Apparatus for moving the effect of a wall switch from its switched power outlet to a non-switched outlet

• US 7,375,445 B1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Gordon Smith
• Original Assignee: Michael Gordon Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Michael Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry; Michael J
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAVALLARI, DANIEL J
• Application Number:
  US11/112,123
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 307/116, 307/140
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7038 making use of a remote controlled switch, e.g. relais, solid state switch activated by the engagement of the coupling parts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00006 characterised by information or instructions transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated power network element or electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0005 the elements or equipment being or involving power plugs or sockets
• 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 20/00 Management or operation of end-user stationary applications or the last stages of power distribution; Controlling, monitoring or operating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/12 characterised by data transport means between the monitoring, controlling or managing units and monitored, controlled or operated electrical equipment

Abstract

A controller that can move the effect of a wall switch from its associated a controller that can move the effect of a wall switch from its associated switched power outlet socket to any regular (always on) socket by use of a transmitter/receiver paired device located separately in the switched and non-switched power outlets respectively, thus moving the effect of the wall switch without any wiring modifications to the sockets. The invention may use infrared light, ultrasonics, or radio-frequency radiations, or modulations on the power supply within the building such as the X-10 system. The preferred (and prototyped) solution does not require replaceable batteries but instead uses capacitive power storage for use after power has been removed from the transmitter in order to send the “off” signal to the receiver. Both transmitter and receiver use a capacitive power supply.

Claims

1. Apparatus for moving the effect of a wall switch from a switched first power outlet to a non-switched second power outlet comprising:

a receiver having a capacitive circuit power supply being electrically coupleable to a non-switched second outlet;

a transmitter having a capacitive circuit power supply being electrically coupleable to a switched first outlet;

a transmitter control circuit with a first antenna coupleable to the switched first outlet;

a receiver control circuit with a second antenna coupleable to the non-switched second outlet; and

the power supply having a parallel power (L) and neutral (N) lines adapted to couple a 110 volt rms to the transmitter, the lines having an input circuit including at least one diode and at least one capacitor and at least one resistor, the circuit having a power supply point with a resistor and a capacitor and a zener diode in parallel, the power (L) line also having a resistor coupled with a resistor and a capacitor in parallel in advance of a diode, the power (L) line also having a diode between a diode and a capacitor, the power (L) line also including a diode between a capacitor and a zener diode, the also including (L) line also having an associated voltage regulator coupled thereto, the regulator following a zener diode.

2. Apparatus for moving the effect of a wall switch from a switched first power outlet to a non-switched second sower outlet comprising:

a receiver having a capacitive circuit power supply being electrically coupleable to a non-switched second outlet;

a transmitter having a capacitive circuit power supply being electrically coupleable to a switched first outlet;

a transmitter control circuit with a first antenna coupleable to the switched first outlet;

a receiver control circuit with a second antenna coupleable to the non-switched second outlet;

the receiver having an internal circuitry that is electrically coupled to the second outlet of the power supply, the receiver having parallel power (L) and neutral (N) lines configured to couple a 110 volt rms to the receiver circuitry, the lines having an associated input circuit having at least two diodes and at least two capacitors and at least one zener diode, with a diode and a capacitor and a zener diode being oriented in parallel, the input circuit also including in the power (L) line having an associated resistor followed by a resistor and a capacitor in parallel being in advance of a diode, with a diode being in the power (L) line and located between a diode and a capacitor, the power (L) line also having a resistor between a capacitor and the zener diode; and

the transmitter control circuit further includes a Schmitt trigger coupled with a parallel “

on”

monostable oscillator and “

off”

monostable oscillator, and next coupled with an encoder, with the circuit having an associated antenna driver with a first antenna coupled thereto.

3. Apparatus for moving the effect of a wall switch from its switched power outlet to a non-switched outlet to increase the convenience for a person using electrical switches and outlets in a safe and convenient manner comprising, in combination:

an operator controlled wall switch positioned in a room with a first electrical outlet located in the room at a first location and a second outlet located in the room at a second location remote from the first electrical outlet and remote from the wall switch, the first electrical outlet being hardwired to the electrical switch whereby turning off the electrical switch will inactivate the first electrical outlet and turning on the electrical switch will activate the first electrical outlet, the second electrical outlet being activated at all times independent of the orientation of the orientation of the first electrical switch;

a receiver device having a capacitive power supply being electrically coupled to the second outlet, the receiver power supply having a parallel power (L) and neutral (N) lines adapted to couple source of potential to a receiver control circuitry, the lines having an input circuit including a first diode (D1) and a second capacitor (C2) and first a zener diode (ZN1) in parallel, the input circuit also including in the power (L) line a first resistor (R1) followed by a second resistor (R2) and a first capacitor (C1) in parallel and in advance of the first Diode (D1), the input circuit also including in the power (L) line a second diode (D2) between the first Diode (D1) and the second capacitor (C2), the input circuit also including in the power (L) line a third resistor (R3) between the second capacitor (C2) and the first zener diode (ZN1);

a transmitter device having a capacitive transmitter power supply being electrically coupled to the first outlet, the transmitter power supply having a parallel power (L) and neutral (N) lines adapted to couple a source of potential to a transmitter control circuitry, the lines having an input circuit including a third diode (D3) and a capacitor forth (C4) with a series power supply point and an associated sixth resistor (R6), the circuit also including a fifth capacitor (C5) and a zener diode (ZN2) in parallel, the input circuit also including in the power (L) line a forth resistor (R4) followed by a fifth resistor (R5) and a third capacitor (C3) in parallel in advance of the third Diode (D3), the input circuit also including in the power (L) line a forth diode (D4) between the third Diode (D3) and the forth capacitor (C4), the input circuit also including in the power (L) line a fifth diode (D5) between the forth capacitor (C4) and the second zener diode (ZN2), the input circuit also including a voltage regulator in the power (L) line following the second zener diode (ZN2), with the regulator being coupled to the neutral (N) line;

a transmitter control circuit in the transmitter device and including an input point from the capacitive power supply, the input point being coupled with a Schmitt trigger and next coupled with parallel “

on”

monostable oscillator and “

off”

monostable oscillator, next coupled with an encoder, and finally coupled with an antenna driver with a first antenna built-in to a supporting first circuit board; and

a receiver control circuit in the receiver device and including a second antenna built-in to a supporting second circuit board coupled with an antenna amplifier next coupled with a decoder, and then next coupled with an on and off monostable oscillator latch and finally coupled with a power relay, the power relay having input parallel power (L) and neutral (N) lines configured to couple a source of potential to a load at the second outlet.