Configurable Wall-Mount Touch Screen Switch

• US 20110245940A1
• Filed: 03/31/2011
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Esi Ventures, LLC
• Original Assignee: Esi Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Picco, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US13/076,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20110245940A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A configurable wall mount light switch for use in controlling multiple light fixtures. In one embodiment, the switch includes a touch screen display, a transceiver and a programmable microcontroller. The microcontroller may be programmed to display a plurality of interface elements on the touch screen display for selection by a user to control one or more light fixtures. Typically, the switch is dimensioned to be received by a single gang electrical box.

Claims

1. A configurable wall mount switch for use in controlling multiple light fixtures, the switch comprising:

a touch screen display;

a transceiver;

a programmable microcontroller configured to generate a user interface on the touch screen display with a plurality of interface elements at least a portion of which are associated with one or more lighting fixtures, wherein in response to a user selecting an interface element of the plurality of interface elements, the microcontroller is configured to send a message via the transceiver for controlling at least one lighting fixture associated with the selected interface element;

a mounting box configured to receive the touch screen display, the transceiver, and the microcontroller;

wherein the mounting box is dimensioned to be received by a single gang electrical box; and

wherein the microcontroller is programmed to display a particular arrangement of one or more interface elements on the touch screen display in response to one or more messages received via the transceiver.

2. The switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is programmed to reconfigure the arrangement of the user interface in response to one or more messages received via the transceiver.

3. The switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is programmed to change a textual component associated with an interface element in response to one or more messages received via the transceiver.

4. The switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is programmed to increase or decrease a number of interface elements on the user interface in response to one or more messages received via the transceiver.

5. The switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of buttons that are associated with one or more light fixtures.

6. The switch as recited in claim 5, where the microcontroller is programmed to increase or decrease the number of buttons responsive to one or more messages received via the transceiver.

7. The switch as recited in claim 5, wherein the microcontroller is programmed to change one or more descriptions associated with the one or more buttons responsive to one or more messages received via the transceiver.

8. The switch as recited in claim 5, further comprising a wall cover plate connectable with the mounting box, wherein the wall cover plate includes an opening through which a user accesses the touch screen display.

9. The switch as recited in claim 8, wherein the touch screen display extends into the opening in the wall cover plate.

10. The switch as recited in claim 8, wherein the wall cover plate is dimensioned for a single gang electrical box.

11. The switch as recited in claim 1, wherein in response to a selection of an interface element, the microcontroller is configured to send a message via the transceiver concerning a change in state to one or more light fixtures associated with the selected interface element.

12. The switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising a voltage monitor electrically connected with the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is configured to send message including a voltage sensed by the voltage monitor via the transceiver.

13. The switch as recited in claim 12, wherein the microcontroller is configured to send the message with the voltage sensed in response to a request message received via the transceiver.

14. The switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising a voltage monitor electrically connected with the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is configured to display a voltage sensed by the voltage monitor on the touch screen display responsive to selection of an interface element.

15. The switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising memory in electrical connection with the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller stores address data in the memory responsive to a message including address data received via the transceiver.

16. The switch as recited in claim 15, wherein the microcontroller is configured to display the address data on the touch screen display responsive to selection of an interface element.

17. A configurable wall mount light switch, the switch comprising:

a touch screen display;

a memory;

a transceiver;

a microcontroller in electronic connection with the touch screen display, memory and transceiver, wherein the microcontroller is configured to generate a user interface on the touch screen display with a plurality of interface elements at least a portion of which are associated with one or more lighting fixtures; and

wherein the microcontroller is programmed with machine-readable instructions to;

display instructions on the touch screen display directing a user to select a portion of the touch screen display to initiate setup;

responsive to selection of the touch screen display, transmit a message requesting an address assignment via the transceiver;

receive a message including an address assignment via the transceiver; and

store the address assignment on the memory.

18. The switch as recited in claim 17, wherein the microcontroller is configured to display the address assignment on the touch screen display responsive to selection of an interface element.

19. The switch as recited in claim 17, wherein the light switch is dimensioned to be received by a single gang electrical box.

20. A method of assigning an address to a light switch having a touch screen display, the method comprising:

displaying instructions on the touch screen display directing a user to select a portion of the touch screen display to initiate setup;

initiating communication with a remote server by sending a message requesting an address responsive to selection of the touch screen display;

receiving a message from the remote server that includes an address assignment; and

storing the address assignment.