Automated operation of fixtures
OwnerDean Finnegan, Geoff White +4inventors
InventorsDean Finnegan, Geoff White, Robert Y. Romano, Tyler Kroymann, Ashish Dua, Daniel Peng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Control devices for automatically and/or remotely controlling fixtures such as, for example, light fixtures and/or other electrical and/or electronic devices, by controlling, operating, and/or interacting with existing switches, controls, power sources, and/or other components already present in an environment of interest, and methods for their installation and use.
Claims22
A light switch automation device comprising:
- a housing comprising a self-affixing releasable attachment for affixing the housing in position over the light switch;
- an actuator located within the housing, the actuator configured to actuate a lever of the light switch once the light switch automation device has been placed on the light switch cover plate;
- and a microcontroller located within the housing, the microcontroller configured to control the actuator.
A method of controlling a fixture comprising a physically operable control, the method comprising:
- with an automation device comprising an actuator and affixed by a self-affixing attachment to the fixture in position for engagement by the actuator with the physically operable control of the fixture, receiving a signal;
- and in response thereto controlling the actuator to operate the physically operable control.
A method of installing on a fixture comprising a physically operable control an automation device comprising an actuator, the method comprising:
- positioning the automation device in contact with the fixture with the actuator in engagement with the physically operable control, and attaching the automation device to the fixture by a self-affixing attachment.
An automation device for installation over an electrical receptacle having a cover plate secured thereto by at least one ferrous metal cover plate screw, the automation device comprising:
- a self-aligning housing having rear-facing magnetic material in a location corresponding to the cover plate screw;
- a plurality of electrically conductive male prongs extending outward from the housing and disposed in an arrangement compatible for insertion into a plurality of plug recesses of the electrical receptacle;
- at least one female electrical receptacle subassembly comprising a plurality of conductive contacts disposed in recesses in an arrangement compatible with a male electrical plug;
- a regulator adapted to regulate an electrical connection between at least one of the electrically conductive male prongs and at least one of the conductive contacts;
- a controller configured to control the regulator in response to a signal.
An automation device for installation over an electrical receptacle having a cover plate secured thereto by at least one ferrous metal cover plate screw, the automation device comprising:
- a self-aligning housing having rear-facing magnetic material in at least one location corresponding to the cover plate screw, and having at least one aperture extending through the housing to provide access for insertion of an electrical plug into the receptacle;
- at least one sensor;
- and
- a wireless communication device for communicating from the automation device a signal encoding information derived from the at least one sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.