Patent ID: 7872377
Filing Date: 2011-01-18
Classification: H01H,H05B

Abstract:
1. A channel selection system for an electrical circuit controlling voltage applied from a mains line to a load, the electrical circuit comprising a plurality of switches comprising at least a first three-way switch having a common terminal coupled to a hot conductor of the mains line and a last three-way switch having a common terminal coupled to the load, in which each switch in the electrical circuit is connected to a next switch in the electrical circuit by a first traveler wire and a second traveler wire, the system comprising: a) a signal generator having an input and an output, such that the signal generator generates a signal on the output in response to a condition on the input; b) a signal generator channel selector comprising: such that the voltage detector detects which of the first traveler wire and the second traveler wire is connected to the hot conductor of the mains line, and the voltage detector controls the output of the voltage detector coupled to the control input of the signal generator channel selector switch to cause the signal generator channel selector switch to connect the signal input of the signal generator channel selector switch to the first signal output or the second signal output, thereby coupling the signal from the signal generator to whichever of the first traveler wire or the second traveler wire is not connected to the hot conductor of the mains line; c) a signal detecting channel selector, comprising: such that the voltage detector detects which of the first traveler wire and the second traveler wire is connected to the hot conductor of the mains line, and the voltage detector controls the output of the voltage detector coupled to the control input of the signal detecting channel selector switch to cause the signal detecting channel selector switch to connect the signal output of the signal detecting channel selector switch to the first signal input or the second signal input, thereby coupling whichever of the first traveler wire or the second traveler wire is not connected to the hot conductor of the mains line to the signal output of the signal detecting channel selector switch; and d) a signal detector having an input coupled to the signal output of the signal detecting channel selector switch and an output responsive to a signal detected at the input.