Electrical communication switch, outlet, companion device, and system
First Claim
1. An electrical switch comprising:
- a user-controlled switch having a plurality of switch leads, one of the switch leads being a user-controlled switch lead output;
a controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output; and
a controller coupled to the user-controlled switch and the controlled switch,wherein the controller is configured to determine a change of state of the user-controlled switch, and upon determining the user-controlled switch has changed state to a new state, to send a first signal to a first device external to the electrical switch,wherein the controller is configured to receive a second signal independent of the user-controlled switch from a second device external to the electrical switch and to change a state of the controlled switch pursuant to the received signal, the state of the controlled switch affecting a voltage on the controlled switch lead output, the controlled switch being independent of the user-controlled switch such that the user-controlled switch affects the user-controlled switch lead output without affecting the controlled switch lead output and the controlled switch affects the controlled switch lead output without affecting the user-controlled switch lead output.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical communication switch, an electrical communication outlet, an electrical communication companion device, and an electrical communication system are provided. The electrical communication switch includes a user-controlled switch having a plurality of switch leads and a controller. The controller is coupled to the user-controlled switch. The controller is configured to determine a change of state of the switch, and upon determining the switch has changed state to a new state, to send a signal. The electrical communication outlet includes a socket having a plurality of socket slots, at least one controlled switch, and a controller. The controller is coupled to said at least one controlled switch and is configured to receive a signal and to change a state of at least one of said at least one controlled switch pursuant to the signal.
28 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An electrical switch comprising:
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a user-controlled switch having a plurality of switch leads, one of the switch leads being a user-controlled switch lead output; a controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output; and a controller coupled to the user-controlled switch and the controlled switch, wherein the controller is configured to determine a change of state of the user-controlled switch, and upon determining the user-controlled switch has changed state to a new state, to send a first signal to a first device external to the electrical switch, wherein the controller is configured to receive a second signal independent of the user-controlled switch from a second device external to the electrical switch and to change a state of the controlled switch pursuant to the received signal, the state of the controlled switch affecting a voltage on the controlled switch lead output, the controlled switch being independent of the user-controlled switch such that the user-controlled switch affects the user-controlled switch lead output without affecting the controlled switch lead output and the controlled switch affects the controlled switch lead output without affecting the user-controlled switch lead output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electrical switch comprising:
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a body; a user-controlled switch on the body having a plurality of switch leads, the plurality of switch leads being accessible on the body for attaching wires; a controller attached to the body; and a controlled switch attached to the body and coupled to a controlled switch output accessible on the body for attaching a wire, the controlled switch output being different than any of the plurality of switch leads, wherein the controller is configured to receive a second signal independent of the user-controlled switch and to change a state of the controlled switch pursuant to the received signal, the state of the controlled switch affecting a voltage on the controlled switch output without affecting a voltage on any of the plurality of switch leads, wherein the controller is configured to determine directly a change of state of the user-controlled switch, and upon determining the user-controlled switch has changed state to a new state, to send a signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of controlling an electrical switch, comprising:
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receiving a signal independent of a user-controlled switch of the electrical switch; controlling a state of a controlled switch of the electrical switch based on the received signal; controlling a state of a user-controlled switch lead output coupled to the user-controlled switch based on a state of the user-controlled switch without affecting a state of a controlled switch lead output coupled to the controlled switch; and controlling a state of the controlled switch lead output coupled to the controlled switch based on the received signal without affecting the state of the user-controlled switch lead output coupled to the user-controlled switch. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. An electrical switch, comprising:
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means for receiving a signal independent of a user-controlled switch of the electrical switch; means for controlling a state of a controlled switch of the electrical switch based on the received signal; means for controlling a state of a user-controlled switch lead output coupled to the user-controlled switch based on a state of the user-controlled switch without affecting a state of a controlled switch lead output coupled to the controlled switch; and means for controlling a state of the controlled switch lead output coupled to the controlled switch based on the received signal without affecting the state of the user-controlled switch lead output coupled to the user-controlled switch. - View Dependent Claims (40)
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Specification