Every home has a light switch to turn on and off the lights in a room. Every home also has a thermostat to control the temperature in the home. Typically these devices operate on different voltages; a light switch operates on line voltage (110-120 VAC) and the thermostat on a lower voltage (24 VAC). Traditionally thermostats required this lower voltage because the sensing elements required a specific voltage to accurately sense the temperature. The advent of electronic sensors eliminates the limitation of a specific voltage for the thermostat.
The present invention is an interactive control device that combines, at a minimum, both functions of lighting and temperature control into one device. The interactive control device may also wirelessly communicate with other devices, such as the heating and cooling (HVAC) unit and local zone dampers to control the temperature and flow of air in respective zones. The interactive control device may also be used to communicate with and remotely control other devices in the home.
The present invention is an interactive control device that combines both functions of lighting and temperature control in one device. In a preferred embodiment, the interactive control device is comprised of a control panel 1 sized to fit in the place of a typical wide-rocker light switch and has power connections compatible to the line voltage wiring (typically 110-120 VAC) so that it may be connected to the electrical wiring in the same manner as a standard light switch. Thus, the control panel 1 derives the power necessary for its operation from the line voltage wiring and steps the voltage down for operation of other devices in the control panel 1.
The control panel 1 is be capable of turning on and off the light, sensing the temperature, and remotely communicating with the HVAC component(s) to control temperature. In one embodiment, the control panel 1 and HVAC component(s) have integrated software and capability to send and receive signals to allow for communication between the devices. For example, Wi-Fi or bluetooth capability allows the interactive control device to communicate with and control the boiler/furnace, zone dampers, valves, registers, and alarms.
The control panel 1 may have a keyboard or touchscreen interface for programming and receiving user instructions. It may also be capable of programming and receiving user instructions via voice recognition. The control panel 1 may also communicate with and receive user instruction from other remote devices, such as smartphones and tablets. The control panel 1 is capable of transmitting user instructions to other devices and appliances. Wireless communication between the control panel 1 and other devices and appliances is accomplished through currently known technology, such Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
In addition to sensing temperature and wirelessly controlling the HVAC devices, the control panel 1 may include sensors, or the ability to communicate with external sensors, which allow it to monitor humidity, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other gases and be programmed to adjust ventilation settings or activate an alarm when certain threshold levels are reached. The control panel 1 may also include a sensor, or the ability to communicate with external sensors, which detects room occupancy and be programmed to adjust the lighting and temperature accordingly. In addition, the control panel 1 may incorporate a camera, or the ability to communicate with a camera, to enable remote monitoring of activity in the environment, typically activity in a given room. The control panel 1 may be capable of transmitting the measurements and information it receives from the sensor(s) and/or camera(s) to other remote devices, such as smartphones or tablets. The control panel 1 may also be designed with the appropriate software to wirelessly communicate with and control appliances, locks, alarm systems, sound systems, and other devices.
The above is a detailed description of particular embodiments of the invention. It is recognized that departures from the disclosed embodiments may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. Those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments which are disclosed herein and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All of the embodiments disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure.
This non-provisional application claims priority from pending provisional Application No. 61/770,573 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Feb. 28, 2013.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61770573 | Feb 2013 | US |