Electronic device control system

• US 6,120,262 A
• Filed: 10/07/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Original Assignee: Emerson Electric Company
• Inventors: Lathrop, David R., McDonough, William B.
• Primary Examiner(s): ARGENBRIGHT, TONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/167,902
• Time in Patent Office: 713 Days
• Field of Search: 417/44.1, 417/410.1, 417/423.1, 417/424.1, 417/572, 416/5, 416/170 R, 340/825.57, 340/825.62, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 362/96, 318/16, 318/256
• US Class Current: 417/424.1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A control system for a device powered by an AC power source is presented. The control system includes a fixed controller adapted to be wall-mounted and powered by the AC power source. The fixed controller is also adapted to transmit control signals to the device. The control system further includes at least one movable controller adapted to be powered by a DC power source and transmit control signals to the device. In one embodiment, both movable controller and the fixed controller are adapted to transmit to the receiver via the same transmission medium, such as RF or infrared. The electronic device to be controlled may, for example, comprise a ceiling fan and associated light fixtures.

Claims

1. A control system for a device powered by an AC power source, the control system comprising:

a fixed controller adapted to be wall-mounted, the fixed controller adapted to be powered by the AC power source and transmit control signals to the device via a transmission medium; and

at least one movable controller adapted to be powered by a DC power source and transmit control signals to the device via the same transmission medium as the fixed controller.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the transmission medium comprises RF.

3. The control system of claim 1 wherein the transmission medium comprises infrared.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the device includes a plurality of functional units, and wherein the movable and fixed control devices are adapted to control the plurality of functional units.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of functional units includes a ceiling fan and at least one light fixture.

6. The control system of claim 5, wherein at least one light fixture comprises an up-light module adapted to cast light generally above the ceiling fan, and a down-light module adapted to cast light generally below the ceiling fan.

7. The control system of claim 6, wherein the movable and fixed control devices each include an indication of which light module is being controlled.

8. The control system of claim 6 wherein the indication comprises a slide switch.

9. The control system of claim 6 wherein the indication comprises an LED.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein the fixed controller includes:

a first hinged lid coupled to a surface of the fixed controller for pivotal movement thereon;

a plurality of switches situated on the surface;

the first hinged lid being movable by a user to a first position to expose the switches;

the first hinged lid being movable by a user to a second position to cover the switches; and

the first hinged lid being adapted to activate one of the plurality of the switches when the first hinged lid is pushed by a user.

11. A method of controlling a ceiling fan including a motor having a stator, a rotor, and a plurality of blades mounted to the rotor so as to rotate therewith, the method comprising:

rotating the rotor in a first direction at a first power level;

receiving an instruction to rotate the rotor in a second direction; and

rotating the rotor in the second direction at a second power level that is greater than the first power level.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising rotating the rotor in the second direction at the second power level for a predetermined time period.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein rotating the rotor in the second direction at a second power level comprises rotating the rotor the second direction at full power.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising removing power from the motor for a predetermined time period prior to rotating the rotor in the second direction.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving an instruction to rotate the rotor in the second direction at a third power level; and

rotating the rotor in the second direction at the third power level following the predetermined time period.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined time period is based at least in part on the first power level.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the predetermined time period is based at least in part on the third power level.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein receiving the instruction to rotate the rotor in a second direction further comprises receiving the instruction transmitted from at least one of a fixed controller or a movable controller via a wireless transmission medium.

19. A fixed controller for a ceiling fan powered by an AC power source, comprising:

a power converter adapted to receive AC power from the AC power source and supply DC power to the fixed controller; and

a transmitter adapted to send wireless control signals to the ceiling fan.

20. The fixed controller of claim 19 wherein the power converter comprises a half-wave rectifier.

21. A method for remotely controlling a ceiling fan including at least one light fixture, comprising:

powering the ceiling fan from an AC power source;

powering a first controller from the AC power source; and

transmitting control signals from the first controller to the ceiling fan via a wireless transmission medium.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

powering a second controller from a DC power source; and

transmitting control signals from the second controller to the ceiling fan via the wireless transmission medium.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein powering the first controller from the AC power source includes applying an AC voltage from the AC power source to a half-wave rectifier.

24. A remote control unit for controlling a ceiling fan including at least first and second light fixtures, the remote control unit comprising:

a first switch for selecting one of the first or second light fixtures for control;

a device that indicates which one of the first or second light fixtures is being controlled; and

a second switch operable to control both the first and second light fixtures as selected via the first switch.

25. The remote control unit of claim 24, wherein the first and second light fixtures comprise an up-light module adapted to cast light generally above the ceiling fan, and a down-light module adapted to cast light generally below the ceiling fan, respectively.

26. The remote control unit of claim 24, wherein the switch comprises a push-buttton switch.

27. The remote control unit of claim 24, wherein the switch comprises a slide switch.

28. The remote control unit of claim 24, wherein the device comprises at least one LED.

29. The remote control unit of claim 24, wherein the remote control unit is movable.

30. The remote control unit of claim 24, wherein the remote control unit is fixed.

31. A ceiling fan system, comprising:

a ceiling fan including a motor, the motor having a stator and a rotor adapted to rotate relative to the stator, the motor adapted to be coupled to an AC power source;

a plurality of blades coupled to the rotor so as to rotate therewith;

first and second light fixtures coupled to the AC power source;

a control unit coupled to the motor and the light fixtures, the control unit adapted to receive control signals indicating operating parameters for the motor and light fixtures and control operation of the motor and the light fixtures in accordance with the received control signals;

a fixed controller adapted to be wall-mounted and powered by the AC power source and transmit the control signals to the receiver via a transmission medium; and

at least one movable controller adapted to be powered by a DC power source and transmit the control signals to the receiver via the same transmission medium as the fixed controller.

32. The ceiling fan system of claim 31, wherein the transmission medium comprises RF.

33. The ceiling fan system of claim 31, wherein the transmission medium comprises infrared.

34. The ceiling fan system of claim 31, wherein the first and second light fixtures comprise an up-light fixture and a down-light fixture.

35. The ceiling fan system of claim 31, wherein the control unit includes a plurality of capacitors and a device adapted to couple and decouple preselected capacitors to the motor to vary the speed of the motor.

36. The ceiling fan system of claim 35, wherein the device includes a processor coupled to a plurality of triacs, the processor operable to fire the triacs to couple and decouple preselected capacitors to the motor in response to the control signals.

37. The ceiling fan system of claim 35, further comprising a plurality of resistors coupled to the capacitors so as to discharge the capacitors when the capacitors are decoupled from the motor.

38. The ceiling fan system of claim 36, further comprising a plurality of resistors coupled to the triacs so as to limit the current flow through the triacs when the triacs are fired by the processor.

39. The ceiling fan system of claim 36, wherein the plurality of capacitors comprises four capacitors and the plurality of triacs comprises four triacs, and wherein the triacs are controlled by the processor so as to operate the motor at six predetermined speeds.