Remote controller with energy saving

• US 20030090362A1
• Filed: 10/21/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Electronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Hardwick, Michael Dennis
• Application Number:
  US10/258,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20030090362A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23051 Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25196 Radio link, transponder
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25289 Energy saving, brown out, standby, sleep, powerdown modus for microcomputer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house

Abstract

Energy consumption of a building is reduced by switching electrical apparatus (10) thereof off when not required. An intruder alarm (14) serves to register whether the building is open or closed by being alternatively disarmed and armed. A controller (22) transmits a control signal over the mains supply (20) whenever the alarm (14) is disarmed or armed. This signal is picked up by a remote receiver (24) which causes a relay (26) to close or open, alternatively connecting and disconnecting the apparatus (10) to the mains (20) according to whether the building is open or closed. Manual control is provided by a telephony or other connection TT to the controller (22). The alarm (14) may be replaced or supplemented by a lock or other means to register the state of the building, and radio signalling may be employed instead of mains signalling. The system may be used domestically.

Claims

1. A system for controlling electrical apparatus remotely to reduce power consumed thereby, which system comprises:

register means for registering whether a building containing the apparatus is in an open state or close state;

a controller operatively associated with the register means to transmit a control signal representing said state of the building; and

a receiver remote from the controller for receiving the control signal, wherein the receiver includes a switch operable by the control signal to switch the apparatus on and off alternatively according to whether the control signal represents the open or the closed state of the building.

2. A system for controlling electrical apparatus remotely as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller transmits the control signal automatically whenever the building is vacated and reentered.

3. A system for controlling electrical apparatus remotely as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the controller transmits the control signal repetitively when the building is in its open or its closed state.

4. A system for controlling electrical apparatus remotely as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the register means comprises an intruder alarm for the building.

5. A system for controlling electrical apparatus remotely as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the register means comprises a lock for the building.

6. A system for controlling electrical apparatus remotely as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the controller is manually operable.

7. A system for controlling electrical apparatus remotely as claimed in claim 6, wherein the controller is portable.

8. A system for controlling electrical apparatus remotely as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control signal is a radio signal in the 433 MHz band.

9. A system for controlling electrical apparatus remotely as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the receiver is embodied in an electrical socket and/or an electrical plug for the apparatus.

10. A system for controlling electrical apparatus remotely as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control signal is encoded.

11. A system for controlling electrical apparatus remotely as claimed in any preceding claim, including means separate from the controller for manually overriding the control thereof.

12. A system for controlling electrical apparatus to reduce power consumed thereby substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.