GB2512639A

GB2512639A - Building automation control system

Info

Publication number: GB2512639A
Application number: GB201306110A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Francis Hinds; William Joseph Miles
Original assignee: ATAMATE Ltd
Current assignee: ATAMATE Ltd
Priority date: 2013-04-04
Filing date: 2013-04-04
Publication date: 2014-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-04
Also published as: GB201306110D0; GB2512639B

Abstract

A control system preferably for building automation, the system includes an input device which may be in the form of a unit which can be wall mounted and which will through a single button 36 be able to control multiple functions within the home. The control system may also include feedback e.g. through display 28 of selected lighting 34, to inform the user of the function selected and the action being taken. The manually operable button is a position adjustable element, and may have two directions of position adjustablility such as push/pull and rotational, which is connected to an encoder 12. A controller in connection with the encoder for determining control functions based on the buttons position. Preferably the first mode operates main room lighting and the second mode provides access to functions including one or more of control of further room lighting, room temperature, entertainment systems, curtains, windows, security or household appliances.

Description

BUILDING AUTOMATION CONTROL SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a building automation control system and, in particular to an encoder for inputting instructions to the control system.

Home automation systems currently exist and have many different ways of receiving input from a user, and giving feedback to the user. Most allow the use of a graphical user interface (GUI e.g. a website page) and/or the use of individual buttons for each service within a room/area e.g. individual light circuit may have an on/off button or several circuits may be io grouped together and have an individual button for each lighting scene' (where the different lighting circuits are set at different brightness levels). Some of these buttons will have a visual feedback indicator showing the status of that individual circuit e.g. an LED comes on.

These tend to look cluttered and a bit busy and have limited flexibility e.g. only one colour of illumination for the buttons which is chosen at installation and the number of buttons in the is panel has to be chosen at installation. If the user wants to be able to vary the brightness of the lights (or position of the curtains) then 2 buttons have to be allocated for adjustment (respectively, lights brighter or darker, curtains open or closed). Users who are not familiar with the system (typically cleaners and grandparents) are often intimidated by them.

An alternative is to have a rotary button similar to a traditional light dimmer switch. This can be rotated for dimming the lights and sometimes for on/off as well, or pressed for on/off, but it can only act on one lighting circuit or service, within one room.

The alternative is a display screen mounted either in a wall or mobile device within a room, which can be used to control many services within a property, but this is expensive and can be very complex to use requiring the user to navigate through menus to the relevant room and services within that room. This can be even more intimidating for the unfamiliar user.

There is therefore a need to provide the user with a simple means of giving instructions to the home automation system, preferably whilst receiving real-time feedback from the system as to the current state of the system and changes that the user is making.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a building automation control system operable in a primary mode for controlling a first function and in a secondary mode for accessing control of one or more second functions, the control system comprising an input device having a manually operable button, an encoder connected to the manually operable button, a controller, connected to the encoder and responsive to inputs from the manually operable button, the controller being operable in the primary mode to control the first function, the controller being operable to select between the primary and secondary modes, the controller being operable in the secondary mode to select and control the one or more second functions, and a signal transmitter in communication with the controller for transmitting the generated signal to the selected function to control its operation in accordance with the input to the button.

The present invention allows the user a simple means of giving instructions to the home automation system, usually for the area/room in which it is located. Additionally, it may io receive real-time feedback from the system as to the current state of the system and changes that the user is making. The input device can look like a traditional lighting dimmer switch and can be used in exactly the same way so that the unfamiliar user is not intimidated and may not even be aware that a home automation system is installed. When a user wants to do more than just switching lights on and off and dimming them then the present invention is has the capability to do this e.g. open a window, close the curtains, change lighting mode (like a lighting scene, but capable of much more).

Preferably, the control system additionally has a feedback unit for indicating the function selected. Suitably, the secondary mode comprises a menu for accessing at least the second function and wherein, once a function has been selected, the controller is operable to control the selected function. Preferably, the secondary mode includes a menu of second functions, each of which can be selected through operation of the controller. In the second mode, the system preferably comprises a menu for access to two or more functions, upon being selected, at least one function having a further menu of activities relevant to the selected function.

Preferably, the manually operable button is a position adjustable element, the button having two directions of position adjustability, a first direction of position adjustability being along an axis of operation for selection of the second mode of operation and a second direction of position adjustability being in a direction perpendicular to said axis of operation or being around said axis of operation. Thus the first direction of position adjustability could be by a push button and the second direction of position adjustability could be by sliding the button along a channel or by rotating the button. Thus, the manually operable button may be part of a rotary encoder, the first direction of position adjustability being a depressible displacement along the axis of rotation of the rotary encoder, from a first position to a second position, the button being biased towards to the first position and the second direction of position adjustability being around said axis of rotation.

Preferably, the feedback unit provides a visual feedback and is located within or adjacent to the manually operable button. Other forms of feedback could be an audible sound or vibration. Where the feedback is visual feedback then this may be provided by a multi-coloured light source. A suitable multi-coloured light source would include a multi-coloured light emitting diode (LED). Such an LED can be located adjacent to the button.

Suitably a light transmitter is provided so that the colour is displayed. The light transmitter can be provided around the manually operable button to give a halo effect or it can be io provided through the manually operable button so the light is emitted in the centre of the button. Preferably, pad of the light transmitter is located adjacent the light source.

In a preferred form, the multi-coloured light source is operated by the controller to display a different colour to indicate the menu function selected -selected colours having been is allocated to selected menu functions.

Thus, in the first mode, the control system might operate the main room lighting and in the second mode the control system may provide access to other selected functions. These can include one or more of control of further room lighting -such as mood or scene' lighting, room temperature, entertainment systems, curtains, windows, security or household appliances. The user is able to specify the functions to be controlled in a particular building.

Suitably, the building automation control system additionally comprises one or more activators each for receiving a signal from the signal transmitter and controlling a separate function. Each activator will suitably be associated with the function which it controls. One or more signal relay stations may also be included, each relay station having a signal input for receiving signals from the signal transmitter and a signal output for transmitting a signal to the one or more activators.

In a preferred embodiment, the manually operable button, encoder and multi-coloured light source are co-located within a switch box. This could be mounted on the wall. In this form there is provided a discrete and tidy unit which will both access the control for the different functions connected under the building automation and provide the user with feedback as to what functions are being operated in real time.

The control system of the present invention may be further adapted to provide status information relating to other functions of the home. For example, this might include information relating to a fire alarm which has been triggered or that a drive gate has been left open. This information may be displayed through the feedback system in accordance with priorities assigned by the user. With such a function, the controller can monitor various functions for signals and, in accordance with pre-assigned priorities, relay the highest priority s infoimation to the light source to be displayed as a pie-assigned signal.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and by reference to the following drawings: io Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through an encoder according to one embodiment of the invention.

Fig 2 is a plan view along line indicated in Fig 1.

is Fig 3A shows the process by which the system is operated in the primary mode.

Fig 3B shows the process by which the system is operated in the secondary mode.

Figs 1 and 2 show an illuminated encoder which is a human machine interface (HMI) device used in building automation systems. Its primary purpose is to allow building users to switch lights and other equipment on and off and to adjust any vanable parameter used to control this equipment e.g. switching lights on and off and adjusting their brightness, as well as other building functions.

The switch 10 comprises an encoder 12 attached to a printed circuit board (PCB) 14 by encoder legs 16. The encoder 12 has a shaft 18 which passes through the PCB 14. The PCB 14 is mounted to the inside of a faceplate 20, so that the encoder shaft 18 protrudes out of a hole 22 in the faceplate 20. A spacer 24 is placed between the PCB 14 and the faceplate 20 so that there is a small gap between them to allow for any solder joints 26 on the back of the PCB 14.

A light transmitter (or waveguide) 28 is mounted on the outside of the faceplate 20 and is held in place by a nut 30 which screws onto the shaft 18 of the encoder 12, holding the whole assembly together.

On the back of the PCB 14 there are locating pegs 32 and LEDs 34. The locating pegs 32 centralise the encoders shaft 18 in the middle of the faceplate hole 22. Where the faceplate is made of metal, the locating pegs 32, will stop the metal of the faceplate from touching the LEDs 34.

A light transmitter 28 is used to guide the light from the source so that it shines out behind the button giving a halo' glow around the button that is visible from most directions and in most light levels but is not offensive to the eye. The LEDs 34 are orientated to shine their light parallel to the encoder shaft 18 and away from the PCB 14, so that the light from the LEDs enters the light transmitter 28, at one end 27 and is guided to the edge 29 of the light transmitter where it radiates out and is visible from all directions.

A manually operable button 36 is mounted on the encoder 12 by a push-fit'. However, this may be held in position by a small screw e.g. a grub screw. The diameters of the button 36 and light transmitter 22 are matched so that the light transmitter is only just visible outside of the edge of the button 36. In alternative embodiments, the light transmitter could be provided is through a channel within the button 36, so that the light is emitted centrally though the button, rather than as a halo around the button.

Electrical/electronic control components 38 are mounted on the PCB 14 for control of the LEDs 34 and any signal conditioning of the signals from the encoder 12. There is also a connector 40 mounted on the PCB 14 for connection to the rest of the home automation system.

The rest of the home automation system (not shown) will include relay stations, signal transmitters and a controller.

A way of using the manual input to operate the home automation system will now be described.

The manual input, with the encoder is used in a house. It is wired into the walls and connected to a local relay station, which can act as a gateway for the room or for the wider zone, such as a floor of the house. The relay station can be hardwired to a central controller.

Alternatively, other connections such as Ethernet or wi-fi connections could be used. The controller may be a computer, with a programmable interface. The controller can control the various functions in response to the inputs from the encoder, as required. It can also be programmed through a user interface such as a web page operable from the controller.

By operating the control system, the user will operate the encoder. The depression of the manually operated button and/or its rotation will operate the encoder which will generate signals which are sent via the relevant relay station to the controller. The controller will process the signals (as discussed below) to determine the instructions of the user and will generate an appropriate signal which will be sent from a signal transmitter (not shown) to the relevant relay station and then to the relevant activator and send instructions back to the electrical/electronic control components 38 on the PCB 14, to operate the LEDs. There will be an activator associated with each function which is to be controlled. For brevity, this will not be set out repeatedly in the following description.

In the following illustrative example, the room in which the encoder is being used has three light circuits. The first circuit controls an overhead light; the second circuit controls wall lights and the third circuit controls a special reading light adjacent one of the chairs. Different illumination levels of the different lights will produce "modes'. These modes are programmed is from the user interface at the controller and, from the interface, the user can program and then adjust the relationship between the lighting circuits to change the lighting modes or to create more lighting modes. So for example, light mode 1 may be set up to involve all three lighting circuits at the same brightness. Light mode 2 may be for watching television and, this mode may be set up with the overhead light off, the wall lights on and the reading light at half the brightness of the wall lights. Light mode 3 may be for reading, so the reading light will be on and the overhead and wall lights will be dim, say at 20% of the reading light brightness.

In the room of this example, the encoder is also set up to enable the user to open and close an electrically operated window, to open and close electrically operated curtains and to control the volume of music.

For each of these functions, the user will, through the user interface, select a colour for the LEDs 34 to provide feedback on the selected mode. In this example the colours are selected as follows, but other colours may also be chosen: Mode Selected Illumination 1. Curtains Purple 2. Windows Yellow 3. Music Green 4. Lights mode 1 Blue 5. Lights mode 2 Pink

S

6. Lights mode 3 Orange The system has a primary or home mode for basic functionality as a light switch and a secondary or more advanced mode in which it can be used to select between the other function alities.

Primary mode functionality (Home mode): In the primary mode, the encoder will operate a basic functionality. This would usually be to operate as a light switch. This will be referred to in this example as the "home mode". This io in-built home mode, means that users not familiar with the system (e.g. cleaners and visiting grandparents), will see familiar light switches and be able to operate the lighting without being intimidated by the more advanced options within the system. They may also be able to use the lighting modes to change the mood.

is The home mode is the default mode in which the controller will place the encoder when it has received no inputs for a standard time limit. This might be set at e.g. 7 seconds.

At any time, the home mode will operate in one of the three light modes. So if the current light mode is light mode 1, then operating in the home mode will turn on and off all of the three light circuits -overhead light, wall lights and reading light. Whereas, if the current light mode were light mode 3, then operation of the encoder will turn on and off the reading light, with the 20% extra lighting from the wall lights.

The first step is for the user to interact with the button 36. The encoder will usually be in the home mode and this will cause the LED's to illuminate the colour associated with the current light mode. So if the encoder is in light mode 1, the LEDs will turn on and glow blue.

With reference to Fig 3A, when the user first interacts with the button 36 the first step will be for the controller to determine whether the button has been pressed for more or less than a predetermined time limit e.g. one second. If it was for less than the time limit it is considered as having been clicked', then the encoder will remain in the home mode and the single click will toggle the lights between being in an "on" state or being in an "off" state. The current lighting mode may have been determined at the user interface by the user setting up particular lighting modes for particular times of the day and/or days of the week.

Alternatively, the current lighting mode may be that which was last selected using the encoder.

If it has only been clicked, then the system will remain in the home mode. The system will then determine whether the button has been rotated. If it has, then it must first decide whether the lights are on or off. If the lights are on, then it will determine the direction of the rotation and either ramp up the brightness on a clockwise rotation or ramp them down for an anticlockwise rotation. Where a mode has been set up to say have the lights on one circuit at 20% brightness of those on another circuit, the ratios between these brightnesses will be maintained as the button is rotated in either direction.

If the lights were off, then the rotation will turn on the lights associated with the current mode and a clockwise rotation will turn them on a low level (e.g. 10%) and ramp them up to increase the brightness to the point of the rotated button, whereas an anti-clockwise rotation will turn them on at a high level (e.g.100%) and ramp them down to the selected level. The user does not need additionally to click the bufton to turn on the lights.

If the button was clicked, then the controller will then determine whether there was a single click or a second click within a predetermined time limit e.g. 2 seconds, of the last click.

Where there is only one click of the button or there is more than the predetermined time limit between clicks, then the encoder will operate only to toggle the lights on and off in the current mode.

However, without exiting the home mode, the user can also cycle through the different lighting modes with successive clicks of the button 36. So if the current mode is lighting mode 1, pressing the button 36 will cause the LEDs to give a blue light. If the button is pressed again within predetermined the time limit e.g. 2 seconds, the encoder will switch to lighting mode 2, switch the lights for this mode to the on' state and the LEDs will turn pink.

Now the main light will be turned off and the wall lights will remain on with the reading light being at 50% of the brightness of the wall lights. The user can stop there and rotate the button for more or less lighting. Or the user can click the button again within the predetermined time limit of the last click to change to lighting mode 3. Now the reading light will be the brightest light with the wall lights at 20% of its brightness and the LEDs will turn orange.

Secondary mode functionality When the button 36 is pressed and held for more than the time limit e.g. one second, the controller will open the secondary mode. While in the secondary mode the LEDs will flash, a the colour of the mode which will be engaged when the button is released. The initial mode will be the current lighting mode. So if the current mode is lighting mode 1, then the LEDs will flash blue.

The user then rotates the button 36 whilst still holding it in the depressed position. As the button rotates! the colour flashed by the LEDs will cycle through from blue to pink to orange, according to the programmed order of the functions and selected colours. So in the above example, when the LEDs flash purple, the selected mode will be to operate the curtains. If that is the desired operation, then at that point the user releases button 36 to select the io mode. When released the mode is selected and indicator LEDs go steady in that modes colour i.e. they stop flashing.

The operation of the secondary mode is indicated in fig 3B.

is Curtains -Having selected the curtains by releasing the button when the LEDs are flashing purple, these can now be opened or closed. On release, the LEDs will show a steady purple colour. Anticlockwise rotation of the button will cause the curtains to close: clockwise rotation will cause them to open. Once movement of the curtains has been initiated, the LEDs will change colour to indicate what they are doing -say red to indicate that the curtains are being opened and say green to indicate that the curtains are being closed. If the button is now left alone, the movement will continue until the curtains have been fully opened or closed and the menu will then revert automatically to the home mode. However, the movement of the curtains can be halted by a further click of the button. In that event the encoder will stay in the current mode in case further instructions are to be imparted to alter the position of the curtains. If no further instructions are received, then after a standard delay of e.g. 7 seconds, the encoder will revert to the home mode.

Window -The encoder will function similarly where the selected mode is to open and close the window. In the current example, the user will release the button from its depressed position when the LEDs flash yellow. On release, the LEDs will now show a steady yellow.

Anticlockwise rotation of the button will cause the window to close: clockwise rotation will cause it to open. Once movement of the window has been initiated, the LEDs will change colour to indicate the direction of movement -say red to indicate that the window is being opened and green to indicate that the window is being closed, lithe button is now left alone, the movement will continue until the window has been fully opened or closed and the menu will then revert automatically to the home mode. However, the movement of the window, as with the curtains, can be halted by a further click of the button. In that event the system will stay in the current mode in case further instructions are to be imparted to alter the position of the window. If no fuither instiuctions are received, then aftei a standard delay of e.g. 7 seconds, the system will revert to the home mode.

Music -To select the music control, the user should piess and hold the button 36 and then rotate it until the LEDs flash green. Then it should be released and the LEDs will show a steady green colour. From here, the user will be able to change the volume. To turn the music on or off or to change the music to a different album, track or radio station, in this embodiment, the user will use the user interface. With the LEDs glowing green, turning the io encoder clockwise will turn the volume up. This will be indicated by the brightness of the LED indicator intensifying. When the volume is turned down with an anticlockwise rotation of the encodei, the biightness of the LEDs will diminish. The volume level can then be set by a single click of the button, which will also ieturn the system to the home mode from the music mode. Alternatively, if the button is now left alone, the volume will be set at that level and the is system will revert automatically to home mode when the button is left for the standard time delay (e.g. 7 seconds).

Lightinu modes -the various lighting modes can also be accessed in the secondary mode.

When the button is pressed in, held and turned, the ability to engage with the relevant lighting modes will be indicated by the LEDs flashing blue, pink or orange. Releasing the button will cause the LEDs to stop flashing. The ielevant lighting mode will be selected and the lights turned on. As these are lighting modes, the selected lighting mode will become the current active lighting mode and the encoder will return to the home mode. The lighting mode will only be changed to a different mode when further input to the system is received, either by use of the manual input button again, or via the user interface, ci via a pre-programmed event entered in a calendar -e.g. for the system automatically to turn on lights at dusk or turn on night lights at children's bed times.

When there has been no user input to the encoder for the standard time delay (in this embodiment, 7 seconds), then provided all actions have been completed -including any operations to open or close windows or curtains -then whichever mode was engaged will be released and the system will revert to the home mode. This will also ielease the LED indicators 34. The LEDs may go dark. Alternatively, the system may use the LEDs to display any status information which the user may have programmed them to display. This is discussed further below.

The skilled person will understand that the above description is given by way of example only. The number of modes can vary. Access to the modes can be varied too, with different combinations of clicks of the button. Access to the different functions could be obtained by clicking through the options rather than by holding the button in and rotating it. The colours shown by the LEDs to indicate the modes can vary, including whether they flash to indicate the second mode or whether some other indicator, such as a vibration is used to indicate that the user is operating within the secondary mode to select a new function to operate.

More processing capacity can be included on the PCB 14, enabling some of the controller io functions to be carried out locally on the PCB, rather than having all user inputs sent to the central controller for interpretation and action.

The system can be used to operate other functions within a house. Those might include the thermostat setting for the central heating, the volume of the television, opening and closing is drive gates or a front door.

Encoders can be placed in more than one room, with each encoder being set up to operate specific functions within that room or, where relevant, the property as a whole.

It is within the scope of the invention to provide all the components required to create the control system for any particular home. That will include supplying activators and relay stations.

When the LEDs are not being used to provide direct menu feedback from the encoder due to user operation of the button 36, they may be used by the control system to provide other status information on the home. When the home automation system is installed, a number of functions will be linked to the controller, e.g. by hard wiring or through an Ethernet or wi-fi or other remote connection. This might include temperature sensors, sensors on drive gates, doors or windows. The controller will be operating a number of scripts or macros to monitor the information received from the inputs. Thus, the controller is able to decide whether or not the input is a message to be displayed by the LEDs.

In addition to sensors for functions within the home, the system can also receive inputs from pre-selected internet sites or from electronic communication, so that the LED5 can show, for 3s example, whether a new email or voicemail has been received or whether rain is expected. ii

The status information to be displayed may be prioritised by the user in setting up or adapting the system at the user interface so that more important information is displayed in preference to less important information e.g. the LEDs could be made to flash red if the fire alarm is set-off/triggered or the drive gate is open and small children could run out into the road. This may have been pre-set as being of higher importance than the requirement to pulse orange to show that rain is forecast, or a steady light blue to indicate that a new email has been received.

Any information from the home automation system or available from the internet could be io indicated using the LEDs when they are not being used by the encoder to give direct menu feedback. These indications could set the LED5 to a steady colour and brightness, flash the LEDs between 2 states, or pulse the LEDs between 2 states. These states can be different colours or the same colour, with different brightnesses or one state could be all LEDs off so that they flash one colour on/off. When flashing the dwell time in each state can be set is individually by the user. Pulsing is the fading of the LED between the 2 states, the fading time between the 2 states and the dwell time at each state can be set individually.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A control system operable in a primary mode for controlling a first function and in a secondary mode for accessing control of one or more second functions, the control system comprising an input device having (a) a manually operable button (b) an encoder connected to the manually operable button, (c) a controller, connected to the encoder and responsive to inputs from the manually operable button, (d) the controller being operable in the primary mode to control the first function, (e) the controller being operable to select between the plimary and secondaiy modes, (f) the controller being operable in the secondary mode to select and control the one oi more second functions, and (g) a signal transmitter in communication with the controller for transmitting the generated signal to the selected function to control its operation in accordance with the input to the button.
2. A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the control system additionally has a feedback unit for indicating the function selected.
3. A control system as claimed in claim 1 oi claim 2 wherein the secondary mode comprises a menu for accessing at least the second function and wherein, once a function has been selected, the controller is operable to control the selected function.
4. A control system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the secondary mode includes a menu of second functions, each being selectable thiough the controller.
5. A control system as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the second mode complises a menu for access to two or more functions, upon being selected, each function having a further menu of activities relevant to the selected function.
6. A contiol system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the manually operable button is a position adjustable element, the button having two directions of position adjustablility, a first direction of position adjustability being along an axis of operation for selection of the second mode of operation and a second direction of position adjustability being in a direction perpendicular to said axis of operation or being around said axis of operation.s
7. A control system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the manually operable button is part of a rotary encoder, the first direction of position adjustability being a depressible displacement along the axis of rotation of the rotary encoder, from a first position to a second position, the button being biased towards to the first position and the second direction of position adjustability being around said axis of rotation.
8. A control system as claimed in claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 7 as dependent on claim 2 wherein the feedback unit provides a visual feedback and is located within or adjacent to the manually operable button.
9. A control system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the feedback unit comprises a multi-coloured light source.
10. A control system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the feedback unit includes a light transmitter provided around the manually operable button or through the centre of the manually operable button, one end of the light transmitter being located adjacent the light source.
11. A control system as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the multi-coloured light source is operable by the controller to display a different colour to indicate the menu function selected.
12. A control system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first mode operates main room lighting and the second mode provides access to functions including one or more of control of further room lighting, room temperature, entertainment systems, curtains, windows, security or household appliances.
13. A control system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising one or more activators each for receiving a signal from the signal transmitter and controlling a separate function.
14. A control system as claimed in claim 13 further comprising one or more signal relay stations, the relay station having a signal input for receiving signals from the signal transmitter and a signal output for transmitting a signal to the one or more activators.
15. A control system as claimed in any preceding claim adapted to provide status information relating to other functions of a home.
16. A control system as claimed in claim 15 and any preceding claim as dependent on claim 2, wheiein the status infoimation is provided through the feedback system.s
17. A wall mountable switch for use in a control system of any of claims 9 to 12 comprising a manually operable button, an encoder connected to the manually operable button and multi-coloured light source.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS: 1. A building control system operable in a primary mode for controlling a first function and in a secondary mode for accessing control of one or more second functions, the control system comprising an input device having (a) a manually operable button (b) an encoder connected to the manually operable button, (c) a controller, connected to the encoder and responsive to inputs from the manually operable button, (d) the controller being operable in response to inputs from the manually operable button in the primary mode to control the first function, (e) the controller being operable in response to inputs from the manually operable button to select between the primary and secondary modes, (f) the controller being operable in response to inputs from the manually operable is button in the secondary mode to select and control the one or more second 0 functions, o (g) a signal transmitter in communication with the controller for transmitting the generated signal to the selected function to control its operation in accordance with the input to the button, (h) a feedback unit comprising a multi-coloured light source located within or at least partially surrounding the manually operable button, the multi-coloured light source being operable by the controller to display a different colour to indicate the menu function selected.2. A control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the secondary mode comprises a menu for accessing at least the second function and wherein, once a function has been selected, the controller is operable to control the selected function.3. A control system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the secondary mode includes a menu of second functions, each being selectable through the controller.4. A control system as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the second mode comprises a menu for access to two or more functions, upon being selected, each function having a further menu of activities relevant to the selected function.5. A control system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the manually operable s button is a position adjustable element, the button having two directions of position adjustablility, a first direction of position adjustability being along an axis of operation for selection of the second mode of operation and a second direction of position adjustability being in a direction perpendicular to said axis of operation or being around said axis of operation.6. A control system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the manually operable button is part of a rotary encoder, the first direction of position adjustability being a depressible displacement along the axis of rotation of the rotary encoder, from a first position to a second position, the button being biased towards to the first position and the second direction of position adjustability being around said axis of rotation."ct is 7. A control system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the feedback unit includes a light transmitter provided around the manually operable button or through the centre of the manually operable button, one end of the light transmitter being 0 located adjacent the light source.o 8. A control system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first mode operates main room lighting and the second mode provides access to functions including one or more of control of further room lighting, room temperature, entertainment systems, curtains, windows, security or household appliances.9. A control system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising one or more activators each for receiving a signal from the signal transmitter and controlling a separate function.10. A control system as claimed in claim 9 further comprising one or more signal relay stations, the relay station having a signal input for receiving signals from the signal transmitter and a signal output for transmitting a signal to the one or more activators.11. A control system as claimed in any preceding claim adapted to provide status information relating to other functions of a home.12. A control system as claimed in claim 11 and any preceding claim as dependent on claim 2, wherein the status information is provided through the feedback system.13. A wall mountable switch comprising the manual button, encoder and multi-coloured light source of any of claims ito 8.