Easy-install home automation light switch

• US 9,557,043 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EchoStar Technologies International Corporation (Echostar Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Echostar Technologies LLC (Echostar Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, George Horkan, McCarthy, Bernard Anthony III
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Brandon S
• Application Number:
  US14/028,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20150077021A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 315291-311, 315/362, 315149-169
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/006 of point-like light sources, e.g. incandescent or halogen lamps, with screw-threaded or bayonet base of sources having contact pins, wires or blades F21V19/0005; of LEDs or sources mounted on printed-circuit board F21V19/001
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23297 Remote load of program with cellular, wireless, satellite connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0271 structurally combining a switch and an electronic component for relays H01H50/021
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/54 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/02 Conversion of ac power input into dc power output without possibility of reversal
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A light switch plate includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting control signals to a smart light assembly. The light switch plate is placed over a conventional light switch and prevents a user from further manipulating the conventional light switch. The light switch plate includes a further switch which a user can manipulate to cause the transmitter to transmit control signals to turn on or turn off a light of the smart light assembly.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a light assembly;

a light switch plate including a protrusion configured to cover a first light switch that is electrically coupled to the light assembly by at least one wire, the protrusion being configured to prevent user manipulation of the first light switch without removing the light switch plate;

a first wireless transmitter coupled to the light switch plate; and

a control module configured to transmit first control signals to the light assembly, the light assembly including;

a wireless receiver;

control circuitry coupled to the wireless receiver, the wireless receiver being configured to receive the first control signals and to pass them to the control circuitry, the control circuitry being configured to execute the first control signals;

a light coupled to the control circuitry, the first wireless transmitter configured to transmit second control signals to the light assembly, the wireless receiver configured to receive the second control signals and to pass them to the control circuitry, and the control circuitry configured to turn the light on or off based on the second control signals; and

a second wireless transmitter coupled to the control circuitry, the control circuitry being configured to determine if the first control signals are meant for the light assembly, the second wireless transmitter being configured to retransmit the first control signals if the control circuitry determines that the first control signals are meant for a second light assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the light assembly includes a voltage regulator coupled to the control circuitry and configured to receive an AC voltage and to output a DC voltage to the light.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the light assembly is configured to screw into a standard threaded incandescent light bulb socket.

4. The system of claim 1 comprising a second light switch coupled to the light switch plate and the wireless transmitter, the second light switch configured to cause the wireless transmitter to transmit the control signals to the light assembly.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module is configured to transmit an interrogation signal to the light assembly, the control circuitry being configured to determine a current state of the light and to cause the second wireless transmitter to transmit to the control module data indicative of the current state of the light.

6. The system of claim 5 comprising a television receiver, the control module being mounted to the television receiver, the television receiver configured to receive commands from a user and to transmit the second control signals in response to receiving the commands from the user.

7. A method comprising:

covering a first light switch with a light switch plate, the first light switch being electrically coupled to a first light assembly by at least one wire and configured to turn on and turn off a light of the first light assembly;

preventing, by a protrusion of the first light switch, user manipulation of the first light switch without removing the light switch plate;

transmitting a control signal to the first light assembly from a first wireless transmitter coupled to the light switch plate;

receiving the control signal in a wireless receiver of the first light assembly;

determining whether the control signal is meant for the first light assembly;

in response to determining that the control signal is meant for the first light assembly, passing the control signal to control circuitry coupled to the wireless receiver and executing the control signal by outputting a switching signal from the control circuitry; and

in response to determining that the control signal is not meant for the first light assembly, transmitting the control signal to a second light assembly from a second wireless transmitter coupled to the control circuitry.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising transmitting the control signal in response to receiving user input on a second light switch coupled to the light switch plate.

9. The method of claim 7 comprising:

receiving an interrogation signal in the wireless receiver; and

transmitting, from the second wireless transmitter coupled to the control circuitry, a response signal including data indicating a present state of the light.