Controllable light source

• US 10,418,193 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2018
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Inventors: Swatsky, Matthew J., Osle, Daniel J., Newman, Jr., Robert C., Raneri, Daniel Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Brandon S
• Application Number:
  US16/127,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20190006130A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 315246-311
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/02 Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A controllable light source is provided that includes a load control circuit and an integrated lighting load. The controllable light source is configured to receive wirelessly communicated commands transmitted by a remote control device associated with the controllable light source, such as a rotary remote control device. The controllable light source may include an actuator for associating the controllable light source with the remote control device, such that the load control circuit is operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load in response to wireless signals received from the remote control device. The controllable light source may support the actuator such that the actuator may be actuated when the controllable light source is installed in a fixture.

Claims

1. A light source configured to be installed in a fixture, the light source comprising:

a housing comprising an end portion that is translucent;

a lighting load located inside the housing, the lighting load configured to shine light through the end portion of the housing;

an actuator that is manually operable at the end portion of the housing when the light source is installed in the fixture;

a wireless communication circuit configured to receive wireless control signals;

a load control circuit configured to control an amount of power delivered to the lighting load to adjust an intensity of the lighting load between a high-end intensity and a low-end intensity; and

a processor operatively coupled to the actuator, the processor configured to;

associate, in response to manual operation of the actuator, the light source with an external control device by storing a unique identifier of the external control device; and

control the load control circuit to adjust the intensity of the lighting load in response to wireless control signals that comprise the unique identifier received via the wireless communication circuit.

2. The light source of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a translucent button in the end portion of the housing.

3. The light source of claim 2, wherein the actuator protrudes through the end portion.

4. The light source of claim 2, wherein the actuator is flush with the end portion.

5. The light source of claim 2, wherein the actuator is recessed into the end portion of the housing.

6. The light source of claim 2, wherein the actuator is positioned along a perimeter of the end portion.

7. The light source of claim 2, wherein the light source is configured to be installed in a fixture that surrounds the housing and exposes the end portion allowing the actuator to be actuated when the light source is installed in the fixture.

8. The light source of claim 1, further comprising a base configured to electrically connect the light source to a power source, wherein the housing further comprises an intermediate portion that extends between the end portion of the housing and the base.

9. The light source of claim 8, wherein the actuator is supported by the housing and is configured to be actuated when the end portion of the housing is biased toward the base.

10. The light source of claim 8, wherein the base comprises a screw-in base that is configured to be screwed into a standard Edison socket.

11. The light source of claim 1, wherein the end portion of the housing defines an end surface and the actuator comprises a capacitive touch surface supported by the end surface.

12. The light source of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuit comprises a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to receive RF signals.

13. The light source of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory configured to store the unique identifier of the external control device after the light source is associated with the external control device.

14. The light source of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to adjust the high-end intensity of the lighting load in response to rotation of actuator.

15. The light source of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to be rotated to adjust a maximum power rating of the lighting load.

16. The light source of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to operate the lighting load at the maximum power rating when the load control circuit controls the lighting load to the high-end intensity.

17. A light source configured to be installed in a recessed lighting fixture and controlled in response to wireless control signals transmitted by an external control device, the light source comprising:

a housing comprising an end portion that is exposed when the light source is installed in the recessed lighting fixture;

a lighting load located inside the housing, the lighting load configured to shine light through the end portion of the housing;

an actuator that is manually operable at the end portion of the housing to associate the light source with the external control device;

a memory configured to store a unique identifier of the external control device upon association of the light source with the external control device; and

a control circuit configured to;

receive a wireless control signal; and

if the wireless control signal comprises the unique identifier of the external control device, adjust an intensity of the lighting load in accordance with the wireless control signal.

18. The light source of claim 17, wherein the control circuit is configured to:

receive the unique identifier of the external control device in response to manual operation of the actuator; and

associate the light source with the external control device based on receipt of the unique identifier.

19. The light source of claim 17, wherein the actuator comprises a translucent button in the end portion of the housing, and the actuator is operable by depressing the translucent button.

20. The light source of claim 17, wherein the end portion of the housing defines an end surface, the actuator comprising a capacitive touch surface supported by the end surface of the housing, the actuator operable by touching the capacitive touch surface.

21. The light source of claim 17, further comprising:

a load control circuit configured to control an amount of power delivered to the lighting load to adjust an intensity of the lighting load between a high-end intensity and a low-end intensity.

22. The light source of claim 21, wherein the actuator is configured to be rotated to adjust a maximum power rating of the lighting load.

23. The light source of claim 22, wherein the control circuit is configured to operate the lighting load at the maximum power rating when the load control circuit controls the lighting load to the high-end intensity.