GB2586729A

GB2586729A - Faceplate switch

Info

Publication number: GB2586729A
Application number: GB2015614.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wootton Matthew; Dieseldorff Boris
Original assignee: Ivani LLC
Current assignee: Ivani LLC
Priority date: 2018-03-01
Filing date: 2019-03-05
Publication date: 2021-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-05
Also published as: WO2019169411A1; GB202015614D0; GB2586729B

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for modifying an existing electrical circuit to enable a conventional mechanical switch to integrate with and operate smart devices, while also providing continuous power supply and cooperating with external operation of the smart devices (e.g., via a mobile device application, smart controller, etc.). The smart device thus is operable both via the physical switch and via a home automation system, without loss of power to the smart device computer and transmitter components caused by use of the wall switch. This may be done via a replacement switch or faceplate which effectively bypasses the physical switch to ensure continuous power to the smart device while also inferring and transmitting the toggle state of the switch by measuring an amount of current through the faceplate.

Claims

1. A smart device comprising: an electrical switch faceplate; two or more electrical leads extending from said faceplate; said electrical leads in contact with two or more electrical connection points on a mechanical switch; said smart device providing an electrically contiguous path between said two or more electrical leads; said contiguous path ensuring that the electrical contacts in the mechanical switch which are part of the switching circuit are electrically connected regardless of the mechanical switch position; at least one current sensor disposed on said contiguous path; and a transmitter in electrical communication with said current sensor(s) and configured to receive from said current sensor(s) a measure of an amount of current on said contiguous path; wherein said transmitter receives reading from said current sensor(s) and transmits information about the state of the switching system.

2. The smart device of claim 1, further comprising: a controller in electrical communication with said transmitter and said current sensor(s), said controller configured to: operate said current sensor(s) to measure current passing through said smart device; provide said measured current to said transmitter; and operate said transmitter to transmit information about the state of said mechanical switch, said state determined based upon said measured current.

3. The smart device of claim 1, wherein said transmitted information is on or off.

4. The smart device of claim 1, wherein said transmitted information is a power level.

5. The smart device of claim 1, wherein said transmitted information is that a mechanical switch in the circuit was toggled.

6. The smart device of claim 1, wherein said smart switch further comprises a power supply providing electrical power to one or more of said current sensor(s), said transmitter, and said controller.

7. The smart device of claim 6, wherein said power supply is chosen from: an electrochemical cell, a rechargeable electrochemical cell.

8. The smart device of claim 6, wherein said power supply comprises electronics configured to extract power from said switching circuit.

9. The smart device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is configured to transmit said state infonnation to a smart lighting system.

10. The smart device of claim 9, wherein one or more elements of said smart lighting system are electrically connected to said mechanical switch.

11. The smart device of claim 1, wherein said contiguous path may be disabled using some means including but not limited to: a separate mechanical switch, relay, or a triac.

12. The smart device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is a modular component.

13. The smart device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter is wireless.

14. The smart device of claim 1, wherein said electrical leads are configured such that when said faceplate is installed on one mechanical switch of a plurality of mechanical switches wired together in a multi-way switching configuration, said electrical leads cause said contiguous path to provide an electric circuit in said power system regardless of the toggle state of any of said plurality of mechanical switches.

15. The smart switch of claim 14, wherein said multi-way switching configuration is a three-or-more-way switching configuration.

16. A method for operating a smart lighting system with a conventional manual switch without loss of power comprising: providing an electrical circuit with a mechanical switch having a toggle; providing a smart lighting system; providing an electrical switch faceplate comprising: two or more electrical leads extending from said faceplate; a contiguous path through said faceplate for electrical current to flow between said electrical leads; one or more current sensors disposed on said contiguous path; and a transmitter in electrical communication with said current sensor(s); a controller operatively connected to said current sensor(s) and said wireless transmitter; installing said faceplate on said mechanical switch; said faceplate device forming one or more of: a bypass path around said mechanical switch, a connective path between the output terminals of said mechanical switch, a connective path between the input terminals of said mechanical switch; said controller operating said current sensor(s) to sense an amount of current on said electrical path through the faceplate; said controller converting said sensed amount of current into an indication of a state of said switch; said controller operating said transmitter to transmit said state to said smart lighting system; and said smart lighting system optionally changing state in accordance with said transmitted state.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising: in said providing an electrical switch faceplate, said electrical switch faceplate further comprising a power supply providing electrical power to said current sensor(s), said transmitter, and said controller.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said power supply comprises one or more power supplies selected from the group consisting of: an electrochemical cell; a rechargeable electrochemical cell; and, an AC/DC converter configured to extract power from said electrical circuit.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said mechanical switch is the only mechanical switch of said circuit.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said mechanical switch is a switch in a plurality of switches wired in a multi-way switching configuration of said circuit.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said multi-way switching configuration is selected from the group consisting of: a three-way switching configuration; a four-way switching configuration; and, more than a four-way switching configuration.

22. A smart device comprising: one electrical input with one or more physical connection points; one electrical output with one or more physical connection points; one or more user inputs chosen from a list including but not limited to: mechanical switch input(s), capacitive touch, resistive force; a contiguous path through said smart device connecting the electrical input with the electrical output; and a wireless transmitter in electrical connection with the one or more user inputs.

23. The device of claim 22, further comprising: a controller in electrical communication with said transmitter and said user inputs, said controller configured to: provide said user inputs to said transmitter; and operate said transmitter to transmit a state of said user inputs.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said device further comprises a power supply providing electrical power to one or more of said current sensor(s), said transmitter, and said controller.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein said contiguous path may be disabled using some means including but not limited to: a separate mechanical switch, relay, or a triac.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein one or more current sensors are included in the device.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein a current sensor is installed between the input and output for informational purposes including but not limited to: current being drawn through the circuit; and instantaneous loss of current flow caused by other mechanical switches in said circuit changing positions.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein a current sensor is installed electrically between one or more of: the physical connection points on the output of the device; the physical connection point on the input of the device.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein changes in the value of the current flowing through one or more of the current sensors provides information about the state of other mechanical switches in the overall circuit and said transmitter sends that information to a smart lighting system.

30. The device of claim 22, wherein said transmitter is a modular component.