Wall mounted programmable timer system

• US 8,050,145 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Lombardi, Alfred, Tansi Glickman, Selin, Ostrovsky, Michael, Samartano, Cheryl
• Primary Examiner(s): MISKA, VIT W
• Application Number:
  US12/037,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20090213698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368107-109, 174 53- 55, 174 66- 67, 200/5.R, 200/5.A, 200/5.E, 200/33.R, 200/35.R, 200/37.R, 200308-310, 200/313, 307/140, 307/141, 307/141.4, 340/309.16, 3403094-3098, 439/535, 439/536
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 23/08 Programming means
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 23/42 acting only at the end of a single time interval
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 23/44 with provision for selection from a number of preset intervals
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 23/46 with provision for adjustment of the interval G04C23/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/005 using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 5/002 brought into action by radio
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/00 Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 43/04 Means for time setting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A timing device is disclosed which is for controlling electronic devices and which is mounted in a wall switch box. This timing device comprises at least one controller, at least one transceiver in communication with the controller, at least one interface; and at least one cover plate. This device can also include at least one key coupled to the cover plate for interacting with the interface when said cover plate is inserted onto said at least one interface.

Claims

1. An electrical wallbox mountable self-programmable timer for controlling an electrical load, the timer comprising:

a) a housing adapted to be mounted within the electrical wall box;

b) a controller disposed within said housing

c) at least one interface in communication with said controller; and

d) a cover plate configured to be removably mounted to said housing, said cover plate further comprising a plurality of buttons configured to change timer setting for the timer, and a key formed integral with said cover plate, said key being arranged and configured to interact with said interface;

wherein when said key contacts said interface said at least one interface sends instructions to said at least one controller to carry out a predetermined set of instructions to change said timer settings for at least one of said plurality of buttons.

2. The timer as in claim 1, wherein said cover plate further comprises at least one extension member, extending from an inside face of said cover plate, wherein said key is coupled to said at least one extension member.

3. The timer as in claim 2, further comprising at least one indicator, wherein said at least one indicator is in the form of at least one light having a light pipe coupled to said at least one light.

4. The timer as in claim 1, wherein said at least one interface has at least one electrical contact such that when said at least one electrical contact is contacted by said key, said at least one electrical contact sends at least one signal to said at least one controller to set an amount of timer settings.

5. The timer as in claim 1 wherein said at least one interface has at least one electrical contact such that when said at least one electrical contact is contacted by said key, said at least one electrical contact sends at least one signal to said at least one controller to set at least one predetermined time for a timer setting.

6. The timer as in claim 1, wherein said at least one interface has at least one electrical contact such that when said at least one electrical contact is contacted by said key, said at least one electrical contact sends at least one signal to said at least one controller to set a number of timer settings, and to set at least one predetermined time for at least one of said timer settings.

7. The timer as in claim 1, further comprising at least one transceiver, and at least one housing which houses said at least one controller, said at least one transceiver, and said at least one interface, and wherein the timer further comprises at least one additional interface coupled to the housing.

8. The timer as in claim 7, further comprising at least one remote control, wherein said at least one remote control is in communication with said at least one transceiver, wherein said at least one remote control further comprises at least one button for setting at least one time for at least one timer setting.

9. The timer as in claim 8, wherein said at least one additional interface includes at least one actuator in communication with said controller.

10. The timer as in claim 9, wherein said at least one actuator is in communication with at least one of the following elements:

at least one rocker button;

at least one dimmer button;

at least one push button, and at least one touch pad.

11. The timer as in claim 1, wherein said at least one cover plate is configured to cover said at least one interface, when said at least one cover plate is mounted on said housing.

12. A process for setting a controller for electrical devices comprising the following steps:

a) determining a number of desired settings for control;

b) setting a predetermined number of controller settings based upon a number of indicators by using a cover plate, an extension member coupled to an inside face of said cover plate and a key coupled to said extension member, said key for interacting with the controller; and

c) setting individual settings for at least one of said predetermined number of controller settings such that each individual setting has at least one corresponding indicator of said number of indicators.

13. The process as in claim 12, wherein said predetermined number of controller settings are timer settings that are programmable and settable at a plurality of different times, wherein for at least one indicator of said indicators, a time is set for that associated indicator.

14. The process as in claim 12, wherein said step of setting a predetermined number of controller settings comprises inserting a key into an interface which program the controller to set said predetermined number of controller settings.

15. The process as in claim 14, wherein said step of inserting said key into said interface comprises inserting a cover plate into a housing of the timer wherein said key is coupled to said cover plate and thereby inserts into said interface to set at least one timer time for a timer setting.

16. The process as in claim 15, further comprising the step of wirelessly transmitting signals from a remote control to the controller to modify said at least one timer time.

17. The process as in claim 12, further comprising the step of wirelessly transmitting signals from a remote control the controller to set a predetermined number of timer settings.

18. The process as in claim 15, further comprising the step of setting at least one timer time using the interface comprising at least one button disposed on the housing of the timer.

19. The process as in claim 17, further comprising the step of setting at least one timer time using the interface comprising at least one button disposed on the housing of the timer.

20. The process as in claim 19, wherein said step of setting at least one timer time includes pressing and holding at least two buttons on the interface including an on/off button and at least one of a plurality of buttons taken from the group consisting of a dimmer button and a paddle button.

21. The process as in claim 20, further comprising the step of cycling through a plurality of different programming modes by pressing on at least two buttons including the on/off button and the paddle button.

22. The process as in claim 21, further comprising the step of displaying a particular programming mode by selectively blinking at least one light associated with said on/off button.

23. A timer device for controlling electronic devices and mounted in a wall switch box comprising:

a) a housing in the form of a single gang electrical enclosure;

b) at least one controller disposed in said housing;

c) at least one memory disposed in said housing and in communication with said at least one controller, said memory disposed to store a number of settings, a set of values for each setting and controller instructions for said at least one controller;

d) at least one transceiver disposed in said housing and in communication with said at least one controller;

e) at least one cover plate coupled to said housing;

f) a first interface coupled to said housing, and adjacent to said at least one cover plate;

g) at least one key coupled to said at least one cover plate for interacting with said first interface when said cover plate is inserted onto said first interface;

h) a second interface coupled to said housing;

i) at least one indicator comprising a plurality of lights; and

wherein said first interface has at least one contact such that when said at least one contact is contacted by said at least one key, said at least one contact sends a signal to said at least one controller to set said amount of timer settings, and wherein said at least one transceiver is disposed to receiving signals from a remote control to change said amount of timer settings, and to set said times for said timer settings via communication with said at least one controller.

24. The timer device as in claim 23, wherein said at least one cover plate is adapted to receive said at least one indicator, so that said at least one cover plate does not cover said at least one indicator.

25. The timer device as in claim 23, wherein said at least one indicator is in the form of at least one light wherein said cover plate is adapted so that it covers at least one of said at least one light.

26. A timer for controlling electronic devices and mounted in a wall switch box comprising:

a) a housing

b) at least one controller disposed in said housing;

c) at least one memory in communication with said at least one controller;

d) at least one wireless communication system coupled to said controller;

e) at least one removable cover plate which is insertable and removable from said housing, said removable cover plate having at least one extension member, extending from an inside face of said cover plate,

f) at least one remote control, for programming a set of controller settings in the timer which are stored in said at least one memory;

g) at least one light array disposed in said housing, said light array comprising a plurality of lights coupled to said housing;

h) at least one interface coupled to said housing, said interface comprising a plurality of actuators, wherein said at least one removable cover plate covers at least one of said actuators in said at least one interface; and

i) at least one key wherein said at least one key is coupled to said at least one extension member wherein said at least one key is configured to interact with said at least one interface to program a plurality of timer settings when said at least one cover plate is inserted into said housing.