Systems and methods for automatically re-routing power

 

Patent number: 8810980 (VIDEO DEMO CLICK HERE)

 

Abstract:

 

Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods using an interruption device for automatically re-routing power upon the occurrence of an event. The interruption device may interrupt the flow of power to an external device upon the detection of an event, such as a circuit overload or short circuit. Interrupting the flow of power may cause power to be cut off to a receiving connector, which supplies power to the external device, by re-routing the flow of power away from the receiving connector by the use of relay switches. By interrupting and re-routing the flow of power, an electrical fire, damage to the external device or other hazard may be prevented. Once the source of the problem, such as a defective external device, has been removed or fixed, the flow of power may be re-routed back to the receiving connector.

 

CLAIM OF PRIORITY:

 

The present Application for Patent claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/401,005 entitled “Methods of Rerouting Alternating Current Terminals”, filed Aug. 6, 2010, and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

 

FIELD:

 

The present invention relates to the field of automated safety capabilities for appliances or other devices, in particular, to systems and methods for automatically re-routing power upon the occurrence of a safety event.

 

SUMMARY:

 

One feature of the present invention provides an interruption device for automatically interrupting and re-routing power upon the occurrence of an event. The interruption device includes a re-routing module comprising a control module for receiving and distributing power from a power source; a first relay module, in communication with the control module, for switching a flow of power within the interruption device between a first path and a second path; a first transformer module, in communication with the first relay module, for interrupting the flow of power upon the occurrence of an event; a second transformer module, in communication with the first relay module, for re-routing the flow of power upon the occurrence of the event; and a second relay module, in communication with the second transformer module, for providing notification of the re-routing of the flow of power.

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

 

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. In the following description, specific details are given to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, circuits may be shown in block diagrams in order not to obscure the embodiments in unnecessary detail. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques may not be shown detail in order not to obscure the embodiments.

 

Also, it is noted that the embodiments may be described as a process that is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, a structure diagram, or a block diagram. Although the operations may be described as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A process is terminated when its operations are completed. A process may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, a subroutine, a subprogram, etc. When a process corresponds to a function, its termination corresponds to a return of the function to the calling function or the main function.