Systems and methods to allow for a smart device

• US 10,361,585 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2018
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ivani, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ivani, LLC
• Inventors: Wootton, Matthew, Dieseldorff, Boris
• Primary Examiner(s): Amaya, Carlos D
• Application Number:
  US16/035,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20180324934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 375 Days
• Field of Search: 307115
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/168 making use of an electromagnetic wave communication
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

Smart switch devices, systems, and methods for modifying an existing electrical system to utilize the power state output of a physical switch as an indicator or signal for the operation of a smart home device or system or network of such devices to facilitate interoperability of physical switches with smart devices. The smart switch detects or determines the power state of a circuit and infers the corresponding state of a mechanical switch that operates the circuit. This information is then transmitted to associated smart devices, which may not be physically connected to the circuit controlled by the switch. When the mechanical switch is operated, it can control both electrically attached loads, such as a conventional light or appliance, and wirelessly control unconnected smart devices.

Claims

1. A smart switching system for operating conventional electrical devices in the same system as smart devices, the system comprising:

an electric circuit controlled by a mechanical switch;

an electric device adapted to connect to and receive power from said electric circuit via an electric power receptacle;

an electric smart device adapted to wirelessly receive operational commands; and

a smart switch comprising;

an electric power input adapted to receive electric power from said electric circuit;

a measurement device in electric communication with said electric power input and adapted to measure at least one circuit characteristic of said electric circuit; and

a wireless transceiver in electric communication with said measurement device, said wireless transceiver adapted to;

receive from said measurement device a reading of the power state of said electric circuit by said measurement device; and

wirelessly transmit to said electric smart device information about said power state of said electric circuit based on said reading;

wherein when said mechanical switch is operated to change the power state of said electric circuit, the power state of said electric device changes to correspond to said power state of electric circuit, and the power state of said electric smart device changes to correspond to said power state of said electric circuit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuit characteristic is selected from the group consisting of:

power applied;

current;

voltage; and

phase.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmitted information comprises an indication whether said electric circuit is powered.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said reading is made at least in part using said circuit characteristics.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said circuit characteristic is indicative of said power state based on a predetermined mathematical relationship between said circuit characteristic and said power state.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said smart switch is adapted to electrically connect to said electric circuit via a power receptacle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said smart switch further comprises a light-producing element.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said smart switch further comprises a power converter adapted to draw power for said smart switch from said electric circuit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said smart switch further comprises an energy storage medium adapted to supply electric power to said transceiver.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said energy storage medium is selected from the group consisting of:

capacitor;

inductor;

battery; and

rechargeable battery.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said smart switch further comprises at least one capacitor, battery, or rechargeable battery.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmitted information comprises an initial power state reading before a change in said power state.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said transmitted information comprises a final power state reading after a change in said power state.

14. The system of claim 1, transmitted information comprises an indication of a change in said power state.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

said electric smart device being one electric smart device in a plurality of electric smart devices; and

a computer server;

wherein said wireless transceiver is adapted to transmit to said computer server information about said power state based on said reading; and

wherein said computer server is adapted to receive said transmitted information and transmit instructions to at least one of said plurality of electric smart devices, said instructions being determined at least in part based on said received transmitted information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said transmitted instructions are further determined at least in part based on one or more of:

day of the week;

date;

time;

light sensors;

user settings;

knowledge of prior system state; and

, states of other inputs.