FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] THIS INVENTION relates to a remote control power isolation switch. The invention has particular application to general purpose outlets (power points) in domestic, commercial and industrial power supplies. However, the invention is not limited to this field of use.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Electrical appliances often draw current even though they arc switched off, especially when they have remote control devices. The current drawn can sometimes be quite high, especially if the switched-off state is really a standby state. Tt has long been recommended that to save on power consumption, and the cost associated with wastage of electrical power, that appliances arc switched off at the wall, where they are connected into the power supply by way of a general purpose outlet (hereinafter referred to as a power point). However, it can be inconvenient to switch power points off. Moreover, sometimes the power point is located behind heavy furniture, making it impossible, or at least impractical, to turn the power point off.

[0003] The present invention aims to provide a remote control general purpose outlet isolation switch which alleviates one or more of the problems of the prior art Other aims and advantages of the inversion may become apparent from the following description.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0004] With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly a remote control power isolation switch including:

an isolation circuit operativciy interposed in an incoming power supply to be remotely . switched, the isolation circuit having:

a conditioned power supply powered from the incoming power supply;

a radio frequency receiver powered by the conditioned power supply and having a radio frequency reception antenna electrically connected thereto; a toggling circuit powered by the conditioned power supply and electrically connected to the radio frequency receiver; and a relay powered by the conditioned power supply and operable between an on condition and an offcondition by electrical connection to the toggling circuit; and a remote control circuit having:

a portable power supply;

a momentary contact switch operable to electrically connect the portable power supply to a programmable integrated circuit;

a radio frequency transmitter powered by the portable power supply for transmitting a signal matched to die radio frequency receiver: an electrical connection between the programmable integrated circuit and the radio frequency transmitter for controlling the radio frequency transmitter by the programmable integrated circuit;

the relay having contacts which connect the incoming power supply to an outgoing power supply when in the off condition and disconnecting the incoming power supply from the outgoing power supply when in the on condition.

[0005] Preferably, the conditioned power supply is split between a relay power supply for supplying power to the coil of the relay and an eJectronic component power supply for supplying power to the electronic components in the remainder of the electrical circuit. In such form, the electronic component power supply provides to the radio frequency receiver and the toggling power circuit. Preferably, the toggling power circuit includes two programmable integrated (switching) circuits. Tn $uch form, it is preferred that capacitive elements arc provided in parallel the power supply to. the radio frequency receiver and the programmable integrated (switching) circuits.

[0006] The two programmable integrated (switching) circuits comprise a first PIC and a second PIC. The first PIC has an electrical connection to the radio frequency receiver for transmitting data from the radio frequency receiver to the first PIC upon receipt of a predetermined signal by the radio frequency receiver. The first PTC also has an electrical connection to the second PIC for outputting a **go code" from the first PCI to the second PTC. The second PIC has an electrical connection to a relay toggling circuit. Preferably, the relay toggling circuit includes an NPN transistor, the base of which is connected to the second PIC, the collector of which is connected through the coil of the relay and in parallel with a rectifier to the relay power supply.

[0007] In such form, the receipt of a matched radio frequency signal causes the circuitry to activate the NPN transistor, thereby connecting the relay power supply through the transistor to ground to open the circuit and put the relay into its on condition to isolate the incoming power supply from the outgoing power supply. It will be seen that circuitry ofihe present invention is designed to provide a failure mode which facilitates connection of the incoming power supply to the outgoing power supply.

[0008] Preferably, the first and second PTC's and the programmable integrated circuit of the remote control circuit arc constituted by three identical electronic components programmed for their particular functions within the circuits of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram for a remote control switching unit according to the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram for a UI-EF transmitter for switching the remote control switching unit of Fig 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The remote control switciung unit 10 having the circuit diagram shown in Fig. ] includes a transformer recti fier circuit 11 which receives power from a power input 12 in common with a swi tenable power input 13 through a transformer for lowering the voltage from 240 VAC to 6 VDC (not smoothed). The transformer rectifier circuit supplies power to the remainder of the remote control switching circuit through power conductor 14. The unsmoothed 6 VDC power is conditioned further by capacitors and regulators in electrical connection with the power conductor 14 before being drawn offby other portions of the circuit at about 5 volts.

[0011] Λ signal may be received through a receiving antenna 15 and processed through a signal processing circuit 16 which includes an integrated circuit chip (signal TC chip) 17. If an appropriate signal is received by the antenna and conducted to the signal iC chip, data is output along a data conductor 18 to a data processing circuit 19. The data processing circuit is programmed to toggle a signal via a signal conductor21 to the base ofa toggled transistor 22, the emitter being grounded and the collector being electrically connected to the power conductor through the coil ofa relay 23 for toggling on and ofTpower supply from the active terminal of the 240 VAC in at 13 to thc240 VAC out at 24. The emitter of the toggled transistor 22 is connected to ground.

[0012] The UHF transmitter 20 having the circuit diagram shown in Fig . 2 is powered by a battery 25 connected to the collector ofa transistor 26, The base of the transistor 26 is connected to through a push button 27 to ground. The emitter ol ^' the transistor 26 is connected through a regulator to a programmable IC chip 28. The programmable IC chip has a data output connected to a data output line 29 which to provide data to a 433 MHz signal generator 30 in order to produce a signal for trarjsmission from a transmitter antenna 31.

[0013] In use, an isolation circui I for the remote control power isolation switch according to the present invention may be interposed in an active power supply conductor for a selected power sup ply, the circuitry being incorporated into a housing.which may be referred to, for convenience, as a power isolation box. The remote control circuit is contained in a housing which may be referred to. for convenience, as a remote control device. The remote control circuitry for the remote control device is. matched to the isolation circuit for the power isolation box by pror^ratoming matching codes or code sets into the programmable integrated circuits.

[0014] The momentary contact switch in the remote control circuit is provided with a button for actuation, Pressing the button sufficiently to close the contacts causes acti vation o f the remainder of the remote control circuit, whereupon the radio frequency signal matched la the corresponding receiver to toggle the toggling circuitry to isolate the incoming power supply from the outgoing power supply. Pressing the button a second time causes the toggling circuit to disconnect power to the relay, thereby making contact between the mcorning power supply and the outgoing power supply.

[0015] Although the invention has been described with reference to a specific example, it wil 1 be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth and defined by the following claims.