ELECTRICAL OUTLET ACTIVATION AND DEACTIVATION SYSTEM

• US 20120112666A1
• Filed: 11/04/2010
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Creative Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: Creative Industries LLC
• Inventors: Bennette, Richard G.
• Application Number:
  US12/939,581
• Publication Number:
  US 20120112666A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/307
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An electrical outlet activation and deactivation system includes a controller coupled to a live power source comprising a switch and an RF signal receiver. A remote environmental sensor comprises a motion sensor, a photo cell, and an RF signal transmitter. The motion sensor, detecting a motion, sends a first condition signal coupling the live power source to the electrical outlet or device. The photo cell, detecting a daylight condition, prevents the sending of the first condition signal. A timer uncouples the live power source after a predetermined time has elapsed since the motion sensor last detected the motion. A regulator couples and uncouples the live power source to the electrical outlet or device independent of the sensor. The controller can include an electrical plug removably connectable to the live power source through an electrical outlet, or alternatively, can be permanently coupled to the live power source through a hardwire connection.

Claims

1. An electrical outlet activation and deactivation system, comprising:

a controller coupled to a live power source including an RF signal receiver;

a remote environmental sensor including an RF signal transmitter;

wherein the controller, upon receiving a first condition signal from the sensor, couples the live power source to an electrical outlet or device, and wherein the controller, upon receiving a second condition signal, uncouples the live power source from the electrical outlet or device; and

a regulator associated with the controller for sending the first condition signal and second condition signal, such that the live power source and electrical outlet or device are coupled and uncoupled independent of the sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, where the sensor comprises a motion sensor which, on detecting a motion, sends the first condition signal to the controller.

3. The system of claim 2, where the motion sensor comprises a passive infrared motion sensor.

4. The system of claim 2, including a timer associated with the controller, where the timer sends the second signal condition to uncouple the live power source from the electrical outlet or device after a predetermined time has elapsed since the motion sensor last detected the motion.

5. The system of either of claim 1 or 2, where the sensor comprises a photo cell which, upon detecting a daylight condition, prevents the sending of the first condition signal to the controller.

6. The system of claim 1, where the sensor comprises a solar cell and a rechargeable battery.

7. The system of claim 1, where the sensor is permanently coupled to the live power source through a hardwire connection.

8. The system of either of claim 1 or 2, where the device comprises an indoor or outdoor lighting system.

9. The system of claim 8, where the lighting system comprises a light emitting diode.

10. The system of claim 1, where the controller comprises an electrical plug removably connectable to the live power source through an electrical outlet.

11. The system of claim 1, where the controller is permanently coupled to the live power source through a hardwire connection.

12. The system of either of claim 10 or 11, including a switch associated with the controller for coupling and uncoupling the live power source to the electrical outlet or device.

13. The device of claim 4, wherein the regulator is programmable, sending of the first condition signal and second condition signal in a predetermined schedule.

14. The device of claim 4, wherein the regulator is random, sending the first condition signal and second condition signal in a random schedule.

15. The device of claim 13 or 14, wherein the controller, upon receiving a first condition signal from the sensor, couples the live power source to an electrical outlet or device until it receives a second condition signal from the timer, regardless of whether it has received a second condition signal from the regulator.

16. An electrical outlet activation and deactivation system, comprising:

a controller coupled to a live power source comprising a switch and an RF signal receiver, where the switch couples and uncouples the live power source to an electrical outlet or device;

a remote environmental sensor comprising a motion sensor, a photo cell, and an RF signal transmitter;

wherein the motion sensor which, on detecting a motion, sends a first condition signal to the controller coupling the live power source to the electrical outlet or device, and where the photo cell which, upon detecting a daylight condition, prevents the sending of the first condition signal to the controller; and

a regulator associated with the controller for sending the first condition signal and a second condition signal which uncouples the live power source from the electrical outlet or device, such that the live power source and electrical outlet or device are coupled and uncoupled independent of the sensor.

17. The system of claim 16, including a timer associated with the controller, where the timer sends a second signal condition to uncouple the live power source from the electrical outlet or device after a predetermined time has elapsed since the motion sensor last detected the motion.

18. The system of claim 16, where the controller comprises an electrical plug removably connectable to the live power source through an electrical outlet.

19. The system of claim 16, where the controller is permanently coupled to the live power source through a hardwire connection.

20. The system of claim 16, where the sensor comprises a solar cell and a rechargeable battery.

21. The system of claim 16, where the sensor is permanently coupled to the live power source through a hardwire connection.

22. The system of claim 16, where the device comprises an indoor or outdoor lighting system.

23. The system of claim 22, where the lighting system comprises a light emitting diode.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein the regulator is programmable, sending of the first condition signal and second condition signal in a predetermined schedule.

25. The device of claim 17, wherein the regulator is random, sending the first condition signal and second condition signal in a random schedule.

26. The device of claim 24 or 25, wherein the controller, upon receiving a first condition signal from the sensor, couples the live power source to an electrical outlet or device until it receives a second condition signal from the timer, regardless of whether it has received a second condition signal from the regulator.

27. An electrical outlet activation and deactivation system, comprising:

a controller coupled to a live power source comprising a switch and an RF signal receiver, where the switch couples and uncouples the live power source to an electrical outlet or device;

a remote environmental sensor comprising a motion sensor, a photo cell, and an RF signal transmitter;

wherein the motion sensor which, on detecting a motion, sends a first condition signal to the controller coupling the live power source to the electrical outlet or device, and where the photo cell which, upon detecting a daylight condition, prevents the sending of the first condition signal to the controller;

a timer associated with the controller, where the timer sends a second signal condition to uncouple the live power source from the electrical outlet or device after a predetermined time has elapsed since the motion sensor last detected the motion; and

a regulator associated with the controller for sending the first condition signal and a second condition signal which uncouples the live power source from the electrical outlet or device, such that the live power source and electrical outlet or device are coupled and uncoupled independent of the sensor;

wherein the regulator is programmable, sending of the first condition signal and second condition signal in a predetermined schedule or wherein the regulator is random, sending the first condition signal and second condition signal in a random schedule;

wherein the controller, upon receiving a first condition signal from the sensor, couples the live power source to an electrical outlet or device until it receives a second condition signal from the timer, regardless of whether it has received a second condition signal from the regulator.