Switching device for controlling a lamp from both a wall switch and the lamp's switch

• US 6,710,553 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2002
• Issued: 03/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James D. Logan
• Original Assignee: James D. Logan
• Inventors: Logan, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUYET THI
• Application Number:
  US10/160,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 315/56, 315/57, 315/59, 315/136, 315/129, 315/360, 315/361, 315/291, 307/112, 307/113, 307/114, 307/115
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations

Abstract

A control circuit for operating a lamp or other electrically operated device using a conventional wall socket outlet that is selectively energized under the control of a conventional wall mounted switch. To permit the lamp to be independently controlled using either the wall switch or the lamp switch, a wall adapter unit is employed that plugs into the wall outlet and into which the lamp'"'"'s power cord is plugged. Sensing means are employed to detect the operation of either the wall switch or the lamp switch to control an electrically operated switch which turns the lamp ON and OFF whenever either the wall switch or the lamp switch are operated. Different embodiments are provided for use with conventional electrical wiring and with either a conventional lamp or lamp incorporating additional circuitry to adapt it for use with the wall socket adapter.

Claims

1. The method of controlling an electrically powered utilization device connected to receive electrical power from a conventional electrical wall outlet socket under the joint control of a manually actuated wall-mounted switch and a second manually actuated switch located at said utilization device and connected in series with said utilization device, said method comprising, in combination, the steps of:

connecting an electrically operated switching means between said electrical wall outlet socket and said electrically powered utilization device,

generating a first control signal whenever said wall-mounted switch is actuated,

generating a second control signal whenever said second switch at said utilization device is actuated by detecting a change in the amount of current flowing through the series combination of said second switch and said utilization device,

operating said electrically operated switching means in response to both said first control signal and said second control signal such that said electrically powered utilization device is independently controlled by actuating either said manually-actuated wall mounted switch or said manually actuated switch located at said utilization device.

2. The method of controlling an electrically powered utilization device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of operating said electrically operated switching means in response to both said first control signal and said second control signal comprises the substeps of providing a state memory device having at least two states and the steps of operating said electrically operated switching means in response to both said first control signal comprises the substeps of:

providing a state memory device having at least two states,

changing the state of said state memory device in response to said first control signal,

changing the state of said state memory device in response to said second control signal, and

operating said electrical operated switching means in response to changing the state of said state memory device.

3. The method of controlling an electrically powered utilization device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of generating a first control signal comprises detecting the level of voltage delivered to said electrical wall outlet socket via said manually-actuated wall mounted switch and generating said first control signal whenever said level of voltage changes.

4. The method of controlling an electrically powered utilization device as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second manually operated switch is connected in series with said utilization device and wherein said step of generating a second control signal comprises detecting a change in the amount of current flowing through the series combination of said second switch and said utilization device.

5. The method of controlling an electrically powered utilization device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said manually-actuated wall mounted switch has ON and OFF positions and wherein said method further comprises the step of producing an alarm signal whenever said wall mounted switch is in said OFF position for more than a predetermined time duration.

6. The method of controlling an electrically powered utilization device as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second manually-actuated switch has ON and OFF positions and wherein said method further comprises the step of producing an alarm signal whenever said second manually actuated switch is in the OFF position for more than a predetermined time duration.

7. A control adapter for connecting an electrical device to a standard electrical outlet which is connected to a source of electrical power through a wall-mounted switch having ON and OFF positions, said electrical device comprising a male electrical power supply plug connected to the series combination of a load circuit and a device switch having ON and OFF positions, said control adapter comprising:

a housing,

a male adapter plug comprising connectors extending outwardly from said housing and adapted to plug into and establish an electrical connection with said standard electrical outlet,

a female socket mounted on said housing to receive said male electrical power supply plug,

a control circuit having an ON state and an OFF state,

first sensing means mounted within said housing and connected to said male adapter plug for changing the state of said control circuit whenever said wall mounted switch changes between its ON and OFF positions

second sensing means mounted within said housing and connected to said female socket for changing the state of said control circuit whenever said device switch changes between its ON and OFF positions, and

an electrically operated switch mounted within said housing for applying electrical power to said female socket whenever said control circuit is in its ON state.

8. The control adapter set forth in claim 7, wherein said first sensing means detects the level of voltage applied to said male adapter plug from said standard electrical outlet.

9. The control adapter set forth in claim 8 wherein said second sensing means detects the impedance presented by said series combination of said load circuit and said device switch.

10. Apparatus for controlling the operation of an electrical device which is supplied with electrical energy from a conventional electrical outlet, said electrical outlet being selectively energized in response to the operation of a conventional wall-mounted manual control, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

an outlet adapter including plug means for establishing electrical connections to said electrical outlet and sensing means for detecting the operation of said wall-mounted manual control to produce a first control signal,

a manually operated device control located at and serially connected with said electrical device,

a sensor for detecting a change in the amount of current flowing through the series combination of said second switch and said utilization device to produce a second control signal, and

a control circuit coupled to said outlet adapter and said sensor for selectively energizing said electrical device in response to both said first control signal and said second control signal.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said sensing means for detecting the operation of said wall-mounted manual switch includes means for sensing the level of a voltage applied to said conventional electrical outlet in response to said conventional wall-mounted manual control.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said wall mounted manual control has ON and OFF positions and further including an alarm actuated whenever said wall mounted switch is in said OFF position for more than a predetermined time duration.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said manually operated device control located at said electrical device has ON and OFF positions and further including an alarm actuated whenever said manually operated device control is in the OFF position for more than a predetermined time duration.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said control circuit comprises, in combination,

a state memory device having at least two states,

first control means for changing the state of said state memory device in response to said first control signal,

second control means for changing the state of said state memory device in response to said second control signal, and

a power switching device connected to said state memory device for selectively energizing said electrical device in response to the state of said state memory device.

15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said electrical device is a lamp and wherein said control circuit selectively controls the level of illumination provided by said lamp in response to both said first control signal and the operation of said manually operated device control.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said control circuit and said manually operated device control together form a device adapter which further includes a female socket for receiving and establishing electrical connections to said lamp and for establishing an electrical supply connection to said outlet adapter.