Configurable device control network

• US 10,063,002 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deako, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Deako, Inc.
• Inventors: Richardson, Derek, Prendergast, Patrick, Wilson, Cole, Anderson, Erik, Olson, Dana
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Dinh T
• Application Number:
  US15/074,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20170062968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 307 40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/724 containing contact members forming a right angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2407 characterized by the resilient means
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6275 Latching arms not integral with the housing H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2107/00 Four or more poles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 24/62 Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/08 Distribution boxes; Connection or junction boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/12 for flush mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/16 structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0017 with operator interface units
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0221 Locks; Latches
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0256 of interchangeable modules or receptacles therefor, e.g. cartridge mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/03 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A network includes a first device control assembly and at least one second device control assembly. The first device control assembly is electrically connected to a power distribution panel. The first device control assembly is further configured to regulate a load. The at least one second device control assembly is electrically connected to a power distribution panel. The first device control assembly is in data communication with the at least one second device control assembly. The first device control assembly regulating the load based on the data communication from the at least one second device control assembly.

Claims

1. A network of backplates, comprising:

two or more backplates configured to mount to one or more electrical junction boxes, the two or more backplates configured to couple with any of two or more device control assemblies, wherein the two or more device control assemblies are configured to be in data communication with each other, each backplate of the two or more backplates comprising;

a backplate junction box electrical connector configured to connect to electrical wiring within an electrical junction box of the one or more electrical junction boxes;

a housing providing a cavity to receive any device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies;

a set of backplate electrical contacts configured to connect to the backplate junction box electrical connector;

a cover, the cover configured to shield the set of backplate electrical contacts from the cavity when translated to a closed position by a user, the cover further configured to expose the set of backplate electrical contacts to the cavity when translated to an open position by the user; and

a lock configured to maintain the cover in the closed position unless a device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies is inserted into the cavity, wherein inserting the device control assembly into the cavity by the user engages the lock to allow the cover to be translated to the open position by the user to connect the set of backplate electrical contacts to a set of device control assembly electrical contacts on the device control assembly.

2. The network of backplates of claim 1, wherein the two or more device control assemblies are configured to be in data communication with each other via a wired data pathway.

3. The network of backplates of claim 2, wherein the wired data pathway includes a wired electrical connection between a backplate of the two or more backplates and the electrical wiring within an electrical junction box of the one or more electrical junction boxes.

4. The network of backplates of claim 1, wherein the network further comprises:

at least one of a sensor, a luminaire, a mobile device, or an electrical appliance.

5. The network of backplates of claim 1, wherein the lock is configured to restrict motion of the cover when the cover is in the closed position, wherein inserting the device control assembly into the cavity by the user translates the lock to provide clearance for the user to translate the cover to to the open position.

6. The network of backplates of claim 5, wherein the lock includes a graded portion, wherein contact between the device control assembly and the graded portion of the lock translates the lock to provide clearance for the user to translate the cover to the open position.

7. The network of backplates of claim 1, wherein the set of backplate electrical contacts comprises:

a set of spring contacts.

8. The network of backplates of claim 7, wherein the set of spring contacts comprises:

a set of spring finger contacts.

9. The network of backplates of claim 7, wherein the set of device control assembly electrical contacts comprises:

a set of electrical contact pads.

10. The network of backplates of claim 1, wherein the backplate is configured to couple or decouple with the device control assembly when the backplate junction box electrical connector is connected to live power via the electrical wiring within the electrical junction box.

11. The network of backplates of claim 1, wherein the two or more device control assemblies include at least one of a switch, a dimmer, an outlet, a sensor, or a control panel.

12. A network of device control assemblies, comprising:

two or more device control assemblies configured to couple with any of two or more backplates, wherein the two or more device control assemblies are configured to be in data communication with each other, the two or more backplates configured to mount to one or more electrical junction boxes and further configured to connect to electrical wiring within the one or more electrical junction boxes, each backplate of the two or more backplates comprising;

a housing providing a cavity to receive a device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies, the device control assembly including a set of device control assembly electrical contacts;

a set of backplate electrical contacts configured to connect to the electrical wiring within an electrical junction box of the one or more electrical junction boxes;

a cover, the cover configured to shield the set of backplate electrical contacts from the cavity when translated to a closed position by a user, the cover further configured to expose the set of backplate electrical contacts to the cavity when translated to an open position by the user; and

a lock configured to maintain the cover in the closed position unless a device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies are inserted into the cavity, wherein inserting the device control assembly into the cavity by the user engages the lock to allow the cover to be translated to the open position by the user to connect the set of backplate electrical contacts to a set of device control assembly electrical contacts on the device control assembly.

13. The network of device control assemblies of claim 12, wherein the two or more device control assemblies include at least one of a switch, a dimmer, an outlet, a sensor, or a control panel.

14. The network of device control assemblies of claim 12, wherein a first device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies is configured to regulate an electrical load.

15. The network of device control assemblies of claim 14, wherein the first device control assembly is configured to regulate the electrical load through regulation of at least one of a current or a voltage to the electrical load.

16. The network of device control assemblies of claim 14, wherein the first device control assembly is configured to be in data communication with the electrical load, wherein the first device control assembly regulates the electrical load based on data communication with the electrical load.

17. The network of device control assemblies of claim 14, wherein the first device control assembly is configured to regulate the electrical load based on data communication from a second device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies in response to user input on the second device control assembly.

18. The network of device control assemblies of claim 17, wherein the second device control assembly is assigned to operate the electrical load via the first device control assembly based on a pairing between the second device control assembly and the electrical load.

19. The network of device control assemblies of claim 18, wherein the pairing is determined by the second device control assembly.

20. The network of device control assemblies of claim 18, wherein the pairing is determined by a controller.

21. The network of device control assemblies of claim 20, wherein the controller includes a centralized controller.

22. The network of device control assemblies of claim 21, wherein the centralized controller comprises:

at least one of a hub, a server, or a desktop computer.

23. The network of device control assemblies of claim 20, wherein the controller includes a distributed controller.

24. The network of device control assemblies of claim 23, wherein the distributed controller comprises:

at least two of the two or more device control assemblies.

25. The network of device control assemblies of claim 17, wherein the second device control assembly is configured to operate regulate an additional load via an additional device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies, wherein the additional device control assembly is configured to regulate the additional load.

26. The network of device control assemblies of claim 25, wherein the additional device control assembly is the first device control assembly.

27. The network of device control assemblies of claim 12, wherein the two or more device control assemblies are configured to be in data communication with each other via a network topology comprising:

at least one of a mesh topology, a star topology, a ring topology, a line topology, a tree topology, or a bus topology.

28. The network of device control assemblies of claim 27, wherein the network topology includes a flood mesh topology.

29. The network of device control assemblies of claim 12, wherein the two or more device control assemblies are configured to be in data communication with each other via at least one of a single-hop pathway or a multi-hop pathway.

30. The network of device control assemblies of claim 12, wherein the two or more device control assemblies are configured to be in data communication with each other via a wireless data pathway.

31. The network of device control assemblies of claim 30, wherein the wireless data pathway includes a radio frequency connection.

32. The network of device control assemblies of claim 30, wherein the wireless data pathway is based on a WiFi protocol, a Bluetooth Low Energy protocol, a ZigBee protocol, or a Z-wave protocol.

33. The network of device control assemblies of claim 12, wherein the two or more device control assemblies are configured to be in data communication with each other via a wired data pathway.

34. The network of device control assemblies of claim 33, wherein the wired data pathway comprises:

one or more electrical wires associated with the electrical wiring within the one or more electrical junction boxes.

35. The network of device control assemblies of claim 33, wherein the wired data pathway is based on a universal powerline bus protocol, an X10 protocol, a LonTalk protocol, a Homeplug AV protocol, or a Powerline AV protocol.

36. The network of device control assemblies of claim 12, wherein the network further includes:

at least one of a sensor, a luminaire, a mobile device, or an electrical appliance.

37. A network of modular control units, comprising:

two or more device control assemblies configured to be in data communication with each other; and

two or more backplates configured to couple with any of the two or more device control assemblies, each of the two or more backplates configured to mount to one or more electrical junction boxes and further configured to connect to electrical wiring within the one or more electrical junction boxes, each backplate of the two or more backplates comprising;

a housing providing a cavity to receive any device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies;

a set of backplate electrical contacts configured to connect to the electrical wiring of an electrical junction box of the one or more electrical junction boxes;

a cover, the cover configured to shield the set of backplate electrical contacts from the cavity when translated to a closed position by a user, the cover further configured to expose the set of backplate electrical contacts to the cavity when translated to an open position by the user; and

a lock configured to maintain the cover in the closed position unless a device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies is inserted into the cavity, wherein inserting the device control assembly into the cavity by the user engages the lock to allow the cover to be translated to the open position by the user to connect the set of backplate electrical contacts to a set of device control assembly electrical contacts on the device control assembly.

38. The network of modular control units of claim 37, wherein the two or more device control assemblies includes at least one of a switch, a dimmer, an outlet, a sensor, or a control panel.

39. The network of modular control units of claim 37, wherein a first device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies is configured to regulate an electrical load.

40. The network of modular control units of claim 39, wherein the first device control assembly is configured to regulate the electrical load through regulation of at least one of a current or a voltage to the electrical load.

41. The network of modular control units of claim 39, wherein the first device control assembly is configured to be in data communication with the electrical load, wherein the first device control assembly regulates the electrical load based on data communication with the electrical load.

42. The network of modular control units of claim 39, wherein the first device control assembly is configured to regulate the electrical load based on data communication from a second device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies in response to user input on the second device control assembly.

43. The network of modular control units of claim 42, wherein the second device control assembly is assigned to operate the electrical load via the first device control assembly based on a pairing between the second device control assembly and the electrical load.

44. The network of modular control units of claim 39, wherein the second device control assembly is configured to operate an additional load via an additional device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies, wherein the additional device control assembly is configured to regulate the additional load.

45. The network of modular control units of claim 44, wherein the additional device control assembly is the first device control assembly.

46. The network of modular control units of claim 37, wherein the network further includes:

at least one of a sensor, a luminaire, a mobile device, or an electrical appliance.