Interactive appliances, appliance systems and appliance control methods, and controls therefor
First Claim
1. A light fixture comprising:
- a light,a housing that houses the light, and a control circuit comprising;
an occupancy sensor,a control signal receiver,a control signal transmitter operatively connected to the occupancy sensor,a control element operatively connected to the occupancy sensor and to the control signal receiver, andan output from the control element, the output wired between the light and a source of power,wherein the control element controls the output to control power from the source of power to the light upon occupancy sensed by the occupancy sensor,wherein the control element controls the output upon wireless receipt of a first control signal by the control signal receiver, andwherein the control signal transmitter wirelessly transmits a second control signal upon occupancy sensed by the occupancy sensor, wherein the second control signal is the same as the first control signal in that the first control signal and the second control signal have a single format providing a same message that causes the control element to control the output, the single format being an uncoded signal format at a specified frequency of transmission.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An appliance control circuit has an occupancy sensor, a control signal receiver, a control signal transmitter, a control element, and a power supply. In operation, when the occupancy sensor senses an occupant, the occupancy sensor outputs a signal to cause the control element 9 to control power from the source of power to the appliance. Similarly, when a control signal is received by the control signal receiver the receiver outputs a signal to cause the control element to control power from the source of power to the appliance. At the same time, the control signal transmitter is activated based on the signal from the occupancy sensor. Multiple control circuits can be used to control one another. The appliance could be for example a light, a thermostat, or a camera.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A light fixture comprising:
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a light, a housing that houses the light, and a control circuit comprising; an occupancy sensor, a control signal receiver, a control signal transmitter operatively connected to the occupancy sensor, a control element operatively connected to the occupancy sensor and to the control signal receiver, and an output from the control element, the output wired between the light and a source of power, wherein the control element controls the output to control power from the source of power to the light upon occupancy sensed by the occupancy sensor, wherein the control element controls the output upon wireless receipt of a first control signal by the control signal receiver, and wherein the control signal transmitter wirelessly transmits a second control signal upon occupancy sensed by the occupancy sensor, wherein the second control signal is the same as the first control signal in that the first control signal and the second control signal have a single format providing a same message that causes the control element to control the output, the single format being an uncoded signal format at a specified frequency of transmission. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system comprising:
a plurality of light fixtures, each light fixture comprising; a light, a housing that houses the light, and a control circuit, each control circuit respectively comprising; a) an occupancy sensor, b) a control signal receiver, c) a control signal transmitter operatively connected to the occupancy sensor, d) a control element operatively connected to the occupancy sensor and to the control signal receiver, and e) an output from the control element, the output wired between the light and a source of power, wherein the control element controls the output to control power from the source of power to the light upon occupancy sensed by the occupancy sensor, wherein the control element controls the output upon wireless receipt of a first control signal by the control signal receiver, and wherein the control signal transmitter wirelessly transmits a second control signal upon occupancy sensed by the occupancy sensor, wherein the second control signal is the same as the first control signal in that the first control signal and the second control signal have a single format providing a same message such that receipt by the control receiver would cause the control element to control the output, the single format being an uncoded signal format at a specified frequency of transmission. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating a light fixture, the method comprising the steps of:
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sensing for occupancy using an occupancy sensor in a control circuit, sensing for wireless receipt of a first control signal through a control signal receiver in the control circuit, and if occupancy is sensed or control signals are received then wirelessly transmitting a second control signal through a control signal transmitter in the control circuit and providing an output from the control circuit to control a light in a housing of the light fixture, wherein the second control signal is the same as the first control signal in that the first control signal and the second control signal have a single format providing a same message such that receipt by the control receiver would cause the control element to control the output, the single format being an uncoded signal format at a specified frequency of transmission.
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Specification