CONTROL APPARATUS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20150271900A1
• Filed: 03/24/2015
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flextronics International USA Incorporated (Flex, Ltd.), Wink Acquisition Corp. (Flex, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Quirky Incorporated (Q Holdings & Management LLC)
• Inventors: WRIGHT, Josh, KAUFMAN, Ben, OCHOA, Gabe
• Granted Patent: US 9,501,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An exemplary aspect comprises a control apparatus comprising: (a) a controller comprising a microprocessor; (b) a wireless transceiver in communication with said microprocessor and operable to communicate over a wireless network with an application on a mobile device; (c) a light switch controlled by the controller; (d) a sensor in communication with the controller; and (e) a front panel that allows a user to interface with the controller.

Claims

1. A control apparatus comprising:

a controller comprising a microprocessor;

a wireless transceiver in communication with said microprocessor and operable to communicate over a wireless network with an application on a mobile device;

a light switch controlled by said controller;

a sensor in communication with said controller; and

a front panel that allows a user to interface with said controller.

2. A control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed by a user to perform one or more actions triggered by operation of said light switch.

3. A control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said controller is operable to communicate, via said transceiver, with a second control apparatus located in the same building as the control apparatus of said controller.

4. A control apparatus as in claim 3, further comprising a microphone and a speaker.

5. A control apparatus as in claim 4, wherein said second control apparatus also comprises a microphone and a speaker, and said controller is operable to allow a user to communicate with said second control apparatus as an intercom.

6. A control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said control apparatus comprises a relay/converter box configured to be inserted into a standard gang box.

7. A control apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said front panel is configured to be connected to said relay/converter box in a plurality of configurations.

8. A control apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said front panel is configured to be connected to said relay/converter box via a first number of holes configured to accept a second number of posts on said relay/converter box, and wherein said first number exceeds said second number.

9. A control apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said front panel is configured to be connected to said relay/converter box in one of a plurality of alignments.

10. A control apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said standard gang box is a single gang box.

11. A control apparatus as in claim 6, wherein said standard gang box is a double gang box.

12. A control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said sensor is a Bluetooth Low Energy sensor.

13. A control apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said sensor is a motion sensor.

14. A control apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said motion sensor is an infrared sensor.

15. A method for operation of an apparatus comprising (a) a controller comprising a microprocessor;

(b) a wireless transceiver in communication with said microprocessor and operable to communicate over a wireless network with an application on a mobile device;

(c) a light switch controlled by said controller;

(d) a sensor in communication with said controller; and

(e) a front panel that allows a user to interface with said controller, the method comprising;

receiving via a wireless network one or more commands from a mobile device storing said application, said application having received commands from a user to perform one or more actions to be triggered by operation of said light switch; and

in response to said light switch being operated, performing said one or more actions.