Light switch controlling light source via wireless transmission

• US 10,028,359 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kelly, Francis Michael, Plummer, Jon, Kim, Ryan Yong, Chen, Li-ter
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHO, JAMES HYONCHOL
• Application Number:
  US15/019,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20160157326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

This disclosure relates in general to a networked light switch. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a light switch that, in response to detecting a local input or motion, transmits a communication that causes another light switch to change a state of a light. This disclosure further relates to techniques for detecting an abnormal current draw state of an electrical device such as a lighting device are described; systems including in-wall network devices having a user-facing restore button for restoring some or all of the customizable settings to a factory default state; and techniques for controlling device operations in accordance with scenes or modes.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

determining that a component of a secondary light switch detected a stimulus, wherein the stimulus includes an input or motion;

identifying a group of master light switches, wherein the group corresponds to the stimulus detected at the secondary light switch, wherein each master light switch in the group of master light switches is electrically connected to a corresponding light source via wiring, and wherein, for each master light switch in the group of master light switches, the secondary light switch is not electrically connected to the corresponding light source connected to the master light switch via wiring, and wherein a local area network includes;

the secondary light switch;

each master light switch of the group of master light switches; and

a gateway that routes communications between the secondary light switch and at least one master light switch of the group of master light switches on the local area network; and

wirelessly transmitting a plurality of communications, each communication of the plurality of communications being transmitted directly to a master light switch in the group of master light switches, wherein each of at least two of the plurality of communications cause the master light switch receiving the communication to change an output of the corresponding light source, and wherein the transmission avoids use of any cloud server.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the stimulus includes a push of a mechanical button on the secondary light switch or a toggle of a switch on the secondary light switch.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the stimulus includes an input of a first type, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining that the component of the secondary light switch detected another input of a second type;

identifying another master light switch that corresponds to the other input, wherein the other master light switch is electrically connected to another light source via other wiring, and wherein the secondary light switch is not electrically connected to the other light source via wiring; and

wirelessly transmitting another communication to the other master light switch, wherein the other communication causes the other master light switch to change an output of the other light source.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the stimulus as being of a particular type from amongst a set of types,

wherein the group of master light switches is identified based on the identification of the particular type.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the method is performed by the secondary light switch; and

determining that a component of the secondary light switch detected the stimulus includes detecting the stimulus.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary light switch is not electrically connected to any remote light source via wiring.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the secondary light switch does not include an electronic display.

8. A system comprising:

one or more data processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions which when executed on the one or more data processors, cause the one or more data processors to perform actions including;

determining that a component of a secondary light switch detected a stimulus, wherein the stimulus includes an input or motion;

identifying a group of master light switches, wherein the group corresponds to the stimulus detected at the secondary light switch, wherein each master light switch in the group of master light switches is electrically connected to a corresponding light source via wiring, and wherein, for each master light switch in the group of master light switches, the secondary light switch is not electrically connected to the corresponding light source connected to the master light switch via wiring, and wherein a local area network includes;

the secondary light switch;

each master light switch of the group of master light switches; and

a gateway that routes communications between the secondary light switch and at least one master light switch of the group of master light switches on the local area network; and

wirelessly transmitting a plurality of communications each communication of the plurality of communications being transmitted directly to a master light switch in the group of master light switches, wherein each of at least two of the plurality of communications cause the master light switch receiving the communication to change an output of the corresponding light source, and wherein the transmission avoids use of any cloud server.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the stimulus includes a push of a mechanical button on the secondary light switch or a toggle of a switch on the secondary light switch.

10. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the stimulus includes an input of a first type, and wherein the actions further include:

determining that the component of a secondary light switch detected another input of a second type;

identifying another master light switch that corresponds to the other input, wherein the other master light switch is electrically connected to another light source via other wiring, and wherein the secondary light switch is not electrically connected to the other light source via wiring; and

wirelessly transmitting another communication to the other master light switch, wherein the other communication causes the other master light switch to change an output of the other light source.

11. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the actions further include:

identifying the stimulus as being of a particular type from amongst a set of types,

wherein the group of master light switches is identified based on the identification of the particular type.

12. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein:

the secondary light switch includes the one or more data processors and the computer-readable storage medium; and

determining that a component of the secondary light switch detected the stimulus includes detecting the stimulus.

13. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the secondary light switch is not electrically connected to any remote light source via wiring.

14. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein the secondary light switch does not include an electronic display.

15. A computer-program product tangibly embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, including instructions configured to cause one or more data processors to perform actions including:

determining that a component of a secondary light switch detected a stimulus, wherein the stimulus includes an input or motion;

identifying a group of master light switches, wherein the group corresponds to the stimulus detected at the secondary light switch, wherein each master light switch in the group of master light switches is electrically connected to a corresponding light source via wiring, and wherein, for each master light switch in the group of master light switches, the secondary light switch is not electrically connected to the corresponding light source connected to the master light switch via wiring, and wherein a local area network includes;

the secondary light switch;

each master light switch of the group of master light switches; and

a gateway that routes communications between the secondary light switch and at least one master light switch of the group of master light switches on the local area network; and

wirelessly transmitting a plurality of communications, each communication of the plurality of communications being transmitted directly to a master light switch in the group of master light switches, wherein each of at least two of the plurality of communications cause the master light switch receiving the communication to change an output of the corresponding light source, and wherein the transmission avoids use of any cloud server.

16. The computer-program product as recited in claim 15, wherein the stimulus includes a push of a mechanical button on the secondary light switch or a toggle of a switch on the secondary light switch.

17. The computer-program product as recited in claim 15, wherein the stimulus includes an input of a first type, and wherein the actions further include:

determining that the component of a secondary light switch detected another input of a second type;

identifying another master light switch that corresponds to the other input, wherein the other master light switch is electrically connected to another light source via other wiring, and wherein the secondary light switch is not electrically connected to the other light source via wiring; and

causing another communication to be wirelessly sent to the other master light switch, wherein the other communication causes the other master light switch to change an output of the other light source.

18. The computer-program product as recited in claim 15, wherein the actions further include:

identifying the stimulus as being of a particular type from amongst a set of types, wherein the group of master light switches is identified based on the identification of the particular type.

19. The computer-program product as recited in claim 15, wherein:

the actions are performed by the secondary light switch; and

determining that a component of the secondary light switch detected the stimulus includes detecting the stimulus.

20. The computer-program product as recited in claim 15, wherein the secondary light switch is not electrically connected to any remote light source via wiring.