Power adapter arrangement having a power adapter and a control attachment

A power adapter arrangement configured to provide power to a load is described. The power adapter arrangement may comprise a power adapter having a first interface comprising a first plurality of contact elements, and a second interface comprising a switch configured to control power applied to a load; and a control attachment removably coupled to the power adapter, wherein the control attachment comprises an actuator element configured to make contact with the power adapter in response to a manual actuation of the control attachment; wherein the power adapter further comprises a power control circuit configured to receive the power and provide the power to the load in response to a detection of a manual actuation of the toggle element.

TECHNICAL FIELD

An embodiment of the present invention relates generally to power adapters, and methods of implementing power adapters and control attachments.

BACKGROUND

Power adapters, such as switches which control the application of power to a load (e.g. a light or other appliance for example), are an important part of any residential or commercial building, and can provide beneficial control of a load attached to the power adapter, such as timing control, motion detection, and dimming for example. As power adapters continue to advance, additional functionality may be available to a user. However, replacing a power adapter can come with significant expense. In addition to the cost of the replacement power adapter, it may be necessary to pay for the professional installation of the replacement power adapter, such as in the case of an in-wall installed power adapter that is coupled to wires in a wall of a building, such as a residential building or a commercial building. For many homeowners who attempt to replace a power adapter rather than have an electrician replace the power adapter, the homeowner may face a risk of shock or other bodily harm during the installation process, or improperly install a power adapter that may pose a risk to a user of the power adapter in the future.

In the case of new construction, and particularly a new residential construction, a purchaser (or a builder in the case of a home that is built without input from a purchaser of the home) may not know where the different types of power adapters should be initially placed. Further, it may not be until after living in the home for a period of time that a homeowner may have a better idea where certain types of power adapters should be placed. The homeowner would then have to change some power adapters, and therefore incur additional time and effort (or incur additional time and cost if the homeowner relies upon an electrician) to change the power adapters. Such a need to change power adapters may be particularly frustrating for the homeowner, who, having spent money in the purchase of the new home and spent considerable time during the planning and move-in process, may now have to spend additional money and time to fix a problem. That is, a homeowner may not appreciate the additional cost and time to make improvements to a home that they may have already invested considerable money and time in planning. While the homeowner may decide to delay any changes of power adapters in their home to avoid the additional cost and time, such a delay may lead to dissatisfaction with their homebuilder or the purchase of their new home.

Accordingly, circuits, devices, arrangements and methods that enable a user such as a homeowner or other building owner to easily and efficiently implement different power adapters are beneficial.

SUMMARY

A power adapter arrangement configured to provide power to a load is described. The power adapter arrangement may comprise a power adapter having a first interface comprising a first plurality of contact elements, and a second interface comprising a switch configured to control power applied to a load; and a control attachment removably coupled to the power adapter, wherein the control attachment comprises an actuator element configured to make contact with the power adapter in response to a manual actuation of the control attachment; wherein the power adapter further comprises a power control circuit configured to receive the power and provide the power to the load in response to a detection of a manual actuation of the toggle element.

According to another implementation, a power adapter arrangement configured to provide power to a load may comprise a power adapter having a first interface comprising an electrical interface having a first plurality of contact elements and a second interface comprising a switch configured to control power applied to a load; and a control attachment removably coupled to the power adapter, wherein the control attachment comprises a third interface having a second plurality of contact elements coupled to the first plurality of contact elements of the power adapter, and a toggle element having an actuator element configured to make contact with a power adapter in response to a manual actuation of the control attachment; wherein the power adapter comprises a control circuit coupled to the first interface, wherein the control circuit is adapted to receive control signals by way of the first interface of the control attachment.

A method of configuring a power adapter arrangement to provide power to a load is also described and may comprise providing a first interface of a power adapter, wherein the first interface comprises an electrical interface having a first plurality of contact elements; providing a second interface of the power adapter, wherein the second interface comprises a switch configured to control power applied to a load in response to a manual actuation of a control attachment; and providing attachment elements enabling the control attachment to be removably coupled to the power adapter; wherein an actuator element of the control attachment is adapted to engage with the switch of the power adapter in response to the manual actuation of the control attachment; and wherein the power adapter further comprises a power control circuit configured to receive power and provide the power to the load in response to a manual actuation of the control attachment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The power adapter arrangements, power adapters, control attachments, circuits, systems and methods set forth below provide a simple and efficient way for a building owner, building manager, or homeowner, to easily change the functionality of an electrical switch without having to replace the entire switch and, more importantly, without having to run the risk of making contact to a high voltage power line or high voltage power contact of an electrical system of the building, for example by connecting wires of the electrical system (e.g. from a junction box) to the power adapter. By selectively distributing elements between a power adapter and a control attachment of a power adapter arrangement, builders and purchasers of buildings (including residential home purchasers for example) can easily and efficiently design and construct a building with a fully operating electrical system having switches installed, and easily and efficiently change features of power adapter arrangements by simply changing a control attachment for some or all of the power adapter arrangements installed in the building. A power adapter arrangement having a power adapter that is configured to receive a control attachment as set forth below not only allows for changes or modifications to the configurations of power adapter arrangements after a building is constructed, but it also allows for easy updates to power adapter arrangements as technology changes and improved or different control attachments are available.

According to some implementations, power adapters having a power switching function are provided that enable the use of different control attachments having a range of functionalities, including basic control attachments that have limited functionality and more advance control attachments having different levels of functionality and different features. As will be described in more detail below, a common interface between a power adapter and all control attachments could be used. For example, the common interface could be adapted to receive both basic control signals, such as on/off control signals or dimmer control signals that are generated in response to a manual operation of a user (e.g. pressing a toggle element of control attachment_, and electrical signals generated by a circuit of the control attachment which may be independent of input of the user (e.g. on and off commands associated with a timer feature having a schedule for turning on or off power applied to a load controlled by the control attachment or an on command from a motion detector). A basic control attachment may use only a portion of the common interface, and the more advanced control attachments may use another portion of the common interface, where the portions may or may not overlap. According to some implementations, a first interface (e.g. a mechanical switch or a simple contact arrangement of a power adapter that is shorted by a contact element of the control attachment) could be provided for basic controls signals generated in response to manual user input on a user interface of the control attachment, and may be separate from a second interface, which may be adapted to receive more advanced signals, such as timing schedule signals associated with a timing pattern (i.e. at least one on time or off time for applying power to a device controlled by the power adapter arrangement according to a schedule, which may be based upon predetermined days or may be periodic (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly or yearly) which may be received by way of a wireless connection to a wireless control circuit of the control attachment or a control signal generated by a motion detector of the control attachment.

According to other implementations, a power switching function may be implemented in a control attachment, which provides flexibility in functions of the power adapter arrangement. For example, a simpler on/off switching arrangement could be provided using a relay in the control attachment, or a more advanced switching arrangement could be provided by using a TRIAC or other circuit to enable dimming functionality in the control attachment. That is, by placing a power switch, which enables the routing of power to a load in the control attachment, it is possible to provide a power adapter arrangement with or without dimming capabilities by providing a control attachment having a TRIAC or just a relay for performing power switching. As will be described in more detail below, many different variations of safe and flexible power adapter arrangements can be implemented. While a variety of embodiments of each of the power adapter and the control attachment having different levels of functionality and features are shown, it should be understood that various features and functionality could be interchanged between the different embodiments.

A description of example embodiments is provided on the following pages. The text and figures are provided solely as examples to aid the reader in understanding the invention. They are not intended and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of this invention in any manner. Although certain embodiments and examples have been provided, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art based on the disclosures herein that changes in the embodiments and examples shown may be made without departing from the scope of this invention. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being (operatively or communicatively) “coupled with/to,” another element, it can be connected directly with/to the other element directly or coupled to the other element via a third element.

According to various implementations, a power adapter may be configured to provide power to a load. The power adapter may comprise a first plurality of contact elements comprising a first contact element configured to receive power and a second contact element configured to provide power to a load; a receiving element configured to receive a control attachment; a first interface comprising a second plurality of contact elements configured to provide one or more reference voltages to the control attachment, wherein the first interface comprises an electrical interface; and a second interface comprising a switch configured to control power applied to a load in response to an actuation of the control attachment.

Control attachments may also be implemented. For example, a control attachment adapted to control the application of power to a load may comprise a toggle element on the control attachment, wherein the toggle element is movable in response to a manual actuation associated with the control attachment; a first interface comprising an actuator element configured to make contact with a power adapter, wherein the actuator element is adapted to engage with a switch of the power adapter in response to the manual actuation; and an attachment element adapted to attach the control attachment to the power adapter; wherein a manual actuation of the toggle element enables controlling the power applied to the load by the power adapter. It should be understood that the control attachments may be implemented with the power adapter as described below.

FIGS.1-5show implementations of a power adapter arrangement100having power switching capability (e.g. a relay or a circuit having a control terminal to enable dimming, such as a triode for alternating current (TRIAC) in the power adapter). According to some implementations, it may be desirable to provide reduced functionality of a power adapter, which is a device that receives a source of power, such as a reference voltage and selectively routes the power to a load based upon a control signal, such as a control signal associated with a timing pattern or in response to a sensor or some other external input. The power adapter implements selected switching function (e.g. basic on/off switching or on/off switching with dimmer control), and implements additional control functionality according to signals from a control attachment, which is removably attached to the power adapter. By reducing the complexity of a power adapter to include the power switching capability, and by providing additional control functionality or other functionality in the control attachment, the power adapters can be widely and cost-effectively implemented in new construction, such as in new home construction, with control attachments that may be initially installed having limited functionality.

Some or all of the control attachments having limited functionality can be easily replaced with more advance control attachments after an owner of the new construction has an opportunity to evaluate the power control needs of the new home, such as determining where a timer, motion detector or smart speaker may be beneficial. That is, a builder can efficiently (i.e. by installing a single type of power adapter at all locations where a switch is to be installed) and cost effectively (i.e. by installing a power adapter with a basic control attachment at all locations except certain locations where additional functionality may be believed to be needed) build a new home having a fully functional electrical system with little or no input (or even inaccurate input) from a purchaser of the new home. Such a use of power adapter arrangements as set forth in more detail below allows the owner of the new home (and future owners) to easily and cost effectively make changes to the electrical system of the home by simply changing the control attachments where necessary.

As will be described in more detail below, a control interface between a power adapter and a control attachment may be configured to accept a basic control attachment having limited functionality such as on/off functionality or on/off functionality with dimmer capability, and also accept a more advanced control attachment having more advanced functions such the ability to send control signals associated with a timing schedule received at the control attachment using a wireless control circuit or control signals from a sensor, such as a motion detector, to the power adapter. By way of example, a power adapter arrangement having a basic control attachment attached thereto may function in a similar manner to a conventional switch having on/off capability or on/off and dimmer capability. However, it the owner determines that additional functionality may be useful, the owner would only need to change the control attachment to have the desired additional functionality, such as timer functionality or motion detection functionality for example. While reference is made to power control needs, where an owner may evaluate the needs to control power applied to a load attached to the power attachment, it should be understood that control attachments may have functionality beyond controlling the load attached to a power adapter. For example, the control attachment may enable functions separate from controlling the load, such as a camera function, information or entertainment functions (a microphone and speaker for providing requests for information and receiving audible feedback, such as in a smart speaker), sensor functions (e.g. temperature or humidity sensors for home automation), wired or wireless networking functions (e.g. WiFi router, WiFi node of a WiFi mesh arrangement, or Bluetooth node of a Bluetooth mesh arrangement), or other any other functions of an attachment that may or may not require power from the power adapter.

Turning first toFIG.1, a block diagram of a power adapter arrangement100having a power adapter102coupled to a control attachment104comprising a basic control attachment is shown.FIG.1shows a control interface configured to receive a signal by way of an actuator in response to user input. According to the implementation ofFIG.1, a very basic control attachment and a power adapter having a relay is disclosed. As will be described in more detail below, power adapters having more functionality, such as dimming functionality, and control attachments having more functionality, such as wireless communication functionality can be implemented.

According to the implementation ofFIG.1, the power adapter arrangement100comprises a power adapter102and the control attachment104. The power adapter comprises a plurality of contact elements, often call terminals or inputs and outputs, that are adapted to make electrical connections to electrical wires in a junction box. More particularly, the power adapter102comprises a power control circuit105adapted to receive one or more reference voltages, such as a power voltage received at a power input106and a neutral voltage received at a neutral input108. By way of example, the power voltage could be an electrical signal approximately 120 volts or 220 volts, depending upon the electrical system that is being used in the region. The power adapter may be designed to operate with a specific reference voltage, such as 120 volts or 220 volts. A ground voltage coupled to a ground input107and a neutral voltage coupled to a neutral input108are also provided. The use of neutral and ground terminals will be described in more detail below. A 3-way connection terminal109, also known as a traveler connection, may also be provided. The 3-way terminal enables the user of the power adapter arrangement in a 3-way connection, where two different switches can be used as toggle switches for a single load, as is well known. The power control circuit105controls the application of a power signal outside of the power adapter arrangement to a load110, which may be any device receiving power such as a light or appliance, at a load terminal112, which may be a contact element adapted to be coupled to a wire in an electrical wiring arrangement that provides power to the load. It should be understood that the power signal generated at the load terminal112may be different that the power signal applied to the power adapter at the power input106, such as due to voltage regulation (i.e. generate a signal having a known voltage and which may be filtered to eliminate spurious elements.) or dimming control for example.

There are generally three wires currently used in electrical wiring, including a live wire (i.e. the wire for providing power to a load, also called the hot wire), a neutral wire (i.e. are return path for the live wire), and a ground wire. While some older construction may only have 2 wires (e.g. there is only a live wire and a ground wire, where the ground wire is used as the return path for the live wire), most electrical outlets and switches in new construction include both a neutral connection and a ground connection, where 120 volt power is carried to homes through these two wires, and the live wire is the wire carrying current while neutral wire is the wire that completes the return path under normal conditions. Without the neutral wire, current cannot flow, and the neutral wire is always assumed to be charged in an active circuit. The neutral wire is coupled to ground (by grounding the neutral wire to a ground connection at the switching box for the building for example) to make the terminal of neutral wire at zero potential.

A ground wire (also called earth in some countries) is a wire that is ready to take all the current into the ground in case of a mishap, such as a high current generated in an appliance. Both neutral and ground wires are for the safety of the building, wiring system, appliances and human beings. The ground wire is assumed to be at zero potential while the potential of neutral depends upon an imbalance between the wires. Ground is therefore universal reference which is always taken to be zero potential. Neutral is provided by the power company to make the path of electricity closed. The ground wire on the other hand, prevents any electrocution to humans in the case of a mishap, where a ground wire is run throughout electric wiring and is buried the earth (e.g, 10-15 feet) adjacent to the house or below it.

A ground represents an electrical path, normally designed to carry fault current when an insulation breakdown occurs within electrical equipment. For example, breakdowns can be forced by connecting a metal tool or conductive material from a voltage potential to the steel structure within a facility. Connections to the electrical path (Ground) are made convenient for the installation of electrical equipment. Some stray current will always flow through the ground path. This current will come from a number of normal sources. Capacitive coupling and inductive coupling between power conductors and the ground path (conductive conduit, conductive structure members, etc.) are the greatest sources of ground path current.

While the power adapter arrangement may be wired in different ways in a circuit to apply power to a load, it should be understood that the various terminals for power, ground, neutral, and 3-way terminals are provided by way of example, and that the power adapter arrangement is configured to provide power to a load, such as by providing a path for current to flow through the load, in response to a control signal which may be directly (e.g. by a user actuation of a switch by interacting with a control attachment) or indirectly (e.g. a remote wireless operation or a stored timing program stored in one of the power adapter or the control attachment as will be described in more detail below) provided to the power adapter arrangement. For example, a power voltage may be coupled to a light that is controlled by the switch if the power adapter or the power voltage may be coupled to the switch, depending upon how the power adapter arrangement is installed. In either case, the switch provides a current path that may be controlled to allow the power to be applied to the light. In order to control the application of power provided to the load (e.g. the application of a voltage to a load terminal to allow the flow of current through the load), the power control circuit105of the power adapter102comprises a switch (which may be a relay or a TRIAC for example as described in more detail below) that enables the application of power from the electrical system to the load in response to a signal from the control attachment104.

A switch, such as a relay or TRIAC for example, as implemented in a power adapter arrangement may provide switching functionality, e.g. turning on/off power to a load (e.g. a light or appliance). The switch may control a connection of a system at a voltage derived from the power supply that powers the power adapter arrangement and apply a voltage to a load. Accordingly, a switch may be powered from and/or control an electrical circuit at any commonly used voltage for controlling loads, such as 110V/120V, 220V/230V/240V, 50 Hz, 60 Hz, 5 A, 6 A, 10 A, 13 A, 15 A, alternating current (AC) for example, which are generally considered high voltage systems for example. It should be understood that the power signal (i.e. based upon a certain voltage or current) applied to the load may be different than the power signal provided to a terminal of the power adapter from the junction box, such as due to a dimming control function.

The power adapter102comprises a signal interface circuit114coupled to a control interface circuit115. The control interface circuit115is adapted to generate a power control signal based upon one or more actuation signals generated by the control attachment, where the power control signal enables power to be applied to the load. For example, an actuation signal may be a signal based upon a manual actuation of an actuator element of the control attachment or a signal generated by a circuit of the control attachment and provided the power adapter by way of an electrical interface, where the power control signals may comprise a toggle signal (i.e. an on or off signal) or a dimmer control signal. It should be understood that the control circuit115enables independent operation of the actuator element and a signal generated by a circuit of the control attachment and provided the power adapter by way of an electrical interface, allowing for different types of control signals to be provided to the power adapter.

The control interface circuit115may comprise a detector116and a control circuit118. The signal interface circuit114is adapted to be coupled to a corresponding signal interface circuit120of the control attachment104, and comprises a plurality of signal coupling elements, which may be elements that enable the transfer of electrical signals and reference voltages, including low power reference voltages. More particularly, the signal interface circuit114comprises a signal coupling element122coupled to a corresponding signal coupling element124of the signal interface circuit120. Another signal coupling element126is shown as a part of the signal interface circuit114, but is not used in the implementation of the power adapter arrangement100ofFIG.1. That is, other control attachments104may be configured to provide a signal to the signal coupling element126, as will be described in more detail in reference toFIG.2. While coupling elements of the power adapter are shown inFIG.1, it should be understood that only some coupling elements of the power adapter are shown, and that the power adapter may comprise additional coupling elements to provide interfaces for more advanced control attachments as will be described in more detail below.

The control attachment104comprises an actuator130That is adapted to receive a user input by way of a user interface input132. As will be described in more detail below, the user interface input132may comprise any type of interface for providing an input to the actuator130which generates a control signal to the signal coupling element124. The user interface input132may comprise a toggle switch for example. While paddle-type toggle switches are described in some examples below, it should be understood that any type of toggle switch could be employed. Also, the actuator130may comprise any time of signal actuator for generating a control signal in response to user input at the user interface input132, and may comprise a mechanical actuator, an electrical actuator, or an electro-mechanical actuator for example, as described in more detail below.

For example, in a mechanical application of the signal interface circuits114and120, the actuator130may be configured to receive an actuation at the user interface input132, such as the movement of a toggle switch, which may cause a movable element of the signal coupling element124to engage a corresponding movable element of the signal coupling element122, as described in more detail by way of example in reference toFIGS.81-82. The engagement of the movable element of the signal coupling element124and the corresponding movable element of the signal coupling element122may be detected by the detector. That is, the signal coupling elements122and124may facilitate the transfer of an actuation of a toggle switch detected at the user interface input132to the detector116, where the detector116may be an electro-mechanical switch (e.g. a device that comprises a mechanical element that receives an input, such as a button which, when depressed, generates an electrical signal).

In electromechanical application of the signal interface circuits114and120, the signal coupling element122may comprise an electromechanical switch and the signal coupling element124may comprise a movable element that moves in response to an actuation at the user interface input132to depress a button of the signal coupling element122(implemented as an electromechanical switch). In an electrical application of the signal interface circuits114and120, each of the signal coupling elements122and124comprise electrical elements, which may be contact elements the enable the transmission of an electrical signal such as described in reference toFIGS.10and11.

The control interface circuit115may comprises a detector116coupled to receive a control signal by way of the signal coupling element122in response to an actuator signal at the user interface input132. The detector may comprise a mechanical, electromechanical, or electrical element for detecting a signal from the actuator130, where the implementation of the detector may depend upon the particular implementation of the actuator130and the signal coupling elements122and124. For example, if the signal coupling element124is a mechanical element, such as a movable element adapted to engage a button of the detector or an opening in the control attachment enabling an actuator element (e.g. a projection) to engage a switch of the power adapter through the opening, the detector may comprise a switch having a button that is moveable in response to the movement of the actuator element and generate an electrical signal coupled to at least one of the control circuit118and the power control circuit105. If an electrical signal is generated by the signal coupling element122, the detector may comprise an electrical circuit configured to detect the electrical signal and provide the electrical signal to at least one of the control circuit118and the power control circuit105.

The control interface circuit115further comprises a control circuit118having a decoder circuit119. The control circuit118is coupled to the signal coupling element126that is configured to provide control signals from a control attachment. While the control attachment according to the implementation ofFIG.1is a basic control attachment that comprises an on/off actuator, other control attachments can be implemented that provide control signals, such as control signals received from a remote device, such as a smart phone, or dimmer control signals, as will be described in more detail below. The decoder circuit may not only be used to decode signals, but also to determine whether the control attached is an authorized control attachment that can interface with the power adapter. Because the distribution of high voltage electrical power signals in a residential or commercial building is dangerous, it is necessary to ensure that the control attachment is authorized to communicate with and control the power adapter and/or that the power adapter is authorized to receive signals from the control attachment.

While the control interface ofFIG.1is shown by way of example as having a separate detector and control circuit, it should be understood that the detector could be implemented as a part of the control circuit118, which may be a processor as will be described in more detail below. That is, the function of the detector and the function of the decoder may be implemented by a processor in response to signals detected by the processor. Similarly, while the decoder is shown as a part of the control circuit, the decoder could be implemented separate from the control circuit.

As shown inFIG.1, the control attachment104is a basic control attachment, and signals are only sent to the power adapter from the actuator130. Therefore, it is not necessary that the decoder determines whether the control attachment is an authorized control attachment, but rather the power adapter is configured to operate with a control attachment that controls in on/off feature of the power adapter arrangement by way of a given control signal interface, such as a control signal interface requiring a physical actuation associated with the user interface input (e.g. the pressing of a toggle element of the control attachment). As will be described in more detail below, the use of switches having buttons that may be actuated by a movable element of the control attachment enable a control attachment having no electronic circuits that may interface with a portion of a control signal interface (e.g. signal interface circuit120) transmitting electrical signals. Such an arrangement is beneficial to enable a cost-efficient power adapter arrangement100. That is, the control attachment104can be made primarily or completely of plastic, and have housings that may be adapted to be used with different types of control attachments (i.e. control attachments having basic functionality or control attachments having more advanced functionality). Further, such an arrangement enables a power adapter to be functional for providing at least on/off functionality when the control attachment is not attached to the power adapter. Therefore, a builder would be able to install power adapters throughout a building, and be able to use the power adapters without it control attachment before an owner or occupier of the building decided what types of control attachments to use at different locations of the building. That is, a power adapter may comprise one or more buttons to enable toggling of power to a load, where the user would be able to toggle the power to the load without a control attachment (i.e. by just pressing one or more switches that are exposed on the power adapter when the control attachment is not attached to the power adapter), or with the control attachment attached to the power adapter, as will be described in more detail below.

Signals from the signal interface circuit114may be processed by the control interface circuit115and provided to the power control circuit105to control the application of power to a load. For example, a signal from the detector (in response to an actuation by the actuator130) may be provided by way of a signal line134to a switch135, shown here by way of example as a relay and often referred to as a power switch, to control the application of power to the load. The switch may comprise any device that enables current to flow in a path including the load to provide power to the load, where the switch may comprise a path of controllable conductivity that conducts current from the power input to the load in response to a signal from the detector.

While the control attachment104of the implementation ofFIG.1comprises a basic control attachment only having an actuator for enabling the on/off operation of the power control circuit, other control attachments may provide other control signals to the control circuit, where the control signals may be used to control the application of power to the load by way of a signal line136or may be used to identify the control attachment, as will be described in more detail below. The detector116may also be coupled to the control circuit118by way of a signal line138, where the control circuit may provide signals to the power control circuit105by way of the signal line136. That is, the detector116and the control circuit118may independently provide signals to the power control circuit105, or the control circuit118may provide signals to the power control circuit105based upon a detected actuation of actuator130or control signals from a control attachment104having other circuits for providing additional features (e.g. on and off signals or dimming signals), as will be described in more detail below.

The control attachment104is removably attached to the power adapter. The power adapter may comprise a receiving element for interfacing with control attachment. The receiving element may be a surface of the power adapter that is configured to abut a portion of the control attachment, shown generally inFIG.1as the dashed line between the power adapter and the control attachment. As will be described in more detail below, the receiving element may comprise interface elements, including contact elements, electrical connectors and electro-mechanical interfaces (such as one or more switches for example), and attachment elements for enabling a control attachment to be attached to a power adapter.

According to some implementations, the receiving element may comprise a planar surface having contact elements that are configured to make electrical contacts with corresponding contact elements of the control attachment as will be described in more detail below. According to some implementations, the power adapter may comprise a recess for receiving the control attachment, where contacts elements of the power adapter may be on a wall of the recess for example. The recess may also help with align the power adapter and the control attachment. Attachment elements may be implemented on the receiving element of the power adapter, such as in the case where the receiving element comprises a recess. Attachment elements may also be provided on the receiving element or another element of the power adapter (e.g. flanges of the power adapter that are used to attach the power adapter to a junction box) when the receiving element comprises a planar surface. Examples of a receiving element are described in more detail in reference toFIG.44, which describes both a recess and a planar surface acting as a receiving element of a power adapter.

FIGS.2-5show different implementations of both the power adapter102and the control attachment104. For example, according to some implementations of the power adapter102, dimming functionality may be provided. Different control attachments are also shown inFIGS.2-5, where the control signals provided to the power adapter102may be provided by different types of signal interface circuits114and120.

Turning now toFIG.2, another block diagram of a power adapter arrangement200having a control attachment with additional features is shown. According to the implementation ofFIG.2, an additional interface is provided for receiving control signals. In addition to the actuator130, the control attachment104comprises an interface circuit202, which may comprise a communication interface circuit, configured to transmit and/or receive communication signals by way of a communication interface204. The communication signals may be provided directly to the communication interface204or indirectly, such as by a wireless connection or a wired connection. The signal interface circuit120also comprises a signal coupling element206that is adapted communicate signals with signal coupling element126. According to some implementations, the signal coupling elements126and206could be contact elements, where one may be a contact pad and another may be a pogo pin for example, that are adapted to provide control signals to the control circuit118. The interface circuit202may also comprise a feedback circuit208that is adapted to provide feedback signals by way of a feedback interface210.

The feedback signal interface210could be any type of interface that provides a user of the power adapter arrangement with a feedback signal associated with the operation or status of the power adapter arrangement generated by the feedback circuit208. For example, the feedback interface could be any type of interface, including an audio interface and/or visual interface. As will be described in more detail below in reference toFIGS.50-64, the interface element may comprise one or more of speakers, microphones, display elements, lighting elements such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), sensors providing audio or visual feedback (e.g. a camera having an LED indicating that the camera is on), or tactile feedback elements.

According to the implementation ofFIG.2, the decoder circuit119can be used to authenticate the control attachment to ensure that the control attachment is an authorized control attachment. For example, the interface circuit202of the control attachment and the control circuit118can exchange signals to ensure that the control attachment is an authorized control attachment. The signals may include a variety of information that would enable the power adapter to not only identify the control attachment, such as by a serial number or some other unique identifier, but also information that would indicate the type of control attachment (e.g. Information that could indicate the available features or functions of the control attachment). If the control attachment is not an authorized control attachment, the power adapter may only allow the operation of the control attachment based upon manual actuations of an actuator in response to manual user interface input, such as manual actuations of the actuator130(e.g. a pressing of a movable element such as a toggle element of the control attachment). That is, the power adapter arrangement200will work with an unauthorized control attachment, but only based upon manual input detected by the control attachment.

According to some implementations, authentication could be achieved by a shared secret key authentication, where both the power adapter and the control attachment have a shared key that is used to exchange information to authenticate the power adapter. In cryptography, a shared secret key is a piece of data such as a random number, known only to the parties involved, in a secure communication. The shared secret key would be pre-shared (i.e. stored in a memory of both the power adapter and the control attachment. The shared secret can be fed to a key derivation function to produce one or more keys to use for encryption of messages. To make unique communication link between the power adapter and the control attachment and unique message keys, the shared secret key may be combined with the unique ID. While shared secret key is provided as one example of an authentication technique for authorizing a control module to operate with a power adapter, it should be understood that any type of authentication could be used.

Such a feature would prevent a power adapter from being used improperly, such as being “hijacked” and controlled by an unauthorized user of the power adapter arrangement. Because improper control of power by a power adapter arrangement may lead to an unsafe environment associated with the power adapter arrangement, it is beneficial to ensure that the control attachment is authorized. Because the control attachment could determine how power is applied to the load by the power adapter, it is beneficial if the control attachment controls the power in a safe manner, consistent with the operation of the power adapter. That is, the power adapter and the controller attachment are designed to operate safely with one another. An unauthorized control attachment may control the application of power to the load in a way that is not safe. For example, a fast toggling of a switch of the power adapter providing power to a load may lead to in unsafe electrical situation, which may cause an overheating of the power adapter or the load that may lead to a fire. Further, a low quality control attachment that is not an authorized control attachment may fail, resulting in power being applied to a load at a time or for a duration when it may be unsafe to apply the power. For example, an unauthorized control attachment may be used to control the application of power to a slow cooker, where the failure to turn off power to the slow cooker may result in and overheating of the slow cooker and a fire. Further, as will be described in more detail below, a user of a control attachment according to various implementations may be alerted when a control attachment is not operating properly or is defective. Therefore, it is beneficial to ensure that any control attachment would operate safely, according to specifications of the power adapter arrangement or a particular use of the power adapter arrangement, and that the control attachment is an authorized control attachment that has been determined to operate safely with the power adapter.

Additional implementations may allow for dimming control of a load, such as the dimming of power level applied to a light for example. According to the implementation ofFIG.3showing another block diagram of a power adapter arrangement300, a power adapter is implemented having a dimmer control circuit, and a second actuator is provided in the control attachment that enables dimming control. More particularly, an actuator302that is responsive to a user input at a user interface input304enables a user to manually control an amount of power applied to a load, such as a dimming of a light representing the load. A signal coupling element306of the signal interface114and a corresponding signal coupling element308of the signal interface circuit120are adapted to communicate signals from the control attachment to the power adapter in response to an actuation of the actuator302.

The signal coupling elements306and308may comprise an electrical, mechanical, or electro-mechanical Interface. For example, the actuator may be a movable element that enables the generation of a voltage that is used for controlling the power applied to the load (i.e. a dimming functionality). And this will be described in more detail below, the voltage for a dimming functionality may be generated at the control attachment or at the power adapter. For example, a resistor divider network may be implemented in the control attachment, where the voltage generated by the resistor divider network may be provided to the power adapter by an electrical interface comprising signal coupling elements306and308. According to another implementation, the signal coupling elements306and308may comprise a mechanical interface, where a movable element on the control attachment will align with and enable the movement of a corresponding movable element on the power adapter, where a movement of the movable element on the power adapter will generate the variable voltage (e.g. a voltage generated by a resistor divider) that may be used for dimming control. Also shown any implementation ofFIG.3, a dimmer control circuit310, which may comprise a TRIAC circuit for example, is implemented in place of or in addition to the switch135. That is, the TRIAC may be implemented to control dimming and block current applied to the load (i.e. turn off the load), or a separate relay may be used in addition to the TRIAC to block current applied to the load and turn off the load).

According to the implementation ofFIG.3, it is not necessary that the control attachment be authenticated. Rather, the control attachment104ofFIG.3is similar to the control attachment104ofFIG.2, where it provides limited control of the power adapter (i.e. on/off control and dimmer control). As his apparent from the implementation ofFIG.3, both the on/off control and the dimmer control be provided by a low technology control attachment, where the control attachment may completely or substantially comprise plastic components and have little or no electrical components, enabling a low-cost control attachment. For example, when the dimmer control voltage is provided the control attachment, a simple resistor divider receiving a power signal (i.e. the low power signal provided from power adapter to the control attachment) and the ground signal (or neutral signal) can be used to provide a dimmer control voltage. Such an arrangement would enable a low cost control attachment (which may be based upon the control attachment providing basic on/off functionality and modified to include the resistor divider. As will be described in more detail in reference toFIGS.4and5, dimmer functionality may be provided, but it may also be required that the control attachment is an authorized control attachment.

As shown in the block diagram of a power adapter arrangement400ofFIG.4, dimming functionality can be provided in a control attachment that may include additional control features and may require authentication, as generally described above and will be described in more detail below. According to the implementation ofFIG.4, a power adapter having a dimmer control circuit, and the control attachment comprises an interface that enables wireless control. Rather than an actuator that may generate a dimmer control signal in response to a user input (e.g. by way of a movable element on the control attachment), the interface circuit202is configured to provide dimmer control signals, where the dimmer control signals may be a part of or associated with communication signals provided by way of the communication interface204. Therefore, the control circuit118will provide dimmer control signals by way of the signal line136to the dimmer control circuit310in response to signals received from the interface circuit202. Further, because they control attachment communicates by way of the signal coupling element126and corresponding signal coupling element206, enabling the transfer of electrical signals, the power adapter may authenticate the control attachment. Therefore, in addition to generating a dimming voltage signal, the communication interface may generate signals enabling the authentication of the control attachment.

Turning now toFIG.5, another block diagram of a power adapter arrangement having dimming functionality and a control attachment with both dimming capability and an interface for transmitting or receiving communication signals is shown. According to the implementation ofFIG.5, the control attachment that enables dimmer control and wireless control, where the dimmer control may be either a manual dimming control provided by way the user interface input304or by way of dimmer control signals (e.g. electrical control signals) generated by the interface circuit202. As will be described in more detail below, the control circuit118may control the dimming in response to either control inputs provided by way of a user actuation or by way of the interface circuit202.

According to power adapter arrangement as shown inFIG.5, the dimmer control functionality based upon the user interface input304may be an electrical interface, such as a capacitive coupling interface that is responsive to the touch of a user. That is, rather than a mechanical or movable element enabling diming control, where the location of the movable element would correspond to a level of dimming, the actuator312may be an electrical interface, where the level of dimming may be shown by lighting elements (e.g. LED lights) that can be change by the communication interface in response to changes to dimming control detected by the communication interface. For example, a user may change the dimmer control level associated with the load using a user interface input304(such as a capacitive coupling element that would change the dimming level (which level would be indicated by an LED of a plurality of vertically arranged LEDs providing an indication level)) and using the interface circuit202that may receiving dimmer control information from an external device such as a smart phone.

By providing both electrical control (e.g. a capacitive coupling interface) and an electrical signal feedback (e.g. the use of LED lights) associated with dimming, it is possible to easily changes the electrical signal feedback in response to a change in the dimming level using either manual user input or the interface circuit202. While it is possible to change the position of a mechanical switch associated with a dimming level for the power adapter arrangement, providing an electrical signal to control the dimming level and a visual feedback using LEDs for example, it is easy to enable a changing of the dimming level in response to both a mechanical or electro-mechanical actuator and a communication circuit that may receiving dimmer control signals based upon communication signals, such as wireless communication signals for example. That is, unlike a mechanical dimmer control element (i.e. movable element), the use of an electrical control element (i.e. capacitive coupling to detect a desired level), a dimming level can be both selected and display on the control attachment.

Further, the power adapter and the control attachment may communicate to enable the proper operation of a load controlled by the power adapter. For example, a control circuit of the power adapter may detect the type of device controlled by the power adapter, such as the type of light bulb (e.g. incandescent, halogen, LED, or CFL), or the number of watts that the bulb or other device draws, and therefore enables a control circuit of the control attachment to provide different control signals to the switching module to control the amount of power applied to the light bulb (such as a dimmable light bulb). That is, in addition to an implementation where the power adapter acts as a passive device, and only receives control signals from a control circuit of the control attachment, the power adapter and the control attachment could implement a bidirectional communication link according to another implementation to enable the control attachment to understand information received by the power adapter and better control the device controlled by the power adapter. Alternatively, the control module can detect the type or qualities of the light bulb by way of the electrical interfaces of the power adapter and the control attachment.

The range of current, voltage, or duty cycle of the voltage applied to the bulb (depending upon the type of dimmer used) could depend upon the type of bulb used. According to some implementations, the control attachment could provide a dimming control signal based upon the detected bulb, and apply a current, voltage or duty cycle of a voltage to the bulb over a range that will provide the correct dimming for the bulb. While the power adapter may be configured to provide a wide range of output power (e.g. a range of power that would power a 1 watt LED bulb or a 150 Watt incandescent bulb), the control attachment may control the range of dimming based upon at least one of the current, the voltage, or the duty cycle of the voltage applied to the bulb receiving power

It should be understood that both the magnitude of the range and the location of the range for a given bulb in the overall range could be provided by the power adapter. For example, an incandescent bulb may be adapted to receive a voltage in a range of approximately 5 volts to 120 volts, while a LED light may be adapted to receive a voltage in a range from approximately 1 to 5 volts. As can be seen, not only do the ranges for the incandescent bulb and the range for the LED bulb have a different magnitude, but the ranges cover different portions of the overall voltage range provided by the power adapter (i.e. 1-120 volts). While the examples of ranges provided relate to voltage ranges, the ranges could be set for different bulbs according to other criteria, such as current or duty cycle of the voltage.

According to one implementation, the control of a dimming control circuit of the power adapter arrangement could be based upon the signal provided to the dimmer control circuit of the power adapter, where the dimmer control circuit of the power adapter would be adapted to provide a wide range of power to any type of bulb. In response to detecting a particular type of bulb, a dimming control signal would be generated in a range of dimming control signals associated with the detected type of bulb.

By way of example, the dimming circuit of a power adapter may be configured to receive a dimming code having a value between 1 and 120, where a dimming code of 1 received by the dimming control circuit would result in 1 volt output provided to the load and a code of 120 would result in a 120 volt output provided to the load. Therefore, if a particular LED bulb is detected that would receive between 1 and 5 volts (i.e. the dimming range of the LED bulb), then the selection of a dimmer controller on the power adapter would generate a code between 1 and 5 in response to the movement of the dimmer controller through the full range. For example, for a dimmer controller1526that is movable vertically over a predetermined range in the guide1524, the dimmer control circuit of the power adapter would apply a voltage to the load in a range of 1-5 volts if the detected bulb is an LED bulb, but would apply a voltage in a range from 5-120 volts of the detected bulb is an incandescent bulb.

Similarly, for a power adapter that receives a dimmer control value by way of an electrical interface (e.g. a dimmer control voltage Vdimgenerated based upon voltage divider circuit or a capacitive coupling circuit of the control attachment), the control attachment would provide a control signal to the control circuit of the power adapter that would apply a voltage to the load in a range of 1-5 volts if the detected bulb in an LED bulb and would apply a voltage in a range from 5-125 volts of the detected bulb is an incandescent bulb.

While the power adapter arrangements ofFIGS.1-5are provided by way of example, it should be understood that various other configurations may be implemented within the spirit and scope of the invention. The power adapter arrangements ofFIGS.1-5provide examples of different interfaces (e.g. multiple interfaces including different types of interfaces) that may provide different level of access (e.g. a mechanical switch that provides access to control on/off functionality of the power adapter for any control attachment or an electrical interface for controlling advanced features, such as providing dimmer control). Additional information and examples related to different types of interfaces that could be implemented in signal interface114and120are provided below.

Turning now toFIG.6, a block diagram of a dimmer control circuit that may be implemented in a power adapter or in a control attachment is shown. The dimmer control circuit ofFIG.6receives power from a power source602, such as an AC current source, coupled between a load604and a reference voltage, shown here by way of example as a neutral voltage. The load604is coupled to the dimmer circuit310by way of a switch606. A path of current (I) through a dimmer control circuit, shown by way of example as a TRIAC608, and a resistor610is provided to the neutral node. A control terminal609of the TRIAC receives a control voltage based upon a resistor setting of a variable resistor612. That is, the variable resistor612can be adjusted by a user to control the current in the TRIAC, and therefore provide a dimming function for the load, such as a dimming function for a light for example. A firing capacitor614may be provided between the control terminal609at the variable resistor612and the neutral terminal. An interference capacitor616may also be provided in parallel with the current path through the TRIAC. WhileFIG.6is provided as one example of providing dimming control and employs a TRIAC, it should be understood that other circuits could be used for providing a dimming function, and the circuit ofFIG.6is one example of a dimmer control circuit. Other circuit devices could be used for providing a dimming function, such as a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) for example.

FIGS.7-11provide examples of different types of interfaces that may include multiple types of elements that provide signals between a control attachment and power adapter, such as in signal interface circuits114and120. By providing different types of elements that transmit signals, it is possible to provide different control attachments, including basic control attachments and advanced control attachments. Turning first toFIG.7, a block diagram of an interface between a power adapter and a control attachment is shown. The implementation ofFIG.7shows two manual switches, such as an on/off switch and a dimmer switch, and a connector arrangement for transmitting electrical signals, such as by way of contact elements. According to the implementation ofFIG.7, the dimmer control circuit is provided in the power adapter, and controlled by a movable element on the control attachment. As shown inFIG.7, the pair of signal coupling elements122and124are configured as a mechanical on/off switch comprising a switch element702having a movable portion704associated with the power adapter and a switch actuator element706associated with the control attachment. The switch such as the switch element702located at an interface between the power adapter and the control attachment and that is accessible by a user or the control attachment on a surface of the power adapter may be considered an interface switch.

The pair of signal coupling elements306and308comprise a dimmer control interface708coupled to a dimmer control element710. By way of example, the dimmer control interface708may comprise an element that enables the interfacing of a dimmer control element710of the control attachment, which is movable, with a moveable element712of the power adapter, which may comprise a variable resistor for or resistor divider circuit creating a dimmer control voltage. The dimmer control interface708may comprise an aperture or guide to enable the dimmer control element710of the control attachment to engage the movable element712, so that a movement of the movable element708will cause a movement of the movable element712. The movable element712could comprise a variable resistor or voltage divider circuit to generate a dimmer control (Dimmer) voltage.

In addition to the two mechanical interfaces associated with on/off functionality and dimmer functionality, pairs of contact elements, shown by way of example as signal coupling elements126and206, enable the transfer of electrical signals, which may be low power electrical signals (e.g. approximately 5 volts, but in a range of approximately 0-24 volts). Input and output signals are provided to and from contact elements of an electrical interface713enabling the transfer of electrical signals between the control attachment and the power adapter. The electrical interface comprises contact elements for both the power adapter and the control attachment that make electrical contact when the power adapter is attached to the control attachment. According to some implementations, the electrical interface may be a connector for example.

Contact elements714of the control attachment are adapted to make an electrical connections to corresponding contact elements716of the power adapter for each of the pairs of contact elements as shown. For example, the contact elements714could be pogo pins adapted to make an electrical connection to corresponding contact pads716of the power adapter, or vice versa. The contact elements could be any type of contact elements to enable the transfer of electrical signals. According to some implementations, the electrical interface713may comprises a pair of contact blocks having contact elements, where the contact blocks can be implements as needed and based upon the number of contact elements needed to transfer electrical signals, as will be described in more detail below. For example, a contact block may comprise a plastic module (to provide electrical isolation between the contacts) that may be snapped into to a retaining element for the contact block, where a contact block having different numbers of contact elements may be selected. The electrical interface713may comprise contact elements that make contact for an electrical connection as a result of the control attachment being attached to the power adapter, or may comprise contact elements that are secured to one another, such as by a friction fit as a part of a connector or using attachment elements associated with the two components of the connector. For example, corresponding contact elements may comprise a female receptacle adapted to receive a male contact prong, as a part of a connector or as stand-alone contact elements associated with the control attachment and the power adapter.

Examples of signals provided to or transferred between the power adapter and the control attachment are also shown inFIG.7. For example, the top three pairs of contact elements714and716provide reference voltages from the power adapter to the control attachment. Three reference voltages are shown by way of example, including a power voltage (shown here by way of example as a low power (LP) reference voltage), a ground reference voltage, and a neutral reference voltage, where the ground and neutral voltage may have a voltage corresponding to the ground and neutral voltage provided to the power adapter as described above. While the reference voltages may not be used for a basic control actuator having only on/off functionality (because there is no need for a power reference voltage in the control attachment) or a dimmer control functionality (in the case where no electrical signal is generated by the control attachment such as inFIG.7where a dimmer control signal is generated in the power adapter), they may still be made available to any control attachment, in may be used by a control attachment that requires power. Both basic control attachments and more advanced control of attachments may require power. For example, as will be described in more detail below in reference toFIG.8, a basic attachment having a dimmer control function may require that a dimmer control voltage is generated by the control attachment. Therefore, at least power and ground (or neutral) would be necessary to generate a reference voltage using a variable resistor for example in the control attachment, where the reference voltage is then provided to the power adapter.

Turning now toFIG.8, another block diagram of an interface between a power adapter having a dimmer control circuit and a control attachment is shown. The implementation ofFIG.8also shows two manual switches and a connector arrangement for transmitting signals, but the dimmer control circuit is provided in the control attachment, and the dimmer control signal is provided from the control attachment to the power adapter by way of the electrical interface713. As shown inFIG.8, a dimmer control circuit802is provided on the control attachment to provide a dimmer control signal to the contact element714of the electrical interface713. According to the implementation ofFIG.8, the control attachment would require power and ground voltages from the power adapter.

Turning now toFIG.9, another block diagram of an interface between a power adapter and a control attachment having a dimmer control circuit is shown, where all of the signals are transmitted by an electrical signal through one or more contacts of a connector904. That is, as with the dimmer control circuit802, an on/off switch actuator902is configured to generate a voltage (e.g. a logical “0” for off and a logical “1” for on) that is transmitted by a pair of contact elements of the connector904.

As further shown inFIGS.7-9, control signals may be communicated between the power adapter and the control attachment by way of the electrical interface713. For example, 2 control signals are provided by way of2sets of corresponding contact elements714and716from the power adapter to the control attachment (shown by way of example below the contact elements for providing reference voltages from the power adapter to the control attachment).2additional pairs of corresponding contact elements are provided at the bottom of the electrical interface713as shown to provide control signals from the control attachment to the power adapter. The control signals can be used for any types of functions associated with control attachment and the power adapter, including for example an authentication of the control attachment, a pairing of the control attachment and the power adapter, any functions for providing signals from the control attachment to the power adapter, as well as any functions for providing feedback to a user of the control attachment for example.

While a single electrical interface713is shown by way of example, it should be understood that the electrical interface713could be split into different electrical interfaces, such as different connectors associated with different functions. For example, the portion of the electrical interface713providing reference voltages from the power adapter to the control attachment could be separate from a portion of the electrical interface713for providing control signals between the power adapter in the control attachment. Such an arrangement would enable a modular assembly of a control attachment or power adapter. That is, it may be possible to provide a low-cost control attachment having dimmer capability, but no other transfer of control signals, where the control attachment would require a smaller contact block having fewer contacts, where only contact elements for the elements for an on/off signal or reference voltages would be needed. However, the control attachment could be configured to receive a larger contact block (or an additional contact block) also having contact the elements for control signal, as will be described in more detail below.

While wireless control signals could be coupled to a control attachment by way of contact elements as will be described in more detail below, it should be understood that wireless power signals and communication signals could be provided between the power adapter and the control attachment. The transmissions of signals could be achieved by any type of wireless connection, such as a Bluetooth protocol or a Near Field Communication (NFC) protocol for example. For example, a first wireless communication transceiver1002implemented in a power adapter could communicate with a second wireless communication transceiver1004implemented in a control attachment by way of a wireless communication link1006. Power could be provided to the control attachment by way of an inductive coupling circuit or any other type of wireless charging circuit. According to the implementation ofFIG.10, a switch element702could be implemented to enable an on/off function of the power adapter arrangement. WhileFIG.10shows an example of an on/off switch, it should be understood that other types of switches could be used, or the on/off signal could be transmitted by way of the wireless communication link1006instead to provide a fully wireless interface.

Turning now toFIG.11, an example of a switch configuration enabling a connection by shorting contacts of a connector of a power adapter is shown. That is, the implementation ofFIG.11would provide a simple method of sending a signal from a control attachment to a power adapter by merely shorting two contact elements716. As shown inFIG.11, a contact element1102is movable too short to the contact elements716of the connector904, for example, to provide a closed circuit. Therefore, an off signal can be generated by the open circuit on the left ofFIG.11, while an on signal can be generated by the closed circuit on the right ofFIG.11. While various interface elements and combinations different interface elements are shown, it should be understood the interface elements and combinations of interface elements are shown by way of example, and that different interface elements and different combinations of interface elements could be employed.

While uni-directional control signals are shown by way of example inFIGS.7-9, it should be understood that the corresponding contract elements of the power adapter and control attachment could be implemented to enable the transfer of bidirectional control signals. Further, the pairs of contact the elements could enable serial communication associated with a particular function, or collectively could represent a parallel communication interface. Any number of control signal contact elements could be implemented to enable the transfer of information between the power adapter and the control attachment, and the control signal contact elements could be configured in a way to implement any type of communication protocol.

For example, any number of pairs of contact elements could be used to implement a serial communication interface, such as a serial peripheral interface (SPI) having one wire for each of the power adapter and the control attachment and one wire for clock pulses, an RS-232 interface that provides a full duplex communication link, Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), or any other synchronous or asynchronous serial communication link. Similarly, any number of pairs of contact elements could be used to implement a parallel communication interface, such as a General Purpose Instrument Bus (GPIB, also known as the IEEE-488 standard) for example.

Turning now toFIG.12, a block diagram of a data block having a plurality of fields enabling the transfer of signals between a power adapter and a control attachment is shown. According to the exemplary block diagram ofFIG.12, different fields are provided that enable the communication of signals between the power adapter and the control attachment. The data block ofFIG.12comprises a synchronization (Sync) field1202, a type (Type) field1204, an identification (ID) field1206, a preamble (Preamble) field1208, a command (Command) field1210, and a terminate (Terminate) field1212. The synchronization field1202enables a transfer of data between the control attachment and the power adapter to allow the control attachment to control the application of power to a load. For example, the synchronization signal could be used by one of the power adapter or control attachment too indicate that data, such as commands or identification information, is being sent. A type field may also be included and can be used to indicate the type of power adapter or control attachment that is used. An ID field is also provided to include an identification, which may be a unique identification for example, of either the power adapter the control attachment. As will be described in more detail below, the identification may be used to authenticate the control attachment and enable the control attachment to provide signals to and receive signals from the power adapter. The identification field may be a unique identification field.

A preamble may then be provided to indicate the type of information that might follow, such as commands or other data that might be exchanged. A command field could include any type of command or other information (e.g. information provided in response to a command) to be provided from one of the power adapter to the control attachment. Finally, a terminate field could comprise data indicating that the transmission has ended. Once a control attachment is authenticated as being an authorized control attachment, data may be transmitted between the power adapter and control attachment until the exchange of data between them is terminated using data in the terminate field, as described in more detail in reference toFIGS.13and14.

While the fields ofFIG.12are shown by example, it should be understood that different fields or additional fields could be implemented to perform any necessary functions, including enabling the exchange of information between the power adapter and the control attachment, the control of the power adapter by the control attachment, and feedback from the control attachment to a user of the control attachment. Also, each of the fields may comprise sub-fields. Further, similar data could be included in different fields, and could be transmitted and received according to a predefined protocol.

Turning now toFIG.13, a flow chart showing a method of enabling the control of a power adapter using a control attachment is shown. That is, the circuits and methods set forth below not only ensure that an approved control attachment is used for including advanced features for controlling the power adapter, but enables manual operation of basic features, such as manual on/off or dimming control. After the method is started at a block1302, such as in response to the detection of an event by a power adapter (e.g. determining that a control attachment may have been attached to the power adapter), it is determined whether a control attachment is attached to the power adapter at a block1304. If so, identification information is downloaded from the control attachment to the power adapter at a bock1306. A check of the identification information is then performed at a block1308. It is then determined whether the control attachment is an authorized control attachment. That is, the control attachment is authenticated as an authorized control attachment. An authorized control attachment may be a control attachment that is confirmed to be used with the power adapter. For example, the power adapter may analyze a unique identification signal provided by the control attachment to determine whether the control attachment is authorized to work with the power adapter.

Because the control of high voltage electrical signals can be dangerous, where the improper use of high voltage signals can lead to a fire or personal injury, it is beneficial to ensure that only authorized control attachments are allowed to control the application of power to a load, as described in more detail above. Therefore, if it is determined that the control attachment is not an authorized control attachment at a block1310, only manual inputs (i.e. inputs provided by a user to an interface of the control attachment, such as by a user engaging a toggle element for example) from the control attachment user interface will be accepted at a block1312. While it is beneficial to not only prevent an unauthorized control attachment (i.e. a control attachment that has not been authorized) from controlling a power adapter, it is also beneficial to allow the control attachment to control the power adapter in response to manual user inputs. That is, a user will be able to use simple functions of the power adapter so that the user can turn on and off the light until the control attachment can be replaced with an authorizes control attachment. Unlike an unauthorized control attachment that may not function properly with the power adapter, and may unsafely apply power to a load, the manual use of the control attachment should not provide any risk to the user. However, if it is determined that the control attachment is an authorized control attachment, all inputs from the control attachment will be accepted at a block1314, and the processes ended at a block1316. It should be understood that the authorization process in the block1310may be performed whenever a control attachment is attached. That is, once a control attachment is authorized, it may continue to operate with the power adapter until it is removed.

Turning now toFIG.14, an example of a signal transfer protocol for transferring signals between a power adapter and a control attachment is shown. As shown for example inFIG.14, an attachment signal may be provided by the control attachment to the power adapter. The attachment signal may be a voltage that is generated in response to a power reference voltage being provided to the control attachment. That is, the power adapter would detect that the control attachment is receiving the power reference voltage from the power adapter and drawing current. The power adapter, in response to detecting the attachment signal, may then provide an information request. For example, the power adapter may request identification information to enable authenticating the control attachment. The information may then be provided to the power adapter, which way then provide an acknowledgement signal. Various control signals and feedback signals1402can then be transferred between the power adapter and the control attachment. The control signals and feedback signals can relate to the operation of the power adapter, the operation in the control attachment, signals received from the control attachment and provided to the power adapter to control the application of power to a load, or feedback signals provided to the control attachment. While an exemplary sequence of signals being transferred is shown, it should be understood that other sequences and other signals could be transmitted, or that similar types of signals could be transmitted according to a predetermined signaling protocol to achieve authorization of the control attachment and control of the power adapter.

Various examples of power adapters, control attachments, and a power adapter as coupled to control attachments are now shown. While some examples of power adapters and control attachments are shown, it should be understood that features of the power adapters and control attachments could be implemented differently, and features could be interchanged between the various implementations. The examples are provided in the following figures to demonstrate how features could be implemented. However, it should be understood that the various features could be implemented differently.

Turning first toFIG.15, a front and side view of a power adapter102is shown. As shown in the implementation ofFIGS.15-21, an on switch and an off switch are provided on a surface of the power adapter to enable manual control of the power adapter using a basic control attachment, and even when the control attachment is not attachment. More advance features of a more advance control attachment can be implanted using connector shown near the bottom of the power adapter. While contact elements are also provided on the surface of the power adapter and exposed to a user of the power adapter when the control attachment is not attached or is removed to be replaced with a different control attachment, the contact elements do not include high voltage signals, and therefore are not a risk to uses of the power adapter. That is, a user of the power adapter can operate the power adapter without a control attachment attached to the power adapter without any risk to the user. Such a configuration makes the power adapter arrangement (having a power adapter that can be used without a control attachment) particularly beneficial to a home builder that may wire a house and allow a user to install control attachments, or allow the home builder to wire a house and install the control attachments at a later time after consultation with the home owner. However, during the time from the wiring of the power adapters and the time when a home owner may select control attachments, lights or other devices controlled by the power adapter may be used without a control attachment attached.

A wall,1501having a top1502in a planar surface, extending around a perimeter of the power adapter defines a recess1503extending to a rear surface1504comprising a back wall of the recess. A first switch1506comprising a switch control element1507and a second switch1508comprising a switch control element1510are positioned on the rear surface1504of the recess. The first switch1506and the second switch1508may comprise physical actuators that generate a signal in response to a physical external input (i.e. a manual input such as a pressing of the switch element). For example, the first switch1506and the second switch1508may be electro-mechanical actuators enabling on off control of the power adapter.

As described above, the first switch1506and the second switch1508may be used with or without a control attachment, and even with the control attachment that is not authorized. That is, because only low power voltage signals may be provided to an electrical interface1512having contact elements1514, a home builder can install the power adapter (even without control attachment, but with a wall plate if desired) without concern that the user of the power adapter would be exposed to a high voltage electrical signal. The user could control the power adapter by merely depressing the switch control element1507to turn power to the load on or depressing the switch control element1510to turn power to the load off. While the electrical interface1512may be used to receives signals from an authorized control attachment104, an unauthorized control attachment connected to the power adapter would be allowed to be used to turn on and off power to the load, but may be prevented from controlling the power adapter by way of the contact elements of the electrical interface1512. Further, while the electrical interface1512is shown at the bottom of the power adapter, it could also be placed between the switch is1506in1508of the power adapter, as will be shown in other implementations below, or at another location or in another orientation.

The power adapter would also comprise contact elements that are coupled to reference voltages of a building, which may include a high power reference voltage (e.g. 120 or 220 volt reference voltage), and ground and neutral reference voltages, as described above. For example, a first contact element1516is shown here by way of example as having a screw1518that is adapted to secure a wire to the contact element1516, and a second contact element1520having a screw1522adapted to secure a wire to the contact element1520are shown. While two contact elements are shown on a side of the power adapter, additional contact elements could be provided on the opposing side for example, or on the top or bottom, where any number of contact the elements are provided to enable the appropriate control of loads in an electrical circuit. For example, the contact elements such as contact elements1516and1520could be provided to enable connections to power, neutral, ground, and 3-way, as shown and described for example inFIGS.1-5.

The power adapter may also comprise a dimmer control feature, where a guide element1524enables the movement of a dimmer controller1526to provide dimming control. A corresponding dimmer control element may be implemented in the control attachment, where the dimmer control elements are coupled to enable dimming control from the control attachment, as will be described in more detail in reference toFIGS.65-75. While the dimmer control functionality is provided for manual dimmer control, it should be understood that dimming control could also be provided by way of the electrical interface1512, where dimming control can be coordinated using the 2 interfaces as will be described in more detail below. It should be understood that the dimmer controller1526is optional, and dimming control could be controller by non-mechanical elements from the control attachment by way of the electrical interface. A pair of flanges1528are included on the top and bottom of a power adapter that is configured to be attached to a junction box, where each flange comprises an opening1530for receiving a screw enabling the power adapter to be coupled to a the junction box and threaded portion1532for receiving a screw that enables a wall plate to be attached to the power adapter, as will be described in more detail below.

Turning now toFIG.16, a cross-sectional view of the power adapter ofFIG.15taken at lines16-16is shown. As shown inFIG.16, the switch control elements1507and1510of the switches1506and1508are exposed in the recess1503, enabling the user to use the switches without actuator elements of the control attachment normally used to control the switches. As also shown in the cross sectional view ofFIG.16, the recess1503provides space for receiving elements of the control attachment, such as circuit elements and/or mechanical elements of a control attachment for enabling operation of the power adapter, as will be described in more detail below.

Various types of control attachments are also described. According to some implementations, the control attachment could be configured to be placed behind the recess or opening of a wall plate, where a toggle element extends though the opening in the wall plate after the wall plate is attached to the power adapter, but cannot be inserted through or removed through the opening in the wall plate when the wall plate is attached to the power adapter. That is, the control attachment can only be attached to or detached from the power adapter when the wall plate is not attached to the power adapter, as described in reference toFIG.17and other figures below. By requiring that the wall plate be removed to attach the control attachment to the power adapter or remove the control attachment from the power adapter, it is more difficult to remove the control attachment, making it more difficult for a control attachment to be stolen or removed as a prank.

Alternatively, the control attachments may be adapted to be inserted through a recess of a wall plate coupled to the power adapter. That is, a control attachment can be attached or removed when the wall plate is attached to the power adapter as will be described in more detail in reference toFIG.18and other implementations below. As will be described in more detail below in reference toFIGS.48and49, the attachment elements associated with the power adapter could be configured to receive control attachments that can be attached or detached when the wall plate is attached to the power adapter (FIG.49), or only when the wall plate is detached from the power adapter (FIG.48). That is, according to some implementations, a common power adapter can be provided, where the control attachment can be implemented to accommodate either type of control element.

According to various implementations, maintained switches (i.e. switches that a state of power applied to a load is maintained until another toggle event occurs) are shown, where the toggle element may be spring loaded to return to a common fixed position by one or more spring elements after a toggle motion (to either apply power to the load or remove power from the load) as described in reference toFIGS.17-21or may move between 2 fixed positions as described in reference toFIGS.24-25.

Turning now toFIG.17, a front and side view of a control attachment having a portion that extends through recess of a wall plate and a portion including attachment elements that are located behind the wall plate (i.e. preventing the control attachment from being attached or detached when the wall plate is attached to the power adapter) is shown. As shown inFIG.17, the control attachment104comprises a planar surface1702of a body portion1703, where a wall1704extends from the planar surface1705, and would extend through the opening in the wall plate when the wall plate is attached to the power adapter. That is, the wall1704will be aligned with the perimeter of the opening of the wall plate and extend through the opening of the wall plate when the control element is attached to the power adapter and the wall plate is then attached to the power adapter, where the wall plate will cover at least a portion of the planar surface1702. According to some implementations, the perimeter of the opening of the wall plate may abut the planar surface1702. The planar surface1702may also be aligned with the planar surface on top of the wall1502so that the planar surface on the top of the wall1502and the planar surface1702are in the same plane. Such an arrangement may make it easier for the wall plate to correctly align with the power adapter and control attachment when they are coupled together.

The control attachment104ofFIG.17may also comprise a toggle element1706, shown here by way of example as a paddle-type toggle element, that is movable within a gap1708within the base portion1703. The toggle element comprises a top portion1710and a bottom portion1712on either side of a center portion1714. The toggle element1706Is movably coupled to the base portion1703by way of hinge elements1715. As will be described in more detail below in reference toFIGS.19-21, The toggle element main move between and on position and an off position.

The control attachment also comprises attachment elements1716and1718that enable attaching the control attachment to the power adapter. According to some implementations, the attachment elements may comprise movable elements, such as leaf springs having a projection for engaging with a corresponding element of the power adapter, as will be described in more detail in reference toFIGS.47-49. According to the implementation ofFIG.17, the attachment elements are positioned so that they are not accessible when a wall plate is place over the control attachment and coupled to the power adapter. That is, a user of the power adapter any not be able to engage or interact with the attachment elements, and the base portion1703would not fit through the opening of the wall plate (and therefore the control attachment would not be able to be inserted or removed with the wall plate on). As will be described in reference toFIG.18, the attachment elements would be accessible to the user when the wall plate is attached, enabling the user to insert or remove the control attachment when the wall plate is attached.

While a combination of power adapter and the control attachment inFIGS.15-17, it should be understood that a power adapter having no recess could be implemented, where the rear surface1504is in the same plane as the top of the wall1502. Alternatively, the back wall could be raised with respect to the top of the wall, where the control attachment may have a peripheral flange that could be placed over the back wall and abut a planar surface around the top of the wall1502. It should also be understood that many different types of attachment elements could be implemented, and the attachment of the control attachment to the power adapter could be based upon any principle, including a friction fit, where the attachment elements would comprise attachment elements that abut one another and are attached based upon friction, such as when edges of the control attachment abut the inside portion of the wall1501, or when a peripheral flange abuts side walls of the back wall that is raised with respect to the wall1501. Any other type of attachment elements could be used, including spring loaded attachment elements, or projections and corresponding flanges or recesses adapted to receive the projection for example.

Turning now toFIG.18, a front and side view of a control attachment that extends through opening or recess of a wall plate, where the attachment elements of the control attachment are accessible when the wall plate is attached to the power adapter is shown. While the wall plate is generally attached to the power adapter, the power adapter arrangement could be configured so that wall plate is attached to the control attachment. According to the implementation ofFIG.18, a base portion1801comprises a top portion1802of a wall1803, where both the top portion1802and at least a portion of the wall1803may extend through the opening of a wall plate when the wall plate is attached to the power adapter arrangement. That is, at least a portion of the base portion1801extends through the opening of wall plate so that a user can access the attachment elements associated with the based portion and remove the control attachment.

More particularly, the control attachment ofFIG.18comprises a gap1804between a toggle element1805and the wall1803. The toggle element1805comprises the top portion1806and a bottom portion1808on either side of a center portion1810, which comprises a pivot portion. Attachment elements1816and1818are positioned at the top and bottom of the base portion1801to enable the control attachment to be attached to the power adapter. It should be understood that the attachment elements1716and1718ofFIG.17and attachment elements1816and1818ofFIG.18could be configured to attach to the same attachment elements of the power adapter102as described in reference toFIGS.48and49. Such an arrangement would enable a user to decide which type of power attachment to use (i.e. a control attachment that can be attached and detached when the wall plate is attached to the power adapter or a control attachment that can be attached or detached only when the wall plate is not attached to the power adapter). Having a choice of the types of control attachments is beneficial to a user because there may be different situations where one type of control attachment may be better than another. For example, an owner of a residential home could use control attachments that can be attached and detached when the wall plate is attached to the power adapter. However, in a commercial building where there is a chance that a control attachment may be stolen or removed as a prank, it would be beneficial to install control attachments that can only be removed when the wall plate is removed. That is, requiring that the wall plate be removed for the control attachment to be detached would make it more difficult for the control attachment to be stolen or removed by an unauthorized party. According to some implementations, a control attachment that can only be detached when the wall plate is removed could also be configured to require a special tool to be removed even after the wall plate is removed.

Turning now toFIG.19, a side view of the control attachment ofFIG.17having a toggle element is shown. According to the implementation ofFIG.19, actuator elements1902and1904are movable in response to a user actuation of the top portion1710and the bottom portion1712of the toggle element1706. Also shown inFIG.19is a control circuit1910coupled to contact elements1912, which would be present if the control attachment is a smart control attachment and comprises a control circuit, such as control circuit118as described above. While the control circuit1910is shown by way of example near the bottom of the control attachment, it should be understood that the control circuit can be placed at other locations along the control attachment. The control attachment may also comprise spring elements1906and1908. The spring elements1906and1908enable the toggle element to return to a standing position (i.e. a return-to-center type toggle element that remains in a fixed, center position whenever a portion of the toggle element is not being pressed).

Turning now toFIGS.20and21, the state of the toggle element before returning to the center position is shown.FIG.20shows a side view of the control attachment ofFIG.19having a movable toggle element in a first position, which may be considered an on position (for a switch that is not in a 3-way switch connection).FIG.21is a side view of the control attachment ofFIG.19having a movable toggle element in a second position, which may be considered an off position (for a switch that is not a 3-way switch connection). As will be described in more detail below in reference toFIG.80, different actions can be taken depending upon a current state of power applied to a device when either the top portion or the bottom portion of the toggle element1706is pressed. WhileFIGS.19-21are based upon the control attachment ofFIG.17, it should be understood that the same toggle element arrangement could implemented according to the implementation ofFIG.18, where the control attachment is removable when the wall plate is attached.

Turning now toFIG.22, a front and side view of a power adapter having a single toggle actuator and an optional dimmer control is shown. According to the implementation ofFIGS.22-25, a single on/off switch is included on the power adapter. According to the implementation ofFIG.22and also shown in the cross-sectional side view ofFIG.23, the switch1508is not included, where a toggle function depends upon a change of state of the switch1506having a movable switch control element1507. By using a single on/off switch, the area of the power adapter ofFIG.15having the second switch can be used for other functions, as will be described in more detail below. The control attachment that could be used with the power adapter ofFIG.22may comprise a spring-loaded toggle element that may be retained in an on or off position as described inFIGS.21-24below to enable the use of a single switch on the power adapter. That is, the switch control element1507will be held in a certain state after an indication of a desire to change a state of the power applied to the load (i.e. by pressing the top portion of the toggle element), and then released in response to another indication of a desire to change the state of the power applied to the load (i.e. by pressing the bottom portion of the toggle element).

As shown in the implementation ofFIG.23, the flange1528may be contoured as shown to enable an attachment element of the control attachment to be coupled to a corresponding attachment element of the flange, such as to a projection2302of the flange That is, an attachment element of the flange may be adapted to receive a corresponding attachment element of a control attachment to enable attaching the control attachment to the power adapter. Such an arrangement may be beneficial when the power adapter does not comprise a recess1503, but rather the control attachment is attached to a planar surface of the power adapter.

Turning now toFIGS.24and25, an example of a control attachment that could be used with the power adapter ofFIG.22is shown. The control attachment ofFIG.24is a static control attachment (i.e. remains in a fixed position when either the top portion or the bottom portion of the toggle element is moved), and comprises a toggle element that is moved to either a first static position as shown inFIG.24or a second static position as shown inFIG.25. A side view of a control attachment that may be implemented with the power adapter ofFIG.22and having a toggle element in a first state as shown inFIG.24. The control attachment ofFIG.24may comprise a spring-loaded element2402that retains the toggle elements in either the first position or the second position when moved to that position.

More particularly, the spring-loaded element2402comprises a spring2403that may be extended when moved from a first position to a second position, where the spring is coupled between a first coupling element2404and a second coupling element2406, and the spring-loaded element2402is coupled to the control attachment at a hinge element2408. In the first state as shown inFIG.24after the top portion of the toggle element is pressed, the spring2403is in a first resting state, holding the toggle element in the first state as shown inFIG.24. When in the first state, the toggle element will hold the switch control element1507in a “pressed” state.

However, when the bottom portion of the toggle element is pressed, the spring-loaded element2402extends through an arc defined by angles 1 and 2 as shown. As the spring-loaded element2402passes through the 1st angle, the spring is extended, and then begins to return to a non-extended state (i.e. a second resting state) as the spring-loaded element2402reaches the end of the second angle as shown inFIG.25. When the spring-loaded element2402reaches the end of the second angle, these spring is again no longer extended, holding the spring loaded element in the second state. While paddle-type toggle elements are shown in reference toFIGS.17-25, it should be understood that any type of toggle element could be implemented.

Turning now toFIG.26, a front and side view of a control attachment having a hinged toggle element is shown. According to the implementation ofFIGS.26-31, a hinged toggle element enables access to control elements that may include user interface elements behind the toggle element and a recess for receiving a control module. More particularly, a hinged actuator element2602is coupled to the control attachment base portion1703by hinge elements2604. As shown in the side view ofFIG.27of the control attachment ofFIG.26, elements are included that enable the control of an actuator of the power adapter for controlling the power adapter. For example, a top portion2701can be depressed within a wall portion2702, where an opening2703is provided in the back wall of the control attachment that enables a switch actuator element2704, shown here by way of example as a projection, to extend through a back wall of the control attachment and make contact with an actuator of the power adapter. It should be understood that the switch actuator element2704could engage an intermediate actuator element, as will be described in more detail below in reference toFIGS.81and82. A spring element2706may be included to enable the toggle element to return to a fixed state, as shown inFIG.27. The control attachment may also comprise a control circuit2710and contact element2712near a bottom portion2714of the hinged toggle element.

Turning now toFIG.28, a front and side view of the control attachment ofFIG.26with the hinged toggle element in an open position and exposing a control module and optional user interfaces is shown, where the inner surface2808of the hinged toggle element comprises the switch actuator element2704and the spring element2706. More particularly, a rear surface2802of an inner portion of the control attachment (i.e. visible when the movable toggle element is open) may comprise various user interfaces or be adapted to receive a control module. For example, a recess2804may be included to receive a controller2806, which may comprise a control module or insert for example. The inner surface may also comprise a user interface2814, which may comprise actuator elements or electrical connectors for programming the control attachment or power adapter or otherwise controlling the power adapter. The user interface2814may be coupled to the controller2806by way of a signal line2816.

Turning now toFIG.29, a front and side view of the control attachment ofFIG.26with the controller2806ofFIG.28removed is shown. The recess2804may comprise attachment elements2902, which may be implemented on either side of the recess for example. The recess may also comprise an electrical interface2904, which may be a connector or contact block, having contact elements2906. According to the implementation ofFIG.30, rather than having an electrical interface, the recess may comprise an opening3002that enables the contact elements of the controller2806to be exposed on the back of the control attachment, enabling electrical connections to corresponding contact elements of the power adapter.

According to the implementation ofFIG.31, the controller2806comprises a rear surface3102that is adapted to abut a rear surface of the recess2804. The rear surface3102comprises an electrical interface3104, such as a connector or contact block having contact elements3106. The context elements3106may make an electrical contact with the contact elements2906of the control attachment when the controller2806is inserted into the recess2804. Alternatively, the contact elements3106may make contact with corresponding contact elements of the power adapter according to the implementation ofFIG.30. Attachment elements3108are adapted to couple with corresponding attachment elements2902to secure the controller2802in the recess and ensure an adequate electrical connection between the corresponding contact elements.

According to the implementation ofFIG.32, a control module3206may be accessible when a hinged toggle element is in a closed position as shown. More particularly, a front and side view of a control attachment having a control module3206that is accessible through a recess in a toggle element, such as a hinged toggle element as shown. According to the implementation ofFIG.32, a hinged toggle element may comprise a recess for receiving a control module, where the control attachment comprises in control actuator3202having a top portion3203that enables a toggle selection and a recess3204adapted to receive a control module3206. The control module3206may comprise a lens3208(e.g. a translucent region that may be adapted to accommodate a sensor such as a camera or a motion detector), which is also shown inFIG.33, where the control module3206may comprise contact elements3302that may be coupled to contact elements of the control attachment or the power adapter as described in reference toFIGS.29and30. As shown inFIG.33, the control module3206may be attached to or detached from the control attachment while the control actuator3202is in a closed position. The control actuator3202also comprises hinge elements3210to enable both an actuator motion (i.e. a movement of the control actuator to enable an actuation of a switch of the power adapter) and an opening of the control actuator3202to expose user interface elements on an inside surface of the control attachment as shown inFIG.34. An inside surface3402of the control actuator3202may comprise the switch actuator element2704and the spring element2706as described above.

Turning now toFIG.35, a front and side view of the toggle element3203ofFIG.32that may be removed is shown. More particularly, the actuator element3202comprises a first and second leg portions3502and3504associated with the hinge elements3210. As shown inFIG.36, the base portion1703of the control attachment may comprise a hinge element3602adapted to receive the hinge element3210. For example, a protrusion3604associated with a base portion3606comprises first and second projections3608and3610to form a recess3612. The recess3612is sized to receive the hinge element3210such that the control actuator3202may be attached to and detached from the control attachment.

Turning now toFIG.37, a block diagram of a power adapter and a control attachment that may be connected using a variety of connection elements is shown. The exemplary elements of the power adapter102and the control attachment104ofFIG.37may be implemented to perform the operations of the power adapter and the control attachment as described in reference toFIGS.1-5for example or other figures, and the wireless and physical interface elements between the power adapter and the control attachment ofFIG.37may be implemented as described in reference toFIGS.7-10for example or other figures. However, it should be understood thatFIG.37provides an example of a configuration of elements that could be used to enable the operation of a power adapter arrangement having a power adapter and a control attachment. Different elements could be implemented in the power adapter arrangement, or the elements as shown could be configured or distributed differently in the power adapter arrangement within the spirit and scope of the invention. Certain functions implemented by way of example in multiple blocks of the functional block diagram ofFIG.37may be implemented in a single block. For example, a test circuit of the power adapter may be implemented as a part of a control circuit of the power adapter. Examples of test circuits that could be implemented are shown inFIGS.83and84. Further, different functions of the power adapter arrangement may be distributed differently between the power adapter102and the control attachment104, as described in the different examples set forth herein.

The block diagram ofFIG.37shows elements of a power adapter arrangement, such as the power adapter arrangement ofFIGS.1-5for example. As shown inFIG.37, a control circuit3702is coupled to various elements of the power adapter102to provide power to and enable communication with the control attachment104and control the operation of the power adapter. The control circuit3702may control at least one of the other components of the power adapter102, including controlling power applied to a load, and/or perform an operation or data processing relating to communication with the control attachment104.

The control circuit3702, as well as the control circuit3732described in more detail below, may comprise a processors suitable for the execution of a computer program, and may include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), or a communication processor (CP), or any type of processor that could be used to communicate with the control attachment or an external device or control the switching operation of the power adapter. The control circuit3702could be an ARM processor, an X86 processor, a MIPS processor, a general purpose unit GPU, or any other processor configured to execute instructions stored in a memory. The control circuit3703could be implemented in one or more processing devices, including a processor and other dedicated logic circuits.

Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from memory, such as a read only memory or a random access memory or both, where the processor is configured to perform actions in accordance with instructions. One or more memory devices may be included as a part of the processor or separate from the processor for storing instructions and data. Devices suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto optical disks; or any other type of memory device. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated with, special purpose logic circuitry. According to other implementations, the control circuits3702and3732may be implemented by logic circuits, such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

A transformer3704is coupled to an input port3705for receiving a neutral voltage and an input port3706to receive an input voltage that enables providing power to a load by way of an output of the power adapter. That is, the transformer receives a high power signal, and the power adapter controls the application of the high power signal to a load. The input ports comprise contact elements that could be for example wires or connector screws that are wired into a junction box or could be contact elements associated with an electrical outlet in a wall of a residential or commercial building. The control circuit also receives a ground potential at a ground terminal3708, which may be another contact element such as a ground wire or ground contact, or a ground prong of an outlet of the power adapter for example.

The transformer3704also provides power, which will be a low power signal, to the control circuit3702by way of a power line3707. That is, the transformer3704will generate a low power signal (e.g. approximately 0-24 Volts) that is used to power electronic circuits of the power adapter and/or electronic circuits of the control attachment. The control circuit3702may also receive power by way of a backup battery3709to retain any information such as operational information or timing patterns in the event of a power loss. While a battery is shown by way of example, a different source of backup power could be implemented, such as a capacitor that will provide power to the power adapter and/or the control attachment in the event of a power loss.

An input portion3710may be implemented to enable the input of information or the selection of features of the power adapter, such as timing patterns that may be implemented by the power adapter. The input portion may include one or more buttons that can be selected to enable a resetting of the power adapter or a pairing of the power adapter and the control attachment as will be described in more detail below. Examples of user interface elements that may be implemented by the input portion3710are described in more detail below in reference toFIG.44.

A memory3712is coupled to the control circuit and may store operational information, timing patterns, software programs, data for implementing software programs, and any other data used in operating the power adapter or control attachment. It should be noted that the input portion3710of the power adapter may also include the connector for receiving the portable memory device such as a USB thumb drive or an SD memory to download any type of data, such as operational information, programming data, or firmware as will be described in more detail below. An oscillator3713may be coupled to the control circuit to enable the control circuit to maintain a current time.

A switch3720is coupled to receive power from the transformer by way of a power line3722and provide power to an output3723(which may be another contact element that is coupled to a load such as by a wire in an electrical system or a contact element of an outlet adapted to receive a plug) in response to control signals generated by the control circuit3702on a line3724from the control circuit. The control signals may be any type of signals for regulating power applied to a load, such as on and off signals and dimming signals for example. The switch3720may be a relay or TRIAC for example for coupling high power signals to a load as described above. The control signals may be generated in response to signals received by the power adapter, including signals received from the control attachment. The control signals may be associated with a timing pattern that is stored in a memory of the power adapter arrangement, including a memory of one or both of the power adapter and the control attachment. The power adapter arrangement may control the application of power to the load based upon a timing pattern that is stored in a memory (e.g. memory3712or memory3742), or in response to signals provided to the control attachment (such as by way of the wireless communication circuit3748) in real time (i.e. the control attachment controls the application of power to the load as it receives a command by way of the wireless communication circuit3748). The control signals by also be generated in response to other information received by the control attachment, such as by a sensor of a control attachment or information received from the control attachment received from an external device, such as a smart phone or other computer device or element of a wireless network.

The output3723may be wires or screws that can be coupled to wires in the case of an in-wall power adaptor that are coupled to a device (i.e. load) that is powered by the power adapter (or contact elements of an outlet that receives a plug for the device controlled by the power adapter).

A wireless communication circuit3726could be used to receive various information, such as operational information, programming data, or firmware updates from the control attachment104or from some other source, as will be described in more detail below. The wireless communication circuit3726could be adapted to implement any type of wireless communication protocol as described herein, by way of a wire communication connection with the control attachment104or with an external device other than the control attachment.

The power adapter102and the control attachment104may communicate by way of an interface3727, which may be an electrical interface, such as a connector or a plurality of contact elements, as described herein. The interface3727enables a communication link3728with an interface3729, which may also be an electrical interface, such as a connector or a plurality of contact elements. The communication link may comprise contact elements of the interfaces3727and3729to enable the transfer of communication signals between the interfaces. The communication link may also provide reference voltages including power and ground (or neutral) reference voltages to power elements of the control attachment.

The control attachment104comprises a control circuit3732, which may be any type of processing circuit for (i) receiving inputs, such as by way of an input portion3734or by way of a wireless connection, and (ii) controlling the operation of the control attachment104, including communicating with the power adapter to control the application of power to the load. The input portion could be implemented to receive inputs (e.g. mechanical inputs, sensor inputs, etc.) as shown and described in reference to the various control attachments described herein. A battery3736or some other source of energy such as a capacitor may be used to power the control attachment104or function as a backup power source during a power loss (if the control attachment104normally receives power by way of the interface3729). A display3746may also be provided.

A wireless communication circuit3748, which may be a wireless receiver or both a wireless transmitter and receiver (i.e. a wireless transceiver), comprises an antenna3750. Data received by the wireless communication circuit3748may be provided to the control circuit3732, or data generated by the control circuit3732may be transmitted by the wireless communication circuit3748. Data, such as a timing pattern or operational information (e.g. time, date and location information) entered by the input portion or received by way of the wireless communication circuit3748, may be stored in a memory3742.

The wireless communication circuit3748may be any type of receiver for receiving wireless communication signals, such as GPS receiver, a cellular receiver, a radio frequency (RF) receiver, a WiFi receiver, a Bluetooth receiver, and NFC receiver, or any other type of receiver adapted to receive data according to any wireless communication protocol, where the information may include operational information, programming data, software updates, or any other type of information enabling operation of the power adapter arrangement. According to some implementations where the control attachment comprises a smart speaker (i.e. a device having a microphone and often a speaker that is configured to response to commands, including controlling other device such as in-wall or plug-in timers, or respond to questions by providing answers to questions) as described in more detail below, data and information may be received by the wireless communication circuit3748of the control attachment from an external device associated with a system employing a smart speaker, such as an Alexa brand system from Amazon.com, Inc., a Google Home brand system from Alphabet Inc., or Apple Home from Apple, Inc. for example.

The operational information, control information, sensor information, or any other data or information received by the control attachment, such as by way of the input portion3734or by way of a wireless connection, may be provided to the control circuit to enable the operation of the control circuit and the implementation of the timing patterns to control the load. A GPS receiver is commonly available from SiRF Technology, Inc, for example, while a cellular receiver could be implemented in an integrated circuit chip or module, such as a chip or module available from u-blox Holding AG of Thalwil, Switzerland. Operational information including time, date and location that may be necessary to implement a timing pattern for example may also be received from a network, such as a Wifi network, from a smart phone (which may receive the operational information from a cellular network for example) communicating with the control attachment by way of a WiFi network, or a short range connection, such as Bluetooth or NFC. Therefore, actuators for entering time, date and location information could be eliminated from one or both of the power adapter and the control attachment with the use of a wireless communication circuit3748.

While the wireless communication circuit3748for receiving communication signals from a remote network, such as a GPS network, a cellular network, a local area network such as WiFi, or short range connection such as Bluetooth or NFC, is shown as a part of the control attachment104, some information received by the wireless communication circuit3748could instead be received by the wireless communication circuit3726of the power adapter102. That is, the wireless communication circuit3726could be adapted to receiving operational information or any other data wirelessly from a remote device using any wireless communication protocol or wirelessly from the control attachment by way of the corresponding wireless communication circuit3752.

An oscillator3744or some other device for keeping a time for the control attachment may be coupled to the control circuit, where a current time or other data may be displayed on the display3746. While separate oscillators are shown in the power adapter102and the control attachment104, it should be understood that a single oscillator could be implemented, and an oscillating signal or other signal based upon the oscillating signal (e.g. a clock signal) could be shared between the power adapter102and the control attachment104.

The wireless communication circuit3752has an antenna3754enabling the communication of signals with a corresponding wireless communication circuit3726(having an antenna3759) of the power adapter by way of a wireless communication link3756. While both a physical connection for transferring signals and/or power is provided by way of the communication link3728and a wireless communication link3756is provided by way of the corresponding wireless communication circuits3726and3752, it should be understood that one of the communication links could be implemented. A test circuit3760coupled to the interface3727and the control circuit3702. The test circuit3760could be used to determine whether the power adapter is wired in an electrical system correctly, as will be described in more detail below. Alternatively, the test circuit3760could be implemented in the control attachment104, as described in more detail in reference toFIG.84. Such an arrangement would reduce the complexity of the power adapter and apply the cost to the control attachment. While some control attachments may not the capability to perform a test, a dedicated test control attachment could be used to ensure that the power adapter is wired properly. While a dedicated test circuit is shown, which may comprise a voltage detector for example, it should be understood that some or all of the testing operation could be performed in the control circuit3702and/or3732for example.

In addition to the communication link3728, other interfaces can be provided to enable the communication of signals between the control attachment and the power adapter. For example, a connector3761of the control attachment and a connector3762of the power adapter enable a communication interface3764. According to one implementation, the communication interface3764may comprise an electrical interface enabling the transfer of electrical signals between the control attachment and the power adapter. For example, separate interfaces may be implemented to transfer control signals and power signals. Further, an actuator element3770of the power adapter, such as a switch, may be configured to receive an actuator input from a corresponding actuator element3772. According to one implementation, the actuator elements3770and3772may be adapted to receive a manual input, such as a pressing of an actuator elements of a control attachment as described herein.

A wireless protocol implemented by one of the wireless communication circuits may be, but is not limited to, a standard for transmitting signals and/or data through electromagnetic radiation in different frequency spectrums. Examples of current wireless standards include, but are not limited to IEEE 802 standards, UMTS, GSM 850, GSM 900, GSM 1800, GSM 1900, GPRS, ITU-R 5.138, ITU-R 5.150, ITU-R 5.280, IMT-1000, Bluetooth (BT), Bluetooth-low-energy, also known as BLE, Wi-Fi, Ultra-Wideband, WiMAX, and Infrared, Some standards may be a conglomeration of sub-standards such as IEEE 802.11 which may refer to, but is not limited to, IEEE 802.1a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, or IEEE 802.11n as well as others under the IEEE 802.11 umbrella. Wireless links may also include any cellular network standards used to communicate among mobile devices, including, but not limited to, standards that qualify as 1G, 2G, 3G, or 4G, including specifications or standards maintained by International Telecommunication Union. The 3G standards, for example, may correspond to the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specification, and the 4G standards may correspond to the International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced (IMT-Advanced) specification. Examples of cellular network standards include AMPS, GSM, GPRS, LTE, LTE Advanced, UMTS, Mobile WiMAX, and WiMAX-Advanced. Cellular network standards may use various channel access methods e.g. FDMA, TDMA, or CDMA.

Turning now toFIG.38, a diagram showing a control attachment adapted to control both a light and a fan is shown. According to the example ofFIG.38, a control attachment3802that may be coupled to a power adapter comprises interfaces for controlling a light, including dimming functionality, and controlling the speed of a fan. More particularly, the control attachment3802is adapted to communicate with a fan3804by way of a wireless communication signal3806. The control attachment may comprise a switch3808having a status indicator3810, which may comprise an LED for example that made provide an indication of these status of the power applied to the fan. The control actuator3802may also comprise movable elements for controlling the dimming of the light as well as the speed of the fan. More particularly, a first control element3812may be movable within a channel3814to control the dimming of the light. Similarly, a second control element3816may be movable within a channel3818to control the speed of the fan3820, which may comprise a control circuit3822having a wireless communication circuit adapted to communicate with a corresponding wireless communication circuit of the control attachment3802. While the control elements are shown by way of example, it should be understood that other control elements can be implemented.

Turning now toFIG.39, an arrangement of a power adapter and a control attachment having a power switch is shown. According to the implementation ofFIGS.38-42, the power switching functionality is provided in the control attachment. That is, unlike the embodiments ofFIGS.1-37that implement low power signals between the power adapter and control element, high power signals are provided through the interface between the power adapter and the control attachment. According to the implementation ofFIG.39, a power adapter3902is coupled to a control attachment3904, where the power adapter may comprise a 3-way control input3908, a ground input3910, a neutral input3912, and a power input3914. A signal interface3915enables the transfer of signals to and from the power adapter and between the power adapter and the control attachment. A load terminal3916is also provided to be coupled to a load. Because the control attachment is configured to receive a high power voltage, the control attachment may also include an outlet for receiving a plug.

The power adapter arrangement ofFIG.39comprises a plurality of interface elements3920and3921, which may include contact elements for example. More particularly, a connector element3922is coupled to a corresponding connector element3924for providing a power signal there is routed to the load. That is, rather than having a switching element, such as a relay or a TRIAC operating as a dimmer control circuit, in the power adapter, it may be provided in the control attachment according to the implementation ofFIG.39, where power routed to the power adapter is routed through the control attachment and back to the load. The connector also comprises a connector element3926coupled to a corresponding connector element3928to provide a ground signal from the power adapter to the control attachment. A connector element3930is coupled to a corresponding connector element3932to provide a neutral signal from the power adapter to the control attachment. A power signal, which may be based upon the power signal provided to the power adapter, is provided by way of a connector element3933to a corresponding connector element3934. The interface element3920may comprise a single connector, a plurality of connectors, is shown by way of example inFIG.40.

The control attachment comprises elements for receiving the power from the power adapter, and selectively applying power to a load by way of the signal interface3915. More particularly, the control attachment3904comprises a control circuit3936adapted to receive signals from various interfaces and control a dimmer control circuit3937for providing the power to a load by way of the connector elements3922and3924. The control attachment comprises various actuators in a user interface for receiving input signals that may be used by the control circuit3936to control the dimmer controller, and generate output signals. An actuator3938comprises a user interface input3940for receiving user interface input. By way of example, the actuator3930may comprise an on off button. An actuator3942comprises a user interface input3944for receiving additional user interface input, such as dimmer control input. An additional interface3946may be be coupled to a feedback circuit3948, and may receive signals by way of a communication interface3950and generate feedback signals by way of a feedback output3952. The communication signals provide to the control attachment may be wireless communication signals for example. The feedback signals may be any type of audio or visual feedback signals for any type of user interface as described herein. Accordingly, the power adapter3902is configured to receive high voltage power from an interface of the power adapter, where the power is routed through the control attachment and back to the power adapter to be provided to the load. By configuring the switching control of power of the power adapter arrangement ofFIG.39in the control attachment, it is possible to provide a simplified power adapter, where the functionality of the switching is provided in the control attachment.

FIGS.40through42show an example of connections for routing the signals between the control attachment and the power adapter. As shownFIG.40, a front and side view of the power adapter3902ofFIG.39includes a contact block4002, shown here by way of example as having a plurality of discrete contact elements4004, which may comprise female receptacle contact elements for example. As shown inFIG.41, receptacle4102coupled to a signal line4104is adapted to receive a contact pin4202of the control attachment ofFIG.42. Because the contact block4002comprises a contact element having high voltage, it should be understood that the contact block would be configured to prevent any inadvertent contact with the high voltage power, such as including protection elements currently found in outlets to prevent injury to a user.

Turning now toFIG.43, a flow chart shows a method of enabling a wiring fault detection. Whatever implementing a device that is coupled to high voltage electric power, it is important that the device is properly installed to prevent any injury to the installer or a user. If a device is improperly installed, it may not be obvious to a user, and any injury may occur without notice to the user. Accordingly, it is beneficial to indicate whether a device has been improperly, or a condition has changed such that the device he has a fault for example. One common fault that may occur is a ground fault, where the ground is not properly attached, or the ground and neutral are inverted. Accordingly, it may be beneficial to evaluate the ground and neutral voltages with respect to one another to determine whether there is a ground fault. For example, After the method is started at a block4302, such as after a control attachment is attached to a power adapter, a timeout period may be set at a block4304. It is then determined whether the timeout period has expired in a block4306. If the timeout period has expired, voltages for the ground connection in the neutral connection are received at a block4308. The voltages for the ground connection and the neutral connection are then compared in a block4310. It is then determined whether the voltages are the same at a block4312. If not, the timeout period is again set at the block4304. However, if the voltages are not the same, an indication of an improper wiring connection is provided in a block4314, and the processes ended in a block4316.

Turning now toFIG.44, a block diagram of an expanded view of elements of an in-wall power adapter and control attachment that is adapted to be installed in a junction box and to receive a wall plate is shown. A junction box describes the housing into which a power adapter arrangement is inserted. A junction box may be formed from metal, plastic or PVC for example, and may be defined as being 1-gang for having a single power adapter arrangement or 2-gang for having 2 power adapter arrangements, as is well known. A “wall plate” (also referred to as face plate or switch cover) refers to, but is not limited to, a typically plastic or metal cover designed to fit around and/or over at least a portion of the power adapter arrangement while in the junction box, and generally overlaps the surrounding wall or ceiling for example to provide an aesthetically and/or functional cover.

A power voltage, also referred to as an electrical supply, is a reference voltage to provide electrical power for the load controlled by the power adapter arrangement as described above. According to the implementation ofFIG.44, a junction box4402is coupled to conduit4404having wires4406that may be used to provide power by way of the reference voltages to the power adapter arrangement by way of a terminal portion4408of the wires that extend into a recess4410adapted to receive the power adapter arrangement. Flanges4412and4414receive a screw or other attachment element by way of a threaded portion4416to enable attaching corresponding flanges of the power adapter to the flanges4412and4414.

The power adapter102comprises a front surface4424that defines a recessed portion4426extending from the front surface to a back wall4427. The switching portion may also comprise an attachment element4430adapted to be coupled to a corresponding attachment element of the control attachment. The power adapter may also comprise flanges4432having a threaded portion4434for receiving a screw to secure a wall plate to the modular power adapter and a hole4436which comprises an opening for receiving a screw that can be inserted into the threaded portion4416and can be used to secure the power adapter102to the junction box4402.

User interface elements and other elements enable a user to implement the power adapter with a control attachment within the recess4426, such as on a back wall of the recess for example (or on another surface accessible by a user in an implementation not having a recess). For example, a communication port4438, which may comprise a connector or a plurality of contact elements for example, may be implemented. The contact elements may be contact pads adapted to be in electrical contact with contact elements of the control module, where the contact elements may be spring loaded contacts such as pogo-pins, or other flexible or spring loaded contacts that extend from a back surface of the control attachment and align with and make electrical contact with the contact pads of the power adapter. Alternatively, contact pads can be implemented on the control attachment and the corresponding contacts can be implemented on the back of the recess of the power adapter. While the contact elements are indicated as being on the back surface of the power adapter and the control attachment, it should be understood that the contacts can be placed on other surfaces, such as a side of the power adapter and a side of the control module.

The power adapter may also comprise a control button4440, which may function as a reset button or a pairing button for enabling the pairing of the control module with the power adapter. The control button may be used to reset the power adapter, enabling the power adapter to receive new data associated with a control attachment, and therefore to enable the power adapter and the control attachment to communicate and control a device receiving power from the power adapter arrangement. The control button4440could also enable a pairing function to pair an authorized control attachment to communicate with the power adapter. That is, a pairing function can be implemented, wherein a control button on each of the power adapter and the control attachment can be selected to enable the transfer of information between the control attachment and the power adapter. It may be necessary to charge the control attachment by coupling the control attachment to the power adapter to enable the control attachment to perform a reset operation and to enable a pairing of the control attachment with the power adapter. Alternatively, separate buttons may be implemented for a reset button and a pairing button.

The pairing operation is beneficial to ensure that only an authorized control attachment is implemented to prevent for example unauthorized control of a power adapter which may have a wireless control feature. For example, the control of the device receiving power from the power adapter may be compromised, and unauthorized use of a device under the control of the power adapter may occur. Further, the power adapter and the control attachment may communicate to enable the proper operation of a load controlled by the power adapter. For example, a control circuit of the power adapter may detect the type of device controlled by the power adapter, such as the type of light bulb (e.g. halogen, LED, or CFL), or the number of watts that the bulb or other device draws, and therefore enables the control circuit of the control attachment to provide different control signals to the power adapter to control the amount of power applied to the light bulb (such as a dimmable light bulb or a low power light bulb for example).

In addition to an implementation where the power adapter acts as a passive device, and only receives control signals from a control circuit of the control attachment, the power adapter and the control attachment could implement a bidirectional communication link according to another implementation to enable the control attachment to understand information received by the power adapter and better control the device controlled by the power adapter. Alternatively, the control attachment can detect the type or qualities of the light bulb by way of the communication ports of the power adapter and the control attachment.

A wireless communication circuit4442(shown in dashed to indicate that it may be behind the back wall4427of the recess) may also be implemented in the power adapter. The wireless communication circuit4442could be for example the wireless communication circuit3726ofFIG.37for example. A communication port4440, which may be a USB port or a port for receiving another type of memory card, such as an SD card, may be implemented on the power adapter, and may receive any type of information, such as operational information, timing patterns for turning the device controlled by the power adaptor on or off, or other data that is beneficial in implementing the operation of the control attachment. A timing pattern may include for example on and off times for a timing feature of the modular power adapter. While the USB port is shown on the power adapter, it should be understood that a USB port could instead be implemented on the control attachment, or implemented on the control attachment in addition to a USB port on the power adapter. An electrical interface, which may correspond to one of the electrical interfaces (e.g. electrical interface713ofFIG.7) described above may also be implemented. A electrical interface4444comprises contact elements4446for receiving reference voltages, such as ground and power signals providing current to a load, are also provided on the power adapter, as described above. While contact elements comprising screws are shown, contact elements comprising wires adapted to be coupled to wires in a junction box could also be implemented.

The control attachment104may comprise a rear portion4450that is inserted into the recess4426. The various interfaces of the control attachment align with the corresponding interfaces of the power adapter to enable the communication of at least one of control signals and power between the power adapter and the control attachment. The wall plate4459can be attached to the power adapter using holes4464, where the holes receive screws that can be inserted into threaded portions4434of the flanges4432.

The dimensions of the various elements of modular power adapter are selected to enable the modular power adapter to be attached to a junction box, such as a conventional residential junction box. Therefore, the width wsof the power adapter may be selected to be less than the width of a conventional residential junction box, and the height hsmay be selected to be less than the height of a conventional residential junction box. A depth dsof the recess4426is also selected to ensure that, when the control attachment is attached to the power adapter, the contact elements of the communication ports provide an adequate electrical connection to enable the transfer of data signals and/or power signals (e.g. provide adequate pressure between contacts and contact pads will enable an electrical connection). Also, the dimensions of back portion4450of the control attachment has a width wcand a height hcthat are just slightly less that the width wsand the height hsto ensure that the control attachment fits into and aligns with the power adapter (or the width and height of the recess4426if the power adapter comprises a recess).

The dimensions of a front portion4454are also selected to extend through opening4462in a wall plate, and ensure that the edges of the opening of the wall plate cover the flange4455of the control attachment. The connector element4458is adapted to be secured to a corresponding connector element4430of the power adapter102. The edges4460define opening4462. Because the height hpand the width wpof the opening4462are slightly greater that the height hc′ and the width wc′ of the front portion4454′, the front portion4454can extend through the opening4462, where the edges4460of the opening4462will generally cover the flange4452. Outer edges4459and4460of the wall plate extend beyond the perimeter of the junction box to cover the junction box.

Alternatively, the control attachment104may be implemented without the flange4455to enable the control attachment to be inserted and removed while the wall plate is in place. According to one implementation, the control attachment may be implemented in a ski-boot arrangement. For example, a flange4456(shown by the dashed line) may be implemented as attachment element for the bottom of the recess (i.e. in place of the attachment element4430as shown at the bottom), and may be adapted to receive a corresponding flange4455. That is, for an implementation of a control attachment104that is adapted to be inserted or removed through an opening of a wall plate, the flange4455can be inserted through the opening and behind the flange4456, and then the attachment element4458at the top of the control attachment can be coupled to the attachment element4430. The attachment elements at the top of the control attachment and power adapter could be implemented as described in reference toFIG.49. It should be understood that the power adapter102and control attachment104ofFIG.4could be implemented as any of the power adapters or control attachments as described herein.

Turning now toFIG.45, a front view of the power adapter arrangement and wall plate ofFIG.44when combined is shown. According to the implementation of Fig. of45, a power adapter arrangement based upon the control attachment ofFIG.18(where the control attachment can be removed when the wall plate is attached to the power adapter) is shown when a wall plate is attached to the power adapter. As can be seen, the wall plates4502comprises holes4504for receiving screws to attach the wall plate to the power adapter. As is apparent inFIG.45, the attachment elements1816and1818are exposed through the hole in the wall plate, and the control attachment can be removed.

According to the implementation ofFIG.46, the control attachment is based upon the control attachment ofFIG.17, where the attachment elements are not exposed through the opening of the wall plates4602, and therefore the wall plate must be removed to insert or remove the control attachment. As also shown, there are no holes for receiving screws to attach the wall plate to the power adapter. Rather, an intermediate wall plate4604that may be attached to the power adapter by way of openings4606is implemented, where attachment elements4608are configured to be attached to corresponding attachment elements of the wall plate4602, eliminating the requirement for screws, which can be unsightly.

Turning now toFIG.47, a side view of a portion of attachment elements of a power adapter and a corresponding control attachment that may be located behind a wall plate (shown in dashed lines), where the attachment element of the power adapted is on a back wall of the power adapter, is shown. More particularly, a flange4702extending from a projection4704enables an attachment element of the control attachment to be coupled to the flange. For example, a body portion4706of an attachment element of the control attachment comprises an attachment element actuator4708that moves about a hinge4709so that an attachment element4710having a projection4712with beveled edges can engage with the flange4702(i.e. be positioned behind the flange4702to secure the control attachment to the power adapter). For example, a user of the control attachment can move the projection4712using the attachment element actuator4708to cause the attachment element4710to rotate and the projection4712to disengage from the flange4702. The wall plate can then be attached, covering the attachment element of the control attachment.

Turning now toFIG.48, another side view of a portion of an attachment element of a power adapter and a corresponding control attachment that may be located behind a wall plate (shown in dashed lines), where the attachment element of the power adapted is on a side wall of the power adapter, is shown. According to the implementation ofFIG.48, a body portion4802comprises an attachment element actuator4804that is movable by way of a leaf spring portion4806. When the attachment element actuator4804is moved away from the top of the wall1502of the control attachment, a projection4808having beveled edges is removed from a recess4810in an end portion4812of the power adapter, enabling the control attachment104to be removed from the power adapter102. As is apparent fromFIGS.47and48, the wall plate, as shown in dashed lines, would have to be removed to be able to access the attachment elements and therefore remove or detach the control attachment from the power adapter.

However, according to the implementation ofFIG.49, which shows a side view of a portion of attachment elements of a power adapter and a corresponding control attachment that may be accessible through a recess in a wall plate, the control attachment can be removed without removing the wall plate (shown in dashed lines). More particularly, an attachment element4901is movable within the control attachment, and can be moved so that the control attachment clears an end wall4902of the control attachment, allowing the control attachment to be removed with the wall plate in place. The control attachment comprises a projection4903that extends through an opening4904in the end wall4902, and extends to a terminal end4905that is adapted to being received by the attachment element of the power adapter (shown here by way of example as a recess4810in the side wall of recess1503) of the power adapter. The actuator element4901is movable within a recess4908. A rod4910is configured to receive a spring4912, where the rod extends into a shaft4914of the attachment element4901.

As can be seen inFIG.49, the spring loaded arrangement comprising the attachment element4901, the rod4910and spring4912enable both securing the control attachment to the power adapter and allowing the control attachment to be removed with the wall plate in place. That is, when the attachment element4901is moved towards the wall4916of the control attachment, compressing the spring, the terminal end4905would extend into the opening4904, allowing the control attachment to be removed by clearing the wall plate.

It should be noted that the embodiments oFIGS.48and49use the same attachment element for the power adapter. That is, according to the implementations ofFIGS.48and49using the same power adapter, a user of the power adapter could install a control attachment that can be removed when the wall plate is in place, or could install a control attachment that can only be removed when the wall plate is removed. Such a feature provides flexibility for not only a user of the power adapter, but also for builders who may be installing the power adapters. That is, the builder can install a single power adapter in all locations for any type of structure, and install the desired control attachment that meets the needs of the user, including control attachments that can be removed with a wall plate in place, or only when the wall plate is removed. While examples of a control attachment having a leaf spring and having a helical spring are shown, it should be understood that any type of control attachment could be used. For example, control attachment arrangements could be implemented where a movable element on either the power adapter or the control attachment could be moved to couple an attachment element of the other of the power adapter or the control attachment. Alternatively, the control attachment may be coupled to the power adapter using only friction, particularly where a portion of control attachment is located behind the wall plate.

Various control attachments are shown inFIGS.50-64. While the control attachments are shown by way of example, it should be understood that other control attachments could be implemented, or various features in the different control attachments could be combined or changed as desired. While specific examples of power adapter arrangements, including interfaces on both a power adapter and a control attachment as will be described in more detail below, are shown, it should be understood that both input elements and output elements may include a variety of features. Input devices may include any type of interface for providing information to or controlling, directly or indirectly, either the power adapter or the control attachment, where an input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. Feedback elements may also be used to provide for interaction with a user as well. For example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback).

Turning first toFIG.50, a rear view of a control attachment is shown, where a control circuit5002, which made comprise a wireless control circuit for example is included. A button5004, which may be a reset button or a button for pairing the control attachment with the power adapter, is included. While a single button is shown by way of example, it should be understood that multiple buttons could be included for performing different functions, such as a reset function or pairing function. An electrical interface5006may also be included to enable the communication of signals between the control attachment and a power adapter, as described above.

Examples of interface elements on the front of the control attachment are now shown. A front view of a power adapter ofFIG.51has a toggle element5102, such as a paddle toggle element for example. and a dimmer control element5104that is movable within a guide5106. An interface element5108could also be included, and may include an input elements such as a connector or an output element such as a status indicator, such as an LED.

Turning now toFIG.52, a front view of a power adapter having a toggle element, a microphone and a speaker is shown. More particularly, a toggle button5202(also known as an on/off switch), which may have a status indicator5204, such as an LED light, are also included. The control attachment may also include a microphone5206and a speaker5208, enabling the control attachment to function as a smart speaker, such a smart speaker that may be adapted to operate according to a smart speaker protocol from Amazon, Inc. (using the Alexa brand protocol), Alphabet Inc. (using the Google Home brand protocol) or Apple, Inc. (using the Apple Home brand protocol) for example.

Turning now toFIG.53, another front view of a power adapter having a toggle element and a dimmer control element is shown. According to the implementation ofFIG.53, a control attachment having dimmer functionality comprises a toggle element5302that may comprise a status LED5304. A movable dimmer controller5306that is movable within a guide5308is also included.

Turning now toFIG.54, a front view of a power adapter having a toggle element and a sensor is shown. According to the implementation ofFIG.54, in addition to a toggle button5202, a sensor5402could be included on a front surface. A sensor as used herein may refer to, but is not limited to, a transducer providing an electrical output generated in dependence upon a magnitude of a measure and selected from the group comprising, but is not limited to, environmental sensors, biological sensors, chemical sensors, ambient environment sensors, position sensors, motion sensors, thermal sensors, infrared sensors, RFID sensors, a light sensor, a microphone, a camera, a thermometer, a humidity sensor, a smoke detector, and an air quality sensor, such as for carbon monoxide.

By way of example, the sensor5402could comprise a sensor for detection motion, such as a camera or a motion detector. Power could be applied to the load in response to the detection of motion, and the application of power could be overwritten by the toggle button5202. Alternatively, when a sensor comprising a camera is activated in response to motion, and the camera could record activities within range of the camera after motion is detected.

According to some implementations, for a control attachment configured to detect motion in a room, the sensor device can include one or more of passive sensors (e.g., passive infrared (PIR) sensor), active sensors (e.g., microwave (MW) sensor, ultrasonic sensors etc.) and hybrid sensors that include both passive and active sensor (e.g., Dual Technology Motion sensors,). The passive sensors do not emit any energy and detect changes in energy of the surrounding. For example, a PIR sensor can detect infrared energy emitted by the human body (due to the temperature associated with the human body). In contrast, active sensors may emit electromagnetic or sonic pulses and detect the reflection thereof. For example, MW sensor emits a microwave pulse and detects its reflection. Hybrid sensors can include both active and passive sensors and therefore motion can be sensed both actively and passively (hybrid sensing). Hybrid sensing can have several advantages. For example, the probability of false positive detection of motion can be smaller in hybrid sensors compared to active/passive sensors. Data associated with a motion sensor can be used to indicate that motion has been detected in an area proximal to a load comprising a light, for example. The detected motion can be used to turn on a light controlled by the power adapter. According to some implementations, the power adapter may use the detected motion for providing a security feature, and may provide power to the load for a predetermined period of time, such as to deter an intruder or provide light outside a home in the event that an individual is detected outside the home.

Turning now toFIG.55, a front view of a power adapter having a toggle element and a display is shown. More particularly, the control attachment ofFIG.55comprises a display5502. In addition to the microphone5206in the speaker5208, the display5502can provide additional information to a user.

Any of the exemplary control attachments ofFIGS.50-55may comprise a wireless circuit for receiving control signals or for acting as a WIFI extender or implemented as a WiFi mesh node in a WiFi mesh arrangement or a Bluetooth mesh node in a Bluetooth mesh arrangement. A control attachment may also be configured as a network extender or network repeater, as will be described in more detail below in reference toFIG.85.

Turning now toFIG.56, a front plan view of a control attachment having dedicated on and off switches and a sensor element that may be removable is shown. According to the implementation ofFIG.56, a power adapter having 2 toggle elements5602and5604(e.g. an on toggle switch on top and an off toggle switch on bottom) are movable within a gap5606and can be implemented with a sensor module5608(also known as an insert) that not only controls operation of a load controlled by a power adapter arrangement, but also may comprise a sensor element, such as one or more of a camera, motion detector or any sensor as described above beneficial to a home automation system. The outputs of the sensor may be used not only to control the application of power to the load or control some other operation of the load, but also can provide information to other elements of a system implementing a power adapter arrangement having a control attachment as shown inFIG.56.

While an example of the control attachments ofFIGS.56-64describe a camera or motion detector by way of example, it should be understood that any sensors as described above could be used to transmit or receive information that may be beneficial in any aspect of a home automation system for example. According to some implementations, the sensor module5608may include a microphone and a speaker for detecting commands, questions, or other inputs and providing audio feedback, such as is commonly performed by smart speakers as mentioned above. The implementations ofFIGS.56-64provide another example of power adapter arrangement having a power adapter and a control attachment, where the control attachment is implemented as a modular element of the power adapter arrangement.

As shown in the side view ofFIG.57, actuator elements5702and5704are included to enable on and off functionality using the toggle elements5602and5604. A front and side view of the control attachment ofFIG.56is shown inFIG.58.

Turning now toFIG.59, a front and side view of the control attachment ofFIG.56without the removable sensor element shows contact the elements in a recess5902. As shown inFIG.59, an electrical interface element5904, such as a connector or contact block having a plurality of contact elements5906, comprises contact elements provided on a rear surface of a recess adapted to receive the sensor module5608, which may be a sensor module for example. The contact elements may transfer data and other signals between the control attachment and the power adapter. That is, the contact elements may provide signals to circuits of the control attachment104, or may provide signals directly to the power adapter by way of contacts of the power adapter.

Turning now toFIG.60, a rear view of the removable sensor module5608shows contact elements, and particularly a rear surface6002having an electrical interface element6004comprising contact elements6006. Signals can be transmitted between the sensor module5608and the power adapter. According to another implementation, an opening could be provided in the rear surface of the control attachment to enable the contact elements of the sensor module make a direct connection to corresponding contact elements of the power adapter as described above in reference toFIG.30.

Turning now toFIG.61, a front and side view of a sensor module5608having a removable screen6102is shown. In addition to a sensor6106, which may comprise a camera or motion detector for example, the removable sensor module may also comprise control elements adapted to control settings of the sensor module, as shown by way of example as a movable element6108that is movable in a guide6110. For example, the control element may control a sensitivity setting of a motion detector or camera or any other sensing element. The removable screen may be tinted or otherwise opaque to obscure the sensor and the control elements (if possible, without affecting the operation of the sensor). Attachment elements6112on the sides of the sensor module5608may be coupled to corresponding attachment elements6114.

Turning now toFIG.62, a front and side view of a control attachment having a removable screen exposing a camera that is movable within a receiving element and shown directed to the left is shown. According to the implementations ofFIGS.62and63, the sensor element6202may be movable within an opening6204to improve the operation of the control attachment. For example, the power adapter arrangement may be placed in a location of a room where it may be beneficial when the sensor element, such as a camera or motion detector, is directed towards a certain location, such as towards a door or window for example. Even in the event that a sensor is used for detecting a wide area of a room, it may be beneficial to be able to adjust the direction or orientation of the sensor when the power adapter arrangement is on a wall switch location that may be on a side of a room rather than near the center of the room. A front and side view of a control attachment having a removable screen ofFIG.62shows the camera directed to the right inFIG.63.

Turning now toFIG.64, a front inside view of a control attachment having a movable screen to enable controlling a direction of a sensor, such as a camera, by moving the screen is shown. The implementation ofFIG.64enables the simple adjustment of the orientation or direction of a camera or sensor by adjusting the screen itself. That is, the sensor may be attached to the screen, where the screen can be rotated to provide a desired orientation. The screen may be tinted or opaque to obscure the presence of the sensor, as shown inFIG.64where the sensor6402is lightly shaded to indicate the opaque nature of the screen. Because it may be difficult to see the direction or orientation of the sensor, a marker6204may be provided to enable the orientation of the sensor to easily be determined. While the screen as shown inFIG.64enables a horizontal adjustment of the sensor, it should be understood that the screen could be adjusted in any orientation, where the screen may be a ball that swivels to provide both horizontal and vertical adjustments.

While various control attachments are shown, it should be understood that functionality of the control attachment may be distributed between the main portion of the control attachment and the removable sensor module, or completely located in the removable sensor module.

Groups of figures are now provided that show arrangements of interfaces, including for example electrical interfaces, mechanical interfaces, and electromechanical interfaces.FIGS.65-67show a single interface for providing signals to the power adapter from the control attachment, where the single interface comprises an electrical interface for a basic control attachment having no dimming control, where on and off signals are generated in response to a user actuation.FIGS.68-70also shows a single interface comprising an electrical interface, where a dimmer control signal may be generated in response to a user actuation on the control actuator or from a control circuit or control module.FIGS.71-73show multiple interfaces, including at least a mechanical or electro-mechanical interface and an electrical interface, where an on or off signal may be generated in response to a user actuation of a toggle element of the control attachment, and other signals may be sent by way of an electrical interface.FIGS.74-76also show multiple interfaces, but includes 2 mechanical or electro-mechanical interfaces and an electrical interface, where an on or off signal may be generated in response to a user actuation of a toggle element using the 2 mechanical or electro-mechanical interfaces, and other signals may be sent by way of an electrical interface.

Turning first toFIGS.65-67,FIG.65shows a diagram of a control attachment having contact elements for electrically connecting contacts of an electrical interface. According to the implementation ofFIGS.65-67, a single toggle element is used, where a detection of a toggle actuation may be detected by the shorting of two contacts on a rear surface of the control attachment. In the event that the control attachment is used with a power adapter having dimmer functionality, but the control attachment does not have a dimmer control, the dimmer contact of the control attachment can be pulled high so that the power adapter controls the load at a maximum output.

An expanded view of the control attachment ofFIG.65comprises a rear housing6502and a front housing6504that are coupled together, and shows the outer surface of the rear housing6502and the inner surface of the front housing6504. For example, the front housing and the rear housing may be snapped together using attachment elements, glued together, thermally bonded, or attached using any type of attachment elements or attachment process. The rear housing6506comprises a dimmer control channel6506that provides an opening for allowing a dimmer control element to move within the dimmer control channel and control a corresponding dimmer control element of the power adapted, such as the dimmer control element1526ofFIG.15.

The rear housing also comprises an electrical interconnect element6508, which may be a connector or a contact block for example, having a plurality of contact elements adapted to make an electrical connection with corresponding contact elements of a power adapter. An exemplary arrangement of contact elements of the electrical interconnect element6508is shown in the dashed oval. More particularly, seven contact elements are shown, including a neutral contact element6510for providing a neutral voltage signal from the power adapter to the control attachment, a ground contact element6512for providing a ground voltage signal from the power adapter to the control attachment, an on/off (1/0) contact element6514for providing an on signal or an off signal from the control attachment to the power adapter, a power contact element6516for providing a low power voltage signal (e.g. approximately 3-5 volts) to the control attachment for providing power for electric circuits that may be implemented in the control attachment.

The on/off contact element6514and the power contact element6516may be positioned next to each other as a contact element pair6518so that they can be easily shorted, such as by a contact element on a toggle element of the control attachment.

The electrical interface element6508may also comprise a dimming contact element6520for receiving a dimmer control signal from a dimmer control circuit of the control attachment. According to the implementation ofFIG.65, which is a basic control attachment having no dimming capability, the dimming contact element6520is coupled to the power contact element6516, such as by a metal trace5626or jumper, to provide a high voltage signal to the corresponding dimming contact element of the power adapter. That is, if the power adapter has dimming capability, but the control attachment does not provide dimming control, it would be beneficial to pull the dimmer control signal high so that the full amount of power would be provided to the load.

Control contact elements6522and6524could also be included to transmit signals, such as control signals, between the control attachment and the power adapter. While specific contact elements are shown in the example electrical interconnect element6508ofFIG.65, it should be understood that fewer contact elements, additional contact elements, or different contact elements could be implemented. For example, any number of contact elements could be used for transmitting control signals or other data, as will be described in more detail below.

The front housing6504, the inside portion of which is shown inFIG.65, could include various elements enabling the operation of the control attachment. More particularly, a toggle element6532is positioned within a gap6534and coupled to the front housing6504by hinge elements6536. A spring element6538enables the toggle element to be held in a first position or a second position, as describe above. That is, the spring element6538may be configured to hold the toggle element6532in either first position where the ground contact6512and contact element6514are not shorted, and a second position where the ground contact6512and contact element6514are shorted, as described above in reference toFIGS.24and25.

More particularly, a contact element6540comprises a receiving element6542for receiving a contact portion6544, which comprises a conductive element. The contact portion6544may be used too short two of the contacts of the electrical interface6508, such as the ground contact6512and on/off contact element6514to enable providing an off signal to the power adapter (where an on signal is generated when the ground contact6512and on/off contact element6514are not shorted). Attachment elements6546, shown here by way of example on four corners of the front housing6504, may be used to attach the front house in6504to the rear housing6502. A dimmer control channel6548may also be included and is adapted to receive a movable dimmer control element6550for engaging with a corresponding dimmer control element of the power adapter, as described above in reference toFIG.15.

Turning now toFIG.66, a diagram shows an inner surface of a rear housing and an outer surface of the front housing of the control attachment ofFIG.65. More particularly, an inner surface6602comprises an area6604that is adapted to receive a circuit board or control module, as will be described in more detail below. In expanded view of a portion of the electrical interface6508is shown in the dashed oval, where a contact element6606and a contact element6608are provided to enable shorting of the context elements by the contact portion6544. Also shown inFIG.66is the jumper6526that couples the dimming contact element6520to the power contact element6516, as described above.

It should be noted that the control attachment104ofFIGS.65and66are adaptable such that the same front housing and rear housing can be used in basic control attachments having no circuit board or circuit module as shown inFIG.66, but can be adapted to retain a circuit board or circuit module, and therefore be implemented as a smart control attachment. For example, a circuit board or circuit module can be attached to the inner surface6602of the rear housing6502, where the front housing6504is then attached to the rear housing6502. Such an arrangement would achieve economies of scale for production of the control attachment and enabling different types of control attachments to be easily assembled and used in a power adapter arrangement.

Turning now toFIG.67, a block diagram of a power adapter arrangement6700using a control attachment according to the implementation ofFIGS.65and66is shown, where the block diagram ofFIG.67shows an example of an electrical interface6702having connectors or contact blocks each having contact elements that enable the communication of signals between the control attachment in the power adapter. According to the implementation ofFIG.67, a single electrical interfaces provided, namely a first electrical interface6702associated with the control attachment and a second electrical interface6704associated with the power adapter.

A neutral contact element6706is adapted to be electrically coupled to neutral contact element6510. A ground contact element6708is adapted to be electrically coupled to ground contact element6512. A toggle contact element6710(e.g. on/off (1/0) contact element) is adapted to be electrically coupled to contact element6514(e.g. on/off (1/0) contact element). A power contact element6712(e.g. low voltage—approximately 5 volts) is adapted to be electrically coupled to a corresponding power contact6516to receive a low voltage reference power signal. A dimmer contact element6714is adapted to be electrically coupled to dimmer contact6520. A signal contact element6716(e.g. first control signal) is adapted to be electrically coupled to control contact element6522(e.g. for a first control signal). Signal contact element6718(e.g. second control signal) is adapted to be electrically coupled to control contact element6524(e.g. second control signal). While there are no electrical connections to some of the contact elements, such as the neutral and ground contact the elements or the signal contact elements (because the control attachment does not comprise a control circuit for example), other embodiments of the control attachment will include electrical connections to the contact elements of the control attachment to enable in operation of the control attachment, as will be described in more detail below.

An on or off signal is provided in response to a manual actuation, as shown by contact portion6544which could be used to short the contact element6514with the power contact element6516. Also shown in the arrangement ofFIG.67is the shorting of the dimmer contact6520to the power contact element6516. Each of the electrical interfaces6702and6704may comprise connectors having contact elements that are electrically coupled together when the control attachment is attached to the power adapter for example, or may just comprise contact elements that will make an electrical contact when the control attachment is attached to the power adapter. That is, it is not necessary that the electrical interfaces of the control attachment and power adapter are necessarily connectors that are adapted to mate with one another, but rather may just be contact elements that make electrical contacts when the control attachment is attached to the power adapter (e.g. the contact elements may comprise pogo pins in corresponding contact pads, or just contact pads that will make contact).

According to the implementation ofFIG.67, because the control attachment does not include dimmer functionality, but the power adapter does include dimmer functionality, the dimmer contact element6520is pulled high (i.e. coupled to the power contact element6516) to receive the power signal as an input to the control circuit118. Therefore, the power adapter will apply full power to the load, and the only control signal for controlling power applied to the load would be the signal generated at the toggle contact6710.

Turning now toFIG.68, a diagram of another control attachment having a switch and an electrical interface is shown. According to the implementation ofFIGS.68-70, dimmer functionality can also be provided on the control attachment. As shown inFIG.67, a dimmer control channel6802is adapted to receive a dimmer control element6804. The dimmer control element6804is movable to select a dimmer setting and is adapted to be coupled to and to control a corresponding dimmer control element of a power adapter.

As shown inFIG.69, which is a diagram showing an inner surface of a rear housing of the control attachment of68, the dimmer contact element6520is coupled to receive a dimmer control signal Vdimby way of a signal line6902. The Vdimsignal may be generated by a circuit within control attachment. For example, a resistor divider circuit adapted to receive the power and neutral signals from the power adapter may be configured to generate the dimmer control signal Vdim, which is provided back to the power adapter to control the power to the load, as will be described in reference toFIG.70. Rather than controlling the motion of a corresponding dimmer control element of the power adapter, the Vdimvalue may be generated by movement of the dimmer control element6804which would control a resistance of a variable resistor and therefore the Vdimvalue.

Turning now toFIG.70, a block diagram of a power adapter arrangement using a control attachment according to the implementation ofFIG.68is shown. According to the implementation ofFIG.70, a control circuit7002is coupled the power contact element6516and the ground contact6512, and is configured to provide the dimmer control voltage Vdimto the control circuit118by way of the contact element6520. The dimmer control voltage could be generated by the control circuit7002in response to one or both of a user actuation or a signal received from an external device, such as a smart phone or other computer device. For example, the control circuit7002could comprise a resistor divider circuit (i.e. a variable resistor) that generates the dimmer control voltage. Alternatively, or in addition to the resistor divider circuit, the control circuit7002may comprise a wireless transceiver that receives dimming signals from an external device.

Turning now toFIGS.71and72, diagrams of another control attachment having an actuator element are shown. According to the implementation ofFIGS.71-73, an actuator element is adapted to control a switch in response to a manual actuator input, such as the pressing of a toggle element of the front housing of the control attachment. For example, the switch may be associated with the power adapter, and an actuator element7102, which may be a projection extending from the toggle element, can extend to or through a rear housing of the control attachment, such as through an aperture7104, to enable the actuation of a switch on the power adapter. While the implementation ofFIGS.71-73shows an arrangement where the actuator element would extend through a recess in the rear housing, it should be understood that the rear housing could be implemented as described inFIGS.81and82, where a flexible projection may be used to make contact with a switch of the power adapter. That is, there may be one or more intervening elements between the actuator element7102and the switch on the power adapter, where the one or more intervening elements enable the actuator element7102to indirectly control the switch, such as to generate an on or off signal.

Turning now toFIG.73, a block diagram of a power adapter arrangement using a control attachment according to the implementation ofFIG.71is shown. As shown inFIG.73, 2 control interfaces are provided, including the electrical interfaces6702and6704as described above, and the interface between the control attachment and power adapter comprising the actuator element7102and the aperture7104, where the actuator element7102comprises a prong or projection for engaging, directly or indirectly, a switch7302. The switch may comprise an electro-mechanical switch (i.e. comprises a movable element to generate an electrical signal) used to generate an on or off signal detected by the detector116to control the power applied to the load. The control attachment may also comprise a control circuit7304, which may comprise a circuit board or circuit module that is attached to a housing of the control attachment. The control module may comprise a wireless transceiver for example, and may receive control signals (e.g. on or off signals and dimming signals) for controlling the operation of the power adapter. As will be described in more detail below in reference toFIGS.80and81, the control circuit7304may be attached to the rear housing6502, enabling the front and rear housings of the control attachment to be used in basic control attachments, or advanced control attachments, such as a control attachment having a control module.

Turning now toFIGS.74and75, a diagram of a control attachment having two actuator elements is shown. That is, rather than having a single actuator element for enabling generating on and off control signals, the control attachment ofFIGS.74and75include 2 actuator elements, where one may be used for generating an on signal and the other may be used for generating an off signal. For example, the actuator element7102may be used for generating an on signal in response to a pressing of a top portion of the toggle element, while an actuator element7402may be used for generating an off signal in response to a pressing of the bottom portion of the toggle element, where the actuator element7402may directly or indirectly engage with a second switch of the power adapter, such as through an aperture7104or by way of intermediate elements between the actuator element7402and the second switch7602as described in reference toFIG.76.

Turning now toFIG.76, a block diagram of a power adapter arrangement using a control attachment according to the implementation ofFIG.74is shown. As shown inFIG.76, in addition to a switch7302that is adapted to receive a manual on signal in response to movement of the actuator element7102, a second switch7602may be implemented on the power adapter, where the second switch7602may be an electro-mechanical switch configured to receive a manual off signal in response to the movement of the actuator element7402.

Turning now toFIG.77, a block diagram of a power adapter arrangement shows an example of a portion of the signal interface circuit114. More particularly, the signal interface circuit114ofFIG.77comprises circuit elements that enable the detection of both an on or off signal generated by a manual input or an on or off signal received by or generated by a control circuit. That is, the circuit ofFIG.77is intended to show a circuit that enables different types of controls signals being provided to the control attachment. The control attachment may comprise a switch7702having a switching element7704adapted to receive a manual input, where an output signal generated (e.g. a high output generated by the switch7702when the switch element7704is closed) In response to the manual input, a change-of-state (COS) circuit7706will detect when a manual input (e.g. a pressing of the toggle element) is received on the control attachment. An output of the COS circuit7706is provided to a first input of a selection circuit7708, shown here by way of as a multiplexer. A receiver circuit7710, having an antenna7711, is adapted to receive control signals, such as on and off signals or dimming signals, where the receiver circuit provides a control signal to a toggle logic circuit7712. That is, the toggle logic circuits7712is adapted to receive both the output of the COS circuit7706and an electronic input by way of the receiver7710(e.g. a signal indicating a change in the on or off state from the wireless receiver or a control circuit of the control attachment that may be applying a timing pattern for example).

A decoder circuit7714is configured to receive control signals, such as first and second control signals as shown, and generate an enable signal that is coupled to a control terminal7716of the multiplexer. That is, the decoder7714may determine the type of control attachment, and select the output of the COS circuit7706if the control attachment does not have having a control circuit or wireless receiver that may provide a toggle signal, or select the output of the toggle logic7712if the control attachment comprises a control circuit or wireless receiver that may provide a toggle signal. The toggle logic circuit will receive both the output of the COS circuit and the electronic input to generate the power control signal. An output of the selection circuit7718may comprise a power control signal that is provide to a register7718, shown here by way of example as a flip-flop, an output of which is provided to the power control circuit105. Because there is a single manual actuator, which may be implemented as described in reference toFIGS.22-25andFIGS.65-73, the state of the switch controlling power to the load may be changed whenever a toggle signal is detected, as will be described in more detail in reference toFIG.78.

Turning now toFIG.78, a flow diagram shows a method of implementing a power adapter arrangement having a single toggle switch. After the method is started at a block7802, it is determined whether the control attachment is authenticated at a block7804. If not, a low enable signal would be generated by the decoder7714at a block7806, thereby selecting the output of the COS circuit7706at a block7808. That is, if the control attachment is not authenticated (or is a basic control attachment that does not have a control circuit), the power adapter will still be able to receive control signals from the control attachment based upon manual inputs (such as a manual toggle detected by a switch of the power adapter). It is then determined whether a change of state has occurred in a block7810. If so, is change of state of the power control signal is performed, such as by the signal interface circuit114, at a block7812. Therefore, the control attachment will continue to operate as a “dumb” control attachment, where the power adapter responds to manual toggle signals (or manual dimmer control signals if both the power adapter and the control attachment are configured to receive manual dimmer control signals).

If the control attachment is authenticated at the block7804, a high enable signal is generated at a block7814, where both the manual inputs and the electronic inputs can be monitored at a block7816, such as by the toggle logic circuit7712. It is then determined whether a toggle signal is received at a block7818. If so, the power control signal may be changed to indicate a change of state of the power to the load at a block7820. It should be understood that detecting whether a toggle signal is received at the block7818may be based upon either the manual input detected by the COS circuit7706, or in response to a signal received by the receiver circuit7710(or based upon a toggle signal that is provided as an electronic input to the toggle logic7712based upon a timing pattern stored in the control attachment or stored in the power adapter).

For example, when using a control attachment having a toggle element that stays in a fixed position after the top or bottom of the tangle element is pressed, the toggle logic will determine that the user intends to change the state when the toggle element is pressed. That is, because a user will know that, even if the bottom of the title element is flush with the control attachment, the top of the toggle element must be pressed to change the state, as is commonly the case with the use of a 3 way switch for example. In contrast, when implementing a toggle element that returns to a steady state position (i.e. will always return to a center position whether the top of the toggle element or the bottom of the toggle element is pressed), the interface circuit may consider the pressing of the top of the toggle element to be an indication that the user intends to apply power to the load or the pressing of the bottom of the toggle element to be an indication that the user intends to turn off power to the load, as will be described in more detail below in reference toFIGS.79and80.

Turning now toFIG.79, another block diagram of a power adapter arrangement showing an example of an interface circuit is shown. According to the implementation ofFIG.79,2separate switches are provided. More particularly, a switch7902has a switch element7904is that is adapted to receive an on manual input signal, such as the pressing of the top of a toggle element, and a switch7906has a switch element7908is that is adapted to receive an off manual input signal, such as the pressing of the bottom of the toggle element. Comparator logic7912may be implemented to detect a change of state that may be desired by a user. That is, the comparator logic may be used to detect whether power is currently being applied to a load, and whether the selection of the top of a toggle element is intended to change that state, or to detect whether power is not currently being applied to a load, and whether the selection of the bottom of a toggle element is intended to change that state, as will be described in more detail in reference toFIG.80. That is, because the state of power applied to the load may be controlled by additional inputs other than the toggle element (e.g. an input associated with a wireless signal or a signal associated with a timing pattern generated by a control circuit of the control attachment or the power adapter), it may be necessary to determine whether a user actually intends to change the state of power applied to the load

Turning now toFIG.80, a flow diagram shows a method of implementing a power adapter arrangement having two toggle switches ofFIG.79. After the process is started at a block8002, such as when the control attachment is attached to the power adapter, it is determined whether an on button is detected (e.g. pressing the top portion of the toggle element) at a block8004. If so, it is determined whether power is already applied to the device controlled by the switch (i.e. the load) at a block8006. If not, power is applied to the device controlled by the switch of the power adapter at a block8008. However, if power is already applied to the device controlled by the switch, the power adapter will continue to apply power to the switch at these step8010. Similarly, if the off button (e.g. pressing the bottom portion of the toggle element) is detected any block8014, it is determined whether power is already applied to the device controlled by the switch at a block8016. If so, power is removed from the device controlled by the switch of the power adapter at a block8018. Otherwise, the current state of no power being applied to the load by the switch is maintained at a blocked8020.

Turning now toFIGS.81and82, expanded diagrams show an example of a control attachment, and more particularly, a flexible arrangement that allows common components (i.e. the same components over multiple devices) to be used in a range of different control attachments. The implementations ofFIGS.81and82show another aspect of a modular control attachment, where a circuit board or control module is implemented inside the control attachment. As will be described in more detail below, the control attachment ofFIGS.81and82may be implemented as a modular control attachment, where the control attachment may receive a circuit board or circuit module or a module comprising a connector or contact block. The circuit board or control module may also include or be coupled to a speaker and microphone to enable any aspect of a home automation system.

One beneficial aspect of the implementation of a control attachment ofFIGS.81and82is that a basic control attachment (i.e. a control attachment having no control circuit) can be implemented at a low cost, but also converted to an advanced control attachment having a variety of features. For example, in some cases, both the front and rear housing of the control attachment may be used for both basic and advanced control attachments. In other cases, the front housing may be different, such as in the case where a speaker and microphone is implemented in the control attachment, where an opening for the speaker and microphone are provided on the front housing.

A rear housing8102is adapted to be coupled to a front housing8104. The rear housing comprises attachment elements8106, shown here by way of example as an aperture that is adapted to receive a corresponding attachment element of the front housing8104. However, it should be understood that other types of attachment elements could be implemented, such as a flange that is adapted to receive a corresponding attachment element on the front housing8104. An opening8108, is included in the rear housing, and may comprise an intermediate actuator element. That is, because it may be beneficial to provide an intermediate actuator element so that the actuator element of the front housing does not need to extend so far to reach a switch of the power adapter, the intermediate actuator element may enable the actuator element of front housing two more easily control the switch of the power adapter. According to the implementation ofFIG.81, a flexible projection8110extends to an actuator element8112, which may be a prong for example. The flexible projection acts like a leaf spring, and will move in response to a movement of an actuator element of the front housing, such as in the actuator element on a toggle element. That is, when the actuator element of the front housing is moved towards the power adapter, the intermediate actuator element8112will also move toward the power adapter, and engage the switch of the power adapter. According to the implementation ofFIG.81, a second intermediate actuator element may also be in included, shown here by way of example as an actuator element positioned below the electrical interface6508.

The front housing8104comprises a plurality of attachment elements8116. According to the example ofFIG.81, the attachment elements8116comprise flanges that are adapted to be inserted into the corresponding attachment elements8106, which are shown as recesses before receiving the flanges. According to some implementations, the recess is could enable a user to depress the flanges of the attachment elements8117and remove the front housing. Such an arrangement would allow a user to replace the front housing to change the color of the control attachment (e.g. white or beige). According to other implementations, the attachment elements of the rear housing may receive the flanges of the front housing, but may not be accessible to the user on the outside of the control attachment. An inner surface8118of a toggle element that is movable within a gap8120using hinge elements8122comprises being plurality of spring elements8124, such as leaf springs as shown. The spring elements enable the toggle element to return to a steady state position, as described above in reference toFIGS.18-21for example. While leaf springs are shown by way of example, it should be understood that any type of spring could be used. Actuator elements8126are provided to control the application of power applied by a power adapter to a load, and may directly engage a switch of the power adapter or may engage an intermediate actuator as described above.

The diagram ofFIG.82shows an inner surface of a rear housing of the control attachment, and particularly an arrangement that allows flexibility in implementing different features in a control attachment, such as implementing a rear housing that is adapted to receive a control circuit on a circuit board, or a control module comprising a module having a circuit board, as will be described in more detail below. An inner surface8204comprises wall portions8206defining the inner surface in a recess of the rear housing. Attachment elements8210, such as an aperture or a flange adapted to receive a corresponding attachment elements, are shown. The rear housing may also comprise a receiving element8212, as shown here by way of example as having walls8214for defining a recess adapted to receive a circuit board or circuit module configured to implement advanced features of the power adapter arrangement. Attachment elements8216of the walls8214enable receiving corresponding attachment elements of a circuit board, a control module having a circuit board, or a cover adapted to enclose a circuit board or control module. According to the implementation ofFIG.82, attachment elements8218are shown here by way of example are threaded portions for receiving corresponding screws to attach a circuit board8220to the rear housing using holes8222. According to some implementations, the circuit board may comprise a contact8224adapted to receive a corresponding contact on a cover for the circuit board that may have a printed antenna element. More particularly, a cover8230may be adapted to attach to the receiving element8212, such as by using corresponding attachment elements8232that are attached to the attachment elements8216. The contact element8224may be coupled by a contact8234to an antenna element8236, which may be a wire for example, or may be a printed antenna on the cover8230. Rather than having a circuit board and cover, a control module may be snapped into the receiving element8212.

Turning now toFIG.83, a block diagram of a circuit for testing the connections associated with a power adapter when the contacts of the power adapter are electrically connected to wires providing power to the power adapter is shown. The test circuit8301comprises circuits for comparing voltages at the contacts of the power adapter (e.g. contact elements1516and1520ofFIG.5). According to the implementation ofFIG.83, one or more comparator circuits are used to compare voltages at the contacts that receive reference voltages as shown to determine whether the power adapter is improperly wired or not functioning properly.

According to one implementation, a first comparator circuit8302is coupled to the load contact (to receive the voltage on the load contact) and coupled to the neutral contact (to receive the voltage on the neutral contact). A second comparator circuit8304is coupled to the load contact (to receive the voltage on the load contact) and coupled to the ground contact (to receive the voltage on the ground contact). A third comparator circuit8306is coupled to the neutral contact (to receive the voltage on the neutral contact) and coupled to the ground contact (to receive the voltage on the ground contact). A fourth comparator circuit8308is coupled to the ground contact (to receive the voltage on the ground contact) and the power contact (to receive a voltage associated with the earth ground). A comparator circuit8310may also be implemented to compare the neutral contact to power. The switch8311may be controlled by control signals from the control circuit8312by way of a control line8314, while signal lines8315maybe be provided from the control circuit8312to the control circuit8316. It should be noted that the power contact of the power adapter receiving power signal from the building system could also be monitored and compared to other signals. An improper wiring of the power contact of the power adapter receiving power signal from the building system may be less important in terms of safety, and any issue related to a wiring error associated with the power contact may have more to do with an operating error. In contrast, a wiring error where power is coupled to a ground or neutral contact or a ground or neutral contact is not properly wired may lead to a serious safety condition. Further, monitoring of the load contact would not only provide voltage information, but would also provide information related to the operation of the power adapter arrangement. However, it should also be understood that both the power contact (i.e. line voltage) and the load contact could be monitored. It should be noted that the voltage values detected at the contact elements of the power adapter from the wires of a junction box may be high voltage values, and can be converted to lower value voltages (representing a level of the detected voltage, but in a lower voltage range) for comparison, particularly when any comparison is performed in the control attachment.

The comparator circuits8302-8310may comprise voltage comparators for example. According to other implementations, the comparator circuits may be adapted to detect currents within the power adapter when the power adapter is operating to detect abnormal operating conditions of the power adapter or a device powered by the power adapter, or detect power usage by a device powered by the power adapter. While comparators8302-8310are shown by way of example, it should be understood that additional comparators could be implemented to compare any voltage detected at various input nodes (e.g. power, neutral, ground, 3-way, etc.) in the power adapter and generate information that may be beneficial in determining whether a power adapter is installed correctly (e.g. is correctly wired) or is operating correctly (e.g. is not a defective product). While multiple comparator circuits are shown, it should be understood that a single comparator could be implemented, where the nodes (e.g. load, neutral, ground and power) could be selectively coupled to a comparator. For example, a switch8311coupled to receive voltages at various nodes could enable the selection of inputs to a single comparator circuit.

A control circuit8312may be coupled to the comparators8302-8310to receive output signals generated by the comparators indicating the results of the various comparisons. By way of example, the comparator circuits could generate a difference in the voltages on the lines coupled to the comparator, or could provide a result representative of the difference in voltages (such as for high voltage signals). While the control circuit8312may be configured to process information and communicate test results to reduce the number of signal lines to a control circuit8316of the control attachment104, the outputs of the comparator circuit could be provided directly to the control attachment1004. For example, the control circuit8312could receive detected voltages values, where the control circuit8316could determine an improper wiring condition based upon the detected voltage values and provide a message on the display8328.

It should be noted that a testing function can include circuits that are distributed between the power adapter and the module. That is, while voltages associated with the power adapter could be detected by a circuit in the power adapter, such as by one or more voltage detectors, other processing to detect improper wiring or a defective power adapter or module may be performed in the power adapter (such as by using control circuit8312of the power adapter), by the module (using control circuit8316of the module), or distributed between the power adapter and the module.

The control circuit8312may not only receive signals from the comparators, but may also provide control signals that enable the testing of the power adapter to the8316. According to one implementation, a test of the connections of the power adapter may be performed whenever a module is attached to a power adapter. For example, the control circuit of one the power adapter and the control attachment may detect the connection of the control attachment to the power adapter, and initiate a testing of the connections of the power adapter. For example, in the implementation ofFIG.83, the control circuit8316may detect one or more outputs of the control circuit8312to determine whether the power adapter is improperly wired or is defective. Alternatively or in addition to an automatic testing initiated by one of the control circuit8312or the control circuit8316(such as when a control attachment is attached or a periodic test), a user interface element8318, shown here as a button by way of example, may be used to initiate a testing of the connections by a test circuit of the power adapter or the control attachment. That is, a user may desire that a check be performed to make sure that the power adapter is properly wired and operating correctly or the power adapter and control attachment are operating correctly. The test results can then be provided to the user. By way of example, the test results can be displayed on a display8328.

Turning now toFIG.84, another block diagram of a circuit for testing the connections associated with a power adapter when the contacts are electrically connected to wires providing power to the power adapter is shown. According to the implementation ofFIG.84, a switching circuit8402coupled to the various nodes (e.g. contact elements1516and1520ofFIG.5) enables the connection of the nodes to single voltage detector8404that can provide a measured voltage value to the control circuit8312(or directly to the control circuit8316as described above). The voltage detector can sequentially detect voltages at different nodes to determine whether the power adapter is improperly wired or not operating properly. While a single voltage detector is shown, it should be understood that multiple voltage detectors could be implemented. Also, while voltages are shown as being detected, it should be understood that currents be detected instead of voltages or in addition to voltages.

There are different conditions that can be detected to determine whether a power adapter is wired properly and working properly. When a power adapter is wired correctly, the line (i.e. power wire) is connected to a power contact of the power adapter (which may be detected at the power or load contact), the neutral line is connected to the neutral contact, and ground line is connected to the ground contact. However, the ground contact may be improperly connected to the neutral contact to form an improper ground connection, commonly called a bootleg ground. A particularly dangerous condition can exist when there is not only an improper connection of the ground contact to the neutral wire, but the line (power) and neutral connections are reversed, commonly known as a reverse polarity bootleg ground. What makes this improper wiring condition particularly dangerous is that the ground connection, which is improperly connected to a power line, may make portions of the power adapter have a high voltage electrical charge and may lead to an electrical shock or an electrocution of the user of the power adapter.

In order to detect the improper wiring of a power adapter, it is necessary to use a voltmeter, where the voltage between ground and neutral (as detected by a voltage detector and comparator) will be very close to zero. However, to detect a reverse polarity bootleg ground connection, it is necessary to connect a prong of a voltmeter to earth ground, and test each of the power, neutral and ground contacts with respect to earth ground. Because a recess adapted to receive a control attachment provides access to measurements associated not only with the power, neutral and ground terminals of an outlet, but also an earth ground (by determining a voltage associated with the power adapter, such as by determining the voltage of the flange electrically connected to the junction box, which should be at earth ground), it is possible to detect improper wiring conditions. That is, a test circuit could not only be coupled to the power (or load), neutral and ground contacts to detect voltages at those contacts, but could also detect a voltage of earth ground to use as a reference voltage. Because a junction box receiving the power adapter is at earth ground, the voltage at earth ground can be detected by determining the voltage of the junction box, such as by determining the voltage of a flange of the power adapter connected to the junction box. A test circuit internal to the power adapter could detect the voltage at earth ground by providing a conductor coupled to a flange of the power adapter (e.g. flange1520ofFIG.15that is electrically coupled to the junction box and therefore at earth ground). It should be understood that test circuits could be implemented in power adapters receiving any type of power adapter modules as described above.

Turning now toFIG.85, a block diagram of a system having a plurality of power adapters implementing different communication protocols is shown. The system ofFIG.85shows power control devices that can be used to control a variety of elements in the system. According to the implementation ofFIG.85, a single central controller8502can provide multimodal control of different control devices or different sets of control devices. The control devices could be power adapter arrangements as set forth above or other suitable control devices that could be coupled to control a device or integrated in the device to control the device. The single controller8502could be for example a smart phone, a tablet computer or any other computer or device enabling a wireless connection to multiple control modules by way of different wireless protocols as described above. For example, the controller8502could communicate with a first set8504of control devices, a second set8506of control devices, and a third set of control devices8508. The first set of control devices may include an outdoor light8510, an indoor light8512, and a water heater8514that are controlled by way of a first wireless connection8516. As shown inFIG.85, the central controller8502is directly in communication with devices of the first set of devices using a short range communication protocol. That is, there is no intervening control element, such as a base station or wireless hub, that receives control signals from the central controller and provides control signals to the control devices. By way of example, a first set of devices could communicate with central controller by way of a Bluetooth connection, where the devices could be implemented in a Bluetooth mesh network, or a near field communication (NFC) link. The short range communication protocol may be accessible at a distance of approximately 100 feet for example. The devices of a first set could be implemented in different locations, and could include for example an indoor device, an outdoor device, a device controlling a specific device, such as a water heater or an under-cabinet lighting fixture. The first set of control devices could be associated devices that a user does not wish to access remotely, or a device about which the user may have security concerns and may not want to have controlled by a lower security protocol, such as an IEEE 802.11 communication protocol, also known as WiFi. The first communication protocol may therefore be a local communication protocol, and more particularly a direct local communication protocol.

The second set8506of control devices may be controlled by way of a second connection, which may be for example a network. The second set of devices8606could include devices that are controlled by the controller using a local area network, including a base station or wireless hub that communicates with a plurality of devices. By way of example, the local area network (LAN) could be a WiFi network including a WiFi base8518enabling communication links8520and8521. The local area network could also be accessible by a wide area network such as a cellular network to enable remote access to devices. The WiFi network could be any network implementing any IEEE 802.11 standard for example. The second set of appliances controlled by the devices could include the types of devices that a user may desire to access from a remote location, such as an indoor light8522, a curling iron8524, a coffee machine8526, a particular lamp, or a wireless-controlled door lock8528. That is, these devices may be devices that a user may wish to check to make sure that they have been turned off, or the types of devices that a user may wish to turn on while they are away.

The third set of devices8508could be controlled by another wireless base8530enabling communication links8532and8534to control other specialty devices such as pool controls or specialty lighting. According to the example ofFIG.85, an outdoor light8536, and indoor light8538, and a pool heater8340could be controlled by the wireless base8530. The wireless base8330could be a Z-Wave or a ZigBee controller for example. Therefore, a short range communication link or a WiFi connection of system8500could be integrated with an existing system employed by the user, such as a Z-Wave or ZigBee system for example.

One beneficial aspect of the system is that a single controller can control a plurality of devices using a plurality of different connections implementing different wireless communication protocols and having different capabilities. The controller can also access a server8342by way of one of the elements of the system, such as the WiFi base8318. The server may receive information from or provide information to the server8342. For example, the server may receive information from the central controller related to the state or operation of various devices on the system5600, or may provide information or data enabling the operation of the devices on the system8300. For example, the information can be related to analysis of the devices implemented on the system, or could be information of interest to a user, such as news or weather, which could be displayed on a device of the system. By implementing a variety of different communication protocols, it is possible to implement the different devices with the most suitable communication protocol from a single controller. For example, while a WiFi enables remote access, it may also be more susceptible to hacking or other security issues. However, a Bluetooth or NFC connection, because of its short-range nature, may have fewer hacking or security issues, but is generally not remotely accessible. While different types of devices are described, the system ofFIG.85could be implemented a gas meter, a sprinkler, a fire alarm, a thermostat, a street light, fitness equipment, a hot water tank, a heater, or a boiler with any type of device for home security, home automation, or internet-of-things (IoT) device). The system could also include devices that are incorporated in or improve networks, such as wireless communication networks. For example, the devices could include a network extender (e.g. provide greater range for the network) or be a node for a mesh network, such as a WiFi network or Bluetooth network.

According to some implementations, authentication could be achieved by a shared secret key authentication, where both the power adapter and the control attachment have a shared key that is used to exchange information to authenticate the power adapter. In cryptography, a shared secret key is a piece of data such as a random number, known only to the parties involved, in a secure communication. The shared secret key would be pre-shared (i.e. stored in a memory of both the power adapter and the control attachment. The shared secret can be fed to a key derivation function to produce one or more keys to use for encryption of messages. To make unique communication link between the power adapter and the control attachment and unique message keys, the shared secret key may be combined with the unique ID. While shared secret key is provided as one example of an authentication technique for authorizing a control module to operate with a power adapter, it should be understood that any type of authentication could be used.

Control attachments may be multifunctional, and where one function may be used for the benefit of another function. For example, a control attachment having wireless capability may have be used to provide information to a user associated with another function of the control attachment. For example, a control attachment having a WiFi wireless control circuit may send a level of an expendable material used in the module, such as a fragrance in a refillable module or a replaceable module (an empty module having a fragrance can be removed from the control attachment and replaced with a new module having the fragrance) that may be used to provide a scent to a room to a user of the control module.

Turning now toFIG.86, a method of controlling a power adapter to provide power a load is described. The method ofFIG.86as well as the method ofFIG.87described below may be implemented using any of the systems or circuits as described above. It should be understood that additional elements could be implemented in the method based upon the systems and methods as described above.

More particularly, a first contact element of a first plurality of contact elements is configured to receive electrical power at a block8602. A second contact element of a first plurality of contact elements is configured to provide power to a load at a block8604. A first interface comprising a second plurality of contact elements is configured to provide one or more reference voltages to a control attachment, wherein the first interface comprises an electrical interface at a block8606. A second interface comprising a switch is configured to control power applied to a load in response to a manual actuation of the control attachment at a block8608.

Turning now toFIG.87, a method of controlling the application of power to a load using a control attachment is described. More particularly, a toggle element is provided on the control attachment, wherein the toggle element is movable in response to a manual actuation at a block8702. A first interface comprising an actuator element adapted to make contact with a power adapter is provided, wherein the actuator element is adapted to engage with a switch of the power adapter in response to the manual actuation at a block8704. An attachment element is provided to attach the control attachment to the power adapter at a block8706. The control of power applied to the load by the power adapter is enabled in response to a manual actuation of the toggle element at a block8708. While the elements ofFIG.86, which is directed to a method of controlling a power adapter, andFIG.87, which is is directed to controlling the application of power to a load, are shown separately, it should be understood the elements of the figures could be implemented together to implement a power adapter arrangement as described above.

While the specification includes claims defining the features of one or more implementations of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the circuits and methods will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. While various circuits and methods are disclosed, it is to be understood that the circuits and methods are merely exemplary of the inventive arrangements, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed within this specification are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather to provide an understandable description of the circuits and methods.

It can therefore be appreciated that new circuits for, systems for and methods of implementing power adapters have been described. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous alternatives and equivalents will be seen to exist that incorporate the disclosed invention. As a result, the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing embodiments, but only by the following claims.