Remote sensor and method for detecting the on/off status of an automatically controlled appliance
US5506573A · kind A · utility
57Cited by
3References
5Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 21, 1994 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 21, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01R31/3275
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for sensing the on/off status condition of a power switch in an appliance includes applying a series of alternating current (AC) voltage pulses to an appliance with an on/off switch that are synchronized to a source of AC power, sensing the presence of any series of AC current pulses that result if said appliance switch is closed, analyzing any AC current pulses detected in the step of sensing to determine if they resulted from the application of the AC voltage in the step of applying, and outputting an on/off status indication for the appliance switch.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.