Outlet control system

Abstract

An outlet control system includes a transmitter-detector module having a plug and at least one outlet electrically connected to the plug, wherein the transmitter-detector module is configured to transmit a control signal in response to power being applied to the transmitter plug; and a receiver-switch module comprising a receiver plug and a receiver outlet electrically connected to the plug through a power switch, wherein the receiver-switch module is configured to receive the control signal from the transmitter-detector module and provide a signal to the power switch, such that said power switch is turned on to cause the receiver plug to be connected to the receiver outlet when power is being applied to the transmitter plug and is not turned on when the power is not being supplied to the transmitter plug.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a transmitter-detector module comprising a plug, wherein the transmitter-detector module is configured to transmit a control signal in response to power being applied to the transmitter plug; and   a receiver-switch module comprising a receiver plug and a receiver outlet electrically connected to the plug through a power switch, wherein the receiver-switch module is configured to receive the control signal from the transmitter-detector module and provide a signal to the power switch, such that said power switch is turned on to cause the receiver plug to be connected to the receiver outlet when power is being applied to the transmitter plug and is not turned on when the power is not being supplied to the transmitter plug.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter-detector module further comprises and at least one outlet electrically connected to the plug. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver-switch module includes at least one non-switched outlet that is electrically connected to the receiver plug not through the power switch. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter-detector module includes a transmitter for transmitting the control signal, wherein the transmitter is activated in response to power being applied to the transmitter plug. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter-detector module includes a power detection sensor connected in circuit with contacts of the transmitter plug and configured to detect the presence of power being applied to the transmitter plug and a microcontroller configured to receive an input signal from the power detection sensor and to provide an output signal to a transmitter circuit. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the transmitter circuit transmits the control signal to the receiver in response to the signal from the power detection sensor indicating that power is being applied to the transmitter plug and does not transmit the control signal when the signal from the power detection sensor indicates that power is not being applied to the transmitter plug. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the transmitter circuit transmits the control signal to the receiver-switch module in response to the signal from the power detection sensor indicating that power is being applied to the transmitter plug and transmits a second control signal to the receiver-switch module in response to the signal from the power detection module indicating that power is not being applied to the transmitter plug. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the transmitter-detection module is further configured to detect the loss of power being applied to the transmitter plug, and further comprises an energy storage circuit configured to store sufficient energy to operate the transmitter-detector module to transmit the second control signal after the loss of power to the transmitter plug. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the energy storage circuit comprises a rechargeable energy storage device that is charged when power is applied to the transmitter plug. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter plug is a threaded plug configured to mate with a light socket and the transmitter outlet is a threaded socket configured to receive a light bulb. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a pseudorandom code preassigned to the transmitter-detector module. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the receiver-switch module is configured to receive and store the pseudorandom code from the transmitter-detector module during a pairing operation, such that the receiver-switch module is associated with the transmitter-detector module. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein receiver-switch module has a code selector configured for associating the receiver-switch module to a code assigned to the control signal of the transmitter-detector module. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein receiver-switch module has a code selector configured for associating the receiver-switch module to a code assigned to the control signal of the transmitter-detector module. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 a transmitter-detector module comprising a transmitter circuit, a sensor, a microcontroller, and an internal power supply, wherein the microcontroller is configured to receive an input signal from the sensor and provide an output signal to the transmitter circuit to cause the transmitter circuit to transmit a control signal, and   a receiver-switch module comprising a receiver plug and a receiver outlet electrically connected to the plug through a power switch, wherein the receiver-switch module is configured to receive the control signal from the transmitter-detector module and provide a signal to the power switch to cause the power switch to change state in response to receiving the control signal, such that said power switch is alternately turned on to cause the receiver plug to be connected to the receiver outlet, and turned off to cause the receiver plug to be disconnected from the receiver outlet.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the transmitter-detector module further comprises a toggle switch connected to the sensor and configured to activate the sensor such that the power switch of the receiver-switch module changes state. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the transmitter-detector module further comprises a push button control connected to the sensor and configured to activate the sensor such that the power switch of the receiver-switch module changes state. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising one or more additional transmitter-detector modules, and wherein the receiver-switch module is configured to receive the control signal from the transmitter-detector module and the one or more additional transmitter-detector modules and provide a signal to the power switch to cause the power switch to change state in response to receiving the control signal, such that said power switch is alternately turned on to cause the receiver plug to be connected to the receiver outlet, and turned off to cause the receiver plug to be disconnected from the receiver outlet.