Abstract:
An interface component for insertion in a certain-sized connection box placed for another component such as a switch or other electrical mechanism. The interface component may bring in new capabilities plus maintain the capabilities of the removed component. The box need not be removed, or if the boxed is removed the structure or space encompassing the box need not be enlarged. Further, no new wiring is necessarily needed. This placement or substitution may be particularly applicable to rooms of hotels, motels, and other similar facilities. Neither time nor expense of redoing structure to hold a larger box or provide more space or wiring is needed. In many cases, there is not adequate space to add components for providing additional capabilities to a room.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure pertains to wall-mounted mechanisms in rooms of multi-room buildings, and particularly to mechanisms to facilitate requests by guests of the rooms. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    The disclosure reveals an interface assembly for insertion in a certain-sized connection box in lieu of another component such as a switch or other electrical component. The replacement may bring in new capabilities plus maintain the capabilities of the removed component. The box need not be removed, or if the box is removed the structure or space encompassing the box need not be enlarged. Further, no new wiring is needed. This replacement or substitution may be particularly applicable to rooms of hotels, motels, and other similar facilities. Neither time nor expense of redoing structure to hold a larger box or provide more space is needed. In many cases, there is not adequate space to add components for providing additional capabilities to the rooms. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an example of available space for a multi-functional item in a room; 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of the multi-functional item as replacement for another component the room wall; 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of a wall plate that may be removed from a switch which in turn may be removed from an electrical connection box; 
           [0006]      FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  are diagrams of example interface assemblies that may be inserted in place of an electrical component space or box; 
           [0007]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of a schematic showing an example electronics circuit for an interface assembly; 
           [0008]      FIG. 8  is a diagram revealing a door chime sending unit for the outside of an entry door to a room; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 9  is a diagram showing a sending unit proximate to an entry door for each of several rooms. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Often in the past, electrical wallbox-mounted door bell chimes have been used through the hotel industry. They were single-gang chimes. These chimes may typically include buttons and indicators to set and clear room status information, such as Privacy/Do Not Disturb (DND) and Service/Make-Up-Room. For the reason of having these features reasonably accessible to the user, most of the time, door bell chimes may be mounted in the entry way. This mounting may typically require a double gang box at the same location where a light switch or dimmer is mounted that is used to operate a light load external to the device, e.g., a lighting fixture, in a hallway or an entry of the guestroom. 
         [0011]    “Room” noted herein may refer to a unit in a hotel, motel, multiplex residence, multi-party home, and the like. “Room” here may refer to the unit which incorporates integral rooms. The term “room” as referred to in the present description may actually contain one or more integral rooms such as a bathroom, a sleeping area, a study, a closet, and so forth within the room. “Room” may also refer to a suite which could have one or more integral rooms within the room or suite. 
         [0012]    In retrofit applications, there generally are no spare gangs at the wallboxes of guestrooms. Adding a door bell device may typically require one to either change the wallbox or to completely rewire the wallbox. In some retrofit instances, changing the wallbox is not necessarily an option as there is often no space available to mount another or larger box. Rewiring might demand expensive labor and sometimes is not necessarily possible because of limitations as to what can be done structurally to the room. 
         [0013]    Combining the parts of a door bell (sounder) with the light actuating device, such as a relay or dimmer, may elegantly solve this dilemma and create competitive advantages because of greatly reduced costs of adding a door bell system to an existing component of a room. 
         [0014]    There may be an integration of a relay, FET or triac to operate a lighting load, chime circuitry containing a sound outputting device such as a speaker, a user actuated interface such as a push button to operate a light, a user actuated interface to operate the status of one of Privacy/Do Not Disturb or Service/Make-Up-Room and a power supply to operate this device. Adding a wired or wireless communication capability to signal the status of Privacy/DND or Service/Make-Up-Room to one or multiple auxiliary locations, such as hallway plates or central status monitoring systems, may be incorporated. The communication capability to allow control of the light actuating device from remote locations may be utilized. The communication capability to control other devices in a building automation system by assigning additional functions to the buttons of the device may be utilized. 
         [0015]    The present device may feature a light actuator, an RF wireless radio subsystem, and importantly have a replacement of a light switch in a single gang electrical box without needing further fabrication. The term “present” may refer to the device, assembly, approach system, and the like that is the subject of this description and claims. 
         [0016]    One may imagine for example a hotel entry door situation. When one enters through the door, just to the left or right, there may normally be a single gang wall box that contains a switch that controls, for example, a light above in the hallway of the room. With the present device, one may replace the normal wall switch with the new device that not only can switch the light itself but contain all elements of a door bell, and can communicate through a wireless medium along with other aspects of a building control system or a guest room. 
         [0017]    Without the presented solutions, one may have to, at great costs, replace the single gang box with a double gang box (which may include dry wall work and electrician work) and then install two devices side-by-side (e.g., a networkable light controller and a door bell or chime device). This present state of affairs may be greatly improved and overcome by the present device. 
         [0018]    The present device may have two switches for selection of “Do Not Disturb” (DND) and a “Make Up Room” (MUR). The guest may choose either the DND or MUR functions without opening the guest room door. If DND is pressed, a lettered, backlit “Do Not Disturb” indicator may be displayed on the external door plate. If MUR is selected, a discreet LED indicator, readable only by hotel staff, may be displayed on the external plate. 
         [0019]    The “Do Not Disturb” and “Make Up Room” functions may be activated from the plate, or from any one of other guestroom control devices. When one of the DND or MUR switches on the present device is pressed, a small LED inside the switch may be illuminated, so that the guest knows that function has been activated. Additionally, when the DND command is activated by the guest, the present system may also disable the door chime, divert incoming calls to voice mail, and cancel any active MUR requests. 
         [0020]    As to guest status, DND and MUR requests may be automatically reported to a floor status monitor for use by housekeeping and other staff. Both conditions may be automatically cancelled upon guest check out. 
         [0021]    The present device may be is mounted in one of several ways. When installed during construction, a standard, single gang low-voltage junction box may be mounted directly on the wall stud, and the present device may be secured to the wall stud with standard screws, or the original component may be replaced with the present device in the same space. 
         [0022]    The present device may incorporate an aesthetically pleasing faceplate, a DND feature that reduces intrusions on guests, a MUR feature that lessens housekeeping labor, eliminates the expense and need for bothersome hanging doorknob tags, enhances guest satisfaction, and so on. 
         [0023]    No. 8 mounting screws may be vertically placed about 3.28 inches apart if the mounting is a typical standard single gang junction box. A minimum box depth of about 1.25 inches may be required. The device may have, for instance, example dimensions of about 3.9″H×1.7″W×1.2″D. The dimensions may be other ones as long as the device fits in the single gang junction box or other desired and/or already pre-installed box. The dimensions may different for another kind of box. The present device may also have other specifications. 
         [0024]    The present system and approach, as described herein and/or shown in the Figures, may incorporate one or more processors, computers, controllers, user interfaces, wireless and/or wire connections, and/or the like, wherever desired. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a diagram showing an example of available space for a multi-functional item such as an interface assembly in a guestroom that may replace such things as a light switch assembly  11  situated in a wall of the room.  FIG. 2  is a diagram of a replacement item  25  on the room wall.  FIG. 3  is a diagram of a wall plate  12  that may be removed from a switch  13  and a single gang electrical connection box  14 . Switch  13  may be removed from the single gang box  14 . Item  25  may be connected to the wires in box  14  and inserted into box  14 . Item  25  may be, for example, regarded as an interface assembly  25 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates interface assembly  25  for insertion in connection box  14  of  FIG. 3 . Diagram  26  is a front view of interface assembly  25 . Diagram  27  is a perspective view of interface assembly  25 . Slots  28  may be for emanating sound such as chimes and audio messages. Slots  28  may be utilized for receiving sounds such as those of voice for a microphone. Switches  31  and  32  may be for indicating “Privacy” or “Do Not Disturb”, and for “Service” or “Make Up Room”, or controlling the switched light load. There may be more switches for requesting other actions and for restraint or stoppage of certain actions. Each switch may have an LED light  33  which indicates an activation of a request made by pressing the respective button  31  or  32 . Three wires  21 ,  22  and  23  such as a phase, neutral and load wires, respectively, may be connected to interface assembly  25 . In some cases or areas of location, there may be a ground or earth wire connected to assembly  25 . 
         [0027]    Switch  31  may be a rocker switch with a middle neutral or off position. It may be labeled as “Privacy”, MUR (Make Up Room), Service and DND (Do Not Disturb”, or other applicable terminology. Switch  31  may be spring loaded in that if one presses it to the left side it may make a momentary contact to activate the MUR indication to housekeeping, and others as applicable. Switch  31  may be pressed to the right side, in the same manner as to the left side, to make a momentary contact to activate the DND indication to housekeeping, and others as applicable. Switch  32  may be a single action button switch or it may be a rocker switch like switch  31 . As a button, switch  32  may be for turning on or off a load. As a spring loaded rocker switch that returns to a middle position with out external pressure, switch  32  may be pressed to the right to click or turn on power to the load or to the left to click or turn off the load. Switch  32  still as a rocker switch may be pressed to the right to turn power on to some extent or to left to turn off power to some extent. The extent may mean the when the switch is held down to the right side, the amount of voltage applied to the load gradually increases and stops at a voltage when the switch is no longer held down. The extent may also mean the when the switch is held down to the left side, the amount of voltage applied to the load gradually decreases and stops at a voltage when the switch is no longer held down. Holding the switch down to the left will eventually result in zero voltage to the load. Likewise, holding the switch down to the right will eventually result in a maximum voltage applied to the load. The load may be an entry hall light in the room which may be increased or decreased in intensity with switch  32  being utilized as a dimmer switch. Alternatively, switch  32  may be a momentary contact button or an on/off toggle switch. Assembly  25  may have additional switches for various other functions, such as adjusting, for example, a thermostat temperature, fan speed, or speaker volume. Also, switch  31 , switch  32  and other possibly added switches implemented in interface assembly  25  may be selected from an assortment of various types of switches not necessarily mentioned herein. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a set of views of a housing  35  of an example version of interface assembly  25  used in lieu of an electrical component in a connection box such as box  14  in  FIG. 1 . Side, end, front and back views  36  are shown. Not all components of interface assembly  25  are necessarily shown in  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 6  is a diagram showing a perspective view  37  of housing  35 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of an example electronics circuit  60  of an interface assembly  25  for an existing connection box  14  previously having had a different electrical component  13  such as a switch for a load  61  like an entry hall light. Other circuit designs may be used for electronics  60 . When the electrical component  13  such as a light switch as in  FIG. 1  is removed from connection box  14 , a replacement item being like interface assembly  25 , may have electronics, for example, like that of circuit  60 . 
         [0030]    Several wires may exist in box  14  after the previous component  13  is removed. The wires may be a neutral line  51  (e.g., ground), a phase line  52  (e.g., 112 VAC) and a load wire  63 . Lines  51  and  52  may go to a power supply  53  for converting a line voltage to different magnitudes of voltage for various portions of the circuit such as micro controller  54 , RF receiver and transmitter (e.g., a transponder)  55 , amplifier  56 , indicating mechanism  57 , and so forth. Line  52  may also be connected to a load actuator  58  which can be an electrically operated switch, such as a triac, FET, relay and so forth, for controlling power via wire  63  to load  61 , which may be a light, fan, or some other device or appliance. 
         [0031]    Amplifier  56  may be a driver of signals from the microcontroller  54  to a speaker  59 . Load actuator  58  may be, for example, an electrical replacement of the electrical component  13  removed from box  14  such as a switch, dimmer or other item. Actuator  58  may be connected to electrical load  61  which could be a hall light, or other device or appliance generally in the room controlled by interface assembly  25 . 
         [0032]    Microcontroller  54  may be connected to load actuator  58  and to an RF receiver and transmitter  55 . A keypad  62 , having such things as switches, may be connected to microcontroller  54 . Inputs to keypad  62  may provide signals for controlling load actuator  58 , receiver and transmitter  55 , sound output to amplifier  56  and speaker  59 , and sound input from microphone  59 . Various requests, such as room privacy and service, and information may be input at keypad  62  for microcontroller to be appropriately provided as signals to be transmitted from transmitter  52  to various places like recipients in the multi-room building. Signals via the wireless transponder  55  may be provided in lieu of signals from keypad  62 , for example, such as signals to load actuator  58 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is a diagram revealing a door chime sending unit  71  for the outside of an entry door for a guest room. Unit  71  may have a button or switch  72  for providing a bell or chime signal to interface assembly  25 . Unit  71  may have a wireless transmitter that sends the signal to receiver  55  of circuit  60  of the interface assembly, which in turn provides a bell or chime sound over speaker  59  and emanating through slots  28  of assembly  25  ( FIG. 4 ), provided that the do not disturb selection is not activated at the interface assembly. The bell or chime signal may instead be sent from unit  71  to apparatus  25  via a wire connection. In a similar manner under the same conditions, a person such as a housekeeper with an appropriate activation mechanism may speak or provide an audio message via a microphone  73  to the room guest. 
         [0034]    Assembly  25  may be a recipient of messages and announcements that are public in nature relative to the multi-room building. If do-not-disturb selection is activated, the messages and announcements will not necessarily be provided to speaker  59 . However, high priority messages, such as emergency messages, will be provided to speaker  59  despite the activation of the do-not-disturb selection. Sounds for speaker  59 , such as alert alarms and fire siren sounds, may also override the do-not-disturb selection. 
         [0035]      FIG. 9  is a diagram of a unit  71  proximate to an entry door for each of the rooms. Unit  71  may also provide visual messages to, for example, housekeeping or other staff in a display  74  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The visual messages may incorporate “do not disturb”, “make up room”, and other information. Information on display  74  will not necessarily be visible to just anyone walking down the hall. A housekeeping staff member may use a secret button in the hallway, a key, code or other mechanism in order to see the information on display  74 . These messages may also be transmitted to a wireless receiver in unit  71  from transmitter  55  of circuit  60  in the wall interface assembly of the guest room. The housekeeping staff member may provide or leave a message or response via unit  71  for the room guest. Signals between unit  71  and assembly  25  may instead or also be conveyed by wire. Signals between other places and apparatus  25  may be sent and received via wire or wireless media. 
         [0036]    To recap, a system, for installation of an interface assembly, may incorporate an electrical box in a wall of a room for an electrical component, and a room occupant interface assembly installed in the electrical box in lieu of an electrical component. The interface assembly may incorporate an audio speaker, a first switch mechanism for controlling a load in the room, and a second switch mechanism for sending a make-up-room message or a do-not-disturb message. The electrical box may be a single gang electrical box. The load may be a light in the room. 
         [0037]    The interface assembly may further incorporate a microcontroller connected to the first and second switch mechanisms, the audio speaker and/or a microphone connected to the microcontroller, and a transmitter and/or receiver connected to the microcontroller. 
         [0038]    If a switch mechanism is activated for a certain action, then a light proximate to or in the switch mechanism may light up to indicate that the action has been activated. If an action has been activated with the second switch mechanism, then the action may be reported to a main desk or floor status monitor for reference by housekeeping or other staff, respectively. A signal for reporting an action to the main desk or floor status monitor may be communicated via a transmitter of the interface assembly to a receiver that receives the signal via a wire and/or wireless mechanism for the main desk or floor status monitor. 
         [0039]    The system may further incorporate a third switch mechanism attached proximate to outside of an entry door to the room. The third switch mechanism may transmit a signal to the interface assembly for sounding a chime or providing a notice or message for a room occupant. 
         [0040]    The system may further incorporate a faceplate situated outside a door of the room. The faceplate may indicate to a housekeeping staff a status of the room. The faceplate may have a receiver that receives signals from the interface assembly for indicating any message such as make-up-room or do-not-disturb provided by the room occupant. 
         [0041]    An electrical assembly for a room may incorporate an interface component for insertion in a single gang electrical box of a room. The interface component may have a microcontroller, a chime connected to the microcontroller, and a load actuator for controlling a load in the room. The load may be a light in the room. The load actuator may be selected from a group consisting of a relay, a TRIAC and a FET. 
         [0042]    The assembly may further incorporate a wireless transponder connected to the microcontroller. The assembly may also incorporate a switch for requesting room service and/or privacy. The switch may be connected to the microcontroller. 
         [0043]    The assembly may further incorporate a switch for controlling a state of the load actuator. The switch may be connected to the load actuator. 
         [0044]    The assembly may also incorporate a switch, for controlling a state of the load actuator, in a remote device. The switch may be connected to the wireless transponder. 
         [0045]    The interface component may replace an already existing electrical component in the electrical box. The electrical component may be a light switch. 
         [0046]    The speaker may be capable of outputting a chime sound and an audio stream. If a switch is effected for privacy, then the speaker may be disabled except for emergency messages and sounds, incoming calls may be diverted to voice mail, and/or room service may be cancelled. 
         [0047]    An approach, for installing an interface component assembly in a room, may incorporate installing an interface component in an existing electrical box or space for an electrical box in the room. The interface component may have an audio speaker, and a load actuator for controlling a load in the room. The load may be a light in the room. The electrical box may be a single gang electrical box. The speaker may provide a chime sound and/or an audio stream. The existing box may be for a light switch. 
         [0048]    The room may be in a multi-room building, such as a hotel, motel, multiplex residence, and the like. The interface component may have a microcontroller connected to one or more switches, a load actuator and the speaker, and have a wireless transponder connected to the microcontroller for receiving signals to provide the chime sound or audio stream to the speaker and/or for sending signals from the interface component to request privacy or room service. 
         [0049]    The approach may further incorporate a button outside of and by an entry door to the room in a common hallway of a multitude of rooms, for sending a signal to sound a chime via the speaker in the room. 
         [0050]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,053,757, issued May 30, 2006, and entitled “Intelligent Door Plate and Chime”, is hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0051]    In the present specification, some of the matter may be of a hypothetical or prophetic nature although stated in another manner or tense. 
         [0052]    Although the present system and/or approach has been described with respect to at least one illustrative example, many variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. It is therefore the intention that the appended claims be interpreted as broadly as possible in view of the related art to include all such variations and modifications.