CA2980892A1

CA2980892A1 - Smart hybrid electrical system

Info

Publication number: CA2980892A1
Application number: CA2980892A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Mostafa Awheda; Abdulhadi Abdulhadi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-10-17
Filing date: 2017-10-17
Publication date: 2019-04-17
Also published as: WO2019075546A1

Abstract

A smart hybrid electrical system for controlling operation of electrical devices is disclosed. The system includes a control unit coupled to receiving units (RFID tag unit, a Bluetooth unit and a WiFi unit), a relay unit connected to the control unit and to the electrical device, and a smartphone equipped with near-field communication (NFC), Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities for exchanging data signals with the receiving unit (the RFID tag, Bluetooth or WiFi unit). The receiving unit stores the data and passes the data along to the control unit. The control unit sends a control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit in accordance with instructions contained in the data, causing the electrical device to operate between one state and another state. The system may also include sensors to monitor certain conditions of the electrical device and cause the control unit to turn off the electrical device when the conditions are abnormal.

Description

SMART HYBRID ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001]
The present application claims the benefit of the Canadian patent CA 2940467 filed on August 30, 2016, the Canadian Application CA 2959850 filed on March 3, 2017, the Patent Cooperation Treaty application PCT/CA2017/000199 filed on August 25, 2017, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD

[0002] The invention relates to electrical/electronic devices, and particularly to smart hybrid electrical/electronic devices that use the Near-Field-Communication, WiFi and/or Bluetooth technologies.
BACKGROUND

[0003] Internet, Bluetooth and Near-Field-Communication (NFC) wireless technologies have become more widely available in many aspects of our daily life. Many modern electrical/electronic devices have WiFi, Bluetooth, and/or NFC
capabilities.
Because of the development in these wireless communication technologies, smartphones have become having a profound impact on the way people lead their lives.

[0004]
Many different types of Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical/electronic devices are now available in market. These electrical devices are controlled by smartphone applications, where the user can use their smartphone application to communicate with these devices. Bluetooth-based electrical devices can be operated by the user through their smartphone application from a range of 10m up to 100m. WiFi-based electrical devices, on the other hand, can be operated by the user through their smartphone application from any place in the world.

[0005] Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices are located everywhere in homes. As such, to pair the homeowner's smartphone with the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices, the Bluetooth/WiFi units that are integrated in these electrical devices will need to broadcast data signals all the time and even when the electrical devices are deactivated (OFF). Thus, strong interference will be experienced by the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices. This interference significantly causes slow data transfer and reduces the communication range of electrical devices. The smartphone of the user can lose connection to these electrical devices because of this interference. In addition, Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices, despite the fact that they can work on Low Power Mode (LPM), are power hungry because of the power consumption caused by the continuous broadcasting of data signals.

[0006] To reduce the power consumption of Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices and the interference cause by the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices, a control mechanism that stops the broadcasting operation of the Bluetooth/WiFi units inside the electrical device must be used. This control mechanism can be, for instance, a switch (or a button) attached to the external frame of the electrical device so that the user can activate/deactivate the broadcasting operation of the Bluetooth/WiFi units at any time by pressing this switch. However, an external switch (button) is not the optimal solution to solve the issues of the power consumption and the interference of the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices as this external switch can be accidently pressed by the user, and it can also be reached by kids. This external switch will not help in reducing the power consumption and the interference of the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices when it is not properly set.

[0007] Unlike the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices, the NFC
(Radio Frequency Identification, RFID) based electrical devices broadcasts data signals (radio frequency signals) only when the RFID reader taps the RFID tag. That is, when the RFID
tag is not tapped by the RFID reader, the RFID-based electrical device consumes no power.
In our previous patent CA 2940467, we developed a smart RFID electrical system for electrical devices. The developed system in our previous patent handles the problems of power consumption, cost, and safety that most of the Bluetooth/WiFi electrical devices suffer from. The only drawback that the RFID-based electrical system suffers from is the short range of communication, where the user has to tap the NFC-based electrical device by their smartphone from a short distance in order to be able to exchange data with the electrical device.

[0008]
In this invention, we develop a smart hybrid electrical system that utilizes different wireless communication technologies (NFC, Bluetooth, and WiFi). The purpose of using a smart hybrid electrical system is to the comprehensive utilization of the advantages of various wireless communication technologies, and to avoid their disadvantages. The developed hybrid electrical system gives the user the option to use the wireless communication technology available for the user. For example, if the user doesn't have a WiFi connection and/or their smartphone doesn't support Bluetooth, the user can use the NFC technology through their RFID reader (or their smartphone) to function the developed smart hybrid electrical system.

[0009]
The developed smart hybrid electrical system reduces the interference caused by the broadcasting mechanism of the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices.
For example, if the user has 50 Bluetooth/WiFi based traditional electrical devices (exist in market today) in their home, and all these 50 electrical devices are broadcasting data signals, interference between these signals can easily occur. This interference has an effect on the data transfer between the user's smartphone and the electrical devices. In addition, the user can lose connection to these electrical devices because of this interference. When using the developed smart hybrid electrical system, the user can control the broadcasting mechanism of these electrical devices, and only allows the selected electrical devices to broadcast at the needed time and for the required period of time.

[0010]
The developed smart hybrid electrical system also reduces the power consumption caused by the broadcasting mechanism of the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices. For example, let us assume that the user wants to deactivate the broadcasting operation of a Bluetooth/WiFi based traditional electrical device (exist in market today) for two hours in order to reduce the power consumption of these electrical devices. If the user changes their mind after, for example, 10 minutes and wants to re-activate the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical device, the user will not be able to do so. This is because the user will not get an access to these electrical devices as these electrical devices don't broadcast any data signals that allow the other Bluetooth/WiFi devices to recognize them and then to communicate with them. On the other hand, when using the developed smart hybrid electrical system, the user can easily use their smartphone to activate/deactivate the broadcasting operation of the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices. For example, let us consider the same previous example (but now with the developed smart hybrid electrical system) where the user wants to deactivate the broadcasting operation of a Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical device for two hours in order to reduce the power consumption of these electrical devices. If the user changes their mind after, for example, 10 minutes and wants to re-activate the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical device, the user can easily do so by using their smartphone to send the required instructions through the NFC capability to the control unit so that the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical device re-activates the broadcasting operation of the Bluetooth/WiFi unit.

[0011]
In this invention, we are developing a smart hybrid electrical system that uses the Near-Field-Communication (NFC), the Bluetooth, and the Internet (WiFi) technologies. In one point of view, we are developing a smart hybrid electrical system that uses the NFC technology to control the broadcasting mechanism of the Bluetooth/WiFi based electrical devices to eliminate their disadvantages (power consumption and interference). In another point of view, we are developing a smart hybrid electrical system that uses the Bluetooth/WiFi technology to enhance the RFID-based electrical systems, and eliminate their drawbacks (short range communication).

[0012]
The following discussions in this document will refer to NFC-based electrical devices as RFID-based electrical devices. In addition, the phrase "electrical device" is used to refer to all electrical and electronic devices that can have NFC, Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities in their electrical circuits.
SUMMARY

[0013]
According to a first broad aspect, there is provided a smart hybrid electrical system for controlling operation of an electrical device between one state and another state, the smart hybrid system comprising: a RFID tag unit comprising a RFID
microchip including memory, at least one antenna for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, and energy harvesting circuits for generating electrical energy from the RF
signals to power the RFID tag unit, the RF signals including data; a WiFi unit comprising a WiFi module including a memory and a microcontroller for receiving and transmitting wireless WiFi signals, the WiFi signals including data; a control unit coupled to the RFID
tag unit, the WiFi unit, and the electrical device, the control unit including a microcontroller and a memory; a relay unit connected to the control unit and to the electrical device; and at least one external smartphone including functionality for exchanging WiFi signals with the WiFi unit, and functionality of generating RF signals and exchanging data with the RFID tag unit when the smartphone is placed in close proximity to the RFID tag unit, wherein the RFID tag and the WiFi units include functionalities for processing the data, saving the data on their memories and sending a wakeup signal to the control unit, wherein the control unit includes functionality capable of reading the data from the RFID
tag and WiFi units, processing the data and sending a control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit in accordance with instructions contained in the data, operation the electrical device between one state and another state in response to the control signal.

[0014]
According to a second broad aspect, there is provided a smart hybrid electrical system for controlling operation of an electrical device between one state and another state, the smart hybrid system comprising: a RFID tag unit comprising a RFID
microchip including memory, at least one antenna for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, and energy harvesting circuits for generating electrical energy from the RF
signals to power the RFID tag unit, the RF signals including data; a Bluetooth unit comprising a Bluetooth module including a memory and a microcontroller for receiving and transmitting wireless Bluetooth signals, the Bluetooth signals including data; a control unit coupled to the RFID
tag unit, the Bluetooth unit, and the electrical device, the control unit including a microcontroller and memory; a relay unit connected to the control unit and to the electrical device; and at least one external smartphone including functionality for exchanging Bluetooth signals with the Bluetooth unit, and functionality of generating RF
signals and exchanging data with the RFID tag unit when the smartphone is placed in close proximity io .. to the RFID tag unit, wherein the RFID tag and the Bluetooth units include functionalities for processing the data, saving the data on their memories and sending a wakeup signal to the control unit, wherein the control unit includes functionality capable of reading the data from the RFID tag and Bluetooth units, processing the data and sending a control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit in accordance with instructions contained .. in the data, operating the electrical device between one state and another state in response to the control signal.

[0015] In another aspect, there is provided a smart hybrid electrical system for controlling operation of an electrical device between one state and another state, the smart hybrid system comprising: a RFID tag unit comprising a RFID microchip including memory, at least one antenna for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, and energy harvesting circuits for generating electrical energy from the RF signals to power the RFID
tag unit, the RF signals including data; a WiFi unit comprising a WiFi module including a memory and a microcontroller for receiving and transmitting wireless WiFi signals, the WiFi signals including data; a control unit coupled to the RFID tag unit, the WiFi unit, and the electrical device, the control unit including a microcontroller and memory; a sensor unit connected to the control unit; a relay unit connected to the control unit and to the electrical device; and at least one external smartphone including functionality for exchanging WiFi signals with the WiFi unit, and functionality of generating RF
signals and exchanging data with the RFID tag unit when the smartphone is placed in close proximity to the RFID tag unit, wherein the RFID tag and the WiFi units include functionalities for processing the data, saving the data on their memories and sending a wakeup signal to the control unit, wherein the control unit includes functionality capable of reading the data from the RFID tag and WiFi units, processing the data and sending a control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit in accordance with instructions contained in the data, operating the electrical device between one state and another state in response to the control signal, wherein the sensor unit includes functionality for monitoring a condition of the electrical device and for causing the control unit to send a control signal to the relay unit when the condition is deemed to be hazardous, the control signal causing the relay unit to place the electrical device into the OFF state (deactivate the electrical device).

[0016] In a further aspect, there is provided a smart hybrid electrical system for controlling operation of an electrical device between one state and another state, the smart hybrid system comprising: a RFID tag unit comprising a RFID microchip including memory, at least one antenna for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, and energy harvesting circuits for generating electrical energy from the RF signals to power the RFID
tag unit, the RF signals including data; a Bluetooth unit comprising a Bluetooth module including a memory and a microcontroller for receiving and transmitting wireless Bluetooth signals, the Bluetooth signals including data; a control unit coupled to the RFID
tag unit, the Bluetooth unit, and the electrical device, the control unit including a microcontroller and memory; a sensor unit connected to the control unit; a relay unit connected to the control unit and to the electrical device; and at least one external smartphone including functionality for exchanging Bluetooth signals with the Bluetooth unit, and functionality of generating RF signals and exchanging data with the RFID tag unit when the smartphone is placed in close proximity to the RFID tag unit, wherein the RFID tag and the Bluetooth units include functionalities for processing the data, saving the data on their memories and sending a wakeup signal to the control unit, wherein the control unit includes functionality capable of reading the data from the RFID
tag and Bluetooth units, processing the data and sending a control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit in accordance with instructions contained in the data, operating the electrical device between one state and another state in response to the control signal, wherein the sensor unit includes functionality for monitoring a condition of the electrical device and for causing the control unit to send a control signal to the relay unit when the condition is deemed to be hazardous, the control signal causing the relay unit to place the electrical device into the OFF state (deactivate the electrical device).
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]
Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views, several aspects of the smart hybrid electrical system for controlling the operation of electrical devices are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in detail in the figures, wherein:

[0018]
Figure 1 is a schematic view of the smart hybrid electrical system for controlling the operation of electrical devices in accordance with a first embodiment;

[0019]
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the smart hybrid electrical system for controlling the operation of electrical devices in accordance with another embodiment;

[0020]
Figure 3 is a schematic view of the smart hybrid electrical system for controlling the operation of electrical devices in accordance with another embodiment;

[0021] Figure 4 is a schematic view of the smart hybrid electrical system for controlling the operation of electrical devices in accordance with another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022]
Figure 1 illustrates one embodiment of the smart hybrid electrical system 100 for controlling the operation of electrical devices. The smart hybrid electrical system 100 comprises an electrical device 114 that its operation state is changed between one state and another state by a control unit 109 and a relay unit 113. The smart hybrid electrical system 100 further comprises a RFID tag unit 101, a smartphone 104 (or any smart device equipped with NFC and WiFi capabilities) to communicate (or exchange data) with the RFID tag unit 101, a WiFi unit 102, and an electrical power supply 110 connected to an AC-DC voltage converter unit 111 and a voltage regulator unit 112 for providing the system with the required AC and DC voltages.

[0023] The RFID tag unit 101 may be any adequate RFID tag that can be used to communicate with the smartphone 104. Examples of adequate RFID tags comprise a passive RFID tag, semi-active RFID tag and active RFID tag. The RFID tag unit 101 is composed of an antenna and a RFID microchip. Based on the way the tag is powered, RFID tags unit 101 can be classified into the three mentioned categories:
active, semi-active and passive RFID tags. Active and semi-active RFID tags have their own power source for powering the RFID microchip. Because of the internal power source, the manufacturing cost of active and semi-active RFID tags is significantly high.
Passive RFID
tags do not contain any source supplying power to the microchip. Thus, passive RFID
tags are inexpensive. In this invention, the passive RFID tag is implemented in the smart hybrid electrical system. The RFID tag unit 101 may be integrated within the internal or external frame of the electrical device 114. When the user taps the RFID tag unit 101 with their smartphone 104, or brings the smartphone sufficiently close to the tag, the RFID tag unit 101 receives data (through electromagnetic waves or Radio Frequency signals 103) sent by the smartphone 104. Upon receiving the data, the RFID tag unit 101 generates an energy harvesting that powers up the RFID microchip and wakes up the control unit 109. Upon powering the RFID microchip, the RFID tag unit 101 checks whether the identification (ID) of the smartphone 104 contained in the data is on the list of the authorized smartphones 104 saved on the memory of the RFID microchip. If the ID of the smartphone 104 is valid (i.e. the smartphone 104 has the authority to communicate with the RFID tag unit 101), the RFID tag unit 101 saves the data on the memory of the RFID
microchip at locations specified by the smartphone 104. If the data is saved at the location specified for a password, the RFID tag unit 101 changes the password used by authorized smartphone 104; if the data is saved at locations specified for an authorized list, the RFID
tag unit 101 adds a new user to the authorized list of smartphone 104; if the data is saved at a location specified for activating (or deactivating) the authentication property, the RFID
tag unit 101 activates (or deactivates) the authentication property; if the data is saved at locations specified for the control unit 109, the RFID tag unit 101 passes the data to the control unit 109 when requested.

[0024]
The antenna of the RFID tag unit 101 may be any adequate antenna.
.. Examples of adequate antennas are a loop antenna, a coil antenna, a dipole antenna, a slot antenna, and a patch antenna. Two antennas or multi-port antenna may also be used with this invention. The antenna of the RFID tag unit 101 plays a very important role in the overall RFID system performance, as it directly impacts the size, cost, and operating range.

[0025]
The RFID microchip of the RFID tag unit 101 is an integrated circuit IC
directly attached to the antenna of the RFID tag unit 101. The RFID microchip comprises an electronic circuit having a modulator, a demodulator, a logical controller, and a memory.
The demodulator is used to demodulate commands contained in the data received from the smartphone 104. The logical controller decodes the smartphone 104 commands and selects a corresponding response according to the NFC communication protocol.
The modulator then generates the response to the smartphone 104 by launching a modulated backscattering signal (M BS) to the antenna.

[0026] The electromagnetic wave (Radio Frequency (RF) signal) 103 is emitted by the smartphone 104. The RFID tag unit 101 uses this signal to generate the energy harvesting. The RFID tag unit 101 also uses the RF signal 103 to exchange data with the smartphone 104.

[0027] The WiFi unit 102 may be any adequate internet module that can be used to communicate with the smartphone 104 over any wireless internet protocol (WiFi, fifth generation 5G, ZigBee, Symphony Link, etc). The WiFi unit 102 may be integrated within the internal or external frame of the electrical device 114. When the user sends WiFi data signals to the WiFi unit 102 with their smartphone 104, the WiFi unit 102 receives this data. Upon receiving the data, the WiFi unit 102 checks whether the identification (ID) of the smartphone 104 contained in the data is on the list of the authorized smartphones 104 saved on the memory of the WiFi unit 102. If the ID of the smartphone 104 is valid (i.e. the smartphone 104 has the authority to communicate with the WiFi unit 102), the WiFi unit 102 saves the data on its memory at locations specified by the smartphone 104.
If the data is saved at the location specified for a password, the WiFi unit 102 changes the password used by the authorized smartphone 104; if the data is saved at locations specified for an authorized list, the WiFi unit 102 adds a new user to the authorized list of smartphone 104; if the data is saved at a location specified for activating (or deactivating) the authentication property, the WiFi unit 102 activates (or deactivates) the authentication property; if the data is saved at locations specified for the control unit 109, the WiFi unit 102 passes the data to the control unit 109 when requested.

[0028]
The WiFi signal 105 is any wireless internet signal that is emitted by the smartphone 104 and the WiFi unit 102. The smartphone 104 and the WiFi unit 102 use this signal to exchange data.

[0029]
The smartphone 104 is carried by the user. It can be any smartphone or any other smart device that is equipped with NFC and WiFi capabilities (and/or NFC
and Bluetooth capabilities). The smartphone 104 communicates (sends and receives data) with the RFID tag unit 101 and the WiFi unit 102 using NFC and internet communication protocols. Currently, there are several types of smartphones available in market that are compatible with the NFC and internet communication protocols and can operate at different frequency bands that are dedicated to NFC and internet communication protocols. It should be understood that two smartphone applications are used to operate the smart hybrid electrical system 100, one application supports NFC
communication protocol and the other one supports internet communication protocol. Using either one of these applications, the user can operate the smart hybrid electrical system 100 (i.e. the user can use the application to turn ON/OFF the electrical device 114 or change its operation state, set (or change) the password of the RFID tag unit 101 or the WiFi unit 102, change the password stored on the memory of the microcontroller of the control unit 109, save the user's information on the RFID tag unit 101 or the WiFi unit 102, add more users, etc.). It should be understood that the user will send only one type of wireless signals a time to the electrical device. That is, the user will send either a RF or a WiFi signal a time to the electrical device to change its operation state.

[0030]
The control unit 109 comprises a microcontroller and some other electronic .. components such as resistors, capacitors, transistors, diodes, inductors, etc. The control unit 109 is integrated with the printed circuit board (PCB) of the system 100 attached to the internal frame of the electrical device 114. The control unit 109 is held on Low Power Mode (i.e. the control unit 109 operates at the sleeping mode) all the time for saving power. The control unit 109 is activated (woken up) by the energy harvesting generated .. by the RFID tag unit 101 when the user taps the RFID tag unit 101 with their smartphone 104. The control unit 109 is also woken up by the WiFi unit 102 when the user sends WiFi signals through their smartphone 104 to the WiFi unit 102, provided that the smartphone 104 has the authentication to communicate with the WiFi unit 102. Upon activation, the control unit 109 reads the data sent by the smartphone 104 from either the RFID tag unit .. 101 or the WiFi unit 102. The control unit 109 then responds to the received data by taking the corresponding action. This action may be either sending a control signal to the electrical device 114 to change its operation state, sending a control signal to the relay unit 113 to activate (or deactivate) the electrical device 114, sending information to the smartphone 104, saving information (such as changing the password on the memory of its microcontroller), or performing a combination of the previously mentioned actions. The control unit 109 is powered by the voltage regulator unit 112.

[0031]
It should be understood that the control unit 109 may also be woken up, when it is held on sleeping mode, by several other events such as a device reset, a watchdog timer, or any peripheral module (external interrupt, change on port pin, comparators, AID
converters, Timers, LCD, etc.). This wake-up feature is used when the electrical device 114 is programmed, by the user through the smartphone 104, to be activated/deactivated and/or to change its operation state, for example, either at a certain time or for a certain time each day. For example, this wake-up feature can be used by parents to set a daily (or weekly) schedule time for their kids to use electronic devices.

[0032]
The relay unit 113 is used by the control unit 109 to control the connection mechanism of the electrical device 114. The relay unit 113 comprises a relay and Darlington transistors; it may also comprise diodes, capacitors, resistors, and transistors.
The relay of the relay unit 113 has a common pin and two contacts pins for the high voltage (110-380v); a normally closed (N.C) contact and a normally open (N.0) contact.
The common pin is connected with the electrical device 114 and one of the contacts pins (N.0 or N.0) is connected with the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110. The hot wire is the wire that carries electrical current from the electrical power supply 110.
The relay of relay unit 113 also has two coil pins for the low voltage (3-24v) pins that are lo .. used to power (activate) the relay. This low voltage is provided to the relay unit 113 by the AC-DC converter unit 111. If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic zero voltage and the normally closed (N.C) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the activation state (turned ON). If the control signal received by the relay .. unit 113 is a logic zero voltage and the normally open (N.0) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF). If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic one voltage and the normally closed (N.C) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF).
If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic one voltage and the normally open (N.0) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the activation state (turned ON).

[0033]
The electrical power supply 110 may be any adequate electrical power supply (110-380v) that provides the required AC voltage for the smart hybrid electrical system.
The Neutral and the Ground lines of the electrical power supply 110 are connected to both the electrical device 114 and the AC-DC converter unit 111, whereas the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110 is connected to both the AC-DC
converter unit 111 and the relay unit 113. It should be understood that any electrical power supply that has only two wires, Hot (Line) wire and Neutral wire, may also be used as an electrical power supply 110 to provide the required power to the developed smart hybrid electrical system.
In this case, the Neutral wire is connected to both the electrical device 114 and the AC-DC converter unit 111, whereas the Hot (Line) wire is connected to both the AC-DC
converter unit 111 and the relay unit 113.

[0034]
The AC-DC converter unit 111 may be any adequate AC-DC converter circuit that transforms the high AC voltage (110-380v) to low DC voltage (3-24v). The AC-DC
converter unit comprises an electrical transformer that transforms a high AC
voltage to a lo low AC voltage, and rectifiers that convert the low AC voltage to a low DC voltage. It should be understood that any DC voltage rectifiers (3.3,5, 6, 9, 12, or 24v) can be used by the developed smart hybrid electrical system provided that the relay of the relay unit 113 is carefully selected so that it can handle this DC voltage (i.e. the DC
voltage of the rectifiers is in the DC voltage range of the coil of the relay). The AC-DC
converter unit 111 provides both the voltage regulator unit 112 and the relay unit 113 (the coil pins of the relay) with the required power (DC voltage).

[0035]
The voltage regulator unit 112 may be any adequate voltage regulator circuit in which its output DC voltage is regulated at the desired DC voltage. The voltage regulator unit 112 may be an integrated circuit IC or any other electronic circuit that comprises resistors, transistors, capacitors, and diodes. The voltage regulator unit 112 provides the control unit 109 with the required power (3.3v or 5v) to operate its electronic components.

[0036] The electrical device 114 may be any electrical device that the user wants to control its operation state by their smartphone 104. The electrical device 114 is selected from group consisting of, but not limited to, a TV, a home appliance, an air conditioning, a heater, a light switch, an electrical outlet, an electrical charger/adapter, a dimmer, a USB charging port, an electrical extension cord, climate control, an electrical fan, an electrical door lock, an electrical garage door, etc.

[0037] The electrical device 114 is controlled by the control unit 109 and the relay unit 113. When the user sends data signals to the electrical device 114 through the NFC
smartphone application, the RFID tag unit 101 receives the user's instructions sent through the RF signal 103. On the other hand, when the user sends data signals to the electrical device 114 through the WiFi smartphone application, the WiFi unit 102 receives the user's instructions through the WiFi signal 105. Upon receiving the data signals, the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the WiFi unit 102) responds to the smartphone 104 only if the smartphone 104 has the authorization required to communicate with the receiving unit. If the receiving unit is the RFID tag unit 101, the RFID tag unit 101 gets activated by the RF signal 103, and generates energy harvesting that powers up the RFID
microchip of the RFID tag unit 101 and wakes up the control unit 109. On the other hand, if the receiving unit is the WiFi unit 102, the control unit 109 is only activated if the smartphone 104 has the authentication to communicate with the WiFi unit 102.
The receiving unit only responds to the data sent by the smartphone 104 only if the smartphone 104 is authorized. If the smartphone 104 is authorized and the data includes a change of the password of the receiving unit, the receiving unit saves the new password on its memory. If the smartphone 104 is authorized and the data is saved on the memory of the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the WiFi unit 102) at the locations specified for the control unit 109, the receiving unit passes the data to the control unit 109 when .. requested. Upon receiving the data, the control unit 109 processes the data by first checking whether the data includes the correct password required to operate the control unit 109. If not, the control unit 109 takes no action. If the date includes the correct password, the control unit 109 processes the data and responds by taking the corresponding action. This action may be either sending a control signal to the electrical device 114 to change its operation state, sending a control signal to the relay unit 113 to activate (or deactivate) the electrical device 114, sending information to the smartphone 104, saving information (such as a new password), or performing a combination of the previous mentioned actions. If the corresponding action is to change the operation state of the electrical device 114 to another desired operation state, the control unit 109 sends a control signal to the electrical device 114 so that the electrical device 114 is adjusted to the new desired operation state. One example of this corresponding action is that when the user wants to change the desired temperature of an air condition, or wants to set the light dimmer to a different level. If the corresponding action is to activate (or deactivate) the electrical device 114, the control unit 109 sends a control signal to the relay unit 113.
If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic zero voltage and the normally closed (N.C) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the activation state (turned ON), If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic zero voltage and the normally open (N.0) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF). If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic one voltage and the normally closed (N.C) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF). If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic one voltage and the normally open (N.0) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the activation state (turned ON). Once the control unit 109 executes the user's instructions, the microcontroller of the control unit 109 resets the memory locations of the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the WiFi unit 102) specified for the control unit 109 to zeros, and returns back to the sleeping mode (to save power) until it is woken up again by receiving another data from the smartphone 104. If the data received by the control unit 109 includes instructions for changing the operation state of the electrical device 114 or to activate/deactivate it after a period of time (or at a scheduled time over a specific period), the control unit 109 adjusts its microcontroller so that the control unit 109 is woken up at the required time to adjust the electrical device 114 as instructed.

[0038] To reduce power consumption of the smart hybrid electrical system 100, the user can deactivate the WiFi unit 102 of the smart hybrid electrical system 100 by sending a command signal through their smartphone 104 to the smart hybrid electrical system 100 to do so. This command signal can be sent to the smart hybrid electrical system 100 through either the WiFi smartphone application or the NFC smartphone application. When the user wants to reactivate the WiFi unit 102, the user cannot use the WiFi smartphone application to do so because the WiFi unit 102 is now deactivated and the user cannot communicate with it. In this case, the user has to use the NFC smartphone application to do so by tapping the RFID tag unit 101 by their smartphone 104 (i.e. the smartphone 104 is brought sufficiently close to the RFID tag unit 101). The user can also send a command signal to reactivate the WiFi unit 102 at, for example, a desired time or for a specific period of time each day. Hence, the user can control the power consumption of the WiFi units of their electrical devices 114 and only activate the WiFi unit 102 of the selected electrical device 114 that the user wants to operate using WiFi technology. By activating only the needed electrical devices, the user will also handle the issues of slow internet connection and slow data transfer speed over WiFi caused by interference between WiFi-based electrical devices.

[0039]
The RFID tag unit can be replaced with a switch (a button) to activate (or deactivate) the WiFi unit to reduce the power consumption of the WiFi unit, and to reduce the interference between the WiFi unit and the other nearby WiFi-based electrical devices.

[0040]
The smartphone and the RFID tag unit may exchange data signals over the Far-Field-Communication protocol.

[0041]
Bluetooth unit that includes a Bluetooth module, a memory, and a microcontroller can be installed to the system to change the operation state of the electrical device from one state to another state.

[0042]
It should be understood that the smart hybrid electrical system 100 may be used for controlling the operation state of any electrical device 114 in any building. For example, the smart hybrid electrical system 100 may be used for controlling the operation state any TV, home appliance, air conditioning, heater, light switch, outlet, dimmer, USB
port, electrical charger/adapter, electrical extension cord, electrical fan, electrical door lock, electrical garage door, etc.

[0043]
Figure 2 illustrates another embodiment of the smart hybrid electrical system 200 for controlling the operation of electrical devices. The smart hybrid electrical system 200 comprises an electrical device 114 that its operation state is changed between one state and another state by a control unit 109 and a relay unit 113. The smart hybrid electrical system 200 further comprises a RFID tag unit 101, a smartphone 104 (or any smart device equipped with NFC and Bluetooth capabilities) to communicate (or exchange data) with the RFID tag unit 101, a Bluetooth unit 202, and an electrical power supply 110 connected to an AC-DC voltage converter unit 111 and a voltage regulator unit 112 for providing the system with the required AC and DC voltages.

[0044]
The Bluetooth unit 202 may be any adequate Bluetooth module that can be used to communicate with the smartphone 104. The Bluetooth unit 202 may be integrated within the internal or external frame of the electrical device 114. When the user sends Bluetooth data signals to the Bluetooth unit 202 with their smartphone 104, the Bluetooth unit 202 receives this data. Upon receiving the data, the Bluetooth unit 202 checks whether the identification (ID) of the smartphone 104 contained in the data is on the list of the authorized smartphones 104 saved on the memory of the Bluetooth unit 202. If the ID of the smartphone 104 is valid (i.e. the smartphone 104 has the authority to communicate with the Bluetooth unit 202), the Bluetooth unit 202 saves the data on its memory at locations specified by the smartphone 104. If the data is saved at the location specified for a password, the Bluetooth unit 202 changes the password used by the authorized smartphone 104; if the data is saved at locations specified for an authorized list, the Bluetooth unit 202 adds a new user to the authorized list of smartphone 104; if the data is saved at a location specified for activating (or deactivating) the authentication property, the Bluetooth unit 202 activates (or deactivates) the authentication property; if the data is saved at locations specified for the control unit 109, the Bluetooth unit 202 passes the data to the control unit 109 when requested.

[0045]
The Bluetooth signal 205 is emitted by the smartphone 104. The Bluetooth unit 202 uses this signal to exchange data with the smartphone 104.

[0046]
The control unit 109 is held on Low Power Mode (i.e. the control unit 109 operates at the sleeping mode) all the time for saving power. The control unit 109 is activated (woken up) by the energy harvesting generated by the RFID tag unit 101 when the user taps the RFID tag unit 101 with their smartphone 104. The control unit 109 is also woken up by the Bluetooth unit 202 when the user sends Bluetooth signals through their smartphone 104 to the Bluetooth unit 202, provided that the smartphone 104 has the authentication to communicate with the Bluetooth unit 202. Upon activation, the control unit 109 reads the data sent by the smartphone 104 from either the RFID tag unit 101 or the Bluetooth unit 202. The control unit 109 then responds to the received data by taking the corresponding action. This action may be either sending a control signal to the electrical device 114 to change its operation state, sending a control signal to the relay unit 113 to activate (or deactivate) the electrical device 114, sending information to the smartphone 104, saving information (such as changing the password on the memory of its microcontroller), or performing a combination of the previously mentioned actions. The control unit 109 is powered by the voltage regulator unit 112.

[0047]
It should be understood that two smartphone applications are used to operate the smart hybrid electrical system 200, one application supports NFC
communication protocol and the other one supports Bluetooth communication protocol. Using either one of these applications, the user can operate the smart hybrid electrical system 200 (i.e. the user can use the application to turn ON/OFF the electrical device 114 or change its operation state, set (or change) the password of the RFID tag unit 101 or the Bluetooth unit 202, change the password stored on the memory of the microcontroller of the control unit 109, save the user's information on the RFID tag unit 101 or the Bluetooth unit 202, add more users, etc.). It should be understood that the user will send only one type of wireless signals a time to the electrical device. That is, the user will send either a RF or a Bluetooth signal a time to the electrical device to change its operation state.

[0048]
The electrical device 114 is controlled by the control unit 109 and the relay unit 113. When the user sends data signals to the electrical device 114 through the NFC
smartphone application, the RFID tag unit 101 receives the user's instructions sent through the RF signal 103. On the other hand, when the user sends data signals to the electrical device 114 through the Bluetooth smartphone application, the Bluetooth unit 202 receives the user's instructions through the Bluetooth signal 205. Upon receiving the data signals, the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the Bluetooth unit 202) responds to the smartphone 104 only if the smartphone 104 has the authorization required to communicate with the receiving unit. If the receiving unit is the RFID tag unit 101, the RFID tag unit 101 gets activated by the RF signal 103, and generates energy harvesting that powers up the RFID microchip of the RFID tag unit 101 and wakes up the control unit 109. On the other hand, if the receiving unit is the Bluetooth unit 202, the control unit 109 is only activated if the smartphone 104 has the authentication to communicate with the Bluetooth unit 202. The receiving unit only responds to the data sent by the smartphone 104 only if the smartphone 104 is authorized. If the smartphone 104 is authorized and the data includes a change of the password of the receiving unit, the receiving unit saves the new password on its memory. If the smartphone 104 is authorized and the data is saved on the memory of the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the Bluetooth unit 202) at the locations specified for the control unit 109, the receiving unit passes the data to the control unit 109 when requested. Upon receiving the data, the control unit 109 processes the data by first checking whether the data includes the correct password required to operate the control unit 109. If not, the control unit 109 takes no action. If the date includes the correct password, the control unit 109 processes the data and responds by taking the corresponding action. This action may be either sending a control signal to the electrical device 114 to change its operation state, sending a control signal to the relay unit 113 to activate (or deactivate) the electrical device 114, sending information to the smartphone 104, saving information (such as a new password), or performing a combination of the previous mentioned actions. If the corresponding action is to change the operation state of the electrical device 114 to another desired operation state, the control unit 109 sends a control signal to the electrical device 114 so that the electrical device 114 is adjusted to the new desired operation state. One example of this corresponding action is that when the user wants to change the desired temperature of an air condition, or wants to set the light dimmer to a different level. If the corresponding action is to activate (or deactivate) the electrical device 114, the control unit 109 sends a control signal to the relay unit 113.

If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic zero voltage and the normally closed (N.C) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the activation state (turned ON), If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic zero voltage and the normally open (N.0) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF). If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic one voltage and the normally closed (N.C) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical .. device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF). If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic one voltage and the normally open (N.0) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the activation state (turned ON). Once the control unit 109 executes the user's instructions, the microcontroller of the control unit 109 resets the memory locations of the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the Bluetooth unit 202) specified for the control unit 109 to zeros, and returns back to the sleeping mode (to save power) until it is woken up again by receiving another data from the smartphone 104. If the data received by the control unit 109 includes instructions for changing the operation state of the electrical device 114 or to activate/deactivate it after a period of time (or at a scheduled time over a specific period), the control unit 109 adjusts its microcontroller so that the control unit 109 is woken up at the required time to adjust the electrical device 114 as instructed.

[0049] To reduce power consumption of the smart hybrid electrical system 200, the user can deactivate the Bluetooth unit 202 of the smart hybrid electrical system 200 by sending a command signal through their smartphone 104 to the smart hybrid electrical system 200 to do so. This command signal can be sent to the smart hybrid electrical system 200 through either the Bluetooth smartphone application or the NFC
smartphone application. When the user wants to reactivate the Bluetooth unit 202, the user cannot .. use the Bluetooth smartphone application to do so because the Bluetooth unit 202 is now deactivated and the user cannot communicate with it. In this case, the user has to use the NFC smartphone application to do so by tapping the smart hybrid electrical system 200 by their smartphone 104 (i.e. the smartphone 104 is brought sufficiently close to the RFID tag unit 101). The user can also send a command signal to reactivate the Bluetooth unit 202 at, for example, a desired time or for a specific period of time each day. In this case, the user can control the power consumption of the Bluetooth units of their electrical devices 114 and only activate the Bluetooth unit 202 of the selected electrical device 114 that the user wants to operate using Bluetooth technology. By activating only the needed electrical devices, the user will also handle the issues of slow Bluetooth connection and slow data transfer speed over Bluetooth caused by interference between Bluetooth-based electrical devices.

[0050]
The RFID tag unit can be replaced with a switch (a button) to activate (or deactivate) the Bluetooth unit to reduce the power consumption of the Bluetooth unit, and to reduce the interference between the Bluetooth unit and the other nearby Bluetooth-based electrical devices.

[0051]
The smartphone and the RFID tag unit may exchange data signals over the Far-Field-Communication protocol.

[0052] It should be understood that the smart hybrid electrical system 200 may be used for controlling the operation state of any electrical device 114 in any building. For example, the smart hybrid electrical system 200 may be used for controlling the operation state any TV, home appliance, air conditioning, heater, light switch, outlet, dimmer, USB
port, electrical charger/adapter, electrical extension cord, electrical door lock, electrical garage door, etc.

[0053]
Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment of the smart hybrid electrical system 300 for controlling the operation of electrical devices. The smart hybrid electrical system 300 comprises an electrical device 114 that its operation state is changed between one state and another state by a control unit 109 and a relay unit 113. The smart hybrid electrical system 300 further comprises a RFID tag unit 101, a smartphone 104 (or any smart device equipped with NFC and WiFi capabilities) to communicate (or exchange data) with the RFID tag unit 101, a WiFi unit 102, an alarm system unit 116, an additional memory 115, a sensor unit 117, and an electrical power supply 110 connected to an AC-DC voltage converter unit 111 and a voltage regulator unit 112 for providing the system with the required AC and DC voltages.

[0054]
The sensor unit 117 may be any adequate system (or sensor) that can be used, for example, to monitor power consumption or detect unsafe conditions that may cause a hazard to the safety of the user, the electrical device 114, and to the building as well. Any sensor that may be used to monitor the power consumption or to measure the overheating caused by the extra load on the electrical device 114 may be considered as one example of sensor unit 117 coupled to control unit 209. When overheating is detected by the sensor unit 117, the control unit 109 sends a control signal to the relay unit 113, placing the electrical device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF). Any sensor that detects the abnormal electric current flowing to the ground may also be considered as another example of the sensor unit 117. Such a sensor can protect the user from electrical shocks caused by faults. When abnormal current flowing to the ground is detected by the sensor unit 117, the control unit 109 places the electrical device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF) via the relay unit 113. A fire-detecting sensor may also be considered as another example of the sensor unit 117 coupled to the control unit 109.
When a fire is detected, the control unit 109 deactivates the electric device 114 via the relay unit 213, placing it at the deactivation state (turned OFF).

[0055]
The alarm system unit 116 may be any adequate alarm system that can be used to provide an early warning for emergency so that actions can be taken by the user to prevent possible hazards. The alarm system unit 116 may be a light indicator, a sound indicator, or both of them. The alarm system unit 116 is coupled to the control unit 109.
In case that the sensor unit 117 detects any unsafe condition that may cause a hazard, the control unit 109 places the electrical device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF), and operates the alarm system unit 116 so that the user can take an action to prevent possible hazards.

[0056] The additional memory 115 may be any external memory that can be used to save data. The additional memory 115 is coupled to the control unit 109, and it is used by the microcontroller of the control unit 109 to save data when the memory of control unit 109 is insufficient. It should be understood that the additional memory 115 may only be implemented when more information about authorized users must be recorded (for example, when a high level of security is required). The data to be saved may include the identity of the users who used their authorized smartphone 104 to change the operation state of the electrical device 114 or to activate (or deactivate) it, and the date and time of the access to the smart hybrid electrical system.

[0057] The electrical device 114 is controlled by the control unit 109 and the relay unit 113. When the user sends data signals to the electrical device 114 through the NFC
smartphone application, the RFID tag unit 101 receives the user's instructions sent through the RF signal 103. On the other hand, when the user sends data signals to the electrical device 114 through the WiFi smartphone application, the WiFi unit 102 receives the user's instructions through the WiFi signal 105. Upon receiving the data signals, the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the WiFi unit 102) responds to the smartphone 104 only if the smartphone 104 has the authorization required to communicate with the receiving unit. If the receiving unit is the RFID tag unit 101, the RFID tag unit 101 gets activated by the RF signal 103, and generates energy harvesting that powers up the RFID
microchip of the RFID tag unit 101 and wakes up the control unit 109. On the other hand, if the receiving unit is the WiFi unit 102, the control unit 109 is only activated if the smartphone 104 has the authentication to communicate with the WiFi unit 102.
The receiving unit only responds to the data sent by the smartphone 104 only if the smartphone 104 is authorized. If the smartphone 104 is authorized and the data includes a change of the password of the receiving unit, the receiving unit saves the new password on its memory. If the smartphone 104 is authorized and the data is saved on the memory of the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the WiFi unit 102) at the locations specified for the control unit 109, the receiving unit passes the data to the control unit 109 when requested. Upon receiving the data, the control unit 109 processes the data by first checking whether the data includes the correct password required to operate the control unit 109. If not, the control unit 109 takes no action. If the date includes the correct password, the control unit 109 processes the data and responds by taking the corresponding action. This action may be either sending a control signal to the electrical device 114 to change its operation state, sending a control signal to the relay unit 113 to activate (or deactivate) the electrical device 114, sending information to the smartphone 104, saving information (such as a new password), or performing a combination of the previous mentioned actions. If the corresponding action is to change the operation state of the electrical device 114 to another desired operation state, the control unit 109 sends a control signal to the electrical device 114 so that the electrical device 114 is adjusted to the new desired operation state. One example of this corresponding action is that when the user wants to change the desired temperature of an air condition, or wants to set the light dimmer to a different level. If the corresponding action is to activate (or deactivate) the electrical device 114, the control unit 109 sends a control signal to the relay unit 113.
If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic zero voltage and the normally closed (N.C) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the activation state (turned ON), If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic zero voltage and the normally open (N.0) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF). If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic one voltage and the normally closed (N.C) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF). If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic one voltage and the normally open (N.0) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the activation state (turned ON). Once the control unit 109 executes the user's instructions, the microcontroller of the control unit 109 resets the memory locations of the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the WiFi unit 102) specified for the control unit 109 to zeros, and returns back to the sleeping mode (to save power) until it is woken up again by receiving another data from the smartphone 104. If the data received by the control unit 109 includes instructions for changing the operation state of the electrical device 114 or to activate/deactivate it after a period of time (or at a scheduled time over a specific period), the control unit 109 adjusts its microcontroller so that the control unit 109 is woken up at the required time to adjust the electrical device 114 as instructed. However, if the status of sensor unit 117 is abnormal, that is, if overheating exists because of an overload of the electrical device 114, abnormal current flows to ground because of a fault, and/or a fire is detected, the control unit 109 sends a control signal to relay unit 113 placing the electrical device 114 in the deactivation state (turned OFF). Once the control unit 109 executes the user's commands, the control unit 109 resets the memory locations that the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the WiFi unit 102) specifies for the control unit 109 to zeros, and goes back to the sleeping mode (to save power) until the user sends new data signals through their smartphone 104. The control unit 109 may also be woken up, when it is held on sleeping mode, by several other events, such as a device reset, a watchdog timer, or any peripheral module (external interrupt, change on port pin, comparators, ND converters, Timers, LCD, etc.).
If the data received by the control unit 109 includes changing the operation state of the electrical device 114 and/or activating/deactivating it after a period of time (or at a scheduled time over a specific period), the control unit 109 adjusts itself so that it gets woken up at the required time to execute the user's commands on the electrical device 114 as requested.

[0058] Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment of the smart hybrid electrical system 400 for controlling the operation of electrical devices. The smart hybrid electrical system 400 comprises an electrical device 114 that its operation state is changed between one state and another state by a control unit 109 and a relay unit 113. The smart hybrid electrical system 300 further comprises a RFID tag unit 101, a smartphone 104 (or any smart device equipped with NFC and Bluetooth capabilities) to communicate (or exchange data) with the RFID tag unit 101, a Bluetooth unit 202, an alarm system unit 116, an additional memory 115, a sensor unit 117, and an electrical power supply 110 connected to an AC-DC voltage converter unit 111 and a voltage regulator unit 112 for providing the system with the required AC and DC voltages.

[0059] The electrical device 114 is controlled by the control unit 109 and the relay unit 113. When the user sends data signals to the electrical device 114 through the NFC
smartphone application, the RFID tag unit 101 receives the user's instructions sent through the RF signal 103. On the other hand, when the user sends data signals to the electrical device 114 through the Bluetooth smartphone application, the Bluetooth unit 202 receives the user's instructions through the Bluetooth signal 205. Upon receiving the data signals, the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the Bluetooth unit 202) responds to the smartphone 104 only if the smartphone 104 has the authorization required to communicate with the receiving unit. If the receiving unit is the RFID tag unit 101, the RFID tag unit 101 gets activated by the RF signal 103, and generates energy harvesting that powers up the RFID microchip of the RFID tag unit 101 and wakes up the control unit 109. On the other hand, if the receiving unit is the Bluetooth unit 202, the control unit 109 is only activated if the smartphone 104 has the authentication to communicate with the Bluetooth unit 202. The receiving unit only responds to the data sent by the smartphone 104 only if the smartphone 104 is authorized. If the smartphone 104 is authorized and the data includes a change of the password of the receiving unit, the receiving unit saves the new password on its memory. If the smartphone 104 is authorized and the data is saved on the memory of the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the Bluetooth unit 202) at the locations specified for the control unit 109, the receiving unit passes the data to the control unit 109 when requested. Upon receiving the data, the control unit 109 processes the data by first checking whether the data includes the correct password required to operate the control unit 109. If not, the control unit 109 takes no action. If the date includes the correct password, the control unit 109 processes the data and responds by taking the corresponding action. This action may be either sending a control signal to the electrical device 114 to change its operation state, sending a control signal to the relay unit 113 to activate (or deactivate) the electrical device 114, sending information to the smartphone 104, saving information (such as a new password), or performing a combination of the previous mentioned actions. If the corresponding action is to change the operation state of the electrical device 114 to another desired operation state, the control unit 109 sends a control signal to the electrical device 114 so that the electrical device 114 is adjusted to the new desired operation state. One example of this corresponding action is that when the user wants to change the desired temperature of an air condition, or wants to set the light dimmer to a different level. If the corresponding action is to activate (or deactivate) the electrical device 114, the control unit 109 sends a control signal to the relay unit 113.
If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic zero voltage and the normally closed (N.C) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the activation state (turned ON), If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic zero voltage and the normally open (N.0) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF). If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic one voltage and the normally closed (N.C) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the deactivation state (turned OFF). If the control signal received by the relay unit 113 is a logic one voltage and the normally open (N.0) contact of the relay is connected to the Hot (Line) wire of the electrical power supply 110, the relay unit 113 places the electrical device 114 at the activation state (turned ON). Once the control unit 109 executes the user's instructions, the microcontroller of the control unit 109 resets the memory locations of the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the Bluetooth unit 202) specified for the control unit 109 to zeros, and returns back to the sleeping mode (to save power) until it is woken up again by receiving another data from the smartphone 104. If the data received by the control unit 109 includes instructions for changing the operation state of the electrical device 114 or to activate/deactivate it after a period of time (or at a scheduled time over a specific period), the control unit 109 adjusts its microcontroller so that the control unit 109 is woken up at the required time to adjust the electrical device 114 as instructed. However, if the status of sensor unit 117 is abnormal, that is, if overheating exists because of an overload of the electrical device 114, abnormal current flows to ground because of a fault, and/or a fire is detected, the control unit 109 sends a control signal to relay unit 113 placing the electrical device 114 in the deactivation state (turned OFF). Once the control unit 109 executes the user's commands, the control unit 109 resets the memory locations that the receiving unit (the RFID tag unit 101 or the Bluetooth unit 202) specifies for the control unit 109 to zeros, and goes back to the sleeping mode (to save power) until the user sends new data signals through their smartphone 104. The control unit 109 may also be woken up, when it is held on sleeping mode, by several other events, such as a device reset, a watchdog timer, or any peripheral module (external interrupt, change on port pin, comparators, ND
converters, Timers, LCD, etc.). If the data received by the control unit 109 includes changing the operation state of the electrical device 114 and/or activating/deactivating it after a period of time (or at a scheduled time over a specific period), the control unit 109 adjusts itself so that it gets woken up at the required time to execute the user's commands on the electrical device 114 as requested.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A smart hybrid electrical system for controlling operation of an electrical device between one state and another state, the smart hybrid electrical system comprising:
a RFID tag unit comprising a RFID microchip including memory, at least one antenna for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, and energy harvesting circuits for generating electrical energy from the RF signals to power the RFID tag unit, the RF
signals including data;
a WiFi unit comprising a WiFi module including a memory and a microcontroller for receiving and transmitting wireless WiFi signals, the WiFi signals including data;
a control unit coupled to the RFID tag unit, the WiFi unit, and the electrical device, the control unit including a microcontroller and a memory;
a relay unit connected to the control unit and to the electrical device; and at least one external smartphone including functionality for exchanging WiFi signals with the WiFi unit, and functionality of generating RF signals and exchanging data with the RFID tag unit when the smartphone is placed in close proximity to the RFID
tag unit, wherein the RFID tag and the WiFi units include functionalities for processing the data, saving the data on their memories and sending a wakeup signal to the control unit, wherein the control unit includes functionality capable of reading the data from the RFID
tag and WiFi units, processing the data and sending a control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit in accordance with instructions contained in the data, operating the electrical device between one state and another state in response to the control signal.

2. The smart hybrid system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag unit is a passive RFID tag having no internal or external electric power source connected thereto.

3. The smart hybrid system of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag unit is selected from the group consisting of a passive RFID tag having no internal or external electric power source connected thereto, an active RFID tag, and a semi-active RFID
tag.

4. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one antenna is selected from the group consisting of a loop antenna, a coil antenna, a dipole antenna, a slot antenna, and a patch antenna.

5. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the smartphone is a mobile device (or any electrical device) enabled with near filed communication (NFC) protocol and any wireless internet communication protocol (WiFi, fifth generation 5G, ZigBee, Symphony Link, etc).

6. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the data generated by the smartphone includes a password and a smartphone ID, and the microchip includes functionality capable of comparing the password received from the smartphone to a RFID tag unit password stored in the memory of the RFID
microchip, and the RFID microchip includes functionality capable of comparing the smartphone ID
to a list of authorized IDs stored in the memory of the RFID microchip, wherein if the password received from the smartphone matches the RFID tag unit password and if the smartphone ID matches one of the list of authorized IDs, the RFID microchip stores the data in one or more specified locations in the memory of the RFID microchip.

7. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the WiFi unit is any adequate internet module that can communicate with the smartphone over any wireless internet communication protocol (WiFi, fifth generation 5G, ZigBee, Symphony Link, etc).

8. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the data generated by the smartphone includes a password and a smartphone ID, and the WiFi unit includes functionality capable of comparing the password received from the smartphone to a WiFi unit password stored in its memory, and the WiFi unit includes functionality capable of comparing the smartphone ID to a list of authorized IDs stored in its memory, wherein if the password received from the smartphone matches the WiFi unit password and if the smartphone ID matches one of the list of authorized IDs, the WiFi unit stores the data in one or more specified locations in its memory.

9. The smart hybrid system of claims 6 and 8, wherein the control unit includes functionality capable of comparing the password received from the smartphone to a control unit password, wherein if the password received from the smartphone matches the control unit password, the control unit performs a function specified in the data.

10. The smart hybrid system of claim 9, wherein the function is selected from the group of functions consisting of sending the control signal to the electrical device, sending the control signal to the relay unit, sending information back to the smartphone, saving the data in the memory of the control unit, changing the control unit password, and combinations thereof.

11. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 10, including a connection to an external power supply and means for providing power to the control unit, the relay unit, the WiFi unit and the electrical device.

12. The smart hybrid system of claim 11, wherein the means for providing power to the relay unit includes an AC-DC converter and the means for supplying power to the control unit includes the AC-DC converter and a voltage regulator.

13. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the RF
signals are selected from the group consisting of low frequency RF signals, high frequency RF signals, ultra-high frequency RF signals, and microwave signals.

14. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the RFID
tag unit includes at least two antennas.

15. The smart hybrid system of claims 6 and 8, wherein the smartphone includes functionality capable of updating the RFID tag unit password and the WiFi unit password by including a change password command in the data.

16. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the smartphone includes functionality to include smartphone identity information in the data, and the RFID tag and the WiFi units include functionalities to read the smartphone identity information and store the smartphone identity information in their memories.

17. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the smartphone includes functionality to include at least one time and date in the data, and both the RFID tag and the WiFi units include functionalities to read the at least one time and date and store the at least one time and date in their memories, and the control unit includes functionality to read the at least one time and date and send the control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit at the at least one time and date.

18. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the control unit remains in a low power sleep mode until it receives the wakeup signal from the RFID tag unit or the WiFi unit.

19. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the wakeup signal further originates from a device reset, a watchdog timer, or any peripheral module (external interrupt, change on port pin, comparators, A/D converters, Timers, LCD).

20. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the smartphone includes functionality capable of deactivating the WiFi unit at the at least one time and date to reduce the power consumption of the WiFi unit, and to reduce the interference between the WiFi unit and the other nearby WiFi-based electrical devices.

21. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the smartphone includes functionality to include at least one time and date in the data, and the RFID tag unit includes functionality to read the at least one time and date and store the at least one time and date in its memory, and the control unit includes functionality to read the at least one time and date and send the control signal to the WiFi unit to activate (or deactivate) it at the at least one time and date.

22. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the RFID
tag unit can be replaced with a switch to activate (or deactivate) the WiFi unit to reduce the power consumption of the WiFi unit, and to reduce the interference between the WiFi unit and the other nearby WiFi-based electrical devices.

23. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein a Bluetooth unit can be installed to the system together with the RFID tag unit and the WiFi unit to exchange data with the smartphone to change the operation state of the electrical device from one state to another state.

24. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the smartphone and the RFID tag unit may exchange data signals over the Far-Field-Communication protocol.

25. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the electrical device is selected from the group including but not limited to a TV, a home appliance, an air conditioning, a heater, a light switch, an electrical outlet, an electrical charger/adapter, a dimmer, a USB charging port, an electrical extension cord, climate control, an electrical fan, an electrical door lock, an electrical garage door.

26. A smart hybrid electrical system for controlling operation of an electrical device between one state and another state, the smart hybrid electrical system comprising:
a RFID tag unit comprising a RFID microchip including memory, at least one antenna for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, and energy harvesting circuits for generating electrical energy from the RF signals to power the RFID tag unit, the RF
signals including data;
a Bluetooth unit comprising a Bluetooth module including a memory and a microcontroller for receiving and transmitting wireless Bluetooth signals, the Bluetooth signals including data;
a control unit coupled to the RFID tag unit, the Bluetooth unit, and the electrical device, the control unit including a microcontroller and a memory;
a relay unit connected to the control unit and to the electrical device; and at least one external smartphone including functionality for exchanging Bluetooth signals with the Bluetooth unit, and functionality of generating RF
signals and exchanging data with the RFID tag unit when the smartphone is placed in close proximity to the RFID tag unit, wherein the RFID tag and the Bluetooth units include functionalities for processing the data, saving the data on their memories and sending a wakeup signal to the control unit, wherein the control unit includes functionality capable of reading the data from the RFID tag and Bluetooth units, processing the data and sending a control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit in accordance with instructions contained in the data, operating the electrical device between one state and another state in response to the control signal.

27. The smart hybrid system of claim 26, wherein the RFID tag unit is a passive RFID tag having no internal or external electric power source connected thereto.

28. The smart hybrid system of claim 26, wherein the RFID tag unit is selected from the group consisting of a passive RFID tag having no internal or external electric power source connected thereto, an active RFID tag, and a semi-active RFID tag.

29. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the at least one antenna is selected from the group consisting of a loop antenna, a coil antenna, a dipole antenna, a slot antenna, and a patch antenna.

30. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 29, wherein the smartphone is a mobile device (or any electrical device) enabled with near filed communication (NFC) protocol and Bluetooth communication protocol.

31. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 30, wherein the data generated by the smartphone includes a password and a smartphone ID, and the RFID microchip includes functionality capable of comparing the password received from the smartphone to a RFID tag unit password stored in the memory of the RFID
microchip, and the RFID microchip includes functionality capable of comparing the smartphone ID
to a list of authorized IDs stored in the memory of the RFID microchip, wherein if the password received from the smartphone matches the RFID tag unit password and if the smartphone ID matches one of the list of authorized IDs, the RFID microchip stores the data in one or more specified locations in the memory of the RFID microchip.

32. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 31, wherein the Bluetooth unit is any adequate Bluetooth module that can communicate with the smartphone over Bluetooth communication protocol.

33. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 32, wherein the data generated by the smartphone includes a password and a smartphone ID, and the Bluetooth unit includes functionality capable of comparing the password received from the smartphone to a Bluetooth unit password stored in its memory, and the Bluetooth unit includes functionality capable of comparing the smartphone ID to a list of authorized IDs stored in its memory, wherein if the password received from the smartphone matches the Bluetooth unit password and if the smartphone ID matches one of the list of authorized IDs, the Bluetooth unit stores the data in one or more specified locations in its memory.

34. The smart hybrid system of claims 31 and 33, wherein the control unit includes functionality capable of comparing the password received from the smartphone to a control unit password, wherein if the password received from the smartphone matches the control unit password, the control unit performs a function specified in the data.

35. The smart hybrid system of claim 34, wherein the function is selected from the group of functions consisting of sending the control signal to the electrical device, sending the control signal to the relay unit, sending information back to the smartphone, saving the data in the memory of the control unit, changing the control unit password, and combinations thereof.

36. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 35, including a connection to an external power supply and means for providing power to the control unit, the relay unit, the Bluetooth unit and the electrical device.

37. The smart hybrid system of claim 36, wherein the means for providing power to the relay unit includes an AC-DC converter and the means for supplying power to the control unit includes the AC-DC converter and a voltage regulator.

38. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 37, wherein the RF
signals are selected from the group consisting of low frequency RF signals, high frequency RF signals, ultra-high frequency RF signals, and microwave signals.

39. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 38, wherein the RFID tag unit includes at least two antennas.

40. The smart hybrid system of claims 31 and 33, wherein the smartphone includes functionality capable of updating the RFID tag unit password and the Bluetooth unit password by including a change password command in the data.

41. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 40, wherein the smartphone includes functionality to include smartphone identity information in the data, and the RFID tag and the Bluetooth units include functionalities to read the smartphone identity information and store the smartphone identity information in their memories.

42. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 41, wherein the smartphone includes functionality to include at least one time and date in the data, and both the RFID tag and the Bluetooth units include functionalities to read the at least one time and date and store the at least one time and date in their memories, and the control unit includes functionality to read the at least one time and date and send the control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit at the at least one time and date.

43. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 42, wherein the control unit remains in a low power sleep mode until it receives the wakeup signal from the RFID tag unit or the Bluetooth unit.

44. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 43, wherein the wakeup signal further originates from a device reset, a watchdog timer, or any peripheral module (external interrupt, change on port pin, comparators, A/D converters, Timers, LCD).

45. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 44, wherein the smartphone includes functionality capable of deactivating the Bluetooth unit at the at least one time and date to reduce the power consumption of the Bluetooth unit, and to reduce the interference between the Bluetooth unit and the other nearby Bluetooth-based electrical devices.

46. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 45, wherein the smartphone includes functionality to include at least one time and date in the data, and the RFID tag unit includes functionality to read the at least one time and date and store the at least one time and date in its memory, and the control unit includes functionality to read the at least one time and date and send the control signal to the Bluetooth unit to activate (or deactivate) it at the at least one time and date.

47. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 46, wherein the RFID tag unit can be replaced with a switch to activate (or deactivate) the Bluetooth unit to reduce the power consumption of the Bluetooth unit, and to reduce the interference between the Bluetooth unit and the other nearby Bluetooth-based electrical devices.

48. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 47, wherein a WiFi unit can be installed to the system together with the RFID tag unit and the Bluetooth unit to exchange data with the smartphone to change the operation state of the electrical device from one state to another state.

49. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 48, wherein the smartphone and the RFID tag unit may exchange data signals over the Far-Field-Communication protocol.

50. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 26 to 49, wherein the electrical device is selected from the group including but not limited to a TV, a home appliance, an air conditioning, a heater, a light switch, an electrical outlet, an electrical charger/adapter, a dimmer, a USB charging port, an electrical extension cord, climate control, an electrical fan, an electrical door lock, an electrical garage door.

51. A smart hybrid electrical system for controlling operation of an electrical device between one state and another state, the smart hybrid electrical system comprising:
a RFID tag unit comprising a RFID microchip including memory, at least one antenna for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, and energy harvesting circuits for generating electrical energy from the RF signals to power the RFID tag unit, the RF
signals including data;
a WiFi unit comprising a WiFi module including a memory and a microcontroller for receiving and transmitting wireless WiFi signals, the WiFi signals including data;

a control unit coupled to the RFID tag unit, the WiFi unit, and the electrical device, the control unit including a microcontroller and a memory;
a sensor unit connected to the control unit;
a relay unit connected to the control unit and to the electrical device; and at least one external smartphone including functionality for exchanging WiFi signals with the WiFi unit, and functionality of generating RF signals and exchanging data with the RFID tag unit when the smartphone is placed in close proximity to the RFID
tag unit, wherein the RFID tag and the WiFi units include functionalities for processing the data, saving the data on their memories and sending a wakeup signal to the control unit, wherein the control unit includes functionality capable of reading the data from the RFID tag and WiFi units, processing the data and sending a control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit in accordance with instructions contained in the data, operating the electrical device between one state and another state in response to the control signal, wherein the sensor unit includes functionality for monitoring a condition of the electrical device and for causing the control unit to send the control signal to the relay unit when the condition is deemed to be abnormal, the control signal causing the relay unit to place the electrical device into the deactivation state (turned-off state).

52. The smart hybrid system of claim 51, wherein the RF1D tag unit is a passive RF1D tag having no internal or external electric power source connected thereto.

53. The smart hybrid system of claim 51, wherein the RFID tag unit is selected from the group consisting of a passive RFID tag having no internal or external electric power source connected thereto, an active RFID tag, and a semi-active RFID tag.

54. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 53, wherein the at least one antenna is selected from the group consisting of a loop antenna, a coil antenna, a dipole antenna, a slot antenna, and a patch antenna.

55. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 54, wherein the smartphone is a mobile device (or any electrical device) enabled with near filed communication (NFC) protocol and any wireless internet communication protocol (WiFi, fifth generation 5G, ZigBee, Symphony Link, etc).

56. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 55, wherein the data generated by the smartphone includes a password and a smartphone ID, and the RFID microchip includes functionality capable of comparing the password received from the smartphone to a RFID tag unit password stored in the memory of the RFID
microchip, and the RFID microchip includes functionality capable of comparing the smartphone ID
to a list of authorized IDs stored in the memory of the RFID microchip, wherein if the password received from the smartphone matches the RFID tag unit password and if the smartphone ID matches one of the list of authorized IDs, the RFID microchip stores the data in one or more specified locations in the memory of the RFID microchip.

57. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 56, wherein the WiFi unit is any adequate internet module that can communicate with the smartphone over any wireless internet communication protocol (WiFi, fifth generation 5G, ZigBee, Symphony Link, etc).

58. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 57, wherein the data generated by the smartphone includes a password and a smartphone ID, and the WiFi unit includes functionality capable of comparing the password received from the smartphone to a WiFi unit password stored in its memory, and the WiFi unit includes functionality capable of comparing the smartphone ID to a list of authorized IDs stored in its memory, wherein if the password received from the smartphone matches the WiFi unit password and if the smartphone ID matches one of the list of authorized IDs, the WiFi unit stores the data in one or more specified locations in its memory.

59. The smart hybrid system of claims 56 and 58, wherein the control unit includes functionality capable of comparing the password received from the smartphone to a control unit password, wherein if the password received from the smartphone matches the control unit password, the control unit performs a function specified in the data.

60. The smart hybrid system of claim 59, wherein the function is selected from the group of functions consisting of sending the control signal to the electrical device, sending the control signal to the relay unit, sending information back to the smartphone, saving the data in the memory of the control unit, changing the control unit password, and combinations thereof.

61. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 60, including a connection to an external power supply and means for providing power to the control unit, the relay unit, the WiFi unit and the electrical device.

62. The smart hybrid system of claim 61, wherein the means for providing power to the relay unit includes an AC-DC converter and the means for supplying power to the control unit includes the AC-DC converter and a voltage regulator.

63. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 62, wherein the RF
signals are selected from the group consisting of low frequency RF signals, high frequency RF signals, ultra-high frequency RF signals, and microwave signals.

64. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 63, wherein the RFID tag unit includes at least two antennas.

65. The smart hybrid system of claims 56 and 58, wherein the smartphone includes functionality capable of updating the RFID tag unit password and the WiFi unit password by including a change password command in the data.

66. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 65, wherein the smartphone includes functionality to include smartphone identity information in the data, and the RFID tag and the WiFi units include functionalities to read the smartphone identity information and store the smartphone identity information in their memories.

67. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 66, wherein the smartphone includes functionality to include at least one time and date in the data, and both the RFID tag and the WiFi units include functionalities to read the at least one time and date and store the at least one time and date in their memories, and the control unit includes functionality to read the at least one time and date and send the control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit at the at least one time and date.

68. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 67, further including a sensor unit connected to the control unit, the sensor unit including functionality for monitoring a condition of the electrical device and for causing the control unit to send the control signal to the relay unit when the condition is deemed to be abnormal, the control signal causing the relay unit to place the electrical device into the deactivation state, wherein the deactivation state is a turned-off state.

69. The smart hybrid system of claim 68, wherein the sensor unit is selected from the group consisting of an electric current flow sensor, a power consumption sensor, a heat sensor, and a fire sensor, and combinations thereof.

70. The smart hybrid system of claim 68 or 69, further including an alarm system connected to the control unit for providing a warning signal when the condition is deemed to be abnormal.

71. The smart hybrid system of claim 70, wherein the warning signal is selected from the group consisting of a light and a sound and combinations thereof.

72. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 71, wherein the control unit remains in a low power sleep mode until it receives the wakeup signal from the RFID tag unit or the WiFi unit.

73. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 72, wherein the wakeup signal further originates from a device reset, a watchdog timer, or any peripheral module (external interrupt, change on port pin, comparators, ND converters, Timers, LCD).

74. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 73, wherein the smartphone includes functionality capable of deactivating the WiFi unit at the at least one time and date to reduce the power consumption of the WiFi unit, and to reduce the interference between the WiFi unit and the other nearby WiFi-based electrical devices.

75. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 74, wherein the smartphone includes functionality to include at least one time and date in the data, and the RFID tag unit includes functionality to read the at least one time and date and store the at least one time and date in its memory, and the control unit includes functionality to read the at least one time and date and send the control signal to the WiFi unit to activate (or deactivate) it at the at least one time and date.

76. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 51 to 75, wherein the electrical device is selected from the group including but not limited to a TV, a home appliance, an air conditioning, a heater, a light switch, an electrical outlet, an electrical charger/adapter, a dimmer, a USB charging port, an electrical extension cord, climate control, an electrical fan, an electrical door lock, an electrical garage door.

77. A smart hybrid electrical system for controlling operation of an electrical device between one state and another state, the smart hybrid electrical system comprising:
a RFID tag unit comprising a RFID microchip including memory, at least one antenna for receiving radio frequency (RF) signals, and energy harvesting circuits for generating electrical energy from the RF signals to power the RFID tag unit, the RF
signals including data;
a Bluetooth unit comprising a Bluetooth module including a memory and a microcontroller for receiving and transmitting wireless Bluetooth signals, the Bluetooth signals including data;
a control unit coupled to the RFID tag unit, the Bluetooth unit, and the electrical device, the control unit including a microcontroller and a memory;
a sensor unit connected to the control unit;
a relay unit connected to the control unit and to the electrical device; and at least one external smartphone including functionality for exchanging Bluetooth signals with the Bluetooth unit, and functionality of generating RF
signals and exchanging data with the RFID tag unit when the smartphone is placed in close proximity to the RFID tag unit, wherein the RFID tag and the Bluetooth units include functionalities for processing the data, saving the data on their memories and sending a wakeup signal to the control unit, wherein the control unit includes functionality capable of reading the data from the RFID tag and Bluetooth units, processing the data and sending a control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit in accordance with instructions contained in the data, operating the electrical device between one state and another state in response to the control signal, wherein the sensor unit includes functionality for monitoring a condition of the electrical device and for causing the control unit to send the control signal to the relay unit when the condition is deemed to be abnormal, the control signal causing the relay unit to place the electrical device into the deactivation state (turned-off state).

78. The smart hybrid system of claim 77, wherein the RFID tag unit is a passive RFID tag having no internal or external electric power source connected thereto.

79. The smart hybrid system of claim 77, wherein the RFID tag unit is selected from the group consisting of a passive RFID tag having no internal or external electric power source connected thereto, an active RFID tag, and a semi-active RFID tag.

80. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 79, wherein the at least one antenna is selected from the group consisting of a loop antenna, a coil antenna, a dipole antenna, a slot antenna, and a patch antenna.

81. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 80, wherein the smartphone is a mobile device (or any electrical device) enabled with near filed communication (NFC) protocol and Bluetooth communication protocol.

82. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 81, wherein the data generated by the smartphone includes a password and a smartphone ID, and the RFID microchip includes functionality capable of comparing the password received from the smartphone to a RFID tag unit password stored in the memory of the RFID
microchip, and the RFID microchip includes functionality capable of comparing the smartphone ID
to a list of authorized IDs stored in the memory of the RFID microchip, wherein if the password received from the smartphone matches the RFID tag unit password and if the smartphone ID matches one of the list of authorized IDs, the RFID microchip stores the data in one or more specified locations in the memory of the RFID microchip.

83. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 82, wherein the Bluetooth unit is any adequate Bluetooth module that can communicate with the smartphone over Bluetooth communication protocol.

84. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 83, wherein the data generated by the smartphone includes a password and a smartphone ID, and the Bluetooth unit includes functionality capable of comparing the password received from the smartphone to a Bluetooth unit password stored in its memory, and the Bluetooth unit includes functionality capable of comparing the smartphone ID to a list of authorized IDs stored in its memory, wherein if the password received from the smartphone matches the Bluetooth unit password and if the smartphone ID matches one of the list of authorized IDs, the Bluetooth unit stores the data in one or more specified locations in its memory.

85. The smart hybrid system of claims 82 and 84, wherein the control unit includes functionality capable of comparing the password received from the smartphone to a control unit password, wherein if the password received from the smartphone matches the control unit password, the control unit performs a function specified in the data.

86. The smart hybrid system of claim 85, wherein the function is selected from the group of functions consisting of sending the control signal to the electrical device, sending the control signal to the relay unit, sending information back to the smartphone, saving the data in the memory of the control unit, changing the control unit password, and combinations thereof.

87. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 86, including a connection to an external power supply and means for providing power to the control unit, the relay unit, the Bluetooth unit and the electrical device.

88. The smart hybrid system of claim 87, wherein the means for providing power to the relay unit includes an AC-DC converter and the means for supplying power to the control unit includes the AC-DC converter and a voltage regulator.

89. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 88, wherein the RF
signals are selected from the group consisting of low frequency RF signals, high frequency RF signals, ultra-high frequency RF signals, and microwave signals.

90. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 89, wherein the RFID tag unit includes at least two antennas.

91. The smart hybrid system of claims 82 and 84, wherein the smartphone includes functionality capable of updating the RFID tag unit password and the Bluetooth unit password by including a change password command in the data.

92. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 91, wherein the smartphone includes functionality to include smartphone identity information in the data, and the RFID tag and the Bluetooth units include functionalities to read the smartphone identity information and store the smartphone identity information in their memories.

93. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 92, wherein the smartphone includes functionality to include at least one time and date in the data, and both the RFID tag and the Bluetooth units include functionalities to read the at least one time and date and store the at least one time and date in their memories, and the control unit includes functionality to read the at least one time and date and send the control signal to the electrical device and the relay unit at the at least one time and date.

94. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 93, further including a sensor unit connected to the control unit, the sensor unit including functionality for monitoring a condition of the electrical device and for causing the control unit to send the control signal to the relay unit when the condition is deemed to be abnormal, the control signal causing the relay unit to place the electrical device into the deactivation state, wherein the deactivation state is a turned-off state.

95. The smart hybrid system of claim 94, wherein the sensor unit is selected from the group consisting of an electric current flow sensor, a power consumption sensor, a heat sensor, and a fire sensor, and combinations thereof.

96. The smart hybrid system of claim 94 or 95, further including an alarm system connected to the control unit for providing a warning signal when the condition is deemed to be abnormal.

97. The smart hybrid system of claim 96, wherein the warning signal is selected from the group consisting of a light and a sound and combinations thereof.

98. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 97, wherein the control unit remains in a low power sleep mode until it receives the wakeup signal from the RFID tag unit or the Bluetooth unit.

99. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77-98, wherein the wakeup signal further originates from a device reset, a watchdog timer, or any peripheral module (external interrupt, change on port pin, comparators, A/D converters, Timers, LCD).

100. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 99, wherein the smartphone includes functionality capable of deactivating the Bluetooth unit at the at least one time and date to reduce the power consumption of the Bluetooth unit, and to reduce the interference between the Bluetooth unit and the other nearby Bluetooth-based electrical devices.

101. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 100, wherein the smartphone includes functionality to include at least one time and date in the data, and the RFID tag unit includes functionality to read the at least one time and date and store the at least one time and date in its memory, and the control unit includes functionality to read the at least one time and date and send the control signal to the Bluetooth unit to activate (or deactivate) it at the at least one time and date.

102. The smart hybrid system of any one of claims 77 to 101, wherein the electrical device is selected from the group including but not limited to a TV, a home appliance, an air conditioning, a heater, a light switch, an electrical outlet, an electrical charger/adapter, a dimmer, a USB charging port, an electrical extension cord, climate control, an electrical fan, an electrical door lock, an electrical garage door.