Abstract: An apparatus is provided and includes two or more sensor assemblies, each including a sensing unit at a front face thereof, and each being communicatively interconnected and power sharing, a cover plate, mounted adjacent to the front face of the sensor assemblies to entirely cover the sensing units, through which user commands are transmittable, and a wall box, onto which the sensor assemblies and the cover plate are mountable, including a housing in which a space is defined for housing of one or more devices, each device being controllable by the sensor assemblies in accordance with the user commands, and each device being disposed to fit within the space and to be in signal communication with at least one of the sensor assemblies.

Abstract: A system to detect a presence in a space is provided and includes a sensor to issue a signal at an instance when a door to the space closes, a detector to periodically issue packets that identify when a presence was last detected in the space, and a processing unit, coupled to the sensor and the detector, which is configured to receive the signal and the packets and which has executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processing unit to identify when the door closes based on the signal and to judge the space to be unoccupied after a wait time if the packets indicate the presence was last detected prior to the closing.

Abstract: A system for distributed light control, including a light circuit, a first device associated with the light circuit, a second device associated with the light circuit, a network communicatively connecting the light circuit, the first device, and the second device, where the first device is configured to actuate the light circuit based upon a control command sent on the network and in accordance with configuration data stored at the first device, where the second device includes a shadow configuration comprising a copy of the configuration data, where the second device is configured to generate a shadow image of the light circuit based upon the control command and the shadow configuration, and where the shadow image comprises a computed status of the light circuit.

Abstract: A building automation system is provided and includes a wall box of a building, a control device configured to be mounted on the wall box, the control device including a micro controller and a memory, the memory having executable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed, cause the micro controller to control an environmental condition within the building, and a configuration memory unit, mounted on the wall box and external from the control device, the configuration memory unit including information stored thereon for configuring the control device, wherein, when executed, the executable instructions further cause the micro controller to access the information when the control device is mounted within the wall box and to configure the control device in accordance with the information.

Abstract: An electronic lock system including an electronic lock disposed in a door and a device external to the door disposed for wirelessly providing power to the electronic lock.

Abstract: An electronic lock system including an electronic lock disposed in a door and a device external to the door disposed for wirelessly providing power to the electronic lock.

Abstract: A system to detect a presence in a space is provided and includes a sensor to issue a signal at an instance when a door to the space closes, a detector to periodically issue packets that identify when a presence was last detected in the space, and a processing unit, coupled to the sensor and the detector, which is configured to receive the signal and the packets and which has executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the processing unit to identify when the door closes based on the signal and to judge the space to be unoccupied after a wait time if the packets indicate the presence was last detected prior to the closing.

Abstract: A device is provided and includes an actuator, mounted to a wall box, including a power supply, a semi-conductor switch, an electrical load controller and a terminal coupled to the power supply and the controller, an actuator interface disposed to receive first commands relating to basic electrical load control by the controller and a separate interface, including a header to communicate with the terminal whereby the separate interface receives power and communicates with the controller, the separate interface being supportable at the wall box and, when the header and terminal communicate, configured to identify a type of the semi-conductor switch of the actuator and to receive second commands of a type unique to the identified actuator type and relating to the basic and enhanced electrical load control by the controller.

Abstract: In an IR communication network, a method is described to optimize channel performance in the presence of strong and varying IR interference. The method controls of the channel gain based on quantitative measurement of the channel noise.

Abstract: A device is provided and includes an actuator, mounted to a wall box, including a power supply, an electrical load controller and a terminal coupled to the power supply and the controller, an actuator interface disposed on the actuator to receive first commands relating to basic electrical load control by the controller and a separate interface, including a header to communicate with the terminal whereby the separate interface receives power and communicates with the controller, the separate interface being supportable at the wall box and, when the header and terminal communicate, configured to identify a type of the actuator and to receive second commands of a type unique to the identified actuator type and relating to the basic and enhanced electrical load control by the controller.

Abstract: A system is provided for use in a multi-unit building by which an occupant of a unit of the multi-unit building controls an appliance associated with the unit and includes an actuator which is accessible to the occupant, a processing unit to control the appliance, operative in the first mode, based on occupant instructions, to change the mode of the appliance based on an actuation of the actuator and to control the appliance, operative in the second mode, according to a preselected schedule, and a networking unit to inform, via communications, a monitor of the multi-unit building as to when the appliance operates in the second mode.

Abstract: A power management lock system including an electronic lock unit configured to lock and unlock a door and further including at least one sensor in communication with the electronic lock unit, the sensor configured to sense an open condition of the door and a closed condition of the door, wherein the electronic lock unit is configured to receive door data pertaining to the open condition and the closed condition from the at least one sensor, and where the electronic lock unit is further configured to manage the provision of power within the electronic unit based upon the door data.

Abstract: A wireless switch comprising: a sensor for sensing a change of a state of a barrier; a selector positionable between a first position and a second position; a transmitter operatively coupled to the sensor and selector; and wherein the transmitter transmits a first wireless signal when the selector is positioned in the first position and the sensor senses a change of state, and the transmitter transmits a second wireless signal different from the first signal when the selector is positioned in the second position and the sensor senses the change of state.

Abstract: The application discloses various methods and systems that utilize infrared communication to enhance and manage the security and convenience of occupants and the operation and efficiency of the staff of a multi-unit building.

Abstract: The application discloses various methods and systems that utilize infrared communication to enhance and manage the security and convenience of occupants and the operation and efficiency of the staff of a multi-unit building.

Abstract: A system in operable communication with a doorbell chime for audio annunciation of a visitor to an occupant of a room in a multiple room building, the system configured to indicate a status of the room to the visitor or occupant, the system comprising: a switch assembly configured to convey a message outside of the room; the switch assembly operable from inside the room; an indicating assembly in operable communication with the switch assembly, the indicating assembly configured to indicate the message when the message is selected, the message viewable from inside and outside of the room; and a doorbell button in operable communication with the doorbell chime, the doorbell button operably connected with the indicating assembly and operable from outside of the room by the visitor.

Abstract: A wireless switch comprising: a sensor for sensing a change of a state of a barrier; a selector positionable between a first position and a second position; a transmitter operatively coupled to the sensor and selector; and wherein the transmitter transmits a first wireless signal when the selector is positioned in the first position and the sensor senses a change of state, and the transmitter transmits a second wireless signal different from the first signal when the selector is positioned in the second position and the sensor senses the change of state.

Abstract: A self-synchronizing infra-red communication system. The coding scheme involves transmitting a series of pulses, the separations between successive pulses representing the same data. Even though the separations between successive pulses all represent the same data, the separations are all different; it is this feature which allows for self-synchronization. Arrival times of successive pulses are recorded; the arrival times represent the receipt not only of transmitted pulses, but also of detected noise. The time differences between all arrival times (not only successive arrival times) are checked for consistency with predetermined allowable time-interval ranges which can separate successively transmitted pulses in a data sequence. When a sufficient number of such checks have been made, representing a sufficient degree of redundancy, it is possible to derive the data value represented by all of the pulse separations.

Abstract: An infrared remote control system for allowing a console to control the operation of a plurality of remote devices all situated in the same substantially enclosed space, for example, a hotel room. The console includes several simultaneously-operated infrared transmitters, the transmitters being aimed in different directions. Remote devices respond to respective codes, but some also retransmit received radiation so that the console can gain access even to remote devices which are not along a line of sight.