Controllable electrical outlet and a method of operation thereof

Abstract

Controllable electrical outlets and systems and methods for controlling and disabling the electrical outlets. A controllable electrical outlet includes a current sensor, an electrical switch, and a microcontroller. When an electrical load is plugged into the electrical outlet, the current sensor senses the flow of current and a current sense event is reported from the electrical outlet to a central computer. The central computer provides timing and control of the electrical outlet. When a predetermined elapsed time has passed, as measured by the central computer, a timed-out event is communicated from the central computer to the electrical outlet triggering the electrical switch, opening the current path within the electrical outlet such that electrical current no longer flows to the electrical load. Communication between the central computer and an electrical outlet may occur, for example, via existing electrical wiring, wirelessly, or via dedicated communication wiring.

1 . An electrical outlet comprising:
 a hot electrical terminal;   a neutral electrical terminal;   a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal in response to a current drawing load being plugged into said electrical outlet;   a carrier-current transceiver operatively connected to said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal to receive and transmit messages over existing electrical wires;   an electrical switch capable of being automatically triggered to switch from a closed position to an open position, thereby stopping said flowing electrical current; and   an addressable microcontroller operatively connected to said carrier-current transceiver, said current sensor, and said electrical switch to facilitate communication of a current sense event from said current sensor to said carrier-current transceiver within said electrical outlet, and to facilitate communication of a timed-out event from said carrier-current transceiver to said electrical switch within said electrical outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The electrical outlet of  claim 1  further comprising a power regulator operatively connected between said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal to convert AC electrical power to DC electrical power. 
     
     
         3 . The electrical outlet of  claim 2  wherein said power regulator is further operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said addressable microcontroller, and said electrical switch to provide said DC electrical power thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The electrical outlet of  claim 1  further comprising a DC battery operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said addressable microcontroller, and said electrical switch to provide DC electrical power thereto. 
     
     
         5 . The electrical outlet of  claim 1  further comprising a reset button operatively connected to said electrical switch to facilitate closing of said electrical switch. 
     
     
         6 . In an electrical outlet for providing AC electrical power to an electrical load, the electrical outlet having a hot electrical portion and a neutral electrical portion and being capable of having an electrical load plugged thereinbetween, the improvement comprising a safety apparatus comprising:
 a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between said hot electrical portion and said neutral electrical portion in response to a current drawing load being plugged into said electrical outlet;   a carrier-current transceiver operatively connected to said hot electrical portion and said neutral electrical portion to receive and transmit messages over existing electrical wires;   an electrical switch capable of being automatically triggered to switch from a closed position to an open position, thereby stopping said flowing electrical current; and   an addressable microcontroller operatively connected to said carrier-current transceiver, said current sensor, and said electrical switch to facilitate communication of a current sense event from said current sensor to said carrier-current transceiver within said electrical outlet, and to facilitate communication of a timed-out event from said carrier-current transceiver to said electrical switch within said electrical outlet.   
     
     
         7 . The safety apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a power regulator operatively connected between said hot electrical portion and said neutral electrical portion to convert AC electrical power to DC electrical power. 
     
     
         8 . The safety apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said power regulator is further operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said addressable microcontroller, and said electrical switch to provide said DC electrical power thereto. 
     
     
         9 . The safety apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a DC battery operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said addressable microcontroller, and said electrical switch to provide DC electrical power thereto. 
     
     
         10 . The safety apparatus of  claim 6  further comprising a reset button operatively connected to said electrical switch to facilitate closing of said electrical switch. 
     
     
         11 . An electrical outlet comprising:
 a hot electrical terminal;   a neutral electrical terminal;   a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal in response to a current drawing load being plugged into said electrical outlet;   a wireless transceiver to receive and transmit messages wirelessly;   an electrical switch capable of being automatically triggered to switch from a closed position to an open position, thereby stopping said flowing electrical current; and   a microcontroller operatively connected to said wireless transceiver, said current sensor, and said electrical switch to facilitate communication of a current sense event from said current sensor to said wireless transceiver within said electrical outlet, and to facilitate communication of a timed-out event from said wireless transceiver to said electrical switch within said electrical outlet.   
     
     
         12 . The electrical outlet of  claim 11  further comprising a power regulator operatively connected between said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal to convert AC electrical power to DC electrical power. 
     
     
         13 . The electrical outlet of  claim 12  wherein said power regulator is further operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said microcontroller, said wireless transceiver, and said electrical switch to provide said DC electrical power thereto. 
     
     
         14 . The electrical outlet of  claim 11  further comprising a DC battery operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said microcontroller, said wireless transceiver, and said electrical switch to provide DC electrical power thereto. 
     
     
         15 . The electrical outlet of  claim 11  further comprising a reset button operatively connected to said electrical switch to facilitate closing of said electrical switch. 
     
     
         16 . In an electrical outlet for providing AC electrical power to an electrical load, the electrical outlet having a hot electrical portion and a neutral electrical portion and being capable of having an electrical load plugged thereinbetween, the improvement comprising a safety apparatus comprising:
 a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between said hot electrical portion and said neutral electrical portion in response to a current drawing load being plugged into said electrical outlet;   a wireless transceiver to receive and transmit messages wirelessly;   an electrical switch capable of being automatically triggered to switch from a closed position to an open position, thereby stopping said flowing electrical current; and   a microcontroller operatively connected to said wireless transceiver, said current sensor, and said electrical switch to facilitate communication of a current sense event from said current sensor to said wireless transceiver within said electrical outlet, and to facilitate communication of a timed-out event from said wireless transceiver to said electrical switch within said electrical outlet.   
     
     
         17 . The safety apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a power regulator operatively connected between said hot electrical portion and said neutral electrical portion to convert AC electrical power to DC electrical power. 
     
     
         18 . The safety apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said power regulator is further operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said microcontroller, said wireless transceiver, and said electrical switch to provide said DC electrical power thereto. 
     
     
         19 . The safety apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a DC battery operatively connected to at least one of said current sensor, said microcontroller, said wireless transceiver, and said electrical switch to provide DC electrical power thereto. 
     
     
         20 . The safety apparatus of  claim 16  further comprising a reset button operatively connected to said electrical switch to facilitate closing of said electrical switch. 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 existing electrical wires including a hot electrical wire and a neutral electrical wire for providing electrical power;   a first carrier-current transceiver operatively connected to said existing electrical wires;   a central computer operatively connected to said first carrier-current transceiver to send and receive messages over said existing electrical wires via said first carrier-current transceiver;   at least one addressable electrical outlet operatively connected to said existing electrical wires, said at least one electrical outlet including:
 a hot electrical terminal, 
 a neutral electrical terminal, 
 a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal in response to a current drawing load being plugged into said electrical outlet, 
 a second carrier-current transceiver operatively connected to said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal to receive and send messages over said existing electrical wires, 
 an electrical switch capable of being automatically triggered to switch from a closed position to an open position, thereby stopping said flowing electrical current, and 
 an microcontroller operatively connected to said second carrier-current transceiver, said current sensor, and said electrical switch to facilitate communication of a current sense event from said current sensor to said second carrier-current transceiver within said electrical outlet, and to facilitate communication of a timed-out event from said second carrier-current transceiver to said electrical switch within said electrical outlet. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising a display panel operatively connected to said central computer to display a status of said at least one addressable electrical outlet. 
     
     
         23 . A system comprising:
 existing electrical wires including a hot electrical wire and a neutral electrical wire for providing electrical power;   a central computer to provide timing and control capability and having a first wireless transceiver to receive and transmit messages wirelessly;   at least one addressable electrical outlet operatively connected to said existing electrical wires, said at least one electrical outlet including:
 a hot electrical terminal, 
 a neutral electrical terminal, 
 a current sensor adapted to detect an electrical current flowing between said hot electrical terminal and said neutral electrical terminal in response to a current drawing load being plugged into said electrical outlet, 
 a second wireless transceiver to receive and transmit messages wirelessly, 
 an electrical switch capable of being automatically triggered to switch from a closed position to an open position, thereby stopping said flowing electrical current, and 
 a microcontroller operatively connected to said second wireless transceiver, said current sensor, and said electrical switch to facilitate communication of a current sense event from said current sensor to said second wireless transceiver within said electrical outlet, and to facilitate communication of a timed-out event from said second wireless transceiver to said electrical switch within said electrical outlet. 
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  further comprising a display panel operatively connected to said central computer to display a status of said at least one addressable electrical outlet.