Patent Application
20130187458
1. Field of the Invention
The instant disclosure relates to a power saving outlet system; in particular, to a power saving outlet system having capability of detecting the operational current consumed by the main device to determine the conductivity of the auxiliary devices for energy saving purposes.
2. Description of Related Art
Due to the rapid development of technology, computers and peripherals thereof are widely utilized. Generally, computers will be put in the stream of commerce along with the peripherals such as the printer or the speaker. And it is very common for the computers and the peripherals to share the same extension cord.
However, when the computers are not in use (in cases of being shut down or in the hibernation mode), the peripherals would still remain in the standby or operating condition if not concurrently switched off, resulting in unnecessary power consumption, and increasing the likelihood that the peripherals.
Therefore, an extension cord which can automatically determine the operational condition of the computer and cut off the power supply for the peripherals when the computer associated with the peripherals is not in use is needed.
The object of the instant disclosure is to provide a power saving outlet system. Based on the current consumption of a main device, the power saving outlet system is capable of determining the operational condition thereof. Thereby, an electrical power may not be supplied to the auxiliary device when the main device is not in use for the purpose of power consumption.
An embodiment of the instant disclosure is to provide a power saving outlet system which can receive the electrical power from an external power source. Furthermore, the power saving outlet system includes a main outlet, an auxiliary outlet, a current detection unit, and a control unit. The current detection unit generates a current detection signal according to an operational current of the main device. The control unit determines if the current detection signal is smaller than a threshold value to selectively cause the electrical power to be delivered from the external power source to the auxiliary device. If the control unit determines that the current detection signal is greater than the threshold value, the electrical is delivered to the external power source to the auxiliary outlet. On the contrary, if the control unit determines that the current detection signal is smaller than the threshold value, the electrical power source is not delivered to the auxiliary outlet.
In an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the power saving outlet system further includes a switch member for the auxiliary outlets coupled between the external power source and the auxiliary outlet. The switch member for the auxiliary outlets is controlled by the control unit to selectively cause the electrical power to be delivered from the external power source to the auxiliary outlet. In addition, the power saving outlet system includes an interface unit for receive commands for the control unit. An embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a method for controlling a power saving outlet system. Based on the operational current consumed by the main device, the controlling method can accurately determine the operational condition of the main device. Accordingly, the electrical power may be delivered or not delivered to from the external power source to the auxiliary outlet.
The method for controlling the power saving outlet system of an embodiment of the instant disclosure is capable of selectively supplying the electrical power from the external power source selectively to the main device, and the auxiliary device. Firstly, the method for controlling the power saving outlet system detects the operational current consumed by the main device. And the method includes determining if the current value is smaller than the threshold value. Thereafter, the controlling method selectively causes the electrical power to be delivered from the external power source to the auxiliary device. If the operational current is greater than the threshold value, the electrical power may be delivered from the external power source to the auxiliary device. Otherwise, the electrical power may not be delivered from the external power source to the auxiliary device.
In conclusion, in an embodiment of the instant disclosure, the power saving outlet system and the method for controlling thereof is capable of determining the operational condition of the main device based on the operational current consumed by the main device. If the power saving outlet system determines that the operational current is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, the electrical power may not be delivered to the auxiliary device for the purpose of power consumption.
In order to further appreciate the characteristics and technical contents of the instant disclosure, references are hereunder made to the detailed descriptions and appended drawings in connection with the instant disclosure. However, the appended drawings are merely shown for exemplary purposes, rather than being used to restrict the scope of the instant disclosure.
The aforementioned illustrations and following detailed descriptions are exemplary for the purpose of further explaining the scope of the instant disclosure. Other objectives and advantages related to the instant disclosure will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions and appended drawings.
Please refer to
The main outlet 10 is coupled respectively to the external power source 3 and the main device 4 so that the electrical power from the external power source could be delivered to the main device 4 through the main outlet 10. In one implementation, the main outlet 10 is an outlet of a computer while the main device 4 is a computer. It is worth noting that the main device 4 of the instant disclosure is not restricted to the computer. Rather, the main device 4 may be any electrical product as long as it is connected to the main outlet 10.
The auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b are coupled respectively to the auxiliary devices 5a and 5b and the external power source 3 so that the electrical power could be delivered to the respective auxiliary devices 5a and 5b. That the instant embodiment illustrates only two auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b with the corresponding auxiliary devices 5a and 5b is for exemplary purpose, as the number of the auxiliary outlets is not restricted as the result. In one implementation, the auxiliary devices 5a and 5b can be printers, speakers, monitors, fax machines, or lamps. Similarly, the auxiliary devices 5a and 5b may be any electrical product as long as they are connected to their respective auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b.
The current detection unit 14 is coupled to the main outlet 10 to generate a current detection signal after detecting an operational current transmitted to the main device 4 from the main outlet 10. The detection unit 14 may be a Hall-effect sensor that detects the change to the magnetic field caused by the operational current consumed by the main device 4 in order to deduce the operational current on basis of a relationship between the magnetic field and the operational current. Eventually, a current detection signal will be generated by the current detection unit 14 according to the operational current. Since the current detection unit 14 of the instant disclosure may detect the variation in the magnetic field for the deduction of the operational current from the main outlet 10 to the main device 4, the current detection 14 needs not be directly coupled in series between the main outlet 10 and the main device 4 to reduce the entire power consumption.
By relying on the relationship between the operational current and the variation in the magnetic field, a lookup table which states the corresponding relationship of the operational current and the magnetic field maybe established and saved in the current detection unit 14 in advance. For instance, if the main device 4 is a computer, the operational voltages of the computer when the computer is shut down, in a standby mode, in a hibernation mode, or fully operating can be recorded on the lookup table in advance. And the lookup table may be re-examined repeatedly to ensure the accuracy of the corresponding relationship between the operational current and the magnetic field. Note that the instant embodiment takes the current detection unit 14 as a Hall-effect sensor for example, however this is not restricted thereto. Known to any ordinary skilled person in the relevant art, as long as the current detection unit 14 can generate a current detection signal in accordance with the operational current, all kinds of detecting means can be utilized.
Note that the current detection unit 14 in the instant embodiment is utilized to detect the operational current of the main device 4. However, an operational voltage, power or any similar parameter may be utilized for the generation of the corresponding detection signals.
The control unit 16 is coupled to the current detection unit 14, and further coupled to the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b through the switch member for auxiliary outlets 18. The control unit 16 determines if the current detection signal is smaller than a threshold value to selectively conduct the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b accordingly. Specifically speaking, the control unit 16, at the time the current detection signal is greater than the threshold value, indicative of the main device 4 coupled to the main outlet 10 is consuming a high operational current since the main device 4 operates routinely, may control the switch member for auxiliary outlets 18 to ensure the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b remain conducted. In doing so, the peripherals of the computer that are coupled to the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b could remain powered when the computer as the main device 4 operates routinely.
On the other hand, if the current detection signal determined by the control unit 16 is smaller than the threshold value, indicating the main device 4 coupled to the main outlet 10 is consuming a low operational current with the main device 4 being shut down, or placed in the standby mode, or the hibernation mode, the control unit 16 will turn off the switch member for auxiliary outlets 18, such that no electrical power may be delivered to the auxiliary devices 5a and 5b coupled to the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b. It is worth noting that the switch member for auxiliary outlets 18 may not be turned off instantly by the control unit 16. Instead, the switch 18 may be turned off after a predetermined delay of time after the control unit 16 determines that the switch 18 may be turned off. And the switch member for auxiliary outlets 18 can be a relay, a button switch, a spring switch, or any other appropriate switch as long as the switch member for auxiliary outlets 18 can selectively cause the electrical power to be delivered from the external power source 3 to the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b. It is worth noting that if the current detection unit 14 detects that the main device 4 is put into the operational condition once more (such as restarting or awaking from the hibernation mode), the control unit 16 will turn on the switch member for auxiliary outlets 18 again.
In addition, the control unit 16 and the current detection unit 14 can be assembled by separate components, or integrally formed in a single chip. For instance, the control unit 16 and the current detection unit 14 of the instant disclosure are respectively the functional components of the AVR single chip.
[Another Embodiment of the Power Saving Outlet System]
Please refer to
The interface unit 22 is coupled to the control unit 16 for receiving commands for the control unit 16. Based on the received command, the control unit 16 will conduct or turn off the switch member for auxiliary outlets 18 accordingly. In one implementation, the interface unit 22 includes a plurality of buttons to respectively instruct the control unit 16 to function. For instance, a button on the interface unit 22 may enable/disable the energy conserving function of the power saving outlet system 1′. When that particular button is pressed or activated, the power saving outlet system 1′ of the instant embodiment may function the same way as a traditional extension cord. In other words, if that particular button is pressed, the control unit 16 of the instant embodiment will turn on and continuously maintain the conductivity of the switch member for the auxiliary outlets 18. Hence, the electrical power may be delivered to the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b without interruption. On the contrary, if that particular button is not pressed, the power saving outlet system 1′ of the instant embodiment will determine the operational current of the main device 4 to decide the necessity of conducting the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b.
The buttons on the interface unit 22 further include additional function of adjusting the threshold value, such as a button to increase the threshold value and a button to decrease the threshold value. For instance, when the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b need not be switched off when the main device is in the standby condition of the main device 4, the threshold value for the switch 18 to be turned off may be lowered to the value of the operational current when the main device 4 is under the standby condition, in order to cause the electrical power to be delivered to the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b even when the main device 4 is under the standby condition. As such, the user can decide whether the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b should be switched off under any of operational conditions of the main device 4.
The indicating unit 24 of the power saving outlet system 1′ indicates the operational condition of the main device 4. For instance, if the main device 4 is in the hibernation mode, the control unit 16 may ensure the operational condition of the main device 4 by determining the operational current of the main device 4, before controlling the indicating unit 24 to emit the lights or sound the alarms.
[An Embodiment of the Controlling Method for Power Saving Outlet System]
Please refer to
In the step S62, the current detection unit 14 generates a current detection signal according to an operational current of the main device 4. In the step S64, the control unit 16 determines if the current detection signal is smaller than the threshold value. If the current detection signal is smaller than the threshold value, the method may proceed to step S66 in which the control unit 16 controls the switch member for auxiliary outlets 18 to be turned off, such that the electrical power may not be delivered to the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b. If the current detection signal is greater than the threshold value, the method may proceed to step S68 in which the control unit 16 controls the switch member for auxiliary outlets 18 to remain turned on, such that the electrical power may be delivered to the auxiliary outlets 12a and 12b.
In conclusion, an embodiment of the instant disclosure provides a power saving outlet system and a controlling method thereof. According to the operational current consumed by the main device, the operational condition of the main device will be determined. If the operational current is below a predetermined threshold, the power saving outlet system will determine that the main device may not operate routinely so that the electrical power may not be delivered to the auxiliary device to reduce the energy consumption. The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferred embodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the characteristics of the instant disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes, alternations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the instant disclosure delineated by the following claims.
