Patent · US Expired

Closed loop, programmable power and communication system

US5033112A · kind A · utility

107Cited by
16References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 11, 1987
Grant dateJul 16, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 11, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY04S40/124
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A power and communication system for a building, and particularly a residential dwelling wherein there are provided a plurality of receptacles throughout the building, each connected by a cable to source, which may provide different voltages and either AC or DC and having a control interface for selectively switching the desired power to each cable individually. The control interface may also connect each cable to a selected signal transmission line, such as telephone, radio, TV, etc. The cable includes a pair of power conductors and a optical fiber which transmits to and receives from the control interface light signals informing the control interface what power or communication connection is required for a particular receptacle and possibly at the same time providing signal messages to each receptacle. The single optical cable can transmit an interrogating signal to the receptacle, which signal is transferred through a special plug and socket connection have a mating optical coupler to an appliance equipped with a microprocessor programmed for replying by way of light signals sent back to the interface through the same coupler and optical fiber. The control interface is thus info…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.