DESC:A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATION IN CONTROL MECHANISM OF LOAD DEVICES AND A METHOD THEREOF

Field of invention:

The proposed invention relates to electrical switching and control mechanism comprising electronics, sensors, communication and electrical power management. More specifically, it is used to control electrical devices powered by alternating current (AC) power supply including but not limited to lights, fans, air conditioners and motors.

Background of the invention:

All electrical devices including lighting use electricity. The operation of the lights directly determines the energy consumption and associated billing for the businesses or organizations using them. Electricity is a critical resource, and the global warming and climate change situation is demanding a need for deployment of renewable energy sources and efficient use of available electricity.

Outdoor lighting is a universal requirement for wide applications including street lighting, outdoor advertising, public parking, industries, and buildings. The purpose of outdoor lighting varies with each user based on application. While public street lighting is managed by the government for safety and security of public, outdoor advertising companies use outdoor lights to showcase their advertisement campaigns. Public parking, industries, public transport organizations and buildings use their outdoor lights for utility, safety and security purposes.

A global, common need for outdoor lights is to switch ON in the absence of natural sunlight. The switching OFF event is unique to each application with the lights for security purposes to be switched OFF in the presence of natural sunlight. Lights for industries or advertisements may be set to switch OFF in the middle of the night to save energy.

Users would like to switch ON & OFF certain applications in a predetermined time schedule or adapt to the dynamic needs which are subject to change from time to time. Users would also need to be able to use the switch during maintenance activities that is needed for any electrical device for testing, repair or other associated activities.

Traditionally, outdoor lights are electrically connected to switches for its operation. The switches are designed to connect and disconnect the electrical current passage to the connected device that could be a light or fan or motor or air conditioner or any other electrical device. Switches have to be connected to the input power supply and the electrical device with electrical cables and wires. The switch design should facilitate mechanical installation in outdoor or indoor environment and convenient electrical cable connections.
Traditional switches include button or touch panel or slider and require the user to physically operate the device to connect or disconnect the electricity connection to the load. This process is inefficient as timely operation on a daily basis is dependent on availability and operation of personnel.

Another typical switch to perform this operation is a ‘timer’ where user has to program the ON and OFF times on the device manually. Switches like these needs users to physically access them and can cause challenges when installed outdoors or at a height forcing the use of additional tools and equipment to safely access the switch. The users also need to be trained to program the devices to meet their requirements.

Another commonly used switch is an ‘astronomical timer’ which requires user to set the latitude and longitude where the switch is installed so it can operate as per the local sunset, and sunrise times of that location. Users need training to determine the location coordinates in required format and program the device accordingly. Physical access is necessary to program the device or override during maintenance activity.

Another commonly used switch is a photocell/light sensor that will automatically switch ON or OFF based on the light level. This switch needs to be installed outdoors to be able to detect the light. The switches’ sensitivity to any light source makes them vulnerable to sources of light from neighboring buildings or vehicles or weather events leading them to switch ON at times not desired by user. This directly ends up wasting energy and increasing the cost to users.

Smart switches, sometimes also referred to as online or intelligent switches offer users the ability to remotely access switch settings and parameters via the internet. While these offer great value addition and solutions to some of the user challenges, they are priced highly and there are many users who are interested in affordable automation devices without online services.

A common challenge with the existing solutions is the ability to protect the connected device from voltages. All electrical loads in the world have a rated voltage range of operation as per their design. The voltages in power supply varies regularly and the voltage level depends on various factors including supply quality, distribution design, demand characteristics which are volatile. An electrical device will get damaged if exposed to voltages beyond the ratings and existing devices do not offer any protection to the connected devices from an event like floatation of neutral at the transformer which leads to elevated voltages.

Summary of the invention:

The present invention proposes to provide an automatic system being a control system with wireless communication (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) offering multiple operation modes of switching ON and OFF in a user-friendly mechanical design suited for installation in outdoor and indoor environments. The system according to one embodiment can be a switch.
The invention shall control the power supply to the connected electrical load based on the operation modes and settings configured by the user in a microcontroller subsystem with wireless communication technology.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for automatic control of power supply to electrical load. The system comprises a power supply subsystem, a sensor subsystem, a microcontroller subsystem, a control element, and a communication subsystem. The power supply subsystem converts an AC main supply to DC supply. The sensor subsystem measures lux level of exterior lighting and generates corresponding luminance data. The microcontroller subsystem is operably connected to said sensor subsystem and said power supply subsystem for generating actuating commands. The control element is operably connected with said microcontroller subsystem for controlling power supply to said electrical load, based on the actuating commands received from said microcontroller subsystem. The communication subsystem is configured for establishing interaction between a user and said microcontroller subsystem.

According to an object of the invention, when microcontroller subsystem receives command from said communication subsystem to process the luminance data received from said sensor subsystem and to operate either in:
- an astronomical clock mode (m1) correlating to local timings of sunrise and sunset,
- a sunlight level mode (m2) correlating to the luminance data measured by said sensor subsystem,
- a timer mode (m3) correlating the local time adapting to daylight savings regionally, and/or
- a combined mode (m4) of astronomical clock and sunlight level, corelating to a predetermined window of location-based timings of dusk and dawn and the lux level of exterior lighting.

According to the object of the invention, upon selection of one of said operation modes (m1, m2, m3, m4) by means of the communication subsystem, the microcontroller subsystem actuates said control element to modify the power supplied to said electrical load to maintain a predefined level.

According to one object of the invention, said sensor subsystem comprises a visible light sensor and an infrared light sensor to distinguish between natural light and artificial light by a combined sensing of visible and infrared wavelengths of the light spectrum.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said communication subsystem allows user to operate said microcontroller subsystem for automatic acquisition of location coordinates, date, time and time zone settings corresponding to the geographical positioning of said electrical loads.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said communication subsystem is a communication device having wireless communication including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi; and said communication subsystem comprises a wireless communication interface providing a visual representation of said operation modes (m1, m2, m3, m4).

According to one embodiment of the invention, the communication device provides digital access of information regarding guidelines on usage, safety, installation, and operation of said system which is periodically updated. The communication device is configured to keep the log of all the interaction between said user through the communication subsystem and to store and send to servers for analyzing the same. The communication device is provided with a handshake mechanism and requires a valid password authentication by the user which is specific to each said communication device.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said system is configured with multiple switching cycles to be scheduled to be operated for each individual day of the week with with said operational mode (m1, m2, m3, m4) in a dynamic manner.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the system is configured to be installed on a solid flat surface including a DIN or Omega rail, while being enclosed within an electrical cabinet.

According to one object of the invention, said control element, upon actuated by said microcontroller subsystem, varies the power supply to said electrical load and thereby varying the output of said electrical load, wherein said electrical load is a LED having dimmable LED driver.

Brief description of the drawings:

The proposed invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding part in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a functional schematic diagram showing the incorporation of the invented control system for controlling the power provided to an electrical load according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a block diagram representing the internal subsystems of the invention.

Figure 3 is a flowchart depicting the functional data flow of the invention as a continuous loop.

Detailed description of the drawings:

In the following, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough description of embodiment. Those skilled in the art will recognize and appreciate that, despite of the detailed nature of the exemplary embodiment provided herein; changes and modifications may be applied to said embodiment without limiting or departing from the generally intended scope.

Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the implementations herein. Also, the various implementations described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some implementations can be combined with one or more other implementations to form new implementations.

As shown in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, an input power supply subsystem (104) is required to power the invented system (100) to switch or control the electric loads (102).

The microcontroller subsystem (110) continuously monitors inputs from the other subsystems including sensor subsystem (106), communication subsystem (114) and power supply subsystem (104). As per the operational settings, it controls the output.

The electrical load (102) is connected to the communication subsystem (114) for automatic operation. The control system (100) can be implemented, for example at any embodiment of a light that operates with an AC input voltage from an AC mains supply (108). The system (100) of the present invention is controlling the electrical power supply to the electrical load (102).

Typically, the invented system (100) is installed in an electrical cabinet on the standard ‘DIN/Omega’ rail or outdoors on a solid flat surface. The material used for construction of several components of the invention is suited to withstand a wide range of temperature, humidity, rain and sunlight radiation and offers reliable automation to the user. Electrical cables are connected to the invention to provide input power supply from the power supply subsystem (104) and to connect the output to an electrical load (102) including but not limited to luminaries, fans, motors, air conditioners, etc.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said communication subsystem (114) comprises a wireless communication interface providing a visual representation of said operation modes (m1, m2, m3, m4). The communication subsystem (114) can be an electronic communication device (114) such as a mobile phone, having wireless communication. Accordingly, the invention utilizes various wireless communications (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi) to enable users to program and override the communication device without physical contact with the electrical load (102). The users can interact with the communication subsystem (114) using any other device enabled with wireless communication from a range of practical distances to establish mutual communication. This eliminates the need for close and physical interaction with the electrical load (102) which otherwise would demand the user of the communication device to use additional equipment including a ladder, training and electrical safety provisions.

User is any person with access to the communication subsystem (114), be it a mobile phone, tablet, computer device, laptop or any embodiment of such devices. The user will interact with the system (100) via an application designed for such wireless communication enabled devices (114). An embodiment of it is a mobile application suitable for access with a smartphone.

The wireless communication interface also minimizes the need for training personnel on working with the communication device (114). The user friendly, intuitive mobile application is convenient for any user and helps in automatically acquiring critical information such as location coordinates, date, and time and time zone settings. Mobile applications, enabled by microcontroller subsystem (110), also facilitate offering of multiple operation modes (m1, m2, m3, m4) and their visual presentation of the settings helps a clearer understanding by the user. Information including guidelines on usage, safety, installation, and operation of communication device can be made available digitally with convenient access and can be updated frequently on the internet which the user can download at any time by using the mobile application.

The application provides an interface for the user to visually select the operational parameters. This allows dynamic update and intuitive information to the user that allows him to have numerous operation modes and the ability to navigate and select the specific mode that is most appropriate to the user’s need.

With reference to Figure 2, the power supply subsystem (104) processes the input AC voltage to levels as per the requirements of the control circuit of the switch. It offers protection from surges, spikes and extended duration of abnormal voltage. It also senses the input power supply voltage level. This is used to protect the output from getting exposed to voltage beyond its operational voltage range as set by the user.

The sensor subsystem (106) measures the lux level of multiple wavelength ranges. The sensor subsystem (106) comprises infrared sensors and visible light sensor. The sensor subsystem (106) can determine the visible light level and the infrared wavelength range to determine the sunlight illumination level. The combination of both these inputs enables the invented control system (100) to detect the ambient light level effectively.

The communication subsystem (114) has wireless communication circuit to interact with an application interface of users. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are used in the current embodiment. The subsystem (114) enables authentication and secures a mode of communication with the application. The data from the application is processed and shared with the control subsystem i.e. the microcontroller subsystem (110).

The output microcontroller subsystem (110) comprises the circuit to control the output. The control circuit switches ON and OFF the output with this control element (112).

The application on the mobile device (114) will also keep the log of all the interaction with the device (114) for every interactive session and the same can be sent to the servers if any error was noticed for the benefit of analysis and study by the remote service team for the benefit of user.

The invented system (100) is designed to work with only exclusively designed smartphone applications containing a particular handshake mechanism and demands a valid password authentication by the user which is specific to each device (114). This eliminates unintended operation and misuse by unauthorized personnel.

The encoded communication signals between the mobile phone or other such wireless communication enabled device (114) shall be processed by the microcontroller subsystem (110) in the device (114) to operate accordingly. The messages may be acknowledged and confirmed by the invented system (100) to allow the mobile application for user to check the settings and details stored in the system (100). The operational settings will be stored locally in the system (100) for continuous automatic operation without any more need for the presence of a wireless communication enabled device (114).

In another embodiment, the mobile application may also store the operational settings of each device along with other related information and display the details in an interactive, efficient manner to the users via the internet.

As illustrated in figure 3 of the drawings, the control system (100) when powered ON, checks the operation mode (m1, m2, m3, m4) set on the microcontroller subsystem (110) and processes inputs from multiple sub-systems and controls the output. Whenever a wireless communication request is received, the microcontroller subsystem (110) receives data from the communication subsystem (114) and processes the data to update its operational parameters and control the output accordingly.

The invented system (100) offers multiple operation modes (m1, m2, m3, m4) to the user. The operation modes are described below:

Astronomical clock mode (m1):
The communication device (114) facilitates a mode for the user to select a mode which automatically correlates to the moving sun rise and sun set timings of that location. The system (100) maintains a record of its location coordinates as acquired from the mobile application and always maintains the internal clock to give the current date and time internally. The system (100) uses its internal configuration of the microcontroller subsystem (110) and arrives at the sunset and sunrise times for that location for the current day.

The microcontroller subsystem (110) upon receipt of command from said communication subsystem (114), will also check for the operation mode and the deviation desired by the user and if the current time corresponds to the number of minutes before or after the local sunset or sunrise time the microcontroller subsystem (110) engages the control element (112) which in turns controls the output to the electrical load accordingly. The communication device analyses input from power supply subsystem (104) and controls the output to ON state only if the input voltage is not beyond the voltage range configured for the output.

This helps in installing the system (100) even indoors as part of the distribution boxes while retaining the ability to manage outdoor loads to be in tune with naturally occurring day and night without even checking the ambient sunlight. This offers the advantage of simplified wiring and an easy and cheaper installation and environmental protection.

Sunlight level mode (m2):
In this mode, the microcontroller subsystem (110) processes the luminance data received from said sensor subsystem (106) to determine the ambient sunlight level. If the lux level is lower than the level predefined by the user, microcontroller subsystem (110) analyses input from power supply subsystem (104) and engages the control element (112) to control the output if the input voltage is not beyond the voltage range set for the output. Similarly, if the current lux level is higher than the predefined lux level by the user, output is switched OFF and no power is supplied to the electrical load (102).

Real time operation or Timer mode (m3):
In this mode, the user is enabled to set the output of the electrical load (102) to be in an ON/OFF state correlating the local time adapting to daylight savings regionally. The invented system (100) checks the programmed time by means on microcontroller subsystem (110) schedule by the user through said communication subsystem (114) and compares with the current date and time internally. If the current time corresponds to the time user set the output to be ON, the microcontroller subsystem (110) analyses input from the power supply sub-system and engages the control element (112) to control the output if the input voltage is not beyond the voltage range programmed for the output. If the current time corresponds to the time user set the output to be OFF, the microcontroller ensures the output is switched OFF. In an exemplary embodiment, after selecting the timer mode (m3), the user can select to switch ON the electrical load (102) at 6:15 p.m. and switch OFF at 5:30 a.m. This mode gives the user the option to select the time per the clock and thereby choose for daylight saving regionally.

Sunlight - Astronomical Combined mode (m4):
In this mode the communication device allows the sensor subsystem (106) to check for ambient light level only during a window starting 30 minutes before the presumed sunset or sunrise and ending with 30 minutes after the presumed sunset or sunrise. The presumption as to local sunrise or sunset is based on the location coordinates and the clock loaded or stored and maintained in the communication device (114) as explained hereinabove.

Within the permitted window, the sensor subsystem (106) senses the ambient lux level, the microcontroller subsystem (110) checks the the same and arrives at a final decision for switch ON during dusk and switch OFF during dawn. The user can select the lux thresholds for operation and so will facilitate an operation as desired. This enables the system (100) to ensure the output is not ON during the full bright daytime even if the sensor is totally closed for whatever reason and will also ensure that the electrical load (102) will certainly switch ON during the nighttime even though the sensor subsystem (106) is exposed to unusually high light sources for whatever reason. This will give all the needed certainty while offering the fine tuning that is required according to the particular desire of some users.

Accordingly, the invented system (100) offers multiple operation modes (m1, m2, m3, m4) to meet the dynamic needs of end-user. The invention offers users the ability to configure an independent operation schedule for each individual day of the week helping users adapt to their unique needs for certain days of the week such as weekend schedule for public transportation/outdoor advertising. The invention also offers multiple switching cycles so the user can save more energy by switching OFF the connected electrical load (102) more than once. For example, a user for a public park who would want to switch OFF certain sections of the park when closed but switch ON again before sunrise to maximize energy savings.

The invention contemplates using a combination of infrared and visible light sensors to take the benefit of combinational judgment. As is known, the electromagnetic radiation including the visible light as well the near infrared spectrum gets filtered in the atmosphere based on the composition at any particular time. As a result, the spectral composition of solar radiation varies on earth from time to time depending on the atmospheric composition causing redshift or white shift with varying levels of heat and light.

Accordingly, the invention offers a unique light sensing technology that combines sensing of visible and infrared wavelengths of the light spectrum. To that effect, the sensor subsystem (106) comprises a visible light sensor and an infrared light sensor. This enables the invented system (100) to differentiate sunlight and artificial light which enables switching ON the circuit only at dusk and stay immune to other artificial light that can be incident on the device when installed outdoors. This combination of sensors in the sensor subsystem (106) will also help in addressing the problem of clouds influencing the judgment of the invention during the daytime when the sun is above the horizon.

The invented system (100) also offers a unique protective feature that enables users to select the voltage range of the connected electrical loads (102). The invention measures the supply voltage continuously and automatically switches OFF the circuit whenever the input voltage is beyond the selected voltage range. This will help protect the loads from getting damaged due to higher input voltages.

The spectral composition varies even within the visible range of 360 to 760 nm and so any level expressed or chosen in terms of lux will be effected depending on the composition of the sky at that point of time.

So here a combination of sensors comprising of both visible and near infrared category will help arriving at a balanced judgment less prone to deviations and closer to human expectations at the ground level to reflect the actual load switching requirements.

Brightness control option:
The invented system (100) further offers electrical terminals for user to connect to electric loads (102) being LED lamp load, having dimmable LED drivers. Users can select the time window when the light is set to be ‘ON’ and glowing percentage within the selected time window. This will enable the user to ‘dim’ or reduce the output light level of the connected LED lamp (102) through said device (114) for selected duration to enable further energy savings. This may correspond to lower human activity level on the ground and so a reduced energy consumption in line with reduced human activity will go in synchrony while deriving a better outcome.

Thus, the invention also offers the provision to decrease brightness (or dim) during a selected time window. This is applicable only when the connected load has a dimmable LED driver. Only LED lamp loads (102) with dimmable drivers offer the dimming feature to end user. No other electrical device offers such a feature to offer additional energy saving.

As already mentioned, the foregoing description is illustrative of the invention and not limitative to its scope, because it will be apparent to persons skilled in the art to devise other alternative embodiments without departing from the broad ambit of the disclosures made herein.

Description Sr. No.
system 100
electrical load 102
power supply subsystem 104
sensor subsystem 106
AC mains supply 108
microcontroller subsystem 110
control element 112
communication subsystem 114

,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A system (100) for automatic control of power supply to electrical load (102), said control system (100) comprising:
- a power supply subsystem (104) for converting AC main supply to DC supply to power-up said system (100),
- a sensor subsystem (106) for measuring lux level of exterior lighting and generating corresponding luminance data,
- a microcontroller subsystem (110) operably connected to said sensor subsystem (106) and said power supply subsystem (104) for generating actuating commands,
- a control element (112) operably connected with said microcontroller subsystem (110) for controlling power supply to said electrical load (102), based on the actuating commands received from said microcontroller subsystem (110), and
- a communication subsystem (114) for establishing interaction between a user and said microcontroller subsystem (110),
wherein said microcontroller subsystem (110) receives command from said communication subsystem (114) to process the luminance data received from said sensor subsystem (106) and to operate in:
- an astronomical clock mode (m1) correlating to local timings of sunrise and sunset,
- a sunlight level mode (m2) correlating to the luminance data measured by said sensor subsystem,
- a timer mode (m3) correlating the local time adapting to daylight savings regionally and/or
- a combined mode (m4) of astronomical clock and sunlight level, corelating to a predetermined window of location-based timings of dusk and dawn and the lux level of exterior lighting,
and wherein upon selection of one of said operation modes (m1, m2, m3, m4) by means of said communication subsystem (114), said microcontroller subsystem (110) actuates said control element (112) to modify the power supplied to said electrical load (102) to maintain a predefined level.

2. The system (100) for automatic control of power supply to electrical load (102), as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor subsystem (106) comprises a visible light sensor and an infrared light sensor to distinguish between natural light and artificial light by a combined sensing of visible and infrared wavelengths of the light spectrum.

3. The system (100) for automatic control of power supply to electrical load (102), as claimed in claim 1, wherein said said communication subsystem (114) allows user to operate said microcontroller subsystem (110) for automatic acquisition of location coordinates, date, time and time zone settings corresponding to the geographical positioning of said electrical loads (102).

4. The system (100) for automatic control of power supply to electrical load (102), as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communication subsystem (114) is a communication device having wireless communication including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi; and said communication subsystem (114) comprises a wireless communication interface providing a visual representation of said operation modes (m1, m2, m3, m4).

5. The system (100) for automatic control of power supply to electrical load (102), as claimed in claim 4, wherein said communication device (114) provides a digital access of information regarding guidelines on usage, safety, installation, and operation of said system (100) which is periodically updated.

6. The system (100) for automatic control of power supply to electrical load (102), as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein said communication device (114) is configured to keep the log of all the interaction between said user through the communication subsystem (114) and to store and send to servers for analyzing.

7. The system (100) for automatic control of power supply to electrical load (102), as claimed in any one of the claims 4 to 6, wherein said communication communication subsystem (114) is provided with a handshake mechanism and requires a valid password authentication by the user which is specific to each of said communication subsystem (114).

8. The system (100) for automatic control of power supply to electrical load (102), as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system (100) is configured with multiple switching cycles to be scheduled to be operated for each individual day of the week with with said operational mode (m1, m2, m3, m4) in a dynamic manner.

9. The system (100) for automatic control of power supply to electrical load (102), as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system (100) is configured to be installed on a solid flat surface including a DIN or Omega rail, while being enclosed within an electrical cabinet.

10. The system (100) for automatic control of power supply to electrical load (102), as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control element (112), upon actuated by said microcontroller subsystem (110), varies the power supply to said electrical load (102) and thereby varying the output of said electrical load (102), wherein said electrical load (102) is a LED having dimmable LED driver.