System for light and appliance remote control
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- an electrical power control unit residing in a light bulb and at least one miniature remote controller;
the electrical power control unit comprising;
a radio receiver configured to receive wireless command signals transmitted by the remote controller;
an electrical interface configured to interface to driver circuitry within the light bulb;
a processor connected to the radio receiver and to the electrical interface, wherein the processor is configured to evaluate commands contained in received wireless command signals in order to generate control signals that are configured to control light output of the light bulb as a dimmer function and on/off function; and
a non-volatile memory configured to store up to at least four identification codes, each identification code associated with a corresponding miniature remote controller and contained in commands received from the corresponding miniature remote controller;
wherein the processor is responsive to, and only to, wireless commands from miniature remote controllers, if any, for which an enabled identification code is present in the non-volatile memory, and said processor is configured to add and to disable identification codes of miniature remote controllers in the non-volatile memory solely in response to wireless command signals received from those miniature remote controllers and without any physical action taken by the user on the light bulb;
the miniature remote controller comprising;
a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface;
said top surface of said housing configured to include at least one but no more than three distinct finger actuation points; and
,said bottom surface of said housing configured to include an attachment device configured to removably mount the miniature remote controller to a larger object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for remote control of lights and small appliances utilizing miniature remote control units, and a method for easily and simply setting which remote controls control which item(s). Unlike conventional remote controls which are moved from place to place, these miniature remote controls are so small they may be removably mounted at each location needed, unobtrusively or even hidden. Receivers for the remote signal are described manufactured within a lamp socket assembly, a very short light bulb socket adapter, the light bulb itself, a wallswitch dimmer and an outlet adapter. One remote control can control multiple receivers, or vice versa, or any other combination, without conflict and with the combination set up or changed more intuitively than in completing systems. Appliances may be turned on or off and lights may be dimmed precisely or set flashing in unison to summon help.
95 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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an electrical power control unit residing in a light bulb and at least one miniature remote controller; the electrical power control unit comprising; a radio receiver configured to receive wireless command signals transmitted by the remote controller; an electrical interface configured to interface to driver circuitry within the light bulb; a processor connected to the radio receiver and to the electrical interface, wherein the processor is configured to evaluate commands contained in received wireless command signals in order to generate control signals that are configured to control light output of the light bulb as a dimmer function and on/off function; and a non-volatile memory configured to store up to at least four identification codes, each identification code associated with a corresponding miniature remote controller and contained in commands received from the corresponding miniature remote controller; wherein the processor is responsive to, and only to, wireless commands from miniature remote controllers, if any, for which an enabled identification code is present in the non-volatile memory, and said processor is configured to add and to disable identification codes of miniature remote controllers in the non-volatile memory solely in response to wireless command signals received from those miniature remote controllers and without any physical action taken by the user on the light bulb; the miniature remote controller comprising; a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface; said top surface of said housing configured to include at least one but no more than three distinct finger actuation points; and
,said bottom surface of said housing configured to include an attachment device configured to removably mount the miniature remote controller to a larger object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electrical power control unit residing in a lamp socket assembly, comprising:
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a radio receiver configured to receive wireless command signals transmitted by at least one remote controller; driver circuitry within the lamp socket assembly configured to power at least one contact of a socket in the lamp socket assembly and thereby energize a light bulb seated in the socket; an electrical interface to the driver circuitry; and a processor connected to the radio receiver and to the electrical interface, wherein the processor is configured to evaluate commands contained in received wireless command signals in order to generate control signals that are configured to control power to the socket in the lamp socket assembly as a dimmer function and on/off function. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A lamp socket assembly comprising:
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a lamp socket; an outer casing, at least part of which is symmetric with respect to rotation about an axis of the lamp socket; a single user control in the form of a ring overlying and completely encircling the cylindrically symmetric part of the casing, said ring being at least partially rotatable about the axis in at least one direction; and electrical circuitry configured to supply electric power to the lamp socket and responsive to user rotation of the control ring to control electric power to the lamp socket.
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22. A system comprising:
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an electrical power control unit residing in a permanently-mounted wall dimmer switch and at least one miniature remote controller, the electrical power control unit comprising; a radio receiver configured to receive wireless command signals transmitted by the miniature remote controller; driver circuitry within the wall dimmer switch configured to power at least one light source via in-wall wiring; an electrical interface to the driver circuitry; a processor connected to the radio receiver and to the electrical interface, wherein the processor is configured to evaluate commands contained in received wireless command signals in order to control the light output of the light source(s) as a dimmer function and on/off function; and a non-volatile memory configured to store up to at least four identification codes, each identification code associated with a corresponding miniature remote controller and contained in commands received from the corresponding miniature remote controller;
wherein the processor is responsive to, and only to, wireless commands from miniature remote controllers, if any, for which an enabled identification code is present in the non-volatile memory, and said processor is configured to add and to disable identification codes of miniature remote controllers in the non-volatile memory solely in response to wireless command signals received from those miniature remote controllers and without any physical action taken by the user on the wall dimmer switch;the miniature remote controller comprising; a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface; said top surface of said housing configured to include at least one but no more than three distinct finger actuation points; and
,said bottom surface of said housing configured to include an attachment device to removably mount the miniature remote controller to a larger object. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system comprising:
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an electrical power control unit residing in an outlet-to-outlet adapter and at least one miniature remote controller; the electrical power control unit comprising; a radio receiver configured to receive wireless command signals transmitted by a miniature remote controller; driver circuitry within the outlet adapter configured to power at least one outlet of the outlet adapter; an electrical interface to the driver circuitry; a processor connected to the radio receiver and to the electrical interface, wherein the processor is configured to evaluate commands contained in received wireless command signals in order to control electrical power to the outlet; and a non-volatile memory configured to store up to at least four identification codes, each identification code associated with a corresponding miniature remote controller and contained in commands received from the corresponding miniature remote controller; wherein the processor is responsive to, and only to, wireless commands from miniature remote controllers, if any, for which an enabled identification code is present in the non-volatile memory, and said processor is configured to add and to disable identification codes of miniature remote controllers in the non-volatile memory solely in response to wireless command signals received from those miniature remote controllers and without any physical action taken by the user on the outlet adapter; the miniature remote controller comprising; a housing having a top surface and a bottom surface; said top surface of said housing configured to include at least one but no more than three distinct finger actuation points; and
,said bottom surface of said housing configured to include an attachment device to removably mount the miniature remote controller to a larger object. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification