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Three-way switch for home automation apparatus and method

  • US 8,373,313 B2
  • Filed: 06/15/2010
  • Issued: 02/12/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2009
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A remotely-controllable electrical switch, comprising:

  • a housing having an outer envelope configuration compliant with standards for premises electrical power control devices;

    a plurality of electrical terminals configured to attach to premises electrical wiring multi-ampere power conductors;

    a first single-pole, single-throw relay and a second single-pole, single-throw relay, each configured to conduct multi-ampere electrical power from a common terminal of the plurality of terminals whereto first respective contacts of both of the relays are connected, to respective first and second runner terminals of the plurality of terminals, to each of which a second contact of one of the respective relays is connected, in response to application of an energization signal to an actuation element of one of the respective relays;

    a controller having a circuit switching routine that issues a relay deactuation command to deactuate a heretofore-actuated one of the respective relays and, thereafter, a relay actuation command to actuate a heretofore-deactuated one of the respective relays;

    a first counter function configured to acquire a first clock-based count value corresponding to a time interval between successive zero crossings or between successive zero crossings of like polarization;

    a second counter function configured to use the first count value as a basis for generating a count-based anticipated zero crossing time signal; and

    a relay transfer start function configured to initiate transfer from continuous actuation of the first relay to actuation of the second relay in response to the anticipated zero crossing time signal.

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