Wall plate adapter for coupling home network control signals to AC power wiring
US7247793B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 2005 |
| Grant date | Jul 24, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 27, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R13/665
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A wall plate adapter for coupling home network control signals to AC power wiring, where the wall plate adapter includes built-in signaling circuitry. The wall plate adapter includes a plate with a receptacle face with slots that are aligned with slots of an underlying AC receptacle. When prongs of a plug are inserted into the slots of the wall plate adapter, they touch contacts that are located in the slots of the receptacle face. The contacts are, in turn, coupled to the signaling circuitry, which may be located in an enlarged region of the wall plate. The signaling circuitry is only coupled to the AC power when a plug is inserted. The plug may be coupled to a transformer and a network device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.