Infrared remote controlled in-line power switch

A switch (10) utilizes an infrared detector (22) that can be operated by existing wireless television or stereo remote control transmitters. Output from a triac (14) of a switch (10) to a load (11) can be varied remotely. In addition, a variety of load (11) types and ratings can be controlled.

BACKGROUND 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to electrical switches, specifically to an improved 
remote control for an in-line switch. 
2. Discussion of Prior Art 
Originally in-line or series electrical switches connected between the 
power source and the load, switching what is considered the HOT wire in a 
single phase Alternating Current (AC) circuit, operated by manually moving 
the switch position to either ON or OFF. These standard electrical wall 
switches were commonly of a two-wire type. Once the series switch was in 
the ON position, an effective short-circuit was created in series between 
the source and the load. Only the states of ON or OFF were possible. 
Dimmer circuits implemented varying the voltage output to the load. U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,746,923 to Spira et al. (1973) discloses an in-line light 
dimmer switch with no remote control. Physically touching the switch still 
has to occur to cause dimming, or ON or OFF operations. Also, these 
circuits were still considered to be effectively a short-circuit with 
small power potential across the switch when operating ON or dimming. The 
problem of deriving power from these circuits for control, once they were 
effectively appearing as a short-circuit, was unanswered. Furthermore, the 
advantage of wireless remote control for these two-wire, in-line switches 
was not appreciated. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,824,428 to Spira et al. (1974) and U.S. Pat. No. 3,927,345 
to Licata et al. (1975) describe fluorescent lighting circuits with the 
control in parallel and not series with the load. No derived power source 
for control of an in-line switch, or remote operation is disclosed. 
Thereafter, U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,205 to Hoffman et al. (1993) discloses a 
radio frequency (RF) remote controlled in-line light switch; however, this 
switch having a multitude of components is complex, expensive, and has 
only an ON or OFF position. It is not effective in varying the voltage 
output and thus dimming the light. Hoffman et al. is further restricted in 
that it limits the power handling capacity of the switch, and can only 
supply resistive loads such as incandescent lights. Another disadvantage 
of Hoffman et al. is that the receiver or detector in conjunction with a 
special, matching transmitter must be set to the same frequency or 
wavelength for operation. 
The problem of a simple, effective, remote control for an in-line, two-wire 
switch remains unaddressed. 
No in-line or series switch is described which derives power for control 
while not having the load limit the switch capacity. No series switch is 
disclosed which can, through wireless remote control, vary the voltage 
output to the load. 
Finally, no switch is disclosed which does not have to have a matching 
wavelength signal between the transmitter and receiver for operation, or 
which does not have to interpret an actuating signal. 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are: 
(a) to provide a series switch which will derive power for control without 
the capacity being limited by the load; 
(b) to provide a power switch with a wireless infrared remote controlled 
receiver or detector; 
(c) to provide a remote controlled in-line two-wire switch which can be 
used for impedance loads; 
(d) to provide an inexpensive remote controlled switch with few parts; 
(e) to provide a switch which can be operated over a band or plurality of 
wavelengths; 
(f) to provide a switch which can be operated remotely without the 
necessity of a particular frequency matching transmitter; 
(g) to provide a fast switch which utilizes existing wireless infrared 
transmitters designed to operate other equipment such as televisions, 
video cassette recorders (VCRs), or stereos; 
(h) to provide an in-line switch which can be remotely and wirelessly 
controlled to vary a output from a switch to a load; and 
(i) to provide a remote controlled switch which can be actuated from a 
plurality of transmitted signals.