Laser Pointer for Wireless Controlling Electric Appliances

Modern wireless remote control systems use different methods of turning on/off domestic electric appliances and control their parameters. Communication with the objects to be controlled is provided by the radio means while control of video/audio and other appliances is mainly provided by infra-red means.

To control luminaries, fans, heaters, etc. (there are about twenty kinds of such domestic appliances) electric radio controlled sockets or other radio controlled supply inputs are used. In this case the radio sockets have such a design that they can be simply installed into any standard wall socket or a socket of the extension cord. Further, any electric appliance of a corresponding power can be connected to that radio socket.

A "Wireless Remote Controller" exists already on Israeli market, that consists of three radio controlled sockets and a six-button panel. This system works at a distance up to 30 m freely in any direction and turns on/off the electric appliances through 1000 W. Note, that two buttons per an object to be controlled are used in the panel of this system.

And what about controlling six or nine objects?

One can be sure that majority of users will be in a temper of the necessity to use several remote panels at home and to keep in mind a definite order of pushing buttons of every panel for controlling several objects.

So we can see that using of the multi-button panels is the main disadvantage of contact control systems.

No alternatives exist on the market, thence users are forced to make it up with inconveniences caused by this disadvantage. On the other hand, a user that would want to control several objects by means of a single-button panel will not be satisfied with a multi-channel device based on the US Patent No. 435254 and devoted to self-service of the disabled. The sequential identification of the objects is necessary to provide the access to the objects controlled in such systems. Thence, a time interval required for turning on/off any object depends on the number of the object in the search sequence. Even if the "listing" procedure runs relatively fast, it may be tiresome for the user.

The author offers a system of the direct access to the objects controlled.

This system as well as the system known from the researches of Institute for Advanced Studies in Arad [1] contains a set of radio controlled sockets installed on the base housing and a control center equipped with a controller, multi-channel radio transmitter and a display with icons or pictures of the objects controlled. The electric-optical communication between the panel and the control center is provided by means of a micro-power diode laser. A laser pointer (available at $10 in any shop) is used as a "single-button" remote control. To control any object, it is sufficient to point for a short time to the necessary icon by the laser beam.

Several technical possibilities exist for the prevention of an unauthorized turning on/off of any object in the process of pointing a beam to the chosen icon, but an "organizational" way is the most sufficient: icons are placed in rows or in a circle, such as a dial plate, and a sufficient space is provided between the icons so that the beam will not "hook" a neighbor icon.

Regulating power or another parameter of the appliance by a "more-less" principle is enabled in one of the modifications of the system.

Constructional features: standard laser pointer as a panel, or a "pistol" laser pointer; simultaneous lighting of all icons if the working field is not illuminated.

Advantages: the system is simple, comfortable for users; the choice of the object is fast and simple; the system is attractive because there is a game element in the process of control similar to target shooting.

References

1. Nisenboim G. Optoelectronic elements in non contact control system for self-servicing of the disabled Proceedings of the IASA, Israel, Issue No. 1, 2000.