IN-LINE POWER CONTROLLER

This invention relates to alternating current switching devices and in particular to in-line alternating current switching devices.

BACKGROUND Alternating Current (A.C.) is a term that describes a characteristic of electrical energy wherein the electricity charge carriers reverse the direction of movement between the source and sink of the electrical circuit. Clearly, not the only current having an A.C. characteristic but certainly the most commonly known electric current is that which is supplied to households, commerce, and industry, often referred to as the mains or utility current. The frequency of the alternation varies from country to country but is generally either 50 Hz or 60 Hz as does the voltage at which the current is concurrently supplied but is generally either 260 volts or 120 volts but there are variations thereof. For example, in Australia the mains supply is 50 Hz 260 volts whereas in the United States of America the mains supply is 60 Hz 120 volts and in Europe 50 Hz and 230 volts.

The prolific use of computers and peripheral device as well as entertainment products and their power packs that still require an A.C. input to generate a different operating voltage or current than the available mains supply has created a demand for multi-output power boards/strips. As stated previously, in the home and at work it is not uncommon to provide a multiple power outlet in the form of a power board or strip to provide power to a user's electrically powered equipment. The power board/strip includes a corded plug for connection to a mains power socket and a body having a plurality of sockets into which the plugs of one or more pieces of mains powered equipment can be plugged. The mains power from the mains power socket is electrically connected to each of the plurality of sockets arrayed on typically the top surface of the body of the power board/strip.

One example of such an arrangement is a user's computer and the myriad of peripheral equipment that often needs to be in close proximity to the computer, such as a separate screen/s, speaker arrangements, printer/s, modems/routers, and the like. Another example is an audio visual equipment cabinet where the audio/visual switching receiver, the personal video recorder incorporating a set top box free to air receiver, cable receiver and storage device, Digital Versatile Disc player, computer gaming devices, powered speakers and visual monitor are all co-located and all need mains power.

It is undesirable to rearrange the plugs of each piece of equipment once the array of connections has been made since the nest of power related wires and other cables used for networking the devices and sometimes associated computer network and other cables can be easily adversely disturbed. Furthermore, when it is time to switch off all the equipment it is inconvenient to switch off all the devices connected to the power board and also typically awkward to access the wall mounted socket that supplies mains power to the power board/strip which supplies power to the majority of the devices and equipment.

The uses of mains power are many. However, it is also becoming known to users that there are risks to the equipment connected to the mains because of a number of unavoidable mains power characteristics and events. Included in the many potential and often very damaging events are surges/spikes in the voltage and current of the power being supplied to equipment connected to the supply, even when it is switched off, or as is increasingly the case in a standby mode and thus not totally isolated from the mains supply. These events are not often the making of the mains power supplier but more often the consequence of a natural event such as lightning strikes to the power reticulation system and use of machines, fans and other high current equipment being used on the same power line circuit or even in the proximity of the power reticulation system. All these types of events can quickly and greatly increase voltage and current being supplied to equipment not designed to cope with that type of event.

Surges/spikes have as stated a number of characteristics and the main characteristics that need to be considered include:

Voltage excursion limitation, sometimes referred to as the clamping voltage

Energy is measured in Joules and protection of surges up to 2500 Joules is available in some devices designed for fitment to mains power inputs to equipment and more sophisticated and complex devices are designed for fitment to the main power switch board at the entry point of mains power to households, commerce, and industry.

Rise time is a measure of how quickly the voltage of the surge/spike increases and since most events will rise over millisecond periods the ideal response time for a protection device is quicker that the millisecond period of the rise.

Current increases measured in kilo Amps

Providing energy saving control of each device as well as surge/spike protection in such circumstances is problematic to most users of the stated equipment as it will be difficult to re-arrange the existing connections to fit suitably equipped power boards/strips in light of the wiring situation described. However, when faced with the realisation that users should do something about the problems and eventualities described including reducing power consumption and also reducing the risk of surge/spike damage to typically important and expensive equipment they are loath to disturb existing installations and the invention described herein provides a solution or at least an alternative for a user to consider.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a broad aspect of the invention an in-line A.C. power switching assembly for location between a source of A.C. power and at least one A.C. powered device, the controller including

at least one controllable A.C. power switch having an A. C. input connected to the source of A. C. power and the switch controls the passage of A.C. from the source of A.C. power to an A.C. power output of the switch; a corded connector for providing the connection between the A.C. power and the controlled A.C. power switch including a connector at one end for connection to the A.C. power source and connected at the other end of the cord to the A.C. input of the controllable A.C. power switch; and at least one single corded connector connected to the output of the A.C. controlled switch terminated at one end by a socket; wherein each controllable A.C. power switch has a first state in which the controllable A.C. switch allows A.C. through to the A.C. output of the A.C. power switch and thus to a respective connected single corded socket which carries power to at least one A.C. powered device and a second state in which the controllable A.C. power switch does not allow A.C. through to the A.C. output of the controllable A.C. power switch and thus the respective connected single corded socket does not carry A.C. power. A detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. While the invention is described in connection with such embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any embodiment. On the contrary, the scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents. For the purpose of example, numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The present invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the present invention is not unnecessarily obscured. Throughout this specification and the claims that follow unless the context requires otherwise, the words 'comprise' and 'include' and variations such as 'comprising' and 'including' will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Fig. 1 depicts a block diagram of an in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly including a switch, and various connectors on corded inputs and outputs of the switch for connection to a source of A.C. power and various associated devices including an A.C. powered load device and a signal input to control the switch operation;

Fig. 2 depicts a block diagram of an in-line Alternating Current (A. C.) power switching assembly including a switch, and various connectors on corded inputs and outputs of the switch for connection to a source of A. C. power and various associated devices including A.C. power distribution board/ strip to which various A.C. powered load devices can be connected and a signal input to control the switch operation;

Fig. 3 depicts a block diagram of an in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly including a switch, and various connectors on corded inputs and outputs of the switch for connection to a source of A.C. power and various associated devices including A.C. powered load devices one of which is not switched and the other is and a signal input to control the switch operation; Fig. 4 depicts a block diagram of an in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly of Fig. 3 depicting a common use of the assembly including a Personal Computer (PC) and its peripheral devices;

Fig. 5 depicts a block diagram of the components of an in-line A.C. power switching assembly of the type illustrated in Figs 3 and 4 having a wireless control interface; Fig. 6 depicts a block diagram of the components of an in-line A.C. power switching assembly of the type illustrated in Figs 3 and 4 having a wired control interface (Universal Serial Bus based);

Fig. 7 depicts a top view of an embodiment of an A.C. power switching assembly depicted in Fig. 5; Fig. 8 depicts a top view of an embodiment of an A.C. power switching assembly depicted in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 depicts various end views of the housing of an A.C. power switching assembly designed to accommodate the exit of one or more corded connectors from the housing;

Fig. 10 depicts a top view of the wired and wireless embodiments of the invention including an illustration of the operation of the switch ON and OFF functions of an A.C. power switching assembly;

Fig. 11 (a) depicts a top view of a wireless remote control device for an A.C. power switching assembly;

Fig. 11 (b) depicts a top view of a wireless remote control device for an A.C. power switching assembly including an illustration of the operation of the switch ON function;

Fig. 11 (c) depicts a top view of a wireless remote control device for an A.C. power switching assembly including an illustration of the operation of the switch OFF function;

Fig. 12 depicts a side view of a wireless remote control device for an A.C. power switching assembly;

Fig. 13 depicts a block diagram of an in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly of Fig. 3 depicting a common use of the assembly including a home entertainment receiver and its associated devices;

Fig. 14 depicts a block diagram of an in-line Alternating Current (A. C.) power switching assembly having current sensing capability in a common use of the assembly including a personal computer and its associated devices; and

Fig. 15 depicts a block diagram of an in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly having current sensing capability in a common use of the assembly including a home entertainment screen and its associated devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The invention of an in-line A.C. power switching assembly includes a controllable A.C. power switch which, when in use with suitable control, provides A.C. power to one or more corded connectors. The assembly includes a corded connector for connection to an A.C. power source and a corded socket connector which allows the connection of an A.C. power plug connector from a device such as a printer which is peripheral to another device such as a PC. The assembly being corded is thus useable in-line with the power supply connections of the peripheral device as well as the other device such as a PC.

In one example, the signal that controls the controllable A.C. power switch is obtained from an A.C. powered device, in this example, a PC. The signal can be communicated wirelessly or along a wire as will be described in greater detail later in the specification. When the main device, the PC is powered OFF, the controllable switch is controlled so as to not allow A.C. power through the switch to the connected peripheral device such as a printer. When the PC is switched ON the controllable A.C. power switch is controlled so as to allow A.C. power through the switch to the connected printer. Thus it is possible to control the connection of power to at least one device peripheral to another device and thus assist in the conservation of energy with the convenience of not having to individually control the power to the one or more peripheral devices. This example of a use of the invention is broadly illustrated in Fig. 4, and will be further described later in this specification and further embodiments and examples of use of the invention will also be described in greater detail in this specification. It would clearly be advantageous to be able to automatically switch off all the power to all the peripherals at the same time the main operational device is powered down. Alternatively or additionally it is advantageous to power up all the peripherals once use of the main operational device is resumed following a hibernation or low power standby state.

Fig. 1 depicts a block diagram of an in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly 10 (included in the dotted outline) which includes an A.C. power switch 12, and a connector 14 on a corded input 16 to the A.C. power switch 12 and a connector 18 on a corded output 20 of the switch 12. Further illustrated is a source of A.C. power (not shown) having a socket 22 to be connected to by the connector 14 of the plug type. Further shown is an A.C. powered load device 24 having a corded input terminated by a connector 26 of the plug type which would typically be connected to the A.C. power source which in this case is connected to the connector 18 of the socket jtyβ^.^Yej^further a signal input 28 is depicted as

being communicated wirelessly 28a or by wires 28b from an input device 30 to control the operation of the A. C. power switch 12.

Like numerals will be used to identify like elements in the figures yet to be described.

In other embodiments of the invention there can be more than one A.C. power switch 12, such as those depicted as 12' and 12" and corresponding corded outputs 20' and 20" along with their respective connectors 18' and 18".

Fig. 2 differs from Fig. 1 in that the A.C. powered load device 24 is replaced with an A.C. power distribution board 32 (also sometimes referred to as an A.C. power distribution strip) and through out this description the two terms make reference to the same thing. The use of a power board or power distribution board allows multiple A.C. powered devices to be connected thus allowing for multiple devices to be simultaneously switched OFF when the controllable A.C. power switch is controlled to be OFF.

The devices depicted in Fig. 2 are typical P.C. peripheral devices including printer, scanner, data communications router, paper shredder, and chargers. However, other collections of equipment can be similarly connected to a single power board 32 such as might be used in a home entertainment arrangement which is illustrated in Fig. 13.

Fig. 3 differs from Fig. 1 in that the in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly 10 (included in the dotted outline) includes an additional connector 34 on a corded output 36 of part of the A.C. power switching assembly 10 which is always supplied A.C. power because it is not connected to the switched output of the switch 12. Such an arrangement allows for an A.C. powered device 38 to always be powered but still allow the user of that device to switch it OFF or into STANDBY, manually or by other means including remote control from afar and still be supplied mains power. If as well the wired or wireless signal is generated by or from the always supplied A.C. powered device 38, the in-line A.C. power switching assembly 10 can be arranged to control the controllable switch so as to not allow A.C. power through the switch to the connected A.C. powered device 24 when the A.C. powered device 38 is switched OFF.

Fig. 4 differs from Fig. 3 in that the A.C. powered load device 24 is replaced with an A.C. power distribution board 32 and the A.C. powered device 38 is replaced with a P.C. 40.

Figures 1 to 4 all depict an in-line switch block 12 that includes devices yet to be described but it should not be assumed to only include a switching device such as a relay or similar device. In embodiments to be described in greater detail in this specification the block used figuratively herein may also include a surge/spike protection device.

Thus one configuration of the invention is an in-line A.C. power switching assembly includes a surge/spike protection device, a controllable A.C. associated a corded connector for

providing the conduction of A.C. power between the A.C. power and the controlled A.C. power switch, as well as the surge/spike protection device and a single corded socket connected to the output of the A.C. controlled switch terminated at one end by a socket, which further provides wireless communication of the state of the surge/spike protection device and which receives wirelessly or by wire a signal from a mains powered device or remote control device (to be described later) to control the controllable A.C. power switch.

Fig. 5 depicts a block diagram of the components of an in-line A.C. power switching assembly of the type illustrated in Figs 3 and 4 having a wireless control interface.

The elements include a relay 50 which is but one embodiment of an A.C. power switch 12, alternatives including semi-conductor switching devices suitable for A.C. power switching. The elements also include a micro-controller 52 which performs a number of functions including but not limited to operation of the relay 50 to allow and not allow A.C. through to the A.C. output of the controllable A.C. power switch and thus a respective connected single corded connector 18 (not shown) as well as the receipt of a signal from the surge/spike protection device, as well as a control signal by wired or wireless means to control the state of the A.C. control switch.

The LIVE or ACTIVE line 54 from the A.C. power supply via the single corded connector connected to the A.C. power is the portion of the A.C. supply that is switched by the relay. That same line 54 is used to supply A.C. power to other parts of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly including a power supply 56 which in turn supplies appropriate power to the micro-controller 52. Further in the embodiment depicted in Fig. 5 the line 54 is continued and by-passes the relay 50 to the corded output 36 of part of the A.C. power switching assembly 10 and to a connector 34 (not shown). Note that the un-switched output is illustrated below the switched output as compared to the way it is shown in previous figures.

Neutral 58 and Earth 60 wires extend from the connector 14 (not shown) through the corded input 16 to both the switched and un-switched output cords 68 and 36 respectively and to their respective connectors 18 and 34.

Fig. 5 also depicts an information communications device 62 which is shown in this figure as part of the micro-controller 52 but which can be a stand alone information communications device that may for convenience share the power output of the power supply 56. The information communications device as depicted in the illustrated embodiment provides wireless communications of information about the in-line A.C. power switching assembly 10 including the state of the A.C. power switch 12. That information would include whether it is allowing or not allowing the A.C. through the A.C. controlled switch. Other information about the in-line A.C. power switching assembly 10 includes whether the micro-controller is operating correctly and whether the power supply 56 is correctly operating and if not what state it is in.

The micro-controller is but one embodiment of a device within the in-line A.C. power switching assembly 10 which can be used to receive external signals reprgs&ηtø£|v£ Moderations to be performed by the in-

line A.C. power switching assembly. For example, it can be arranged to receive a signal which represents a need to set the in-line A.C. power switching assembly to over-ride the operation of the surge/spike protection device to permanently not allow or allow A.C. power through from the source to the remainder of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly or to its outputs. Another received signal may be arranged to supply power to the in-line A.C. power switching assembly so that it can be used to control the A.C. power switch regardless of the state of the surge/spike protection device.

Fig. 5 also depicts a block representative of a surge (sometimes also referred to as a spike) protection device 64 which suppresses the potentially damaging effect of power surges received from the A.C. power supply. The specific circuitry of a surge/spike protection is known to those in the art so those details are omitted from the figures and description for clarity. The surge/spike protection device is located in electrical connection with all the incoming power carrying lines 54, 58 and 60, after the connector 14 and the cord 16 and before any of the other elements mentioned above as being part of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly. The surge protection device allows all but a predetermined A.C. power type through to those other elements. However, once it has just once protected those elements it can not do so again even though the A.C. still passes by the surge protection device. The spike/surge protection device is operable to no longer function as a spike/surge protector but still allows a conduction of A.C. power between the source of A.C. and the A.C. input to the controllable A.C. power switch.

The surge protection device must be replaced once a surge event has taken place and the surge protection device has performed it designed function. Therefore, it is very advantageous to have a surge protection device status indicator having a mode of operation that indicates that a surge event has occurred which invoked operation of the surge protection device to not allow that predetermined A.C. power type through from the source to the A.C. input of the controllable A.C. power switch.

The status indicator associated with the surge protection device has a mode which indicates that despite a surge/spike event having occurred which invoked operation of the spike/surge protection device to not allow A.C. through from the source to the A.C. input of the controllable A.C. switch, the surge protector is operable to allow a conduction of A.C. power between the source of A.C. and the A.C. input to the controllable A.C. power switch and the corded connector for supplying un-switched A.C. 68. The wiring arrangement depicted in Fig. 5 is but one embodiment, as for example the active/live line 54 going to the corded connector for supplying un-switched A.C. 36 is shown connected to the line after the power supply 56 and before the relay 50, but as long as the connection is made before the relay along that line, it will provide un-switched A.C power.

The information communications device 62 can also communicate information relating to the status indicator and in particular the state of the surge protection device. This can be particularly useful as the in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly 10 is often located where it can not be seen by those responsible for the attached equipment.

The information communications device may use one or more of a variety of wireless technologies and by way of example it uses radio frequencies and/or infrared frequencies. The modulation of information on to the wireless technology can also be one or more of a variety of techniques, some according to international/national standards, and others which are proprietary and examples of each of those include Bluetooth, ZigBee, Z-wave and Wireless Personal Afea networks.

Fig. 5 also depicts an operation button 66 which allows a user to switch/toggle one or more functions of the in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly 10. By way of example, the operation of the button can toggle the state of the A.C. power switch 12. The operation button 66 may be used to allow or not allow wired or wireless communication of information about the in-line A.C. power switching assembly, including the state of the surge/spike protection.

Like elements in Fig. 5 are identified by like numerals in other figures.

Fig. 6 depicts a block diagram of the components of an in-line A.C. power switching assembly of the type illustrated in Figs 3 and 4 having a wired control interface, in particular and by way of example only a Universal Serial Bus (USB) based connector and wiring arrangement. In this embodiment the signal received along at least one wire of the wired connection can be used to control the controllable A.C. switch into a first state or a second state. Also depicted is a signal transformation device, in this embodiment in the form of an opto-coupler 61 arranged to isolate the signal being received from the external A.C. powered device. Such isolation is optional but does provide a protection measure for the connected device since the opto-coupler does not allow any of the voltages existing within the in-line A.C. power switching assembly to flow to the connector connected to the connected device, such as a PC via one of its USB ports.

Although not shown in Fig. 5 but illustrated in other Figures namely 8 and 10 a USB lead and connector can be used to connect the in-line A.C. power switching assembly to an external A.C. powered device, such as for example, a PC. When the wired connection conforms at least in part to the USB wiring requirements then at least the power line of that arrangement will carry a voltage which can represent a signal of the A.C. powered status of the PC to which the USB lead is connected. Since the provision of a USB lead may be convenient in most cases to users of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly it is also possible for the assembly to be fitted with a USB connector of the socket type that can then accept a USB connector of a suitable type on the end of a suitably long USB cable connected at its other end to the external A.C. powered device, such as a PC.

Fig. 7 depicts a top view of an embodiment of an A.C. power switching assembly depicted in Fig. 5. The connectors shown in this figure include: a plug type connector 72 fitted to the free end of a cord for providing the connection between the A.C. power and the controlled A.C. power switch and connected at the other end of the cord to the A.C.

input of the controllable A.C. power switch. The cord includes wires to carry active, neutral and earth from the A.C. power supply reticulation; a socket type connector 74 fitted to the free end of the cord connected to the output of the A.C. controlled switch, this connector being specifically included so that existing A.C. powered devices can readily be connected to the A.C. power switching assembly as alternative arrangements including an array of sockets on a board or strip to which the plug/s of existing A.C. powered devices. It is possible for the A.C. power switching assembly with this particular configuration to be easily fitted between a wall mounted A.C. supply source and existing A.C. power distribution boards or strips and thus obviate the need to disturb the often well entangled wires and plug type power supplies as well as the tangle of wires laying over and about the existing plug board or strip. Sometimes there can be multiple power boards and strips daisy chained together which are even more difficult to re-arrange; a socket type connector 76 fitted to the free end of the cord connected to the output of the un- switched output of the A.C. power switching assembly and in one preferred embodiment the device to which it is connected is the PC from which the controlling signal is obtained (by wire or wirelessly). All connectors and cords are to comply with A.C. reticulation requirements of the country in which it is to be used and in doing so the form of the connectors both plugs and sockets may be different to those illustrated in the Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 which are known to be used in Australia.

Also depicted in Fig. 7 is a status indicator associated with the surge/spike protection device 64, the indicator 70, in this embodiment depicted in the form of a light emitting diode (l.e.d.) has a mode of operation which indicates that a surge/spike event has occurred which invoked operation of the spike/surge protection device to not allow a predetermined A.C. power type through from the source to the input of the at least one controllable A.C. switch and the corded connector for supplying un-switched A.C. This indicator may also be associated with the information communication device 62 or in some embodiments be a part of that device. In this embodiment the indicator is of the l.e.d. type which illuminates when the surge/spike event has occurred which invoked the operation of the spike/surge protection device. Other l.e.d.s can be used to indicate for example, normal operation status of the in-line A.C. power switching apparatus and other status as deemed useful to the user, if the assembly is readily seen by that user.

Fig. 8 depicts a top view of an embodiment of an A.C. power switching assembly depicted in Fig. 6 and includes an illustration of a USB connector 80 and suitable cable as described in detail in association with Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 depicts various end views of the housing of an A.C. power switching assembly designed to accommodate the exit of one or more corded connectors from the housing 90 to suit the particular arrangement of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly. The assembly housing shown by way of

example in side view in this figure may have a predetermined end plate attached at the time of manufacture along with grommets to adequately seal the space about the cords exiting the housing.

Fig. 10 depicts a top view of the wired and wireless embodiments of the invention including an illustration of the operation of the switch ON and OFF functions of an A.C. power switching assembly by a user. The button 66 located on the top of the housing of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly in this embodiment, is of the toggle ON, and toggle OFF type, which is operable by a single press each time the button operation is required to be initiated.

Fig. 1 1 (a) depicts a top view of a wireless (potentially hand held) remote control device for an A.C. power switching assembly that as stated previously provides, by way of a status indicator 172, the status of the surge/spike protection device so that the user need not be in sight of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly and which mimics the action of the status indicator 70 (Fig 7) described previously. The wireless remote control can, as illustrated in this embodiment provide a user operable initiator associated with the wireless communication transmitter which controls the selection of the at least one output signal to control the at least one controllable A.C. switch into a state, in this embodiment that is control button 1 16 which mimics the action of the control button 66 (Fig 8) previously described or the button and its function can be used to initiate one or more other functions of in-line A.C. power switching assembly. The actual form of the button, its positioning and function is a matter of design and may for example be integrated into a touch screen and thus actually be a symbol of a user interface rather than a physical button. Not shown but required to work in association with the remote control device is a wireless communication device within the remote control. The wireless device will in the embodiment described be a radio frequency arrangement but it could also be of the infrared type but less likely so since that ideally requires line-of-sight to most reliably work. LR. extenders could be used from the A.C. switching device but that adds cost and potential complexity.

Fig. 11 (b) depicts a top view of a wireless remote control device for an A.C. power switching assembly including in this embodiment an illustration of the operation of the switch ON function of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly controllable A.C. switch to provide A.C. power to the devices connected thereto, achieved with a single operation of the control button 1 16.

Fig. 11 (c) depicts a top view of a wireless remote control device for an A.C. power switching assembly including an illustration of the operation of the switch OFF function achieved with a single operation of the control button 1 16 or in a case of operation immediately after a switch ON a second operation of the button.

Fig. 12 depicts a side view of a wireless remote control device for an A.C. power switching assembly depicting for this embodiment an operation button 126. Also depicted is a mini-format USB socket 128 for the connection of a suitably sized USB connector to provide for the interconnection of the remote control device to the in-line A.C. power switching assembly or ^programming device. Such a wired

connection can provide additional functionality both from the remote control and back to the remote from the in-line A.C. power switching assembly. Also depicted is a configuration switch 120 which can be used to provide control over programming the function/s that the remote can control and receive. In the "configuration" location this switch permits wireless or wired communication of data to be received to achieve the reconfiguration of the operation of the remote device. While in the "normal" location the remote control operates in accordance with the program contained within it. While connected, the remote control device can also be charged via the power available via the USB connection.

Fig. 13 depicts a block diagram of an in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly of Fig. 3 depicting a potentially common use of the assembly including a home entertainment receiver and its associated devices. The satellite TV receiver is used as the main A.C. powered device 24 in this example but the main device could be the home entertainment receiver (some of which have USB connection capability) or other designated device. The connector 18 from the un-switched output of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly can be used to supply that A.C. powered device 24, a home entertainment receiver, with power. If as well, the home entertainment receiver is connected to the in-line A.C. power switching assembly as the input device 30 then it will be possible for the manual switch OFF of the home entertainment receiver to then control via the in-line A.C. power switching assembly the switch OFF of the associated equipment connected to the power board 32 that is typically associated with such systems.

It may also be possible to use the remote control of the home entertainment receiver to switch the receiver OFF and that can trigger/control the operation of the control of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly. Yet further it may be possible to use the external device output trigger commonly available in such receiver devices to provide an input signal to the in-line A.C. power switching assembly which in this embodiment can be via a wired connection which is not of the USB type previously described.

Yet further the home theatre remote control may incorporate in addition to all of its home theatre control functions, a remote control function for the in-line A.C. power switching assembly as described previously, and more particularly can simply receive the transmission of the information communications device of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly. Thus a known and already available device can be used to make the user aware of a surge/spike event which invoked operation of the surge/spike protection device of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly. Such an operation may be readily programmed into the known remote control and become particularly easy when the information communication device transmits at a frequency and protocol that is already known to it. In one embodiment that is the ZigBee, Z-wave protocols, or other technologies based on Wireless personal Area Networks (WAN). WANs best known currently are those complying with IEEE 802.1 Ix standards.

The control and surge protection of the power supply to a large number of peripheral and associated devices by a main device or a remote control will provide real benefits to energy conservation and equipment protection.

Further functionality for the devices described above or a device with just a single functionality can be provided to an in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly of Fig. 3 where there are at least two A.C. powered devices and wherein the current being drawn by a selected one of the devices, namely a main device, is monitored and in a simple example, when the main device is operated from a standby (typically low current draw) state to a normal, operational (typically high current draw) state, and when the current level measured exceeds a predetermined level, this condition is used as trigger to initiate the switching ON of the other A.C. powered devices, referred to herein as peripheral devices, in the manner previously described in this specification. Alternatively when the main device is already switched OFF and is then switched ON, the increase in current from zero current draw to an operating level draw can also be used as a trigger condition to initiate the switching ON of peripheral devices in the manner previously described in this specification.

Current sensing circuits known to those in the art can be arranged to provide, analogue or digital signals to the micro-controller for processing. The location of the current sensing circuit is preferably between the source of A.C. and the A.C. input of the at least one controllable A.C. power switch. A micro-controller is but one embodiment of a device within an in-line A.C. power switching assembly which can be used to receive external signals representative of current and other physical characteristics of the in-line A.C. power switching assembly and then performed determinations that will control the inline A.C. power switching assembly.

The micro-controller can be set to use one of many conditions for controlling the switching of A.C. to the peripheral devices.

As mentioned above, a simple condition to be monitored by the micro-controller is a current exceeded condition. The micro-controller is programmed with data representing a predetermined current level and when the measured current level exceeds that predetermined current level A.C. switching occurs. Another condition that can be used in such an arrangement is to set a predetermined rate of increase of current and when that is detected A.C. switching occurs. The micro-controller can continuously monitor current levels of increases over a preset time, for example a current level increase over 200 mA occurring in less than 5 milliseconds. The responsiveness of the measuring circuit is a limiting factor whereas the power of the micro-controller to make the determination will not be a limiting factor.

Fig. 14 depicts a block diagram of an in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly having current sensing capability in a common example of its potential use which includes a personal computer and its associated peripheral devices.

Fig. 15 depicts a block diagram of an in-line Alternating Current (A.C.) power switching assembly having current sensing capability in a common example of its use which includes a home entertainment screen and its associated devices which as depicted include DVD player, Subwoofer, VCR player, Amplifier and TV receiver. When the home entertainment screen ggfgpiotely controlled into use (from OFF

or standby) or switched OFF, current drawn by that device can be monitored and the (A. C.) power switching assembly arranged as described above to perform according to a predetermined condition requirement.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that various modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the invention should be understood to include all such modifications within its scope.