Wall switch

• US 9,964,447 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2013
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Fadell, Anthony M., Rogers, Matthew L., Matsuoka, Yoky, Sloo, David, Veron, Maxime, Guenette, Isabel I., Honjo, Shigefumi
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Inge, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US14/430,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20150228419A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,691 Days
• Field of Search: 307112
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/041 Mountings in enclosures or in a particular environment
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0806 Focusing or collimating elements, e.g. lenses or concave mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/103 Static body considered as a whole, e.g. static pedestrian or occupant recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/193 using focusing means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/11 using an ionisation chamber for detecting smoke or gas
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/113 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/02 Bases, casings, or covers accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 : Electrical device making

Abstract

This patent specification relates to a wall switch that comprises a docking station and a user-removable wall-switch head unit. In some embodiments, the docking station is configured to receive the user-removable wall-switch head unit, and configured to be permanently connected to a wall and coupled to high-power voltage wires. In some embodiments, the user-removable wall-switch head unit is configured to be user-insertable into said docking station and user-removable therefrom such that the user is not exposed to high-voltage connections when inserting or removing. In some embodiments, the wall switch controller further comprises inputs and outputs and circuitry for switchably controlling household line current power to a household electrical fixture. In some embodiments, the wall switch controller further comprises an occupancy sensor, a temperature sensor, or a processor.

Claims

1. A wall switch controller, comprising:

a docking station configured to receive a user-removable wall-switch head unit, the docking station configured to be permanently connected to a wall and coupled to high-voltage wires;

the user-removable wall-switch head unit configured to be user-insertable into said docking station and user-removable therefrom such that the user is not exposed to high-voltage connections when inserting or removing;

wireless communication circuitry configured to communicate with a plurality of low-powered devices using a first wireless protocol characterized by relatively low power usage and relatively low data rates and to serve as a communications bridge to a wide area network using a second wireless protocol characterized by relatively higher power usage and relatively higher data rates; and

a power storage module for storing power and using the power to maintain wireless communications during a power outage.

2. The wall switch controller of claim 1, further comprising:

inputs and outputs and circuitry for switchably controlling household line current power to a household electrical fixture.

3. The wall switch controller of claim 1, further comprising:

an occupancy sensor, a temperature sensor, or a processor.

4. The wall switch controller of claim 3, further comprising:

circuitry for leveraging electrical power from the household line current power inputs to power the occupancy sensor, the temperature sensor, or the processor.

5. The wall switch controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing configured to be compatible for installation in a conventional single-gang or multiple-gang wall box.

6. The wall switch controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a click-and-rotate annular ring input.

7. The wall switch controller of claim 6, wherein the click-and-rotate annular ring input provides a menu-driven interface for controlling operation of the wall switch controller.

8. The wall switch controller of claim 7, wherein the click-and-rotate annular ring input and the menu-driven interface enable remote control of a wall switch that is separate from and communicatively coupled to the wall switch controller.

9. The wall switch controller of claim 6, wherein the click-and-rotate annular ring input enables the wall switch controller to function as a dimming light switch.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a docking station configured to be permanently connected to a wall and coupled to high voltage wires, a user-removable wall-switch head unit that is configured to be user-insertable into the docking station and user-removable therefrom such that a user is not exposed to the high voltage wires when inserting or removing, wherein

the user-removable wall-switch head unit includes wireless communication circuitry;

leveraging electrical power from the high voltage wires to power the user-removable wall-switch head unit; and

responsive to user input, controlling household line current power to a household electrical fixture;

communicating, by the user-removable wall-switch head unit, with a plurality of low-powered devices using a first wireless protocol characterized by relatively low power usage and relatively low data rates; and

serving, by the user-removable wall-switch head unit, as a communications bridge to a wide area network using a second wireless protocol characterized by relatively higher power usage and relatively higher data rates.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

providing, by the user-removable wall-switch head unit, a click-and-rotate annular ring input.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the click-and-rotate annular ring input received the user input that resulted in controlling the household line current power to the household electrical fixture.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the click-and-rotate annular ring input provides a menu-driven interface.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the click-and-rotate annular ring input enables the user-removable wall-switch head unit to function as a dimming light switch.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the user-removable wall-switch head unit is configured to remotely control operation of a second wall switch that is separate from and not physically connected to the user-removable wall-switch head unit.

16. A method, comprising:

receiving, at a docking station configured to be permanently connected to a wall and coupled to high-voltage wires, a user-removable wall-switch head unit that is configured to be user-insertable into the docking station and user-removable therefrom such that a user is not exposed to the high-voltage wires when inserting or removing, wherein;

the user-removable wall-switch head unit includes wireless communication circuitry; and

the user-removable wall-switch head unit is configured to store power and use the power to maintain wireless communications during a power outage;

leveraging electrical power from the high-voltage wires to power the user-removable wall-switch head unit; and

responsive to user input, controlling household line current power to a household electrical fixture.