Light management system device and method
First Claim
1. A switch unit for coupling to a load circuit, the switch unit comprising:
- a. a switch for manually opening and closing the load circuit;
b. a night light unit integral with the switch unit and configured to emit light output for a selectable duration of time in response to placing the switch in an opened position; and
c. a motion sensor unit integral with the switch unit and configured to control the light output from the night light unit in response to a level of detected motion from the motion sensor unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light management system for controlling a load circuit is disclosed. The system preferably comprises a switch unit with a momentary switch for manually controlling the load circuit, a night light to provide low-level or reduced room lighting from the switch unit and a motion sensor for sensing motion from the switch unit. The motion sensor is configured to automatically control the load circuit and/or the night light based on detected motion. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the load circuit operates a room lighting system, the light unit comprises light emitting diodes to provide the low-level light. The switch unit is preferably programmable to customized modes of operation to suit a wide range of applications. In yet further embodiments of the invention, the system comprises a light sensor for controlling the load circuit or the night light in response to a level of detected room lighting.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A switch unit for coupling to a load circuit, the switch unit comprising:
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a. a switch for manually opening and closing the load circuit;
b. a night light unit integral with the switch unit and configured to emit light output for a selectable duration of time in response to placing the switch in an opened position; and
c. a motion sensor unit integral with the switch unit and configured to control the light output from the night light unit in response to a level of detected motion from the motion sensor unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A light control unit for electrically coupling to a load circuit with a light, the light control unit comprising:
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a. a switch integral with the light control unit for manually controlling an electrical load through the load circuit;
b. a night light unit configured to respond to the electrical load, wherein the night light unit emits light from the switch when the load circuit is placed in an opened position; and
c. a motion sensor unit for automatically controlling the night light unit in response to detected motion, wherein the night light unit and the motion sensor unit are integrated into the switch. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A light management system comprising:
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a. means for manually controlling a primary light source to turn on and off, wherein the means for manually controlling the primary light source comprises a switch unit with a switch, wherein the switch unit is configured for coupling to an electrical wall receptacle;
b. means for providing a secondary light source that emits light from the switch unit when the primary light source is off; and
c. means for automatically controlling the secondary light source in response to detected motion and detected light levels. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of controlling lighting comprising:
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a. monitoring motion in an area with a motion detector that is integrated with a wall mounted light switch, wherein the light switch is configured to manually turn a primary light source on and off; and
b. controlling a level of emitted light from a secondary light source integral with the wall mounted light switch in response to a level of motion detected from a motion sensor integral with the wall mounted light switch wherein the secondary light source automatically turns on when the primary light source is manually turned off with the wall mounted light switch. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of making a wall mounted light controller comprising:
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a. integrating a night light and a motion sensor unit into a momentary light switch; and
b. coupling the night light and the motion sensor unit and light switch to a microprocessor, wherein the night light is programmed to turn on to emit light and turn off after a programmed delay of time when the light switch is placed in an off position and turned on to emit light when the motion sensor unit detects motion. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A switch unit for coupling to a load circuit through a wall receptacle, the switch unit comprising:
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a. a switch for manually opening and closing the load circuit;
b. a night light unit configured to emit light output for a programmable time when the switch is in an opened position; and
c. means for controlling a level of the light output from the night light with the switch in the opened position in response to a level of detected motion, wherein the night light unit and the means for controlling light output from the night light are integrated into the switch. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification