 632 as appropriate.

  In another embodiment, the wall plate circuit 530 further includes a reconnection device 634 configured to allow the switch 633 to be closed via the logic control unit 702. When switch 633 closes, outlet 520 reconnects to the primary circuit of current transformer 631 and AC line input 510. In one exemplary embodiment, reconnect device 634 includes a switch device that can be opened and closed in various ways. For example, the reconnect device 634 includes a push button that can be manually operated. In one embodiment, this push button is placed on the surface of the wall plate system 500. In another exemplary embodiment, the reconnect device 634 is a wall switch that allows the user to re-enable power to the outlet of the wall plate system 500, far away from the wall plate system 500. Yes. In another embodiment, the reconnect device 634 is remotely affected by a signal traveling through the AC line input 510, which is interpreted by the control circuit 632 as an on / off control. In yet another embodiment, the reconnection device 634 is controlled by a wireless signal, such as an infrared signal, a radio frequency signal, or other similar signal.

  According to another exemplary embodiment, the switch 633 is automatically activated periodically. For example, the switch 633 can automatically reconnect after 2-3 minutes or 5-6 minutes, or after tens of minutes, or after any period of some short interval. In one embodiment, the switch 633 is at a sufficiently short interval that the battery operated device connected to the wall plate system 500 does not completely discharge the internal battery during periods when there is no power at the input to the connected device. Automatically reconnected. After the outlet 520 is reconnected, in one exemplary embodiment, the wall plate circuit 530 examines or evaluates load conditions, such as the power demand of the outlet 520. If the outlet 520's load condition increases above a pre-measured level, the outlet 520 is either selected threshold level indicating "low load" or until the load condition returns to a predetermined threshold level. It remains connected to the primary circuit of current transformer 631. In other words, when the power demand at the outlet 520 increases, power is supplied to the outlet 520 until the power demand decreases and indicates a prescribed idle mode. In one exemplary embodiment, the determination of load conditions upon reconnection is made after a selected time has elapsed, for example a few seconds or minutes, so that current inrushes or initialization events are ignored. . In another embodiment, the load conditions can be averaged over a selected time of seconds or minutes, so as to average high bursts of short bursts. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the wall plate system 500 includes a master reconnect device that can reconnect all outlets 520 with the AC line input 510.

  In the exemplary method of operation, the wall plate system 500 has the switch 633 closed at the first power up so that power flows to the outlet 520. If the outlet 520 load condition is below a certain threshold level, the control circuit 632 opens the switch 633 to form an open circuit, disconnecting the outlet 520 from the AC power signal. This disconnection effectively eliminates idle power lost by the outlet 520. In one embodiment, the threshold level is a predetermined level, for example, where the power flowing to the outlet 520 is about 1 watt or less.

  In an exemplary embodiment, another outlet 520 has various fixed threshold levels so that devices with higher idle power levels can be effectively connected to the wall plate system 500 for power management. Can do. For example, a large device may draw about 5 watts even when idle, but will never be disconnected from the AC line input 510 if the connected outlet 520 has a threshold level of about 1 watt. In various embodiments, some outlets 520 may have a high threshold level to accommodate high power devices, or a low threshold level in the case of low power devices.

  In another embodiment, the threshold level is a learning level. The learning level can be established by monitoring the load state of the outlet 520 for a long time by the control circuit 632. Monitoring creates a long-term history of power levels and can serve as a power demand template. In one exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 632 examines the power level history to determine whether the period of long low power demand was the time that the device connected to the outlet 520 was in the low power mode or the lowest power mode. judge. In one exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 632 disconnects the outlet 520 during low power usage times when the low power period matches the template. For example, the template may indicate that the device draws power through outlet 520 for 8 hours, followed by 16 hours of low power demand.

  In another exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 632 determines the approximate low power level of the electronic device connected to the outlet 520 and is a percentage value of the determined approximate low power level. Set the threshold level. For example, the control circuit 632 can set the threshold level to be about 100-105% of the approximate low power level demand. In another embodiment, the threshold level can be set to about 100-110% or 110-120% or more of the approximate low level power demand. Further, the low power level percentage ratio range can be any variation or combination of each disclosed range.

  Further, the learning threshold level can be set manually. According to an exemplary embodiment, the threshold level is set based in part on activating the reconnection device 634 for a period of time and measuring the current power level. For example, the user can press down the reconnect device 634 for a few seconds and measure the power level when the wall plate system 500 is operating in idle mode. The measured power level is used to set a power threshold level. In one exemplary embodiment, the threshold level is set by adding an offset value to the measured power level. The offset value can be configured at various power levels. Furthermore, the offset value can be increased or decreased to suit a particular configuration. For example, if the measured threshold is about 1 W and an offset value of about 0.5 W is used, the threshold will be about 1.5 W. In one exemplary embodiment, the wall plate system 500 is configured to operate in an ultra-low idle mode when the load drops below about 1.5 W in this example. Advantageously, the threshold level is set more accurately by manually activating the power level measurement.

  Having disclosed various functions and structures of an exemplary wall plate system configured to reduce or eliminate power during idle mode by disconnecting the power input, an exemplary implementation of the present invention is disclosed. A detailed schematic diagram of an exemplary wall plate system according to configuration can be presented. In one exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 9, a wall plate system 900 including a wall plate circuit 530 includes a current transformer 631, a current sensor 701, a logic control unit 702, a power disconnect 703, and a switch 633. Prepare.

  In one embodiment, current transformer 631 and current sensor 701 together measure the current at the AC line input and convert the current to a proportional DC voltage that can be read by logic control unit 702. In addition, the switch 633 can include a latching relay that provides reliable connection / disconnection of the AC line input 510 to the outlet 520 in accordance with commands from the logic control unit 702. The switch 633 may be an open contact or a closed contact. Furthermore, the switch 633 holds the contact state until it is reset by the logic control unit 702, and maintains the contact state without consuming any power in the relay coil K1.

  In one exemplary embodiment, similar to the logic control unit 302, the logic control unit 702 includes a microcontroller that receives the AC line current input, controls the state of the switch 633, and the reconnection device 634 and Read or estimate contact state or setting of switch 633. Further, the logic control unit 702 learns and stores the power profile of the electronic device connected to the outlet 520. In another exemplary embodiment, the wall plate circuit 530 further includes a reconnect device 634 that is configured to provide maximum power when the wall plate circuit 530 is first connected to the AC line input 510 or at the outlet 520. Activated immediately when needed to turn outlet 520 on.

  In one exemplary embodiment, the power disconnect 703 includes a network of transistors Q1, Q2, Q3 that condition the AC line input 510 to a safe level suitable for the logic control unit 702. The logic control unit 702 is separated from the AC line input unit 510. In another embodiment, the power disconnect 703 includes a relay in addition to or instead of the transistor of the previous embodiment.

  The initial connection of the wall plate system 900 requires that the wall plate system 900 be connected to an AC power source. In one exemplary method, when the wall plate system 900 is first plugged into power, all of the wall plate circuit 530 is not energized and the switch 633 is in the last contact state set by the logic control unit 702. is there. In this initial state, the outlet 520 may or may not be powered. When all the circuits are not energized, there is no current flowing into the wall plate circuit 530. This is because the power disconnection unit 703 and the reconnection device 634 in the normally open contact state are separated. In one exemplary embodiment, power disconnector 703 includes transistors Q1, Q2, Q3, and capacitor C3. In this state, only leakage current flows through the transistors Q1 and Q2, and this leakage current is about several tens of nanoamperes. Furthermore, the current transformer 631 performs dielectric separation from the primary side to the secondary side, so that only a slight leakage current due to the inter-winding capacitance of the current transformer 631 flows.

  With continued reference to FIG. 9, in an exemplary embodiment for purposes of illustration, the user reconnects the circuit using reconnect device 634 to connect diode D1, zener diode Z1, resistor R4, reconnect device. 634, and a current path through zener diode Z3 can be established. The diode D1 serves to reduce the peak-to-peak voltage by half by half-wave rectifying the AC line. Zener diode Z1 further reduces the voltage from diode D1 to, for example, about 20 volts. Zener diode Z3 and resistor R4 form a current limiting zener regulator that provides an appropriate DC voltage to the VDD input of logic control unit 702 while reconnection device 634 is held. In addition, the capacitor C2 smoothes the DC signal of the Zener diode Z3 and supplies electricity while the contact of the reconnection device 634 rebounds. Capacitor C2 is sized to charge sufficiently during the start-up time of logic control unit 702, and capacitor C2 in combination with resistor R4 provides a fast rising edge to the VDD input to provide logic control unit 702. Reset properly. Further, the diode D5 separates the capacitor C2 from the capacitor CS, and therefore the rising time constant of the capacitor C2 and the resistor R4 is not affected by the large-capacitance capacitor CS. When the capacitor CS is powering the logic control unit 702, the current in the capacitor CS passes through the diode D5.

  In one exemplary method, if the reconnection device 634 is activated for several milliseconds, the logic control unit 702 sets up and immediately sets up to provide its own power before the reconnection device 634 is released. Configured to do. This is realized by the voltage doublers VD1 to VD3 and the output ZG1 of the logic control unit 702, similarly to the reconnection operation associated with the logic control unit 302. If outlet 520 is idle and is not substantially drawing power, logic control unit 702 can be disconnected from drawing power and enter a “sleep” mode. With further reference to FIG. 9, in one exemplary manner, when the logic control unit 702 is operating with energy stored in the capacitor CS, the timing function is enabled in the logic control unit 702 and the logic control unit 702 A timing function is implemented using capacitor C5. Capacitor C5 is charged for a short time by the CAPTIME output of logic control unit 702, and the discharge rate of capacitor C5 over time is very similar to the voltage drop of capacitor CS. When the voltage of the capacitor C5 reaches a low level at the input CAPTIME, the logic control unit 702 sets the states of the outputs VD1 to VD3 and the output ZG1 so as to recharge the capacitor CS from the AC line. This process is repeated over and over, so power to the logic control unit 702 is never lost. The recharging process only takes a few milliseconds or less to operate and depends on the size of the capacitor CS.

  Further, in one exemplary method, when the logic control unit 702 is not in use for recharging the capacitor CS, switching the relay K1, or measuring power drawn from the outlet 520, the logic control unit 702 is in deep sleep mode. Operating in mode, in this operation all or almost all internal operations are stopped and wait for the capacitor C5 to discharge. In this sleep mode, very little power is consumed, and the charge of the storage capacitor CS can last for many seconds. If reconnect device 634 is activated during sleep mode, logic control unit 702 resumes normal operation and sets or resets relay K1. Alternatively, when the voltage of the capacitor C5 becomes too low, the logic control unit 702 recharges the capacitor CS again and returns to the sleep mode.

  While the electronic device is in idle mode, the wall plate system 500 can continue to monitor for changes in power drawn by the electronic device. In one exemplary method, the logic control unit 702 also cycles the power drawn from the outlet 520 while the logic control unit 702 continuously enters and exits sleep mode to power itself. Inspect. The period for checking the power is much longer than the period for charging the capacitor CS, for example, every 10 minutes or more. According to one exemplary method, there are at least three possible outcomes as a result of the power test. That is, 1) the device is operating and the switch is not in the standby state, 2) the device is not operating but the switch is not in the standby state, or 3) the switch is in the standby state. The features and operations with each of these possible results are similar to the possible results described with respect to power supply module 100.

  If the user wishes to operate a device connected to outlet 520 and the outlet is turned off, in an exemplary embodiment, logic control unit 702 may be activated by activating reconnection device 634. Wake up immediately from sleep mode. Since this activation is due to activation of the reconnection device 634 and not due to a power check or recharging of the capacitor CS, the logic control unit 702 immediately begins to power the electronic device connected to the outlet 520. Set the relay K1 to the closed position.

  In addition to the embodiments described above, various other factors can be implemented to improve control and user experience. One way to improve user control is to allow the user to select the outlet operating mode. In one exemplary embodiment, the wall plate system 500 further comprises a “green mode” switch that enables or disables “green” mode operation. The green mode switch can be a hardware manual switch or it can be a signal to the logic control unit 702. In “green” mode operation, outlet 520 is disconnected from AC line input 510 when there is substantially no load on outlet 520. The user can disable green mode operation using the green mode switch for various outlets as needed. For example, this additional control switch may be desirable for outlets that power devices that have a clock or that need to be turned on immediately, such as a facsimile machine.

  In one embodiment, the wall plate system 500 includes an LED indicator that can indicate whether the outlet is connected to a power line and drawing load current. This LED indicator shows whether the outlet is active, i.e. whether power is being drawn by the electronic device and / or if the outlet has power available even when the electronic device is not connected Can be displayed. In addition, a blinking LED can be used to indicate when a power test is being performed, or to display a “heartbeat” for sleep mode recharge.

  In another embodiment, the wall plate system 500 comprises at least one LCD display. This LCD display can be operated by the logic control unit 702 to display the load power being supplied to the outlet 520, for example during operating hours. The LCD may also provide information about the power saved or consumed by the wall plate system 500 operating in or out of “green” mode. For example, the LCD may display the lifetime of the wall plate system 500 or the total wattage saved during a particular period, such as one day.

  Various embodiments may also be used to improve the effective use of the wall plate system and / or individual outlets within the wall plate system. One such embodiment is the implementation of a photovoltaic cell or other light sensor monitored by the logic control unit 702. The photovoltaic cell determines whether light is present at the location of the wall plate system 500, and the logic control unit 702 can use this determination to disconnect the outlet 520 according to ambient light conditions. For example, the logic control unit 702 can disconnect the output unit 520 during the dark period. In other words, the wall plate system outlet can be turned off at night. Another example is a device that does not require power when placed in a dark room such as an unused conference room in an office. The power output can also be turned off when ambient light conditions exceed a certain level that can be predetermined or user-determined.

  In another embodiment, the wall plate system 500 may further have an internal clock. The logic control unit 702 can use this internal clock to learn at which time interval high power usage is indicated at the outlet 520. This knowledge can be included to determine when power should be available at the outlet. In one exemplary embodiment, the internal clock has crystal accuracy. Also, the internal clock need not be set to the actual time. Furthermore, the internal clock can also be used in combination with a photovoltaic cell to obtain higher wall plate system efficiency and / or accuracy.

Power Strip In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, a power strip is disclosed that is configured to reduce or eliminate power during idle mode by disconnecting a power input from at least one outlet. In one exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 11A, power strip 1100 includes two or more outlets 1120 and two or more outlet circuits 1130. In another exemplary embodiment (not shown), power strip 1100 includes a single outlet 1120 and a single outlet circuit 1130. In yet another exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 11B, power strip 1100 includes at least one outlet 1120 coupled to outlet circuit 1130 and at least one outlet directly connected to AC line input 1110. 1120.

  In one exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 12, the power strip 1100 includes an AC line input 1110 connected to an outlet circuit 1130, which is connected to the outlet 1120. Outlet circuit 1130 includes a current measurement system 1231, a control circuit 1232, and a switch 1233. In one exemplary embodiment, the current measurement system 1231 includes a current transformer 1231 having a primary circuit and a secondary winding for exemplary purposes. However, the current measurement system 1231 may also be a differential amplifier with resistance, a current sensing chip, a Hall effect device, or any other configuration currently known or devised to measure current. It can also contain elements. Current transformer 1231 provides an output power level signal proportional to the load on outlet 1120. Further, the switch 1233 connects the primary circuit of the current transformer 1231 to the outlet 1120.

Further, in one embodiment, AC line input 1110 is a standard three-wire ground plug and cord set that connects to the body of power strip 1100. However, the AC line input unit 1110 can be configured as an arbitrary AC power source input unit configuration, or can be replaced with any other input power source configuration. AC line input 1110 is connected in parallel with several similar outlet circuits 1130 between AC line input 1110 and outlet _I-N 1120. Further, the AC line input 1110 may be connected to a 110 or 220 volt power source in an exemplary embodiment.

  In an exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 1232 may include at least one of a latch circuit, an analog circuit, a state machine, and a microprocessor, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the control circuit 1232 monitors the state of the secondary winding of the current transformer 1231 and controls the operation of the switch 1233. Further, in an exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 1232 receives a low frequency signal or a direct current signal from the current transformer 1231. The low frequency signal may be 60 Hz, for example. This low frequency signal or DC signal is interpreted by the control circuit 1232 as a current required for the load of the outlet 1120.

  The control circuit 1232 can include various structures for monitoring the state of the secondary winding of the current transformer 1231 and controlling the operation of the switch 1233. In one exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 13, the control circuit 1232 includes a current sensor 1301 and a logic control unit 1302. The current sensor 1301 monitors the output, which is an AC voltage proportional to the load current, of a current measurement system such as the secondary winding of the current transformer 1231. The current sensor 1301 also provides a signal to the logic control unit 1302. In one embodiment, this signal may be a DC voltage that is proportional to the current through the current sensor 1301. In another embodiment, this signal may be a current proportional to the current through current sensor 1301. In another exemplary embodiment and referring to FIG. 14, a power strip outlet circuit 1130 includes a logic control unit 1302 that communicates with and controls a plurality of current transformers 1231 and a plurality of switches 1233.

  In one exemplary embodiment, logic control unit 1302 is powered from an energy storage capacitor. In order to continue supplying power to the logic control unit 1302, the logic control unit 1302 can connect this storage capacitor to the AC line input 1110 for a short time. In another embodiment, the logic control unit 1302 can be powered from a battery or other energy source. This energy source, also called housekeeping power supply or hotel power supply, functions as an auxiliary low power source. In one embodiment, auxiliary power is taken from the AC line input 1110. For further details on similar current monitoring, see US Provisional Application No. 61 / 052,939 entitled “Circuit and Method for Ultra-Low Idle Power”.

  In one exemplary embodiment, the logic control unit 1302 is a microprocessor that can be programmed before and after the power strip 1100 is incorporated into an electronic device. In one embodiment, a user can contact the logic control unit 1302 to customize the parameters of the power strip 1100. For example, the user can set the power strip 1100 threshold level and sleep mode duty cycle. For example, data regarding power consumption and / or energy saving history can be transmitted from the power strip 1100. Bi-directional data transmission between the power strip 1100 and the display device can be performed by wireless signals, such as infrared signals, radio frequency signals, or other similar signals. Data transmission can also be implemented using a wired connection, such as a USB connection or other similar connection.

  According to an exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 1232 can further include a power disconnector 1303 in communication with the logic control unit 1302. The power disconnection unit 1303 is configured to separate the logic control unit 1302 from the AC line input unit 1110 and reduce power loss. While isolated, logic control unit 1302 is powered from a storage capacitor or other energy source and enters a “sleep” mode. If the storage capacitor reaches a low power level, the power disconnector 1303 is configured to reconnect the logic control unit 1302 to the AC line input 1110 to recharge the storage capacitor. In one exemplary embodiment, the power disconnector 1303 can reduce power loss from a microamp range leak to a nanoamp range leak.

  In another exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 1232 receives a control signal applied to the AC line input 1110 by another controller. This control signal can be, for example, an X10 control protocol or other similar protocol. The control circuit 1232 couples the AC line input 1110 to the control circuit 1232 from the coupled AC line input 1110 via the secondary winding of the current transformer 1231 or now known or devised. The control signal may be received via other suitable means configured to do so. This control signal may come from inside the power strip 1100 or from an external controller. The control signal can be a high frequency control signal, or can be a control signal having a frequency different from at least the frequency of the AC line input unit 1110. In one exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 1232 interprets the control signal to engage or disconnect the switch 1233. In another embodiment, an external controller can send a signal to change the power strip 1100 to an “on” or “off” state.

  In one exemplary embodiment, if the behavior of the secondary winding of current transformer 1231 indicates that the outlet 1120 is not substantially drawing power from the AC line input 1110, then switch 1233 is Facilitates or controls the disconnection of the 1231 primary circuit from the outlet 1120. In other words, the switch 1233 facilitates disconnecting the power source from the outlet 1120. In one exemplary embodiment, the secondary winding of current transformer 1231 is monitored for an AC waveform at the AC line frequency, which AC waveform passes through the primary circuit of current transformer 1231 to outlet 1120. It has an effective voltage proportional to the load current. In another embodiment, the AC waveform is rectified and filtered before being received by the control circuit 1232 to generate a DC signal. This DC signal is proportional to the load current through the primary circuit of the current transformer 1231 to the outlet 1120.

  In one embodiment, the phrase “substantially no power” is meant to indicate that the output power is in the range of about 0-1% of a typical maximum output load. In one exemplary embodiment, the switch 1233 is configured to control connecting the primary circuit of the current transformer 1231 to the outlet 1120, and the primary circuit of the current transformer 1231 is substantially removed from the outlet 1120. Includes a switching mechanism for disconnecting. The switch 1233 can include at least one of a relay, a latching relay, a triac (TRIAC), and an optical isolation triac.

  By substantially disabling the primary circuit of current transformer 1231, the power consumption of outlet 1120 is reduced. In one embodiment, the fact that outlet 1120 is substantially disabled may indicate that the output signal of the secondary winding of current transformer 1231 is sufficiently low so that switch 1233 is disconnected to remove power from outlet 1120. This means that it is interpreted by the control circuit 1232 as appropriate.

  In another exemplary embodiment, the outlet circuit 1130 further includes a reconnection device 1234 that is configured to allow the switch 1233 to be closed via the logic control unit 1302. When switch 1233 is closed, outlet 1120 reconnects to the primary circuit of current transformer 1231 and AC line input 1110. In one exemplary embodiment, reconnect device 1234 includes a switch device that can be opened and closed in various ways. For example, the reconnect device 1234 includes a push button that can be manually operated. In one embodiment, the push button is disposed on the power strip 1100, for example on the same side as the outlet 1120 of the power strip 1100, or on the side near the outlet 1120 of the power strip 1100, near the outlet 1120. In another exemplary embodiment, the reconnect device 1234 is located far away from the power strip 1100 so that the user can re-enable power to the outlet of the power strip 1100 without touching the power strip 1100 directly. The In another embodiment, the reconnect device 1234 is remotely affected by a signal traveling through the AC line input 1110, which the control circuit 1232 interprets as an on / off control. In yet another embodiment, the reconnection device 1234 is controlled by a wireless signal, such as an infrared signal, a radio frequency signal, or other similar signal.

  According to another exemplary embodiment, switch 1233 is automatically activated periodically. For example, the switch 1233 can automatically reconnect after 2-3 minutes or 5-6 minutes, or after tens of minutes, or after any period of some short interval. In one embodiment, the switch 1233 automatically switches the battery-operated device connected to the power strip 1100 at a sufficiently short interval that does not completely discharge the internal battery during periods when there is no power at the input to the connected device. Reconnected. After the outlet 1120 is reconnected, in one exemplary embodiment, the outlet circuit 1130 checks or evaluates the load condition. If the outlet 1120 load condition increases above a pre-measured level, the outlet 1120 will change until the load condition returns to a selected threshold level or a predetermined threshold level indicating “low load”. It remains connected to the primary circuit of the flow device 1231. In one exemplary embodiment, the determination of load conditions upon reconnection is made after a selected time has elapsed, for example a few seconds or minutes, so that current inrushes or initialization events are ignored. . In another embodiment, the load conditions can be averaged over a selected time of seconds or minutes, so as to average high bursts of short bursts. In yet another exemplary embodiment, power strip 1100 includes a master reconnect device that can reconnect all outlets 1120 with AC line input 1110.

  In the exemplary method of operation, power strip 1100 has switch 1233 closed on the first power up so that power flows to outlet 1120. If the outlet 1120 load condition is below a certain threshold level, the control circuit 1232 opens the switch 1233 to form an open circuit, disconnecting the outlet 1120 from the AC power signal. This disconnection effectively eliminates idle power lost by the outlet 1120. In one embodiment, the threshold level is a predetermined level where, for example, the power flowing to the outlet 1120 is about 1 watt or less.

  In an exemplary embodiment, another outlet 1120 can have various fixed threshold levels so that devices with higher idle power levels can be effectively connected to the power strip 1100 for power management. . For example, a large device may draw about 5 watts even when idle, but will never be disconnected from the AC line input 1110 if the connected 1120 has a threshold level of about 1 watt. In various embodiments, some outlets 1120 may have a high threshold level to accommodate high power devices or a low threshold level in the case of low power devices.

  In another embodiment, the threshold level is a learning level. The learning level can be established by monitoring the load state of the outlet 1120 for a long period of time with the control circuit 1232. Monitoring creates a long-term history of power levels and can serve as a power demand template. In one exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 1232 examines the power level history to determine whether the period of long low power demand was the time that the device connected to the outlet 1120 was in the low power mode or the lowest power mode. judge. In one exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 1232 disconnects the outlet 1120 during low power usage times when the low power period matches the template. For example, the template may indicate that the device draws power through outlet 1120 for 8 hours, followed by 16 hours of low power demand.

  In another exemplary embodiment, the control circuit 1232 determines an approximate low power level for the electronic device connected to the outlet 1120 so that the determined approximate low power level is a percentage value. Set the threshold level. For example, the control circuit 1232 can set the threshold level to be approximately 100-105% of the approximate low power level demand. In another embodiment, the threshold level can be set to about 100-110% or 110-120% or more of the approximate low power level demand. Further, the low power level percentage ratio range can be any variation or combination of each disclosed range.

  Further, the learning threshold level can be set manually. According to one exemplary embodiment, the threshold level is set based in part on activating the reconnection device 1234 for a period of time and measuring the current power level. For example, the user can measure the power level by depressing the reconnect device 1234 for a few seconds while the power strip 1100 is operating in idle mode. The measured power level is used to set a power threshold level. In one exemplary embodiment, the threshold level is set by adding an offset value to the measured power level. The offset value can be configured at various power levels. Furthermore, the offset value can be increased or decreased to suit a particular configuration. For example, if the measured threshold is about 1 W and an offset value of about 0.5 W is used, the threshold will be about 1.5 W. In one exemplary embodiment, power strip 1100 is configured to operate in an ultra-low idle mode when the load drops below about 1.5 W in this example. Advantageously, the threshold level is set more accurately by manually activating the power level measurement.

  Although various functions and structures of an exemplary power strip configured to reduce or eliminate power during idle mode by disconnecting the power input, a detailed schematic diagram of the exemplary power strip is shown. , Similar to the components and functions of the wall plate system described with reference to FIG. A further understanding of the operation of the exemplary power strip can be obtained with reference to the detailed description of FIG.

  In addition to the embodiments described above, various other factors can be implemented to improve control and user experience. One way to improve user control is to allow the user to select the outlet operating mode. In one exemplary embodiment, power strip 1100 further comprises a “green mode” switch that enables or disables “green” mode operation. The green mode switch can be a hardware manual switch or it can be a signal to the logic control unit 1302. In “green” mode operation, outlet 1120 is disconnected from AC line input 1110 when there is substantially no load on outlet 1120. The user can disable green mode operation using the green mode switch for various outlets as needed. For example, this additional control switch may be desirable for outlets that power devices that have a clock or that need to be turned on immediately, such as a facsimile machine.

  In one embodiment, the power strip 1100 includes an LED indicator that can indicate whether the outlet is connected to a power line and drawing load current. This LED indicator shows whether the outlet is active, i.e. whether power is being drawn by the electronic device and / or if the outlet has power available even when the electronic device is not connected Can be displayed. In addition, a blinking LED can be used to indicate when a power test is being performed, or to display a “heartbeat” for sleep mode recharge.

  In another embodiment, power strip 1100 comprises at least one LCD display. This LCD display can be operated by the logic control unit 1302 to display the load power being supplied to the outlet 1120, for example during operating hours. The LCD may also provide information about the power saved or consumed by the power strip 1100 operating in or out of “green” mode. For example, the LCD can display the lifespan of the power strip 1100 or the total wattage saved during a particular period, such as one day.

  Various embodiments can also be used to improve the effective usage of the power strip and / or individual outlets within the power strip. One such embodiment is the implementation of a photovoltaic cell or other light sensor monitored by the logic control unit 1302. The photovoltaic cell determines whether light is present at the power strip 1100 and the logic control unit 1302 can use this determination to disconnect the outlet 1120 according to the ambient light condition. For example, the logic control unit 1302 can disconnect the power output unit 1120 during the dark period. In other words, the power strip can be turned off at night. Another example is a device that does not require power when placed in a dark room such as an unused conference room in an office. The power output can also be turned off when ambient light conditions exceed a certain level that can be predetermined or user-determined.

  In another embodiment, the power strip 1100 can further have an internal clock. The logic control unit 1302 can use this internal clock to learn at which time interval high power usage is indicated at the outlet 1120. This knowledge can be included to determine when power should be available at the outlet. In one exemplary embodiment, the internal clock has crystal accuracy. Also, the internal clock need not be set to the actual time. In addition, the internal clock can also be used in combination with a photovoltaic cell to obtain higher power strip efficiency and / or accuracy.

  The present invention has been described above with reference to various exemplary embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that changes and modifications can be made to these exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the various exemplary embodiments can be implemented using other types of power strip circuits in addition to the circuits shown above. These alternatives can be appropriately selected depending on the particular application or considering a number of factors related to the operation of the system. Furthermore, such other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (59)

A power strip configured to reduce power during idle operation of an electronic device,
An alternating current (AC) line input including a plug and cord configured to be connected to an external outlet;
A plurality of outlets configured to transmit power to an electronic device, different from the external outlets;
An outlet circuit configured to receive power from the AC line input and transmit power to at least one outlet of the plurality of outlets, wherein the outlet circuit draws the at least one outlet; A power strip that disconnects power transmission to the at least one outlet in response to substantially no power being present. The outlet circuit is
A current measurement system configured to monitor current from the AC line input, the current measurement system providing an output power level signal proportional to a load of the at least one outlet;
A switch in communication with the current measurement system and the at least one outlet;
The power strip of claim 1, comprising: a control circuit configured to receive the output power level signal and control opening and closing of the switch to disconnect the at least one outlet from a power source.   The power strip of claim 2, wherein the control circuit is at least one of a latch circuit, an analog circuit, a state machine, and a microprocessor.   The power strip of claim 2, wherein the switch is at least one of a relay, a latching relay, a triac, and an optical isolation triac.   The power strip of claim 2, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a control signal for facilitating opening and closing of the switch.   The power strip of claim 1, further comprising a green mode switch configured to select an operating mode of the at least one outlet, wherein the operating mode is at least one of a normal mode and a green mode.   The power strip of claim 1, further comprising at least one LED indicator configured to indicate whether the electronic device at the at least one outlet is active.   The power strip of claim 7, wherein the at least one LED indicator is further configured to blink when the outlet circuit is inspecting the at least one outlet.   A liquid crystal display (LCD) configured to display data, wherein the data is a load power supplied to the at least one outlet, a power saved by the at least one outlet, and a power strip saved by the power strip; The power strip of claim 1, wherein the power strip is at least one of power consumed and power consumed by the power strip.   The power strip of claim 2, further comprising a reconnection device configured to deactivate the control circuit and reengage the switch to a closed state.   The power strip of claim 10, wherein the reconnection device is further configured to disconnect the switch to an open state.   The power strip of claim 10, wherein the reconnection device is a push button.   The power strip of claim 10, wherein the reconnection device is remotely located from the power strip.   The power strip of claim 10, wherein the reconnection device is controlled by at least one of an infrared signal and a radio frequency signal.   The power strip of claim 10, wherein the reconnection device is configured to deactivate a single control circuit and re-engage a single switch to a closed state.   The power strip of claim 15, wherein the reconnection device is further configured to disconnect a single switch to an open state.   The power strip of claim 10, wherein the reconnection device is configured to deactivate a plurality of control circuits and reengage a plurality of switches to a closed state.   The power strip of claim 10, wherein the reconnection device is further configured to disconnect a plurality of switches to an open state.   The power strip of claim 2, further comprising a power disconnect configured to electrically isolate the control circuit from the AC line input.   The power strip of claim 1, wherein substantially no power is approximately 0-1% of a typical maximum output load of the electronic device at the at least one outlet.   The power strip of claim 1, further comprising means for setting a duration of a sleep mode duty cycle.   The power strip of claim 1, wherein the outlet circuit is configured to allow a user to modify parameters of the power strip. An outlet circuit in a power strip configured to receive power and transmit power to an outlet,
A current measurement system configured to provide an output signal proportional to the outlet load;
A switch configured to disconnect power from the outlet;
An outlet circuit comprising: a control circuit configured to interpret the output signal and control the switch; wherein the switch disconnects power when the outlet load is below a certain threshold level.   26. The outlet circuit of claim 25, further comprising a reconnection device connected to the control circuit, wherein the reconnection device is configured to reengage power to the outlet.   26. The outlet circuit of claim 25, wherein the control circuit further comprises a power disconnect device configured to isolate the electrical component from a power input when the electrical component is in idle mode. A power strip configured to efficiently supply power to an electronic device,
At least one outlet configured to supply power to the electronic device;
A switch having at least an open state and a closed state, wherein the switch is in communication with the at least one outlet and an alternating current (AC) line input;
A current measurement system configured to monitor a current drawn by the at least one outlet;
A control circuit configured to control the state of the switch;
The control circuit sets the switch to an open position such that the at least one outlet is effectively disconnected from the AC line input when the current drawn by the at least one outlet is below a certain threshold level. , Power strip.   The control circuit checks the load condition of the at least one outlet by setting the switch to a closed state and determining whether the current drawn by the at least one outlet is lower than the threshold level; 29. A power strip according to claim 28.   29. The power strip of claim 28, wherein the control circuit individually controls the at least one outlet.   30. The power strip of claim 28, wherein the control circuit controls a plurality of the at least one outlet.   29. The power strip of claim 28, wherein the current measurement system is a current transformer.   29. The power strip of claim 28, wherein the current measurement system is at least one of a differential amplifier with a resistor, a current sensing chip, and a Hall effect device.   30. The power strip of claim 28, further comprising a reconnection device configured to deactivate the control circuit and reengage the switch to a closed state.   30. The power strip of claim 28, further comprising a power disconnect configured to electrically isolate the control circuit from the AC line input.   29. The power strip of claim 28, wherein the control circuit comprises a current sensor and a logic control unit.   Further comprising a photovoltaic cell configured to display a level of ambient light around the power strip, wherein the logic control unit is configured to decouple the at least one outlet based on the level of ambient light. Item 37. The power strip according to Item 36.   37. The power strip of claim 36, further comprising an internal clock, wherein the logic control unit uses the internal clock to determine a usage period of the at least one outlet.   30. The power strip of claim 28, wherein the threshold level is a predetermined level.   40. The power strip of claim 39, wherein the predetermined level is about 1 watt or less.   29. The power strip of claim 28, wherein the threshold level is a learning level determined by long-term monitoring of load conditions at the at least one outlet.   The threshold level is manually set by activating a reconnect device, and the threshold level is based in part on measuring a power level during idle mode of the power strip. The listed power strip.   29. The power strip of claim 28, wherein the threshold level is a percentage value of the determined approximate low power level of the electronic device.   44. The power strip of claim 43, wherein the determined approximate low power level percentage value is in a range of at least one of about 100-105%, about 100-110%, and about 110-120%. .   The at least one outlet comprises a first outlet having a first threshold level and a second outlet having a second threshold level, wherein the first threshold level is different from the second threshold level. A power strip according to claim 28. A method for promoting low power consumption of a power strip,
Supplying power to the electronic device at the outlet;
Monitoring a load condition at the outlet in a current measurement system;
Communicating the load state to a control circuit;
Controlling the state of the switch in the control circuit;
Setting the switch state to open if the load condition is below a certain threshold level and disconnecting the outlet from the AC line input. An inspection method for the load state of the outlet,
Setting the switch to a closed state;
47. The method of claim 46, further comprising: determining whether the load condition is below the threshold level. Deactivating the control circuit using a reconnection device;
49. The method of claim 46, further comprising reengaging the switch to a closed state.   47. The method of claim 46, further comprising electrically isolating the control circuit from the AC line input using a power disconnect. Monitoring the outlet load condition;
47. The method of claim 46, further comprising determining the threshold level based on monitoring the load condition. A power disconnect circuit configured to isolate the electrical component from a power input when the electrical component is in idle mode;
Comprising a network of transistors in communication with the power input and the electrical components;
The network of transistors is
A first transistor configured to disconnect the power input;
A second transistor configured to stabilize a voltage to the first transistor;
A power disconnect circuit that does not substantially draw power when the electrical component is separated from the power input by the power disconnect circuit.   52. The power disconnect circuit of claim 51, wherein the power disconnect circuit is further configured to stabilize the power input to a power level suitable for the electrical component.   52. The power disconnect circuit of claim 51, wherein the electrical component is a control circuit.   52. The power disconnect circuit of claim 51, wherein the power disconnect circuit is incorporated into a power supply system.   52. The electrical component comprises an energy storage unit, and a network of the transistors periodically reconnects the electrical component to the power input to recharge the energy storage unit. The power disconnection circuit described. A wall plate system configured to reduce power during idle operation of an electronic device, wherein the wall plate system is configured to be within or plugged into the wall plate;
An alternating current (AC) line input section;
At least one outlet of the wall plate system configured to transmit power to an electronic device;
A wall plate circuit configured to receive power from the AC line input and transmit power to the at least one outlet, wherein the power is substantially absent from the at least one outlet. And a wall plate circuit configured to disconnect power transmission to the at least one outlet,
Wall plate system, configured to be fixed on the wall.   57. The wall plate system of claim 56, wherein the wall plate circuit is engaged behind the front of the at least one outlet.   57. The wall plate system of claim 56, further comprising at least one additional outlet, wherein the wall plate circuit is engaged to a front face of the at least one outlet. A power module configured as a component of the electronic device to reduce power consumption during idle operation of the electronic device,
A power input section of the power supply module;
At least one power output of the power supply module configured to transmit power to an electronic device;
A power supply module circuit configured to receive power from the power input unit and to transmit power to the at least one power output unit;
A power supply module that cuts off power transmission to the at least one power output unit corresponding to the at least one power output unit substantially free of drawn power.   60. The power module of claim 59, wherein the power module is incorporated into the electronic device.   60. The power module of claim 59, wherein the power module is removable from the electronic device.

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