DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to controllers for electrical equipment and more particularly, relates to a smart controller configured to retrofit and operate with electrical switches.

BACKGROUND

Electrical switches are provided in environments, such as households and offices spaces, to control the operation of electronic/electrical devices. The electronic/electrical devices may include, but are not limited to, a fan, a lamp, a tube light, an electrical appliance, and the like. An individual may operate an electrical switch manually to control an operational state of an associated device(s). For instance, the individual may operate an electrical switch associated with a fan to switch-ON or switch-OFF the fan. However, controlling electrical appliances and devices by using mechanically operated switches is quite understandably a cumbersome task.
With advent of technology, concept of smart environment, such as smart homes and smart office spaces, has now gained worldwide popularity. In such an environment, operation of the electrical devices/appliances may be controlled using smart switches that are operable wirelessly, for example, by using a smart phone. As a result, an individual may control the operation of the associated devices conveniently as compared to mechanical operable electrical switches. However, most of the infrastructure existing today provides for control of devices/appliances through mechanically operable electrical switches only. In order to convert such an infrastructure to a smart environment, a major overhaul of the infrastructure may be required, which may render the current mechanically operable electrical switches useless. Additionally, converting a regular environment to a smart environment increases the operational and maintenance overheads for an individual.
Therefore, there is a need for a solution to address at least one of the aforementioned problems.

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 smart controller is disclosed. The smart controller comprises a relay configured to control an operational state of an electrical switch operably coupled to the smart controller. The smart controller further comprises a receiver configured to receive a control signal indicative of a target state of a relay controlling the operational state of an electrical switch. Herein, the control signal is an RF signal. The smart controller further comprises a comparer configured to compare the target state of the relay with a current state of the relay. The smart controller further comprises a relay driver to adjust the current state of the relay to make it same as the target state of the relay, when the current state of the relay is different than the target state of the relay.
In an embodiment, an electrical switch apparatus is disclosed, the electrical switch comprises an electrical switch a smart controller. The smart controller comprises a relay configured to control an operational state of the electrical switch. The smart controller further comprises a receiver configured to receive a control signal indicative of a target state of a relay controlling an operational state of the electrical switch. Herein, the control signal is an RF signal. The smart controller further comprises a comparer configured to compare the target state of the relay with a current state of the relay. The smart controller further comprises a relay driver configured to adjust the current state of the relay to make it same as the target state of the relay, when the current state of the relay is different than the target state of the relay. The smart controller further comprises a second casing and a first casing configured to couple with the second casing to form an enclosure for at least the receiver, the comparer, and the relay driver. The first casing and/or the second casing comprises a first portion and a second portion. Furthermore, a height of the first portion of the first casing and/or the second casing is less than a height of the second portion of the first casing and/or the second casing, and the first portion is configured to accommodate the protruded portion of the electrical switch.
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:
Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a smart controller, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figs. 2a-2c illustrate an electrical switch apparatus comprising the smart controller, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Fig. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the smart controller, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Fig. 4 illustrates a block diagram depicting a plurality of components of the smart controller, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been 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 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.
The present disclosure discloses a smart controller for facilitating wireless operation of electrical switches. The smart controller can be retrofitted with conventional electrical switches, thus requiring minimal reconfiguration of an environment implementing electrical switches. Furthermore, the smart controller as described herein, upon coupling with an electrical switch, provides for wireless operation of the electrical switch. Thus, by integrating the smart controller with the electrical switch, provision of wirelessly operating the electrical switch is provided to the user, in addition to the mechanical operation of the switch.
Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a smart controller 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the smart controller 100 comprises a first casing 102 and a second casing 104. The first casing 102 and the second casing 104 are configured to couple together to form an enclosure for housing a plurality of components of the smart controller 100.
In an example embodiment, the first casing 102 comprises a first portion 102-a and a second portion 102-b. In an example embodiment, the first portion 102-a is adjacent to the second portion 102-b. In an example embodiment, the first portion 102-a may not be adjacent to the second portion 102-b. In an example embodiment, a height (H1) of the first portion 102-a is less than a height (H2) of the second portion 102-b, thus resulting in a step-like structure. In an example embodiment, the height of the first portion 102-a and the second portion 102-b are measured from an edge “E” of the first casing 102. An example edge “E” is shown in the figure. Furthermore, as shown in the Fig., the difference in height between the first portion 102-a and the second portion 102-b is depicted by “X”. Owing to this difference in height, at least one of the first portion 102-a and the second portion 102-b can accommodate a protruded portion of an electrical switch in a space immediately above its top surface. In the Figure, a non-limiting example of the space is shown by patterned arrows. In the example shown in the figure, the second casing 104 is shown to have a flat base and the first casing 102 has a step like structure. In another example embodiment, the second casing 104may also include a first portion and a second portion, like the first portion 102-a and 102-b of the first casing 102.
Figs. 2a-c illustrates an electrical switch apparatus 200 comprising the smart controller 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 2a, the electrical switch apparatus 200 may be operably implemented in a wall. As an example, a portion 202 of a wall comprising the electrical switch apparatus 200 is shown in the Fig. 2a. Furthermore, an isometric view of the electrical switch apparatus 200 is also shown in the Fig. 2a. In an example, the electrical switch apparatus 200 may include an electrical switch 204 and the smart controller 100 (not shown in the figure). In an example and without limitation, the electrical switch 204 may be a rocker switch.
Referring to Fig. 2b, a cross-sectional view of the electrical switch apparatus 200 is shown, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the electrical switch apparatus 200 includes the electrical switch 204 and the smart controller 100. As shown in the Fig., owing to the step-like structure of the first casing 102, a protruded portion, for example, portion 210, of the electrical switch 204 is accommodated in a space above at least one of the first portion 102-a and the second portion 102-b of the first casing 102. Such a structure of the first casing 102 provides for retrofitting the smart controller 100 with conventional electrical switches. Accordingly, in an example, the dimensions of the first casing 102 and the second casing 104 are selected such that they are less than the dimensions of a housing or a casing of an electrical switch, such as the switch 204. Therefore, the casing can fit easily into the conventional electrical switches.
Referring to Fig. 2c, an exploded view of the electrical switch apparatus 200 is shown. The electrical switch apparatus 200 includes a first cover 206 and a box 208. In an example, the first cover 206 and the box 208 are configured to affix together in an assembled state of the electrical switch apparatus 200 to form an enclosure for the electrical switch 204 and the smart controller 100.
Fig. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the smart controller 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the smart controller 100 includes the first casing 102 and the second casing 104. In an example, the first casing 102 and the second casing 104 may be coupled together, for example, using one or more fastening means 300 to form an enclosure or housing for housing a plurality of components 302 of the smart controller 100. Examples of the fastening means may include, but are not limited to, a screw and a nut-bolt. In other examples, the first casing 102 and the second casing 104 may be coupled with each other using a snap-fit arrangement or any other affixing/coupling means or mechanism, as applicable, to hold them together. In an example, amongst other components, the smart controller 100 may include a receiver, a comparer, and a relay driver. The receiver, in an example, may be a ZigBee module. The comparer, in an example, may be a comparator. The relay driver controls operation of a relay provided in the smart controller 100. The relay controls an operational state of the electrical switch coupled to the smart controller 100. In an example embodiment, the smart controller 100 further comprises a connector(s) 304. The connector 304 facilitates connection of the smart controller 100 with at least one switch terminal of an electrical switch to control operation thereof. Without limitation, the connectors 304 may include connecting wires and other connection mechanism, as applicable. In an example, the first casing 102 may include one or more holes 306 to allow the connectors 304 to pass through and protrude outward from the smart controller 100, when the smart controller 100 is in an assembled state.
Fig. 4 illustrates a block diagram 400 depicting a plurality of components of the smart controller 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an example embodiment, amongst other components, the smart controller 100 comprises a receiver 402, a comparer 404, a relay 406, and a relay driver 408. As is further shown, the comparer 404 is communicatively coupled to a switch terminal 410 and the relay 408 is communicatively coupled to a Load for controlling operation thereof.
In an example, the smart controller 100 may be coupled to an electrical switch to provide for wireless control of the electrical switch. In said example, the smart controller 100 is configured to receive control signals from a mobile device 412 through a gateway 414. In another embodiment, the mobile device 412 may directly communicate with the smart controller 100, i.e., without the involvement of the gateway 414. Based on the received control signals, the smart controller 100 may adjust an operational state of the electrical switch. For instance, in case the electrical switch is in an ON state and the control signal is a signal to switch OFF the electrical switch, the smart controller 100 switches OFF the electrical switch. In another case where the electrical switch is in an ON state and the control signal is a signal to switch ON the electrical switch, the smart controller 100 does not adjust the operational state of the electrical switch.
In an example, a user intending to change the operational state of the electrical switch may provide a user input to the mobile device 412. Accordingly, the mobile device 412 transmits a control signal indicative of a target state of the relay 406 to the smart controller 100 through the gateway 414. Herein, the control signal is a Radio Frequency (RF) signal. In an example, the receiver 402 is configured to receive the control signal.
In an embodiment, the comparer 404 is configured to compare the target state of the relay 406 with a current state of the relay 406. In said embodiment, in a case where the target state of the relay 406 is different than the current state of the relay 406, the relay driver 408 is configured to adjust the current state of the relay 406 to make it same as the target state of the relay 406. In another case where the target state of the relay 406 is same as the current state of the relay 406, the relay driver 408 does not perform any action to adjust the current state of the relay 406.
Additionally, in the above embodiment, change of the operational state of the electrical switch is supported by way of mechanical action as well. In other words, the user may also change the operational state from ON to OFF, or vice versa, manually as well.
Without limitation, the components of the smart controller 100 may be selected to support operation of Loads of different amperes, over different voltage range, as applicable.
As may be gathered from above, the smart controller 100 may be retrofitted with existing mechanically operated electrical switches for facilitating wireless operation thereof. As a result, conventional mechanical switches may be converted to smart switches with minimal modification to the existing construction.
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 present disclosure 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.

,CLAIMS:
1. A smart controller (100) for electrical switches, comprising:
a relay (406) configured to control an operational state of an electrical switch (204) operably coupled to the smart controller (100);
a receiver (402) configured to receive a control signal indicative of a target state of the relay (406), wherein the control signal is a Radio Frequency (RF) signal;
a comparer (404) configured to compare the target state of the relay (406) with a current state of the relay (406); and
a relay driver (408) configured to adjust the current state of the relay (406) to make it same as the target state of the relay (406), when the current state of the relay (406) is different than the target state of the relay (406).
2. The smart controller (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a first casing (102) comprising a first portion (102-a) and a second portion (102-b), wherein a height (H1) of the first portion (102-a) is less than a height (H2) of the second portion (102-b), wherein the height (H1) of the first portion (102-a) and the height (H2) of the second portion (102-b) are measured from an edge (E) of the first casing (102); and
a second casing (104) configured to couple to the first casing (102) to form an enclosure for at least the receiver (402), the comparer (404), and the relay driver (408).
3. The smart controller (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the first portion (102-a) and the second portion (102-b) is configured to accommodate a protruded portion (210) of the electrical switch (204), when the smart controller (100) is operationally coupled with the electrical switch (204).
4. The smart controller (100) as claimed in any one of claim 1 and 2, wherein the second casing (104) comprises a first portion (102-a) and a second portion (102-b), wherein a height of the first portion (102-a) is less than a height of the second portion (102-b), wherein the height of the first portion (102-a) and the height of the second portion (102-b) are measured from an edge of the second casing (104).
5. The smart controller (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, a connector connectable to a switch terminal of the electrical switch (204).
6. The smart controller (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical switch (204) is a rocker switch.
7. An electrical switch apparatus (200), comprising:
an electrical switch (204)
a smart controller (100) operably coupled to the electrical switch (204), wherein the smart controller (100) comprises:
a relay (406) configured to control an operational state of the electrical switch (204);
a receiver (402) configured to receive a control signal indicative of a target state of a relay (406), wherein the control signal is a Radio Frequency (RF) signal;
a comparer (404) configured to compare the target state of the relay (406) with a current state of the relay (406); and
a relay driver (408) configured to adjust the current state of the relay (406) to make it same as the target state of the relay (406), when the current state of the relay (406) is different than the target state of the relay (406).
8. The electrical switch apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the smart controller (100) further comprises:
a first casing (102) comprising a first portion (102-a) and a second portion (102-b), wherein a height (H1) of the first portion (102-a) is less than a height (H2) of the second portion (102-b), wherein the height (H1) of the first portion (102-a) and the height (H2) of the second portion (102-b) are measured from an edge (E) of the first casing (102); and
a second casing (104) configured to couple to the first casing (102) to form an enclosure for at least the receiver (402), the comparer (404), and the relay driver (408).
9. The electrical switch apparatus (200) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electrical switch (204) comprises a protruded portion (210), and wherein at least one of the first portion (102-a) and the second portion (102-b) is configured to accommodate the protruded portion (210) of the electrical switch (204), when the smart controller (100) is operationally coupled with the electrical switch (204).