Adaptable wireless power, light and automation system

• US 9,923,376 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2014
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kortek Industries Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kortek Industries Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Davis, Barrie, Davis, Benjamin, Davis, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Gami, Tejal
• Application Number:
  US14/272,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20140244045A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,413 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/04 TPC
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A power control unit and method of use thereof for varying the supply of electricity to an electrical apparatus using a wireless communications link between a controller and the power control unit. The power control unit is adapted to alternatively communicate with the controller using a non-peer-to-peer communications standard or a peer-to-peer communications standard such as Wi-Fi Direct.

Claims

1. A system for controlling an electrical system wired into a structure through a wireless communications link with a personal controller so as to control a supply of electricity to the electrical system, the personal controller having a processor, a user interface, and a wireless communications transceiver, the system comprising:

a power control unit including;

a radio transceiver, a microcontroller configured to operate the radio transceiver in more than one mode to communicate with the personal controller, and an internal power control circuit configured to vary the supply of electricity to the at least one electrical system based at least in part on instructions communicated from the personal controller through the radio transceiver, said microcontroller being configured in a first mode to operate said radio transceiver using a peer-to-peer communications standard, said microcontroller being configured in a second mode to operate said radio transceiver using a non-peer-to-peer communications standard;

an external power control circuit integrated into at least a portion of the wiring of at least one of a commercial or residential structure, the external power control circuit being configured to vary the supply of electricity to the electrical system based at least in part on instructions communicated from the personal controller through the radio transceiver; and

a communications link between the power control unit and the external power control circuit, the microcontroller of the power control unit being configured to selectively operate the internal and external power control circuits.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate at least one of the internal and external power control circuits to vary the supply of electricity to a lighting system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate at least one of the internal and external power control circuits to vary the supply of electricity to at least one of a heating and air conditioning system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate at least one of the internal and external power control circuits to vary the supply of electricity to at least one of a blind, shutter, gate or door.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to interrogate the external power control circuit to ascertain capabilities of the external power control circuit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications link includes a hardware interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications link includes a radio receiver wired to the external power control circuit and a radio transmitter wired to the power control unit, the radio transmitter operating at a frequency of less than 1 GHz.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications link includes a radio transceiver wired to the external power control circuit and a second radio transceiver wired to the power control unit, each of the second radio transceiver of the power control unit and the radio transceiver of the external power control circuit operating at a frequency of less than 1 GHz.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications link includes a radio transceiver wired to the external power control circuit and a second radio transceiver wired to the power control unit, each of the second radio transceiver of the power control unit and the radio transceiver of the external power control circuit being operable using a Zigbee communications standard.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications standard used by the radio transceiver to communicate with the personal controller in the first mode is Wi-Fi Direct.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller of the power control unit is configured to operate the radio transceiver by simulating a network access point.

12. A system for controlling an electrical system wired into a structure through a wireless communications link with a personal controller so as to control a supply of electricity to the electrical system, the personal controller having a processor, a user interface, and a wireless communications transceiver, the system comprising:

a power control unit including a wireless radio transceiver operable for wireless communication with the personal controller, and a microcontroller configured to operate the radio transceiver in more than one mode, said microcontroller being configured in a first mode to operate said radio transceiver using a peer-to-peer communications standard, said microcontroller being configured in a second mode to operate said radio transceiver using a non-peer-to-peer communications standard;

an external power control circuit external to the power control unit, the external power control circuit being integrated into at least a portion of the wiring of the commercial or residential structure, the external power control circuit being configured to vary the supply of electricity to the at least one electrical system based at least in part on instructions communicated from the personal controller through the radio transceiver; and

a communications link between the power control unit and the external power control circuit, the microcontroller of the power control unit being configured to operate the external power control circuit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the communications link includes a hardware interface.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the communications link includes a radio receiver wired to the external power control circuit and a radio transmitter wired to the power control unit, the radio transmitter operating at a frequency of less than 1 GHz.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the communications link includes a radio transceiver wired to the external power control circuit and a second radio transceiver wired to the power control unit, each of the second radio transceiver of the power control unit and the radio transceiver of the external power control circuit operating at a frequency of less than 1 GHz.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the communications link includes a radio transceiver wired to the external power control circuit and a second radio transceiver wired to the power control unit, each of the second radio transceiver of the power control unit and the radio transceiver of the external power control circuit being operable using a Zigbee communications standard.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate the external power control circuit to vary the supply of electricity to a lighting system.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate the external power control circuit to vary the supply of electricity to at least one of a heating and air conditioning system.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the microcontroller is configured to operate the external power control circuit to vary the supply of electricity to at least one of a blind, shutter, gate or door.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the microcontroller is configured to interrogate the external power control circuit to ascertain capabilities of the external power control circuit.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the power control unit is configured for outdoor placement as a highly weather resistant unit.