MULTI-PURPOSE ELECTRONIC SWITCH

• US 20160020047A1
• Filed: 07/16/2015
• Published: 01/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amatis Controls LLC
• Original Assignee: Amatis Controls LLC
• Inventors: Hill, David Alex
• Granted Patent: US 9,916,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/14 Electronic books and readers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/0023 Images formed with electrophoretic technology, e.g. by charged pigment particles rearranged by applied electric field, e.g. electronic paper or e-paper, active ink
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/0026 having outer surface of housing of electronic apparatus programmable as display and/or input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/025 Light-emitting indicators

Abstract

A multi-purpose electronic switch is disclosed herein. The multi-purpose electronic switch includes a housing having a front and a back and defining an internal volume, a switch having a default position and movable to a first position and a second position from the default position. The switch can receive a press-button input by moving from the default position to one of the first and second positions. The multi-purpose electronic switch can include a display located on the switch, and a plurality of sensors located within the internal volume of the housing. The plurality of sensors can detect a swipe input across the front of the housing. The multi-purpose electronic switch can include a processor that can control the display to generate images representing a plurality of menu items and settings within the menu items and receive inputs selecting menu items.

Claims

1. A multi-purpose electronic switch, comprising:

a housing having a front and a back and defining an internal volume;

a switch having a default position and movable to a first position and a second position from the default position, wherein the switch is configured to receive a press-button input moving the switch from the default position to one of the first and second positions;

a display located on the switch;

a plurality of sensors located within the internal volume of the housing and configured to detect a swipe input across the front of the housing; and

a processor located within the internal volume of the housing and communicatingly connected with the switch, the display, and the plurality of sensors, wherein the processor is configured to;

control the display to generate images representing a plurality of menu items and settings within the menu items;

receive an input from the plurality of sensors selecting one of the plurality of menu items; and

receive an input from the switch changing a setting within the selected one of the plurality of menu items.

2. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a rocker switch.

3. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim 2, wherein the rocker switch comprises a top, a bottom, a left side, and a right side.

4. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim 3, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise:

a first sensor, a second sensor, a third sensor, and a fourth sensor.

5. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim 4, wherein the first sensor is located proximate to the left side of the switch, the second sensor is located proximate to the right side of the switch, the third sensor is located proximate to the top of the switch, and the fourth sensor is located proximate to the bottom of the switch.

6. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim 5, wherein the first and second sensors are configured to detect a swipe between the left side of the switch and the right side of the switch, and wherein the third and fourth sensors are configured to detect a swipe between the top of the switch and the bottom of the switch.

7. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to navigate between a first set of menu items in response to a swipe between the left side of the switch and the right side of the switch, and wherein the processor is configured to navigate between a second set of menu items in response to a swipe between the top of the switch and the bottom of the switch.

8. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth sensors comprises a capacitive sensor.

9. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim of claim 8, further comprising an antenna module controllable by the processor to transmit and receive radio signals.

10. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to control the antenna module to transmit a radio signal to control operation of a device in communication with the multi-purpose electronic switch in response to an input received by the switch.

11. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim 10, further comprising a power source comprising one of:

a battery, low-voltage wires, and line-voltage wires.

12. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises a first recess in the back of the housing and an adhesive located in the recess.

13. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim 12, wherein the housing comprises a second recess located in the back of the housing and extending to a side of the housing.

14. The multi-purpose electronic switch of claim 11, wherein the display comprises an electronic paper display.

15. A method of communicating with and controlling a plurality of devices, the method comprising:

installing a plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of devices are configured to transmit and receive radio signals, wherein the devices of the plurality of devices comprise at least one of;

lighting devices;

heating devices;

cooling devices;

mechanical controls;

hydronic controls; and

building energy systems;

activating the plurality of devices, wherein the activated plurality of devices transmit and receive radio signals;

collecting data from the devices in the plurality of devices, wherein collection of data enables wireless communication to control the devices of the plurality of devices remotely;

wirelessly communicating to control the devices of the plurality of devices.

16. A method of calculating and displaying cost-per-hour data for performance of building systems, the method comprising

receiving an input identifying a first system for operation adjustment, wherein the first system comprises at least one of:

a heating system;

a cooling system;

a water heating system;

a refrigeration system;

a lighting system; and

an electro-mechanical system;

identifying a first operation level of the identified first system;

identifying a first net power consumption of the identified first system, wherein the first net power consumption can be a net-positive or net-negative power consumption;

identifying a change increment, wherein the change increment comprises a step either increasing or decreasing the operation level of the identified first system;

identifying a second operation level, wherein the second operation level comprises the first operation level incremented or decremented by the change increment;

identifying a power-cost function, wherein the power-cost function identifies a cost of power per unit of energy consumption;

calculating a first power cost, wherein the first power cost comprises the cost of operating the first system and the first operation level;

calculating a second power cost, wherein the second power cost comprises the cost of operating the second system and the second operation level;

displaying the first power cost and the second power cost; and

receiving an input selecting operation of the first system at one of the first and second power costs.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the electro-mechanical system comprises one of:

a door-locking system;

a building securement system;

an air circulation system;

an energy generation system;

a solar system; and

a geothermal system.