Patent · US Expired

Self-contained device for self-service delivery of electrical energy

US5451755A · kind A · utility

35Cited by
4References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 28, 1993
Grant dateSep 19, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 28, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY04S50/12
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A self-contained device for self-service delivery of electrical energy, comprising a plurality of terminals, each capable of being connected to an electrical appliance, and a central management unit, operable independently of the terminals. The central management unit serves to: (1) manage distribution of electricity from an electrical supply grid to each of the terminals, (2) manage interaction between a prepayment instrument and users of the terminals, and (3) manage connection of the terminals to the electrical supply grid for transmission of electricity therebetween for either a period of time or a quality of electricity, as determined in response to a signal from the prepayment instrument indicating prepayment by a user.

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