Abstract: A touchless switch using a single detector to measure ambient energy and reflected energy. The detector can detect objects in both the normal unsaturated ambient energy state or when ambient energy is saturating the detector. Discrimination between toggle motion and motion which is not intended to indicate a switch toggle operation is also provided. The detector and the emitter are mounted to a circuit board which is then mounted within a housing which has a window that allows passage of ambient energy and reflected energy. A barrier between the detector and the emitter blocks energy from being directly transmitted from the emitter to the detector. The barrier may be inserted into a groove in the window to prevent energy from the emitter from being reflected off of the inner surface of the window to the detector. Accidental triggering by ambient energy is prevented by requiring that the reflected energy be detected for a minimum amount of time.

Abstract: An energy management and home automation system includes one or more controllers in each facility being managed and one or more energy consuming devices attached to each controller. Each controller responds to digital paging signals from a central command center which establish a schedule of event effecting the operation of each device and the controller schedules each device to be operated pursuant to the programmed schedule. The user of the system, by appropriate communication with the command center, may cause a paging message to be provided at any time changing the pre-programmed schedule. The heating/cooling system is controlled by setpoint temperatures for each of a plurality of different modes of occupancy, whereby the most energy is consumed when the facility is occupied and lesser amounts of energy are consumed when the facility is empty. Intermediate amounts of energy are consumed when the facility is not fully operational because people are asleep or maintenance or cleaning is being done.

Abstract: An energy management system provides energy managing signals over a medium, such as TV cables, power lines, telephone lines or free space radio frequency transmissions, to a plurality of subscriber units. A transponder in each unit responds to the signals and provides corresponding signals onto the power lines within the subscribing unit. Each appliances to be managed has associated therewith a responder unit coupled to the electric grid to receive the transponder signals. The signals are encoded to manifest the energy managing dictates of a particular one of a plurality of different schedules and are only provided in conformance with the dictates of the schedule it manifests. Typically, where an appliance is to be turned off as part of the energy management scheme, the encoded signals are provided only when the schedule manifested thereby indicate that a particular applicance is to be turned off.