AVidea Group (AViG), a consumer electronics manufacturer, is pleased to announce the introduction of iminate to the professional installation market. iminate will be shown for the first time in booth N3227 at InfoComm 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
iminate is being launched only after the products are in production with shipping set for June 2018. With more than a century in the home automation industry, the AVidea team wanted to create a smart home solution that would be easy, affordable and set up quickly.
Manufactured in Vietnam, iminate’s full suite of 14 products include electronic dimmers and motor controllers, door and window sensors, occupancy sensors, user interface devices, third-party system interfaces, smart phone apps and a browser-based management dashboard. The system provides a host of unique features with the primary function of simplifying energy management and automation.
All the control devices report energy usage in real-time. iminate requires no hub, meaning one product works by itself as well as it does as part of a system – so the system is easily scalable.
“We are excited to finally announce the launch of iminate,” said Joseph Howell, CEO of AVidea Group. “After three years in development, the mission with iminate is to provide robust, reliable automation products that simplify everything, all while being the low-cost provider in the market allowing dealers to increase profitability. While many OEM customers are taking advantage of our technology around the world, this is the first time it’s being offered to the installation community.”
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In addition to providing a flexible suite of products that fulfill most automation functions, iminate also interfaces with hundreds of third-party systems (from window shades to door locks to irrigation systems and many more); provides voice control via Amazon Echo and Google Assistant; and will control a Sonos system.
Introduced most recently, are the company’s Keypad and the Dimmer, which are scalable home automation solutions for home and building.
The Keypad provides simple, one-touch control of hundreds of devices. Lighting, door locks, window shades and music systems are just some of the applications. The Keypad’s status and backlights deliver instant feedback, communicating a variety of information, including the battery charge level of an electric car in the garage, weather alerts or if the garage is open or closed. Users can know all this and more at a glance. Users can even change the status of the Keypad to appear only when they’re approaching the system or simply set the color to match their deco, with more than a million colors from which to choose.
Available in four versions, to deliver ultimate flexibility, the Keypad HV (high voltage) installs in a standard wall box and accepts either AC or DC power. It’s two-button Decora design makes it perfect for three-way switch applications. The Keypad LV (low voltage) is for those locations where high-voltage wiring isn’t present. Power this with low-voltage on a Category wire, or simply put in a 9V battery. It will last up to a year, and the Keypad LV will let you know when it’s time to change the battery.
For ultimate flexibility, the Keypad SM (surface mount) accepts four AAA batteries and is surface mounted. Users can simply put it on the wall, or on a desk, or carry it around. Finally, the 5 Button has more buttons for applications that need it, such as music streamers, and can be used for lighting and other control as well.
The Dimmer has all the same features, and controls lighting or a fan. The Dimmer is specifically engineered to maximize the benefits of today’s digital lighting. Users can simply replace an existing light switch with the Dimmer, and suddenly a whole new world awaits. With the power to know exactly how much energy is being used, users can monitor and take control of energy bills at the single device level. The Dimmer contains a light sensor to monitor and maintain preset lighting levels to never allow the room to get dark, or surprise users by suddenly turning on the lights
Like all iminate products, no central hub is required, so scaling the system is easy. Users can start with a single Keypad or Dimmer and scale from there on their timetable, to meet a specified budget.
The Dimmer’s suggested retail is $129.95; the Keypad HV – $79.95; the Keypad LV – $59.95; the Keypad SM – $49.95; and the 5 Button – $79.95.
“The Dimmer and the Keypad provide homeowners and light-commercial owners with the power to control their space with the touch of a button,” Howell said. “One exciting feature of iminate is the ability to include devices from different buildings on the same system. They can be in the garage, next door, across town, or on the other side of the globe and still be part of a single system.”
