Integrated Modular Multimedia System in Wall-Box Format

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016006202-A1
Application number	US-201514706720-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 7, 2015
Priority date	May 7, 2014
Publication date	Jan 7, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electrical module provides a plug receptacle for AC power and also converts AC power into DC power and provides DC output. The module may also provide one or more multimedia connectors. DC power may be provided from one module to another such that a single DC power supply may supply DC power for multiple modules.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electrical module comprising:
a housing comprising a wall face; AC power terminals for receiving AC power conductors; means for converting input AC power to output DC power; at least one AC plug receptacle on the wall face, and at least one DC power output connector on a rear or side face of the housing.

2 . The electrical module of claim 1 , wherein the housing is adapted for installation in an electrical box.

3 . The electrical module of claim 1 , wherein the AC power terminals comprise screw terminals or push-in terminals.

4 . The electrical module of claim 1 , wherein the at least one DC power output comprises a 5V, 12V or 24V power output.

5 . The electrical module of claim 1 , wherein the means for converting input AC power to output DC power comprises a class 2 power supply.

6 . The electrical module of claim 1 , further comprising means for switching output DC power on or off.

7 . The electrical module of claim 1 , wherein the means for switching comprises a switch on the wall face.

8 . An electrical module comprising:
a housing comprising a wall face; at least one DC power input connector on a side or rear face the housing for receiving DC power supply conductors; and at least one multimedia connector on the wall face of the device.

9 . The electrical module of claim 8 , wherein the multimedia connector comprises a form factor for USB, RJ45, HDMI, component video, audio, SVGA, DVI, or S-Video.

10 . The electrical module of claim 8 , further comprising a DC power input connector on the wall face.

11 . The electrical module of claim 8 , further comprising means for transferring multimedia signals to another electrical module.

12 . The electrical module of claim 8 , further comprising means for transferring a multimedia signal to another electrical module.

13 . The electrical module of claim 8 , wherein the means for transferring multimedia signals comprises multimedia connectors on the side or rear face of the housing.

14 . An electrical system comprising:
a first module comprising:
a first housing;
AC power terminals accessible outside the housing for receiving AC power supply conductors; and
means for converting AC power to DC power inside the housing;
a second module comprising:
a second housing;
at least one multimedia connector; and
a DC power connector for receiving DC power;
an electrical box; and an electrical isolation barrier installed in the electrical box to form a first compartment for receiving the first module and a second compartment for receiving the second module.

15 . The electrical system of claim 14 , wherein the first and second module housings are connected, and a knockout is provided to permit a conductor to pass from the first housing to the second housing.

16 . The electrical system of claim 14 , wherein the knockout is provided in the electrical isolation barrier.

17 . An electrical system comprising:
a first housing having a first connector; and a second housing having a second connector; wherein the first and second connectors are of complementary shapes such that the first connector is matable to the second connector to physically and electrically connect the first and second housings, and wherein when the first connector is mated to the second connector, DC power or a multimedia signal is supplied through the mated first and second connectors from the first housing to the second housing.

18 . The electrical system of claim 14 , wherein the combined first and second housings are sized and shaped to fit into an electrical box.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Dupuis Joseph E
• O'Connor Douglas P
• Kierstead Glenn Thomas
• Abughazaleh Shadi Alex

Classifications

• H01R24/78

  with additional earth or shield contacts · CPC title

• H01R27/02 Primary

  for simultaneous co-operation with two or more {dissimilar} counterparts · CPC title

• H01R33/90 Primary

  adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts · CPC title

• H01R13/6675

  with built-in power supply · CPC title

• H02M7/04

  by static converters · CPC title