Radio frequency lighting control system programming device and method

• US 20050102040A1
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Published: 05/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Kruse, Glen Andrew, Craze, Jason Douglass, Walko, Robert Francis Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,126,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/9
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

An independent radio frequency programming device automates a setup process for a lighting system with lighting control devices and master controls. The programming device intercepts communications between the lighting control devices and the master control during an initial setup phase. A start function permits the programming device to provide automated setup information to the master controls. Once the automated setup process completes, the lighting system is fully programmed with behavior functions for all lighting control devices.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a lighting control system having a plurality of system devices in communication with each other, at least one system device having a system identifier, comprising:

annunciating the system identifier;

acquiring the system identifier; and

programming the at least one system device in the control system with predetermined information.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising activating the at least one system device to place the at least one system device in a known condition.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising querying the at least one system device to acquire system configuration information.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising, prior to programming the at least one system device, querying the at least one system device to verify that the at least one system device is capable of being programmed with the predetermined information.

5. The method according to claim 2, further comprising, prior to programming the at least one system device, querying the at least one system device to verify that the at least one system device is capable of being programmed with the predetermined information.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising querying the at least one system device to acquire system configuration information.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising, prior to programming the at least one system device, querying the at least one system device to verify that the at least one system device is capable of being programmed with the predetermined information.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to programming the at least one system device, querying the at least one system device to verify that the at least one system device is capable of being programmed with the predetermined information.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information is a plurality of device-specific settings, so as to configure each system device for proper operation.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined information is a setting in the system device to one of enable and disable a device feature.

11. An apparatus for configuring a lighting control system having a plurality of system devices that communicate using communication signals, at least one system device having a system identifier, comprising:

a communication circuit for sending and receiving the communication signals;

a memory storage for storing predetermined programming information;

a processor coupled to the communication circuit and the memory storage, the processor operable to receive the system identifier and to transmit to the at least one system device the predetermined programming information.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further operable to determine that the at least one system device is in a known condition based on the communication signals that are received via the communication circuit.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to query the at least one system device to acquire system configuration information, after determining that the at least one system device is in the known condition.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further operable to query the at least one system device to verify that the at least one system device is capable of receiving the predetermined programming information, prior to transmitting the predetermined programming information to the at least one system device.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to query the at least one system device to verify that the at least one system device is capable of receiving the predetermined programming information, prior to transmitting the predetermined programming information to the at least one system device.

16. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further operable to query the at least one system device to acquire system configuration information.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further operable to query the at least one system device to verify that the at least one system device is capable of receiving the predetermined programming information, prior to transmitting the predetermined programming information to the at least one system device.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further operable to query the at least one system device to verify that the at least one system device is capable of receiving the predetermined programming information, prior to transmitting the predetermined programming information to the at least one system device.

19. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined programming information is a plurality of device-specific settings, so as to configure each system device for proper operation.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined programming information is a setting in the system device to one of enable and disable a device feature.