Timed control system with shifted time features

• US 20050094493A1
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Walko, Robert F. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,310,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/28
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A control system with a clock or calendar based control has two time frames defined for assigning control events during different days of the week. The weekday time frame is defined as Sunday noon through Friday noon, while the weekend time frame is defined as Friday noon through Sunday noon. The defined timeframes are shifted from conventional definitions of weekday and weekend periods, which permits appropriate control scenarios to be realized that are closer to typical expectations. The control system uses a simple, two-timeframe control that permits greater flexibility in realizing lighting control applications without increased cost.

Claims

1. A time or calendar control system including time or date activated control events, the control system comprising:

a plurality of timeframes for obtaining separated control events;

a first timeframe having a control event at a first time within the first timeframe;

a second timeframe having a control event at a second time within the second timeframe; and

the first and second timeframes being defined to prevent interference between results of the control events at the first and second times.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second times is variable.

3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of timeframes is variable.

4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control event in the first timeframe is repeated within the first time frame at the first time.

5. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising an input for adjusting at least one of a timeframe and first or second time.

6. The control system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of timeframes is equal to or greater than about 24 hours.

7. The control system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of timeframes includes a plurality of control events.

8. The control system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of timeframes begins in a range between about midnight and noon.

9. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second timeframes represent weekdays and weekend days, respectively.

10. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising an output activated based on a control event.

11. A time or calendar control system including time or date activated control events, the control system comprising:

a plurality of timeframes for obtaining separated control events;

a first timeframe having a control event within the first timeframe;

a second timeframe being defined to avoid overlap with the first timeframe;

an operation of the first control event being completed before an end of the first timeframe; and

the first timeframe having a beginning point after midnight.

12. The control system according to claim 11, wherein the first timeframe is a weekday timeframe, and the second timeframe is a weekend timeframe.

13. The control system according to claim 12, wherein the beginning point is in the range of from about midnight to about noon on a specified day.

14. The control system according to claim 12, further comprising an ending time for the first time frame in the range of from about midnight on a Friday to about noon on a Friday.

15. A method for operating a time or calendar control system including two separate timeframes comprising:

setting a first control event in a first time frame;

setting a second control event in a second time frame;

applying the first and second control events in the control system to obtain a first and second control result; and

defining the first and second timeframe in the control system to prevent the first and second control results from interfering with each other.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising defining the first time frame to begin on Sunday afternoon and defining the second timeframe to begin on Friday afternoon.

17. A time or calendar control system comprising:

a first timeframe, beginning at a first specified time and ending at a second specified time, and capable of including a first event;

a second timeframe, beginning at a third specified time and ending at a fourth specified time, and capable including a second event;

wherein the first event, when included, is set to repeat operation on a daily time period basis within the first timeframe, and the second event, when included, is set to repeat operation on a daily time period basis within the second timeframe; and

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth specified times are not midnight or within one minute of midnight.

18. The control system according to claim 17, wherein the first timeframe is a weekday timeframe, and the second timeframe is a weekend time frame.

19. The control system according to claim 18, wherein the first and fourth specified times are around noon on Sunday and the second and third specified times are around noon on Friday.

20. The control system according to claim 17, further comprising an input;

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth specified times are variable based on the input.