FAN DEVICE CONTROLLER
A controller with an RF interface is used to control a fan device which includes a fan motor and may also include a lighting device. The controller in some embodiments is in the form of a wall control module which may be mounted in a standard electrical wall box in a room in which the fan device to be controlled is located. To simplify installation and avoid the need for more than the normal 120 v power line used to power an outlet of light, from a 120V AC prospective the controller acts as a simple pass through device through which AC power is supplied to the fan device unit. As a safety, the controller includes an AC disconnect which can be used to cut all power to the fan unit.
1 . A fan device controller including:
an AC voltage input;
an AC output for supplying power to a fan device;
an RF signal interface including an RF signal transmitter for transmitting commands to a device to be controlled;
an RF controller for controlling the RF signal interface to send control signals including one or more commands to said fan device; and
a disconnect switch for disconnecting said AC output from said AC input when said disconnect switch is switched to a disconnect state from a connect state.
2 . The fan device controller of claim 1 , further comprising:
a fan control input for turning a fan on or off; and
a light control input for turning a light on or off.
3 . The fan device controller of claim 2 , further comprising:
a light up input coupled to said RF controller; and
a light down input coupled to said RF controller.
4 . The fan device controller of claim 3 , further comprising:
a fan speed up input coupled to said RF controller; and
a fan speed down input coupled to said RF controller.
5 . The fan device controller of claim 4 , further comprising:
a fan reverse input coupled to said RF controller.
6 . The fan device controller of claim 5 , further comprising:
a DC power supply connected to said disconnect switch and to said RF controller, said DC power supply receiving AC power from said disconnect switch and supplying DC power generated from said AC power to the RF controller.
7 . The fan device controller of claim 6 , wherein switching the disconnect switch to a disconnect state cuts power to both the AC output and to said DC power supply thereby cutting power to a fan device coupled to said fan device controller and to the RF controller at the same time.
8 . The fan device controller of claim 7 ,
wherein said RF controller includes a processor; and
wherein said processor is configured to:
generate commands in response to input received via one of the inputs included in said fan device controller; and
control said RF interface to transmit said commands in RF signals to the fan device.
9 . The fan device controller of claim 8 , wherein said fan device controller is configured to fit in an electrical box in a wall of a customer premises.