Self-powered, electronic keyed, multifunction switching system

• US 7,161,276 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Face International Corp.
• Original Assignee: Face International Corp.
• Inventors: Face, Bradbury R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty; Tom
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAN MARTIN, JAYDI A
• Application Number:
  US10/972,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20050168108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 310/314, 310/318, 310/330, 341/22, 341/176
• US Class Current: 310/314
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7006 comprising a separate movable contact element for each switch site, all other elements being integrated in layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/02 Piezo element
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/076 Key stroke generating power
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• 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: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers

Abstract

A self-powered switching system using electromechanical generators generates power for activation of a latching relay, switch, solenoid or latch pin. The electromechanical generators comprise electroactive elements that may be mechanically actuated to generate electrical power. The associated signal generation circuitry may be coupled to a transmitter for sending RF signals to a receiver which actuates the latching relay. The use of mechanically activated membrane switches on the deflector or on a keypad allows multiple code sequences to be generated for activating electrical appliances or an electromechanical locking system.

Claims

1. A self-powered multifunction switching system, comprising:

an electroactive transducer having first and second ends, said electroactive transducer comprising;

a first electroactive member having opposing first and second electroded major faces and first and second ends;

a flexible substrate bonded to said second major face of said first electroactive member;

said flexible substrate having first and second ends adjacent said first and second ends of said first electroactive member;

wherein said electroactive transducer is adapted to deform from a first position to a second position upon application of a force to said electroactive transducer;

and wherein said electroactive transducer is adapted to return to said first position from said second position upon release of said force from said electroactive transducer;

and wherein upon said deformation from said first position to second position, said electroactive transducer generates a first voltage potential between said first electroded major face and said second electroded major face;

and wherein upon said return from said first position to second position, said electroactive transducer generates a second voltage potential between said first electroded major face and said second electroded major face;

a mounting member for retaining said electroactive transducer,

said mounting member comprising at least one retaining means adjacent said first end, said second end or said first and second ends of said flexible substrate of said first electroactive member;

mechanical deflection means for application of a force to said electroactive transducer, said mechanical deflection means being adapted to apply a force sufficient to deform said electroactive transducer from said first position to said second position, thereby generating a first voltage potential;

a first conductor electrically connected to said first electroded major face of said first electroactive member;

a second conductor electrically connected to said second electroded major face of said first electroactive member;

at least one mechanically activated switch comprising a third conductor, and fourth conductor and a shorting contact;

said at least one mechanically activated switch being mechanical attached to said mechanical deflection means;

said at least one mechanically activated switch being adapted to electrically connect said third conductor to said fourth conductor with said shorting contact upon pressing said at least one mechanically activated switch and said mechanical deflection means;

a rectifier having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said rectifier being electrically connected between said first and second conductors in parallel with said first and second electroded major faces of said electroactive transducer;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said output side of said rectifier;

a logic component, said logic component comprising an encoder having an input and an output side, said output side of said voltage regulator being connected to said input side of said encoder;

said encoder being adapted to generate at least one coded waveform;

said third and fourth conductors of said at least one mechanically activated switch being connected between said output side of said voltage regulator and said input side of said encoder;

an output signal at said output side of said encoder being an electrical signal having one of said at least one coded waveforms;

first signal transmission means electrically connected to said output side of said encoder;

said first signal transmission means comprising a first radio frequency generator subcircuit connected to an antenna;

said radio-frequency generator subcircuit being adapted to generate a first radio-frequency signal modulated by said output signal of said encoder for transmission by said antenna;

signal reception means for receiving a first signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means;

said signal reception means being adapted to generate a relay signal in response to said first signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means; and

a relay device for operating an electrical device;

said relay device being in communication with said signal reception means;

said relay device having a plurality of positions, each of said positions in said plurality of positions corresponding to an operating mode of said electrical device

said relay device being adapted to change between a first position to a second position in said plurality of positions in response to said relay signal.

2. A self-powered multifunction switching system according to claim 1:

wherein said encoder is adapted to be programmable to generate at least one coded waveform, said coded waveform being selectable from at least 8-bit combinations of binary codes.

3. A self-powered multifunction switching system according to claim 1:

wherein upon said deformation and return between said first position and second position, said electroactive transducer is adapted to generate an oscillating electrical potential between said first electroded major face and said second electroded major face of said electroactive transducer.

4. A self-powered multifunction switching system according to claim 1, wherein said first signal reception means further comprises:

a memory for storage of said at least one coded waveform modulated onto first radio-frequency signal by said encoder.

5. A self-powered switching system according to claim 4, wherein said first signal reception means further comprises:

comparator means electrically connected to said memory,

said comparator means being adapted to compare said at least one coded waveform modulated onto said first signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means to said at least one coded waveform stored in said memory;

said comparator means being adapted to generate said relay signal in response to said first signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means only when said at least one coded waveform modulated onto said first signal matches said at least one coded waveform stored in said memory.

6. A self-powered multifunction switching system according to claim 1:

wherein said encoder is adapted to generate a first coded waveform upon pressing a first mechanically activated switch;

and wherein said encoder is adapted to generate a second coded waveform different from said first coded waveform upon pressing a second mechanically activated switch.

7. A self-powered multifunction switching system according to claim 1:

wherein said encoder is adapted to generate a first coded waveform upon pressing a first mechanically activated switch;

and wherein said encoder is adapted to generate a second coded waveform different from said first coded waveform upon pressing said mechanical deflection means and not on said first mechanically activated switch.

8. A self-powered multifunction switching system according to claim 1:

wherein said relay signal is selected from the group of electrical device operation modes comprising;

on, off, toggle, dim, brighten, speed up, slow down, lock, unlock, activate and reset.

9. A self-powered multifunction switching system according to claim 8:

wherein said relay device is selected from the group of electrical device operators comprising;

a light switch, a dimmer, an electrical appliance power source, a security system, a motor controller, a solenoid, a piezoelectric transducer and a latching pin for a locking system.

10. A self-powered multifunction switching system, comprising:

an electroactive transducer having first and second ends, said electroactive transducer comprising;

a first electroactive member having opposing first and second electroded major faces and first and second ends;

a flexible substrate bonded to said second major face of said first electroactive member;

said flexible substrate having first and second ends adjacent said first and

second ends of said first electroactive member;

wherein said electroactive transducer is adapted to deform from a first position to a second position upon application of a force to said electroactive transducer;

and wherein said electroactive transducer is adapted to return to said first position from said second position upon release of said force from said electroactive transducer;

and wherein upon said deformation from said first position to second position, said electroactive transducer generates a first voltage potential between said first electroded major face and said second electroded major face;

and wherein upon said return from said first position to second position, said electroactive transducer generates a second voltage potential between said first electroded major face and said second electroded major face;

a mounting member for retaining said electroactive transducer;

said mounting member comprising at least one retaining means adjacent said first end, said second end or said first and second ends of said flexible substrate of said first electroactive member,

mechanical deflection means for application of a force to said electroactive transducer, said mechanical deflection means being adapted to apply a force sufficient to deform said electroactive transducer from said first position to said second position, thereby generating a first voltage potential;

a first conductor electrically connected to said first electroded major face of said first electroactive member;

a second conductor electrically connected to said second electroded major face of said first electroactive member;

a keypad comprising a multiplicity of mechanically activated switches, wherein each of said mechanically activated switches comprises a first switch conductor, and a second switch conductor and a shorting contact;

said keypad being mechanical attached to said mechanical deflection means;

each of said mechanically activated switches being adapted to electrically connect said first switch conductor to said second switch conductor with said shorting contact upon pressing said mechanically activated switch and said mechanical deflection means;

a rectifier having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said rectifier being electrically connected between said first and second conductors in parallel with said first and second electroded major faces of said electroactive transducer;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said output side of said rectifier;

a logic component having a power connection, a multiplicity of input connections and an output side, said output side of said voltage regulator being connected to said power connection of said logic component;

each of said mechanically activated switches in said multiplicity of mechanically activated switches being electrically connected to a separate input connection in said multiplicity of input connections of said logic component;

said logic component being adapted to generate a switching signal at said output side in response to the closing of at least one mechanically activated switch connected to an input connection of said logic component;

a switch having a first side and a second side;

said first side of said switch being electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said switch being electrically connected to said output side of said logic component;

said switch being adapted to close upon said generation of said switching signal at said output side of said logic component;

said keypad being mechanical attached to said mechanical deflection means;

each of said mechanically activated switches being adapted to electrically connect said first switch conductor to said second switch conductor with said shorting contact upon pressing said mechanically activated switch and said mechanical deflection means;

a rectifier having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said rectifier being electrically connected between said first and second conductors in parallel with said first and second electroded major faces of said electroactive transducer;

a voltage regulator having an input side and an output side;

said input side of said voltage regulator being electrically connected to said output side of said rectifier;

a logic component having a power connection, a multiplicity of input connections and an output side, said output side of said voltage regulator being connected to said power connection of said logic component;

each of said mechanically activated switches in said multiplicity of mechanically activated switches being electrically connected to a separate input connection in said multiplicity of input connections of said logic component;

said logic component being adapted to generate a switching signal at said output side in response to the closing of at least one mechanically activated switch connected to an input connection of said logic component;

a switch having a first side and a second side;

said first side of said switch being electrically connected to said output side of said voltage regulator;

said switch being electrically connected to said output side of said logic component;

said switch being adapted to close upon said generation of said switching signal at said output side of said logic component;

signal transmission means electrically connected to said second side of said switch;

said signal transmission means being adapted to generate a first signal in response to said closing of said switch;

a relay device for operating an electrical device;

said relay device being in communication with said signal transmission means;

said relay device having a plurality of positions, each of said positions in said plurality of positions corresponding to an operating mode of said electrical device;

said relay device being adapted to change between a first position to a second position in said plurality of positions in response to said first signal from said signal transmission means.

11. The self-powered multifunction switching system of claim 10, wherein said signal transmission means comprises:

a third electrical conductor connected between said second side of said switch and an input to said relay device.

12. The self-powered multifunction switching system of claim 10, wherein said signal transmission means comprises:

a radio frequency generator subcircuit connected to an antenna;

said radio-frequency generator subcircuit being adapted to generate a first radio-frequency signal;

signal reception means for receiving a first signal transmitted by said first signal transmission means;

said signal reception means being adapted to generate a relay signal in response to said first radio frequency signal;

said signal reception means being electrically connected to said relay device;

said relay device being adapted to change between a first position to a second position in said plurality of positions in response to said relay signal.

13. The self-powered multifunction switching system of claim 12, wherein said signal transmission means comprises:

an encoder electrically connected between said second side of said switch and an input side of said radio frequency generator subcircuit;

said encoder being adapted to generate a coded output signal;

wherein said radio frequency generator subcircuit is adapted to generate a first radio frequency signal modulated by said output signal of said encoder.

14. The self-powered multifunction switching system of claim 10, wherein said logic component is programmable to generate a switching signal at said output side of said logic component only in response to the closing of at least two mechanically activated switches connected to said input connections of said logic component in a specific sequence programmed into said logic component.