GB2300943A - Remote control - Google Patents

Abstract

A remote control switching arrangement comprises a switch unit 10 for plugging into a mains electric socket and itself having a socket 12 to receive the plug of an electrical appliance, and a sensor unit 20 coupled to the switch unit by a length of cable 28 retractable into the switch unit. A remote control unit 30 is operable to transmit a signal to the sensor unit 20 for controlling the switch unit 10. A pair of switch units may be plugged into a double socket and operated by first and second signals from the control unit.

Description

REMOTE SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS This invention relates to a remote switching arrangements. The invention relates in particular to arrangements for remotely controlling the switching of power to electrical appliances which are plugged into conventional wall sockets.

It is desirable to be able to control a mains power switch to an appliance without having to reach the wall socket, particularly as these are often positioned low down and are therefore difficult or inconvenient to reach, particularly for the elderly or infirm.

However, if a switch unit with remote control facility is plugged into the wall socket and the appliance plugged into the switch unit, it is often difficult or impossible to establish a line-of-sight from the remote control unit to the switch unit: for example the wall socket may be behind furniture.

I have now devised a switching arrangement which overcomes the problems outlined above.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a remote switching arrangement which comprises a switch unit for plugging into a mains socket, the switch unit having a socket to receive the plug of an electrical appliance, a sensor unit which is coupled to the switch unit by a length of cable, and a remote control unit operable to transmit a signal to the sensor unit for controlling the switch unit.

It will be appreciated that because the sensor unit is coupled to the switch unit by the length of cable, the sensor unit may be situated at any desired position within a range determined by the length of the cable. For example, the sensor unit may be attached to the wall at some distance above the wall socket. In this way, the sensor unit may be positioned so as to achieve a convenient line-of-sight for use of the remote control unit.

Preferably the sensor unit may be attached to the switch unit and used when so attached, for cases where a direct line-of-sight to the region of the wall socket is possible.

Preferably the sensor unit includes a part which carries the sensor and is angularly movable relative to the sensor unit, so that the sensor can be directed as required.

Preferably a compartment is provided, either in the switch unit or in the sensor unit, into which the excess cable can be retracted. Preferably the compartment is provided with a spring recoil arrangement so that the cable is automatically wound into the compartment: alternatively the cable may be rewound by hand.

The sensor unit may be attached to the wall etc. by means of a screw fixing, or by means of a double-sided adhesive tape.

The sensor unit may attach to the switch unit by a mechanical coupling, or by means of a double-sided adhesive tape.

It is very common nowadays for double wall sockets to be installed, into which two appliances are plugged. I have now devised a simplified remote switching arrangement for controlling the power supply to two such appliances.

Thus, in accordance with this invention there is provided a remote control switching arrangement which comprises two switch units for plugging into a double wall socket, each switch unit having a socket to receive the power plug of an electrical appliance, each switch unit also having therein or associated therewith a sensor for responding to a received signal to operate the respective switch unit, and a remote control unit operable to transmit first or second signals, the first signal serving to operate the one switch unit and the second signal serving to operate the other switch unit.

It will be appreciated that the remote control unit can therefore be of a simple arrangement, producing first and second signals only and operable to transmit one or other of these signals, depending which of the two switch units are to be controlled.

The switching arrangement may comprise one or more further pairs of switch units, one unit of each pair responding to the first signal and the other unit of each pair responding to the second signal. Providing the double sockets, into which the different pairs of switch units are plugged, are reasonably well spaced from each other, then by directing the remote control unit at one double socket, the control unit will operate the switch units at that location as required, without affecting the switch units at the other wall sockets.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic view showing a remote switching arrangement in accordance with this invention, when the two switch units of the arrangement are plugged side-by-side into a double wall socket; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a sensor unit of the switching arrangement; FIGURE 3 is a front view of a switch unit with its sensor unit in position on its top; FIGURE 4 is a sectional view through the sensor unit; FIGURE 5 is a side view of the switch unit with its sensor unit in position on top, but with the sensor unit and a cable storing compartment of the switch unit shown in section;; FIGURE 6 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of switch unit plugged into a wall socket and its associated sensor unit attached to the wall above the wall socket, the sensor unit being shown in section; FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the sensor unit of the embodiment of Figure 6; FIGURE 8 is a front view of the switch unit of Figure 6 with its sensor unit in position on its top; FIGURE 9 is a sectional view through the sensor unit of Figure 7; and FIGURE 10 is a side view of the switch unit of Figure 6 with its sensor unit in position on its top.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a remote control switching arrangement which comprises two switch units 10 each having a sensor unit 20 coupled to it, and a remote control unit 30 for controlling both switch units. Each switch unit 10 has a conventional set of three pins projecting from its rear face, and the two switch units 10 are shown plugged into respective sockets of a double wall socket 36. The front face of each switch unit 10 is formed with a conventional socket 12 to receive the conventional three-pin plug e.g. 38 of an electrical appliance. Each unit 10 includes an internal switch arrangement for connecting power through to its socket 12 and hence to the appliance to which the plug e.g. 38 is coupled: the internal switches of the two switch units 10 are operated, independently of each other, by the remote control unit 30, via the respective sensor units 20.

Thus, the remote control unit 30 is arranged to emit either of two different signals, from an infra red emitter 31 at the front end of the unit. The unit 30 has two manually operable buttons 32,33: if button 32 is depressed, a first signal is emitted from the unit in order to control one of the switch units 10; if button 33 is depressed, a second signal is emitted from the unit in order to control the other switch unit 10. If a button is depressed whilst the corresponding switch unit is "ON", that switch unit will now be switched "OFF", and similarly if the button is depressed whilst the corresponding switch unit is "OFF", that switch unit will now be switched "ON".

Each sensor unit 20 comprises a generally rectangular housing which may be retained on the top face of the switch unit 10, as shown for one of the two switch units in Figure 1.

However, the sensor unit 20 may instead be displaced from its switch unit 10, as shown for the second switch unit in Figure 1, and for example attached to the wall at a convenient position above the wall socket. Each sensor unit 20 is coupled to its switch unit by a length of cable 28: in the example shown in Figure 1, the cable 28 is a ribbon cable which coils into a compartment formed in the bottom of the switch unit 10, as will be described in more detail below. Each sensor unit 20 has a photo-sensor or "eye" 22 carried in a part 24 which is mounted at the front edge of the sensor unit 20, in a manner enabling the part 24 to be turned around an axis parallel to the front edge of the sensor unit, to the desired angle.

It will be appreciated that each sensor unit 20 can be left in position on the top of its switch unit. However, if the wall socket is behind furniture or otherwise positioned so that it is difficult to achieve a line-of-sight from the control unit 30 to the wall socket, the sensor units 20 may be pulled out from their switch units and positioned on the wall etc. The sensor units 20 may be screwed to the wall, or adhered to the wall using double-sided adhesive tape. Also the ribbon cable 28 may be adhered flat to the wall using doublesided adhesive tape. Instead of being attached to the wall, the sensor unit 20 may be laid on a shelf for example.

A switching unit 10 and sensor unit 20 are shown in more detail in Figures 2 to 5. In particular, Figures 4 and 5 show the compartment 14 in the bottom of the switch unit, which houses the ribbon cable 28 wound around a drum 15: this is provided with a spring recoil action, so that the cable 28 will recoil automatically into the compartment 14.

Figures 6 to 10 show an alternative embodiment, in which a 4-core cable 28a couples the sensor unit 20a to the switch unit 10a: the sensor unit 20a includes a compartment which is open to the rear of the unit, and houses a rotary drum 15a onto which the excess cable 28a can be wound manually.

Claims (8)

Claims

1) A remote control switching arrangement, comprising a switch unit for plugging into a mains electric socket, the switch unit having a socket to receive the plug of an electrical appliance, a sensor unit coupled to the switch unit by a length of cable, and a remote control unit operable to transmit a signal to the sensor unit for controlling the switch unit.

2) A remote control switching arrangement as claims in claim 1, in which the sensor unit is attachable to the switch unit.

3) A remote control switching arrangement as claims in claim 1 or 2, in which the sensor unit includes a part which carries a sensor and is angularly movable relative to the sensor unit.

4) A remote control switching arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, further including a compartment, either in the switch unit or in the sensor unit, into which excess cable is retractable.

5) A remote control switching arrangement as claimed in claim 4, in which said compartment is provided with a spring recoil arrangement for the cable.

6) A remote control switching arrangement, comprising two switch units for plugging into a double wall socket, each switch unit having a socket to receive the power plug of an electrical appliance, each switch unit also having therein or associated therewith a sensor for responding to a received signal to operate the respective switch unit, and a remote control unit operable to transmit first or second signals, the first signal serving to operate the one switch unit and the second signal serving to operate the one switch unit.

7) A remote control switching arrangement as claimed in claim 6, comprising one or more further pairs of switch units, one unit of each pair responding to said first signal and the other unit of each pair responding to said second signal.

8) A remote control switching arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 or 6 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.