Acoustical electrical switch
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
InventorJohn Willis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical switch responds to acoustic inputs. A microphone integrated into the electrical switch generates electrical signals in response to the acoustic inputs. A network interface integrated into the electrical switch provides addressable communication with controllers, computers, and other networked devices. The electrical switch may thus be installed or retrofitted into the electrical wiring of all homes and businesses. Users may thus speak voice commands, which are received by the electrical switch and sent for voice control of appliances and other automation tasks.
Claims13
An electrical switch, comprising:
- a housing retaining an electrical switch assembly therein, the electrical switch assembly having terminal screws adapted for physical connection to conductors supplying voltage of an electrical power distribution system;
- a cover mating to the housing, the cover having an aperture exposing a toggle lever for manual actuation of the electrical switch assembly;
- a microphone having a sensory element exposed through the cover mating to the housing;
- and
- circuitry housed within the housing and having electrical connections to each one of the terminal screws, the circuitry connected to the microphone having the sensory element;
- wherein the circuitry receives the voltage when present at any one of the terminal screws for electrically powering the microphone, such that the microphone is electrically powered regardless of a position of the toggle lever.
An electrical switch, comprising:
- a housing retaining an electrical switch assembly therein, the electrical switch assembly having multiple terminal screws adapted for physical connection to conductors energized with voltage and current supplied by an electrical power distribution system;
- a cover mating to the housing to form an electrical enclosure, the cover having an aperture exposing a toggle lever of the electrical switch assembly;
- an acoustic aperture extending through a material thickness of the cover;
- a microphone housed within the electrical enclosure, the microphone having a sensory element exposed by the acoustic aperture in the cover, the sensory element generating an analog signal in response to sound waves;
- and
- circuitry housed within the electrical enclosure and having separate electrical connections to each one of the multiple terminal screws;
- wherein the circuitry converts the voltage and the current when present on any one of the conductors into direct current electrical power for providing electrical power to the microphone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.