Remotely controllable switch for incorporating in a wall socket

• US 7,888,823 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coco International B.V.
• Original Assignee: ICOMM Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Den Ridder, Franciscus Petrus
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US10/591,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20070278964A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,178 Days
• Field of Search: 307/40, 307/139, 307/140, 307/116
• US Class Current: 307/140
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

The invention relates to a remotely controllable switch unit for switching the mains inside an electrical installation, wherein the switch unit comprises an electrically controllable switch, a control circuit for controlling the switch, a receiver coupled to the control circuit for receiving wireless signals, wherein the switch unit is adapted for mounting in a housing of a wall socket. As a result of these measures it is no longer necessary to place a separate unit between the wall socket and the plug for connecting thereto. The appearance of an electrical installation is hereby improved. Relative to the “bus” system and similar devices, the advantage results that arranging of such a switch unit can take place in particularly simple manner; no changes need after all be made to the wiring of the electrical installation.

Claims

1. A remotely controllable switch unit for switching the mains inside an electrical installation, wherein the switch unit comprises:

an electrically controllable switch;

a control circuit for controlling the switch; and

a receiver coupled to the control circuit for receiving wireless signals, wherein the switch unit is adapted for mounting in a housing of a wall socket and is provided with a female part of the wall socket such that the wall socket is configured to receive a plug of an electrical device and wherein the switch unit is provided with a dimmer and wherein the control circuit is adapted to sense the nature of a load connected to the female part of the wall socket and to block the dimming function when the load is not substantially formed by a resistance.

2. The switch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the depth of the switch unit is smaller than 32 mm.

3. The switch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch unit is combined with a flush-mounted box, and that the maximum depth of the switch unit is at least 8 mm smaller than the maximum depth of the flush-mounted box.

4. The switch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch unit is provided with an operating element of usual type for operating the switch.

5. The switch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch unit is provided with an on/off switch.

6. The switch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch unit comprises a transmitter connected to the control circuit and that the switch unit is adapted to function as a junction in a network of transmitters/receivers.

7. The switch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein an operating element is arranged on the switch unit for operating at least the switch.

8. The switch unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein a signal light source comes on when the switch unit is switched on.

9. The switch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch unit comprises at least one printed circuit board on which a number of components are placed, and that the printed circuit board extends parallel to the mounting surface of the housing.

10. The switch unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the printed circuit boards extends over substantially the whole surface area of the housing, but is provided with a recess.

11. The switch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch unit comprises a contact carrier which is manufactured from insulating material and on which contacts are arranged for the pins of the male plug and on which terminals are arranged for connecting the contacts to wires, and wherein at least one of the connections between contact and terminals is interrupted.

12. The switch unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the contact carrier is formed by a housing manufactured from plastic and having a substantially cylindrical part and a mounting flange.

13. The switch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch unit comprises a power supply circuit which is adapted to connect a capacitor to the mains for only a short period of time after the zero passage of the mains.

14. The switch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch unit comprises a relay for switching the connection between one of the contacts and one of the terminals.

15. The switch unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control circuit is adapted to transmit a signal representing the measured power to another element of the network.

16. The switch unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch unit is adapted to measure the power of the load connected to the switch unit.

17. A remotely controllable switch unit for switching the mains inside an electrical installation, wherein the switch unit comprises:

an electrically controllable switch;

a control circuit for controlling the switch; and

a receiver coupled to the control circuit for receiving wireless signals,

wherein the switch unit is adapted for mounting in a housing of a wall socket configured to receive a plug of an electrical device, and

the switch unit is provided with a dimmer and the control circuit is adapted to sense the nature of a load connected to the wall socket when a plug of an electrical device is coupled thereto and to block the dimming function when the load is not substantially formed by a resistance.