Method and apparatus for connecting AC powered switches, current sensors and control devices via two way IR, fiber optic and light guide cables

• US 8,331,795 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elbex Video Limited (Elbex Japan Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Elbex Video Limited (Elbex Japan Ltd.)
• Inventors: Elberbaum, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Bello, Agustin
• Application Number:
  US13/441,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20120207481A1
• Time in Patent Office: 249 Days
• Field of Search: 398140-141, 398/110, 398/113, 398/167.5
• US Class Current: 398/141
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/06 through light guides, e.g. optical fibres

Abstract

A method for connecting an AC powered device, which has an optical receiver, with a control circuit, which has an optical transmitter, using at least on optical medium cable includes the steps of terminating the cable at both of its ends, introducing the processed cable between the receiver and transmitter, attaching and securing one end of the processed cable to the transmitter and the other end of the processed cable to the receiver, and propagating a one way optical signal including control commands from the control circuit to the powered device.

Claims

1. A method for connecting an AC switching device with an automation controller network device via an optical grid of an optical cable for propagating one way optical signals, said network device comprising a CPU, a communication circuit and an optical transmitter, said AC switching device comprising a CPU, a communication circuit, one of a relay and a switch and an optical receiver for operating an AC load;

each optical element of said optical receiver and said optical transmitter is enclosed in an opaque socket with an optical access and a holder commensurate with a size and a shape of a terminated end of said optical cable, said method comprising the steps of;

a. terminating one said optical cable at its both ends by a process selected from a group comprising cutting, shaping, polishing, lapping, fitting a plug and combinations thereof for providing a processed surface at both ends of the optical cable;

b. attaching and securing the two processed surfaces of each said terminated end one to each said optical element directly via each said opaque socket by each said holder;

c. introducing to at least one of said CPU an identification pertaining to at least one of said load and said AC switching device;

d. connecting said load to an AC power through said AC switching device; and

e. propagating said one way optical signal including said identification and a control command via said grid for one of switching on and off the AC power feed to said load.

2. The method for connecting an AC switching device according to claim 1, wherein said AC switching device is selected from a group comprising an AC switch, an AC relay, an AC outlet with switch, an AC outlet with relay and combinations thereof and wherein one of said relay and said switch is one of a semiconductor and electromechanical device and is selected from a group of SPST, SPDT, DPDT, two way, three way, four way and cross-straight.

3. The method for connecting an AC switching device according to claim 1, wherein said automation controller is selected from a group comprising a dedicated controller, a video interphone, a shopping terminal and a combination thereof, said network device is selected from a group comprising an home automation control distributor, an optical driver, an optical repeater, a command converter, a keypad and combinations thereof, said optical cable is selected from a group comprising a fiber optic, a lightguide and a combination thereof and said holder is selected from a group comprising a crimp plug, a bond plug, a self-lock plug, a vise plug, a screw, a structured indentation, a bar, a clamp, a clamp ring, a jaw and combinations thereof.

4. The method for connecting an AC switching device according to claim 2, wherein said automation controller is selected from a group comprising a dedicated controller, a video interphone, a shopping terminal and a combination thereof, said network device is selected from a group comprising an home automation control distributor, an optical driver, an optical repeater, a command converter, a keypad and combinations thereof, said optical cable is selected from a group comprising a fiber optic, a lightguide and a combination thereof and said holder is selected from a group comprising a crimp plug, a bond plug, a self-lock plug, a vise plug, a screw, a structured indentation, a bar, a clamp, a clamp ring, a jaw and combinations thereof.

5. The method for connecting an AC switching device according to claim 1, wherein said introducing of an identification includes at least one of a location and particulars of at least one of said load and said AC switching device.

6. The method for connecting an AC switching device according to claim 2, wherein said introducing of an identification includes at least one of a location and particulars of at least one of said load and said AC switching device.

7. The method for connecting an AC switching device according to claim 1, wherein said AC switching device further comprising at least one operating key for switching said load on and off.

8. The method for connecting an AC switching device according to claim 2, wherein each of said relay and said switch are operated by at least one key included in said switching device for switching the AC power feed to said load on and off.

9. The method for connecting an AC switching device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said semiconductor relay and switch is selected from a group comprising a diac, a thyristor, a triac, an FET and combinations thereof.

10. The method for connecting an AC switching device according to claim 9, wherein said control commands further include commands for controlling the AC power fed to a load by controlling at least one of an AC current and an AC voltage of the AC power feed.

11. The method for connecting an AC switching device according to claim 1, wherein said switching device is packaged into a size and a shape fit for installation into a standard electrical wall box in a configuration selected from a group comprising a stand along electrical wiring device, side by side with another electrical wiring device, at the rear of another electrical wiring device, attached to another electrical wiring device, connected to another wiring device of another electrical wall box and combinations thereof.

12. The method for connecting an AC switching device according to claim 2, wherein said switching device is packaged into a size and a shape fit for installation into a standard electrical wall box in a configuration selected from a group comprising a stand along electrical wiring device, side by side with another electrical wiring device, at the rear of another electrical wiring device, attached to another electrical wiring device, connected to another wiring device of another electrical wall box and combinations thereof.

13. An AC switching device for connection to an automation controller network device via an optical grid of an optical cable, said network device comprising a CPU, a communication circuit and an optical transmitter, said AC switching device comprising a CPU, a communication circuit, one of a relay and a switch and an optical receiver, at least one of said CPU includes at least one of a memory and a setting selector for introducing an identification pertaining to at least one of a load and said AC switching device;

each optical element of said optical receiver and said optical transmitter is enclosed in an opaque socket with an optical access and a holder commensurate with a size and a shape of a terminated end of said optical cable, terminated at its both ends by a process selected from a group comprising cutting, shaping, polishing, lapping, fitting a plug and combinations thereof, each said holder attach and secure one processed surface of the two terminated ends of said optical cable to each said optical element directly via each said opaque socket;

said load is connected to an AC power through said AC switching device and said optical transmitter propagates one way optical signal to said optical receiver via said optical grid comprising said identification and at least one of switch on and switch off command for switching on and off the AC power feed to said load.

14. The AC switching device according to claim 13, wherein said AC switching device is selected from a group comprising an AC switch, an AC relay, an AC outlet with switch, an AC outlet with relay and combinations thereof and wherein one of said relay and said switch is one of a semiconductor and electromechanical device and is selected from a group of SPST, SPDT, DPDT, two way, three way, four way and cross-straight.

15. The AC switching device according to claim 13, wherein said automation controller is selected from a group comprising, a dedicated controller, a video interphone, a shopping terminal and a combination thereof, said network device is selected from a group comprising an home automation control distributor, an optical driver, an optical repeater, a command converter, a keypad and combinations thereof, said optical cable is selected from a group comprising a fiber optic, a lightguide and a combination thereof and said holder is selected from a group comprising a crimp plug, a bond plug, a self-lock plug, a vise plug, a screw, a structured indentation, a bar, a clamp, a clamp ring, a jaw and combinations thereof.

16. The AC switching device according to claim 14, wherein said automation controller is selected from a group comprising, a dedicated controller, a video interphone, a shopping terminal and a combination thereof, said network device is selected from a group comprising an home automation control distributor, an optical driver, an optical repeater, a command converter, a keypad and combinations thereof, said optical cable is selected from a group comprising a fiber optic, a lightguide and a combination thereof and said holder is selected from a group comprising a crimp plug, a bond plug, a self-lock plug, a vise plug, a screw, a structured indentation, a bar, a clamp, a clamp ring, a jaw and combinations thereof.

17. The AC switching device according to claim 13, wherein said introducing of an identification includes at least one of a location and particulars of at least one of said load and said AC switching device.

18. The AC switching device according to claim 14, wherein said introducing of an identification includes at least one of a location and particulars of at least one of said load and said AC switching device.

19. The AC switching device according to claim 13, wherein said AC switching device further comprising at least one operating key for switching said load on and off.

20. The AC switching device according to claim 14, wherein each of said relay and said switch are operated by at least one key included in said switching device for switching the AC power feed to said load on and off.

21. The AC switching device according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said semiconductor relay and switch is selected from a group comprising a diac, a thyristor, a triac, an FET and combinations thereof.

22. The AC switching device according to claim 21, wherein said control commands further include commands for controlling the AC power fed to a load by controlling at least one of an AC current and an AC voltage of the AC power feed.

23. The AC switching device according to claim 13, wherein said switching device is packaged into a size and a shape fit for installation into a standard electrical wall box in a configuration selected from a group comprising a stand along electrical wiring device, side by side with another electrical wiring device, at the rear of another electrical wiring device, attached to another electrical wiring device, connected to another wiring device of another electrical wall box and combinations thereof.

24. The AC switching device according to claim 14, wherein said switching device is packaged into a size and a shape fit for installation into a standard electrical wall box in a configuration selected from a group comprising a stand along electrical wiring device, side by side with another electrical wiring device, at the rear of another electrical wiring device, attached to another electrical wiring device, connected to another wiring device of another electrical wall box and combinations thereof.