Electronic wall switch actuator

For a wall switch having a face plate and a mechanical input means operable, in response to a mechanical input, to cause the wall switch to change between an OFF-state and an ON-state, the improvement comprising:

• electro-mechanical actuation means adapted to be mounted onto the face plate and, when so mounted, to mechanically couple with the mechanical input means, the electro-mechanical actuation means comprising:
• electro-mechanical actuation means adapted to be mounted onto the face plate and, when so mounted, to mechanically couple with the mechanical input means, the electro-mechanical actuation means comprising an electric motor and being operative by way of the electric motor, on receipt of an actuating input, to provide the mechanical input, thereby corresponding to control the state of the wall switch;
• and
• control means connected with the electro-mechanical actuation means and operative to provide the actuating input.

The combination of:

• a wall switch having a face plate and a manually actuatable part operative, on receipt of a mechanical input, to cause the wall switch to change between an ON-state and an OFF-state;
• and
• actuator means positioned onto the face plate in mechanical engagement with the manually actuatable part thereof, the actuator means comprising:
• (a) energy source operative to provide electrical output,
• (b) electro-mechanical means operative:
• (i) to engage with said manually actuatable part, and (ii) to provide said mechanical input thereto in response to an electrical input, and
• (c) electrical circuit:
• (i) connected between the energy source and the electro-mechanical means, and (ii) having control key means operative to receive momentary input of physical pressure and, in response thereto, to cause the electrical circuit to provide electrical connection between the energy source and the electro-mechanical means, thereby to cause the wall switch to change between its ON-state and its OFF-state.

An arrangement comprising:

• mechanical structure means;
• electric motor means having rotatable motor shaft and electric motor terminals, the electric motor being mounted in substantially rigid relationship with the mechanical structure means;
• speed conversion means mechanically connected with the motor shaft and operative to provide rectilinear motion at a mechanical output in response to rotational motion by the motor shaft;
• mechanical receptacle means connected with the mechanical output of the speed conversion means and operative to receive the switch actuation lever of an ordinary wall switch;
• electric battery means supported by the mechanical structure means;
• electric circuit means supported by the mechanical structure means and connected between the electric battery means and the electric motor terminals, the electric circuit means having input means receptive of instructional input;
• and
• mounting means operative to permit mounting of the mechanical structure means onto the face plate of said ordinary wall switch in such manner that the switch actuation lever engages with the mechanical receptacle means, thereby permitting the movement of the switch actuation lever responsive to said instructional input.

For a wall switch means operable to exist either in an ON-state or in an OFF-state, the improvement comprising:

• control means connected within the wall switch means and operative, on receipt of an electrical control input, to cause the wall switch means:
• (i) to change from its OFF-state to its ON-state, and (ii) after a predetermined time period, to change back to its OFF-state;
• programming means:
• (i) having a first and a second mechanically responsive input means, (ii) being connected with the control means, (iii) being operative, in response to actuation of the first input means, to provide the electrical control input, and (iv) being operative, in response to mechanical positioning of the second input means, to determine the length of the predetermined time period;
• and
• clock means connected with the control means and operative to cause the wall switch means, in a repeated cyclical manner, to change:
• (i) from its OFF-state to its ON-state, and (ii) after said predetermined time period, back to its OFF-state.

For a wall switch operable, in response to the position of a mechanical input means, to exist alternatively in the states of ON and OFF, the improvement comprising:

• actuation means mechanically coupled with the mechanical input means and operative, on receipt of an electrical control input, to move the mechanical input means such as to cause the wall switch to controllably change from its OFF-state to its ON-state, and vice versa;
• the actuation means comprising an electric battery and an electric motor;
• which, in combination, are operative to cause movement of the mechanical input means;
• and
• housing means operative to contain:
• (i) the actuation means, and (ii) the mechanical input means.