Three-way switch

• US 9,928,975 B1
• Filed: 03/11/2014
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: iControl Networks, Inc. (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, Jim, Egan, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Gannon, Levi
• Application Number:
  US14/204,654
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 307112-115, 307125, 307139
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 89/00 Combinations of two or more different basic types of electric switches, relays, selectors and emergency protective devices, not covered by any single one of the other main groups of this subclass
• 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 7/10 arranged for operation in series, e.g. for multiplication of voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

Devices and methods comprise a relay coupled between conductors and rectifier circuits. A converter is coupled between the rectifier circuits and a radio frequency (RF) device. Control signals are coupled to the RF device. A physical switch is coupled to the RF device, and the control outputs of the physical switch form a multi-way switch.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a relay configured to control electrical communication, via at least one contact of a plurality of contacts of the relay, between a plurality of conductors and a plurality of rectifier circuits, wherein a toggle state of the relay is indicative of an electrical configuration between the plurality of conductors and the plurality of rectifier circuits;

a manual switch configured to receive a user input associated with a toggle state of the manual switch, wherein the toggle state of the manual switch is indicative of a command to modify the toggle state of the relay; and

a radio frequency (RF) device in communication with the relay and the manual switch, wherein the RF device is configured to communicate, via an RF signal, with one or more external devices, and wherein the RF device is configured to;

receive one or more of a manual switch signal indicative of the toggle state of the manual switch or an RF control signal indicative of a command to modify the toggle state of the relay,

cause, based on the one or more of the manual switch signal or the RF control signal, a modification to the toggle state of the relay, and

cause output of an RF status signal indicative of the modification to the toggle state of the relay.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the relay comprises a single-pole, triple-throw switch relay.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the relay is configured to control a power supply to an electrical device by controlling the electrical communication between the plurality of conductors and the plurality of rectifier circuits.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductors comprises a hot conductor, a neutral return conductor, and a ground conductor.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of voltage sensors in communication with the plurality of rectifier circuits,

wherein the radio frequency (RF) device is configured to cause the modification to the toggle state of the relay further based on data from at least one of the plurality of voltage sensors.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) converter in electrical communication with the radio frequency (RF) device.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of current sensors in communication with the plurality of rectifier circuits,

wherein the radio frequency (RF) device is configured to cause the modification to the toggle state of the relay further based on data from at least one of the plurality of current sensors.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the relay comprises a single pole and at least double-throw switch relay.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a radio frequency (RF) device, a manual switch signal indicative of a toggle state of a manual switch or an RF control signal indicative of a command to modify a toggle state of a relay,

wherein the toggle state of the manual switch is indicative of another command to modify the toggle state of the relay, and

wherein the toggle state of the relay is indicative of an electrical configuration, controlled by the relay, between a plurality of conductors and a plurality of rectifier circuits in electrical communication via at least one contact of a plurality of contacts of the relay;

causing, based on the one or more of the manual switch signal or the RF control signal, a modification to the toggle state of the relay; and

causing output of an RF status signal indicative of the modification to the toggle state of the relay.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the causing the modification to the toggle state of the relay comprises sending, to the relay, a command signal indicative of the modification to the toggle state of the relay.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving the radio frequency (RF) control signal indicative of the command to modify the toggle state of the relay comprises receiving the RF control signal from an external device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the causing the output of the radio frequency (RF) status signal comprises sending, to the external device, the RF status signal.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the causing the modification to the toggle state of the relay comprises modifying an electrical load supplied to an electric device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the electric device comprises a lighting device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the causing the output of the radio frequency (RF) status signal comprises sending the RF status signal via at least one of a wireless communication or an RF communication.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising causing output of a second radio frequency (RF) status signal indicative of power consumption associated with the relay.

17. A device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to;

receive a manual switch signal indicative of a toggle state of a manual switch or an RF control signal indicative of a command to modify a toggle state of a relay,

wherein the toggle state of the manual switch is indicative of another command to modify the toggle state of the relay, and

wherein the toggle state of the relay is indicative of an electrical configuration, controlled by the relay, between a plurality of conductors and a plurality of rectifier circuits in electrical communication, via at least one contact of a plurality of contacts of the relay, with the relay;

cause, based on the one or more of the manual switch signal or the RF control signal, a modification to the toggle state of the relay; and

cause output of an RF status signal indicative of the modification to the toggle state of the relay.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the manual switch comprises at least one of a plurality of control interfaces installed at a premises.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the device to cause output of a second radio frequency (RF) status signal indicative of power consumption associated with the relay.

20. The device of claim 17, wherein the toggle state of the manual switch is further indicative of a command to modify an electrical load supplied to an electrical device.