Wireless battery powered switch

Abstract

An apparatus for a wireless switch is provided. In some embodiments, the wireless switch includes a button, a battery, a radio transceiver, a memory, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor can be configured to operate the wireless switch in a wireless mesh network communication mode; and in response to a user input from the button, reboot the wireless switch; operate the wireless switch in a Bluetooth operating mode; receive a switch configuration; store the switch configuration in the memory; reboot the wireless switch a second time, and operate the switch in the wireless mesh network communication mode.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference of related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 016,403, filed April 28, 2020, entitled "Wireless Battery-Powered Switch," the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The embodiments involve wireless battery-powered switches. Background Technology

[0004] Some switches can be wirelessly connected to other devices. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In at least one aspect, the wireless switch includes an input device, a radio transceiver, a memory, and an electronic processor. The electronic processor is configured to operate the wireless switch in wireless mesh network communication mode based on a mode selection indicator in an asserted state, and in wireless Bluetooth mode based on a mode selection indicator in a de-asserted state.

[0006] In at least one aspect, a method for changing the switch configuration of a wireless switch includes: loading an initial configuration of the wireless switch into a memory of the wireless switch by an electronic processor of the wireless switch; loading a Bluetooth stack into the memory by the electronic processor; executing the Bluetooth stack by the electronic processor; establishing a connection between a radio transceiver of the wireless switch and a Bluetooth-enabled device by the electronic processor; receiving the switch configuration from the Bluetooth-enabled device by the radio transceiver; saving the switch configuration into the memory by the electronic processor; loading the switch configuration into the memory by the electronic processor; loading a mesh communication stack into the memory by the electronic processor; and executing the mesh communication stack by the electronic processor.

[0007] Other aspects, features, and embodiments will become apparent upon consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 A wireless switch is shown.

[0009] Figure 2 The method of operating the wireless switch is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0010] Before explaining any embodiment in detail, it should be understood that this disclosure is not intended to limit its application to the details of the construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or shown in the following figures. Embodiments can have other configurations and can be practiced or implemented in various ways.

[0011] Various embodiments can be implemented using multiple hardware and software-based devices and multiple different structural components. Furthermore, embodiments may include hardware, software, and electronic components or modules, which, for the purposes of discussion, may be shown and described as if most components were implemented solely in hardware. However, those skilled in the art, based on reading this detailed description, will recognize that, in at least one embodiment, the electronic aspects of the invention may be implemented in software executable by one or more processors (e.g., stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium). For example, the “control unit” and “controller” described in the specification may include one or more electronic processors, one or more memory modules comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium, one or more input / output interfaces, one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and various connections (e.g., system buses) connecting the various components.

[0012] Furthermore, it should be understood that the wording and terminology used herein are for descriptive purposes only and should not be considered limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” and variations thereof, means including the items listed thereafter and their equivalents, as well as other items. Unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled,” and variations thereof, are used extensively and include direct and indirect mounting, connection, support, and coupling. As used herein, the word “or” can mean “or” in an inclusive sense. As a non-limiting example, if this application specifies “item Z includes element A or B,” it can be interpreted as disclosing item Z that includes only element A, item Z that includes only element B, and item Z that includes both elements A and B.

[0013] Figure 1 A wireless switch 100 according to at least one embodiment is shown. The wireless switch 100 includes a button 105, an electronic processor 110, a battery 115, a radio transceiver 120, and a memory 125.

[0014] In the illustrated embodiment, button 105 can be activated by a user of the wireless switch 100 to change the operating mode of the wireless switch 100, as described below. When the user holds button 105 for a configurable period of time (e.g., 10 seconds), the electronic processor 110 of the wireless switch 100 is configured to switch the operating mode of the wireless switch 100 as described below. The electronic processor 110 controls the operation of the wireless switch 100. That is, the electronic processor 110 can execute instructions stored in memory 125 and operate the wireless switch 110 according to these instructions. For example, the electronic processor 110 can execute instructions and transmit addressing messages on a wireless mesh network using radio transceiver 120. For example, in response to the toggle switch 102 of the wireless switch 110 being tossed, the electronic processor 110 can execute instructions from memory that cause the radio transceiver 120 to transmit a message on the mesh network that commands certain lighting devices connected to the mesh network to turn on or off.

[0015] exist Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, battery 115 provides power to electronic processor 110 and radio transceiver 120. In at least one embodiment, battery 115 is replaceable, thus requiring no external wiring to charge it. Battery 115 may be a 2032 coin cell battery designed to last for 5 years based on a set of assumptions (e.g., an average of 10 momentary button presses per day, one firmware update, and one device debugging event per year). Radio transceiver 120 may be configured to communicate with other devices (e.g., lighting sensors, radio transceivers, or actuators controlling light fixtures) or mobile devices using various communication protocols (e.g., Bluetooth or wireless mesh communication protocols). During operation, electronic processor 110 may place wireless switch 100 into a rest or sleep mode during inactive periods. In rest or sleep mode, wireless switch 100 draws less power from battery 120. This rest or sleep mode may be interrupted by moments when wireless switch exits rest or sleep mode to transmit messages on the mesh network (stimulated by user interaction with wireless switch 100, e.g., by tossing joystick 102). When operating in the Bluetooth operating mode described above, more power is required. For example, in Bluetooth operating mode, the radio transceiver 120 of the wireless switch 100 may frequently advertise or broadcast invitations for other devices to connect to the wireless switch 110, and the electronic processor 110 will also actively listen for connection invitations or advertisements from other devices via the radio transceiver 120. In this case, the electronic processor 110 will suppress the wireless switch 100 from being placed into sleep or rest mode.

[0016] Memory 125 may store instructions executable by electronic processor 110. Electronic processor 110 may operate wireless switch 100 by executing the stored instructions. Instructions may include switch configuration information of wireless switch 100 or different operating modes of different communication methods of wireless switch 100. In one embodiment, an operating mode includes a wireless mesh network communication mode, which allows wireless switch 100 to communicate with wireless nodes (e.g., wireless switches, connected lighting devices, and connected switch controllers) in a mesh network via radio transceiver 120. In another embodiment, an operating mode includes a Bluetooth operating mode, which allows wireless switch 100 to communicate with a user's mobile device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, or laptop) via radio transceiver 120. Using a software application on the mobile device, the user can change the switch configuration information stored in memory 125.

[0017] Memory 125 may have a bootloader region at memory location 0x0000000, where electronic processor 110 begins execution upon first activation or restart of wireless switch 100. Wireless mesh network communication mode instructions (referred to as the wireless mesh stack) may be stored at memory location 0x00004000. Switch-specific instructions may begin at memory location 0x00040000. Bluetooth operation mode instructions (referred to as the Bluetooth stack) and operation instructions for communicating with software applications on the user's mobile device may begin at 0x000C0000. Switch configuration data (such as setting flags, parent device identifier name or address, and other parameters) is stored in the switch configuration memory location, which may begin at 0x000FE000.

[0018] The `early_init()` function can be part of the bootloader of a wireless mesh stack. In at least one embodiment, the bootloader calls the `early_init()` function and performs hardware and / or firmware initialization early in the boot sequence of the wireless switch 100. Initialization can be performed during the boot sequence, and then the `early_init()` function returns. During such a boot sequence, the operating thread of the wireless switch 100 can be passed back to the bootloader after the `early_init()` function returns to load the wireless mesh stack, and the wireless switch 100 can be operated by the electronic processor 110 in a wireless mesh network communication mode.

[0019] Figure 2A flowchart 200 for operating a wireless switch 100 according to at least one embodiment is shown. At block 202, upon initial activation or restart of the wireless switch 100, instructions in a bootloader region of memory 125 executed by electronic processor 110 initialize the wireless switch 100. Initialization may include accessing a switch configuration memory location to read setting flags, a parent device identifier name or address, or other parameters for initializing the wireless switch 100. One of these instructions may include a function early_init() that checks the Bluetooth flag in the switch configuration memory location to determine which set of instructions to execute. The Bluetooth flag may be deasserted (e.g., set to 0) for loading the wireless mesh stack or asserted (e.g., set to 1) for loading the Bluetooth stack. In the illustrated embodiment, the Bluetooth flag is deasserted upon initialization, the early_init() function is called by the bootloader, and thus the mesh network communication stack is loaded for execution by electronic processor 110.

[0020] At block 205, a mesh communication stack is loaded by electronic processor 110, and radio transceiver 120 is configured to communicate with nodes in the mesh network, such as wireless switches, connected lighting devices, and connected switch controllers. In some embodiments with the mesh communication stack loaded, communication with nodes in the mesh network can occur when joystick 102 is turned. For example, a user can turn joystick 102, and in response, the wireless switch can transmit messages on the mesh network addressing specific connected lighting devices on the network, instructing them to turn on or off.

[0021] At box 210, electronic processor 110 receives user input via button 105 of wireless switch 110. In the illustrated embodiment, wireless switch 100 asserts a Bluetooth flag in response to receiving user input.

[0022] At box 215, electronic processor 110 asserts the Bluetooth flag and restarts wireless switch 100.

[0023] At box 220, the early_init() function is called by the bootloader and reads the asserted Bluetooth flags. Therefore, the bootloader loads the Bluetooth stack for execution by the electronic processor 110 and configures the radio transceiver 120 to advertise BLE connections from BLE-enabled devices.

[0024] At block 225, electronic processor 110 operates wireless switch 100 in Bluetooth mode and causes radio transceiver 120 to advertise BLE connections from BLE-enabled devices. In some embodiments, because the Bluetooth communication protocol requires more power from battery 115, radio transceiver 120 only broadcasts connection requests for a predetermined period of time. For example, in such an embodiment, radio transceiver 120 may broadcast for only one minute, then jump to block 240, and restart wireless switch 100 if no BLE connection is found. Furthermore, in some embodiments, once radio transceiver 120 connects to a device via a BLE connection, the connection may have a predetermined timeout period, such as three minutes, before the connection terminates to conserve battery power. In some embodiments, a user of a BLE-enabled mobile device connects to wireless switch 100 using a software application on the mobile device. The user can then use the software application to set the switch configuration of wireless switch 100, which can then be saved in the switch configuration memory location of memory 115.

[0025] At box 230, the wireless switch 100 receives switch configuration from a device with which it has established a BLE connection. For example, a user of a BLE-enabled mobile device can set a new parent device identifier name, enabling the wireless switch 100 to communicate with the new parent device. During this process, the user can also make other switch configuration changes by making selections in the software application. For example, the set of mesh network nodes that the wireless switch interacts with in mesh communication mode can be changed during this process. As another example, the connected lighting devices (e.g., "power on" or "power off") to which the switch can transmit messages on the mesh network can be changed during this process.

[0026] At box 235, save the switch configuration changes. In some embodiments, a user making switch configuration changes can save the changes. For example, a user can select the "Save" option in a software application, and in response, the electronic processor 110 can save the user-selected switch configuration settings in memory 125 as switch configuration data. Close the software application. In some embodiments, closing the software application can set the Bluetooth flag back to 0. The wireless switch 100 can then be restarted using the new switch configuration data. In some embodiments, if the BLE connection between the wireless switch 100 and a BLE-enabled device is terminated by a timeout rather than by the user saving the switch configuration data, no ongoing switch configuration data changes are saved to the wireless switch.

[0027] At box 240, electronic processor 110 de-asserts the Bluetooth flag and restarts wireless switch 100.

[0028] At box 245, the early_init() function is called by the bootloader and reads the Bluetooth flags that have been canceled. Therefore, the bootloader loads the mesh communication stack for execution by the electronic processor 110 and configures the radio transceiver 120 to communicate with mesh network nodes and devices connected to the mesh network.

[0029] In some embodiments, the Bluetooth flag value can be set to a specific value to indicate an assertion or deassertion state. For example, the Bluetooth flag can be set to "5" for loading the Bluetooth stack (assertion), or set to "0" for loading the Wi-Fi stack (deassertion), or set to some other value, such as "TRUE" for loading the Bluetooth stack (assertion) and "FALSE" for loading the Wi-Fi stack (deassertion). In some embodiments, the Bluetooth flag can be asserted in response to user input on button 105. For example, if the Bluetooth flag is in the assertion state when button 105 is initially pressed and held, holding button 105 for a predetermined time will flip the Bluetooth flag to the deassertion state. Similarly, in some embodiments, if the Bluetooth flag is in the deassertion state when button 105 is initially pressed and held, holding button 105 for a predetermined time will flip the Bluetooth flag to the assertion state.

[0030] It is conceivable that button 105 and joystick 102 could be replaced by a switch, slider, dial, or other input device, while still performing their respective functions as described above. It is also conceivable that the corresponding functions of button 105 and joystick 102 could be combined into a single input device, such as a single button that changes the operating mode of the wireless switch in response to a first interaction, but performs a different function in response to a second interaction. For example, when the wireless switch 100 is in mesh communication mode, a short press of a single button can send a "power on" signal to devices in the mesh network via the radio transceiver 120, or authorize or disconnect BLE-enabled devices, while a long press of a single button can change the operating mode of the wireless switch.

[0031] The following variations are intended to illustrate several embodiments of the above-described products and methods, and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure or the claims:

[0032] Variant 1 may include a wireless switch comprising: an input device; a radio transceiver; a memory; and an electronic processor configured to operate the wireless switch in a wireless mesh network communication mode based on a mode selection indicator in an assertion state, and in a wireless Bluetooth mode based on a mode selection indicator in a deassertion state.

[0033] Variant 2 may include the wireless switch of Variant 1, wherein the input device is a button.

[0034] Variant 3 may include the wireless switch of any of the variants described above, and also includes a battery, wherein the electronic processor and the radio transceiver are powered by the battery.

[0035] Variant 4 may include a wireless switch of any of the variants described above, wherein, when the wireless switch operates in Bluetooth mode, the wireless switch is configured to connect to a Bluetooth-enabled device via a radio transceiver.

[0036] Variant 5 may include a wireless switch of any of the above variants, wherein the wireless switch is configured to receive switch configuration data via a radio transceiver when the wireless switch is operating in Bluetooth mode.

[0037] Variant 6 may include a wireless switch of any of the variants described above, wherein the electronic processor is configured to save the received switch configuration to memory.

[0038] Variant 7 may include a wireless switch of any of the above variants, wherein the wireless switch is configured to connect to a mesh communication network via a radio transceiver when the wireless switch is operating in Bluetooth mode.

[0039] Variant 8 may include a wireless switch of any variant of any of the above variants, wherein the input device includes a button, and wherein, in response to pressing the button, the mode selection indicator changes from an assertion state to a deassertion state, or from an assertion state to a deassertion state.

[0040] Variant 9 may include the wireless switch of any of the variants described above, wherein the electronic processor is also configured to restart the wireless switch the first time after the button is pressed.

[0041] Variant 10 may include the wireless switch of any of the variants described above, wherein the electronic processor is further configured to restart the wireless switch a second time after the button is pressed.

[0042] Variant 11 may include a wireless switch of any variant of any of the above variants, and also includes a second input device, wherein the electronic processor is configured to enable the radio transceiver to transmit data in response to the switching of the second input device.

[0043] Variant 12 may include a wireless switch of any of the above variants, and also includes a second input device, wherein the electronic processor is configured to authorize connection to the wireless switch via a radio transceiver in response to the switching of the second input device.

[0044] Variant 13 may include a method for changing the switch configuration of a wireless switch, the method comprising: loading an initial configuration of the wireless switch into the memory of the wireless switch by an electronic processor of the wireless switch; loading a Bluetooth stack into the memory by the electronic processor; executing the Bluetooth stack by the electronic processor; establishing a connection between a radio transceiver of the wireless switch and a Bluetooth-enabled device by the electronic processor; receiving the switch configuration from the Bluetooth-enabled device by the radio transceiver; saving the switch configuration into the memory by the electronic processor; loading the switch configuration into the memory by the electronic processor; loading a mesh communication stack into the memory by the electronic processor; and executing the mesh communication stack by the electronic processor.

[0045] Variant 14 may include the method of Variant 13, and further include reading a Bluetooth flag in memory by an electronic processor; determining by the electronic processor that the Bluetooth flag is asserted; and setting a wireless switch to Bluetooth mode by the electronic processor.

[0046] Variant 15 may include the methods of variant 13 or 14, and further include reading the Bluetooth flag in the memory by the electronic processor; determining by the electronic processor that the Bluetooth flag has been de-asserted; and setting the wireless switch to mesh communication mode by the electronic processor.

[0047] Therefore, the embodiments disclosed herein particularly provide wireless switches.

[0048] Various features, advantages and embodiments are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A wireless switch, the wireless switch comprising: Input devices; Radio transceiver equipment; Memory; and Electronic processor, which is configured as Based on the mode selection indicator being in a cancel assertion state, the mesh network communication stack is loaded into the memory. Based on the mode selection indicator being in the cancel assertion state, the wireless switch is operated in wireless mesh network communication mode. In response to an action performed by the user on the input device, the mode selection indicator is changed from the cancel assertion state to the assertion state. Based on the mode selection indicator being in the assertion state, the Bluetooth stack is loaded into the memory, and The wireless switch is operated in Bluetooth wireless mode based on the mode selection indicator being in the assertion state.

2. The wireless switch of claim 1, wherein, The input device is a button.

3. The wireless switch according to claim 1 further includes a battery, wherein, The electronic processor and the radio transceiver are powered by the battery.

4. The wireless switch according to claim 1, wherein, The wireless switch is configured to connect to a Bluetooth-enabled device via the radio transceiver when the wireless switch is operating in Bluetooth mode.

5. The wireless switch according to claim 4, wherein, The wireless switch is configured to receive switch configuration data via the radio transceiver when the wireless switch is operating in the Bluetooth mode.

6. The wireless switch according to claim 5, wherein, The electronic processor is configured to save the received switch configuration to the memory.

7. The wireless switch according to claim 1, wherein, The wireless switch is configured to connect to the mesh communication network via the radio transceiver when the wireless switch is operating in the wireless mesh network communication mode.

8. The wireless switch according to claim 1, wherein, The input device includes a button, and wherein, in response to pressing the button, the mode selection indicator changes from an assertion state to a cancel assertion state, or from an assertion state to a cancel assertion state.

9. The wireless switch according to claim 8, wherein, The electronic processor is also configured to restart the wireless switch for the first time after the button is pressed.

10. The wireless switch according to claim 9, wherein, The electronic processor is also configured to restart the wireless switch a second time after the button is pressed.

11. The wireless switch according to claim 1, further comprising a second input device, wherein, The electronic processor is configured to enable the radio transceiver to transmit data in response to the switching of the second input device.

12. The wireless switch according to claim 1, further comprising a second input device, wherein, The electronic processor is configured to authorize a connection to the wireless switch via the radio transceiver in response to the switching of the second input device.

13. A method for changing the switch configuration of a wireless switch, comprising: The initial configuration of the wireless switch is loaded into the memory of the wireless switch by the electronic processor of the wireless switch; Based on the Bluetooth flag in the memory being changed to an assertion state in response to an action applied by the user to the input device of the wireless switch, the electronic processor loads the Bluetooth stack into the memory; The Bluetooth stack is executed by the electronic processor; The electronic processor establishes a connection between the wireless switch's radio transceiver and a Bluetooth-enabled device; The switch configuration is received by the radio transceiver from the Bluetooth-enabled device; The electronic processor saves the switch configuration to the memory; The electronic processor loads the switch configuration into the memory; The electronic processor loads the mesh network communication stack into the memory; as well as The electronic processor executes the mesh network communication stack.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: The electronic processor reads the Bluetooth flag from the memory; The electronic processor determines that the Bluetooth flag is asserted; as well as The electronic processor sets the wireless switch to Bluetooth mode.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising: The electronic processor reads the Bluetooth flag from the memory; The electronic processor determines that the Bluetooth flag has been canceled assertion; as well as The electronic processor sets the wireless switch to wireless mesh network communication mode.

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