Abstract:
The invention relates to an actuator system for a power modifier of the kind having a power modifier body that is secured to a wall, first and second terminals over which a voltage is applied, a power-modifying portion that modifies electric power from the first terminal to the second terminal, and a power modifier member, movably secured to the power modifier body and connected to the power-modifying portion so that the power-modifying portion modifies the electric power upon movement of the power modifier member relative to the power modifier body and the wall. The actuator system includes an actuator body that is securable in a stationary position relative to the wall, a reference source, and an actuator connected to the reference source, the actuator having a stationary portion secured in a stationary position to the actuator body and a movable portion that moves relative to the actuator body, the movable portion having a surface that engages with the power modifier member of the power modifier to move the power modifier member in response to the reference source.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/834,639, filed on Jul. 31, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1). Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to an actuator system for a power modifier such as a light switch. 
         [0004]    2). Discussion of Related Art 
         [0005]    A timer is often used between a wall outlet and a light for purposes of switching the light on and off, for example when the owner of a house is away. In such a timer, the wall outlet supplies power to both the timer and the light switch, which is attached to the timer. Such a device is useful to control individual lights, but is not able to control lights that are hard-wired into a house. 
         [0006]    If the light in a room is controlled with a wall-mounted switch, a programmable outlet can be used to switch the light on and off. A programmable outlet, however, must be installed directly into an opening in a wall, and is thus more expensive and a more permanent addition to the room. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The invention relates to an actuator system for a power modifier of the kind having a power modifier body that is secured to a wall, first and second terminals over which a voltage is applied, a power-modifying portion that modifies electric power from the first terminal to the second terminal, and a power modifier member, movably secured to the power modifier body and connected to the power-modifying portion so that the power-modifying portion modifies the electric power upon movement of the power modifier member relative to the power modifier body and the wall. The actuator system includes an actuator body that is securable in a stationary position relative to the wall, a reference source, and an actuator connected to the reference source, the actuator having a stationary portion secured in a stationary position to the actuator body and a movable portion that moves relative to the actuator body, the movable portion having a surface that engages with the power modifier member of the power modifier to move the power modifier member in response to the reference source. 
         [0008]    The power modifier member may be a lever arm that is pivoted by the movable portion of the actuator. 
         [0009]    The power modifier body may be securable within an opening in a wall, and a face plate may be securable over the opening in the wall, further comprising a securing device, having a first component securable to the face plate and a second component securable to the actuator body, thereby securing the actuator body to the face plate. 
         [0010]    The first and second components of the securing device may include first and second magnets with their polarities in substantially the same direction so that they attract one another. 
         [0011]    The reference source may include a clock. 
         [0012]    The actuator system may further comprise an input device, a processor, and memory, the memory having a program stored thereon that is executable by the processor to allow for setting of an actuation time, the processor comparing the actuation time with a time provided by the clock for purposes of moving the movable portion of the actuator. 
         [0013]    The actuator system may further comprise battery terminals, the reference source being connected to the battery terminals. 
         [0014]    The actuator system may further comprise battery terminals, the actuator motor being connected to the battery terminals. 
         [0015]    The actuator system may further comprise an amplifier between the reference source and the actuator motor. 
         [0016]    The movable portion of the actuator may move the power modifier member in first and second opposing directions so that the movable portion moves the power modifier member to respectively increase and decrease the electric power from the first terminal to the second terminal. 
         [0017]    The reference source may include a clock, further comprising an input device, a processor, and memory, wherein a program is stored in the memory, the program being executable by the processor to allow for entering of first and second actuation times, the processor comparing the first and second actuation times with a time provided by the clock to move the movable portion into the first and second directions, respectively. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The invention is further described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional side view that illustratively shows a wall, a switch, a face plate, and an actuator system for the switch, according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing external surfaces of the switch, face plate, and actuator system before the actuator system is secured to the face plate; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing internal components of the actuator system; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing electric components of the actuator system; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating the functioning of a program forming part of the actuator system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  of the accompanying drawings illustrates a vertical wall  10 , a switch  12 , a face plate  14 , and an actuator system  16 , according to an embodiment of the invention. The switch  12  includes a switch body  18 , first and second terminals  20  and  24 , a relay  26 , and a switch member  28 . The wall  10  has an opening  30  formed therein. 
         [0025]    The switch member  28  is a lever arm that is mounted to the switch body  18  for pivotal movement in upward and downward directions  32  and  34 . The terminals  20  and  24  are also mounted to the switch body  18 . The relay  26  has a portion that is permanently and pivotably secured to the second terminal  24 , and a second portion that can be moved between a first position distant from the first terminal  20  and a second position in contact with the first terminal  20 . 
         [0026]    A voltage can be applied over the first and second terminals  20  and  24 . When the relay  26  is not connected to the first terminal  20 , no current, and therefore no power, flows from the first terminal  20  to the second terminal  24 . When the relay  26  is connected to the first terminal  20 , current and power are provided from the first terminal  20  through the relay  26  to the second terminal  24 . The switch member  28  is connected to the relay  26  such that pivotal movement of the switch member  28  into the up direction  32  brings the relay  26  into contact with the first terminal  20 , and movement in the downward direction  34  moves the relay  26  out of contact with the first terminal  20 . The switch member  28  is thus used to switch electric power on and off. 
         [0027]    The switch body  18  is located within the opening  30  in the wall  10 . Fasteners (not shown) are used to secure the switch body  18  in a stationary position to the stationary wall  10 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the actuator system  16  includes an actuator body  40  defining two compartments  42  for batteries, positive and negative battery terminals  44  partially located within the compartments  42 , a reference source  46 , an amplifier  48 , and an actuator  50 , all directly or indirectly mounted to the actuator body  40 . The actuator system  16  further includes first and second sets of magnets  52  and  54 , respectively. The first set of magnets  52  is attached to a rear of the face plate  14 . The second set of magnets  54  is attached to a front surface of a rear lip of the actuator body  40 . 
         [0029]    Batteries  56  are insertable into the compartments  42 . Two of the batteries  56  are located in series in one of the compartments  42 , and two more of the batteries  56  are located in the other compartment  42 . Positive terminals of two of the batteries  56  make contact with one of the terminals  44 , and negative terminals of the other two batteries make contact with the other terminal  44 . 
         [0030]    The actuator  50  includes an actuator motor  60  and an actuator mechanism  62 . The actuator motor  60  has a housing that is mounted in a stationary position relative to the actuator body  40 , and a shaft that is rotatably mounted to the housing. The actuator motor  60  also has a coil to which current can be provided, so as to rotate the shaft relative to the housing. 
         [0031]    The actuator mechanism  62  is mounted for vertical up and down movement relative to the actuator body  40 . The actuator mechanism  62  is also connected to the shaft of the actuator motor  60  so that rotation of the shaft of the actuator motor  60  causes vertical up and down movement of the actuator mechanism  62 . The actuator mechanism  62  has a slot  64  formed therein. 
         [0032]    In use, the face plate  14  is positioned over the opening  30  in the wall  10 , and the switch member  28  protrudes through an opening  70  in the face plate  14 . Screws  74  serve as fasteners that secure the face plate  14  to the switch body  18 . 
         [0033]    The actuator system  16  is then positioned against the face plate  14 . Each one of the magnets  54  corresponds to a respective one of the magnets  52 . The magnets  52  and  54  have polarities that are in the same direction, so that each one of the magnets  54  is attracted to a respective one of the magnets  52 . The magnets  52  and  54  are thus first and second portions of securing devices that secure the actuator body  40  to the face place  14 . The actuator body  40  and other components of the actuator system  16  are thus secured through the face plate  14 , the screws  74 , and the switch body  18  to the wall  10 . The only components of the actuator system  16  that are movable relative to the wall  10  are the actuator mechanism  62  and the shaft of the actuator motor  60 . 
         [0034]    The slot  64  in the actuator mechanism  62  is positioned over the switch member  28 . The slot  64  has upper and lower surfaces that are positioned above upper and lower surfaces of the switch member  28 . Downward movement of the actuator mechanism  62  brings the upper surface of the slot  64  into contact with the upper surface of the switch member  28 , and further movement of the actuator mechanism  62  in a downward direction moves the switch member  28  in the downward direction  34 . Should movement of the actuator mechanism  62  be reversed, the lower surface of the slot  64  is brought into contact with the lower surface of the switch member  28 , and further upward movement of the actuator mechanism  62  moves the switch member  28  in the upward direction  32 . The actuator  50  can thus be used to switch the electric power of the switch  12  alternately off and on. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  illustrates electric components of the actuator system  16  in more detail. The positive terminal  44  connected to each battery  56  is connected to ground. The negative terminal  44  connected to each battery  56  is connected to both the reference source  46  and to the amplifier  48 , as hereinbefore described. The reference source  46  is also connected to ground, and includes an input device  80 , a clock  82 , a processor  84 , and memory  86 . The memory  86  is connected to the processor  84 , and includes a program  88  that is executable by the processor  84 . The input device  80  is also connected to the processor, and in the present example includes a keypad and a liquid crystal display. The program  88 , executed by the processor  84 , permits a user to use the input device  80  to enter an “on” time  90  and an “off” time  92 , which are stored in the memory  86 . The clock  82  is also connected to the processor  84 . The program  88 , executed by the processor  84 , compares the “on” time  90  and the “off” time  92  to a time provided by the clock  82 , and provides signals to the amplifier  48  based on such comparisons. 
         [0036]    The user also uses the input device  80  to set or “arm” the actuator system  16 , and can also use the input device  80  to disarm the actuator system  16 .  FIG. 5  illustrates how the actuator system  6  is used when it is armed. 
         [0037]    At step  100 , the user secures the actuator system  16  as described with reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 . At step  102 , the user enters the “on” time  90 , which is stored in the memory  86 . At step  104 , the user enters the “off” time  92 , which is also stored in the memory  86 . At step  106 , the processor  84  continually compares the clock time provided by the clock  82  to the “on” time  90  in the memory  86 . If the clock time is not larger than the “on” time, no further action is performed. If the clock time is larger than the “on” time, step  108  is executed. 
         [0038]    At step  108 , the actuator mechanism  62  is moved to an “on” position. The processor  84  sends a signal to the amplifier  48 . The amplifier  48  utilizes power from the battery  56  to amplify the power and provide amplified power to the actuator motor  60 . The actuator motor  60  is preferably a servo-motor to provide for control over the degree of rotation of its shaft to move the actuator mechanism  62  in  FIG. 1  upward into the “on” position. 
         [0039]    Following step  108 , the processor  84  executes step  110 . The processor  84  continually compares the time provided by the clock  82  to the “off” time  92  in the memory  86 . If the clock time is less than the “off” time, no further action is executed. If the clock time is larger than the “off” time, step  112  is executed. 
         [0040]    At step  112 , the actuator mechanism  62  in  FIG. 1  is moved to an “off” position. The processor  84  sends a signal to the amplifier  48 , which is amplified and provided to the actuator motor  60 . The signal may, for example, reverse the rotation of the shaft by the same degree as when the actuator mechanism  62  was moved to the “on” position. The actuator mechanism  62  then moves down into the “off” position. 
         [0041]    Following step  112 , the processor  84  may again carry out step  106 . Steps  106 ,  108 ,  110 , and  112  can be repeated until the user disarms the actuator system  16 . 
         [0042]    It can thus be seen that the user can use the actuator system  16  to alternately switch the switch  12  on and off at predetermined times. The switch  12  will, for example, be switched on at a certain time every day, and be switched off at a certain time every day, and the process will be repeated every 24 hours. The switch  12  can be connected to a light, and the light is switched on and off when the user is away from home. 
         [0043]    Although “on” and “off” times are used in the example, another reference source can be used to switch a switch on and off. The reference source  46  can, for example, include a receiver for a cellular phone, and the user can switch a switch on and off by calling the receiver. The reference source  46  can include a light sensor instead of or in addition to a manual input device, so that a light is switched on when ambient light falls below a predetermined intensity and switches off when ambient light is above a predetermined intensity. In another example, the reference source  46  can include a motion sensor and a clock so that a light is switched on when motion is detected and switched off after a predetermined period of time after motion is not detected anymore. 
         [0044]    In the given example, a switch  12  is described as an example of a power modifier that uses a relay  26  to discreetly switch power on and off. Another power modifier may have a power-modifying portion that simply increases or reduces power without necessarily switching the power on and off. Instead of a switch member such as the switch member  28 , such a power modifier may have a power modifier member that is rotatable. In an alternate embodiment, it is also possible to use a securing device such as a fastener instead of the magnets  52  and  54  to secure an actuator system directly or indirectly to a wall. 
         [0045]    While certain exemplary embodiments have been described and shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that such embodiments are merely illustrative and not restrictive of the current invention, and that this invention is not restricted to the specific constructions and arrangements shown and described since modifications may occur to those ordinarily skilled in the art.