Abstract:
A wireless switch module is fitted with a frame and a covering board, so as to form a wireless switch assembly, which is capable of being installed on a wall or assembled into a movable adapted-box. The wireless switch module comprises at least one switch cell and at least one control unit. The switch cell comprises a switch circuit, a switch button and a relay, and the control unit comprises a micro control circuit coupling with the relay. Within the wireless switch module, the switch button is applied to switch-control the switch circuit “On” and “Off”; furthermore, the micro control circuit is also applied to switch-control the switch circuit “On” and “Off” via the relay after receiving and analyzing a wireless digital control signal.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a switch module, and more particularly to a wireless switch module, which can be switch “On” and “Off” via a mechanical means or a wireless digital control signal. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In the daily life, for controlling electrical apparatus or electronic devices on and off, a switch assembly is usually provided to be coupled with electrical apparatus and the electronic devices, so that a user can operate a switch button connected to the switch assembly to switch-control electrical apparatus and the electronic devices “On” and “Off”. 
         [0003]    Basing on above description, a conventional embodiment is further disclosed to illustrate the prior arts as mentioned above. Please refer to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , wherein  FIG. 1  illustrates two conventional switch cells being fitted with a frame and a covering board to form a switch assembly in prior arts, and  FIG. 2  is a simplified circuit diagram illustrating the conventional switch cells being electrically connected to a power-in wire and a power-out wire. As shown in the figures, a frame  1  is applied for two switch cells mounted therein, and then covered with a covering board  4 , so as to form a switch assembly  100 . 
         [0004]    The switch cell  2  comprises a main body  21 , a switch button  22  and a switch circuit  23 . The switch button  22  is connected to the main body  21 ; the switch circuit  23  is located within the main body  21 , and usually mechanically connected with the switch button  22  via a flexible plate and a spring. Meanwhile, one end of the switch circuit  23  is usually connected to a power source (not shown) via a power-in wire Li, and the other end of the switch circuit  23  is usually connected to a first loading (not shown) via a power-out wire Lo; wherein the switch circuit  23  is provided with two contacts P 1  and P 1 ′, and the first loading can be electrical apparatus or the electronic devices as mentioned. 
         [0005]    Similarly, the switch cell  3  comprises a main body  31 , a switch button  32  and a switch circuit  33 . The switch button  32  is connected to the main body  31 ; the switch circuit  33  is located within the main body  31 , and usually mechanically connected with the switch button  32  via a flexible plate and a spring. Meanwhile, one end of the switch circuit  33  is usually connected to a power source (not shown) via a power-in wire Li′, and the other end of the switch circuit  33  is usually connected to a second loading (not shown) via a power-out wire Lo′; wherein the switch circuit  33  is provided with two contacts P 2  and P 2 ′, and the second loading can be electrical apparatus or the electronic devices as mentioned. 
         [0006]    When the user need to make the first loading under a loading condition, i.e., when the user need to operate electrical apparatus or electronic devices, he can switch the switch button  22  on, and then the contact P 1  is connected to the contact P 1 ′ to form a closed circuit (not shown), so that the power source can supply a nominal electricity to electrical apparatus or the electronic devices to make the electrical apparatus or the electronic devices under the loading condition. 
         [0007]    On the contrary, when the user need to make the second loading under an unloading condition, i.e., when the user need to turn off electrical apparatus or electronic devices, he can switch the switch button  32  off, and then the contact P 2  is electrically separated from the contact P 2 ′ to form an open circuit (not shown), so that the power source interrupts supply the nominal electricity to electrical apparatus or the electronic devices to make the electrical apparatus or the electronic devices under the unloading condition. 
         [0008]    From the prior arts as disclosed above, obviously, it still needs to switch control the switch circuit  23  or  33  “On” and “Off” via manual operation. However, under the consideration of convenience, or under some operation requirements, it is necessary to switch control the switch circuit  23  or  33  on or off. Thus, it is obvious that the conventional switch cell  2  or  3  cannot meet the requirements of wireless control. 
         [0009]    Although that many different wireless switch assemblies are presented in the market after the absence of the conventional switch assembly  100 ; while, there do still exist three major disadvantages. The first major disadvantage is that the wireless switch assemblies are not spatially compatible to the existed frame  1  and the covering board  4 , so that the wireless switch assemblies cannot directly assembled to the existed frame  1  and the covering board  4  to replace the switch cells  3  and  4 . The second major disadvantage is that the wireless switch assembly is controlled by a wireless analog signal, so that the wireless switch assembly is easier to be blind triggered by external wireless interference signals. The third major disadvantage is that the wireless switch module is not able to be controlled to switch “On” or “Off” when the strength of the wireless digital control signal is insufficient to make it be effectively received by the wireless switch module. It is more important that the two disadvantages are still neither overcome, so that the wireless switch assembly has not been widely used yet. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    Due to that there are three problems existing in the prior arts, such as the switch assembly cannot meet the requirements of wireless control, the wireless switch assembly cannot spatially compatible to the existed frame and the covering board, and the wireless switch assembly is easier to be blind triggered, the primary objective of the present invention provides a wireless switch module, which can be switch-controlled either via a mechanical means, or via a wireless digital control signal. Moreover, in spatial, the wireless switch module is compatible to the existed frame and the covering board, so as to directly replace the switch cell(s). 
         [0011]    The secondary objective of the present invention provides a wireless switch module comprising a micro control circuit, so as to receive and analyze a wireless digital control signal to accordingly switch-control the switch circuit(s) within the wireless switch module “On” and “Off”. 
         [0012]    Another objective of the present invention provides a wireless switch module comprising a wireless signal transceiver. When a wireless digital control signal cannot be effectively received by a wireless module located in a remote end, the wireless digital control signal can be received and transmitted by other wireless switch modules, so as to indirectly transmit the wireless digital control signal to the wireless switch module located in the remote end. 
         [0013]    Means of the present invention for solving the problems as mentioned above provides a wireless switch module being fitted with a frame and a covering board, so as to form a wireless switch assembly. The wireless switch module comprises at least one switch cell and a control unit. The switch cell comprises a switch circuit, a switch button and a relay, and the control unit comprises a micro control circuit coupling with the relay. Within the wireless switch module, the switch button is applied to switch-control the switch circuit “On” and “Off”; furthermore, the micro control circuit is also applied to switch-control the switch circuit “On” and “Off” via the relay after receiving and analyzing a wireless digital control signal. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the micro control circuit further comprises a wireless signal transceiver. 
         [0014]    Comparing with the conventional switch assembly, the wireless switch modules as provided in the present invention can be switch-controlled both via the switch button(s) and the wireless digital control signal; therefore, the present invention can meet the requirement of wireless control. 
         [0015]    Comparing with the existed wireless switch assembly, the wireless switch modules as provided in the present invention can be directly connected to the existed frame and the covering board, and can be further electrically connected to a power source and at least one loading via at least one power-in wire and power-out wire. Therefore, both in spatial and electrical, the wireless switch module is compatible to the existed frame, covering board, power-in wire(s), power-out wire(s), so that the wireless switch module can directly replace the conventional switch cell(s). 
         [0016]    In the present invention, except for receiving the wireless digital control signal, it is still necessary for the wireless switch module to execute a digital analysis to the wireless digital control signal, and then switch-control the switch circuit “On” and “Off” in accordance with the analysis result. Thus, the wireless switch module of the present invention can effectively prevent from being blind triggered by external wireless interference signals. 
         [0017]    Nevertheless, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the micro control circuit further comprises a wireless signal transceiver. When a wireless digital control signal cannot be effectively received by a wireless module located in a remote end, the wireless digital control signal can be received and transmitted by other wireless switch modules, so as to indirectly transmit the wireless digital control signal to the wireless switch module located in the remote end. Therefore, it is obviously that the art of the present invention can control the wireless switch module located in the remote end via the indirectly transmission method. 
         [0018]    The devices, characteristics, and the preferred embodiment of this invention are described with relative figures as follows. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates two conventional switch cells being fitted with a frame and a covering board to form a switch assembly in prior arts; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a simplified circuit diagram illustrating the conventional switch cells being electrically connected to a power-in wire and a power-out wire; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates the major elements of a wireless switch assembly and the connection relation thereof in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates the wireless switch modules can be directly mounted between the existed frame and covering board in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  illustrates a functional block diagram in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates that the wireless switch assembly can be assembled with an adapter to form an adapted-type wireless switch assembly; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  illustrates that the wireless switch assembly can be assembled with an extension assembly to form an extension-type wireless switch assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    Due to that the wireless switch module as provided in accordance with the present invention can be widely applied to control the switch circuit “On” and “Off”, and further directly replace the conventional switch cell(s), the combined applications are too numerous to be enumerated and described, so that on the basis of the structure, only a preferred embodiment is disclosed as follows for representation. 
         [0028]    Please refer to  FIG. 3  to  FIG. 5 , wherein  FIG. 3  illustrates the major elements of a wireless switch assembly and the connection relation thereof in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 4  illustrates the wireless switch modules can be directly mounted between the existed frame and covering board in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  FIG. 5  illustrates a functional block diagram in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figures, the existed frame  1  is applied for a wireless switch module  200  mounted therein, and then covers with the existed covering board  4 , so as to make a wireless switch assembly  100   a . The wireless switch module  200  comprises two switch cells  5  and  6 , a control unit  7  and a connection mechanism  8 . 
         [0029]    The switch cell  5  comprises a main body  51 , a switch button  52 , a relay  53  and a switch circuit  54 . The bottom of the main body  51  is formed with a receiving groove  511 , and the one side of the main body  51  facing to the switch cell  6  is formed with two assembling holes  512  and  513 . The switch button  52  is connected to the main body  51 . The switch circuit  54  is located within the main body  51  and usually mechanically connected with the switch button  52  via a flexible plate and a spring. The relay  53  is embedded in the receiving groove  511 , and coupled with the switch circuit  54 . Meanwhile, one end of the switch circuit  54  is connected to a power source (not shown) via the power-in wire Li, and the other end of the switch circuit  54  is connected to a loading  300  via a power-out wire Lo; wherein the loading  300  can be electrical apparatus or the electronic devices as mentioned. 
         [0030]    Similarly, the switch cell  6  comprises a main body  61 , a switch button  62 , a relay  63  and a switch circuit  64 . The bottom of the main body  61  is formed with a receiving groove  611 , and the one side of the main body  61  facing to the switch cell  5  is formed with two assembling holes  612  and  613 . The switch button  62  is connected to the main body  61 . The switch circuit  64  is located within the main body  61  and usually mechanically connected with the switch button  62  via a flexible plate and a spring. The relay  63  is embedded in the receiving groove  611 , and coupled with the switch circuit  64 . Meanwhile, one end of the switch circuit  64  is connected to a power source (not shown) via the power-in wire Li′, and the other end of the switch circuit  64  is connected to a loading  400  via a power-out wire Lo′; wherein the loading  400  can be electrical apparatus or the electronic devices as mentioned. 
         [0031]    The control unit  7  comprises a control body  71  and a micro control circuit  72 . Two guide grooves  711  and  712  are formed on the control body  71 . The micro control circuit  72  comprises a wireless signal receiving circuit  721  and an analysis circuit  722 , and the analysis circuit  722  is coupled with the wireless signal receiving circuit  721 , the relay  53  and  63 . The connection mechanism  8  consists of two connection bars  81  and  82 . The connection bar  81  perforates the assembling hole  512 , the guide groove  711  and the assembling hole  612 , and the connection bar  82  perforates the assembling hole  513 , the guide groove  712  and the assembling hole  613 , so as to assemble the switch cell  5 ,  6  and the control unit  7  together. 
         [0032]    In the present invention, it is able to switch-control the switch circuit  54  and  64  of the wireless switch assembly  100   a  “On” and “Off”, and the mechanical means for switch-controlling the switch circuit  54  and  64  “On” and “Off” is the same as or similar to the means as applied in the prior arts. Thus, following up, only the technologies of switch-controlling the switch circuit  54  and  64  “On” and “Off” through wireless signal is disclosed. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , when a user uses a remote control  500  to send a wireless digital control signal S 1 , the wireless digital control signal S 1  can be received by the wireless signal receiving circuit  721 , transmitted the wireless digital control signal S 1  to the analysis circuit  722 , and analyzed by the analysis circuit  722 , so as to control the relay  53  and  63  in accordance with an analysis result. 
         [0034]    When the analysis result implies that switch on the switch circuit  54 , a switch-on signal S 2  can be transmitted to the relay  53 , and the switch circuit  54  can be switched on via the relay  53 , so that the power source can supply a nominal electricity to the loading  300  to make the loading  300  under a loading condition. 
         [0035]    On the contrary, when the analysis result implies that switch off the switch circuit  54 , a switch-off signal S 2 ′ can be transmitted to the relay  53 , and the switch circuit  54  can be switched off via the relay  53 , so that the power source interrupts supplying the nominal electricity to the loading  300  to make the loading  300  under an unloading condition. 
         [0036]    Similarly, when the analysis result implies that switch on the switch circuit  64 , a switch-on signal S 3  can be transmitted to the relay  63 , and the switch circuit  64  can be switched on via the relay  63 , so that the power source can supply the nominal electricity to the loading  400  to make the loading  400  under a loading condition. 
         [0037]    On the contrary, when the analysis result implies that switch off the switch circuit  64 , a switch-off signal S 3 ′ can be transmitted to the relay  63 , and the switch circuit  64  can be switched off via the relay  63 , so that the power source interrupts supplying the nominal electricity to the loading  400  to make the loading  400  under an unloading condition. 
         [0038]    After reading above description people skilled in the ordinary art can easily realize the facts as follows. 
         [0039]    First, the connection mechanism  8  can be replaced by any element capable of assembling the switch cells  5 ,  6  and the control unit together, such as connecting frame or connecting hook, etc., not limited by the connection bars as disclosed in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0040]    Second, when the wireless digital control signal S 1  sent from the remote control  500  is replaced by a wireless analog control signal, it is necessary to additionally provide an A/D converter to transfer the wireless analog control signal to the wireless digital control signal S 1 . 
         [0041]    Third, due to that the wireless digital control signal S 1  sent from the remote control  500  belongs to a digital signal, it is able to make analysis circuit  722  exactly analyze the wireless digital control signal S 1  through proper encoding and decoding technologies, so as to prevent the wireless switch assembly  100   a  being blind triggered. 
         [0042]    Fourth, the wireless switch module  200  can be directly mounted to the existed frame  1  and the covering board  4 , and electrically connected to the power-in wires Li, Li′, and the power-out wires Lo and Lo′. Therefore, no matter in the consideration of the compatibility in spatial or in electrical, the wireless switch module  200  can be directly applied to replace the conventional switch cell(s) to be assembled with the existed frame  1  and the covering board  4  to form a wireless switch assembly  100   a , so as to directly upgrade the conventional switch assembly  100  to the wireless switch assembly  100   a.    
         [0043]    Fifth, in the practice application, it is able to directly set two micro control circuits within the switch cells  5  and  6 . Thus, the control body  71  and the connection mechanism  8  are unnecessary for assembling the wireless switch module  200 . 
         [0044]    Following up, two portable applications of the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be further disclosed. Please refer to  FIG. 6 , which illustrates that the wireless switch assembly can be assembled with an adapter to form an adapted-type wireless switch assembly. Simultaneously, please refer to  FIG. 4 . As shown in the figures, an adapter  9  comprises an adapted-box  91  provided with a containing groove  911  and a plug assembly  912  thereof. The wireless switch assembly  100   a  can be further assembled to the containing groove  911  of the adapted-box  91 , so as to form an adapted-type wireless switch assembly  600 . The adapted-type wireless switch assembly  600  can be connected to an outlet (not shown) via the plug assembly  912 . 
         [0045]    Please refer to  FIG. 7 , which illustrates that the wireless switch assembly can be assembled with an extension assembly to form an extension-type wireless switch assembly. Simultaneously, please refer to  FIG. 4 . As shown in the figures, an extension assembly  9   a  comprises an adapted-box  91   a , an extension wire  92   a  and a plug assembly  93   a . The adapted-box  91   a  comprises a containing groove  911   a . The extension wire  92   a  is respectively connected to the adapted-box  91   a  and the plug assembly  93   a . The wireless switch assembly  100   a  can be further assembled to the containing groove  911   a  of the adapted-box  91   a , so as to form an extension-type wireless switch assembly  700 . The extension-type wireless switch assembly  700  can be connected to an outlet (not shown) via the plug assembly  93   a.    
         [0046]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.