Automated appliance control system
First Claim
1. A system for communicating instructions to an appliance from a remote location, the appliance being responsive to commands conveyed via an infrared signal, the system comprising:
- remote means for dispatching a first control signal from the remote location;
means for receiving the first control signal;
means for translating the first control signal into a second control signal, the second control signal including at least a power on command;
means for emitting the second control signal, the means for emitting comprising means for generating infrared radiation which reaches the appliance, the second control signal being recognized by the appliance; and
means for sensing whether the appliance is in a power active state or a power-inactive state, the means for sensing comprising manually adjustable sensitivity means for varying the threshold of detected current drawn by the appliance when in a power active state and for ensuring that the power on command is issued by the means for emitting the second control signal only if the appliance is in a power-inactive state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for retrofitting appliances for use with an appliance automation system and for augmenting and expanding the function of an existing appliance automation system. A universal transmitter is provided which can receive instructions from a central audio/visual controller or from any instruction issuing appliance automation controller. The universal transmitter is configured for use with a single appliance and can be used with any appliance having an infrared receiver to which it transmits infrared signals. Control signals, issued by a hand-held infrared transmitter or any appliance automation controller which is connected to the signal-carrying bus, direct the universal transmitter to transmit infrared signals to the appliance being controlled. The present invention also senses whether the appliance is in an on or off state and operates to prevent a power on command from being issued if the appliance is already on. A plurality of receivers placed in different rooms in a building or structure are all connected to the signal-carrying bus (preferably the AC wiring bus) and thus convey instructions which they receive to the transmitter(s) and their associated appliance(s).
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for communicating instructions to an appliance from a remote location, the appliance being responsive to commands conveyed via an infrared signal, the system comprising:
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remote means for dispatching a first control signal from the remote location; means for receiving the first control signal; means for translating the first control signal into a second control signal, the second control signal including at least a power on command; means for emitting the second control signal, the means for emitting comprising means for generating infrared radiation which reaches the appliance, the second control signal being recognized by the appliance; and means for sensing whether the appliance is in a power active state or a power-inactive state, the means for sensing comprising manually adjustable sensitivity means for varying the threshold of detected current drawn by the appliance when in a power active state and for ensuring that the power on command is issued by the means for emitting the second control signal only if the appliance is in a power-inactive state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for communicating control signals from a first remote location to a first appliance contained within a structure including a power distribution bus, the appliance being responsive to commands conveyed via an infrared signal, the system comprising:
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remote means for emitting a first control signal from the first remote location; means for receiving the first control signal; means for translating the first control signal into a second control signal, the second control signal including at least a power on command; means for transmitting the second control signal over the power distribution bus; means for receiving the second control signal from the power distribution bus and translating the second control signal into a third control signal, the means for receiving the second control signal being in physical proximity with the first appliance; means for emitting an infrared signal which reaches the appliance, corresponding to the third control signal; and means for sensing whether the first appliance is in a power active state or a power-inactive state, the means for sensing comprising manually adjustable sensitivity means for varying the threshold of current drawn by the appliance when in a power active state and for ensuring that the power on command is issued by the means for emitting an infrared signal only if the first appliance is in a power-inactive state. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for communicating control signals from either of a first remote location or a second remote location to a first appliance at a first location or to a second appliance at a second location, the first and the second locations both contained within a structure including a power wiring bus, the system comprising:
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remote means for emitting a first control signal, the remote means being movable between the first remote location to the second remote location and including a battery; means for receiving the first control signal at the first remote location; means for translating the first control signal into a second control signal, the second control signal including at least a power on command and at least one address; means for transmitting the second control signal over the power distribution bus; first means for receiving the second control signal from the power distribution bus and translating the second control signal into a third control signal, the first means for receiving the second control signal being in physical proximity with the first appliance; first means for decoding the address and determining if the address matches the first appliance address; first means for conveying the third control signal to the first appliance; second means for receiving the second control signal from the power distribution bus and translating the second control signal into a third control signal, the second means for receiving the second control signal being in physical proximity with the second appliance; second means for decoding the address and determining if the address matches the second appliance address; second means for conveying the third control signal to the second appliance; and means for sensing whether the first appliance is in a power active state or a power-inactive state, the means for sensing comprising manually adjustable sensitivity means for varying the threshold of current drawn by the appliance when in a power active state and for ensuring that a power on command is issued by the first means for conveying the third control signal only if the appliance is in a power-inactive state.
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18. A system for retrofitting an appliance having an infrared receiver for intercepting coded infrared commands, the appliance being responsive to the commands conveyed via an infrared signal, the system comprising:
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means for receiving a first control signal generated by an appliance controller; means for translating the first control signal into a second control signal, the second control signal including at least a power on command; means for emitting an infrared signal an infrared signal which reaches the appliance, the infrared signal corresponding to the second control signal, the infrared signal being recognized by the appliance, and for directing the infrared signal into the infrared receiver; means for providing operational voltage and current to the appliance; and means for sensing the current flow through the means for providing operational voltage and current to determine whether the appliance is in a power active state or a power-inactive state, the means for sensing comprising manually adjustable sensitivity means for varying the threshold of current drawn by the appliance when in a power active state, the means for sensing operating such that the power on command is issued by the means for emitting the second control signal only if the appliance is in a power-inactive state. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification