Intelligent electrical switch
An intelligent electrical switch comprising a conventional mechanical switch connected to a computer system in communication with an external device and receiving instructions therefrom. The switch may be installed in an existing circuit to replace one switch in a multi-way wiring geometry, and includes a sensor detecting current on the neutral line. By determining the circuit state, the switch can determine whether, when instructions are received wirelessly to power the circuit on or off, the mechanical switch element should be toggled.
1. An intelligent electrical switching device comprising:
a first neutral terminal and an opposing second neutral terminal;
a mechanical switch, said mechanical switch being in an operational state;
a logic unit operatively coupled to said mechanical switch such that said logic unit is operable to cause said mechanical switch to change said operational state;
a current sensor;
an electrical path from said first neutral terminal to said second neutral terminal through said current sensor;
a computer system coupled to said logic unit and comprising a wireless transmitter/receiver operable to send and receive data over a telecommunications network, said computer system comprising a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer program instructions for causing the intelligent electrical switching device to perform the steps of:
wirelessly receiving instructions to set a power state of a circuit in which said intelligent electrical switching device is installed to a desired power state, said desired power state being indicated in said received instructions;
detecting whether said circuit is in said desired powered state by said current sensor detecting whether a neutral wire of said circuit connected to said current sensor via said electrical path has electrical current;
only if said circuit is detected as not being in said desired powered state, said logic unit operating said mechanical switch to change said operational state.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical switch is a double pole/double throw switch.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical switch is capable of being in exactly one operational state.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said computer system is an embedded system.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein said operational state is selected from the group consisting of: open and closed.
6. The device of claim 5 , wherein said program step of said logic unit operating said mechanical switch to change said operational state comprises toggling said operational state.
7. The device of claim 1 , said device further comprising:
a first power input line;
a power converter disposed on said first power input line, said power converter converting alternating current to direct current;
a direct current line transmitting current from said power converter to said logic unit when said device receives power on said first power input line.
8. The device of claim 7 , said device further comprising:
a second power input line;
a second power converter disposed on said second power input line, said second power converter converting alternating current to direct current;
a second direct current line transmitting current from said second power converter to said logic unit when said device receives power on said second power input line.
9. The device of claim 8 , device further comprising:
a voltage sensor disposed on said second power input line and sensing the amount of voltage on said second power input line;
said computer system further comprising computer program instructions for causing the intelligent electrical switching device to perform the steps of:
determining a probability that said device is installed in a switching position immediately prior to a load in said circuit based at least in part on voltage readings received from said voltage sensor.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein said mechanical switch, said logic unit, said current sensor, and said computer system are contained in a housing sized and shaped for installation in an electrical box.
11. The device of claim 10 , wherein said housing comprises:
a first power terminal transmitting power to said first power input line when power is transmitted to said first power terminal;
a second power terminal transmitting power to said second power input line when power is transmitted to said second power terminal.
12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a dimming circuit operable to reduce the amount of power transmitted from the device.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein said dimming circuit is operable to reduce the amount of power transmitted form the device to zero.
14. The device of claim 1 , wherein said logic unit and said computer system comprise a single component.
15. An electrical system comprising:
at least one intelligent electrical switching device comprising:
a mechanical switch, said mechanical switch being in an operational state;
a logic unit operatively coupled to said mechanical switch such that said logic unit is operable to cause said mechanical switch to change said operational state;
a computer system
a current sensor;
a computer system coupled to said logic unit and comprising a wireless transmitter/receiver operable to send and receive data over a telecommunications network, said computer system comprising a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer program instructions for causing the intelligent electrical switching device to perform the steps of:
wirelessly receiving instructions to set a power state of a circuit in which said intelligent switching device is installed to a desired power state, said desired power state being indicated in said received instructions;
detecting whether said circuit is in said desired powered state by said current sensor detecting whether current is present on a neutral wire of said circuit;
only if said circuit is detected as not being in said desired powered state, said logic unit operating said mechanical switch to change said operational state;
at least one mechanical switching device;
wherein said at least one intelligent electrical switching device and said at least one mechanical switching device are in electrical communication with a single load in a multi-way switching geometry.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein said at least one intelligent electrical switching device further comprises:
a first power input line;
a power converter disposed on said first power input line, said power converter converting alternating current to direct current;
a direct current line transmitting current from said power converter to said logic unit when said device receives power on said first power input line.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein said at least one intelligent electrical switching device further comprises:
a second power input line;
a second power converter disposed on said second power input line, said second power converter converting alternating current to direct current;
a second direct current line transmitting current from said second power converter to said logic unit when said device receives power on said second power input line.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein said at least one intelligent electrical switching device further comprises:
a voltage sensor disposed on said second power input line and sensing the amount of voltage on said second power input line;
said computer system further comprising computer program instructions for causing the intelligent electrical switching device to perform the steps of:
determining a probability that said device is installed in a switching position immediately prior to a load in said circuit based at least in part on voltage readings received from said voltage sensor.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein said at least one intelligent electrical switching device further comprises a dimming circuit operable to reduce the amount of power transmitted from said at least one intelligent electrical switching device.