US 11,855,441 B2
System and method for controlling an electrical receptacle
Robert Simon, Shelton, CT (US); and Matthew Samojeden, Rye, NY (US)
Assigned to Hubbell Incorporated, Shelton, CT (US)
Appl. No. 16/625,060
Filed by Hubbell Incorporated, Shelton, CT (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 13, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/042067
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 20, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/014579, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 17, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/532,132, filed on Jul. 13, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0153231 A1, May 14, 2020
Int. Cl. H02H 3/20 (2006.01); G01R 19/155 (2006.01); G01R 27/08 (2006.01); H02H 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02H 3/202 (2013.01) [G01R 19/155 (2013.01); G01R 27/08 (2013.01); H02H 1/0007 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical receptacle comprising:
an outlet configured to electrically connect to an external load;
a load terminal electrically connected to the outlet;
a line terminal electrically connected to a line and configured to receive line power;
an interrupting device electrically connecting the load terminal to the line terminal when in a first condition and electrically disconnecting the load terminal and the line terminal when in a second condition; and
a testing circuit including a controller and a feedback loop, the feedback loop including an output and an input of the controller, the testing circuit configured to
output, via the output of the controller, a signal to a phase line of the outlet,
receive, via the input of the controller, a response signal from a neutral line of the outlet,
measure, via the controller, a resistance of the response signal,
determine, via the controller, when the external load is electrically connected to the outlet based on the resistance of the response signal, and
place the interrupting device in the first condition when the external load is electrically connected to the outlet.