WIRELESS RELAY CONTROLLER FOR HOME AUTOMATION

• US 20100290386A1
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Synergy Elements, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Synergy Elements, Inc.
• Inventors: ROMERO VARGAS, Alejandro, CABRAL HINOJOSA, Alfredo
• Application Number:
  US12/781,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20100290386A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15557 Selecting relay station operation mode, e.g. between amplify and forward mode, decode and forward mode or FDD - and TDD mode

Abstract

A wireless relay controller for a home automation system may remain in a sleep state until an addressed command is received, wake from the sleep state and actuate a bi-stable relay responsive to receiving the addressed command, and then enter the sleep state after execution of the command.

Claims

1. A wireless relay controller, comprising:

a controller;

a network interface operatively coupled to the controller; and

at least one bi-stable relay operatively coupled to the controller;

wherein the controller and network interface are configured to remain in a sleep mode when not receiving a command.

2. The wireless relay controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to wake up and actuate the at least one bi-stable relay responsive to receiving a command addressed to the network interface;

and

wherein the controller and network interface are configured to resume sleep mode upon completion of the actuation.

3. The wireless relay controller of claim 1, wherein the network interface includes a ZigBee interface.

4. The wireless relay controller of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive a first command;

determine a plurality of relay commands corresponding to the first command; and

actuate the at least one bi-stable relay a plurality of times corresponding to the plurality of relay commands.

5. The wireless relay controller of claim 4, wherein the at least one bi-stable relay includes a plurality of bi-stable relays;

and

wherein actuating the at least one bi-stable relay a plurality of times corresponding to the plurality of relay commands includes actuating at least a portion of the plurality of bi-stable relays at least once each corresponding to the plurality of relay commands.

6. The wireless relay controller of claim 4, wherein the controller includes a microprocessor or microprocessor core and at least one computer memory;

and wherein determining a plurality of relay commands corresponding to the first command includes accessing a lookup table in the at least one computer memory to determine the corresponding plurality of relay commands.

7. The wireless relay controller of claim 1, further comprising:

an AC plug configured to couple to a power outlet and mechanically support the wireless relay controller.

8. The wireless relay controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery holder;

a charging circuit configured to provide DC charging current to the battery holder; and

an AC plug configured to provide power to the charging circuit.

9. The wireless relay controller of claim 8, wherein the AC plug is configured to be moved or recessed to allow mounting the wireless relay controller against a flat surface.

10. The wireless relay controller of claim 1, further comprising:

at least two terminals operatively coupled to the at least one bi-stable relay and configured to connect to appliance control wires.

11. The wireless relay controller of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one AC socket operatively coupled to the at least one bi-stable relay and configured to selectively provide power to an AC plug coupled to the AC socket.

12. The wireless relay controller of claim 1, wherein the controller and network interface comprise an integrated device including a microprocessor core and a ZigBee radio interface.

13. A wireless relay controller, comprising:

a network interface configured to receive a first command from a network;

a controller operatively coupled to the network interface and configured to receive the first command and responsively generate output a plurality of relay actuation signals corresponding to the first command; and

one or more relays operatively coupled to the controller and configured to operate responsive to the plurality of relay actuation signals.

14. The wireless relay controller of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to drive a plurality of relay actuations responsive to receiving a single first command.

15. The wireless relay controller of claim 14, wherein the controller includes a microprocessor or microprocessor core and at least one computer memory;

and wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine the plurality of relay actuations corresponding to the first command by a process including accessing a lookup table in the at least one computer memory to determine the corresponding plurality of relay actuations.

16. The wireless relay controller of claim 13, further comprising:

an AC plug configured to couple to a power outlet and mechanically support the wireless relay controller.

17. The wireless relay controller of claim 16, wherein the AC plug is configured to be moved or recessed to allow mounting the wireless relay controller against a flat surface.

18. The wireless relay controller of claim 13, further comprising:

a battery holder;

a charging circuit configured to provide DC charging current to the battery holder; and

an AC plug configured to provide power to the charging circuit.

19. The wireless relay controller of claim 13, wherein the one or more relays include one or more bi-stable relays.

20. A method for operating a wireless relay controller, comprising:

receiving a first command via a network interface; and

responsive to the first command, performing a plurality of relay actuations.

21. The method for operating a wireless relay controller of claim 20, further comprising:

using a lookup table to determine the plurality of relay actuations corresponding to the first command.

22. The method for operating a wireless relay controller of claim 20, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the first command via the network interface, performing address validation and capability validation prior to performing the plurality of relay actuations.

23. The method for operating a wireless relay controller of claim 20, further comprising:

after performing the plurality of relay actuations, transmitting an acknowledgement message.

24. The method for operating a wireless relay controller of claim 20, further comprising:

responsive to receiving the first command, performing a wake up operation to move from a low power state to an operational state; and

after completing the plurality of relay applications, performing a go to sleep operation to move from the operational state to the low power state.

25. A method for operating a wireless relay controller, comprising:

receiving a first command with a wake-up circuit, the first command being addressed to a wireless relay controller;

performing a wake-up command responsive to the first command to wake a controller in the wireless relay controller from a sleep state;

actuating at least one bi-stable relay responsive to the first command; and

performing a sleep command to put the controller into the sleep state.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

receiving a second command with the wake-up circuit, the second command not addressed to the wireless relay controller; and

not performing the wake-up command responsive to the second command.

27. A method for operating a wireless relay controller, comprising:

transmitting at least one configuration command to a wireless relay controller, the at least one configuration command including instructions to execute a plurality of relay actuations responsive to receipt of a complex actuation command; and

transmitting to the wireless relay controller, the complex actuation command.