EASY-INSTALL HOME AUTOMATION LIGHT SWITCH

• US 20150077021A1
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, George Horkan, McCarthy, Bernard Anthony III
• Granted Patent: US 9,557,043 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/362
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/006 of point-like light sources, e.g. incandescent or halogen lamps, with screw-threaded or bayonet base of sources having contact pins, wires or blades F21V19/0005; of LEDs or sources mounted on printed-circuit board F21V19/001
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23297 Remote load of program with cellular, wireless, satellite connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0271 structurally combining a switch and an electronic component for relays H01H50/021
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/54 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/02 Conversion of ac power input into dc power output without possibility of reversal
• 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

A light switch plate includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting control signals to a smart light assembly. The light switch plate is placed over a conventional light switch and prevents a user from further manipulating the conventional light switch. The light switch plate includes a further switch which a user can manipulate to cause the transmitter to transmit control signals to turn on or turn off a light of the smart light assembly.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a light switch plate configured to conceal a first light switch; and

a wireless transmitter coupled to the light switch plate and configured to transmit control signals to a light assembly, the control signals configured to turn on or turn off a light of the light assembly.

2. The device of claim 1 comprising a second light switch coupled to the light switch plate and the wireless transmitter, the second light switch configured to receive input from a user and to cause the wireless transmitter to transmit the control signals to the light assembly in response to receiving the input from the user.

3. The device of claim 1 comprising a battery mount coupled to the light switch plate and configured to receive a battery to supply power to the wireless transmitter.

4. The device of claim 1 comprising control circuitry coupled to the wireless transmitter and configured to cause the wireless transmitter to transmit the control signals.

5. The device of claim 4 comprising a memory coupled to the control circuitry and configured to store control codes, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit the control codes in the control signals.

6. The device of claim 4 comprising a wireless receiver coupled to the control circuitry and configured to receive a wireless command to turn on or turn off the light assembly and to pass the wireless command to the control circuitry.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause the wireless transmitter to transmit the control signals in response to the control circuitry receiving the wireless command.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter operates according to ZigBee, Zwave, or Bluetooth protocol.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the light switch plate is configured to be installed in a wall over the first light switch using screw holes for a standard light switch plate.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit the control signals to smart light assembly by transmitting the control signals to a control module configured to receive the control signals and transmit them to the light assembly.

11. A system comprising:

a light switch plate configured to cover a first light switch;

a wireless transmitter coupled to the light switch plate;

a light assembly including;

a wireless receiver;

control circuitry coupled to the wireless receiver; and

a light coupled to the control circuitry, the wireless transmitter configured to transmit control signals to the light assembly, the wireless receiver configured to receive the control signals and to pass them to the control circuitry, the control circuitry configured to turn the light on or off based on the control signals.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the light assembly includes a voltage regulator coupled to the control circuitry and configured to receive an AC voltage and to output a DC voltage to the light.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the light assembly is configured to screw into a standard threaded incandescent light bulb socket.

14. The system of claim 11 comprising a second light switch coupled to the light switch plate and the wireless transmitter, the second light switch configured to cause the wireless transmitter to transmit the control signals to the light assembly.

15. The system of claim 11 comprising a control module configured to transmit second control signals to the light assembly, the wireless receiver being configured to receive the second control signals and to pass them to the control circuitry, the control circuitry being configured to execute the second control signals.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the light assembly includes a second wireless transmitter coupled to the control circuitry, the control circuitry being configured to determine if the second control signals are meant for the light assembly, the second wireless transmitter being configured to retransmit the second control signals if the control circuitry determines that the second control signals are meant for a second light assembly.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the control module is configured to transmit an interrogation signal to the light assembly, the control circuitry being configured to determine a current state of the light and to cause the second wireless transmitter to transmit to the control module data indicative of the current state of the light.

18. The system of claim 17 comprising a television receiver, the control module being mounted to the television receiver, the television receiver configured to receive commands from a user and to transmit the second control signals in response to receiving the commands from the user.

19. A method comprising:

covering a first light switch with a light switch plate, the first light switch being configured to turn on and turn off a light of a light assembly;

transmitting a control signal to the light assembly from a wireless transmitter coupled to the light switch plate;

receiving the control signal in a wireless receiver of the light assembly;

passing the control signal to control circuitry coupled to the wireless receiver; and

executing the control signal by outputting a switching signal from the control circuitry, the switching signal being configured to turn on or turn off the light.

20. The method of claim 19 comprising transmitting the control signal in response to receiving user input on a second light switch coupled to the light switch plate.

21. The method of claim 19 comprising:

receiving an interrogation signal in the wireless receiver; and

transmitting, from a second wireless transmitter coupled to the control circuitry, a response signal including data indicating a present state of the light.