PLUG AND PLAY UTILITY CONTROL MODULES

• US 20080219029A1
• Filed: 03/07/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optimal Innovations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Optimal Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Schoettle, Roland
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/659
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/665 with built-in electronic circuit H01R13/70, H01R13/719 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/73 Means for mounting coupling parts to apparatus or structures, e.g. to a wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A utility control device, such as a light socket, a switch or a plug socket, is designed with universal terminals so that when plugged into a pre-wired utility box (box socket), the terminals will make the proper electrical connections with the premises wiring. In one embodiment, a “shell” is inserted into a common utility box. The shell would then be wired to the building wiring on the “back-side” of the shell and when the shell is installed within the utility box the wiring is sandwiched inside the box and behind the shell and therefore not easily seen. A standard socket is positioned within the shell and provides a quick no-wiring required connection to the mating terminals on the actual device, for example a light-switch, or plug, or thermostat, or any other device normally installed and wired as a permanent fixture. Systems and methods are disclosed for arranging the premises power grid such that any device type can be “plugged” into the shells that are pre-wired inside the utility box. In one embodiment, the grid is constructed exactly as it has always been with each box pre-established for a particular type of control but with a plug/play adapter. In another embodiment, the grid is universally wired and each device instructs the system as to its type and as to its intended use. In operation, such a universal plan would allow a device, for example, to “announce” what light, or set of lights, it will control. The system can handle power wiring as well as control wiring.

Claims

1. An insert for use with a utility box, said insert a modular device comprising:

a shell adapted to be affixed within utility box affixed to a permanent structure of a premises, said shell having therein at least one electrical connector;

said connector having a portion within a body of said shell and a portion extending through a wall of said shell such that wiring within said utility box can be connected to said extending portion and wherein said connector portion within said body of said shell is adapted for mating with a control device removeably positioned within said body of said shell;

a housing having a footprint designed to fit within said shell;

said housing having a face side, an interior section and an exterior section;

a power control mechanism positioned within said interior section of said housing;

at least one user accessible device positioned on said face side of said housing; and

a plurality of electrical terminals accessible from said exterior section of said housing;

said terminals adapted for mating with said electrical connectors of said shell.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said power control mechanism is selected from the list of:

power switch, electrical outlet, light switch, thermostat, temperature detection, light-intensity detection, motion detection, vibration detection, communications device, humidity detection, fire detection, smoke detection, CO detection, CO2 detection, video detection, video receiver, audio detection, audio receiver, keypad, touchpad, switching, outlet socket, light socket, dimmer, motion detection switch, light-intensity detection switch, touch screen controller, telephone, alarm controller.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

means for changing the connection orientation of said terminals.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said changing means is selected from the list of:

jumper plate, interchangeable terminal pins, jumper wires.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said power control mechanism comprises:

at least one processor for controlling the function of said mechanism.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said processor further comprises:

means for communicating with at least one processor associated with another switch, said communicating being by electrical signals transmitted between processors.

7. A method of inserting a control device into a pre-existing housing;

said method comprising;

selecting a control device having a desired characteristic, said selected control device having pre-wired electrical contacts accessible from an outside surface thereof;

selecting a pre-existing housing at the location where a selected control device is to reside, said pre-existing housings being secured to a premises at various locations distributed around said premises, said locations convenient to a user of said selected control device to control power with respect to certain portions of said premises; and

plugging said selected control device into said selected housing by mating said pre-wired contacts of said device with contacts pre-wired within said selected housing.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

programming said selected device to control a selected electrical load, said programming comprising, at least in part, an identification of which load said device will control.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

programming said selected control device, said programming comprising, at least in part, an identification of which external device said device will control.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

programming said selected communication device, said programming comprising, at least in part, an identification of communication parameters.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

transmitting electrical codes from said mated selected control device to said selected device to be controlled.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said selected control device is selected from the list of:

power switch, electrical outlet, light switch, thermostat, temperature detection, light-intensity detection, motion detection, vibration detection, communications device, humidity detection, fire detection, smoke detection, CO detection, CO2 detection, video detection, video receiver, audio detection, audio receiver, keypad, touchpad, switching, outlet socket, light socket, dimmer, motion detection switch, light-intensity detection switch, touch screen controller, telephone, alarm controller.

13. A method of installing electrical wiring for controlling electrical devices with respect to a premises, said method comprising:

attaching junction boxes to support structures within said premises at various locations, said junction boxes added to said premises during construction of said premises at a time when said support structures are exposed at least in the area where said junction boxes are attached;

terminating electrical premises wiring at contacts within each said junction box;

adding covering to said exposed support structures so as to eliminate said exposed structures while leaving open an entry into said attached junction boxes through said covering; and

inserting a modular control device through said opening in said covering, said modular control device having terminals for mating with said pre-wired contacts within said junction box, said mating being a force fit between said device terminals and said pre-wired contacts.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said contacts are within a shell;

and

inserting said shell into a junction box to cover said electrical premises wiring, said shell having an inner area adapted for receiving an inserted modular device.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

removing said modular control device by pulling said control device out from said junction box without manipulating said wiring; and

inserting a different modular control device into said junction box by pushing said different control device into said junction box for mating with said pre-wired contacts within said junction box, said mating being a force fit between said device terminals and said pre-wired contacts.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said different modular control device performs a function different from the function performed by said removed modular control device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said functions performed by said modular control devices are selected from the list of:

power switch, electrical outlet, light switch, thermostat, temperature detection, light-intensity detection, motion detection, vibration detection, communications device, humidity detection, fire detection, smoke detection, CO detection. CO2 detection, video detection, video receiver, audio detection, audio receiver, keypad, touchpad, switching, outlet socket, light socket, dimmer, motion detection switch, light-intensity detection switch, touch screen controller, telephone, alarm controller.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

changing the function performed at said junction box by removing said modular control device from said junction box without manipulating said wiring; and

inserting a different modular control device into said junction box by pushing said different control device into said junction box for mating with said pre-wired contacts within said junction box, said different modular control box having a functional operation different than said removed control device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said different function is selected from the list of:

power switch, electrical outlet, light switch, thermostat, temperature detection, light-intensity detection, motion detection, vibration detection, communications device, humidity detection, fire detection, smoke detection, CO detection, CO2 detection, video detection, video receiver, audio detection, audio receiver, keypad, touchpad, switching, outlet socket, light socket, dimmer, motion detection switch, light-intensity detection switch, touch screen controller, telephone, alarm controller.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

changing the function performed at said junction box by transmitting coded signals to at least one other junction box.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said coded signals are directed to specific ones of said other junction boxes.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said coded signals are directed to a central controller for subsequent communication to selected other junction boxes.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein said functions performed by said modular control devices are selected from the list of:

power switch, electrical outlet, light switch, thermostat, temperature detection, light-intensity detection, motion detection, vibration detection, communications device, humidity detection, fire detection, smoke detection, CO detection, CO2 detection, video detection, video receiver, audio detection, audio receiver, keypad, touchpad, switching, outlet socket, light socket, dimmer, motion detection switch, light-intensity detection switch, touch screen controller, telephone, alarm controller.

24. An insert for use with a utility box, said insert a modular device comprising:

a shell adapted to be affixed within utility box affixed to a permanent structure of a premises, said shell having therein at least one electrical connector;

said connector having a portion within a body of said shell and a portion extending through a wall of said shell such that wiring within said utility box can be connected to said extending portion and wherein said connector portion within said body of said shell is adapted for mating with a control device removeably plugged into said body of said shell.

25. The insert of claim 24 wherein said shell has a depth less than a depth of said utility box, said lesser depth forming an area between the back of said shell and an inside wall of said utility box.

26. A method of installing electrical wiring for controlling electrical devices with respect to a premises, said method comprising:

inserting shells within junction boxes which have been attached to support structures within said premises at various locations, said junction boxes added to said premises during construction of said premises at a time when said support structures are exposed at least in the area where said junction boxes are attached;

terminating electrical premises wiring within each said junction box;

said contacts positioned on an outer rear surface of said shell;

adding covering to said exposed support structures so as to eliminate said exposed structures while leaving open an entry into said inserted shell through said covering; and

inserting a modular control device into said shell through said opening in said covering, said modular control device having terminals for mating with a portion of said contacts within said shell, said mating being a force fit between said device terminals and said contacts.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

removing said modular control device by pulling said control device out from said junction box without manipulating said wiring; and

inserting a different modular control device into said junction box by pushing said different control device into said junction box for mating with said pre-wired contacts within said junction box, said mating being a force fit between said device terminals and said pre-wired contacts.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said different modular control device performs a function different from the function performed by said removed modular control device.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said functions performed by said modular control devices are selected from the list of:

power switch, electrical outlet, light switch, thermostat, temperature detection, light-intensity detection, motion detection, vibration detection, communications device, humidity detection, fire detection, smoke detection, CO detection, CO2 detection, video detection, video receiver, audio detection, audio receiver, keypad, touchpad, switching, outlet socket, light socket, dimmer, motion detection switch, light-intensity detection switch, touch screen controller, telephone, alarm controller.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising:

changing the function performed at said junction box by removing said modular control device from said junction box without manipulating said wiring; and

inserting a different modular control device into said junction box by pushing said different control device into said junction box for mating with said pre-wired contacts within said junction box, said different modular control box having a functional operation different than said removed control device.