39
unit such as a floor or room of the house
H
. Accordingly, it is possible to manage the DC supply
unit
101
for each system. In addition, it is possible to shorten a distance between the DC supply
unit
101
and the DC device
102
configured to utilize DC power. Therefore, it is possible to
reduce power loss caused by a voltage drop which occurs in the DC supply line
Wdc
.
Alternatively, the main breaker
111
and branch breaker may be housed in the distribution panel
110
, and the AC/DC converter
112
, cooperative control unit
113
, DC breaker
114
, and home
server
116
may be placed in another panel different from the distribution panel
110
.
40

CLAIMS
1. A combination output receptacle and plugs for providing different DC voltages from an output
receptacle respectively to different plugs selectively connected to said output receptacle,
each of said plugs being provided with two-pole blades adapted to be connected
respectively to two-pole blade reception members of said output receptacle,
said two-pole blade reception members comprising a first blade reception member
adapted to be supplied with a zero voltage and at least two second blade reception members
adapted to be supplied with different voltages,
said two-pole second blade reception members being arranged to be shaped or located
differently from each other, and
said two-pole blades of each of said at least two plugs comprising a first blade configured
to be connected to said first blade reception member, and a second blade,
said second blades of at least two plugs being shaped or located differently from each
other for connection respectively to said second blade reception members.
2. A combination output receptacle and plugs for providing different DC voltages from an output
receptacle respectively to different plugs selectively connected to said output receptacle,
each of said plugs being provided with two-pole blades adapted to be connected
respectively to two-pole blade reception members of said output receptacle,
said output receptacle being provided with a voltage switch configured to select one of the
different DC voltages being supplied across said two-pole blade reception members,
said plugs being provided respectively with projections which come into contact with said
voltage switch when said two-pole blades are connected to said two-pole blade reception
members,
said projections of the plugs being shaped or located differently from each other,
said voltage switch being configured to select a proper one from said different DC voltage
depending on the shape or location of the projection of the plug in contact with said voltage
switch.
41
3. A combination output receptacle and plugs as set forth in claim 2,
wherein said combination output receptacle and plugs comprising a plurality of said
voltage switches located in differently from each other depending on a DC voltage to be
switched, and
said protrusion being shaped or located to be contacted to said voltage switch
corresponding to the proper DC voltage while said blades of said plug are respectively
connected to said blade reception members of said output receptacle.
4. A combination output receptacle and plugs comprising:
a plug including a first blade and a second blade; and
an output receptacle configured to be connected to said plug and including a first blade
reception member configured to be connected to said first blade of said plug and a second
blade reception member configured to be connected to said second blade of said plug,
wherein said output receptacle includes a plurality of said second blade reception
members,
said first blade reception member adapted to be supplied with a reference potential,
said plurality of said second blade reception members adapted to be supplied with
different potentials, and
said second blade being configured to be connected to any one of said plurality of said
second blade reception members in accordance with a rated voltage of said plug.
5. A combination output receptacle and plugs comprising:
a plug including a pair of blades; and
an output receptacle including a pair of blade reception members adapted in use to be
respectively connected to said pair of said blades,
wherein said output receptacle includes a voltage selection unit configured to select a DC
voltage applied between said blade reception members in said pair, said output receptacle
being configured to apply the DC voltage selected by said voltage selection unit between said
42
blade reception members in said pair, and
said plug including an operation unit configured to operate said voltage selection unit to
select a voltage according to a rated voltage of said plug when said plug is connected to said
output receptacle.
6. A combination output receptacle and plugs as set forth in claim 6, wherein
said voltage selection unit includes a plurality of voltage switches and is configured to
select the DC voltage in accordance with on/off states of each of said voltage switches, and
said operation unit being configured to switch the on/off states of said voltage switches
when said plug is connected to said output receptacle.
7. A combination output receptacle and plugs substantially as herein described with reference to
the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings.