Easy-install home automation light switch

Abstract

A light switch plate includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting control signals to a smart light assembly. The light switch plate is placed over a conventional light switch and prevents a user from further manipulating the conventional light switch. The light switch plate includes a further switch which a user can manipulate to cause the transmitter to transmit control signals to turn on or turn off a light of the smart light assembly.

1 . A system comprising:
 a light assembly;   a light switch plate;   a first wireless transmitter coupled to the light switch plate; and   a control module configured to transmit first control signals to the light assembly, the light assembly including:
 a wireless receiver; 
 control circuitry coupled to the wireless receiver, the wireless receiver being configured to receive the first control signals and to pass them to the control circuitry, the control circuitry being configured to execute the first control signals; 
 a light coupled to the control circuitry, the first wireless transmitter configured to transmit second control signals to the light assembly, the wireless receiver configured to receive the second control signals and to pass them to the control circuitry, and the control circuitry configured to turn the light on or off based on the second control signals; and 
 a second wireless transmitter coupled to the control circuitry, the control circuitry being configured to determine if the first control signals are meant for the light assembly, the second wireless transmitter being configured to retransmit the first control signals if the control circuitry determines that the first control signals are meant for a second light assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the light assembly includes a voltage regulator coupled to the control circuitry and configured to receive an AC voltage and to output a DC voltage to the light. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the light assembly is configured to screw into a standard threaded incandescent light bulb socket. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a second light switch coupled to the light switch plate and the wireless transmitter, the second light switch configured to cause the wireless transmitter to transmit the control signals to the light assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the control module is configured to transmit an interrogation signal to the light assembly, the control circuitry being configured to determine a current state of the light and to cause the second wireless transmitter to transmit to the control module data indicative of the current state of the light. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  comprising a television receiver, the control module being mounted to the television receiver, the television receiver configured to receive commands from a user and to transmit the second control signals in response to receiving the commands from the user. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the light switch plate is configured to cover a first light switch that is electrically coupled to the light assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the light switch plate includes a protrusion configured to prevent user manipulation of the first light switch without removing the light switch plate. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a battery mount coupled to the light switch plate and configured to receive a battery to supply power to the first wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a memory coupled to the control circuitry and configured to store control codes, the first wireless transmitter being configured to transmit the control codes in the control signals. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 covering a first light switch with a light switch plate, the first light switch being electrically coupled to a first light assembly and configured to turn on and turn off a light of the first light assembly;   transmitting a control signal to the first light assembly from a first wireless transmitter coupled to the light switch plate;   receiving the control signal in a wireless receiver of the first light assembly;   determining whether the control signal is meant for the first light assembly;   in response to determining that the control signal is meant for the first light assembly, passing the control signal to control circuitry coupled to the wireless receiver and executing the control signal by outputting a switching signal from the control circuitry; and   in response to determining that the control signal is not meant for the first light assembly, transmitting the control signal to a second light assembly from a second wireless transmitter coupled to the control circuitry.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  comprising transmitting the control signal in response to receiving user input on a second light switch coupled to the light switch plate. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  comprising:
 receiving an interrogation signal in the wireless receiver; and 
 transmitting, from the second wireless transmitter coupled to the control circuitry, a response signal including data indicating a present state of the light. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  comprising transmitting the interrogation signal to the wireless receiver. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  comprising preventing, by a protrusion of the first light switch, user manipulation of the first light switch without removing the light switch plate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  comprising:
 receiving an AC voltage; and 
 outputting a DC voltage to the light. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  comprising:
 mounting a control module to a television receiver; 
 receiving a command from a user at the control module; and 
 transmitting a second control signal to the first light assembly from the control module in response to receiving the command from the user. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  comprising:
 storing a plurality of control codes; and 
 transmitting at least one of the control codes in the control signal transmitted from the first wireless transmitter.