Patent ID: 8000074
Filing Date: 2011-08-16
Classification: G06K,H01H,H01R,H02H,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
1. An electrical power distribution system for connecting an electrical device, having a predetermined electrical load rating, electrically connected to an electrical plug, to a source of electrical power and disconnecting the electrical device therefrom, the system comprising: a PCD tag carried by a plug connected to the electrical device, the PCD tag comprising a PCD tag memory in which data related to the electrical device is stored in a format readable by the PCD reader, said data comprising an electrical device load rating for the electrical device that is used to program the value of a disconnect signal; a PCD reader associated with at least one electrical receptacle electrically connectable to the source of electrical power, said at least one receptacle having a predetermined maximum electrical receptacle load rating and being adapted to receive said electrical plug electrically connected to the electrical device; at least one switch device for connecting said at least one electrical receptacle to the source of electrical power and for disconnecting said at least one electrical receptacle from the source of electrical power upon receipt of said disconnect signal, wherein the value of said disconnect signal is determined to be the lower of the data stored in said PCD tag carried by the electrical plug and the maximum electrical receptacle load rating so that the same electrical receptacle can be used for electrical devices having different electrical load ratings that do not exceed the maximum electrical load rating of the electrical receptacle; at least one measuring device for measuring actual current presented through said at least one electrical receptacle by the electrical device; and a control circuit adapted to compare said actual load current of said electrical device to said electrical load rating of said electrical device stored in said PCD tag and said maximum electrical receptacle load rating to provide said disconnect signal based upon the lower of said electrical load rating of said electrical device stored in said PCD tag and said maximum electrical receptacle load rating to said at least one switch device upon said actual current load exceeding the lower of said electrical load rating of said electrical device as stored in said PCD tag memory and said maximum electrical receptacle load rating.