HK1141929A - Wireless scene arrangement - Google Patents

Description

Wireless scene device

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No.60/954007, filed on 5/8/2007, and to U.S. provisional application No.61/033838, filed on 5/3/2008, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The application relates to controlling a scene with a self-energizing switch.

Background

Switches for transmitting wireless communications are known. For example, some switches transmit wireless communications to a garage door opener. Various switches utilize a replaceable internal power source, such as a battery, to provide power for wireless communication transmissions. Servicing these internal power supplies can be inconvenient and costly. For example, accessing batteries within wall light switches is often difficult and time consuming. Instead of a replaceable internal power source, some switches harvest energy to provide power from the switch to the wireless communication.

Some buildings include complex control systems for lighting, audio equipment, and the like. Existing control systems include wired switches and battery-based switches, both of which are often expensive and inflexible.

Disclosure of Invention

An exemplary lighting control apparatus comprises: a power source; a first load operable to receive power when coupled to a power source; and a second load operable to receive power when coupled to the power source. The receiver is programmable to couple the first load, the second load, or both to the power source in response to the wireless signal. The switch includes a wireless transmitter portion powered by a self-energizing portion. The wireless transmitter portion communicates a wireless signal to the receiver in response to actuation of the switch.

Another exemplary lighting control apparatus comprises: a power source; a first lamp operable to illuminate when coupled to a power source; and a second lamp operable to illuminate when coupled to a power source. The programmable controller is configured to store at least one scene. The receiver is operable to couple the first light, the second light, or both to the power source in response to the wireless signal and based on the scene. The switch has a wireless transmitter portion powered by a self-energizing portion. The wireless transmitter portion communicates a wireless signal to the receiver in response to actuation of the switch.

An exemplary method for use with a wireless security system includes: programming a controller to store at least one light scene; and transmitting the wireless signal using power provided by the self-energizing portion of the switch. The method includes initiating one of the scenarios in response to the transmitted wireless signal.

These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

Drawings

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary lighting control apparatus.

Fig. 2A illustrates an exemplary receiver portion of the apparatus of fig. 1 implemented within an exemplary building.

Fig. 2B shows an exemplary switch section for controlling the receiver section of fig. 2A.

Fig. 3A illustrates another exemplary receiver portion of the apparatus of fig. 1 implemented in another exemplary building.

Fig. 3B shows an exemplary switch section of fig. 1 for controlling the receiver section of fig. 3A.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1, an exemplary control device 10 includes a switch 14 in wireless communication with a receiver 18. The power supply 22 is operable to provide power to the first lamp 26a, the second lamp 26b, and the third lamp 26 c. The receiver 18 selectively couples the power source 22 to one or more of the lamps 26a-26c in response to the wireless communication 30 from the switch 14.

In this example, the switch 14 is self-energizing and includes a wireless transmitter portion 34 and a self-energizing portion 38. The self-energizing part 38 provides power to the wireless transmitter part 34, which wireless transmitter part 34 transmits the wireless communication 30. An exemplary switch 14 suitable for use in transmitting wireless communications 30 is available from EnOcean under product number No. ptm 250.

The exemplary switch 14 is a rocker-type switch and is actuated by a rocker portion of the switch 14 within the switch housing 50. Other exemplary switch actuation means include, for example, a motion sensor indicating the presence of a user's hand, or a push button type switch. In one example, actuation of a portion of the switch 14 activates the self-energizing portion 38 of the switch 14. In other examples, the self-energizing portion 38 is energized by a photovoltaic cell, a photovoltaic device, or the like. The exemplary switch 14 thus does not rely on an internal power source to power the wireless communication 30, but instead harvests energy to power the wireless communication 30.

Although the receiver 18 is shown as a multi-channel receiver, it should be understood that the receiver 18 could also be a single channel receiver. Other examples include a receiver 18 coupled to a different number of lamps 26a-26 c.

Other examples of control device 10 utilize more than one receiver 18. An exemplary receiver 18 suitable for use in the control device 10 is available from EnOcean under product number rcm 130c. Although the position of the receiver 18 is fixed in this example, other exemplary receivers are portable. Other examples of receiver 18 include, for example, a USB portion, and are operable to receive wireless communications 30 upon a USB portion linking to a computer (not shown). Such an example facilitates moving the receiver 18 to receive wireless communications 30 in multiple areas.

The exemplary receiver 18 includes a programmable controller 46 that controls the illumination level of the lamps 26a-26c by controlling the coupling between the power source 22 and each of the lamps 26a-26c, the power level supplied from the power source 22 to the lamps 26a-26c, or both. Those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure will be able to develop a controller suitable for providing such control of the illumination of the lamps 26a-26 c. Exemplary programmable controllers 46 include microprocessors, laptop computers, and the like.

The first lamp 26a, the second lamp 26b, and the third lamp 26c provide a scene 42, which scene 42 is in this example a lighting scene. In this example of scene 42, the first lamp 26a is lit brighter than both the second lamp 26b and the third lamp 26e, and the second lamp 26b is lit brighter than the third lamp 26 c. Also in this example, the third lamp 26c is turned off. That is, the third lamp 26c provides no illumination in this exemplary scene 42. Other examples of scene 42 include a piece of audiovisual equipment, such as a stereo system, or a computer.

Referring now to fig. 2 with continued reference to fig. 1, an exemplary control device 110, somewhat similar to the control device 10 depicted in fig. 1, is implemented within the building 58. In the present disclosure, like reference numerals denote like elements where appropriate, and reference numerals added with 100 or multiples thereof denote modified elements. The modifying elements include the same basic features and benefits of the corresponding modifying elements, unless otherwise noted.

In this example, the control device 110 includes four lamps 126a-126d and two receivers 118a and 118 b. The user 66 actuates the switch 114, which switch 114 then transmits the wireless signal 130 to both receivers 118a and 118 b. The receivers 118a, 118b are programmed such that upon receipt of the wireless signal 130, the receivers 118a, 118b couple the lights 126a and 126d to a power source (not shown). The building includes a plurality of rooms 62a-62 d. Powering lamp 126a illuminates room 62a and powering lamp 126d illuminates room 62 d. Thus, in this example, the scene 142 for the building 58 illuminates the rooms 62a and 62d, but not the rooms 62b and 62 c. Other examples include using control device 110 to control power distribution to stereo system 60 in room 62a, stereo system 60 being part of scene 142. Still other examples include providing power to the computer 61, television 63, ceiling fan 64, or power outlet 65.

Referring now to fig. 3 with continued reference to fig. 1, user 66 actuates switch 214 to transmit wireless signal 230 to receiver 218, which receiver 218 is mounted outside of home 70. The receiver 218 is connected by wiring (not shown) and is programmed to begin illuminating the scene 242 in response to the wireless signal 230. In this example, the lighting scene 242 includes illuminating the first plurality of lights 226a-226c, but not the second plurality of lights 226d-226 g. In this example, lights 126a, 126b illuminate exterior area 74 and light 126c illuminates interior area 78 of home 70. In this way, the user 66 can remotely activate the lighting scene 242 associated with the home 70 using the switch 214.

Features of the present disclosure include controlling a particular lighting scene with a self-energizing switch, the lighting scene being changeable by programming a controller. Another feature of the present disclosure is that the switch is movable relative to the receiver and does not require a wired connection to power the wireless communication from the switch.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Claims (20)

1. A control device, comprising:

a power source;

a first load capable of receiving power when coupled to the power source;

a second load capable of receiving power when coupled to the power source;

a receiver programmable to couple the first load, the second load, or both to the power source in response to a wireless signal; and

a switch having a wireless transmitter portion powered by a self-energizing portion, wherein the wireless transmitter portion transmits a wireless signal to the receiver in response to actuation of the switch.

2. The control device of claim 1, comprising a second receiver programmable to selectively couple at least one third load to the power source in response to the wireless signal.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein the first and second loads are first and second lights and the receiver is programmable to couple the first and second loads to the power source such that the first load provides more or less illumination than the second load.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein the first load and the second load are configured to illuminate at least one interior space.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein the self-energizing part harvests energy from actuation of the switch.

6. The control device of claim 1, wherein the switch is movable between an interior space and an exterior space.

7. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver is programmable with respect to a scene that provides a desired illumination level for the first lamp and a desired illumination level for the lamp in response to the wireless signal.

8. The control apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first load comprises at least one of a television, an audio device, and a computer.

9. A lighting control device, comprising:

a power source;

a first light capable of illuminating when coupled to the power source;

a second light capable of illuminating when coupled to the power source;

a programmable controller configured to store at least one lighting scene;

a receiver capable of coupling the first lamp, the second lamp, or both to the power source in response to a wireless signal and based on the at least one lighting scene; and

a switch having a wireless transmitter portion powered by a self-energizing portion, wherein the wireless transmitter portion transmits a wireless signal to the receiver in response to actuation of the switch.

10. The lighting control device of claim 9, wherein the switch comprises the programmable controller.

11. The lighting control device of claim 9, wherein the receiver comprises the programmable controller.

12. The lighting control device of claim 9, wherein the at least one lighting scene comprises a desired illumination level for the first light, the second light, or both.

13. The lighting control device of claim 9, wherein the first light is capable of illuminating an interior area and the second light is capable of illuminating an exterior area.

14. The control device of claim 9, comprising a stereo system capable of producing sound when coupled to the power source.

15. A method for use with a wireless control system, comprising:

programming the memory portion to store at least one scene;

transmitting a wireless signal using power provided by a self-energizing portion of a switch; and

initiating one of the at least one scene in response to the transmitted wireless signal.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one scene comprises illuminating a first light, a second light, or both.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one scene comprises a desired illumination level for the first light, the second light, or both.

18. The method of claim 15, comprising selectively electrically connecting the first light, the second light, or both with a power source based on the at least one scene.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one scene couples a first lamp to a power source, a second lamp to a power source, or both the first lamp and the second lamp to a power source in response to the communicated wireless signal, wherein the coupling is dependent on the at least one scene.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one scene activates a receiver to couple a first lamp to a power source, a second lamp to a power source, or both the first lamp and the second lamp to the power source in response to the transmitted wireless signal, wherein the coupling is dependent on the at least one lighting scene.