Abstract:
A power block is provided having a plurality of individually, remotely controlled power ports switchable between an on state and an off state which users may connect electronic devices. The power block determines the desired power state for the particular power port that a particular electronic device is connected based on infrared codes used to power on or off the particular electronic device and switches the port between the on or off state accordingly.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates in general to a method and apparatus for controlling power supplied to electrical equipment. More particularly the present invention is related to a power control system and method of controlling power to a group of switchable electrical slave outlets to energize and de-energize equipment connected thereto 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    It is common for almost every electronic device to be found within three states power consumption. The first state is one in which the device is not connected to a power source. The second state is one in which the device is connected to a power source, yet the electronic device is not powered on. The third state is one in which the device is connected to a power source, and the device is powered on. The difference between states one and two as they relate to power consumption is that in state one the amount of power consumed by the device is zero. In state two a small amount of power is being consumed by the device. This second state can also be referred to as sleep mode or one in which the device can resume typical operation and function in a short amount of time. 
         [0003]    Household electronic devices will remain in the second state for a majority of their remaining useful life. The cost to power an electronic device in this slow drain state can be significant and for many electronic devices can exceed $30 per year. One reason devices remain in this state is that to disconnect power from the electronic device requires physically disconnecting the device from the power source. 
         [0004]    Most electronic devices come with a remote utilizing infrared, blue tooth, radio frequency, or equivalent wireless protocol to communicate with the electronic device at a distance. Remotes are extremely convenient for powering an electronic device on or off, however they do not address the problem of completely powering off an electronic device thereby reducing its power consumption to zero. A device which can leverage the components within existing electronic devices and the accompanying remote to reduce power consumption to zero when the device is powered off but still connected the a power source can yield significant savings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In accordance with these needs, a controlling device referred to as a power block is disclosed having programming which ensures a connected electronic device will be placed into the desired power state. The power block determines the desired power state for the port connecting an electronic device based on infrared codes used to power on or off the connected electronic device. 
         [0006]    An apparatus according to at least one embodiment is provided that includes a connection to a power source; a plurality of power ports, each of the power ports switchable between an on state and an off state, wherein in an on state power from the power source is supplied to electronic equipment connected to a power port and in an off state power from the power source is not supplied to the electronic equipment connected to the power port; a receiver, the apparatus operable therewith to receive a code from a remote control device and therewith switch each of the power ports individually between the on state and the off state; and a controller, the apparatus operable therewith to determine whether a code received from the remote control device is associated with a particular power port and to switch the particular power port between states a predetermined time after receiving the code from the remote control device. 
         [0007]    The apparatus may also include a memory that stores codes for controlling a plurality of electronic devices. In this instance, the controller is operable therewith to evaluate the code received against the codes stored on the memory and to switch a particular power port between states based on a particular electronic device being connected to the particular power port and the code received. 
         [0008]    The memory may further store a delay associated with each of a plurality of electronic devices. The controller may be operable to switch the particular power port between states in the predetermined time after receiving the code according to the delay associated with the particular electronic device connected to the particular power port. 
         [0009]    In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a state machine that determines at least one of a state of a particular power port and whether an electronic device connected to the particular power port is turned on or off. In this instance, the controller is operable to switch the particular power port to the off state in response to receiving the code for controlling the particular electronic device connected to the particular power port when at least one of the particular power port is in the on state and the particular electronic device connected to the particular power port is turned on. 
         [0010]    The code received may be associated with a particular type of electronic device. In this instance, at least one of the power ports of the apparatus and the particular electronic device are both controlled with the code received, and the controller is operable to switch the power port to the off state the predetermined time after receiving the code. 
         [0011]    The apparatus may also include a state machine that determines at least one of a state of a particular power port and whether an electronic device connected to the particular power port is turned on or off. In this instance, the controller is operable to switch the particular power port to the on state in response to receiving the code for controlling the particular electronic device connected to the particular power port when at least one of the particular power port is in the off state and the particular electronic device connected to the particular power port is turned off. 
         [0012]    The code received may be associated with a particular type of electronic device. In this instance, at least one of the power ports of the apparatus and the particular electronic device are both controlled with the code received, and the controller is operable to switch the power port to the on state with the code received. 
         [0013]    The apparatus may also include a transmitter, the apparatus operable therewith to transmit a code to control the particular electronic device connected to the particular power port. In this instance, the controller is operable to transmit the code for controlling the particular electronic device and therewith turn the particular electronic device on a predetermined time after the particular power port is switched to the on state. 
         [0014]    The code transmitted to turn the particular electronic device on may be a minor or the same code received that turns the particular power port to the on state. 
         [0015]    In at least one embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a connection to a power source; a plurality of power ports, each of the power ports switchable between an on state and an off state, wherein in an on state power from the power source is supplied to electronic equipment connected to a power port and in an off state power from the power source is not supplied to the electronic equipment connected to the power port; a receiver, the apparatus operable therewith to receive a code from a remote control device and therewith switch each of the power ports individually between the on state and the off state; a memory that stores codes for controlling a plurality of electronic devices and a delay associated with each of the plurality of electronic devices, and a controller, the apparatus operable therewith to determine whether a code received from the remote control device is associated with a particular power port and to switch the particular power port from an on state to an off state a predetermined time after receiving the code from the remote control device according to the delay associated with the particular electronic device connected to the particular power port. 
         [0016]    The code received may be associated with a particular type of electronic device. In this instance, at least one of the power ports of the apparatus and the particular electronic device are both controlled with the code received. 
         [0017]    The controller may be operable to switch the particular power port to the on state in response to receiving the code for controlling the particular electronic device connected to the particular power port when at least one of the particular power port is in the off state and the particular electronic device connected to the particular power port is turned off. The controller may also be operable to switch the power port to the on state with the code received. 
         [0018]    The apparatus may include a transmitter, the apparatus operable therewith to transmit a code to control the particular electronic device connected to the particular power port. In this instance, the controller may be operable to transmit the code for controlling the particular electronic device and therewith turn the particular electronic device on a predetermined time after the particular power port is switched to the on state. 
         [0019]    The code transmitted to turn the particular electronic device on may be a minor or the same code received that turns the particular power port to the on state. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a common system for providing power to common household electronic devices; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of an inventive power block management system for reducing the cost to power electronic devices according to one embodiment; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of an inventive power block management system for reducing the cost to power electronic devices according to an alternate embodiment; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram of an inventive power block management system for reducing the cost to power electronic devices according to a second alternate; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a state machine illustrating the operation of permitting or eliminating power to a connected electronic device on a power block port according to one embodiment; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5   a  is a flow chart illustrating the operation of a state machine to control the inventive power block for powering on connected electronic devices; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5   a  is a state machine illustrating the operation of permitting power to a connected electronic device on a power block port according to one embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5   a  is a state machine illustrating the operation of eliminating power to a connected electronic device on a power block port according to one embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a detailed diagrammatic view of data flow in an inventive power block according to one embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a state machine illustrating the operation of updating a power block with infrared codes to 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]      FIG. 1  is a diagram of a common system for providing power to common household electronic devices. A power source  105  is connected to a surge protector  110  via a power cable  107 . Power source  105  is operable to provide alternating current (AC) for the operation of electronic devices. Surge protector  110  is operable to prevent voltage spikes that exceed the operating voltage of an electronic device connected to surge protector  110  which would cause significant damage to an electronic device connected directly to power source  105 . Surge protector  110  is connected to a television  120  (herein referred to as TV) via a power cable  122 . TV  120  is an electronic device that&#39;s primary function is to display video when connected to a video source. A remote  125  is operable to communicate with TV  120  at a distance. 
         [0031]    During normal operation of TV  120  of  FIG. 1  a user (not shown) may power TV  120  off by utilizing a power button  125   a  on remote  125 . This method for powering on/off TV  120  does not actually cut the power to TV  120 . A measurement taken at a point along power cable  122  would indicate a small amount of power well below the operational level of TV  120 , but significant enough to increase the cost to power TV  120 . A cost to power household electronic devices equation is the product of power consumed and the rate charged per unit of power for each electronic device j. 
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         [0032]    The cost to power household electronic devices equation increases as a result of power usage increasing. Referring back to  FIG. 1  user may also power off TV  120  by disconnected either power cable  107  or power cable  122 . This method for powering on/off TV  105  reduces all current to TV as well as effectively reducing the cost to power electronic devices equation to zero for a particular electronic device j to zero. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of an inventive power block management system  200  for reducing the cost to power electronic devices according to one embodiment. A power source  205  is connected to a power block  210  via a power cable  207 . Power source  205  is operable to provide alternating current (AC) for the operation of electronic devices. Power block  210  is an electronic device operable to permit or eliminate power to connected electronic devices as determined by a power block state machine  210   a . The operation of power block state machine  210   a  is described below. A power block infrared reader  210   b  is operable to read infrared codes. A power block remote  212  is operable to control the function of power block  210  at a distance and includes a power block remote transmitter  212   a  operable to transmit infrared codes to power block  210 . Power block  210  is connected via a plurality of power cables  220   a - 220   n  to a plurality of electronic devices  215   a - 215   n . Each of the plurality of electronic devices includes an electronic device infrared reader  225   a - 225   n  operable to read infrared codes. A plurality of remotes  230   a - 230   n  control operation for each of plurality of electronic devices  215   a - 215   n . Control operation is performed via the transmission of infrared codes by a remote infrared code transmitter  235   a - 235   n  in each of remotes  230   a - 230   n.    
         [0034]    The power block  210  may include a remote receiver (not shown). That is, the power block  210  may be located at a location removed from the electronic device that will be controlled with the power block  210 . For example, the power block  210  may be near the floor or inside a television cabinet while the television plugged into the power block is elevated in the television cabinet. This arrangement may prevent the remote transmitter from communicating successfully with the receiver of the power block  210  every time. In this respect, the power block receiver may be coupled to the block with an extension/dongle. This allows the receiver to be placed near the receiver of the electronic device so as to limit the limitations noted above with receivers remote from the electronic device. The remote receiver may also include a transmitter coupled with the extension/dongle to the power block  210  in the event that the power block transmits control signals to the electronic device or devices to similarly unsuccessful communications between the power block and the electronic equipment. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of an inventive power block management system  300  for reducing the cost to power electronic devices according to an alternate embodiment. A power source  305  is connected to a power block  310  via a power cable  307 . Power block  310  includes a state machine  310   a  and an infrared reader  310   b . Each of the functional blocks  305 ,  310 ,  310   a , and  310   b  is substantially similar in function and operation to blocks  205 ,  210 ,  210   a , and  210   b  of  FIG. 2 . An audio/video receiver  315  (herein referred to as AVR) is connected to power block  310  via a power cable  312 . AVR  315  is operable to receive audio and video signals and retransmit them to speakers, television, or any video display device/audio transmission device. AVR  315  includes an AVR infrared reader  315   a  operable to read infrared codes. An AVR remote  325  operable to control the function of AVR  315  at a distance includes a remote infrared transmitter  325   a  operable to transmit infrared codes to AVR  315 . A pre-amplifier  320  is connected to power block  310  via a power cable  322 . Audio signal passed from AVR  315  via an audio cable  326  is processed by pre-amplifier  320 . 
         [0036]    The function and operation of pre-amplifier  320  is only necessary when AVR  315  is functional and operational. Therefore it is only necessary to power pre-amplifier  320  when AVR  315  is also powered. Both AVR  315  and pre-amplifier  320  are connected to power block  310 . Power block management system  300  allows for the nearly simultaneous powering on or off of both AVR  315  and pre-amplifier  320 . It is not uncommon for electronic devices to be without an infrared reader and pre-amplifier  320  is described as one such device. 
         [0037]      FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram of an inventive power block management system  400  for reducing the cost to power electronic devices according to a second alternate embodiment. A power source  405  is connected via a power cable  407  to a power block module  410  within a television (herein referred to as TV)  415 . Power block module  410  includes a state machine  410   a . Each of the functional blocks  405 ,  410 , and  410   a  is substantially similar in function and operation to blocks  205 ,  210 , and  210   a  of  FIG. 2 . TV  415  includes a TV infrared reader  415   a  operable to receive transmitted infrared codes. Also included in power block management system  400  is a TV remote  420  operable to transmit infrared codes via a TV remote infrared transmitter to control TV  415 . 
         [0038]    A data and control path  425  (herein refereed to as path) connects TV infrared port  415   a  and power block module  410 . Path  425  provides the infrared codes to power block module  410  in which they are evaluated based on state machine  410   a  described below on  FIG. 5 . Incorporating the function of the power block module  410  into an electronic device such as TV  415  leverages the existing TV infrared port  415   a  to accomplish permitting or eliminating power to an electronic device when it is powered off. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a state machine process for the operation of permitting or eliminating power to a connected electronic device on a power block port according to one embodiment. Beginning at idle step  505 , if in a step  510  a connected electronic device is powered on, then in a step  515  the connected electronic device is powered off. Otherwise in a step  520  the connected electronic device is powered on. 
         [0040]      FIG. 5   a  is a state machine illustrating the operation of eliminating power to a connected electronic device on a power block port according to one embodiment. If in a step  515   a  an infrared code has been received then in a step  515   b  it is verified if the infrared code is known by comparing to a list of stored infrared codes. Only the infrared codes that refer to powering an electronic device are stored in power block. If in a step  515   b  the infrared code is known, then in a step  515   c  a delay is determined. Otherwise the state machine returns to check for infrared codes. The delay determined in step  515   c  refers to the amount of time power block waits to eliminate power on the port connecting the electronic device desired to be powered off. The delay according to one embodiment is a predetermined time that exceeds the longest time necessary for an electronic device to process the infrared code to power off the electronic device. Recall that both the electronic device and power block receive the infrared code simultaneously. The delay according to an alternate embodiment is specified by the electronic device according to the manufacturer&#39;s specification regarding the time necessary to power off the electronic device. Next, in a step  515   d  power is eliminated on the port connecting the electronic device. 
         [0041]    In one embodiment, the power block and/or the transmitter are programmable to communicate a series of control signals to a plurality of devices. For example, the remote and/or the power block may be programmed to power down electronic equipment and the ports that the equipment are plugged into in a particular sequence. For instance, the remote or a button thereon may be programmed to shut the power off on a TV, followed by the power on an A/V device, then the individual ports after the applicable delay. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5   b  is a state machine illustrating the operation of permitting power to a connected electronic device on a power block port according to one embodiment. If in a step  520   a  an infrared code has been received then in a step  520   b  it is verified if the infrared code is known by comparing to a list of stored infrared codes. Only the infrared codes that refer to powering an electronic device are stored in power block. If in a step  520   b  the infrared code is known, then in a step  520   c  the port connecting the electronic device is powered on. The power block device may mirror the infrared code to the electronic device to turn the device on a predetermined time after the power block port is turned on. Again, the delay time may vary based on the equipment being turned on. The power block may determine the state of the electronic device following transmission of the signal to turn the device on to ensure that the device has been turned on. If not, the power block may repeat the transmission until the device is actually turned on or for a certain number of times. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is a detailed diagrammatic view of data flow in an inventive power block  602  according to one embodiment. Power block infrared reader  605  is connected via a data and control path  607  (herein referred to as path) to a memory  610  operable to store the infrared codes used to power electronic devices. A path  612  from infrared reader  605  is connected to an infrared code update module  615  operable to interface with memory storage  250  for adding or removing infrared codes. Memory  610  is connected via a path  617  to a delay module  620  operable to provide the necessary wait time for permitting or eliminating power to the electronic device connected to power block  602 . A path is connected to a port select module  625 , which determines from memory  610  which port will permit or eliminate power. 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart state machine for updating codes for the operation of updating infrared codes of the power block. Beginning in an idle step  705 , if the new infrared code mode has been initialized in a step  710 , then in a step  715  the new infrared code is verified to have been received on the power block infrared reader. Otherwise the state machine returns to idle step  705 . If in step  710  the new infrared code has been received on the power block infrared reader, then in a step  720  the new infrared code is added to the memory of power block. The new code is preferably assigned to one of a plurality of power ports on the power block. 
         [0045]    While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, from a reading of the disclosure, that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention.