AC powered wireless control 3-way light switch transmitter

• US 20060097890A1
• Filed: 10/28/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heathco LLC (Transom Capital Group)
• Original Assignee: DESA IP, LLC
• Inventors: Atkins, Barry L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,656,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/13.25
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

An AC line powered RF transmitter light switch is described. The RF transmitter light switch is installed within a 3-way wall switch circuit thereby allowing direct and constant electrical connection of the RF transmitter light switch and the RF receiving light switch. The RF transmitter light switch is in RF communication with the receiving light switch to control the circuit load or light fixture. The RF receiving light switch is in direct electrical connection to the load and acts as a master controller regarding of the position of the RF transmitter light switch even though the RF transmitter light switch is installed within the 3-way wall switch circuit.

Claims

1. A wireless light switch transmitter for use in a 3-way light switch circuit, comprising:

a transmitter electrically connected to a receiver light switch, both said transmitter and said receiver in said 3-way light switch circuit, said receiver controlling a load, said transmitter in continual electrical connection with said receiver;

said transmitter having an RF transmitter for transmitting an address and data signal to said receiver light switch;

an on/off switch on said transmitter and said receiver and a dim selection switch on said transmitter and said receiver, said on/off switch and said dim selection switch electrically on said transmitter connected to said RF transmitter in order to electronically transmit RF signals to said receiver.

2. The wireless light switch transmitter of claim 1 wherein said on/off switch is a momentary switch.

3. The wireless light switch transmitter of claim 1 wherein said dim selection switch is a push button.

4. The wireless light switch transmitter of claim 1 wherein said transmitter has an RF oscillator circuit.

5. The wireless light switch transmitter of claim 4 further having at least two address dip switches for said address signal and further wherein said data signal is selected from the group:

on;

off or dim.

6. The wireless light switch transmitter of claim 4 wherein said oscillator circuit generates an RF carrier frequency at about 315 MHz and further includes a 12 bit encoder.

7. The wireless light switch transmitter of claim 1 wherein said receiver is address settable.

8. The wireless light switch transmitter of claim 1 wherein said receiver further has at least two address dip switch.

9. The wireless light switch transmitter of claim 1 wherein said receiver and said transmitter utilize RF signal communication.

10. The wireless light switch transmitter of claim 1 wherein said receiver electrically controls said load.

11. The wireless light switch transmitter of claim 10 wherein said load is a light fixture.

12. The wireless light switch transmitter of claim 1 wherein said transmitter outputs an RF signal representing an eight bit address and a four bit data signal.

13. The wireless light switch transmitter of claim 12 wherein said data signal represents an on, off or dim instruction.

14. A wireless 3-way light switch system comprising:

A light fixture in a 3-way circuit electrical connection to an RF transmitter light switch and an RF receiver light switch, wherein said RF transmitter is continually electrically connected to said RF receiver.

15. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 14 wherein said RF transmitter light switch and said RF receiver light switch both have an on/off switch, a dim switch and a user definable address code and further wherein said RF transmitter light switch has an RF transmitter.

16. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 14 wherein said RF receiver is in controllable electrical connection with said light fixture and operable to control said fixture in response to RF signals from said RF transmitter.

17. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 14 wherein said RF receiver light switch is continually connected to line voltage in parallel with said RF transmitter light switch.

18. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 14 wherein said user definable address code on said RF transmitter light switch is a plurality of dip switches.

19. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 18 wherein said plurality of dip switches is a four position dip switch.

20. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 14 wherein said RF transmitter is electrically operable to transmit RF data signals representing on, off or dim.

21. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 20 wherein said RF transmitter emits a 12 bit RF output signal.

22. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 21 wherein said 12 bit output signal represents at least a four bit address and a four bit data signal.

23. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 22 wherein said output signal is sent on an RF carrier frequency of about 315 MHz.

24. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 17 wherein said line voltage is 120 VAC at 60 Hz.

25. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 14 wherein said RF transmitter has a 315 MHz RF oscillator.

26. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 25 wherein said RF oscillator transmits when said on/off switch or said dim switch is actuated.

27. The wireless 3-way light switch system of claim 26 wherein said RF oscillator is electronically connected to a CMOS 12 bit encoder, said encoder actuated upon the actuation of said on/off switch or said dim switch to output a 12 bit signal to said RF oscillator.

28. A 3-way wireless light switch system, comprising:

an RF transmitter light switch and an RF receiver light switch;

a first electrical wire in electrical connection to a line voltage source, said RF transmitter light switch and said RF receiver light switch;

a second electrical wire in electrical connection with a light fixture, said RF transmitter light switch and said RF receiver light switch;

wherein said RF transmitter light switch is in compatible electronic RF communication with said RF receiver light switch.

29. The 3-way wireless light switch system of claim 28 wherein said RF transmitter light switch has an RF transmitter.

30. The 3-way wireless light switch system of claim 29 wherein said RF transmitter has an RF oscillator circuit.

31. The 3-way wireless light switch system of claim 30 further having an encoder in electronic connectivity with said RF oscillator circuit.

32. The 3-way wireless light switch system of claim 28 wherein said RF transmitter light switch and said RF receiver light switch both have an on/off actuation switch and a dim switch to actuate said fixture.

33. The 3-way wireless light switch system of claim 28 wherein said RF transmitter light switch and said RF receiver light switch both have at least a four position dip switch.

34. A method of implementing a wireless command 3-way light switch system, comprising:

electrically connecting a hot line to an RF transmitter switch and an RF receiver switch;

electrically connecting a travel wire to said RF transmitter switch, said RF receiver switch and to a light fixture;

electronically controlling said light fixture operation through said RF receiver switch;

communicating through an RF carrier frequency instructions from said RF transmitter switch to said RF receiver switch upon actuation of said RF transmitter switch.

35. The method of implementing a wireless command 3-way light switch system of claim 34 wherein said RF carrier frequency instructions are on, off or dim.

36. The method of implementing a wireless command 3-way light switch system of claim 34 further comprising defining a unique four bit address for both said RF receiver switch and said RF transmitter switch.

37. The method of implementing a wireless command 3-way light switch system of claim 34 wherein said communication step further includes providing a multi-bit data transmission from an encoder to an RF oscillator.

38. The method of implementing a wireless command 3-way light switch system of claim 37 wherein said multi-bit data transmission is a 3 kHz 12 bit transmission.

39. The method of implementing a wireless command 3-way light switch system of claim 38 wherein said RF oscillator operates at a frequency of about 315 MHz.

40. The method of implementing a wireless command 3-way light switch system of claim 34 wherein both said RF transmitter switch and said RF receiver switch actuate said light fixture.

41. The method of implementing a wireless command 3-way light switch system of claim 40 wherein said RF transmitter switch actuates said light fixture through said instructions.

42. The method of implementing a wireless command 3-way light switch system of claim 40 wherein said RF receiver switch may actuate said light fixture after interpreting said commands from said RF transmitter switch.