(12) United States Patent
`Liu
`
`111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US006476729Bl
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`Nov. 5, 2002
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`(54) POWER MONITORING MODULE WITH
`DISPLAY UNIT FOR ELECTRICAL POWER
`SOURCE DEVICE
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: Daniel Liu, 4F, No. 10, Alley 59, Lane
`42, Min Chuan Road, Hsin Tien, Taipei
`Hsien (TW)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 135 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/642,839
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Aug. 22, 2000
`
`Int. Cl? ................................................ G08C 19/04
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................. 340/870.11; 340/310.08;
`340/870.02
`(58) Field of Search ....................... 340/870.11, 310.08,
`340/656, 870.02
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,650,771 A * 7/1997 Lee ....................... 340/310.08
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner-Timothy Edwards, Jr.
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Rosenberg, Klein & Lee
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A power monitoring module with a display unit configured
`to be mounted on an electrical power source device, such as
`uninterrupted power supply or a power strip, for indicating
`a plurality of electrical parameters is disclosed. The power
`monitoring module includes a casing provided with a central
`open area and a plurality of through holes thereon, and a
`printed circuit board are mounted to the casing. A control
`circuit is arranged on the printed circuit board and electri(cid:173)
`cally coupled to the power source device for detecting the
`electrical parameters of the electric appliance plugged on the
`power source device. A plurality of operation keys are
`arranged on the printed circuit board, corresponding to the
`through holes formed on the casing. A display unit arranged
`on the printed circuit board, corresponding to the central
`open area of the casing for displaying at least one of the
`plurality of electrical parameters detected by the control
`circuit.
`
`2 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets
`
`L2
`
`ACV
`
`805
`
`83
`
`,-l-- r---_-_-,--------1;---------,
`
`82
`
`I
`I
`I
`Voltage
`I +----'1----------l Amplifier
`Power
`Supply I
`Circuit I '-------------t
`I
`I
`I
`
`Current
`Amplifier
`
`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,
`803
`
`809
`
`21b
`
`801
`
`1
`
`24
`
`IPR Page 1
`
`Raritan v. Server Technology
`
`RARITAN EXHIBIT 1023
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 5, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 of 10
`
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`
`112
`
`11
`
`12
`
`FIG.l
`
`IPR Page 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 5, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 of 10
`
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`
`113
`
`112
`
`22
`
`1
`
`11
`
`12
`
`FIG.2
`
`IPR Page 3
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 5, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 of 10
`
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`
`41
`
`4
`
`42
`
`FIG.3
`
`IPR Page 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 5, 2002
`
`Sheet 4 of 10
`
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`
`5
`
`52
`
`1
`
`FIG.4
`
`IPR Page 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 5, 2002
`
`Sheet 5 of 10
`
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`
`21
`
`11
`
`112
`
`114
`
`114
`
`112
`
`FIG.5
`
`IPR Page 6
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 5, 2002
`
`Sheet 6 of 10
`
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`
`111
`
`11
`
`1
`
`110
`
`112
`
`114
`
`23
`
`22
`
`3
`
`FIG.6
`
`IPR Page 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 5, 2002
`
`Sheet 7 of 10
`
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`
`6
`
`FIG.7
`
`IPR Page 8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 5, 2002
`
`Sheet 8 of 10
`
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`
`4
`
`6
`
`21
`
`40
`
`2
`
`FIG.8
`
`IPR Page 9
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 5, 2002
`
`Sheet 9 of 10
`
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`
`• • • •
`
`N
`00
`
`,-----~
`
`I
`I
`~ II-------~
`oo ~ I
`I
`I
`____ _j
`
`lr')
`0
`00
`
`0
`00
`
`IPR Page 10
`
`

`
`1--"
`~
`\0
`N
`~
`0'1
`""-l
`'l.
`0'1
`rJ'l
`
`e
`
`'"""' c
`0 ......,
`'"""' c
`~ .....
`'JJ. =(cid:173)~
`
`N c c
`y.
`~
`0
`z
`
`N
`
`~ = ......
`~ ......
`~
`•
`\Jl
`d •
`
`21a
`
`__ ___.I
`I
`Circuit
`I
`Driving
`..--------L---+---. I
`I
`809 I
`I
`I
`I
`I
`
`807
`
`AID Converter
`
`AID Converter
`
`r:::--l----+ ------_j
`
`I Keys
`I Selection Setting Keys f "--21 b
`
`Generator
`Time Base 1 Function Over-Current
`804-
`
`-----------------803--,--~
`
`82
`
`,-L----,
`
`83
`
`FIG.IO
`
`24~aaaa
`
`802
`
`805
`
`Ll
`
`ACV
`
`L2
`
`IPR Page 11
`
`

`
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`
`1
`POWER MONITORING MODULE WITH
`DISPlAY UNIT FOR ELECTRICAL POWER
`SOURCE DEVICE
`
`2
`FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing that a power
`monitoring module of the first embodiment of the present
`invention is mounted on an uninterrupted power source;
`FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the power monitoring
`5 module in accordance with a second embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 6 is an exploded
`module of FIG. 5;
`FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the power monitoring
`module in accordance with a third embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the power monitoring
`module of FIG. 7 is mounted on a power source device;
`FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the power moni(cid:173)
`toring module of the present invention; and
`FIG. 10 is a control circuit diagram of the power moni(cid:173)
`toring module of the present invention.
`
`v1ew of the power monitoring
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to a power monitoring
`module for a power source device, and more particularly to
`an electrical power monitoring module with a display unit
`capable of displaying various, electrical parameters of an
`electric appliance plugged on the power source device.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`The conventional extension type electrical socket device,
`known as power strip, with a pair of extension wires is a 15
`typical type of electrical power source device. The socket
`device is generally provided with a plurality of sockets
`thereon, so that at least one electric appliance may plug in
`the socket. Some of the power strip is further equipped with
`a power on/off switch for switching on or off the electric 20
`power to the sockets. Another power strip is further
`equipped with a fuse serving as an over current protective
`element. None of the conventional power strip is equipped
`with a display unit for displaying various electrical param(cid:173)
`eters of the operating status of the electric appliance plugged 25
`on the power strip.
`Further, the well-known un-interrupted power supply,
`abbreviated UPS, is the other type of electrical power source
`device. Most of the UPS is simply designed as a backup
`power supply for such as computer device when the regular 30
`electrical power supply fails. It is difficult for ordinary users
`to measure the electrical parameters such as kilowatt-hour,
`power factor, watt, etc. of the electric appliances or the
`power source, Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved
`power source device with a display unit which is capable of 35
`indicting various electrical parameters of both the electric
`appliance electrically connected to the power source device
`and the power source.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`First Embodiment
`
`With reference to FIG. 1, it is a perspective view of the
`power monitoring module 1 in accordance with a first
`embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded
`view of the power monitoring module 1 of FIG. 1. The
`power monitoring module 1 includes a casing composed of
`an upper casing 11 and a lower casing 12. An inner space is
`formed between the upper casing 11 and the lower casing 12.
`A number of through holes 111 are formed on the top surface
`of the upper casing 11. A pair of outward locking members
`112 are formed on opposite side walls of the upper casing 11.
`A central transparent plate 113 may be mounted on a central
`open area 110 formed on the top surface of the upper casing
`11.
`A first printed circuit board 2 is located within the inner
`space formed between the upper casing 11 and the lower
`40 casing 12. A control circuit is arranged on the printed circuit
`board 2 for measuring, calculating, and processing various
`electrical parameters of a power source device. In this
`embodiment, a second printed circuit board 20 is further
`retained in the inner space between the upper casing 11 and
`45 the lower casing 12. A number of electrical wires 3 are
`extended from the second printed circuit board 20, used to
`electrically connect to the power source device to be mea(cid:173)
`sured and monitored.
`A number of operating keys 21 are arranged on the first
`50 printed circuit board 2, corresponding to the through holes
`111 of the upper casing 11. Preferably, the top surface of
`each operation key 21 is protrusive to the through hole 111
`of the upper casing 11.
`A display unit is mounted on the first printed circuit board
`2, corresponding to the central open area 110 of the upper
`casing 11. The display unit includes an insulated layer 22, a
`light emitting device 23, a LCD or LED indicating unit 24,
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`and a conductive cable 25, capable of displaying various
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the power monitoring
`electrical parameters of the power source device. As shown
`module in accordance with a first embodiment of the present 60 in FIG. 2, the insulated layer 22 is positioned on the printed
`invention;
`circuit board 2. The indicating unit 24 is capable of indi-
`FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the power monitoring
`cating the plurality of electrical parameters of the electric
`module of FIG. 1;
`appliance in a digital form. The light emitting device 23 is
`FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing that a power
`mounted on the insulated layer and electrically connected to
`monitoring module of the first embodiment of the present
`65 the control circuit arranged on the printed circuit board via
`the cable 25 for generating a lighting source to the indicating
`invention is mounted on a power strip with an extension
`unit 24.
`wire;
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Consequently, it is a primary object of the present inven(cid:173)
`tion to provide a power monitoring module for an electrical
`power source device, such as an electrical power strip or an
`un-interrupted power supply. The power monitoring module
`is capable of detecting various electrical parameters of the
`electric appliances plugged on the power source device.
`The other object of the present invention is to provide a
`power monitoring module with a display unit capable of
`displaying relevant electrical parameters of the power source
`device and the electric appliances plugged on the power
`source device. The electrical parameters include voltage
`value, current value, watt, kilowatt-hour, apparent power
`value, power factor, frequency, and so on.
`The present invention can be best understood through the
`following description and accompanying drawings, 55
`wherein:
`
`IPR Page 12
`
`

`
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`
`3
`The power monitoring module of this embodiment is
`suitable to be mounted in a power strip 4 which includes a
`number of sockets thereon and an extension wire which may
`be plugged in an electrical socket, as shown in FIG. 3. In this
`application, the power monitoring module 1 is mounted on
`an open area 40 of the power strip 4. The power strip 4 is
`typically provided with plural sockets 41 thereon and a
`power on/off switch 42.
`The power monitoring module 1 of the present invention
`is also suitable to be mounted on an open area 50 formed on
`a front panel of an un-interrupted power supply 5, as shown
`in FIG. 4. The uninterrupted power supply 5 is also typically
`provided with plural sockets 51 thereon and a power on/off
`switch 52 on the front panel thereof.
`
`Second Embodiment
`
`5
`
`4
`monitoring various electrical parameters of the electric
`appliances plugged on the sockets 82.
`The control circuit of the present invention further
`includes a number of operation keys 21 and an over current
`isolation switch 83. The over current isolation switch 83 is
`connected to the power lines Ll and L2 in series. The over
`current isolation switch 83 is capable of cutting off the
`current passing through the electric appliance plugged on the
`socket 82 in case that an over current is detected by the
`10 power monitoring circuit 80.
`FIG. 10 is a control circuit diagram of the power moni(cid:173)
`toring module of the present invention. A power supplying
`circuit 801 is connected across the power lines Ll and L2,
`used to convert the AC power source ACV into a DC power
`15 source as a working power source for the control circuit of
`the present invention.
`A current amplifier 802 is capable of detecting the value
`of the current passing through the electric appliance plugged
`on the socket 82. The current value may be obtained in such
`a manner that a resistor 805 is serially connected with one
`of the power lines such as the first power lines Ll, and two
`input ends of the current amplifier 802 are electrically
`connected across the resistor 805 in parallel. An analog-to-
`25 digital converter 803 is used to convert the analog current
`value generated by the current amplifier 802 into digital
`current signal which will be sent to a central processing unit
`804.
`A voltage amplifier 806 has two input ends connected
`across the power lines Ll and L2 for detecting the voltage
`value supplied to the electric appliance plugged on the
`socket 82. An analog-to-digital converter 807 is used for
`converting the analog voltage value generated by the voltage
`amplifier 806 into digital voltage signal which will be sent
`35 to the central processing unit 804. A voltage zero-crossing
`detecting circuit 808 is capable of detecting the zero(cid:173)
`crossing point of the power source supplied ACV. Each time
`the value of the alternating current voltage is zero, the
`zero-crossing detecting circuit 808 will send an output pulse
`signal at its output end to the central processing unit 804.
`A time base signal generator 811 is used to generate a
`series of time base signals which are sent to the central
`processing unit 804 as a basis clock signal for time calcu(cid:173)
`lation and display.
`The operation keys of the present invention include a
`number of function selection keys 2la for selection of
`different functions, such as display mode selection. The
`present invention further includes over current setting keys
`2lb, so that the user may set a predetermined over current
`value to actuate the over current isolation switch 83 to cut off
`the current passing through the socket 82 under control of
`the central processing unit 804. That is, when a predeter(cid:173)
`mined over current value is detected, the central processing
`unit 804 will generate a control signal via a driving circuit
`809 to actuate the over current isolation switch 83 to cut off
`the current passing though the electric appliance plugged on
`the socket 82. Preferably, an alarm 810 may generate an
`audio signal under control of the central processing unit 804
`when the over current value is detected, The central pro-
`60 cessing unit 804 is capable of receiving the signals generated
`by the analog-to-digital converters 803, 804, and the zero(cid:173)
`crossing detecting circuit 808, and then calculating and
`processing the signals. The signals will be further converted
`into desired electrical parameters. Finally, the electrical
`65 parameters may be displayed on the LCD or LED indicating
`unit 24. The electrical parameters indicated on the indicating
`unit 24 may include voltage value, current value, watt,
`
`FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the power monitoring
`module in accordance with a second embodiment of the
`present invention. FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the power 20
`monitoring module of FIG. 5. Most of the elements of this
`embodiment are similar to that of the first embodiment
`described above. Wherever possible, the same reference
`numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the
`same or like parts. The differences between the first and
`second embodiment are that the casing of the second
`embodiment is simply composed of an upper casing 11, and
`the upper casing 11 is additionally provided with a pair of
`downward hooking member 114, so that the printed circuit
`board may be mounted onto the upper casing 11 by means 30
`of the hooking members 114.
`The hooking member 114 may be replaced by any other
`suitable fastening elements. As shown in the drawing, the
`extended conductive wires 3 is directly welded on the
`printed circuit board 2. In alternative, the extended conduc(cid:173)
`tive wires 3 may be replaced with conductive pins, not
`shown.
`
`Third Embodiment
`FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the power monitoring 40
`module in accordance with a third embodiment of the
`present invention. Similar to the first and second embodi(cid:173)
`ments described above, the display unit also includes an
`insulated layer 22, a light emitting device 23, a LCD or LED
`indicating unit 24, and a conductive cable 25, capable of 45
`displaying various electrical parameters of the power source
`device.
`The casing of this embodiment is in a form of cover 6
`provided with a pair of hooking members 61 on opposite 50
`side walls thereof, so that the cover 6 may be mounted on the
`printed circuit board 2 by inserting the hooking members 61
`into the locking hole 26 of the printed circuit board 2. The
`cover 6 is formed with a number of through holes 62
`thereon, so that the operation keys 21 arranged on the 55
`printed circuit board 2 are protrusive to the through holes 62
`for operation. The cover 6 is preferably made by transparent
`material.
`In this embodiment, when the cover 6 is mounted on an
`open area 40 of a power source device 4, the top surface of
`the cover 6 may be coplanar with the front panel of the
`power source device 4, as shown in FIG. 8.
`FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of the present
`invention, which mainly includes a power monitoring circuit
`80 and a display unit 24. The power monitoring circuit 80 is
`electrically connected to the first power line Ll and the
`second power line L2 of the AC power source ACV for
`
`IPR Page 13
`
`

`
`US 6,476,729 Bl
`
`5
`kilowatt-hour, apparent power value, power factor,
`frequency, and so on. A part of these data may be directly
`displayed by the display unit under control of the central
`processing unit (such as voltage value and current value),
`while the other of the data are obtained by calculation of the 5
`central processing unit according to conventional formulas
`on the basis of the basic data (such as watt, kilowatt-hour,
`apparent power value, power factor, etc.).
`By means of the power monitoring module incorporating
`with a power source device such as an extension type 10
`electrical socket or an un-interrupted power supply, the
`present invention may monitoring the operating status of the
`power source device and indicating a plurality of electrical
`parameters on an display unit.
`It should be noted that the above description and accom- 15
`panying drawings are only used to illustrate one embodi(cid:173)
`ment of the present invention, not intended to limit the scope
`thereof. Any modification of the embodiment should fall
`within the scope of the present invention.
`I claim:
`1. A power monitoring module mounted on an electrical
`power source device having at least one electrical socket
`coupled to a pair of power lines, said power monitoring
`module comprising:
`a housing adapted for mounting in an opening formed in
`the electrical power source device;
`at least one printed circuit board disposed in said housing;
`a control circuit mounted on said at least one printed
`circuit board coupled to the pair of power lines, said
`
`6
`control circuit including a processor for detecting a
`plurality of electrical parameters associated with a
`device plugged into the at least one electrical socket
`and an isolation switch having a control input coupled
`to an output of said processor, said isolation switch
`being coupled between the at least one electrical socket
`and the pair of power lines for cutting off current flow
`to the at least one electrical socket responsive to
`detection of a predetermined overload limit of one of
`said plurality of electrical parameters detected by said
`processor;
`a plurality of operation keys mounted on said at least one
`printed circuit board and coupled to said processor, at
`least one of said plurality of operation keys being an
`overload limit setting key for setting said predeter(cid:173)
`mined overload limit of one of said plurality of elec(cid:173)
`trical parameters; and,
`a display unit mounted on said at least one printed circuit
`board and mounted to be visible through an opening
`formed through said housing for displaying at least one
`of said plurality of electrical parameters detected by
`said processor.
`2. The power monitoring module as recited in claim 1,
`further comprising a second printed circuit board disposed in
`25 said housing and coupled to said at least one printed circuit
`board, said second printed circuit board providing coupling
`to the pair of power lines and the at least one electrical
`socket.
`
`20
`
`* * * * *
`
`IPR Page 14