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An electric adapter with a display unit capable of indicating various electrical parameters of an electric appliances is disclosed. The adapter includes a housing, a plug, an outlet socket, a control circuit and a display unit. The adapter is electrically connected between an electric socket and the electric appliance. When the electric appliance works, the control circuit detects various electrical parameters of the electric appliance and then displays the electrical parameters on the display unit. The electrical parameters includes present time, voltage value, current value, watt, kilowatt-hour, apparent power value, power factor.

InventorDaniel Liu
Current U.S. Classification439/488; 439/638; 439/650
International Classification: H01R 300

View patent at USPTO
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Citations

Cited PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
US4331122May 6, 1980May 25, 1982Robert Bosch GmbHAdapter for improving the operation of electrical circuits in a motor vehicle
US5225816Aug 12, 1991Jul 6, 1993Motorola, Inc.Electrical connector with display

Referenced by

Citing PatentFiling dateIssue dateOriginal AssigneeTitle
US6612873Dec 20, 2000Sep 2, 2003Square D CompanyWiring adapter for connecting a remotely operable switching device to a control bus
US6835104Jun 14, 2002Dec 28, 2004Square D CompanyField convertible tap-off unit
US7164262Mar 10, 2004Jan 16, 2007In-head converter with display
US7540767Aug 24, 2007Jun 2, 2009Reliance Controls CorporationPlug-in amp/watt power meter
US7591670Oct 17, 2006Sep 22, 2009Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
Connector device having counter thereof
US7677921May 27, 2009Mar 16, 2010Reliance Controls CorporationPlug-in amp/watt power meter
US7817055Dec 11, 2004Oct 19, 2010Boat power isolator adapter
US8115476Jun 15, 2009Feb 14, 2012Reliance Controls CorporationApparatus for providing energy usage and energy cost data for an electrical device
US8221154Jan 31, 2012Jul 17, 2012Electrical power strip for use with clamp ammeter
US8232683Apr 22, 2009Jul 31, 2012Belkin International, Inc.Relocatable power tap
USD515449Jun 10, 2005Feb 21, 2006Intermatic, IncorporatedPower failure switch warning light
USD515959Jun 10, 2005Feb 28, 2006Intermatic IncorporatedPower failure receptacle warning light
USD525152May 4, 2005Jul 18, 2006Time-controlled electrical power outlet
USD558617Mar 8, 2007Jan 1, 2008Hunter Fan CompanyRemote electrical timer
USD567119Apr 12, 2007Apr 22, 2008Digital plug-in timer
USD605961May 25, 2009Dec 15, 2009Industrial Technology Research InstitutePlug meter
USD605962May 25, 2009Dec 15, 2009Industrial Technology Research InstitutePlug meter
USD608666May 26, 2009Jan 26, 2010Valve timer

Claims

1. An electric adapter configured to be connected between an electric socket and an electric appliance, for indicating a plurality of electrical parameters of the electric appliance, said electric adapter comprising:

a housing;
a plug arranged on a rear of the housing for insertion into an electric socket;
an outlet socket formed on the housing, whereby the electric appliance can be electrically connected to the outlet socket;
a control circuit including a central processing unit located within the housing for detecting a plurality of electrical parameters of the electric appliance during operation
a display unit arranged on the housing for displaying at least one of the plurality of electrical parameters detected by the control circuit; and,
a mode selection switch arranged on the housing and connected to the central processing unit, the mode selection switch being operable from externally of the housing to select which of the plurality of electrical parameters is displayed by the display unit.

2. The electric adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical parameters indicated on the display unit comprises present time, voltage value, current value, watt, kilowatt-hour, apparent power value, and power factor.

3. The electric adapter as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a power on/off switch arranged on the housing and connected to the central processing unit for turning on/off the adapter.

4. The electric adapter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises:

a voltage detecting circuit for detecting a voltage supplied to the electric appliance and generating a voltage value;
a current detecting circuit for detecting a current supplied to the electric appliance and generating a current value; and
a time base signal generator for providing a time base signal; whereby the central processing unit receives the voltage value generated by the voltage detecting circuit, the current value generated by the current detecting circuit, and time base signal to calculate the plurality of electrical parameters.

5. The electric adapter as claimed in claim 4, wherein the voltage detecting circuit comprises:

a voltage amplifier electrically connected to the output outlet of the adapter in parallel connection for generating an analog-voltage signal;
a voltage zero-crossing detecting circuit for detecting a zero-crossing signal of the analog voltage signal and then sending the zero-crossing signal to the central processing unit; and
an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog voltage signal generated by the voltage amplifier into a digital voltage value, and then sending the digital voltage value to the central processing unit.

6. The electric adapter as claimed in claim 4, wherein the current detecting circuit comprises:

a current amplifier for detecting a current flow supplied to the electric appliance, and then generating an analog current signal; and
an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog current signal generated by the current amplifier into a digital current value, and then sending the digital current value to the central processing unit.

7. An electric adapter connected between an electric socket and an electric appliance, for indicating a plurality of electrical parameters of the electric appliance, said electric adapter comprising:

a housing;
a plug arranged on a rear of the housing for insertion into an electric socket;
an outlet socket formed on the housing, whereby the electric appliance can be electrically connected to the outlet socket;
a control circuit arranged in the housing for detecting the plurality of electrical parameters of the electric appliance during operation; and
a display unit arranged on the housing for displaying at least one of the plurality of electrical parameters received and processed by the control circuit, wherein the control circuit comprises:
a voltage detecting circuit for detecting a voltage supplied to the electric appliance and generating a voltage value;
a current detecting circuit for detecting a current supplied to the electric appliance and generating a current value;
a time base signal generator for providing a time base signal; and
a central processing unit receiving the voltage value generated by the voltage detecting circuit, the current value generated by the current detecting circuit, and the time base signal for calculating the plurality of electrical parameters, wherein the voltage detecting circuit comprises:
a voltage amplifier electrically connected to the output outlet of the adapter in parallel connection for generating an analog voltage signal;
a voltage zero-crossing detecting circuit for detecting a zero-crossing signal of the analog voltage signal and then sending the zero-crossing signal to the central processing unit; and
an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog voltage signal generated by the voltage amplifier into a digital voltage value, and then sending the digital voltage value to the central processing unit.

8. The electric adapter as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality of electrical parameters indicated on the display unit comprises present time, voltage value, current value, watt, kilowatt-hour, apparent power value, and power factor.

9. The electric adapter as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a power on/off switch arranged on the housing for turning on/off the adapter and a displaying mode selection switch arranged on the housing.

10. The electric adapter as claimed in claim 7, wherein the current detecting circuit comprises:

a current amplifier for detecting a current flow supplied to the electric appliance, and then generating an analog current signal; and
an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog current signal generated by the current amplifier into a digital current value, and then sending the digital current value to the central processing unit.

11. An electric adapter connected between an electric socket and an electric appliance, for indicating a plurality of electrical parameters of the electric appliance, said electric adapter comprising:

a housing;
a plug arranged on a rear of the housing for insertion into an electric socket;
an outlet socket formed on the housing, whereby the electric appliance can be electrically connected to the outlet socket;
a control circuit arranged in the housing for detecting the plurality of electrical parameters of the electric appliance during operation; and
a display unit arranged on the housing for displaying at least one of the plurality of electrical parameters received and processed by the control circuit, wherein the control circuit comprises:
a voltage detecting circuit for detecting a voltage supplied to the electric appliance and generating a voltage value;
a current detecting circuit for detecting a current supplied to the electric appliance and generating a current value;
a time base signal generator for providing a time base signal; and,
a central processing unit receiving the voltage value generated by the voltage detecting circuit, the current value generated by the current detecting circuit, and the time base signal for calculating the plurality of electrical parameters, wherein the current detecting circuit comprises:
a current amplifier for detecting a current flow supplied to the electric appliance, and then generating an analog current signal; and
an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog current signal generated by the current amplifier into a digital current value, and then sending the digital current value to the central processing unit.

12. The electric adapter as claimed in claim 11, wherein the plurality of electrical parameters indicated on the display unit comprises present time, voltage value, current value, watt, kilowatt-hour, apparent power value, and power factor.

13. The electric adapter as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a power on/off switch arranged on the housing for turning on/off the adapter and a displaying mode selection switch arranged on the housing.