Wireless multiple position switching system

• US 5,818,128 A
• Filed: 02/20/1996
• Issued: 10/06/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Heathco LLC (Transom Capital Group)
• Original Assignee: Heath Company
• Inventors: Hoffman, Miles K., Jenson, Brad, Wieder, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, JONATHAN STUART
• Application Number:
  US08/603,388
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 307/112-114, 307/116-118, 307/125, 307/121, 307/127, 307/139, 200/277, 200/277.2, 200/339, 200/6 R, 200/400
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/00 Tumbler or rocker switches, i.e. switches characterised by being operated by rocking an operating member in the form of a rocker button
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0002 using ultrasonic means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/18 using switches, relays or circuit breakers, e.g. intelligent electronic devices [IED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/12 characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A wireless multiple position switching system is disclosed for controlling the application of power to a load device from a plurality of remote locations. The switching system includes a power source, a load device, a master toggle switch and one or more slave toggle switches. A slave toggle switch generates an electromagnetic switching signal which changes the state of the master switch. The master switch is connected in series with the power source and the load device and controls the application of power to the load device in response to the switching signal from the slave switch or actuation of its own toggle.

Claims

1. A multiple position switching system for connecting and disconnecting a circuit, said switching system operable from a plurality of locations, said switching system comprising:

slave switching means for generating a switching signal comprised of electromagnetic radiation, said slave switching means including a slave switch for selectively activating said slave switching means, said slave switch and said slave switching means housed in a common housing; and

master switching means sized to fit in a standard electrical junction box for a standard household wall-mounted switch for connecting and disconnecting a predetermined load device to a predetermined power source, said master switch means being responsive to said switching signal from said slave switching means for reversing the energization state of said load device upon receipt of said switching signal, said master switching means including activating means for selectively activating said master switching means independently of said switching signal, said slave switching means remote from said master switching means.

2. A multiple position switching system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said load device includes a standard electrical wall outlet.

3. A multiple switching system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said slave switch is a momentary contact switch.

4. A multiple position switching system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said activating means includes a master switch.

5. A multiple switching system as set forth in claim 4, wherein said master switch is a momentary contact switch.

6. A wireless switching system for connecting and disconnecting a circuit, said switching system operable from a remote location, said system comprising:

means for generating a predetermined switching signal, said predetermined switching signal being in the form of electromagnetic radiation;

an electrical module for screwing into a conventional household light socket, said electrical module selectively connected to a source of electrical power available at said conventional household light socket, said electrical module having a selectively energizable conventional household light socket, said electrical module including means for connecting and disconnecting said selectively energizable light socket to said source of electrical power and means for reversing the state of connecting and disconnecting means upon receipt of said predetermined switching signal;

means for activating said generating means, said activating means and said generating means housed in a common housing, said housing mounted remotely from said electrical module.

7. A wireless switching system for connecting and disconnecting a circuit, said switching system operable from a remote location, said system comprising:

a transmitter for generating a predetermined switching signal in the form of electromagnetic radiation;

a first switch for activating said transmitter, said transmitter and said switch housed in a common housing; and

an electrical module sized to fit in a standard electrical junction box for a standard household wall-mounted switch, said electrical module further electrically connected to a predetermined power supply and to a predetermined load in response to said predetermined switching signal, said electrical module further including a second switch for selectively connecting and disconnecting said predetermined load from said predetermined power supply independent of said predetermined switching signal, said electrical module mounted remote from said transmitter.

8. A multiple position switching system for connecting and disconnecting a circuit, said switching system operable from a remote location, said system comprising:

a transmitter for generating a switching signal in the form of electromagnetic radiation;

a switch for activating said transmitter, said transmitter and said switch housed in a common housing; and

a master switch assembly which includes a standard electrical receptacle, said master switch having an energized state wherein said standard electrical receptacle is connected to said source of electrical power and a de-energized state wherein said standard electrical signal is from said source of electrical power for connecting to a source of electrical power and housed in a standard electrical junction box for a standard household wall-mounted switch, said master switch being responsive to said switching signal from said switch for reversing the energization state of said load device upon receipt of said switching signal, said master switch also for selectively reversing the energization state of said load device independently of said switching signal, said master switch mounted remote from said transmitter.

9. A multiple position switching system for connecting and disconnecting a circuit, said switching system operable from a plurality of locations, said switching system comprising:

a transmitter for generating a switching signal comprised of electromagnetic radiation;

a slave switch having first and second positions for causing said transmitter to generate said switching signal, said transmitter and said slave switch mounted in a common housing; and

a master switch sized to fit in a standard electrical junction box for a standard household wall-mounted switch for selectively connecting and disconnecting a predetermined load device to a predetermined power source, said master switch being responsive to said switching signal from said transmitter for reversing the energization state of said load device upon receipt of said switching signal, said master switch including a manual activating switch for selectively activating said master switch independently of said switching signal, said master switch mounted remote from said transmitter.

10. A wireless switching system for connecting and disconnecting a circuit, said switching system operable from a remote location, said switching system comprising:

a transmitter system for generating a predetermined switching signal, said predetermined switching signal being in the form of electromagnetic radiation;

a switch for selectively activating said transmitter;

an electrical module for electrically connecting to a conventional household light socket, said electrical module selectively connected to a source of electrical power available at said conventional household light socket, said electrical module having a selectively energizable conventional light socket for selectively and disconnecting to said source of electrical power in response to said predetermined switching signal; and

an activating switch for activating said switching system mounted remotely from said electrical module.