Load control system having independently-controlled units responsive to a broadcast controller
First Claim
1. A load control system comprising:
- a plurality of wireless transmitters configured to transmit wireless signals;
a plurality of load control devices, each of the plurality of load control devise adapted to control at least one respective electrical load, the plurality of load control devices including a first load control device that is configurable to be responsive to wireless signals transmitted by one or more of the plurality of wireless transmitters by controlling the respective electrical load based on the wireless signals received from the one or more wireless transmitters; and
a controller configured to enter an association mode, and while in the association mode;
receive a first digital message from the first load control device, the first digital message including a unique identifier of the first load control device;
subsequent to receiving the first digital message, receive a second digital message from the first load control device, wherein the first load control device is configured to include in the second digital message a unique identifier of a first one of the plurality of wireless transmitters when the first load control device has been configured to be responsive to wireless signals transmitted by the first one of the wireless transmitters; and
associate the first load control device with the controller such that the first load control device is responsive to wireless signals transmitted from the controller to the first load control device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a plurality of electrical load includes a plurality of independent units responsive to a broadcast controller. Each independent unit includes at least one commander and at least one energy controller for controlling at least one of the electrical loads in response to a control signal received from the commander. The independent units are configured and operate independent of each other. The broadcast controller transmits wireless signals to the energy controllers of the independent units. The energy controllers do not respond to control signals received from the commanders of other independent units, but the energy controllers of both independent units respond to the wireless signals transmitted by broadcast controller. The energy controller may operate in different operating modes in response to the wireless signals transmitted by the broadcast controller.
118 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A load control system comprising:
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a plurality of wireless transmitters configured to transmit wireless signals; a plurality of load control devices, each of the plurality of load control devise adapted to control at least one respective electrical load, the plurality of load control devices including a first load control device that is configurable to be responsive to wireless signals transmitted by one or more of the plurality of wireless transmitters by controlling the respective electrical load based on the wireless signals received from the one or more wireless transmitters; and a controller configured to enter an association mode, and while in the association mode; receive a first digital message from the first load control device, the first digital message including a unique identifier of the first load control device; subsequent to receiving the first digital message, receive a second digital message from the first load control device, wherein the first load control device is configured to include in the second digital message a unique identifier of a first one of the plurality of wireless transmitters when the first load control device has been configured to be responsive to wireless signals transmitted by the first one of the wireless transmitters; and associate the first load control device with the controller such that the first load control device is responsive to wireless signals transmitted from the controller to the first load control device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A controller for a load control system, the load control system including a plurality of wireless transmitters and a plurality of load control devices, each of the plurality of load control devices adapted to control at least one respective electrical load, the plurality of load control devices including a first load control device that is configurable to be responsive to wireless signals transmitted by one or more of the plurality of wireless transmitters by controlling the respective electrical load based on wireless signals received from the one or more wireless transmitters, the controller comprising:
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a radio-frequency communication circuit for transmitting and receiving digital messages via radio-frequency signals; and a processing device configured to; enter an association mode, and while in the association mode; receive a first digital message from the first load control device, the first digital message including a unique identifier of the first load control device; subsequent to receiving the first digital message, receive a second digital message from the first load control device, wherein the second digital message includes a unique identifier of at least a first one of the plurality of wireless transmitters when the first load control device has been configured to be responsive to wireless signals transmitted by the first one of the wireless transmitters; and associate the first load control device with the controller such that the first load control device is responsive to wireless signals transmitted from the controller to the first load control device via the radio-frequency communication circuit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A load control device configured to control an electrical load, the load control device comprising:
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a radio-frequency communication circuit for transmitting and receiving digital messages via radio-frequency signals; and a processing device configured to; store a unique identifier of a wireless transmitter to configure the load control device to be responsive to wireless signals received via the radio-frequency communication circuit from the wireless transmitter; receive wireless signals via the radio-frequency communication circuit from the wireless transmitter; based in part on being configured to be responsive to the wireless transmitter, control the electrical load in response to the wireless signals received via the radio frequency communication circuit from the wireless transmitter; receive via the radio-frequency communication circuit a first wireless signal from a controller, the first wireless signal including a query for unique identifiers of load control devices that are responsive to the wireless transmitter; determine in response to the first wireless signal that the load control device is responsive to the wireless transmitter; and transmit a second wireless signal to the controller in response to the determination, the second signal including a unique identifier of the load control device.
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30. A load control device configured to control an electrical load, the load control device comprising:
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a radio-frequency communication circuit for transmitting and receiving digital messages via radio-frequency signals; and a processing device configured to; store a unique identifier of a wireless transmitter to configure the load control device to be responsive to wireless signals received via the radio-frequency communication circuit from the wireless transmitter; receive wireless signals via the radio-frequency communication circuit from the wireless transmitter; based in part on being configured to be responsive to the wireless transmitter, control the electrical load in response to the wireless signals received via the radio frequency communication circuit from the wireless transmitter; receive via the radio-frequency communication circuit a first wireless signal from a controller, the first wireless signal including a query for unique identifiers of wireless transmitters to which the first load control device is responsive; determine in response to the first wireless signal that the load control device is responsive to the wireless transmitter; and transmit a second wireless signal to the controller in response to the determination, the second signal including the unique identifier of the wireless transmitter.
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31. A method performed by a controller for a load control system, the load control system including a plurality of wireless transmitters and a plurality of load control devices each adapted to control at least one respective electrical load, the plurality of load control devices including a first load control device that is responsive to wireless signals transmitted by a first wireless transmitter by controlling its respective electrical load based on wireless signals received from the first wireless transmitter, the method comprising:
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entering by the controller an association mode; while in the association mode; receiving by the controller a first digital message from the first load control device, the first digital message including a unique identifier of the first load control device; subsequent to receiving the first digital message, receiving by the controller a second digital message from the first load control device, wherein the second digital message includes a unique identifier of the first wireless transmitter to which the first load control device is responsive; creating by the controller an association between the first load control device and the controller such that the first load control device is responsive to wireless signals transmitted by the controller to the first load control device; and subsequent to creating the association, transmitting by the controller wireless signals to the first load control device using the unique identifier of the first load control device. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification