Dual-mode AC/DC electrical receptacle
US6160728A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Dec 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R2103/00
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electrical receptacle that provides dual-mode electric power through two separate sockets. The electrical receptacle includes a first socket configured to supply AC electric current at a high voltage (such as 120V or 240V AC) and a second socket configured to supply DC current at a low voltage current (such as 4V, 6V, or 12V DC). In one embodiment, the receptacle receives the high-voltage AC from electrical wiring in a building and generates the low-voltage DC. This embodiment of the receptacle has input terminals for receiving AC, mounting hardware, an AC-to-DC converter, and one or more DC output sockets. The receptacle may also have a standard AC output socket. The receptacle may be used to provide direct current at several different voltage levels. The different voltages may be accessed simultaneously through several different DC sockets. Alternatively or in combination, one or more switches may be used to select the voltage level delivered by individual sockets or groups of sockets. In another embodiment, the electrical receptacle receives the DC from an external source, such as 12 V DC supply lines installed in a building. In this embodiment, the electrical receptacle incl…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.