Switching module and switching synchronization system

• US 8,711,131 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Yun, Sang Kyeong, Kim, Chang Seob, Park, Jung Hwan, Kwag, Heui Sam, Cho, Ho Chan
• Primary Examiner(s): SHENG, TOM V
• Application Number:
  US13/074,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20110234555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 345/76, 345/82, 345/204, 362/3, 362/85, 362/227, 340/426.13, 340/426.14, 340/426.15
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

There are provided a switching module and a switching synchronization system. The switching module includes a plurality of first to n-th switching modules according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein each of the first to n-th switching modules includes: a button unit that includes a plurality of switching buttons; a state display unit that includes a plurality of display lamps corresponding to each of the plurality of switching buttons in the button unit; a switch controller that controls the operation of the state display unit according to the operation of each of the plurality of switching buttons in the button unit; and a switch communication unit that transmits the wireless switching control signal including the switching control and provides the switching control signals included in the wireless switching control signals received to the switch controller.

Claims

1. A switching module including a plurality of first to n-th switching modules, wherein each of the first to n-th switching modules includes:

a button unit including a plurality of switching buttons capable of operating lamps for each of a plurality of zones in which a plurality of lamps are previously divided for each region;

a state display unit including a plurality of display lamps corresponding to each of the plurality of switching buttons in the button unit, each of the plurality of display lamps displaying an operational state of the corresponding switching buttons;

a switch controller configured to control an operation of the state display unit according to an operation of each of the plurality of switching buttons in the button unit, generate switching control signals including operational information on each of the plurality of switching buttons to control transmission of the switching control signals, and control the operation of the state display unit according to the operational information included in received switching control signals; and

a switch communication unit configured to generate wireless switching control signals according to a predetermined applicable communications protocol, transmit the wireless switching control signals including the switching control signals generated from the switch controller, and provide the switching control signals included in the wireless switching control signals received according to the applicable communications protocol to the switch controller.

2. The switching module of claim 1, wherein the button unit includes:

a plurality of zone buttons corresponding to each of the plurality of zones;

program buttons corresponding to the plurality of predetermined zones; and

a plurality of functional buttons corresponding to each of the plurality of functions.

3. The switching module of claim 2, wherein the state display unit includes:

a plurality of zone display lamps corresponding to the plurality of zone buttons;

program display lamps corresponding to the program buttons; and

a plurality of function display lamps corresponding to the plurality of functional buttons.

4. The switching module of claim 1, wherein the wireless switching control signal includes information that has at least one of a number of zones, a zone number, and state information related to an on/off state of a lamp and a lamp brightness.

5. A switching synchronization system, comprising:

a lamp part including a plurality of first to n-th lamp modules, each of the plurality of first to n-th lamp modules including a lamp unit that includes a plurality of lamps included in a predetermined corresponding zone and a control circuit unit that controls an operation of a plurality of lamps in the lamp unit according to received wireless switching control signals; and

a switch part including a plurality of first to n-th switching modules capable of operating lamps for each of a plurality of zones of the lamp part, each of the first to n-th switching modules configured to transmit and receive wireless switching control signals including operational information of a plurality of switching buttons according to a predetermined applicable communications protocol, and perform switching synchronization according to the operational information,

wherein each of the first to n-th switching modules includes a state display unit including a plurality of display lamps in a one to one correspondence with each of the plurality of switching buttons, each of the plurality of display lamps providing notification that a corresponding switching button is selected.

6. A switching synchronization system, comprising:

a lamp part including a plurality of first to n-th lamp modules, each of the plurality of first to n-th lamp modules including a lamp unit that includes a plurality of lamps included in a predetermined corresponding zone and a control circuit unit that controls an operation of a plurality of lamps in the lamp unit according to received wireless switching control signals; and

a switch part including a plurality of first to n-th switching modules capable of operating lamps for each of a plurality of zones of the lamp part, each of the first to n-th switching modules configured to transmit and receive wireless switching control signals including operational information of a plurality of switching buttons according to a predetermined applicable communications protocol, and perform switching synchronization according to the operational information,

wherein each of the first to n-th switching modules further includes;

a button unit including the plurality of switching buttons capable of operating lamps for each of a plurality of zones in which a plurality of lamps are previously divided for each region;

a state display unit that includes a plurality of display lamps corresponding to each of the plurality of switching buttons in the button unit, each of the plurality of display lamp displaying the operational state of the corresponding switching buttons;

a switch controller configured to control an operation of the state display unit according to an operation of each of the plurality of switching buttons in the button unit, generate switching control signals including operational information on each of the plurality of switching buttons to control transmission of the switching control signals, and control the operation of the state display unit according to the operational information included in received switching control signals; and

a switch communication unit configured to generate the wireless switching control signals according to a predetermined applicable communications protocol, transmit the wireless switching control signals including the switching control signals generated from the switch controller, and provide the switching control signals included in the wireless switching control signals received according to the applicable communications protocol to the switch controller.

7. The switching synchronization system of claim 6, wherein the button unit includes:

a plurality of zone buttons corresponding to each of the plurality of zones;

program buttons corresponding to the plurality of predetermined zones; and

a plurality of functional buttons corresponding to each of the plurality of functions.

8. The switching synchronization system of claim 7, wherein the state display unit includes:

a plurality of zone display lamps corresponding to the plurality of zone buttons;

program display lamps corresponding to the program buttons; and

a plurality of function display lamps corresponding to the plurality of functional buttons.

9. The switching synchronization system of claim 6, wherein the wireless switching control signal includes information that has at least one of a number of zones, a zone number, and state information related to an on/off state of a lamp and a lamp brightness.