Signal-activated circuit interrupter

摘要

The current invention is an automatic AC power interruption system built into a portable apparatus or integrated into electrical systems and appliance control circuitry. Power is interrupted in potentially hazardous conditions, for example, when a T3 smoke detector alarm signal is detected. Alternatively, a portable device may be plugged into a power outlet having a GFCI breaker and, when a hazard alarm condition is detected, trip off power to the outlet. Signal-activated circuit interrupters (SACIs) may be integrated into appliance control circuitry and interrupt power to a problematic device when a hazard alarm condition is detected. In addition to fire prevention, other hazard alarm conditions may include alarms indicating toxic fumes, motor overload, natural gas, radon, or carbon monoxide. Interconnected networks of signal-activated circuit interrupters are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method of fire prevention by coupling a signal-activated circuit interrupter onto an AC power circuit having an electrical connection to one or more electrical appliances prone to fire, the method comprising:
a. providing an AC electrical power outlet having at least one grounded female receptacle, a ground fault circuit interrupt device, and one or more power supply circuits wired in series to said ground fault circuit interrupt device, wherein said one or more power supply circuits are enabled to supply electrical power to one or more electrical appliances prone to fire; b. providing a signal-activated circuit interrupter, said signal-activated circuit interrupter having:
i) a male connector with hot, neutral and ground prongs configured for engaging said at least one female receptacle of said AC electrical power outlet;ii) a microphone enabled to receive an audio hazard alarm condition and to output an analog signal corresponding to said audio hazard alarm condition;iii) a filter subcircuit electrically connected to said microphone, said filter enabled to reject non-specific microphone outputs and to output a digital hazard alarm signal when presented with said analog signal corresponding to said audio hazard alarm condition;iv) a watchdog subcircuit enabled to receive said output from said filter subcircuit, to authenticate said digital hazard alarm signal, and to convey an authentication output signal to a trip subcircuit;v) wherein said trip subcircuit is configured to receive said authentication output signal and controlledly short an effective amount of current from said hot prong to said ground prong so as to trip said ground fault circuit interrupt device; c. plugging said signal-activated circuit interrupter into said at least one female receptacle; and, d. microphonically detecting an external audio alarm from said one or more electrical appliances prone to fire; filtering, digitizing and authenticating said alarm; and outputting an authentication output signal to said trip subcircuit; thereby tripping said ground fault circuit interrupt device and cutting electrical power to said one or more electrical appliances.