CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20110202183A1
• Filed: 10/14/2009
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Steven John Hardman
• Original Assignee: Steven John Hardman
• Inventors: Hardman, Steven John
• Application Number:
  US13/124,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202183A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/276
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices

Abstract

The invention is a device (10,50) for automatically controlling an electrical item (11,51) which is operable by a wireless control unit (12,52) adapted to issue a control signal (14,65) corresponding to a particular command. The device (10,50) comprises a first sensing means (21) for detecting a first predetermined condition and issuing a first output signal indicative of said first predetermined condition being satisfied. It also includes means (32,33,34,36,37,38) for learning and storing the control signal (14,65) issued by the wireless control unit (12,52) which corresponds to the particular command. A transmitter (32,37) is provided selectively to transmit an emulated control signal (27,35) matching that of the stored control signal on receipt of the output signal indicating the satisfaction of the first predetermined condition. For instance, the predetermined condition may be the absence of someone in the vicinity of the electrical item (11,51) and if that condition is satisfied the emulated signal may be transmitted to turn off the electrical item. The control device (10,50) may also be adapted to determine the operational status of an electrical item and transmit the emulated signal (27,35) if that status satisfies a second predetermined condition. This feature is particularly useful when the particular command is conveyed by a control signal (65) that also conveys another command and the electrical item (51) responds to the command that is appropriate to its operational status.

Claims

1. An air conditioning control device that automatically controls an electrical air conditioning unit which is operable by a wireless control unit adapted to issue a control signal corresponding to a particular command, the device comprising:

a first sensing means for detecting a first predetermined condition and issuing a first output signal indicative of said first predetermined condition being satisfied, the first predetermined condition being the absence or presence of a person or animal and the first sensing means comprising a motion sensor adapted selectively to detect one of those first predetermined conditions;

means for learning and storing the control signal issued by the wireless control unit which corresponds to the particular command;

a transmitter adapted selectively to transmit an emulated control signal matching that of the stored control signal on receipt of the output signal indicating the satisfaction of the first predetermined condition; and

second sensing means for detecting the operational status of the air conditioning unit and determining the power consumed thereby, the transmission of the emulated control signal depending also on said operational status.

3. An air conditioning control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motion sensor comprises a passive or active device.

4. An air conditioning control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sensing means is adapted to operate intermittently for a predefined period of time.

6. An air conditioning control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second sensing means includes a preset condition comprising one of an on state and an off state and the transmitter is permitted to transmit the emulated control signal only when the operational status of the air conditioning unit is in the other of the on state and the off state, the emulated control signal corresponding to the power on command and the power off command.

8. An air conditioning control device as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising an electrical input for connection to an electrical power supply and an electrical output for connection to the air conditioning unit, the second sensing means being electrically connected to the electrical output to determine the power consumed.

9. An air conditioning control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second sensing means is also adapted to determine the temperature of the air conditioning unit.

10. An air conditioning control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second sensing means is also adapted to determine vibration characteristics associated with the air conditioning unit.

11. An air conditioning control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second sensing means is also adapted to determine the magnitude of any noise emitted from the air conditioning unit.

13. An air conditioning control device as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising a housing.

2. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. A method of controlling an air conditioning unit operable by a wireless control unit, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a first control signal corresponding to a particular command and issued by the wireless control unit;

b) monitoring for a first predetermined condition, wherein the first predetermined condition is the absence or presence of a person or animal;

c) determining the operational status of the air conditioning unit and determining the power consumed thereby; and

d) on detection of the first predetermined condition, transmitting an emulated control signal equivalent to the first control signal so as to convey the particular command to the air conditioning unit, the transmission of the emulated control signal only occurring if the operational status of the air conditioning unit corresponds to a preset condition.

16. (canceled)