Power outlet and method for use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017346527-A1
Application number	US-201715681797-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 21, 2017
Priority date	Sep 2, 2014
Publication date	Nov 30, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A power outlet for controlling power to an external device and transmitting data to the external device, the power outlet including: a housing containing at least one alternating-current power input connection; a power output connection; a data connector; a sensor module; a wireless communication module, including an antenna; a processing unit configured to receive data and control an electrically connected device through the power output connection and/or data connector based on the received data.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A networkable power outlet for controlling power to an external device and transmitting data to the external device, the power outlet comprising:
a housing containing at least one alternating-current power input connection; a first power output connection coupled to the housing, configured to deliver electrical power to a connected external device; a first data connector coupled to the housing; a first sensor module coupled to the housing; a wireless communication module, including an antenna, the wireless communication module coupled to the housing; a processing unit contained within the housing and electrically connected to the wireless communication module, the first sensor module, the first power output connection, and the alternating-current input connection, the processing unit operable between:
a first mode, wherein the processing unit regulates the electrical power delivered by the first power output connection and transmits data to the connected external device via the first data connector based on a signal received from the wireless communication module;
a second mode, wherein the processing unit regulates the electrical power delivered by the first power output connection and transmits data to the connected external device via the first data connector based on a signal received from the first sensor module;
a third mode, wherein the processing unit transmits data to the wireless communication module based on a signal received from the connected external device;
a fourth mode, wherein the processing unit transmits data to the wireless communication module based on a signal received from the first sensor module; and
a fifth mode, wherein the processing unit is operable in a combination of the first, second, third, and fourth modes.

Assignees

• Lifi Labs Inc

Inventors

• Bosua Phillip
• Alexander Marc

Classifications

• H04W52/02

  Power saving arrangements · CPC title

• H04B2203/5454

  Adapter and plugs · CPC title

• H04W4/80 Primary

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• H04B2203/5441

  Wireless systems or telephone · CPC title

• H04W84/12

  WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] · CPC title