Wireless remote control for alternate current (A.C.) electrical lighting and appliances with learn function

• US 6,771,182 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Control Technology (M) Sdn Bhd
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Control Technology (M) Sdn Bhd
• Inventors: Sankar, Suresh Kumar, Lim, Hong Keng, Loh, Kuam Hong
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, NAM V
• Application Number:
  US09/711,657
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 340/538, 340/539, 340/310.02, 340/310.01, 340/825.22, 340/5.22, 340/5.23, 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 307/31, 455/92, 455/88
• US Class Current: 340/12.28
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

A wireless remote and infrared receivers for controlling AC appliances connected to the receivers, capable of leaning codes from other infrared remotes. The system can control light intensity, has a 24-hour programmable daily timer, a selectable sleep timer, and switching for appliances connected to the receivers. The system has an energy saving interval timer for heating and fan ventilation, and a transmitter capable of learning and unifying remotes for other home equipment into one master remote. As a safety measure the receiver has a mechanical bypass switch. The receiver may decode an activation/deactivation sequence on the power line from the main switch connected to the receiver to self bypass. When bypassed, the main switch regains direct control of the appliances. Simultaneously, besides bypassing the receiver, within five seconds the user may have the receiver memorize any key from any other remote to take over control of the appliances.

Claims

1. A remote control system for remotely controlling a plurality of alternating current electrical appliances, comprising;

a plurality of wireless receivers connectable to the alternating current electrical appliances; and

a wireless remote control transmitter, located remote from the wireless receivers, for generating and transmitting coded infrared frequency to the wireless receivers to control the alternating current electrical appliances;

wherein the wireless remote control transmitter comprises;

means for generating and transmitting light intensity control infrared instructions to the wireless receivers for controlling light intensity of connected lighting;

means for generating 24-hour timer information to the wireless receivers to control daily activation and daily deactivation of the alternating current electrical appliances;

means for providing a selectable set of sleep timer information to the wireless receivers to activate the alternating current electrical appliances within a specified duration;

means for generating energy saving interval timer information to the wireless receivers, for the wireless receivers to repeatedly control an activation time and a deactivation time of the alternating current electrical appliances;

means for learning and memorizing infrared frequency instructions from other wireless remote control transmitters for unifying as many wireless remote control transmitters as permitted into one master remote controller;

a light sensor for determining activation of keypad back lighting during a key press when an ambient light level is low, for enabling a user to see the wireless remote control transmitter in darkness; and

wherein of the wireless receivers comprises;

means for activating a self-bypass upon detecting a predetermined sequence from a main switch connected to the wireless receiver;

upon detecting the predetermined sequence from the main switch connected to the wireless receiver, in tandem within five seconds besides bypassing the wireless receiver, means for capturing an infrared frequency code corresponding to a key from another infrared remote and forwarding the infrared frequency code to a microprocessor for learning and memorizing of the infrared frequency code and directly transferring control of the alternating current electrical appliance to that key of the other infrared remote; and

a dual safety mechanism comprising a mechanical safety bypass switch and a fuse provided as a safety measure in case the wireless receiver malfunctions.

2. A remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver top face plate casing comprising a receiver opening to position the wireless receivers; and

means for securing the top face plate casing and a bottom casing for externally mounted installation and flush mounted installation, the securing means comprising supporting columns and screw holes for screws securing PCBs to the top face plate casing and the supporting columns and screw holes for screws securing the bottom casing to a wall.

3. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the light intensity control instructions further comprise:

means for increasing light intensity, wherein the intensity increases as more infrared frequency coded instructions are received until the intensity is at a maximum or maintains a level of intensity upon cessation of further infrared frequency instructions;

means for decreasing the light intensity, wherein the level of brightness decreases as more infrared frequency coded instructions are received until the intensity is zero or maintains a level of intensity upon cessation of further infrared frequency instructions;

means for directly switching the light intensity to zero without having to decrease the light intensity until the light intensity is zero;

means for switching the light intensity to a previous intensity wherein the microprocessor remembers the previous light intensity before the light intensity was switched to zero; and

means for preserving bulb life wherein under microprocessor control the light intensity activates at half of maximum intensity and slowly increases, or immediately activates at the previous light intensity if the previous intensity is less than half of the maximum.

4. A remote control system according to claim 3, wherein the electrical appliance control circuit activates and deactivates the alternating current electrical appliances using a microprocessor for decoding infrared instructions and for activating and deactivating relays or triacs as instructed.

5. A remote control system according to claim 3, wherein current management of the light intensity performed using a microprocessor for deciding infrared instructions and for synchronizing with incoming AC waveforms and digitally triggering optically isolated triacs for controlling the light intensity of connected lighting.

6. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the 24-hour timer information is transmitted from the wireless remote control transmitter to the wireless receiver'"'"'s microprocessor for repeated actions every 24 hours to activate or deactivate the connected alternating current electrical appliances upon reaching a specified time.

7. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless remote control transmitter comprises selectable sleep timers of either 30-minute, 60-minute, 90-minute or 120-minute that delay deactivation of the alternating current electrical appliances connected to the wireless receivers for a specific period of time upon activation.

8. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the energy saving interval timer information is transmitted from the wireless remote control transmitter to the wireless receiver'"'"'s microprocessor for performing repeated actions on the connected alternating current electrical appliances based on a predetermined activation time interval and deactivation time interval.

9. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless remote control transmitter is capable of learning and memorizing infrared frequency instruction from another wireless remote control transmitter so as to unify the other wireless remote control transmitter into one master remote controller, further comprising:

an opening at a rear end of the wireless remote control transmitter where an infrared sensor is mounted to receive infrared frequency instructions, the infrared frequency instructions directed to a microprocessor for decoding, information extracted from the infrared frequency instructions being recorded into memory under direct control of the microprocessor; and

a key on the wireless remote control transmitter assigned by the microprocessor to represent each instruction memorized.

10. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless receivers are provided with an implementation to decode a successive ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON activation/deactivation sequence on a power line from the main switch connected to the wireless receiver, activating the self-bypass upon detecting this sequence such that the main switch will regain direct activation/deactivation control of the alternating current electrical appliances connected to the wireless receiver even if the user loses or misplaces the master remote controller.

11. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the dual safety mechanism for improving the safety and reliability of the wireless receiver further comprises:

a receiver top face plate casing having a switch opening to position an AC rated mechanical switch to act as a bypass switch in case of an electronic malfunction; and

a fuse mounted on a PCB which is mounted on the receiver top face plate casing to act as a safety overload control from the AC power supply.

12. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein coded infrared frequency instructions are transmitted from the transmitter to the wireless receiver'"'"'s microprocessor for decoding, the system further comprising:

an electrical appliance control circuit in at least some of the alternating current electrical appliances, wherein the electrical appliance control circuit comprises either triacs or relays for controlling the alternating current electrical appliances.

13. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless remote control transmitter comprises a light sensor for monitoring ambient light levels;

and

wherein the keypad back lighting lights up upon detecting a key press on the wireless remote control transmitter when the ambient light level is below a predetermined level, to visually assist the user in accurately selecting their choice of control from the wireless remote control transmitter.

14. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the wireless receivers are electrically connected to the alternating current electrical appliances.

15. A remote control system according to claim 14, wherein the wireless receivers are connectable to the alternating current electrical appliances.

16. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the sleep timer information is 30-minute, 60-minute, 90-minute or 120-minute.

17. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the master remote controller is adapted to directly control of at least one of the group consisting of a television, a hi-fi audio system, a VCD, a VDR, a DVD, and a satellite receiver.

18. A remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined sequence comprises an ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON activation/deactivation sequence from the main switch connected to the wireless receiver.

19. A method of remotely controlling a plurality of alternating current electrical appliances, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of infrared receivers connectable to the alternating current electrical appliances;

providing an infrared remote control transmitter that is capable of learning infrared codes from other infrared remote control transmitters so as to take over control of the equipment from the other infrared remote control transmitters;

generating a coded infrared frequency for the infrared receivers to control alternating current electrical appliances;

transmitting coded infrared frequency instructions from the infrared remote control transmitter to the infrared receivers; and

activating a self-bypass upon detecting a predetermined sequence from a main switch connected to the infrared receiver; and

upon detecting the predetermined sequence from the main switch connected to the infrared receiver, in tandem within five seconds besides bypassing the infrared receiver, capturing an infrared frequency code corresponding to a key from the other infrared remote control transmitter and forwarding the infrared frequency code to a microprocessor in the receiver for learning and memorizing of the infrared frequency code and directly transferring control of the alternating current electrical appliance to that key of the other infrared remote control transmitter.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein control of the infrared receivers connected to the alternating current electrical appliances can be transferred to another infrared remote control transmitter by learning the codes from the other infrared remote control transmitter.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the infrared remote control transmitters and the infrared receivers are in working order.

22. A receiver for controlling a plurality of alternating current electrical appliances according to signals received from a remote controller, comprising:

an infrared receiver portion for receiving infrared signals transmitted by an infrared remote controller;

a microprocessor portion for decoding the infrared signals from the infrared remote controller;

an output control portion for controlling the alternating current electrical appliances according to the infrared signals received from the infrared remote controller; and

means for activating a self-bypass upon detecting a predetermined sequence from a main switch connected to the infrared receiver; and

upon detecting the predetermined sequence from the main switch connected to the infrared receiver, in tandem within five seconds besides bypassing the infrared receiver, means for capturing an infrared frequency code corresponding to a key from the other infrared remote control transmitter and forwarding the infrared frequency code to a microprocessor for learning and memorizing of the infrared frequency code and directly transferring control of the alternating current electrical appliance to that key of the other infrared remote control transmitter.

23. An apparatus for remotely controlling alternate current lighting and electrical appliances, comprising

a) an infrared remote control transmitter and a plurality of infrared receivers connectable to alternating current electrical appliances;

b) at least one of the group consisting of an interval timer, a sleep timer, and a 24-hour timer, the infrared control transmitter and infrared receivers working individually or in connection with the at least one timer;

c) means for using the at least one timer as a time base for efficient energy management of at least one of the group consisting of heat ventilation, and air conditioning;

d) means for the if receiver to activate self-bypass upon detecting a predetermined sequence on a power line from a main switch connected to the receiver; and

e) upon detecting the self-bypass predetermined sequence, in tandem within five seconds, besides bypassing the infrared receiver, means for capturing the infrared frequency code corresponding to a key from another infrared remote and forwarding to a microprocessor in the receiver for learning and memorizing the code and directly transferring control of the electrical lighting or appliances to the key of the other infrared remote.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one timer comprises the interval timer, and controls activation and deactivation of air-conditioning, heating and ventilation according to a programmed activation time (X) and a programmed deactivation time (Y) to decrease, maintain or increase a temperature of an enclosed area in an energy efficient manner wherein the activation time (X) and the deactivation time (Y) are programmed depending on a size of the area and a material enclosing the area, and the activation time (X) and deactivation time(Y) are programmable, and repeat in an interval of duration X+Y.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one timer further comprises the 24-hour timer, wherein the 24-hour timer repeatedly determines when during a 24-hour period the air-conditioning, heating and ventilation are enabled and disabled.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the at least one timer further comprises the sleep timer, the sleep timer having a programed sleep period during which the air-conditioning, heating and ventilation are enabled, the air-conditioning, heating and ventilation being disabled after the sleep period.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the sequence to activate self-bypass is a successive ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein if the infrared receiver detects the sequence to activate self-bypass and if no infrared frequency code is detected within five seconds, the main switch connected to the infrared receiver regains direct activation/deactivation control of the alternating current electrical appliances.