Light switch controlling light source via wireless transmission

• US 9,713,231 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Ryan Yong, Kelly, Francis Michael, Plummer, Jon, Chen, Li-ter
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHO, JAMES HYONCHOL
• Application Number:
  US14/750,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20150382436A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/40 Remote control systems using repeaters, converters, gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• 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

This disclosure relates in general to a networked light switch. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a light switch that, in response to detecting a local input or motion, transmits a communication that causes another light switch to change a state of a light. This disclosure further relates to techniques for detecting an abnormal current draw state of an electrical device such as a lighting device are described; systems including in-wall network devices having a user-facing restore button for restoring some or all of the customizable settings to a factory default state; and techniques for controlling device operations in accordance with scenes or modes.

Claims

1. A light switch comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a status-updating communication, wherein the status-updating communication identifies a status of a master device;

a status updator that updates a local data store to reflect the status of the master device;

a stimulus detector configured to locally detect a stimulus, wherein the stimulus includes a mechanical input or motion stimulus;

a rules engine configured to;

determine that a control communication is to be transmitted to the master device in response to detection of the stimulus, wherein the determination is based on the status of the master device, the detection of the stimulus and a rule; and

generate the control communication, wherein receipt of the control communication at the master device causes the master device to change its state; and

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the control communication wherein the transmission of the control communication is configured to be received at the master device.

2. The light switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the determination that a control communication is to be transmitted to the master device includes:

identifying a target state for the master device using the rule; and

determining that a current state for the master device differs from the target state, wherein the status of the master device includes the current state.

3. The light switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the determination that a control communication is to be transmitted to the master device determining that a network connection criterion is satisfied using a network connection variable of the master device, wherein the status of the master device includes the network connection variable.

4. The light switch as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the stimulus detector is further configured to detect a second stimulus;

the stimulus is of a first type and the second stimulus is of a second type;

the rules engine is further configured to;

identify the master device as corresponding to the stimulus and a second master device as corresponding to the second stimulus;

determine that a second control communication is to be transmitted to the second master device in response to detection of the second stimulus; and

generate the second control communication, wherein receipt of the second control communication at the second master device causes the second master device to change its state; and

the wireless transmitter is further configured to transmit the second control communication to the second master device.

5. The light switch as recited in claim 1, further comprising a battery.

6. The light switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the light switch is not electrically connected to any remote light source.

7. The light switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the status-updating communication is received from the master device.

8. The light switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the control communication is transmitted to the master device via an intermediate device.

9. The light switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the master device is a light switch that is electrically connected to a light source, and wherein receipt of the control communication at the master device causes the master device to change whether the light source is on or off.

10. The light switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the rule is a dynamic rule and is at least partly defined by input and identifies that the master device is to be associated with at least some stimuli detected at the light switch.

11. The light switch as recited in claim 1, wherein a maximum depth of the light switch is less than 1 cm.

12. The light switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the light switch does not include an electronic display.

13. The light switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the light switch is configured to be attached to a wall.

14. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, at a light switch, a status-updating communication, wherein the status-updating communication identifies a status of a master device;

updating a data store at the light switch to reflect the status of the master device;

locally detecting a stimulus at the light switch, wherein the stimulus includes a mechanical input or motion stimulus;

determining that a control communication is to be transmitted to the master device in response to detection of the stimulus, wherein the determination is based on the status of the master device, the detection of the stimulus and a rule;

generating the control communication, wherein receipt of the control communication at the master device causes the master device to change its state; and

wirelessly transmitting the control communication from the light switch, wherein the transmission of the control communication is configured to be received at the master device.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the determination that a control communication is to be transmitted to the master device includes:

identifying a target state for the master device using the rule; and

determining that a current state for the master device differs from the target state, wherein the status of the master device includes the current state.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the determination that a control communication is to be transmitted to the master device determining that a network connection criterion is satisfied using a network connection variable of the master device, wherein the status of the master device includes the network connection variable.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

identifying, based on the status-updating communication, a condition for controlling operation of a group of network devices;

retrieving attribute information corresponding to the condition for controlling operation of the group, wherein attribute information includes an attribute for each network device in the group of network devices, wherein an attribute of a network device is related to operation of the network device, and wherein at least two network devices in the group of network devices have different attributes;

determining whether the condition is satisfied; and

wirelessly transmitting data when the condition is satisfied, wherein network devices in the group of network devices are adjusted using the transmitted data.

18. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the light switch includes:

a housing configured for mounting inside of an electrical box, wherein the housing includes a room-facing wall and an electrical box-facing wall;

a circuit board having a data processor and a wireless transceiver, wherein the circuit board is positioned within the housing;

a relay configured to control a power state of an electrical device, wherein the data processor is configured to open or close the relay;

electrical terminals configured to connect to line power, to provide power to the circuit board, and to provide switchable power to the electrical device through the relay, wherein the electrical terminals are coupled to the electrical box-facing wall of the housing; and

a wireless antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver by a transmission line, wherein the wireless antenna is mounted on the room-facing wall of the housing, and wherein at least a portion of the wireless antenna is positioned outside the electrical box when the housing is mounted inside the electrical box.

19. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

sensing, by a current sensing circuit of the light switch, an electrical current draw of an electrical device coupled to an output power interface of the light switch, wherein power is supplied to the electrical device via a power path in the light switch;

monitoring the electrical current draw of the electrical device;

determining a steady state current amount of the electrical device by monitoring the electrical current draw of the electrical device over a steady state determination time period;

detecting an abnormal current draw state of the electrical device when the electrical current draw of the electrical device deviates from the steady state current amount by a threshold amount; and

transmitting an abnormal current draw notification to an access device communicatively coupled to the light switch when the abnormal current draw state is detected.

20. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

storing a customizable setting; and

erasing the customizable setting in response to detecting a restore signal of a button located on a user-facing surface of the light switch.