NOTIFICATION SYSTEM UTILIZING SELF-ENERGIZING SWITCHES

• US 20110006893A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Original Assignee: EnOcean GmbH
• Inventors: Barnett, Thomas Aian, Finch, John Gerard, Iott, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US12/667,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20110006893A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0081 for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

An example notification system includes a power supply and a notification device in selective electrical communication with the power supply. The notification device provides a notification to a building service location when the notification device is electrically connected with the power supply. A receiver is electrically connected between the power supply and the notification device. The receiver is operative to selectively electrically connect the notification device with the power supply in response to a wireless communication. A switch includes a wireless transmitter portion powered by a self-energizing portion. The wireless transmitter portion communicates the wireless communication to the receiver in response to an actuation of the switch.

Claims

1. A notification system, comprising:

a power supply;

a notification device in selective electrical communication with the power supply, the notification device operative to provide a notification to a building service location when electrically connected with the power supply;

a receiver electrically connected between the power supply and the notification device, the receiver operative to selectively electrically connect the notification device with the power supply in response to a wireless communication; and

a switch having a wireless transmitter portion powered by a self-energizing portion, wherein the wireless transmitter portion communicates the wireless communication to the receiver in response to an actuation of the switch.

2. The notification system of claim 1, wherein the notification represents a condition within a room separate from the building service location.

3. The notification system of claim 1, wherein a hospital building includes the building service location.

4. The notification system of claim 3, wherein the switch is located in a patient room of the hospital building.

5. The notification system of claim 1, wherein a hotel includes the building service location.

6. The notification system of claim 5, wherein the switch is located in a guest room of the hotel.

7. The notification system of claim 1, wherein the notification device is a light.

8. The notification system of claim 1, wherein the notification device is operative to play an audible notification.

9. The notification system of claim 1, wherein the building service location is at least one of a station within a hospital or a lobby within a hotel.

10. A notification system comprising:

a power supply;

a notification device in selective electrical communication with the power supply, the notification device operative to initiate a notification within a first room when electrically connected with the power supply;

a receiver electrically connected between the power supply and the notification device, the receiver being operable to selectively electrically connect the notification device with the power supply to initiate the notification; and

a switch located within a second room and having a wireless transmitter portion powered by a self-energizing portion, wherein the wireless transmitter portion communicates the wireless communication to the receiver in response to power from the self-energizing portion.

11. The notification system of claim 10, wherein the first room comprises a building service location.

12. The notification system of claim 10, wherein the notification comprises a display on a computer monitor.

13. The notification system of claim 10, wherein the notification comprises at least one audible tone.

14. The notification system of claim 10, wherein the receiver is located within the first room.

15. The notification system of claim 10, including a controller that is programmable to associate an actuation of the switch with a notification device.

16. The notification system of claim 15, wherein the receiver comprises the controller.

17. A notification method comprising:

communicating a wireless communication using power provided by a self-energizing portion of a switch; and

providing a notification to a building service location in response to the communicated wireless communication.

18. The notification method of claim 17, including actuating a switch to power the self-energizing portion of the switch.

19. The notification method of claim 17, including actuating the switch once to communicate the wireless communication and actuating the switch twice to communicate a different wireless communication.

20. The notification method of claim 17, including actuating the switch in a first manner to communicate the wireless communication and actuating the switch in a second manner to communicate a different wireless communication.