Patent ID: 6735705
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An electronic switch for monitoring a first electrical or electronic appliance or device to control other electronic appliances, devices, accessories or equipment, the switch comprising:incoming power lines for connecting the switch to an external source of A. C. electrical power; a sensed power outlet to which said first electrical or electronic device is plugged in; a non-linear, current-sensing subcircuit interconnected between said incoming powering lines and said sensed outlet for monitoring step changes in the current drawn by said first electrical or electronic device and outputting a monitoring signal, said current sensing subcircuit comprising: a step-up transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, the primary winding connected in series between said sensed power outlet and one of said incoming power lines; a pair of power diodes for carrying large amounts of current shunted across said primary winding in anti-parallel relation for delivering a non-linear voltage to said step-up transformer primary in response to current traveling through them that is delivered to said sensed power outlet; a capacitor connected in parallel with said diodes; and, a filtering and rectifying circuit connected to said step-up transformer secondary winding for generating said monitoring signal; at least one controlled outlet to which said other electronic appliances, devices, accessories or equipment are plugged in; and, a control subcircuit responsive to said monitoring signal for turning said at least one controlled outlet off and on, said control subcircuit comprising solid state switching means responsive to the monitoring signal, and a microcontroller that executes suitable software steps for dynamically determining the precise points at which the control subcircuit should be activated or deactivated.