Electrical switched load relocation apparatus

Abstract

A wireless transmitter associated with a switched electrical connection and a receiver therefor, adapted for connection in an electrical path between the source of power and a load, enables the load to be controlled by the switch originally used to control the switched electrical connection. The communication between the transmitter and receiver may be realized only when power is applied or removed from the switched connection, or, alternatively, this communication may be carried out on a per-cycle basis, enabling a phase-delay type of control over the relocated load, including dimming of the relocated load without requiring modification to a previously installed dimmer switch. The signal radiated by the transmitter may be of acoustic or electromagnetic origin, though IR transmissions are used in the preferred embodiment. The transmitter module includes means for making electrical contact to a switched electrical connection, and means for transmitting a wireless signal in response to the application of electrical Dower to the switched electrical connection, and the receiver module includes means for making electrical contact to a source of electrical power, means for making contact to an electrical load, and means for routing electrical power from the source to the load in response to the signal transmitted by the transmitter module. Exposed wires, plug- and socket-type connections may be utilized as alternatives depending upon physical implementation.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. Electrical  An electrical switched-load relocation apparatus adapted for use with an electrical connection, controlled by a switch, a source of A.C. electrical power, and an electrical load, comprising: 
       a wireless transmitter module in electrical communication with the electrical connection and the source of A.C. electrical power, the transmitter module being operative to radiate a remote-control signal on a per-cycle basis when the electrical power is applied to the connection through the switch; and  
       a wireless receiver module physically separate from the wireless transmitter module and disposed in an electrical path between the source of A.C. electrical power and the electrical load, the receiver being operative to route power from the source to the load on a per-cycle basis in response to the remote-control signal radiated by the transmitter, thereby enabling the switch to control a relocated load on a delayed-phase basis.  
     
     
       2. The electrical switched-load relocation apparatus as see  set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the signal radiated by the transmitter is an infrared signal. 
     
     
       3. The electrical switched-load relocation apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the signal radiated by the transmitter is an RF signal. 
     
     
       4. The electrical switched-load relocation apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the signal radiated by the transmitter is an acoustical signal. 
     
     
       5. The electrical switched-load relocation apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  including a switched electrical connection associated with an electrical outlet located in the ceiling of a room. 
     
     
       6. The electrical switched-load relocation apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  including a switched electrical connection associated with a wall outlet of a room. 
     
     
       7. A system for relocating a switched electrical connection, comprising: 
       a transmitter module, including:  
       a threaded base for making electrical contact to a switched electrical socket of the type configured to receive a light bulb with treaded base, and  
       means other than the light bulb for transmitting a wireless signal in response to the application of electrical power to the switched electrical socket;  
       and a receiver module, including:  
       means for making electrical contact to a source of electrical power,  
       means for making contact to an electrical load, and  
       means for routing electrical power from the source to the load in response to the signal transmitted by the transmitter module.  
     
     
       8. The system as see forth in  claim 7 , wherein the transmitter module further includes means for making electrical contact to an electrical load which receives power in response to the application of electrical power to the switched electrical connection. 
     
     
       9. The system as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the means for making electrical contact to a source of electrical power includes a set of exposed wires adapted for connection to a corresponding set of exposed wires. 
     
     
       10. The system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the means for making electrical contact to a source of electrical power includes a plug to be inserted into an electrical outlet. 
     
     
       11. The system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the means for making electrical contact to a source of electrical power includes a threaded base to be inserted into an electrical socket. 
     
     
       12. The system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the means for making contact to an electrical load includes an electrical outlet into which a load having a plug may be inserted. 
     
     
       13. The system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the means for making contact to an electrical load includes an electrical socket into which a load having a threaded base may be installed. 
     
     
       14. The system as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the means for transmitting a wireless signal in response to the application of electrical power to the switched electrical connection and the means for routing electrical power from the source to the load in response to the wireless signal both function on a per-cycle basis in conjunction with AC power, thereby permitting remote phase-angle control. 
     
     
       15. In an electrical circuit configuration wherein a source of AC power is routed to an electrical outlet and to a first load associated with a ceiling fixture controlled by a manually operated switch, a method of controlling a second load at the outlet using the switch, comprising the steps of: 
       
         replacing the first load with a wireless remote transmitter, the transmitter being operative to radiate a control signal in accordance with the setting of the manually operated switch;  
       
       
         installing a wireless remote receiver at the outlet, the receiver including an electrically operated switch responsive to the control signal radiated by the transmitter;  
       
       
         connecting the second load to the receiver; and  
       
       
         controlling the second load using the manually operated switch. 
       
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the control signal radiated by the transmitter is an RF, infrared, or acoustical signal. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the transmitter includes a threaded base enabling the transmitter to be screwed into a standard lamp socket. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the transmitter includes a set of prongs enabling the transmitter to be plugged into standard wall outlet. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein second load is a light bulb, and the receiver includes: 
       
         a threaded base enabling the receiver to be screwed into standard lamp socket; and  
       
       
         a threaded receptacle to receive the light bulb. 
       
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the receiver includes a set of prongs enabling the receiver to be plugged into a standard wall outlet. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the receiver includes an outlet into which the second load can be plugged. 
     
     
       22. In an electrical circuit configuration wherein a source of AC power is routed to an electrical outlet and to a first load controlled by a manually operated switch, a method of controlling a second load at the outlet using the switch, comprising the steps of: 
       
         installing a wireless remote transmitter at the location of the first load, the transmitter being operative to radiate a control signal in accordance with the setting of the manually operated switch;  
       
       
         installing a wireless remote receiver at the outlet, the receiver including an electrically operated switch responsive to the control signal radiated by the transmitter;  
       
       
         connecting the second load to the receiver module; and  
       
       
         dimming the second load using the manually operated switch. 
       
     
     
       23. In an electrical circuit configuration wherein a source of AC power operating on a per- cycle basis is routed to an electrical outlet and to a first load at a ceiling fixture controlled by a manually operated switch, a method of controlling a second load at the outlet using the switch, comprising the steps of:    
       
         installing a wireless remote transmitter at the ceiling fixture, the transmitter being operative to radiate a control signal in accordance with the setting of the manually operated switch;  
       
       
         installing a wireless remote receiver at the outlet, the receiver including an electrically operated switch responsive to the control signal radiated by the transmitter;  
       
       
         connecting the second load to the receiver module; and  
       
       
         controlling the second load using the manually operated switch. 
       
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the control signal radiated by the transmitter is an RF, infrared, or acoustical signal. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of installing the transmitter replaces the first load. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the transmitter includes a threaded base enabling the transmitter to be screwed into standard lamp socket. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 23 , wherein second load is a light bulb, and the receiver includes: 
       
         a threaded base enabling the receiver to be screwed into standard lamp socket; and  
       
       
         a threaded receptacle to receive the light bulb. 
       
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the receiver includes a set of prongs enabling the receiver to be plugged into standard wall outlet. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28 , wherein the receiver includes an outlet into which the second load can be plugged. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 28 , wherein the second load is controlled on a per- cycle basis.   
     
     
       31. In an electrical circuit configuration wherein a source of AC power operating on a per- cycle basis is routed to a fixture and to a first load, the first load being controlled by a manually operated switch, a method of controlling a second load at the fixture, comprising the steps of:    
       
         installing a wireless remote transmitter at the first load, the transmitter being operative to radiate a control signal in accordance with the setting of the manually operated switch;  
       
       
         installing a wireless remote receiver at the fixture, the receiver including an electrically operated switch responsive to the control signal radiated by the transmitter;  
       
       
         connecting the second load to the receiver module; and  
       
       
         controlling the second load using the manually operated switch. 
       
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the control signal radiated by the transmitter is an RF, infrared, or acoustical signal. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of installing the transmitter replaces the first load. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 31 , wherein the transmitter includes a threaded base enabling the transmitter to be screwed into a threaded socket. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 31 , wherein second load is a light bulb, and the receiver includes: 
       
         a threaded base enabling the receiver to be screwed into a threaded socket; and  
       
       
         a threaded receptacle to receive the light bulb.