ELECTRICAL DEVICE, NETWORK AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

• US 20170068267A1
• Filed: 09/04/2015
• Published: 03/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: EL-GAYYAR, AHMED
• Granted Patent: US 10,394,267 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 9/03 with multiple-channel loop, i.e. redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

An electrical device including a wireless communication unit structured to wirelessly communicate with other electrical devices and a processor structured to check if the electrical device is part of a network of other electrical devices. The processor is structure to create a new network and add other electrical devices to the new network if the electrical device is not part of the network of other electrical devices and to remain in the network of other electrical devices if the electrical device is part of the network of other electrical devices. The electrical device further includes a function module structured to provide an additional function associated with a type of the electrical device.

Claims

1. An electrical device comprising:

a wireless communication unit structured to wirelessly communicate with other electrical devices;

a processor structured to check if the electrical device is part of a network of other electrical devices and;

a) to create a new network and add other electrical devices to the new network if the electrical device is not part of the network of other electrical devices, and

b) to remain in the network of other electrical devices if the electrical device is part of the network of other electrical devices; and

a function module structured to provide an additional function associated with a type of the electrical device.

2. The electrical device of claim 1, further comprising:

a power supply structured to provide power to operate the electrical device.

3. The electrical device of claim 2, wherein the power supply is a self-contained power supply.

4. The electrical device of claim 2, wherein the power supply is structured to receive power from an external power source and convert the received power for use by the electrical device.

5. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the type of the electrical device is a switch;

wherein the function module includes a control mechanism having a physical element that may be actuated by a user; and

wherein the electrical device is structured to output a wireless communication to other electrical devices in response to the physical element being actuated by the user.

6. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the type of the electrical device is a light;

wherein the function module includes a light control unit and a light element; and

wherein the electrical device is structured to cause the light control unit to turn on or turn off the light element in response to receiving a wireless communication from one of the other electrical devices.

7. The electrical device of claim 6, wherein the light element includes at least one of a light emitting diode, an incandescent light, a fluorescent light and a high-intensity discharge light.

8. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the type of the electrical device is an outlet;

wherein the function module includes a receptacle control unit and a receptacle; and

wherein the electrical device is structured to cause the receptacle control unit to turn on or turn off the receptacle in respect to receiving a wireless communication from one of the other electrical devices.

9. The electrical device of claim 8, wherein the receptacle includes a physical element that a device may be plugged into to receive electricity when the receptacle is turned on.

10. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the processor is structured to determine if a wireless communication received from one of the other devices requires action and to responsively control the function module based on the received wireless communication.

11. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the processor is structured to determine if an output of the function module requires action and to responsively output a wireless communication to the other electrical devices based on the output of the function module.

12. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the type of the electrical device is at least one of a switch, a light, an outlet, a sensor, a fan, a thermostat and an air conditioning unit.

13. A network comprising:

a plurality of electrical devices, each electrical device including;

a wireless communication unit structured to wirelessly communicate with other electrical devices on the network;

a processor structured to check if the electrical device is part of a network of other electrical devices and;

a) to create a new network and add other electrical devices to the new network if the electrical device is not part of the network of other electrical devices, and

b) to remain in the network of other electrical devices if the electrical device is part of the network of other electrical devices; and

a function module structured to provide an additional function associated with a type of the electrical device.

14. The network of claim 13, wherein the type of at least one of the plurality of electrical devices is a switch;

and wherein the type of at least one of the plurality of electrical devices is a light or an outlet.

15. The network of claim 13, wherein the type of at least one of the plurality of electrical devices is a switch;

wherein for each electrical device of the switch type;

the function module includes a control mechanism having a physical element that may be actuated by a user; and

wherein the electrical device is structured to output a wireless communication to other electrical devices on the network in response to the physical element being actuated by the user.

16. The network of claim 13, wherein the type of at least one of the plurality of electrical devices is a light;

wherein for each electrical device of the light type;

the function module includes a light control unit and a light element; and

wherein the electrical device is structured to cause the light control unit to turn on or turn off the light element in response to receiving a wireless communication from one of the other electrical devices on the network.

17. The network of claim 13, wherein the type of at least one of the plurality of electrical devices is an outlet;

wherein for each electrical device of the outlet type;

the function module includes a receptacle control unit and a receptacle; and

wherein the electrical device is structured to cause the receptacle control unit to turn on or turn off the receptacle in respect to receiving a wireless communication from one of the other electrical devices on the network.

18. A method of controlling an electrical device, the method comprising:

determining, with the electrical device, whether the electrical device is in a network with other electrical devices; and

a) if the electrical device is not in the network with other electrical devices, creating a new network and adding other electrical devices to the new network, and

b) if the electrical device is in the network of other electrical devices is detected, remaining in the network of other electrical devices,

wherein the electrical device includes a function module structured to provide a function associated with a type of the electrical device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the type of the electrical device is at least one of a switch, a light, an outlet, a sensor, a fan, a thermostat and an air conditioning unit.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a wireless communication from one of the other electrical devices;

determining if an action is required in response to the wireless communication; and

if it is determined that action is required, controlling the function module based on the received wireless communication.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving an output from the function module;

determining if an action is required in response to the output of the function module; and

if it is determined that action is required, outputting a wireless communication to the other electrical devices based on the output of the function module.