Electrical Communication Switch, Outlet, Companion Device, and System

An electrical wall switch, comprising:

• a body;
• a user-controlled switch having a plurality of switch leads, the plurality of switch leads being accessible on the body for attaching wires, the user controlled switch having a switch control device for allowing a user to control a state of the user-controlled switch, the switch control device being on a front of the body;
• a controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output, the controlled switch lead output being accessible on the body for attaching wires;
• a controller coupled to the user-controlled switch and to the controlled switch;
• and
• a neutral lead and a power lead coupled to the controller, the power lead being one of the plurality of switch leads or a separate lead,
• wherein the controller is configured to determine a change of state of the user-controlled switch, and upon determining the user-controlled switch has changed state to a new state, to send a first signal;
• and
• wherein the controller is configured to receive a second signal and to change a state of the controlled switch pursuant to the second signal, the state of the controlled switch affecting a voltage on the controlled switch lead output.

An electrical outlet comprising:

• a socket having a plurality of socket slots;
• at least one controlled switch;
• and
• a controller coupled to said at least one controlled switch and configured to receive a signal and to change a state of at least one of said at least one controlled switch pursuant to the signal.

An electrical wall outlet, comprising:

• a socket having a plurality of socket slots;
• a first controlled switch coupled to a first of the plurality of socket slots and to a power lead, the first controlled switch for providing power to an external electrical device plugged into the socket;
• a second controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output, the controlled switch lead output for providing power to a fixture with a fixture power lead coupled to the controlled switch lead output;
• and
• a controller coupled to the first controlled switch and the second controlled switch for controlling the first controlled switch and the second controlled switch, respectively, the controller being configured to receive a first action-order signal and to change a state of the first controlled switch pursuant to the first action-order signal, the state of the first controlled switch affecting a voltage on the plurality of socket slots, the controller being configured to receive a second action-order signal and to change a state of the second controlled switch pursuant to the second action-order signal, the state of the second controlled switch affecting a voltage on the controlled switch lead output.

An electrical companion device for replacing an electrical wall switch, comprising:

• a body;
• a controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output, the controlled switch lead output being accessible on the body, the controlled switch lead output for providing power to a fixture having a fixture power lead coupled to the controlled switch lead output;
• a controller coupled to the controlled switch for controlling a state of the controlled switch;
• and
• a neutral lead and a power lead coupled to the controller for providing power to the controller, the neutral lead and the power lead being accessible on the body,
• wherein the controller is configured to receive a signal and to change a state of the controlled switch pursuant to the received signal, the state of the controlled switch affecting a voltage on the controlled switch lead output;
• and
• wherein the body is adapted to allow a faceplate to attach for entirely covering the electrical companion device.

An electrical communication system, comprising:

• a first electrical device;
• a second electrical device;
• and
• a central controller coupled to the first electrical device and the second electrical device via signal/power lines;
• wherein the first electrical device comprises:
• a user-controlled switch having a plurality of switch leads;
• and
• a first electrical device controller coupled to the user-controlled switch, the first electrical device controller being configured to determine a change of state of the user-controlled switch, and upon determining the user-controlled switch has changed state to a new state, to send a state-change signal on one of the signal/power lines to the central controller;
• wherein the second electrical device comprises:
• a controlled switch;
• and
• a second electrical device controller coupled to the controlled switch and configured to receive an action-order signal from the central controller via one of the signal/power lines and to change a state of the controlled switch pursuant to the action-order signal.

A method of communication between electrical devices without utilizing any passive communication path between the electrical devices, the electrical devices including a first electrical device and a second electrical device, the method comprising:

• determining when a first electrical device changes a state to a new state;
• sending a first signal upon determining the first electrical device has changed state;
• receiving a second signal and performing an action pursuant to the second signal,
• wherein the action includes one of the following:
• controlling a socket of the second electrical device to change a voltage;
• or
• controlling a lead of the second electrical device to change a voltage.

A method of controlling a third electrical device with a first electrical device, the third electrical device being provided power by a second electrical device, comprising:

• installing the first electrical device, the first electrical device having a user-controlled switch and a first electrical device controller coupled to the user-controlled switch, the first electrical device controller being configured to determine a change of state of the user-controlled switch, and upon determining the user-controlled switch has changed state to a new state, to send a first signal;
• installing the second electrical device, the second electrical device having a controlled switch and a second electrical device controller coupled to the controlled switch for controlling the controlled switch, the controlled switch having a controlled switch lead output, the second electrical device controller being configured to receive a second signal and to change a state of the controlled switch lead output pursuant to the second signal;
• wiring a power lead of the third electrical device to the controlled switch lead output;
• and
• configuring the first electrical device and the second electrical device to communicate together directly or through a central controller such that when a user changes a state of the first electrical device to a new state, the second electrical device is notified of the new state, and thereafter changes a state of the controlled switch lead output pursuant to the new state.