Electrical Communication Switch, Outlet, Companion Device, and System

• US 20080258563A1
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jonas Joel Hodges
• Original Assignee: Jonas Joel Hodges
• Inventors: Hodges, Jonas Joel
• Granted Patent: US 9,054,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/112
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/652 with earth pin, blade or socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7038 making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2103/00 Two poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/78 with additional earth or shield contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/006 the coupling part being secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. duplex wall receptacle

Abstract

An electrical communication switch, an electrical communication outlet, an electrical communication companion device, and an electrical communication system are provided. The electrical communication switch includes a user-controlled switch having a plurality of switch leads and a controller. The controller is coupled to the user-controlled switch. The controller is configured to determine a change of state of the switch, and upon determining the switch has changed state to a new state, to send a signal. The electrical communication outlet includes a socket having a plurality of socket slots, at least one controlled switch, and a controller. The controller is coupled to said at least one controlled switch and is configured to receive a signal and to change a state of at least one of said at least one controlled switch pursuant to the signal.

Claims

1. An electrical switch comprising:

a user-controlled switch having a plurality of switch leads; and

a controller coupled to the user-controlled switch, the controller being configured to determine a change of state of the user-controlled switch, and upon determining the user-controlled switch has changed state to a new state, to send a signal.

2. The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the signal includes information identifying the electrical switch and the new state.

3. The electrical switch of claim 2, wherein the controller is coupled to the plurality of switch leads and is configured to determine the change of state of the user-controlled switch by determining a change in a voltage from a first voltage to a second voltage on at least one of the plurality of switch leads, the information identifying the new state being information identifying the second voltage.

4. The electrical switch of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to determine the change of state of the user-controlled switch by determining a change in switch position from a first position to a second position of the user-controlled switch, the information identifying the new state being information identifying the second position.

5. The electrical switch of claim 1, further comprising:

a transceiver coupled to the controller for transmitting the signal;

an antenna coupled to the transceiver;

a memory coupled to the controller; and

a control interface coupled to the controller for allowing a user to turn on and to turn off the transceiver and the controller,

wherein the controller is configured to send the signal wirelessly through the transceiver and the antenna to other electrical devices, the signal being an electromagnetic signal.

6. The electrical switch of claim 5, wherein the user-controlled switch includes a switch control device for allowing a user to control a state of the user-controlled switch, the antenna being located in the switch control device.

7. The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the user-controlled switch includes a switch control device for allowing a user to control a state of the user-controlled switch, the switch control device being removable from the user-controlled switch such that a faceplate can be installed that entirely covers the electrical switch.

8. The electrical switch of claim 1, wherein the controller is coupled to a signal/power line and is configured to send the signal to a central controller via the signal/power line.

9. The electrical switch of claim 1, further comprising:

a controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output, the controlled switch being controlled by the controller,

wherein the controller is coupled to the controlled switch and is configured to receive a signal and to change a state of the controlled switch pursuant to the received signal, the state of the controlled switch affecting a voltage on the controlled switch lead output.

10. The electrical switch of claim 1, further comprising:

a neutral lead and a power lead coupled to the controller, the power lead being one of the plurality of switch leads or a separate lead;

a ground lead coupled to a body of the electrical switch; and

a hole for allowing a faceplate to attach to the body of the electrical switch.

11. An electrical wall switch, comprising:

a body;

a user-controlled switch having a plurality of switch leads, the plurality of switch leads being accessible on the body for attaching wires, the user controlled switch having a switch control device for allowing a user to control a state of the user-controlled switch, the switch control device being on a front of the body;

a controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output, the controlled switch lead output being accessible on the body for attaching wires;

a controller coupled to the user-controlled switch and to the controlled switch; and

a neutral lead and a power lead coupled to the controller, the power lead being one of the plurality of switch leads or a separate lead,

wherein the controller is configured to determine a change of state of the user-controlled switch, and upon determining the user-controlled switch has changed state to a new state, to send a first signal; and

wherein the controller is configured to receive a second signal and to change a state of the controlled switch pursuant to the second signal, the state of the controlled switch affecting a voltage on the controlled switch lead output.

12. The electrical wall switch of claim 11, wherein the controller is coupled to a signal/power line, the first signal is a state-change signal, and the second signal is an action-order signal, the state-change signal being sent on the signal/power line to a central controller, the action-order signal being sent from the central controller on the signal/power line.

13. The electrical wall switch of claim 11, wherein:

the controller is coupled to the plurality of switch leads and is configured to determine the change of state of the user-controlled switch by determining a change in a voltage from a first voltage to a second voltage on at least one of the plurality of switch leads, the information identifying the new state being information identifying the second voltage; and

/or

the controller is configured to determine the change of state of the user-controlled switch by determining a change in switch position from a first position to a second position of the user-controlled switch, the information identifying the new state being information identifying the second position.

14. The electrical wall switch of claim 11, further comprising:

a transceiver coupled to the controller for transmitting the first signal and for receiving the second signal;

an antenna coupled to the transceiver;

a memory coupled to the controller; and

a control interface coupled to the controller for allowing a user to turn on and to turn off the transceiver and the controller,

wherein the controller is configured to send the first signal wirelessly through the transceiver and the antenna to other electrical devices and to receive the second signal wirelessly through the transceiver and the antenna from other electrical devices, the first signal and the second signal being electromagnetic signals.

15. An electrical outlet comprising:

a socket having a plurality of socket slots;

at least one controlled switch; and

a controller coupled to said at least one controlled switch and configured to receive a signal and to change a state of at least one of said at least one controlled switch pursuant to the signal.

16. The electrical outlet of claim 15, wherein said at least one controlled switch comprises:

a controlled switch coupled to a first of the plurality of socket slots and to a power lead, the controlled switch being controlled by the controller; and

wherein the controller is coupled to the controlled switch and is configured to change a state of the controlled switch pursuant to the signal, the state of the controlled switch affecting a voltage on the plurality of socket slots.

17. The electrical outlet of claim 15, wherein said at least one controlled switch comprises:

a controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output, the controlled switch being controlled by the controller;

wherein the controller is coupled to the controlled switch and is configured to change a state of the controlled switch pursuant to the signal, the state of the controlled switch affecting a voltage on the controlled switch lead output.

18. The electrical outlet of claim 15, wherein said at least one controlled switch comprises:

a first controlled switch coupled to a first of the plurality of socket slots and to a power lead, the first controlled switch being controlled by the controller; and

a second controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output, the second controlled switch being controlled by the controller;

wherein the controller is coupled to the first controlled switch and is configured to change a state of the first controlled switch pursuant to the signal, the state of the first controlled switch affecting a voltage on the plurality of socket slots; and

wherein the controller is coupled to the second controlled switch and is configured to change a state of the second controlled switch pursuant to the signal, the state of the second controlled switch affecting a voltage on the controlled switch lead output.

19. The electrical outlet of claim 15, further comprising:

a transceiver coupled to the controller for receiving the signal;

an antenna coupled to the transceiver;

a memory coupled to the controller; and

a control interface coupled to the controller for allowing a user to turn on and to turn off the transceiver and the controller,

wherein the controller is configured to receive the signal wirelessly through the transceiver and the antenna from other electrical devices, the signal being an electromagnetic signal.

20. The electrical outlet of claim 15, wherein the controller is coupled to a signal/power line and is configured to receive the signal from a central controller via the signal/power line.

21. The electrical outlet of claim 15, further comprising:

a neutral lead and a power lead coupled to the controller;

a ground lead coupled to a body of the electrical outlet; and

a hole for allowing a faceplate to attach to the body of the electrical outlet.

22. An electrical wall outlet, comprising:

a socket having a plurality of socket slots;

a first controlled switch coupled to a first of the plurality of socket slots and to a power lead, the first controlled switch for providing power to an external electrical device plugged into the socket;

a second controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output, the controlled switch lead output for providing power to a fixture with a fixture power lead coupled to the controlled switch lead output; and

a controller coupled to the first controlled switch and the second controlled switch for controlling the first controlled switch and the second controlled switch, respectively, the controller being configured to receive a first action-order signal and to change a state of the first controlled switch pursuant to the first action-order signal, the state of the first controlled switch affecting a voltage on the plurality of socket slots, the controller being configured to receive a second action-order signal and to change a state of the second controlled switch pursuant to the second action-order signal, the state of the second controlled switch affecting a voltage on the controlled switch lead output.

23. The electrical wall outlet of claim 22, further comprising:

a third controlled switch coupled to a second of the plurality of socket slots and to a neutral lead, the controller being coupled to the third controlled switch for controlling the third controlled switch, the controller being configured to change a state of the third controlled switch pursuant to the first action-order signal, the state of the third controlled switch affecting a voltage on the plurality of socket slots.

24. An electrical companion device for replacing an electrical wall switch, comprising:

a body;

a controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output, the controlled switch lead output being accessible on the body, the controlled switch lead output for providing power to a fixture having a fixture power lead coupled to the controlled switch lead output;

a controller coupled to the controlled switch for controlling a state of the controlled switch; and

a neutral lead and a power lead coupled to the controller for providing power to the controller, the neutral lead and the power lead being accessible on the body,

wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal and to change a state of the controlled switch pursuant to the received signal, the state of the controlled switch affecting a voltage on the controlled switch lead output; and

wherein the body is adapted to allow a faceplate to attach for entirely covering the electrical companion device.

25. An electrical communication system, comprising:

a first electrical device;

a second electrical device; and

a central controller coupled to the first electrical device and the second electrical device via signal/power lines;

wherein the first electrical device comprises;

a user-controlled switch having a plurality of switch leads; and

a first electrical device controller coupled to the user-controlled switch, the first electrical device controller being configured to determine a change of state of the user-controlled switch, and upon determining the user-controlled switch has changed state to a new state, to send a state-change signal on one of the signal/power lines to the central controller;

wherein the second electrical device comprises;

a controlled switch; and

a second electrical device controller coupled to the controlled switch and configured to receive an action-order signal from the central controller via one of the signal/power lines and to change a state of the controlled switch pursuant to the action-order signal.

26. The electrical communication system of claim 25, wherein the first electrical device and the second electrical device are decoupled from each such that there is no passive communication path between them.

27. The electrical communication system of claim 25, wherein the central controller is configured:

to receive the state-change signal via the signal/power lines;

to process the state-change signal to obtain state-change data, the state-change data including information identifying the first electrical device and the new state;

to access a database to determine an action order associated with the state-change data, the action order being an order directed to the second electrical device to perform an action;

to formulate the action-order signal to include the action order; and

to send the action-order signal on one of the signal/power lines coupled to the second electrical device.

28. The electrical communication system of claim 25, wherein:

the second electrical device is an electrical outlet and further comprises a socket having a plurality of socket slots;

the controlled switch has a controlled switch lead output; and

the state of the controlled switch affects a voltage on the controlled switch lead output.

29. The electrical communication system of claim 25, wherein the second electrical device is an electrical outlet and further comprises a socket having a plurality of socket slots, the plurality of socket slots including a power lead slot, the controlled switch being coupled between power and the power lead slot for providing power to and removing power from the power lead slot.

30. The electrical communication system of claim 25, wherein:

the second electrical device is an electrical switch and further comprises a second user-controlled switch having a second plurality of switch leads;

the controlled switch has a controlled switch lead output; and

the state of the controlled switch affects a voltage on the controlled switch lead output.

31. The electrical communication system of claim 25, wherein:

the first electrical device controller is coupled to the plurality of switch leads and is configured to determine the change of state of the user-controlled switch by determining a change in a voltage from a first voltage to a second voltage on at least one of the plurality of switch leads, the information identifying the new state being information identifying the second voltage; and

/or

the first electrical device controller is configured to determine the change of state of the user-controlled switch by determining a change in switch position from a first position to a second position of the user-controlled switch, the information identifying the new state being information identifying the second position.

32. The electrical communication system of claim 25, further comprising:

a relay coupled between the central controller and the signal/power lines, the relay being configured to receive signals from and to send signals to the first electrical device and the second electrical device, the relay also being configured to communicate with the central controller.

33. A method of communication between electrical devices without utilizing any passive communication path between the electrical devices, the electrical devices including a first electrical device and a second electrical device, the method comprising:

determining when a first electrical device changes a state to a new state;

sending a first signal upon determining the first electrical device has changed state;

receiving a second signal and performing an action pursuant to the second signal,

wherein the action includes one of the following;

controlling a socket of the second electrical device to change a voltage;

or

controlling a lead of the second electrical device to change a voltage.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first signal and the second signal are the same, the first signal and the second signal being a wireless electromagnetic signal.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

receiving the first signal by a central controller;

processing the first signal to obtain state-change data, the state-change date including information identifying the first electrical device and the new state;

accessing a central controller database to determine an action order associated with the state-change data;

formulating the second signal to include the action order; and

sending the action-order signal to the second electrical device.

36. A method of controlling a third electrical device with a first electrical device, the third electrical device being provided power by a second electrical device, comprising:

installing the first electrical device, the first electrical device having a user-controlled switch and a first electrical device controller coupled to the user-controlled switch, the first electrical device controller being configured to determine a change of state of the user-controlled switch, and upon determining the user-controlled switch has changed state to a new state, to send a first signal;

installing the second electrical device, the second electrical device having a controlled switch and a second electrical device controller coupled to the controlled switch for controlling the controlled switch, the controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output, the second electrical device controller being configured to receive a second signal and to change a state of the controlled switch lead output pursuant to the second signal;

wiring a power lead of the third electrical device to the controlled switch lead output; and

configuring the first electrical device and the second electrical device to communicate together directly or through a central controller such that when a user changes a state of the first electrical device to a new state, the second electrical device is notified of the new state, and thereafter changes a state of the controlled switch lead output pursuant to the new state.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first electrical device and the second electrical device are installed in at least one wall of a housing structure.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the first signal and the second signal are the same, the first signal and the second signal being an electromagnetic signal;

wherein when the first electrical device changes state, the first electrical device sends the electromagnetic signal to the second electrical device, the second electrical device receives the electromagnetic signal, and the second electrical device changes a state of the controlled switch lead output pursuant to the electromagnetic signal.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein when the first electrical device changes state, the first electrical device sends the first signal to the central controller;

the central controller receives the first signal, formulates the second signal, and sends the second signal to the second electrical device; and

the second electrical device changes a state of the controlled switch lead output pursuant to the second signal.