Method of optically transmitting digital information from a smart phone to a control device
First Claim
1. A control device for controlling an electrical load comprising:
- a wireless communication module configured to receive wireless communications on a wireless network;
a controller responsive to the wireless communication module; and
an optical module configured to receive an optical signal comprising programming instructions from at least one of a visual display or a camera flash light source of a wireless device, wherein the programming instructions are configured to enable the wireless communication module to receive messages via the wireless communications on the wireless network; and
wherein the controller is configured, in response to the programming instructions in the optical signal received from the at least one of the visual display or the camera flash light source of the wireless control device, to connect to the wireless network and receive the messages on the wireless network via the wireless communication module, the controller further configured to control the electrical load in response to the messages received via the wireless communications on the wireless network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between the source and the load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals directly from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal received from the wireless network that includes the IP address.
277 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A control device for controlling an electrical load comprising:
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a wireless communication module configured to receive wireless communications on a wireless network; a controller responsive to the wireless communication module; and an optical module configured to receive an optical signal comprising programming instructions from at least one of a visual display or a camera flash light source of a wireless device, wherein the programming instructions are configured to enable the wireless communication module to receive messages via the wireless communications on the wireless network; and wherein the controller is configured, in response to the programming instructions in the optical signal received from the at least one of the visual display or the camera flash light source of the wireless control device, to connect to the wireless network and receive the messages on the wireless network via the wireless communication module, the controller further configured to control the electrical load in response to the messages received via the wireless communications on the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a wireless communication module configured to receive wireless communications; an optical module operable to receive a free-space, visible-light optical signal comprising instructions from at least one of a visual display or a camera flash light source of a wireless control device, wherein the instructions are configured to enable the wireless communication module to receive digital messages via the wireless communications on a wireless network; and a controller configured, in response to the instructions in the optical signal received from the at least one of the visual display or the camera flash light source of the wireless control device, to connect to the wireless network and receive the digital messages on the wireless network via the wireless communication module, the controller further configured to transmit messages including status information of an electrical load via the wireless communications on the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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17. A method for establishing wireless communications for a control device on a wireless network, the method comprising:
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determining an SSID and a password to be sent to the control device, wherein the SSID and the password are configured to enable the control device to receive messages via the wireless communications on the wireless network; optically transmitting the SSID and the password to the control device via free-space, visual-light transmission from at least one of a visual display or a camera flash light source of a wireless device; and receiving messages for controlling an electrical load via the wireless communications on the wireless network using the SSID and the password received via the free-space, visual-light transmission. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification