Active receptacle cover

Abstract

A cover for an electrical receptacle including a faceplate. The cover also includes a first transmission tab configured to be electrically connected to a first power line of the electrical receptacle and a second transmission tab configured to be electrically connected to a second power line of the electrical receptacle. Additionally, the cover includes a device (such as a light source, circuit, port, or sensor) in communication with the first transmission tab and the second transmission tab.

1 . A cover configured to be received around a portion of an electric receptacle, the cover comprising:
 a faceplate having a rear surface that faces away from a room, and a front surface that faces the room;   a plurality of power transmission tabs that extend from the rear surface of the faceplate and extend away from the room, a first power transmission tab of the plurality of power transmission tabs being a hot tab that is configured to connect to a power terminal of an electrical device connected to a main power line in a receptacle box;   power conversion circuitry that includes a rectifier, the power conversion circuitry being electrically connected to the first power transmission tab and rectifies AC power from the first power transmission tab so as to provide DC power; and
 a proximity sensor configured to receive the DC power from the power conversion circuitry, and detect a presence of an object that has near the front surface of the faceplate; and 
 a communication device, configured to trigger an operation of another device in response to a detection of the object by the proximity sensor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein the proximity sensor includes a micro camera. 
     
     
         3 . The cover of  claim 2 , wherein the communication device is configured to communicate digital data. 
     
     
         4 . The cover of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a light emitting device that is electrically in communication with at least one of the proximity sensor and the communication device.   
     
     
         5 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the communication device includes one of wired and wireless communication. 
     
     
         6 . The cover of  claim 5 , further comprising a security system component coupled to the faceplate. 
     
     
         7 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the rectifier is located between the front surface of the faceplate and an end of the first power transmission tab. 
     
     
         8 . The cover of  claim 1  wherein the power conversion circuitry is configured to provide different DC output voltage levels. 
     
     
         9 . The cover of  claim 8 , wherein
 wherein the power conversion circuitry is configured to provide one of the different DC output voltages levels to a connected device based on a power requirement from the connected device.   
     
     
         10 . The cover of  claim 9 , wherein the power requirement is a load of the connected device. 
     
     
         11 . The cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a volumetric enclosure that extends outwardly toward the room and having an interior that is sized to house an electrically coupled device therein, and an exterior surface sized to accommodate another electrically coupled device thereon. 
     
     
         12 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the power conversion circuitry continues to provide power under a condition a receptacle is a GFI receptacle that has tripped. 
     
     
         13 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the faceplate has two openings to accommodate female receptacles of the electric receptacle. 
     
     
         14 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the faceplate is configured to accommodate an on/off switch. 
     
     
         15 . The cover of  claim 14 , wherein the on/off switch is a light switch. 
     
     
         16 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the power conversion circuitry is voltage reducing circuitry. 
     
     
         17 . The cover of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery backup. 
     
     
         18 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the another device is a radio frequency device. 
     
     
         19 . The cover of  claim 18 , wherein the another device is a radio frequency distribution device. 
     
     
         20 . The cover of  claim 19 , wherein the proximity sensor is a triggers a radio frequency transmission by the radio frequency distribution device.