Selective electrical coupling based on environmental conditions

摘要

An environmental monitoring device that includes a switching mechanism is described. During operation of the environmental monitoring device, the switching mechanism (such as a switch) selectively electrically couples a first electrical-connection node and a second electrical-connection node. For example, using the switching mechanism, an electronic device that is electrically coupled to the first electrical-connection node may be selectively electrically coupled to a second electronic device that is electrically coupled to the second electrical-connection node. The selective electrical coupling may be based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. Moreover, a sensor mechanism in the environmental monitoring device may provide sensor data based on the one or more measurements. Alternatively, an antenna and an interface circuit in the environmental monitoring device may receive the sensor data from a third electronic device.

主权项

1. An environmental monitoring device, comprising:
a first electrical-connection node configured to electrically couple to an electronic device; a second electrical-connection node configured to electrically couple to a second electronic device; a switching mechanism, electrically coupled to the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node, which, during operation, selectively electrically couples the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node; a sensor mechanism that provides sensor data based on one or more measurements of an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device, wherein the environmental condition corresponds to power consumption by one of: the electronic device, and the second electronic device, wherein the environmental condition is associated with a power-up transient signal of one of: the electronic device, and the second electronic device, and wherein the power-up transient signal includes a time-varying power consumption with a programmed sequence of approximately discrete values that specify an identifier of one of: the electronic device, and the second electronic device; an antenna; an interface circuit, electrically coupled to the antenna, which, during operation, communicates with a third electronic device that is separate from the environmental monitoring device, wherein the communication includes the environmental condition; and a control mechanism, electrically coupled to the switching mechanism, the sensor mechanism and the interface circuit, which, during operation, determines a predefined preference based on the identifier, and provides a control signal to the switching mechanism to selectively electrically couple the first electrical-connection node and the second electrical-connection node based on the one or more measurements of the environmental condition and the predefined preference.