Patent Publication Number: US-2013234534-A1

Title: Power socket with wireless communication capability, system having the same and method thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The instant disclosure relates to a socket; in particular, to a power socket with wireless communication capability, system having the same and method thereof. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The power control of the traditional home appliance can be made by manipulating the power switch on the traditional home appliance. However, the traditional home appliance may not have the function of remote-control. When the human operator wants to turn-on or turn-off the power of the traditional home appliance, he or she needs to switch the power manually or remove the power plug of the home appliance from the power socket of the supply mains (e.g. the public utility grid). When the human operator is not near to the home appliance, he or she may hard to switch the power of the home appliance. For example, when the human operator is not at home and finds out he forgot to turn-off the home appliance, he or she may go home and succeed in finding the home appliance for turning-off the home appliance. 
     Although, some home appliance have the function of wirelessly remote-control. It is not convenient for the human operator to carry all remote controllers for all home appliances. Furthermore, the distance of remote-controlling is usually limited, and the traditional remote controller may not work when the human operator is not at home. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the instant disclosure is to provide a power socket with wireless communication capability, system having the same and method thereof. The power socket with wireless communication capability can receive the control signal from the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability through the wireless router and the network service platform, and the power socket with wireless communication capability can be controlled by the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability accordingly. 
     In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a power socket with wireless communication capability is offered. The power socket with wireless communication capability comprises a power input unit, a power output unit, a switch, and a wireless communication module. The power input unit is for electrically coupling to a power source. The power output unit is for outputting the electric power of the power source. The switch is electrically coupled between the power input unit and the power output unit for controlling whether the power output unit outputs the electric power of the power source. The wireless communication module is electrically coupled to the power input unit and the switch for wirelessly receiving a control signal. The wireless communication module controls the switch according to the control signal. 
     In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a remote power switching system is offered. The remote power switching system comprises a wireless router and a power socket with wireless communication capability. The wireless router receives a control signal transmitted from a handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability through a network service platform, and the wireless router wirelessly transmits the control signal. The power socket with wireless communication capability comprises a power input unit, a power output unit, a switch, and a wireless communication module. The power input unit is for electrically coupling to a power source. The power output unit is for outputting the electric power of the power source. The switch is electrically coupled to the power input unit and the power output unit for controlling whether the power output unit outputs the electric power of the power source. The wireless communication module is electrically coupled to the power input unit and the switch for receiving the control signal wirelessly transmitted by the wireless router, and the wireless communication module controls the switch according to the control signal. 
     In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling a power socket with wireless communication capability is offered. The method is adapted for a remote power switching system. The remote power switching system comprises a wireless router and a power socket with wireless communication capability. The power socket with wireless communication capability is utilized for connecting to a power source. The method comprises a handled calculating device with wireless communication capability transmitting a control signal to the wireless router through a network service platform, the wireless router wirelessly transmitting the control signal to the power socket with wireless communication capability, and the control signal controlling whether the power socket with wireless communication capability outputs the electrical power of the power source. 
     In summary, the power socket with wireless communication capability, system having the same and method thereof can be used to connect the power socket with wireless communication capability between the power plug of electric device and the power outlet of the public utility grid. The human operator can use a handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability to control the power socket with wireless communication capability for switching the power of the electric device. When any electric device is connected to a power source (e.g. the public utility grid) through the power socket with wireless communication capability, the power of the electric device can be controlled by the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability. The human operator does not need to modify the electric device for remote-controlling the electric device. 
     In order to further the understanding regarding the present invention, the following embodiments are provided along with illustrations to facilitate the disclosure of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a block diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 1B  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 1C  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability connecting with an electrical device according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 2A  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 2B  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability connecting with a electrical device according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 2C  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 3A  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 3B  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability connecting with a electrical device according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic diagram of a remote power switching system according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a flow chart of a method for controlling a power socket with wireless communication capability according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The aforementioned illustrations and following detailed descriptions are exemplary for the purpose of further explaining the scope of the present invention. Other objectives and advantages related to the present invention will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions and appended drawings. 
     [An Embodiment of a Power Socket with Wireless Communication Capability] 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B ,  FIG. 1A  shows a block diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure,  FIG. 1B  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure. A power socket with wireless communication capability  1  comprises a casing  10 , a power input unit  11 , a power output unit  12 , a switch  13  and a wireless communication module  14 . The wireless communication module  14  has an antenna  141 . The power socket with wireless communication capability  1  is used for electrically coupling between a power source and an electrical device  16 . In this embodiment, the power source can be a public utility grid, and the power socket with wireless communication capability  1  transmits the electrical power of the public utility grid to the electrical device  16 . 
     The power input unit  11  is disposed on the surface of the casing  10 , and the power output unit  12  is disposed on the surface (another side) of the casing  12 . The switch  13  is electrically coupled between the power input unit  11  and the power output unit  12 . The wireless communication module  14  is electrically coupled to the power input unit  11  and the switch  13 . The power output unit  12  is for electrically coupling to the electrical device  16 . The antenna  141  of the wireless communication module  14  is disposed on the casing  10 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A  again. The power input unit  11  is for electrically coupling to a power source, such as a public utility grid. The power output unit  12  is for outputting the electrical power of the power source. The switch  13  is for controlling whether the power output unit  12  outputs the electrical power of the power source. The wireless communication module  14  is electrically coupled to the power input unit  11  and the switch  13 , for wirelessly receiving a control signal SI. The wireless communication module  14  transmits the control signal SI to the switch  13 . The wireless communication module  14  controls the switch  13  according to the control signal SI. The wireless communication module  14  can be a WiFi module or a Bluetooth module. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  again. For reducing the volume of the casing  10  and making the power plug of the electrical device  16  be easily connected to the power socket with wireless communication capability  1 , the power input unit  11  can be disposed on a first surface of the casing  10 , and the power output unit  12  can be disposed on a second surface of the casing  10 . In other words, the power input unit  11  and the power output unit  12  can be disposed on different surface of the casing, but the invention is not restricted thereto. 
     In this embodiment, the power input unit  11  has at least a conductive connector  111 , and three conductive connectors  111  are shown in  FIG. 1B , but the invention is not restricted thereto. In general, the voltage of the power source may about to 110 volts or 220 volts. A power source with 110 volts provides a signal phase alternating current (50˜60 Hz AC) which needs at least two connecting terminals, and the power source with 10 volts may needs a third connecting terminals for grounding. A power source with 220 volts provides three phase alternating current (AC) which needs three connecting terminals. The conductive connectors  111 , shown in  FIG. 1B , are for connecting the three terminals of the power source with 110 volts (or 220 volts), and the conductive connectors  111  are protruding from the surface of the casing  10 . In other words, the connective connectors  111  can be male-type conductive connectors. In general, the power outlet (connected to the public utility grid) embedded in the wall or the pillar has inserting holes (female-type), thus the power socket with wireless communication capability  1  can be electrically coupled to the public utility grid through the conductive connectors  111  of the power input unit  11 . However, the type of the conductive connector  111  of the power input unit  11  is not restricted thereto; the conductive connector  111  can also be a female-type conductive connector, as long as the conductive connector  111  can be connected to the connector of the power source. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  again. The power output  12  has at least an inserting hole  121  disposed on the surface of the casing. In this embodiment, the power output unit  12  has three inserting holes  121 , as shown in  FIG. 1B . The power plug of the electrical device  16  can be connected to the inserting holes  121  for making the electrical device  16  receive electrical power of the public utility grid through the power socket with wireless communication capability  1 . The electrical device  16  can be home appliance, such as the audio equipment, a desk lamp, or an electric fan. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  again. The switch  13  is conductive or non-conductive according to the control signal SI. The control signal SI can be a voltage transmitted from the wireless transmission module  14  to the switch  13 . For example, when the control signal SI is at a high voltage level (e.g. 12 volts), the switch  13  is conductive. When the control signal SI is at a low voltage level (e.g. 5 volts), the switch  13  is non-conductive. When the switch  13  is conductive, the electric power received by the power input unit  11  can be transmitted to the power output unit  12  through the switch  13 . When the switch  13  is non-conductive, the electric power received by the power input unit  11  can not be transmitted to the power output unit  12 . 
     Additionally, the wireless communication module  14  can transmit a status signal, the status signal can indicate whether the power output unit  12  outputs electric power of the power source. For example, when the wireless communication module  14  transmits the control signal SI the switch  13  for making the switch  13  be non-conductive, the wireless communication module  14  can wirelessly transmits the status signal for indicating the power socket with wireless communication capability  1  not outputting electric power of the power source. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1B  again. The antenna  141  is disposed on the surface of the casing  10 , but the invention is not restricted thereto. The antenna  141  is for ease of explanation, the antenna  141  can be an internal antenna installed in the casing  10 . An artisan of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the implementation manner of the antenna  141 , thus there is no need to go into details. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B , and  FIG. 1C ,  FIG. 1C  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability connecting with an electrical device according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure. The power socket with wireless communication capability  1  is connected to the power outlet  200  through the conductive connectors  111  of the power input unit  11 . The power plug of the electric device  16  can be connected to the inserting holes  121  of the power output unit  12  for making the electric device  16  receive electric power of the public utility grid through the power socket with wireless communication capability  1 . The power socket with wireless communication capability  1  can also be designed to be easy to carry, thus the convenience of controlling the electric device  16  can be increased. 
     [Another Embodiment of the Power Socket with Wireless Communication Capability] 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2A  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure. The power socket with wireless communication capability  2  comprises a casing  20 , a power input unit  21 , an extension cord  25 , three power output units  22 , a switch (not shown in the figure), and a wireless communication module (not shown in the figure). The wireless communication module has an antenna  241 . The power input unit  21  has at least a conductive connector  211 . Each of the power output unit  22  has at least an inserting hole  221 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the power socket with wireless communication capability  2  has three power output units  22 , and each of the power output unit  22  has three inserting holes  221 , but the invention is not restricted thereto. 
     The block diagram of the power socket with wireless communication capability  2  is the same as to the block diagram of the power socket with wireless communication capability  1  in the previous embodiment (shown in  FIG. 1A ), thus the redundant information is not repeated. The power socket with wireless communication capability  2  is significantly identical to the power socket with wireless communication capability  1  of the previous embodiment except for differences specified in the follows. The power socket with wireless communication capability  2  further comprises the extension cord  25 . The extension cord  25  is electrically coupled to the switch  13  and the wireless communication module  14 , and the extension cord  25  extends from the surface of the casing  20 . The power input unit  21  has at least a conductive connector  211  electrically coupled to the extension cord  25  for making the power input unit  21  be electrically coupled to the power source (e.g. public utility grid) through the conductive connector  211 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1B ,  FIG. 2A , and  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 2B  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability connecting with a electrical device according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure. The power socket with wireless communication capability  2  is utilized for electrically coupling between the power source and the electric device  16 . Comparing to the power socket with wireless communication capability  1  shown in  FIG. 1B , the power socket with wireless communication capability  2  of this embodiment not only can have multiple power output units  22  for connecting multiple electric devices  16  but also has the extension cord  25 . The extension cord  25  is for making the power socket with wireless communication capability  2  have the capability of being moved away from the power outlet  200 . 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2C ,  FIG. 2C  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure. It is worth mentioning that the inserting holes  221  of the power output unit  22  shown in  FIG. 2A  can be changed to the male-type conductive connector. But the instant disclosure is not so restricted, as long as the power output unit  22  can be connected to the power connector of the electric device  16 . For example, the power output unit  22  of the power socket with wireless communication capability  2  can be the conductive connector  222  in male-type shown in  FIG. 2C , and the conductive connector  222  protrudes from the surface of the casing  20 . When the electric device  16  is a handset, the power connector for charging the electric device  16  can be a conductive connector  223  in female-type. In summary, the power output unit  22  of the power socket with wireless communication capability  2  can be designed corresponding to the power connector of the electric device  16 . 
     [Another Embodiment of the Power Socket with Wireless Communication Capability] 
     Please refer to  FIG. 3A ,  FIG. 3A  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure. A power socket with wireless communication capability  3  is embedded in the wall or pillar, and the power socket with wireless communication capability  3  can replace the traditional power outlet on the wall. The power socket with wireless communication capability  3  comprises a casing  30 , a power input unit (not shown in the figure), a power output unit  32 , a switch (not shown in the figure), and a wireless communication module (not shown in the figure). The wireless communication module has an antenna  141 . At least a power output unit  32  has at least an inserting hole  321 , and the inserting hole is disposed on the surface of the casing  30 . In  FIG. 3A , the power socket with wireless communication capability  3  has two power output units  32 , and each of the power output unit  32  has three inserting holes  321 , but the instant disclosure is not restricted thereto. 
     The block diagram of the power socket with wireless communication capability  3  is the same as to the block diagram of the power socket with wireless communication capability  1  shown in  FIG. 1A , thus the redundant information is not repeated. The power socket with wireless communication capability  3  is significantly identical to the power socket with wireless communication capability  3  except for differences specified in the follows. The power input unit of the power socket with wireless communication capability  3  is disposed in the casing  30 , thus the power input unit is directly connected to the power source. For example, the conductive connector of the power input unit is directly connected to the indoor wiring of the public utility grid. An artisan of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the implementation manner of the power input unit, thus there is no need to go into details. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1B ,  FIG. 3A , and  FIG. 3B ,  FIG. 3B  shows a schematic diagram of a power socket with wireless communication capability connecting with a electrical device according to another embodiment of the instant disclosure. The power socket with wireless communication capability  3  is utilized to be connected between the power source and the electric device  16 . Comparing to the power socket with wireless communication capability  1  shown in  FIG. 1B , the power socket with wireless communication capability  3  of this embodiment is embedded in the wall or the pillar, thus the power socket with wireless communication capability  3  can replace the traditional power outlet. 
     [An Embodiment of the Remote Power Switching System] 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1A ,  FIG. 1B , and  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 4  shows a schematic diagram of a remote power switching system according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure. A remote power switching system  40  comprises a power socket with wireless communication capability  4 , a wireless router  41  and a handled calculating device with wireless communication capability  42 . The power socket with wireless communication capability  4  is the same as to the power socket with wireless communication capability  1  shown in  FIG. 1B , and the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  comprises a power input unit  401 , a power output  402 , a switch (not shown in the figure), and a wireless communication module (not shown in the figure). 
     The wireless router  41  transmits the control signal SI to the power socket with wireless communication capability  4 . The handled calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  is wirelessly linked to the network service platform  43  and transmits the control signal SI to the wireless router  41  through the network service platform  43 . The power socket with wireless communication capability  4  can be connected to the electric device  44 ,  45 , or  46  through the power output unit  42 . 
     The network service platform  43  can be a server or a virtual server with cloud computing capability. The handled calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  can be a smart phone or a tablet PC. The handled calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  can be installed with a application program, thus the human operator can operate the mentioned application program to make the handled calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  be linked to the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  through the network service platform  43  and the wireless router  41 . For example, the handled calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  links to the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  according to the Media Access Control Address (MAC) of the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  provided by the wireless router  41  and the network service platform  43 . 
     The power socket with wireless communication capability  4  is the same as to the power socket with wireless communication capability  1  shown in  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B . The power input unit  401  is for connecting to the power source, and the power output unit  402  is for outputting the electric power of the power source. The power input unit  401  is the power input unit  11  shown in  FIG. 1A , and the power output unit  402  is the power output unit  12 . The switch and the wireless communication module of the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  are the switch  13  and the wireless communication module  14  shown in  FIG. 1A  respectively. In other words, the mentioned switch is electrically coupled between the power input unit  401  and the power output unit  402  for controlling whether the power output unit  402  outputs the electric power of the power source. The mentioned wireless communication module is electrically coupled to the power input unit  401  and the mentioned switch for wirelessly receiving the control signal SI. The wireless communication module controls the mentioned switch according to the control signal SI. For example, the control signal SI can be included in the data packets transmitted to the power socket with wireless communication capability  4 , and interpretation of the control signal SI can be made by the wireless communication module. 
     Additionally, the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  can transmits status signal ST for indicating whether the power output unit  402  outputs the electric power of the power source. For example, when the wireless communication module of the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  transmits the control signal SI to the switch for making the switch be non-conductive, the wireless communication module of the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  can wirelessly transmit the status signal ST for indicating the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  does not output electric power of the power source. For example, the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  can transmit status signal ST including the MAC address of the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  to the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  according to the communication protocol for linking the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  and the power socket with wireless communication capability  4 . 
     However, the instant disclosure is not so restricted. The status signal ST can be included in the data packets transmitted to the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability  42 . The manner of addressing the data packets to the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  can be, for example, using the Web address or the address of the Internet Protocol (IP). 
     More specifically, the wireless communication module of the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  transmits the status signal ST to the wireless router  41 , and the status signal ST is for indicating whether the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  outputs the electric power of the power source. Then the status signal ST is transmitted from the wireless router  41  to the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  through the network service platform  43 . Accordingly, the human operator of the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  can be informed whether the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  outputs electric power of the power source, and the human operator can know whether the power of the electric device  44 ,  45 , or  46  is turned-on or turned-off. 
     [An Embodiment of a Method for Controlling a Power Socket with Wireless Communication Capability] 
     Please refer to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 5  shows a flow chart of a method for controlling a power socket with wireless communication capability according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure. The method is adapted for the remote power switching system  40  comprising the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability  42 , the wireless router  41  and the power socket with wireless communication capability  4 . The method comprises following steps. 
     Firstly, in step S 510 , the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  wirelessly transmits the status signal ST to the wireless router, wherein the status signal ST indicates whether the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  outputs the electric power of the power source. Then, in step S 520 , the wireless router  41  transmits the status signal ST to the handheld calculating device with communication capability  42  through the network service platform  43 . The step S 510  and the step  520  can make the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  transmit the status signal ST to the handheld calculating device with communication capability  42 . The handheld calculating device with communication capability  42  can be installed with an application program for linking with the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  by using the network service platform  43  and the wireless router  41 . The mentioned application program can generate a function icon displayed on the screen of the hand held calculating device with communication capability  42  for representing the status signal ST. Thus, the human operator can know whether the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  outputs the electric power of the power source by seeing the mentioned function icon. It is worth mentioning that the step S 510  and the step S 520  can be executed after the following steps S 530 , S 540 , and S 550  or before the steps S 530 , S 540 , and S 550 . 
     In step S 530 , the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  transmits the control signal SI to the wireless router  41  through the network service platform  43 . More specifically, the human operator can check up whether the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  outputs the electric power of the power source. The human operator can manipulate the input interface (e.g. buttons or the touch screen) of the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  to make the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  transmit the control signal SI to the wireless router  41  through the network service platform  43 . 
     In step S 540 , the wireless router  41  wirelessly transmits the control signal SI to the power socket with wireless communication capability  4 . In step S 550 , the control signal SI controls whether the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  outputs the electric power of the power source. According to the steps S 520 ˜S 550 , the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability  42  can remote-control the power socket with wireless communication capability  4  to output electric power of the power source or not. 
     According to the aforementioned embodiments, the power socket with wireless communication capability, system having the same and method thereof can be used to connect the power socket with wireless communication capability between the power plug of electric device and the power outlet of the public utility grid. The human operator can use a handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability to control the power socket with wireless communication capability for switching the power of the electric device. When any electric device is connected to a power source (e.g. the public utility grid) through the power socket with wireless communication capability, the power of the electric device can be controlled by the handheld calculating device with wireless communication capability. The human operator does not need to modify the electric device for remote-controlling the electric device. Additionally, the power socket with wireless communication capability can replace the traditional power socket. The power socket can be designed to be easy to carry, or the power socket can have an extension cord for letting the human operator make the power setting of any electric device to be remotely controllable. Thus, the convenience of using the electric devices is significantly improved. 
     The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferred embodiments of the present invention; however, the characteristics of the present invention 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 present invention delineated by the following claims.