IP Library Granted Patent US 10,716,194
Granted Patent B2
US 10,716,194 · App. 16/357,989 · Granted Jul 14, 2020

Smart light switch with vacation mode

Inventors: Sahaj Chema (Toronto, CA); Jonathan Yeap (Toronto, CA); Casey McKinnon (Toronto, CA)
Assignee: ECOBEE INC.
H05B47/19G05B15/02H01H9/54F24F11/58
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,716,194
App. No.
16/357,989
Granted
Jul 14, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A smart light switch includes a housing, a light actuator, and a processor and memory. The processor is adapted to selectively turn an electrical load on and off in accordance with a programmed set of light activation rules stored in memory. The processor is operable to determine whether the smart light switch is in an On or Off state and create a historical record of the On or Off state of the smart light switch over time. A user is selectively able to place the smart light switch in a vacation mode. The processor suspends the programmed set of light activation rules, determines a probability that the smart light switch would have been turned on based upon the historical record, and probabilistically activates and deactivates the smart light switch for a period of time based upon the historical record while the smart light switch was not in vacation mode.

Claims (12)

1. A smart light switch comprising:

a housing, the housing including a control block adapted to be operably connected to an electrical load;

a light actuator located within the housing, the light actuator operable to be electrically connected with the electrical load and selectively turn the electrical load on and off;

a processor and memory, the processor and memory being operably connected and located within the housing, the processor being adapted to selectively turn the electrical load on and off in accordance with a programmed set of light activation rules stored in memory; and

a data communications module operable to provide data communication across a wireless network to a remote device; wherein

the processor is operable to:

determine whether the smart light switch is in an On or Off state and create a historical record of the On or Off state of the smart light switch over time, the historical record being stored in the memory;

receive an indication from the remote device that the smart light switch is to be placed in a vacation mode; and

when the smart light switch is in vacation mode, suspend the programmed set of light activation rules, determines a probability that the smart light switch would have been turned on based upon the historical record, and probabilistically activates and deactivates the smart light switch for a period of time based upon the historical record while the smart light switch was not in vacation mode.

2. The smart light switch of claim 1 , wherein the smart light switch may be placed in or out of vacation mode by receiving a command from a remote device via the data communication module.

3. The smart light switch of claim 1 , wherein the smart light switch may be placed in or out of vacation mode by receiving a command from a remote device via the data communication module, the command being transmitted whenever the remote device is placed in or out of its own vacation mode.

4. The smart light switch of claim 1 , wherein the period of time in which the smart light switch is activated while in vacation mode is determined by the historical record while the smart light switch was not in vacation mode.

Assignments (14)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2022
From: GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061476/0745 →
AMALGAMATION Recorded Jul 25, 2022
From: 1339416 B.C. LTD.; ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: 1339416 B.C. LTD.
Reel/Frame 060907/0090 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY FROM ECOBEE, INC. TO ECOBEE INC. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 058568 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC D/B/A AST TRUST COMPANY (CANADA)
To: ECOBEE INC.
Reel/Frame 058965/0106 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME FROM ECOBEE, INC. TO ECOBEE INC. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 058521 FRAME: 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Feb 7, 2022
From: STRUCTURED ALPHA LP, BY ITS GENERAL PARTNER THOMVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.
To: ECOBEE INC.
Reel/Frame 059205/0822 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: 1339416 B.C. LTD.
To: ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES ULC
Reel/Frame 058907/0363 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES ULC
To: GENERAC HOLDINGS INC.
Reel/Frame 058917/0069 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: GENERAC HOLDINGS INC.
To: GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 058917/0161 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: 1339416 B.C. LTD.; ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
To: 1339416 B.C. LTD.
Reel/Frame 061001/0949 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 31, 2022
From: ECOBEE INC.
To: ECOBEE TECHNOLOGIES INC.
Reel/Frame 058905/0211 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2021
From: AMERICAN STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, LLC D/B/A AST TRUST COMPANY (CANADA)
To: ECOBEE, INC.
Reel/Frame 058568/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2021
From: STRUCTURED ALPHA LP, BY ITS GENERAL PARTNER THOMVEST ASSET MANAGEMENT LTD.
To: ECOBEE, INC.
Reel/Frame 058521/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: CHEMA, SAHAJ; YEAP, JONATHAN; MCKINNON, CASEY
To: ECOBEE INC.
Reel/Frame 052804/0515 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2020
From: ECOBEE INC.
To: AST TRUST COMPANY (CANADA)
Reel/Frame 052704/0656 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2020
From: INC., ECOBEE
To: STRUCTURED ALPHA LP
Reel/Frame 052678/0864 →