Power apparatus with outlet identification capability and outlet identification method of power apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9941647-B2
Application number	US-201615003166-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 21, 2016
Priority date	Feb 4, 2015
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

A power apparatus with outlet identification capability and outlet identification method of power apparatus, the outlet identification method uses an identification requirement to enable a power apparatus to identify a plug-in position of at least one powered device, the identification requirement has an internet protocol address and an outlet code of at least one powered device; the power apparatus includes a power distribution equipment, the power distribution equipment has a plurality of outlets, when the power distribution equipment receives an identification requirement, at least one indicator light can be driven to radiate according to the identification requirement, or at least one PDE display can be driven to show an outlet code of the identification requirement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power apparatus with outlet identification capability, the power apparatus including at least one PDE (power distribution equipment), the PDE comprising:
a power input terminal used to connect to a power source;
a plurality of outlets used to distribute input power of the power input terminal;
a processor unit used to process an identification requirement, the processor unit connected with a network interface unit, the processor unit can receive the identification requirement via the network interface unit;
an identification data having an IP (internet protocol) address and an outlet code of each outlet of the plurality of outlets, respectively; and
a plurality of outlet indicator lights, each outlet code corresponding to an outlet indicator light of the plurality of outlet indicator lights with respect to the position of each outlet of the plurality of outlets, respectively;
wherein the identification requirement has the IP address and at least one outlet code of the identification data, therefore the processor unit can drive the respective outlet indicator light of the plurality of outlet indicator lights to radiate according to the identification requirement to indicate a correct position of the respective outlet of the plurality of outlets relative to the position of the respective outlet to assist an individual in case a device plugged into the respective outlet needs to be replaced, repaired, or tested, to ensure that the individual does not break off power of any devices connected to other outlets of the plurality of outlets.

2. The power apparatus with outlet identification capability of claim 1 , wherein a storage position of the identification data can be selected from a memory unit or a built-in memory of the processor unit; the network interface unit can be selected from an Ethernet network interface or an optical fiber network interface, the network interface unit has at least one network port, the network port can be selected from a RJ45 network socket or an optical fiber network socket.

3. The power apparatus with outlet identification capability of claim 1 , wherein a location of each outlet indicator light can be selected from a top surface of the PDE or an underside of each outlet panel; the above outlet indicator lights can be selected from a LED (light emitting diode) lamp or a small lamp, the above outlet panel can be selected from a transparent material, a translucent material or a light guiding material.

4. The power apparatus with outlet identification capability of claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the PDE further disposes a PDE indicator light, the processor unit can drive the PDE indicator light to radiate according to the IP address of the identification requirement;
the PDE indicator light can be selected from a LED lamp or a small lamp.

5. The power apparatus with outlet identification capability of claim 1 , wherein the PDE has at least one switch used to stop the radiation of the outlet indicator light and the PDE indicator light, the switch SW can be selected from a rocker switch, a push switch, a toggle switch, a DIP switch or a touch switch.

6. The power apparatus with outlet identification capability of claim 1 , wherein the PDE has a plurality of through holes, each outlet indicator light is located on an underside of each through hole, a light guiding element is disposed at an upside of each through hole, the above light guiding element can be selected from a light guiding element of rectangle frame, a light guiding element of geometric shape or a light guiding element of non-geometric shape.

7. A power apparatus with outlet identification capability, the power apparatus including at least one PDE power distribution equipment (PDE), the PDE comprising:
a power input terminal used to connect to a power source;
a plurality of outlets used to distribute input power of the power input terminal, each outlet having a respective position relative to the PDE;
a processor unit used to process an identification requirement, the processor unit connected with a network interface unit, the processor unit can receive the identification requirement via the network interface unit;
an identification data having an IP address and an outlet code of each outlet of the plurality of outlets, respectively; and
a PDE display electrically connected to the processor unit;
wherein the identification requirement has the IP address and at least one outlet code of the identification data, therefore the processor unit can drive the PDE display to show the at least one outlet code of the identification requirement to indicate a correct position of a respective outlet of the plurality of outlets corresponding to the at least one outlet code of the identification, to assist an individual in case a device plugged into the respective outlet needs to be replaced, repaired, or tested, to ensure that the individual does not break off power of any devices connected to other outlets of the plurality of outlets.

8. The power apparatus with outlet identification capability of claim 7 , wherein a storage position of the identification data can be selected from a memory unit or a built-in memory of the processor unit; the network interface unit can be selected from an Ethernet network interface or an optical fiber network interface, the network interface unit has at least one network port, the network port can be selected from a RJ45 network socket or an optical fiber network socket.

9. The power apparatus with outlet identification capability of claim 7 , wherein the identification data further has a PDE number (PDE code), the processor unit can drive the PDE display to show the PDE number according to the identification requirement, the PDE number can be selected from one-dimensional array value, two-dimensional arrays value or multi-dimensional arrays value.

10. The power apparatus with outlet identification capability of claim 7 , wherein the PDE further has a PDE panel, a PDE indicator light is located on an underside of the PDE panel, the processor unit can drive the PDE indicator light to radiate according to the identification requirement, the PDE indicator light can be selected from a LED lamp or a small lamp, the PDE panel can be selected from a transparent material, a translucent material or a light guiding material.

11. The power apparatus with outlet identification capability of claim 7 , wherein the PDE display is disposed at a control box, the control box uses a first connector to electrically connect with a second connector of the PDE, the control box can be replaced, therefore can quickly repair the PDE.

12. The power apparatus with outlet identification capability of claim 11 , wherein the control box can be pivoted to the PDE, the PDE display can adjust sight angle by the control box, a pivot shaft direction of the control box can be selected from a X axial direction or a Y axial direction of the PDE.

13. An outlet identification method of power apparatus comprising the steps of:
S 1 ) setting identification datum of a plurality of power distribution equipment (PDE), wherein the identification datum comprises a plurality of IP addresses and a plurality of outlet codes, each outlet code of the plurality of outlet codes uniquely identifies an outlet included in one of the PDEs, respectively, and each IP address uniquely identifies one of the plurality of PDEs, respectively;
S 2 ) performing an outlet identification function of a computer having a user interface and that is connected to the PDEs by a network;
S 3 ) transmitting a network packet by the computer, the network packet has an identification requirement, the ide

Assignees

• Cyber Power Systems Inc

Inventors

• Huang Ling-Ying
• Chien Hung-Chun
• Peng Yung-Hao

Classifications

• H01R24/76

  with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall · CPC title

• H01R25/006 Primary

  the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle · CPC title

• H01R13/7175

  Light emitting diodes (LEDs) · CPC title