Method and apparatus for controlling and determining the status of electrical devices from remote locations

A method for controlling at least one electrical device by remote control comprising:

• coupling at least one control device to the electrical device by a wire connection for providing power to the electrical device;
• providing a manual actuator at the control device for adjusting the status of the electrical device;
• transmitting a radio frequency signal having control information therein from a master control unit having at least one actuator and status indicator thereon, the radio frequency signal being adapted to control the status of said at least one electrical device;
• receiving the control information in the radio frequency signal from the master unit at a repeater and transmitting the control information to the control device;
• receiving the control information at the control device;
• adjusting the status of the electrical device in response to the control information and optionally in response to manual actuation of the manual actuator at the control device;
• transmitting status information in a radio frequency signal from the control device regarding the status of the electrical device as affected by the control information and the manual actuator;
• receiving the status information in the radio frequency signal from the control device at the repeater and transmitting the status information to the master unit;
• receiving the status information at the master unit;
• and
• indicating the status of the electrical device at the master unit with the status indicator.

Apparatus for controlling at least one electrical device by remote control comprising:

• at least one control device coupled to the electrical device by a wire connection for providing power to the electrical device, the control device having a controllably conductive device for changing the status of said electrical device, the control device further having a manual actuator for adjusting the status of the electrical device, the control device further having a radio frequency transmitter/receiver and antenna coupled thereto for changing the status of the electrical device in response to a radio frequency command signal, the transmitter/receiver being coupled to the antenna of the control device for receiving the radio frequency command signal and for transmitting a radio frequency status signal regarding the status of the electrical device as affected by the control information and the manual actuator;
• a master control unit having at least one actuator and status indicator thereon, the master unit comprising a transmitter/receiver for transmitting the radio frequency command signal to control the status of said at least one electrical device and for receiving the status signal from the control device;
• and
• the status indicator of said master control unit indicating the status of the electrical device in response to the status signal from the control device.

A method for controlling at least one electrical device by remote control comprising:

• coupling at least one control device to the electrical device by a wire connection for providing power to the electrical device;
• providing a manual actuator at the control device for adjusting the status of the electrical device;
• transmitting a radio frequency signal having control information therein from a master control unit having at least one actuator and status indicator thereon, the control information in the radio frequency signal controlling the status of said at least one electrical device;
• receiving the radio frequency signal at the control device;
• adjusting the status of the electrical device in response to the control information in the radio frequency signal and optionally in response to manual actuation of the manual actuator at the control device;
• transmitting from the control device a status radio frequency signal having status information therein regarding the status of the electrical device after adjustment of the status in response to the control information as affected by the control information and the manual actuator;
• receiving the status information in the status radio frequency signal at the master unit;
• and
• indicating at the master unit the status of the electrical device in response to the status information.

A method for controlling at least one electrical device by remote control comprising:

• coupling at least one control device to a power line and coupling the control device to the electrical device by a wire connection for providing power to the electrical device;
• providing a manual actuator at the control device for adjusting the status of the electrical device;
• transmitting a power line carrier signal on the power line from a master control unit having at least one actuator and status indicator thereon, the power line carrier signal having control information therein for controlling the status of said at least one electrical device;
• receiving the control information in the power line carrier signal at the control device;
• adjusting the status of the electrical device in response to the control information in the power line carrier signal and optionally in response to manual actuation of the manual actuator at the control device;
• transmitting from the control device a status radio frequency signal having status information therein regarding the status of the electrical device as affected by the control information and the manual actuator;
• receiving the status information at the master unit;
• and
• indicating with the status indicator at the master unit the status of the electrical device in response to the status information.

An apparatus for controlling at least one electrical device comprising, at least one control device coupled to the electrical device by a wire connection for providing power to the electrical device, the control device having a controllably conductive device for adjusting the status of said electrical device, the control device further having a manual actuator for adjusting the status of the electrical device, the control device having a power line carrier receiver coupled to electric power lines for receiving a power line carrier command signal having control information therein to control the status of the electrical device, the control device further having a radio frequency transmitter coupled to a first antenna for transmitting a status radio frequency signal having status information therein regarding the status of the electrical device as affected by the control information and the manual actuator;

• a master control unit having at least one actuator and status indicator thereon, the master unit comprising a radio frequency transmitter coupled to a second antenna for transmitting a command radio frequency signal having control information therein to control the status of the electrical device, and further having a power line carrier receiver coupled to the electric power lines for receiving power line carrier status signals regarding the status of the electrical device, the status indicator indicating the status of the electrical device in response to the status power line carrier signal;
• a bridge unit comprising a radio frequency receiver coupled to a third antenna for receiving the command radio frequency signal and the status radio frequency signal and a power line carrier transmitter coupled to the power lines for transmitting the command power line carrier signal and the status power line carrier signal.

A method for controlling at least one electrical device by remote control comprising:

• coupling at least one control device to a power line and coupling the control device to the electrical device by a wire connection for providing power to the electrical device;
• providing a manual actuator at the control device for adjusting the status of the electrical device;
• transmitting a command radio frequency signal from a master control unit having at least one actuator and status indicator thereon, the command radio frequency signal having control information therein for controlling the status of said at least one electrical device;
• receiving the control information in the command radio frequency signal at a bridge unit;
• using the bridge unit to place the control information in the command radio frequency signal into a command power line carrier signal;
• receiving the control information in the command power line carrier signal at the control device;
• adjusting the status of the electrical device in response to the control information in the command power line carrier signal and optionally in response to manual actuation of the manual actuator at the control device;
• transmitting from the control device a status radio frequency signal having status information therein regarding the status of the electrical device as affected by the control information and the manual actuator;
• receiving the status information in the status radio frequency signal at the bridge unit;
• using the bridge unit to place the status information in the status radio frequency signal into a status power line carrier signal;
• receiving the status information in the status power line carrier signal at the master unit;
• and
• indicating with the status indicator at the master unit the status of the electrical device in response to the status information.

Apparatus for controlling at least one electrical device by remote control comprising:

• at least one control device coupled to the electrical device by a wire connection for providing power to the electrical device, the control device having a controllably conductive device for adjusting the status of said electrical device, the control device further having a manual actuator for adjusting the status of the electrical device, the control device further having a radio frequency transmitter/receiver and antenna coupled thereto for adjusting the status of the electrical device in response to control information in a radio frequency signal, the transmitter/receiver being coupled to the antenna of the control device for receiving the radio frequency signal and for transmitting a status radio frequency signal having status information therein regarding the status of the electrical device as affected by the control information and the manual actuator;
• a master control unit having at least one status indicator thereon, comprising a transmitter-receiver for transmitting a command radio frequency signal having the control information therein to control the status of said at least one electrical device and for receiving the status information from the control device, the status indicator indicating the status of the electrical device in response to the status information, the master control unit being responsive to a signal generating device and placing control information in a signal from the signal generating device into the command radio frequency signal;
• and
• a repeater transmitter/receiver for receiving the command radio frequency signal from the master control unit and transmitting the control information to the control device and for receiving the status information from the control device and transmitting the status information to the master unit.

Apparatus for controlling at least one electrical device by remote control comprising:

• at least one control device coupled to the electrical device by a wire connection for providing power to the electrical device, the control device having a controllably conductive device for adjusting the status of said electrical device, the control device further having a manual actuator for adjusting the status of the electrical device, the control device further having a radio frequency transmitter/receiver and antenna coupled thereto for adjusting the status of the electrical device in response to control information in a radio frequency signal, the transmitter/receiver being coupled to the antenna of the control device for receiving the radio frequency signal and for transmitting a status radio frequency signal having status information therein regarding the status of the electrical device as affected by the control information and the manual actuator;
• a master control unit having at least one status indicator thereon, the master unit comprising a transmitter/receiver for transmitting a radio frequency signal having the control information therein to control the status of said at least one electrical device and for receiving the status information from the control device, the status indicator indicating the status of the electrical device in response to the status information;
• and
• a repeater transmitter/receiver for receiving the radio frequency signal from the master unit and transmitting the control information to the control device and for receiving the status information from the control device and transmitting the status information to the master unit, the repeater transmitter/receiver being responsive to a signal generating device and placing control information in a signal from the signal generating device into the control information in the radio frequency signal which is transmitted to the control device.