Universal control apparatus and methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Electrical control apparatus comprising:
- a control portion comprising at least one electrical circuit;
an actuator portion which is selectably separable from said control portion, said actuator portion being replaceable by a different actuator portion, said actuator portions comprising substantially no electrical components; and
wherein said different actuator portions are adapted to control different electrical functions, respectively.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for control of one or more functions within a premises. In one embodiment, the control apparatus comprises a “universal” electronic switch which can be configured according to any number of different desired functional and/or aesthetic schemes. The apparatus uses removable and replaceable control elements which are purely mechanical in nature, thereby allowing consolidation of all electrical functions within the parent control module. An improved control circuit including thermal overload protection is also disclosed, as are methods of operating and manufacturing the apparatus.
154 Citations
46 Claims
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1. Electrical control apparatus comprising:
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a control portion comprising at least one electrical circuit; an actuator portion which is selectably separable from said control portion, said actuator portion being replaceable by a different actuator portion, said actuator portions comprising substantially no electrical components; and wherein said different actuator portions are adapted to control different electrical functions, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Control apparatus useful in controlling at least one premises function, comprising:
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a control module adapted to interface with a plurality of different configurations of control elements, said control module further comprising an electrical circuit adapted to perform a particular electrical function, said electrical function being determined at least in part by the particular one of said plurality of different configurations of control elements placed in removable communication with said module; and a removable control element in communication with said control module, wherein said control element comprises substantially no electrical components, yet is adapted to actuate at least a portion of said electrical circuit in order to perform said function. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Control apparatus useful in controlling the operation of a plurality of appliances disposed at a premises, comprising:
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a control module, comprising; a housing adapted to be removably attached to a structure; at least one circuit electrically coupled to a power distribution wiring of said premises; and a plurality of control elements adapted for mating with said control module, each of said plurality of control elements replaceable by a different control element, the mating of one of said plurality of different control elements controlling an electrical function in said control module different than that of the other of said plurality of control elements, said plurality of control elements comprising substantially no electrical components. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An electrical control apparatus useful in the control of electrical devices, comprising:
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a control circuit comprising, an input circuit, a controller referenced to a line conductor and a plurality of bidirectional switch devices that are driven directly by said circuit; a control module, wherein said control circuit is mounted substantially within said module; and at least one control element adapted to provide a mechanical interface between a user and said input circuit without utilizing any electrical components therein. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. Control apparatus useful in controlling one or more premises functions, comprising:
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a control module having an electronic display, wherein said display further comprises a touch-control element; at least one interface disposed on said electronic display adapted to allow a user to selectively place at least one sensor element in signal communication with said control modules, said selective placement of said sensor element comprising inserting said sensor element into one or more apertures disposed on said display element; and an electronic controller in signal communication with said display module and said at least one sensor interface. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A control apparatus useful in controlling one or more premises functions, comprising:
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at least one circuit-less control element adapted to interface with a control module; and a control module circuit disposed at least partially within said control module, said control module circuit further comprising; a controller, said controller being referenced to a line conductor; a switch matrix; a current sensing circuit element; a plurality of bidirectional switches; and a power supply wherein said controller is adapted to communicate with at least one appliance in a premises. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. An apparatus for removing heat from a premises control apparatus, comprising:
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a heat sink made of a thermally conductive material adapted to at least partially dissipate thermal energy through an electrical junction box; and a faceplate adapted to facilitate the rejection of a locally generated thermal energy, said faceplate further comprising an airflow channel defined by at least two surfaces; wherein said airflow channel dissipates said thermal energy passively to a surrounding ambient environment using a thermal driving head created by differential air density. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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46. An apparatus for removing heat from a premises control apparatus, said apparatus adapted to control at least one electrical device disposed within or proximate to said premises, the apparatus comprising:
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a heat sink made of a thermally conductive material adapted to at least partially dissipate thermal energy through an electrical junction box; and a faceplate adapted to facilitate the rejection of said thermal energy, said faceplate further comprising an airflow channel defined by at least two surfaces; wherein said airflow channel dissipates said thermal energy to a surrounding ambient environment using a chimney effect created by differential air density.
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Specification