Electric power supply and related methods

Abstract

Electric power supplies are described herein. Other examples, systems, and related methods are also disclosed herein.

1 . An electrical system comprising:
 an electrical input module configured to receive input electricity;   an electrical output module configured to provide output electricity;   a switch module coupled to the electrical input module;   a startup module coupled to the switch module; and   a power conservation module coupled to the switch module;   wherein:
 the electrical system is powered by operational electricity derived from the input electricity; 
 the electrical system is configured to operate in:
 a startup state; and 
 a run state following the startup state; 
 
 during the startup state, the switch module couples the electrical input module to the startup module; 
 during the run state, the switch module couples the electrical input module to the power conservation module and to the electrical output module; and 
 the operational electricity is greater during the startup state than during the run state. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electrical system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the electrical system is further configurable to a standby state where the electrical input module is decoupled from at least one of:
 the electrical output module; or 
 the power conservation module; 
   and further comprising:
 a standby actuator coupled to the switch module and configured to cause switching of the switch module to toggle the electrical system from the run state to the standby state. 
   
     
     
         3 . The electrical system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 if the electrical system is in the startup state:
 the electrical input module is:
 coupled to the startup module via the switch module; and 
 decoupled from the electrical output module; 
 
 and 
 the operational electricity is routed through the startup module; 
   and   if the electrical system is in the run state:
 the electrical input module is:
 coupled to the power conservation module via the switch module; and 
 coupled to the electrical output module; 
 
 and 
 the operational electricity is routed through the power conservation module. 
   
     
     
         4 . The electrical system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a toggle module coupled to the standby actuator and configured to output a toggle signal;   wherein:
 the standby actuator is configurable between:
 a default condition; and 
 an actuated condition; 
 
 if the electrical system is in the standby state:
 the default condition of the standby actuator is configured to:
 maintain the electrical input module electrically isolated from at least one of the startup module or the power conservation module; 
 
 
 if the electrical system is in the run state and the standby actuator is in the default condition:
 an electrical path exists between the electrical input module and the toggle module; 
 
 and 
 if the electrical system is in the run state and the standby actuator is set to actuated condition:
 the electrical path between the electrical input module and the toggle module is decoupled to interrupt the toggle signal for toggling the electrical system from the run state to the standby state. 
 
   
     
     
         5 . The electrical system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 while the electrical system is in the run state and the standby actuator is in the default condition:
 the path between the electrical input module and the toggle module traverses through at least one of the power conservation module or the startup module. 
   
     
     
         6 . The electrical system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a toggle module coupled to the standby actuator and configured to output a toggle signal; and   a control module coupled to the toggle module and to the switch module;   wherein:
 when the electrical system is in the run state, the control module is configured to:
 monitor the toggle signal from the toggle module; and 
 output a switch control signal to the switch module when the toggle signal is interrupted; 
 
 and 
 upon receipt of the switch control signal, the switch module is configured to:
 decouple the electrical input module from the power conservation module and from the electrical output module. 
 
   
     
     
         7 . The electrical system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the toggle module comprises:
 a toggle inner node coupling together first, second, and third toggle resistors and a first toggle capacitor; and 
 a toggle output node coupled to the control module; 
   the first toggle resistor is coupled between the toggle inner node and the standby actuator;   the second toggle resistor is coupled between the toggle inner node and ground;   the toggle capacitor is coupled between the toggle inner node and ground; and   the third toggle resistor is coupled between the toggle inner node and the toggle output node.   
     
     
         8 . The electrical system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a toggle module coupled to the standby actuator and configured to output a toggle signal;   wherein:
 the standby actuator comprises:
 a first standby actuator terminal coupled to the startup module; 
 a second standby actuator terminal coupled to the switch module; and 
 a third standby actuator terminal coupled to the toggle module; 
 
 and 
 the standby actuator is configurable between:
 a default condition comprising the first standby actuator terminal coupled to the third standby actuator terminal to thereby couple the startup module with the switch module; 
 and 
 an actuated condition comprising the first standby actuator terminal coupled to the second standby actuator terminal to thereby couple the startup module with the toggle module. 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The electrical system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an electricity-supply module configured to generate a DC electricity from the operational electricity;   wherein the startup module comprises:
 a first startup resistor coupled between the standby actuator and the electricity-supply module. 
   
     
     
         10 . The electrical system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the power conservation module comprises at least one of:
 a conservation capacitor coupled between the switch module and the electricity-supply module; or 
 a conservation resistor coupled between the switch module and the electricity-supply module; 
   and   the electricity-supply module is configured to receive, via one or more of the conservation capacitor or the conservation resistor, at least a portion of the operational electricity to generate the DC electricity therefrom.   
     
     
         11 . The electrical system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the power conservation module comprises:
 the conservation resistor coupled between first and second ends of the conservation capacitor. 
   
     
     
         12 . The electrical system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the switch module comprises:
 a relay comprising:
 a first relay terminal coupled to the electrical input module; 
 a second relay terminal coupled to the standby actuator; and 
 a third relay terminal coupled to the power conservation module and to the electrical output module; 
 
   the switch module is configurable between:
 a switch first condition comprising the first relay terminal coupled to the second relay terminal; 
 and 
 a switch second condition comprising the first relay terminal coupled to the third relay terminal; 
   when the electrical system is in either of the standby state or the startup state, the switch module is in the switch first condition; and   when the electrical system is in the run state, the switch module is in the switch second condition.   
     
     
         13 . The electrical system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a control module is coupled to the switch module and configured to output a switch control signal when the standby actuator is actuated;   wherein:
 the switch module further comprises:
 a transistor comprising:
 a first terminal coupled to the relay; 
 a second terminal coupled to ground; and 
 a control terminal coupled to the control module and configured to receive the switch control signal; 
 
 
 and 
 when the switch control signal is received from the control module, the transistor is actuated to set the switch module to the switch first condition and thereby toggle the electrical system from the run state to the standby state. 
   
     
     
         14 . A method for providing an electrical system, the method comprising:
 providing an electrical input module configured to receive input electricity;   providing an electrical output module configured to provide output electricity;   providing a switch module coupled to the electrical input module;   providing a startup module coupled to the switch module; and   providing a power conservation module coupled to the switch module;   wherein:
 the electrical system is configured to be powered by operational electricity derived from the input electricity; 
 the electrical system is configurable to:
 a startup state; and 
 a run state following the startup state; 
 
 the switch module is configured to couple the electrical input module to the startup module during the startup state; 
 the switch module is configured to couple the electrical input module to the power conservation module and to the electrical output module during the run state; and 
 the electrical system is configured such that the operational electricity is greater during the startup state than during the run state. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 providing a standby actuator coupled to the switch module;   wherein:
 the electrical system is further configurable to a standby state where the electrical input module is decoupled from at least one of:
 the electrical output module; or 
 the power conservation module; 
 
 and 
 the standby actuator is configured to cause switching of the switch module to toggle the electrical system from the run state to the standby state. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing a toggle module coupled to the standby actuator and configured to output a toggle signal;   wherein:
 the standby actuator is configurable between:
 a default condition; and 
 an actuated condition; 
 
 if the electrical system is in the startup state:
 the electrical input module is:
 coupled to the startup module via the switch module; and 
 decoupled from the electrical output module; 
 
 and 
 the operational electricity is routed through the startup module; 
 
 if the electrical system is the run state:
 the electrical input module is:
 coupled to the power conservation module via the switch module; and 
 coupled to the electrical output module; 
 
 and 
 the operational electricity is routed through the power conservation module; 
 
 if the electrical system is in the standby state:
 the default condition of the standby actuator is configured to:
 maintain the electrical input module electrically isolated from at least one of the startup module or the power conservation module; 
 
 
 if the electrical system is in the run state and the standby actuator is in the default condition:
 an electrical path exists between the electrical input module and the toggle module; 
 
 and 
 if the electrical system is in the run state and the standby actuator is set to the actuated condition:
 the electrical path between the electrical input module and the toggle module is decoupled to interrupt the toggle signal for toggling the electrical system from the run state to the standby state. 
 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing a toggle module coupled to the standby actuator and configured to output a toggle signal; and   providing a control module is coupled to the toggle module and to the switch module;   wherein:   when the electrical system is in the run state, the control module is configured to:
 monitor the toggle signal from the toggle module; and 
 output a switch control signal to the switch module when the toggle signal is interrupted; 
   and   upon receipt of the switch control signal, the switch module is configured to:
 decouple the electrical input module from the power conservation module and from the electrical output module. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method system of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing a toggle module coupled to the standby actuator and configured to output a toggle signal; and   providing an electricity-supply module configured to generate a DC voltage;   wherein:
 the standby actuator comprises:
 a first standby actuator terminal coupled to the startup module; 
 a second standby actuator terminal coupled to the switch module; and 
 a third standby actuator terminal coupled to the toggle module; 
 
 the standby actuator is configurable between:
 a default condition comprising the first standby actuator terminal coupled to the third standby actuator terminal; and 
 an actuated condition comprising the first standby actuator terminal coupled to the second standby actuator terminal; 
 
 the startup module is coupled between the first standby actuator terminal and the electricity-supply module; 
 the power conservation module is coupled between the switch module and the electricity-supply module; 
 the electricity-supply module is configured to receive, via the power conservation module, at least a portion of the input electricity to generate the operational electricity therefrom; 
 the switch module comprises:
 a relay comprising:
 a first relay terminal coupled to the electrical input module; 
 a second relay terminal coupled to the standby actuator; and 
 a third relay terminal coupled to the power conservation module and to the electrical output module; 
 
 
 the switch module is configurable between:
 a switch first condition comprising the first relay terminal coupled to the second relay terminal; and 
 a switch second condition comprising the first relay terminal coupled to the third relay terminal; 
 
 when the electrical system is in either of the standby state or the startup state, the switch module is in the switch first condition; and 
 when the electrical system is in the run state, the switch module is in the switch second condition. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 providing a control module coupled to the switch module and configured to output a switch control signal when the standby actuator is actuated;   wherein:
 the switch module further comprises:
 a transistor comprising:
 a first terminal coupled to the relay; 
 a second terminal coupled to ground; and 
 a control terminal coupled to the control module and configured to receive the switch control signal; 
 
 
 and 
 when the switch control signal is received from the control module, the transistor is actuated to set the switch module to the switch first condition and thereby toggle the electrical system from the run state to the standby state. 
   
     
     
         20 . An electrical system comprising:
 a power supply circuit, the power supply circuit being configured to receive an input AC power signal and to condition the input AC power signal to produce an output AC power signal;   a control circuit coupled to the power supply circuit, the control circuit comprising a switching circuit, and the switching circuit comprising a first switched state and a second switched state;   a command input device coupled to the power supply circuit and the control circuit; and   a controlled electrical outlet selectively electrically coupled with the control circuit by the switching circuit;   wherein:
 the power supply circuit is further configured:
 (i) to produce a first DC power signal, 
 (ii) to produce a second DC power signal, the first DC power signal being higher than the second DC power signal, 
 (iii) to electrically power at least part of the control circuit with the first DC power signal, 
 (iv) to electrically power at least part of the command input device with the second DC power signal, and 
 (v) to provide the output AC power signal to the control circuit; 
 
 the control circuit is configured (a) to provide the output AC power signal to the controlled electrical outlet when the switching circuit is configured in the first switched state and (b) to withhold the output AC power signal from the controlled electrical outlet when the switching circuit is configured in the second switched state; and 
 the command input device is configured to determine when the switching circuit is configured in the first switched state and when the switching circuit is configured in the second switched state. 
   
     
     
         21 . The electrical system of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of:
 the command input device is configured to produce a first control signal configured to cause the switching circuit to be configured in the first switched state; or   the command input device is configured to produce a second control signal configured to cause the switching circuit to be configured in the second switched state.   
     
     
         22 . The electrical system of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of:
 the power supply circuit is further configured to provide the output AC power signal to a constant-on electrical outlet;   the power supply circuit is further configured to produce the first DC power signal from the output AC power signal; or   the power supply circuit is further configured to produce the second DC power signal from one of the output AC power signal or the first DC power signal.