FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2006
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10 and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
Auto Mode Fan Regulator
2. APPLICANT:
a) Name
b) Nationality
c) Address : Panasonic Life Solutions India Private Limited
: IN
3rd Floor, B wing I- Think Techno Campus Pokhran, Road No 2 : Thane (West), Thane, Maharashtra 400607, India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION:
COMPLETE
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure relates to fan regulators, and more particularly, relates to auto mode operation in fan regulators.
BACKGROUND
Operation of electrical devices, such as fans, are typically controlled using a fan regulator. A fan regulator typically provides a user with an arrangement using which the user may set an operation speed of the fan. Once set by the user, the fan continues to operate at the set speed until the user changes the operation speed of the fan.
As is known, in most of the geographical regions, a noticeable difference exists in the temperature during the day time and the night time. Even during the night time itself, the temperature difference at the beginning of the night and at the end of the night is quite significant. For instance, in tropical regions, a difference of about 4-6 degree can be seen.
In view of the above, before going to sleep, a user typically sets the fan speed based on his comfort, which is further based on the then current temperature. However, as mentioned above, this temperature may drop during the night time. Thus, the speed which was set by the user may not be optimal during late in the night. In other words, when going to sleep, the user may set the fan at higher speed owing to high temperature, whereas when the temperature drops, said high speed may not be optimal. This, as may be gathered, may cause discomfort to the user, as the user may feel cold. Thus, existing mechanisms for fan operation provide for limited comfort to users.
SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.
In an embodiment, a fan regulator is disclosed. The fan regulator comprises a plurality of control buttons for setting a plurality of operation speeds of a fan coupled to the fan regulator. The fan regulator further comprises a controller. In an example, the controller is configured to receive a command for implementing an auto mode of the fan. Furthermore, the controller is configured to implement the auto mode after completion of a pre-set time from the receipt of the command, wherein, in the auto mode, the controller is configured to adjust an operation speed of the fan to a pre-set operation speed after the pre-set time.
In an embodiment, a method of controlling a fan regulator for setting a plurality of operation speeds of a fan coupled to the fan regulator is disclosed. The method includes receiving a command for implementing an auto mode of the fan. The method includes implementing the auto mode after completion of a pre-set time from the receipt of the command. The method includes adjusting an operation speed of the fan to a pre-set operation speed after the pre-set time, in the auto mode.
In another embodiment, a controller of a fan regulator is disclosed. The controller includes a receiving module configured to receive a command for implementing an auto mode of the fan. The controller includes an implementing module in communication with the receiving module and configured to implement the auto mode after completion of a pre-set time from the receipt of the command. The controller includes an adjusting module in communication with the implementing module and configured to adjust an operation speed of the fan to a pre-set operation speed after the pre-set time, during the auto mode.

To further clarify the advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting an environment of implementation of a fan regulator, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic front view of the fan regulator, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;
Figure 3 illustrates a schematic block diagram of the fan regulator, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter;
Figure 4 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a controller of the fan regulator, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method of controlling the fan regulator, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter.
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the flow charts illustrate the method in terms of the most prominent steps

involved to help to improve understanding of aspects of the present invention. Furthermore, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”

The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.
More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to “includes,” “comprises,” “has,” “consists,” and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language “MUST comprise” or “NEEDS TO include.”
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way, it may still be referred to as “one or more features” or “one or more elements” or “at least one feature” or “at least one element.” Furthermore, the use of the terms “one or more” or “at least one” feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as “there NEEDS to be one or more . . . ” or “one or more element is REQUIRED.”
Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skills in the art.
Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one

embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram depicting an environment of implementation of a fan regulator 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an embodiment, the fan regulator 100 is configured for controlling a fan 101.
The fan regulator 100 may be residing in a residential premise or a commercial premise. The fan regulator 100 is adapted to ensure transmission of power supply to an electronic device which maybe the fan 101. The fan regulator 100 of the present subject matter is selected to provide user comfort in operating

the fan 101 in accordance with the temperature of the environment and pre-set preference. In an example, the user manually controls the fan regulator 100 for operating the speed unit of the fan 101. The fan regulator 100 may be in communication with fan 101 and adapted to transmit the signal generated as a result of the user controlling the fan regulator 100. In another example, the fan regulator 100 may be in communication with the fan 101 and adapted to transmit the signal as a result of pre-set preference without specific manual control of the user.
In an example embodiment, the fan regulator 100 may include a plurality of control buttons 102 and an on/off control button 108. The control buttons 102 and the on/off control button 108 provides the user a medium to control the fan regulator 100.
Figure. 2 illustrates a schematic front view of the fan regulator 100 configured for controlling the fan 101, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. In an example, the fan regulator 100 includes the plurality of control buttons 102.
According to an aspect of the present subject matter, the fan regulator 100 may be a wall-mounted box which the user may conveniently access and operate for controlling the operation of the fan 101. In an example, the plurality of control buttons 102 may be used for setting a plurality of operation speeds of the fan 101 coupled to the fan regulator 100. For instance, the control button 102-1 may be used to set the fan operation speed to speed 1. In an example, the control buttons 102 may be touch-based buttons. Accordingly, the user may provide a touch input to select a desired operation speed.
Fig. 3 illustrates a schematic block diagram of the fan regulator 100, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. The fan regulator 100 includes the plurality of control buttons 102, a controller 304, and a memory 306. In an example embodiment, the plurality of control buttons 102, the controller 304, and the memory 306 are in communication with each other. In an example embodiment, the user operates the control buttons 102 which may send a signal to

the controller 304. The controller 304 may be configured to receive a command for implementing an auto mode of the fan 101. The auto mode may be understood as a mode in which the fan regulator 100 automatically adjusts the operation speed of the fan 101 to a pre-set operation speed, after a pre-set time. In an example, the controller 104 may be configured to receive the command for implementing the auto mode using the ON/OFF control button 108 of the fan regulator 100. In an example, the command for activating the auto mode may include the user tapping the ON/OFF control button 108 twice.
Once the auto mode is activated, the controller 304 may be configured to implement the auto mode after completion of a pre-set time from the receipt of the command. For monitoring the time, in an example, the controller 304 may activate a timer. Accordingly, after the pre-set time, the controller 304 may be configured to adjust the operation speed of the fan 101 to a pre-set operation speed.
In an example embodiment, the auto mode may be a default auto mode, i.e., one which is set at the factory. In the default auto mode, the fan is to operate at the pre-set operation speed for the pre-set time, as set during the factory manufacturing. In an example, the default auto mode may include operation speed of 2 units and pre-set time of 5 hours. Thus, after 5 hours of activation of the default auto mode, the fan regulator 100 would adjust the operation speed to speed of 2 units.
In an example embodiment, the user may be allowed to programme or update the auto mode. In said example embodiment, to begin with the programming the user at first provides an update command, say 3 taps on the on/off control button 108. Subsequently, a first user input is received from the user using one of the plurality of control buttons 102 for selecting a time corresponding to the control button as the pre-set time. In a non-limiting example, the time periods corresponding to the control buttons 102 are listed below in table 1.

Table 1

Control Button No. Time (hours)
Control Button 1 4
Control Button 2 5
Control Button 3 6
Control Button 4 7
Control Button 5 8
Thus, in case after entering the programming mode, the user selects control button 4, the pre-set time would be set to 7 hours.
Furthermore, in said example embodiment, after selecting the time, the user may provide a second user input using the control buttons 102 to select the pre¬set operation speed. Herein, the user may select control button 1 to set operation speed 1, control button 2 to set operation speed 2, and so on and so forth.
Now consider that the user selects control button 3. Thus, in the programming, the pre-set operation speed becomes 3. Thus, going forward, when the user activates the auto mode, the controller 304 would adjust the fan 101 speed to 3 after 7 hours. The programmed auto mode may be stored in the memory 106.
In an example, if the fan 101 is switched Off and then switched On again, the auto mode resets to the default auto mode as explained above. Accordingly, once the auto mode is activated, the operation speed of the fan 101 will switch to the pre-set speed after pre-set time, as defined in the auto mode. In an example, the fan 101 will continue to rotate at that speed only until the user manually changes it. Activation of the auto mode, as described earlier, may be done by tapping twice the ON/OFF control switch 108. In another example, the memory 306 may retain the value of the programmed auto mode. In an example, the memory 306 may include one or more of a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory,

programmable memory, etc. In such a case, even after switching OFF and switching ON of the fan 101, the user programmed auto mode is retained.
In an example, when the fan 101 is turned on using the ON/OFF control button 108, a blue LED may be turned on by the controller 304 for all control buttons 102-1 to 102-N/ In another example, when the on/off control button 108 is taped once again, the fan 101 may be switched off and the controller 304 may turn on a red light for the ON/OFF control button 108. In a further example, when the fan 101 is on, the controller 304 may turn on a green light for the ON/OFF control button 108, when the user activates the auto mode. In yet another example, the controller 304 may turn on a blinking green light on the on/off control button 108, when the user provides the update command for entering the programming mode.
In an embodiment, the fan regulator 100 may include the controller 304 in communication with the control buttons 102 and the memory unit 306. Figure 4 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a controller 304 of the fan regulator 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The controller 304 may include, but is not limited to, a processor 402, memory 404, modules 406, and data 408. The modules 406 and the memory 404 may be coupled to the processor 402.
The processor 402 can be a single processing unit or several units, all of which could include multiple computing units. The processor 402 may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, state machines, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate signals based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processor 402 is adapted to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions and data stored in the memory 404.
The memory 404 may include any non-transitory computer-readable medium known in the art including, for example, volatile memory, such as static random access memory (SRAM) and dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and/or non-volatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable ROM, flash memories, hard disks, optical disks, and magnetic tapes.

The modules 406, amongst other things, include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., which perform particular tasks or implement data types. The modules 306 may also be implemented as, signal processor(s), state machine(s), logic circuitries, and/or any other device or component that manipulate signals based on operational instructions.
Further, the modules 406 can be implemented in hardware, instructions executed by a processing unit, or by a combination thereof. The processing unit can comprise a computer, a processor, such as the processor 402, a state machine, a logic array, or any other suitable devices capable of processing instructions. The processing unit can be a general-purpose processor which executes instructions to cause the general-purpose processor to perform the required tasks or, the processing unit can be dedicated to performing the required functions. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the modules 406 may be machine-readable instructions (software) which, when executed by a processor/processing unit, perform any of the described functionalities.
In an embodiment, the modules 406 may include a receiving module 410, an implementing module 412, and an adjusting module 414. The receiving module 410, an implementing module 412, and an adjusting module 414 may be in communication with each other. The data 408 serves, amongst other things, as a repository for storing data processed, received, and generated by one or more of the modules 406.
Referring to Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, and Figure 4, the receiving module 410 may be configured to receive a command for implementing the auto mode of the fan 101. The receiving module 410 is further configured to receive a user input for updating the auto mode. In an example, the receiving module 410 receive the first user input using one of the plurality of control buttons 102 for selecting the time corresponding to the control button 102 as the pre-set time. Further, the receiving module 410 receive the second user input using one of the plurality of control buttons 102 for selecting the operation speed corresponding to

the control button 102 as pre-set operation speed and proceed to store the updated pre-set time and pre-set speed in the memory 306 of the fan regulator 100. In the example, the receiving module 410 is configured to receive the command for implementing the auto mode using an ON/OFF control button of the fan regulator.
The receiving module 410 is in communication with the implementing module 412. The implementing module 412 is configured to implement the auto mode after completion of a pre-set time from the receipt of the command.
In an embodiment, the adjusting module 414 is in communication with the implementing module 412. In the example, in the auto mode, the adjusting module 414 is configured to adjust the operation speed of the fan 101 to a pre-set operation speed after the pre-set time.
Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart depicting a method 500 of controlling the fan regulator 100, according to an embodiment of the present subject matter. The method 500 may be a computer-implemented method executed, for example, by the controller 304. For the sake of brevity, constructional and operational features of the fan regulator 100 that are already explained in the description of Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4 are not explained in detail in the description of Figure 5.
At a block 502, the method 500 includes receiving a command for implementing an auto mode of the fan 101. In an example embodiment, the controller 304 receives the command from the user based on user’s selection of the plurality of control button 102. In the example, the method 500 includes receiving the command for implementing the auto mode using a ON/OFF control button 108 of the fan regulator 100.
At a block 504, the method 500 includes implementing the auto mode after completion of a pre-set time from the receipt of the command. In an example embodiment, the controller 304 is configured to implement the auto-mode. In the

example, the method 500 includes receiving a user input for updating the auto mode by the controller 304. Further, the method 500 includes receiving the first user input using one of the plurality of control buttons 102 for selecting a time corresponding to the control button as the pre-set time. In the example, the method 500 includes receiving a second user input using one of the plurality of control buttons 102 for selecting an operation speed corresponding to the control button as pre-set operation speed and storing the updated pre-set time and pre-set speed in a memory of the fan regulator.
At a block 506, the method 500 includes in an example embodiment, the controller 304 is configured to adjust the operation speed of the fan to a pre-set operation speed after the pre-set time during the auto-mode. In an example embodiment, the auto-mode may be the default mode, say, operating the fan at the pre-set speed for the pre-set time.
Various advantageous aspects of the present invention are:
In the present invention, the auto-mode provides ample of ease to the user for operating the fan 101 without a manual intervention using pre-set time preference.
In the present invention, the user may have the option to configure the auto-mode. Thus, the user does not have to depend on the factor setting of the auto-mode and may configure the auto-mode as per user’s requirement.
Although the aforementioned aspects have been described in relation to a fan, the aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented in other electrical devices as well.
While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings

and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.

We Claim:
1. A fan regulator (100) comprising:
a plurality of control buttons (102-n) for setting a plurality of operation speeds of a fan (101) coupled to the fan regulator (100); and a controller (304) configured to:
receive a command for implementing an auto mode of the fan (101); and
implement the auto mode after completion of a pre-set time from the receipt of the command, wherein, in the auto mode, the controller (304) is configured to adjust an operation speed of the fan (101) to a pre-set operation speed after the pre-set time.
2. The fan regulator (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller (304) is
configured to:
receive a user input for updating the auto mode;
receive a first user input using one of the plurality of control buttons (102-n) for selecting a time corresponding to the control button (102) as the pre-set time;
receive a second user input using one of the plurality of control buttons (102-n) for selecting an operation speed corresponding to the control button (102) as pre-set operation speed; and
store the updated pre-set time and pre-set speed in a memory (306) of the fan regulator (100).
3. The fan regulator (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of control buttons (102-n) are touch based buttons.
4. The fan regulator (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the auto mode is a default auto mode, wherein in the default auto mode, the fan (101) is to operate at a pre-set speed for a pre-set time.

5. The fan regulator (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller (304) is configured to receive the command for implementing the auto mode using an on/off control button (108) of the fan regulator (100).
6. A method (500) of controlling a fan regulator (100) for setting a plurality of operation speeds of a fan (101) coupled to the fan regulator (100), the method (500) comprising:
receiving a command for implementing an auto mode of the fan (101);
implementing the auto mode after completion of a pre-set time from the receipt of the command; and
adjusting, in the auto mode, an operation speed of the fan (101) to a pre¬set operation speed after the pre-set time.
7. The method (500) as claimed in claim 6, comprising:
receiving a user input for updating the auto mode;
receiving a first user input using one of the plurality of control buttons (102-n) for selecting a time corresponding to the control button (102) as the pre-set time;
receiving a second user input using one of the plurality of control buttons (102-n) for selecting an operation speed corresponding to the control button as pre-set operation speed; and
storing the updated pre-set time and pre-set speed in a memory (306) of the fan regulator (100).
8. The method (500) as claimed in claim 6, comprising receiving the command for implementing the auto mode using an ON/OFF control button of the fan regulator (100).
9. A controller (304) of a fan regulator (100), the controller (304) comprising:

a receiving module (410) configured to receive a command for implementing an auto mode of the fan (101);
an implementing module (412) in communication with the receiving module (410) and configured to implement the auto mode after completion of a pre-set time from the receipt of the command; and
an adjusting module (414) in communication with the implementing module (412) and configured to adjust an operation speed of the fan (101) to a pre-set operation speed after the pre-set time, in the auto mode.
10. The controller (304) as claimed in claim 9, comprising: the receiving module (410) is configured to:
receive a user input for updating the auto mode;
receive a first user input using one of the plurality of control buttons (102-n) for selecting a time corresponding to the control button (102) as the pre-set time;
receive a second user input using one of the plurality of control buttons (102-n) for selecting an operation speed corresponding to the control button (102) as pre-set operation speed; and
store the updated pre-set time and pre-set speed in a memory (306) of the fan regulator (100).