Remote controlled light switch cover assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9799469-B2
Application number	US-201514825117-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 12, 2015
Priority date	Aug 12, 2014
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

A remote controlled light switch cover assembly is described for converting a standard rocker switch into a remote controlled switch. In one embodiment, a method is described, performed by the remote controlled light switch cover, comprising receiving a wireless signal to actuate the standard rocker switch, activating an electric motor that causes a wiper to move along a surface of the standard rocker switch, detecting when the wiper has actuated the standard rocker switch, causing the electric motor to rotate in a reverse direction from the first direction, which causes the wiper to move back towards a valley of the standard rocker switch, detecting when the wiper is positioned over the valley, and in response to detecting when the wiper is positioned over the valley, causing the electric motor to stop rotating, causing the wiper to remain positioned over the valley.

First claim

We claim:

1. A light switch cover for converting a standard rocker light switch into a remote-controlled light switch, comprising:
a wiper for engagement with a surface of the standard rocker switch and for causing actuation of the standard rocker switch as the wiper is moved across the surface of the standard rocker switch;
a gear train coupled to the wiper that causes the wiper to move across the surface of the standard rocker switch;
an electric motor, coupled to the gear train, for driving the gear train in a first direction to move the wiper in a first wiper direction, and for driving the gear train in a second direction to move the wiper in a second wiper direction;
motor driving circuitry coupled to the electric motor;
a wireless receiver for receiving wireless signals that cause the actuation of the standard rocker switch; and
processing circuitry coupled to the wireless receiver and the motor driving circuitry that causes the processing circuitry to control the electric motor in accordance with the wireless signals received by the receiver.

2. The light switch cover of claim 1 , wherein:
the gear train comprises a driver gear;
the wiper comprises a tip; and
the wiper is coupled to the driver gear extending away from the driver gear such that rotation of the driver gear causes the tip of the wiper to rotate about a pivot point of the driver gear in either the first wiper direction or the second wiper direction.

3. The light switch cover of claim 1 , wherein the driver gear comprises an outer, toothed circumference and a collar, wherein the wiper is coupled to the collar.

4. The light switch cover of claim 1 , wherein the light switch cover further comprises:
two holes formed through a surface of the light switch cover that align with cover mounting threads of the standard rocker switch; and
two fastening devices sized and shaped for placement through the two holes, respectively, and for engaging the mounting threads to secure the light switch cover to the standard rocker switch.

5. The light switch cover of claim 1 , further comprising:
an external rocker switch having a first extension and a second extension, each extending through a surface of the light switch cover to engage a first portion of the standard rocker switch and a second portion of the standard rocker switch, respectively, as the external rocker switch is operated.

6. The light switch cover of claim 1 , further comprising:
a switch comprising a first contact that causes a change of state of the switch when the wiper is positioned substantially over a valley of the standard rocker switch.

7. The light switch cover of claim 6 , wherein the wiper further comprises an opposing end comprising a ring, the ring having an outer circumference comprising a deformity that activates the first contact when the wiper is moved over the valley of the standard rocker switch, causing the switch to change state.

8. The light switch cover of claim 6 , wherein the gear train comprises a driver gear having a collar, the collar having a deformity on a surface of the collar that activates the first contact when the wiper is moved over the valley of the standard rocker switch, causing the switch to change state.

9. The light switch cover of claim 5 , further comprising:
a limit switch located beneath the first extension that changes state when the first extension contacts the limit switch as the external rocker switch is operated;
wherein the processing circuitry further:
detects the change of state of the limit switch; and
causes the motor to stop driving the gear train as a result of detecting the change of state of the limit switch.

10. The light switch cover of claim 5 , further comprising:
a limit switch located beneath the first extension that changes state when the first extension contacts the limit switch as the external switch is operated;
wherein the processing circuitry further:
causes the electric motor to drive the gear train in the first direction upon receipt of a first wireless signal;
detects the change of state of the limit switch as the first extension contacts the limit switch; and
causes the electric motor to drive the gear train in the second direction as a result of detecting the change of state of the limit switch.

11. The light switch cover of claim 10 , further comprising:
a second switch that changes state when the wiper is positioned substantially over a valley of the standard rocker switch;
wherein the processing circuitry further:
detects a change of state of the second switch; and

causes the electronic motor to stop driving the gear train upon detecting the change of state of the second switch.

12. The light switch cover of claim 6 , wherein the wiper comprises a ring at one end, the ring coupled to a driver gear, the driver gear having three deformations formed thereon that cause activation of the switch as the wiper is positioned in the “on” position, the “off” position and in a valley position, respectively, the valley position comprising the wiper being positioned over a valley of the standard rocker switch.

13. The light switch cover of claim 1 , wherein the wiper comprises a tip, and the tip comprises a socket and a ball held in place by the socket, the ball in contact with the surface of the standard rocker switch.

14. The light switch cover of claim 1 , further comprising:
a transmitter for transmitting a signal indicative of a state of the standard rocker switch.

15. The light switch cover of claim 1 , further comprising:
a transmitter;
wherein the processing circuitry further:
controls the electric motor as a result of receiving a first of the wireless signals;
determine whether or not actuation of the standard rocker switch was successful in response to receiving the first wireless signal; and
transmit a signal indicative of whether or not actuation of the standard rocker switch was successful.

16. The light switch cover of claim 15 , further comprising:
means for determining whether or not current is flowing through the standard rocker switch;
wherein the processing circuitry determines whether or not actuation of the standard rocker switch was successful by determining whether the current is flowing through the standard rocker switch as determined by the means for determining whether or not current is flowing through the standard rocker switch.

17. The light switch cover of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry further:
determines when the standard light switch has been actuated;
in response to determining that the standard light switch has been actuated, causing the electric motor to drive the gear train in a reverse direction to either the first or second direction, causing the wiper to return to position over a valley of the standard rocker switch.

18. The light switch cover of claim 17 , wherein the processing circuitry further:
determines when the wiper has moved to a position over the valley; and
stopping the motor from rotating when the processing circuitry has determined that the wiper is positioned over the valley.

19. A method performed by a light switch cover for remote control of a standard rocker switch, comprising:
receiving a wireless signal to actuate the standard rocker switch;
in response to receiving the wireless signal, activating an electric motor that causes a gear train to turn in a first direction, which in turn causes a wiper to move along a surface of the standard rocker switch;
detecting when the wiper has actuated the standard rocker switch;
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Assignees

• Ecolink Intelligent Technology Inc

Inventors

• Bailey Michael
• Wang Eric
• Huang Jerry

Classifications

• Y04S20/14

  Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers · CPC title

• Y02B90/224

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• H01H23/04 Primary

  Cases; Covers · CPC title

• H01H23/145

  the actuating surface having two slightly inclined areas extending from the middle outward · CPC title

• H01H2300/03

  Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring · CPC title