Apparatus and method for latching one pole contact of at least one springy pole in a relay or hybrid switch for maintaining an engaging or disengaging state of at least one first contact with said pole contact by a mechanical latching device comprising a springy lock pin exerting minute force, a slider with indentation path for guiding the lock pin and a track for the slider, the latching device extends from an armature or the springy pole to a base or a body of the relay or the hybrid switch, said springy pole is guided by said slider movement propelled by one of a pull by a voltage rated magnetic coil fed by a pulse of said rated voltage and a push by a plunger, and for operating a stronger coil for switching higher electrical current the magnetic coil is fed with at least one discharge higher voltage to increase the magnetic pull power of the coil.
H01H 47/22 - Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current for supplying energising current for relay coil
H01H 9/16 - Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"
2.
DECORATIVE COVER AND KEYS FOR ELECTRICAL WIRING DEVICES
A flat decorative frame made of rectangular crystal or glass or molded transparent or tinted plastic materials for providing assembly of right angle architectural decorative cover with right angle rectangular or square opening access for power outlet and push keys operating electrical hybrid or manual switches by tactile action of a tactile spring including a matching decorative touch icons panel with the panels and the keys including indicators indicating the load status and the keying position for the manual and hybrid switches.
A method and apparatus for attaching at least one wiring device comprising AC outlet, switch, relay, hybrid switch-relay and hybrid switch to a support box using pins and receptacle including locking structure for attaching by introduction of the device into the box. The box including intelligent control and communication circuits including RF, RFID, optical via POF and IR in line of sight for communicating commands and control including power consumption reporting from every outlet and device. The power outlets include rear opening for introduction of RFID sensor, optical sensor and setting selector for identifying the appliance or the load powered via the outlet.
Method and apparatus for a mechanical latching of at least one pole of a relay selected from SPST, SPDT, DPDT, reversing DPDT, multi pole MPST and MPDT including the integration of one of a single and plurality of hybrid SPDT or DPDT switches with one of SPDT and DPDT mechanically latching relay using springy element to maintain the contacts between the poles and one of the relay contact and a structured contactors to connect the poles of the relay and the switch including PCB assembly, for operating electrical loads via the switch manual key including the introduction of a key-plunger combination into the latching relay and remotely by powering the relay coil by a power pulse, including a CPU program for providing any of the manual keys of each SPDT or DPDT connected in a traveler lines to the integrated switch-relay to switch on-off group of loads and all the loads of home automation network or grid via optical cable, RF, IR in line of sight and bus line.
Method and apparatus for a mechanical latching of at least one pole of a relay selected from SPST, SPDT, DPDT, reversing DPDT, multi pole MPST and MPDT including the integration of one of a single and plurality of hybrid SPDT or DPDT switches with one of SPDT and DPDT mechanically latching relay using conductive structured contactors to connect the poles of the relay and the switch including PCB assembly, for operating electrical loads via the switch manual key and remotely by powering the relay coil by a power pulse, including a CPU program for providing any of the manual keys of each SPDT or DPDT connected in a traveler lines to the integrated switch- relay to switch on-off group of loads and all the loads of home automation network or grid via optical cable, RF, IR in line of sight and bus line.
H01H 47/22 - Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current for supplying energising current for relay coil
6.
INTEGRATED SPDT OR DPDT SWITCH WITH SPDT RELAY COMBINATION FOR USE IN RESIDENCE AUTOMATION
Method and apparatus for integrating one of single and plurality of hybrid SPDT or DPDT switch with one of SPDT and DPDT relay via contactors structured to connect the poles of the relay and the switch directly or via conductive structures including PCB assembly, for operating electrical appliances via the switch manual key and remotely by powering the relay coil having latching or non-latching armature, with a CPU program providing the manual key and the manual keys of each SPDT or DPDT connected in a traveler lines to the integrated switch-relay to switch on-off group of loads and all the loads of home automation network or grid via optical cable, RF, IR in line of sight and bus line.
A method and apparatus for simplified setting and imprinting the touch icons of a touch pad used for electrical devices and appliances in homes, other residences and other building by installing the touch pad directly on walls or an electrical wall box individually and in a cascaded chain connected via a bus line with or without power feed, including the attaching of the pads to each other for providing aligned larger sized touch panel, wherein the setting of the touch icon is via loading data to a memory or via setting switches and the imprinting is selected via a program provided for printing a pre-formatted and pre-cut decorative sheet attached to the touch pad by a front cover with self-locking.
A method and apparatus for communicating information and e- shopping signals between servers within a closed circuit e- commerce, and between servers and shopping terminals via main router and interface of a building, propagating the information and e-shopping signals via at least one twisted pair including ASK and FSK modulated data and commands including high speed updating signals for updating the content and programs of said e-commerce stored in the shopping terminals. A delivery station for picking up and deliver the ordered merchandise located within the building or outside the building using delivery devices, and storage devices for verifying the pickup and deliver with no error.
A method and apparatus for measuring and calibrating the power consumption reporting by intelligent AC outlets, sub outlets and sockets including optoport and RFID antenna using a hand held loader and propagating optical signals via a lightquide or fiber optic cable and via RFID signals and tags, including the setting up of location, AC outlet identification and appliance particulars. Simpler loaders or calibrators communicate standard power consumption values to the AC outlet for self-calibration using the received values. The appliance particulars are introduced via the loader keys or a touch screen and via the reading of a RFID tag attached to the plug of an appliance and processed via the loader for propagation through an optical grid of a residence automation system via current drain or power consumption receivers.
G01R 22/06 - Arrangements for measuring time integral of electric power or current, e.g. electricity meters by electronic methods
G01R 21/00 - Arrangements for measuring electric power or power factor
G06K 17/00 - Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups , e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
H04B 10/25 - Arrangements specific to fibre transmission
10.
METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR SIMPLIFIED CODING OF DISPLAY PAGES FOR OPERATING A CLOSED CIRCUIT E-COMMERCE
Method and structure for a simplified coding of templated display pages for use in close circuit e-shopping for product and services via shopping terminals comprising video interphone monitors, dedicated terminals, television, cable television, shopping box, set top box and other well known boxes, each include a CPU, a memory and a display monitor operated via touch screen, remote control or hand movement, the templated screen uses assigned blocks and icons codes to select display pages, covering products and services. The shopping terminal connected via internal communication lines and interface propagates the simplified code, enabling loading and updating of products and services communicated via a building server for updating at all time data stored in the memory as per the dweller choice, enabling a dweller to shop from his private shop inside his residence, and be provided with programmed services, delivery and payments, supervised by the close circuit shopping entity center.
Apparatus and method for measuring current drain and reporting power consumption using current transformer with primary windings made of low ohmic alloy, enabling the use of the secondary coil to power the sensing and reporting circuits eliminating the power wasted by AC-DC power adaptors used for the current sensors. The saving is substantial as the current sensors will not drain a current when the AC outlets are disconnected from a load or when the load is switched off. The apparatus using low ohmic alloy is extended to the structuring of terminals, including power pins, power sockets and combinations to provide a low ohmic sensing elements in AC plugs, outlets, adaptors and extension cables with multi outlets, dissipating the heat from the sensing elements by the plugs and the larger metal heat dissipation.
G01R 15/20 - Adaptations providing voltage or current isolation, e.g. for high-voltage or high-current networks using galvano-magnetic devices, e.g. Hall-effect devices
G01R 19/00 - Arrangements for measuring currents or voltages or for indicating presence or sign thereof
12.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SWITCHING ON-OFF A GROUP OR ALL LIGHTS OR APPLIANCES OF PREMISES
A method and apparatus for switching AC appliances and lights of residences and other automation systems through SPDT or DPDT relays connected in electrical circuit with SPDT or DPDT switch including a current sensor and/or a status sensor. The operating key of the relay and the key lever of the electric switch can each be used for operating a dedicated appliance or light, a group of appliance and lights and all appliance and/or lights including scenarios setup via the many well known two way, three way or four way light switches, by operating the switch lever or key in multi steps. The SPDT or DPDT relays are operated via RF, IR and fiber optic communicating two way signal for operating the lights and reporting statuses.
H01H 47/22 - Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the relay and designed to obtain desired operating characteristics or to provide energising current for supplying energising current for relay coil
H02J 13/00 - Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the networkCircuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
13.
HAND TOOL AND METHOD FOR CUTTING PLASTIC FIBER OPTIC CABLE WITHOUT ERROR
Method and apparatus for cutting and terminating POF cable with error prevention. The apparatus comprises a hand tool with a blade supporting top bar linked to a bottom bar. The bottom bar comprises two aligned rows of holes perpendicular to the blade and opposite each other with a space between the rows for providing the blade the movement space needed for the cutting and terminating POF cable when at least one of the top bar and the bottom bar is pressed against the other.
B26B 27/00 - Hand cutting tools not provided for in groups , e.g. finger rings for cutting string, devices for cutting by means of wires
B26D 1/08 - Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting memberApparatus or machines thereforCutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member wherein the cutting member reciprocates of the guillotine type
B26D 3/00 - Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut madeApparatus therefor
14.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMBINING AC POWER RELAY AND CURRENT SENSORS WITH AC WIRING DEVICES
A method and a device for joining a remotely controlled switching and current sensing AC device structured for attachment to standard and popular three way SPDT AC switches or cross DPDT AC switches and/or power outlets, such that the front wall plate of a single gang electrical box will cover the joined AC device with the manual switch or the AC outlet. The AC device is operated and communicates via lightguide or fiber optic cable using two way optical signals and via IR in air in line of sight and/or via RF in air. The lightguide is cascaded in series from one AC device to another and/or from a joint switch device to a joined AC outlet and to an optoport in front of an outlet socket for communicating the current drain and/or operation controls with the appliance, powered by the AC socket, via a lightguide included in the power cable with plug assembly of the appliance.
A coding method and apparatus for linking electrical appliances for control and status reporting by arbitrarily appending the appliances remote control protocol with the premise's room/zone code for identifying the appliance location and ID-code to operate on the basis of the appliance type and function, sub header code define the command nature, a blank header identifies the signal and a checksum trailer ends the five byte command for operating a range of appliances, lights and LED illuminators, locally and in the different rooms, bathrooms, kitchen and laundry including provision for extending the commands when needed. Current sensors for power outlets and power cables linked via lightguides or fiber optic use same codes for reporting statuses of and current consumption by the appliances and lights to the video interphone or the shopping terminal. LED bulbs are coded through an optical transceiver accessed through the rear of the bulb socket.
H04L 12/12 - Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
H04L 1/16 - Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by using return channel in which the return channel carries supervisory signals, e.g. repetition request signals
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04B 10/12 - Transmission through light guides, e.g. optical fibres (H04B 10/22, H04B 10/24, H04B 10/30 take precedence);;
16.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROPAGATING OPTICAL SIGNALS ALONG WITH POWER FEED TO ILLUMINATORS AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
In a method and apparatus for propagating optical signals via optical cables such as plastic optical fiber, known as lightguide joint and mingled with the electrical wiring and home automation system for controlling LED illuminators enclosed in standard screw type bulb bases or plug- in bases, such as used for halogen lamp via optical signal propagated through such standard bases. Same optical signals are propagated through power outlets and via power cable assemblies to electrical appliances for controlling the appliances operation and on-off switching. Full range of control, distribution, signal conversion, keypads and touch screen including video interphones monitors and shopping terminals operate and controls such home automation via the optical cables.
H04B 3/54 - Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
H04Q 9/00 - Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
F21S 2/00 - Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups or , e.g. of modular construction
F21V 33/00 - Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
17.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COUPLING OPTICAL SIGNAL WITH PACKAGED CIRCUITS VIA OPTICAL CABLES AND LIGHTGUIDE COUPLERS
Method and apparatus for coupling electrical and communication circuits, included in a packaged semiconductor comprising photo receivers, photo transmitters and photovoltaic cells, through lightguide and optical fiber cables. The packaged semiconductor combinations comprise one, two or plurality of photo elements for a single or plurality one way optical signal, receive or transmit, and a single or plurality of two way optical signal communications via direct optical links and via optical prisms, filters, half mirrors and lenses. The packaged semiconductor includes at least one optical access to a single or plurality of lightguides or optical fiber with single core and for multicore lightguides. A built-in or attachable holders are used for attaching the different lightguide cables to the one or plurality of optical accesses with the attached cable end is terminated by cutting, trimming and shaping. The packaged circuits are used for communicating within limited short distances through optical network of lightguides and fiber optical cables.
A method and apparatus for distributing stereo signal of an audio system integrated with an home automation system. The audio system is further integrated with intercom and video intercom including the controlling of the intercom communications and the home automation appliances via a network and the Internet. The stereo signals are encoded and distributed from a selector/encoder, via distributors or directly to speakers via at least one single twisted pair carrying the encoded signals multiplexed with serial signals and with microphone signals for communicating with the intercom or with e-station via the network or the Internet. The multiplexed signals are propagated via the same twisted pair that also feeds a constant current to the system devices or providing power via separated twisted pair. The speakers include wired or wireless remote control receivers and transmitters for propagating remote control signals. The system is flexible and can be connected in many configurations using fitted network cables and connectors.
H04M 11/00 - Telephonic communication systems specially adapted for combination with other electrical systems
H04Q 9/00 - Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
19.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONNECTING AC POWERED SWITCHES, CURRENT SENSORS AND CONTROL DEVICES VIA TWO WAY IR, FIBER OPTIC AND LIGHT GUIDE CABLES
A method for connecting an AC powered device, which has an optical receiver, with a control circuit, which has an optical transmitter, using at least on optical medium cable includes the steps of terminating the cable at both of its ends, introducing the processed cable between the receiver and transmitter, attaching and securing one end of the processed cable to the transmitter and the other end of the processed cable to the receiver, and propagating a one way optical signal including control commands from the control circuit to the powered device.
A method and apparatus for connecting and operating plurality of lockers in a multi apartment or multi office building connected via an interface to a video interphone system and via a local guardman or a virtual guardman over a network, for providing access to the building and opening a locker for a deliveryman to deliver packages, parcels and ordered goods. The tenants receiving a message through their video interphone monitor can retrieve the deliveries by opening the specific locker from their video interphone monitor, through the entry panel and through associated accessories.
A method for coupling at least one of a wall mount and a ceiling mount adjustable IR driver with a two way IR network of an home automation system controlled by a main controller selected from a group comprising a dedicated controller, a video interphone and a shopping terminal, said IR driver includes a plurality of adjustable IR transmitters and at least one IR receiver for propagating IR commands to at least one of hand held IR remote control units, electrical appliances and devices selected from a group comprising a remotely operated relays, an AC current sensors and a keypads, and for receiving from at least one of said devices a status data, said IR commands include at least a power on-off command for switching an appliance on and off and said status data pertaining to the on and off statuses of a commanded appliance.
A method for adding and connecting a remotely operated SPDT relay- to an electric power circuit of an AC appliance connected to a manually actuated electrical SPDT switch for integrating said AC appliance into an home automation network, each said relay and said SPDT switch includes a pole terminal and dual traveler terminals and said relay is similar to a shape and a size of an AC switch fit for installation into a standard electrical box.
A method and apparatus for remotely operating at least one remote controlled appliance through a monitor station of a video interphone. The appliance itself being capable of operation by a remote control device. The monitor station includes a receiving input, a central processing unit, a memory, select keys and at least one output. The remote control device is used for generating a coded signal to the receiving input which filters the received coded signal for feeding a clean envelope of the coded signal to the central processing unit. The central processing unit processes the envelope and generates counted data pertaining to the envelope and indexes and stores the counted data into the memory. One of the select keys is assigned for retrieving and feeding the counted data to the output on the basis of the indexing. The output regenerates the coded signal for operating the appliance.
A method for attaching a flat screen display device onto a flat surface using a surface mounted holder is disclosed. The holder includes a plurality of springy electrical contacts and a plurality of hooks each having a latch. The rear surface of the display device includes corresponding electrical contacts for corresponding with the plurality of springy electrical contacts and sockets each with a convex area corresponding to the hooks each having a latch. The method includes mounting the sockets onto the hooks and pushing the display device toward the flat surface by overcoming a biasing force of the springy contacts; and sliding the display device in a direction opposite to the direction of the hooks until the springy electrical contacts engage the corresponding electrical contacts and every convex area is latched by every latch, and is secured by thebiasing force for preventing accidental release of the display device.
A method and apparatus for measuring the performances of a camera Including illumination, signal levels, signal tonoiseratio, resolution, spectrum, color vectors and displaying the measured values in alphanumeric, waveforms, graphs and vectors onto a displayed scene generated by a camera under test, thereby enabling the user to better comprehend the meaning and verify the camera specifications and their fitness .