System for controlling a plurality of power switches configured to apply power to devices

• US 10,530,597 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2017
• Issued: 01/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Power Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Smart Power Partners LLC
• Inventors: King, John Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Daya, Tejis
• Application Number:
  US15/645,761
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/51 for comparison or discrimination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/00 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/02 Contact members
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6675 with built-in power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2105/00 Three poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/68 mounted on directly pluggable apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02B 1/42 Mounting of devices therein
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/10 for surface mounting on a wall
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/18 providing line outlets
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00004 characterised by the power network being locally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 : involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 : The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 : by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/10 : Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 : Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 : using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 : Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 : Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 : Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 : Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/345 : Current stabilisation; Maintaining constant current
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• 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 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A system for controlling a plurality of power switches configured to apply power to devices is described. The system comprises a central controller adapted to implement a plurality of wireless communication protocols; a first device adapted to communicate with the central controller using a first wireless communication protocol of the plurality of wireless communication protocols; and a second device adapted to communicate with the central controller using a second wireless communication protocol of the plurality of wireless communication protocols.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a power switch configured to apply power to a device, the system comprising:

a first control module having a wireless communication circuit adapted to implement a wireless communication protocol and to communicate with a central controller using the wireless communication protocol, the first control module comprising a first set of contact elements; and

a switching module having a second set of contact elements and an outlet adapted to receive a plug of the device receiving the power, the switching module having a recess for receiving the first control module and being adapted to communicate with the first control module by way of the first set of contact elements;

wherein the first control module is removably coupled to the switching module; and

wherein the first control module provides control signals to the switching module by way of the first set of contact elements and the second set of contact elements to control the power applied to the outlet of the switching module when the first control module is inserted into the recess in the switching module and the first set of contact elements are coupled to the second set of contact elements.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first control module receives a timing pattern from the central controller using the wireless communication protocol, wherein the power is applied to the outlet based upon the timing pattern.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module comprises a button for resetting the control module.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication protocol comprises a local area network protocol.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second control module having a third set of contact elements, wherein the switching module is adapted to receive the second control module when the first control module is removed, and wherein the second control module provides second control signals to the switching module by way of the second set of contact elements and the third set of contact elements to control the power applied to the outlet of the switching module.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the second control module receives communication signals by way of the central controller using a second wireless communication protocol.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first control module comprises a button to enable a pairing of the first control module in the system.

8. A system for controlling a power switch configured to apply power to a device, the system comprising:

a switching module adapted to receive power at a contact element of the switching module, the switching module having a recess adapted to receive one of a plurality of control modules;

a first control module of the plurality of control modules, the first control module having a first wireless communication circuit adapted to receive communication signals using a first wireless communication protocol of a plurality of wireless communication protocols; and

a second control module of the plurality of control modules, the second control module having a second wireless communication circuit adapted to receive communication signals using a second wireless communication protocol of the plurality of wireless communication protocols;

wherein the switching module comprises a first set of contact elements adapted to make contact to a second set of contact elements of the first control module when the first control module is inserted into the recess of the switching module or to make contact to a third set of control elements of the second control module when the second control module is inserted into the recess of the switching module; and

wherein the first control module provides first control signals to the switching module by way of the first set of contact elements and the second set of contact elements to control the power applied to the outlet when the first control module is inserted in the recess of the switching module, and the second control module provides second control signals to the switching module by way of the first set of contact elements and the third set of contact elements to control the power applied to the outlet when the first control module is removed from the recess of the switching module and the second control module is inserted in the recess of the switching module.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first control module receives a timing pattern from a central controller using the first wireless communication protocol, wherein power is applied to the outlet based upon the timing pattern.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the first control module comprises a button for resetting the first control module.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the first wireless communication protocol comprises a communication protocol according to IEEE 802.11.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the second control module communicates with a central controller by way of a wireless base.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the switching module further comprises a transformer adapted to receive power at the contact element of the switching module, where the transformer provides power to the outlet of the switching module by way of a first power line and provides power to the first control module by way of a second power line.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the first control module comprises a moveable element to change the power applied to the outlet.

15. A method of controlling a power switch configured to apply power to a device, the method comprising:

providing a switching module having an outlet adapted to receive a plug of a device receiving the power, the switching module having a recess adapted to receive one of a plurality of control modules;

enabling communicating, by way of a central controller, with a first control module inserted in the recess of the switching module using a first wireless communication protocol of a plurality of wireless communication protocols;

controlling power applied to the outlet of the switching module based upon communication signals received by the first control module; and

enabling communicating with a second control module using a second wireless communication protocol of the plurality of wireless communication protocols when the first control module is replaced with the second control module.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein controlling power applied to the outlet of the switching module based upon communication signals received by the first control module comprises receiving a timing pattern at the first control module using the first wireless communication protocol.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising enabling a resetting of the first control module using the button on the first control module.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the first wireless communication protocol comprises a local area network protocol.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising enabling a pairing of the first control module in a system having the first control module and the switching module.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the second control module communicates with a central controller by way of a wireless base.