Control system for electrical devices

• US 20060125649A1
• Filed: 06/10/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Ostrovsky, Michael, Bruccoleri, Damon
• Granted Patent: US 7,683,755 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/086 with possibility of remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

Systems and techniques for a lighting control system include a control switch to control an electrical device and are disclosed herein. The control switch includes a master display to display status information of the electrical device. Additionally, a remote control switch couples to provide user-initiated commands to the control switch for controlling the electrical device. The remote control switch includes a display and receive signals from the control switch to display the same status information of the electrical device which enables a user in a location separate from the electrical device to accurately control the electrical device. A second embodiment of the control system may include a unidirectional switch which generates additional control signals that are transmitted to the control switch for control of the electrical device.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling an electrical device, comprising:

a control switch coupled to the electrical device to control the electrical device and to receive status information indicative of the state of the electrical device; and

at least one remote control switch, having a remote display, the at least one remote control switch coupled to the control switch to control the electrical device through the control switch, wherein the at least one remote control switch couples to receive the status information from the control switch to be displayed on the remote display.

2. The switching control system of claim 1, wherein the control switch further comprises a master display for simultaneously displaying corresponding status information of the electrical device.

3. The switching control system of claim 1, wherein the control switch and the at least one remote control switch are adapted to receive a plurality of user-command control signals to control the status of the electrical device.

4. The switching control system of claim 1, further comprising at least one unidirectional switch wherein the control switch responsive to the unidirectional switch provides a third control signal to the electrical device.

5. The switching control system of claim 1, wherein the remote display is a liquid crystal display (LCD).

6. The switching control system of claim 1, wherein the remote display is a plasma display panel (PDP).

7. The switching control system of claim 1, wherein the remote display comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

8. The switching control system of claim 1, wherein the remote display comprises a plurality of light emitting devices.

9. The switching control system of claim 2, wherein the master display comprises:

A first current limiting resistor coupled between the power supply rail and the first microprocessor;

A second current limiting resistor coupled to the first current limiting resistor;

A third current limiting resistor coupled to the first current limiting resistor;

a first light emitting diode coupled between the third current limiting resistor and the first microprocessor;

a second light emitting diode coupled between the second current limiting resistor and the first microprocessor;

a third light emitting diode and a fourth light emitting diode coupled in parallel between the second current limiting resistor and the first microprocessor; and

a fifth light emitting diode and a sixth light emitting diode coupled in parallel between the second current limiting resistor and the first microprocessor.

10. The switching control system of claim 2, wherein the master display is a liquid crystal display (LCD).

11. The switching control system of claim 2, wherein the master display is a plasma display panel (PDP).

12. The switching control system of claim 2, wherein the master display comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

13. The switching control system of claim 2, wherein the master display comprises a plurality of light emitting devices.

14. The switching control system of claim 3, wherein the control switch comprises:

a first plurality of actuators for user interface to receive a user command;

a first microprocessor coupled to the first plurality of actuators to generate a first control signal responsive to the user command, the first microprocessor couples to the external device to control the external device using the first control signal, the first microprocessor reads the status of the external device to generate a status signal indicative of the state of the electrical device; and

a first transceiver coupled between the first microprocessor and the remote control switch, the first transceiver coupled to receive the second control signal generated by the remote control switch to control the external device wherein the second control signal is transmitted to the first microprocessor.

15. The switching control system of claim 14, wherein the control switch further comprises a master display coupled to the first microprocessor wherein the master display couples to receive the status signal for displaying the status of the electrical device.

16. The switching control system of claim 14, wherein the external device is at least one light source and the first plurality of actuators include at least one user-accessible actuator for selecting the intensity level of the at least one light source.

17. The switching control system of claim 16, wherein the control switch further comprises:

a storage unit coupled to the first microprocessor for storing the intensity level selected by the user;

wherein the first microprocessor is responsive to the at least one user-accessible actuator in a first mode to select a minimum intensity level for the at least one light source;

wherein the first microprocessor is responsive to the at least one user-accessible actuator in a second mode to select a default intensity level for the at least one light source;

wherein the first microprocessor is responsive to the at least one user-accessible actuator in a third mode to select a fade rate of the at least one light source; and

wherein the first microprocessor is responsive to the at least one user-accessible actuator in a fourth mode to select a preset light intensity of the at least one light source, whereby the preset light intensity differs from the default intensity level and the at least one light source is caused to fade from any intensity level to the preset light intensity when at least one user-accessible actuator is actuated.

18. The switching control system of claim 17, wherein in the third mode an increase fade rate is selected, whereby the control switch controls the at least one light source to increase intensity at the increase fade rate.

19. The switching control system of claim 17, wherein in the third mode an decrease fade rate is selected, whereby the control switch controls the at least one light source to decrease intensity at the decrease fade rate.

20. The switching control system of claim 17, wherein when the at least one user-accessible actuator is actuated for a time greater than a predetermined period of time, the at least one light source will fade to the preset light intensity, ignoring the default intensity level.

21. The switching control system of claim 14, wherein the first plurality of actuators are mechanical actuators that are controllable by a user.

22. The switching control system of claim 14, wherein the first plurality of actuators are electromechanical actuators that are controllable by a user.

23. The switching control system of claim 14, wherein the first plurality of actuators are electro-optical actuators that are controllable by a user.

24. The switching control system of claim 14, wherein the first microprocessor is a Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) processor.

25. The switching control system of claim 14, wherein the first microprocessor is a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processor.

26. The switching control system of claim 3, wherein the remote control switch comprises:

a second plurality of actuators for user interface to receive a user command;

a second microprocessor coupled to the second plurality of actuators to generate the second control signal responsive to the user command, the second microprocessor coupled to the remote display; and

a second transceiver coupled to the second microprocessor, wherein the second transceiver transmits the second control signal to the control switch, and wherein the second transceiver couples to receive the status of the electrical device from the control switch for display on the remote display.

27. The switching control system of claim 26, wherein the external device is at least one light source and the second plurality of actuators include at least one user-accessible actuator for selecting the intensity level of the at least one light source.

28. The switching control system of claim 27, wherein the control switch further comprises:

a storage unit coupled to the second microprocessor for storing the intensity level selected by the user;

wherein the second microprocessor is responsive to the at least one user-accessible actuator in a first mode to select a minimum intensity level for the at least one light source;

wherein the second microprocessor is responsive to the at least one user-accessible actuator in a second mode to select a default intensity level for the at least one light source;

wherein the second microprocessor is responsive to the at least one user-accessible actuator in a third mode to select a fade rate of the at least one light source; and

wherein the second microprocessor is responsive to the at least one user-accessible actuator in a fourth mode to select a preset light intensity of the at least one light source, whereby the preset light intensity differs from the default intensity level and the at least one light source is caused to fade from any intensity level to the preset light intensity when at least one user-accessible actuator is actuated.

29. The switching control system of claim 28, wherein in the third mode an increase fade rate is selected, whereby the control switch controls the at least one light source to increase intensity at the increase fade rate.

30. The switching control system of claim 28, wherein in the third mode an decrease fade rate is selected, whereby the control switch controls the at least one light source to decrease intensity at the decrease fade rate.

31. The switching control system of claim 28, wherein when the at least one user-accessible actuator is actuated for a time greater than a predetermined period of time, the at least one light source will fade to the preset light intensity, ignoring the default intensity level.

32. The switching control system of claim 26, wherein the second plurality of actuators are mechanical actuators that are controllable by a user.

33. The switching control system of claim 26, wherein the second plurality of actuators are electromechanical actuators that are controllable by a user.

34. The switching control system of claim 26, wherein the second plurality of actuators are electro-optical actuators that are controllable by a user.

35. The switching control system of claim 26, wherein the second microprocessor is a Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) processor.

36. The switching control system of claim 26, wherein the second microprocessor is a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processor.

37. The switching control system of claim 4, wherein the unidirectional control switch comprises:

a third plurality of actuators coupled to a transmitter, wherein a third control signal is transmitted to the control switch for controlling the external device.

38. The switching control system of claim 37, wherein the third plurality of actuators are mechanical actuators that are controllable by a user.

39. The switching control system of claim 37, wherein the third plurality of actuators are electromechanical actuators that are controllable by a user.

40. The switching control system of claim 37, wherein the third plurality of actuators are electro-optical actuators that are controllable by a user.

41. The switching control system of claim 14, wherein the control switch further comprises:

an air-gap switch coupled to an input phase node for receiving an AC line voltage source;

a triac having a cathode terminal, an anode terminal and a gate terminal, the cathode terminal coupled to the air-gap switch, the first microprocessor coupled to the gate terminal to control the triac;

wherein the first transceiver includes a transmitter portion coupled to a receiver portion, the anode terminal coupled to the transmitter portion of the first transceiver, the first microprocessor coupled to a control input of the transmitter portion to control the operation of the transmitter portion;

a zero crossing detector circuit coupled between the anode terminal and the first microprocessor to detect the zero crossings of the AC line voltage source at predetermined intervals;

wherein the anode terminal, the zero cross detector circuit and the transmitter portion couple to form a load node, the electrical device coupled between the load node and the neutral node; and

an analog to digital converter coupled between the receiver portion and the first microprocessor for converting the second control signal and the third control signal received from the remote control switch and the unidirectional switch, respectively.

42. The switching control system of claim 41, wherein the first plurality of actuators comprises:

a first switch, a second switch and a third switch coupled in parallel between the first microprocessor and ground.

43. The switching control system of claim 41, wherein the transmitter portion comprises:

a diode coupled to the power supply rail;

a resistor coupled between the diode and the first microprocessor;

a second triac coupled between the load node and the travel node.

44. The switching control system of claim 41, wherein the receiver portion comprises:

a first resistor; and

a second resistor coupled to the first resistor, wherein the first resistor coupled between the first microprocessor and the second resistor, the second resistor coupled between the first microprocessor and the travel node.

45. The switching control system of claim 41, wherein the zero crossing detector circuit comprises:

a first resistor coupled to the anode terminal of the triac;

a first diode coupled between the first resistor and the power supply rail;

a second resistor coupled to the first microprocessor; and

a second diode coupled between the second resistor and ground.

46. The switching control system of claim 41, wherein the triac comprises:

a first triac portion, having a first cathode terminal, a first anode terminal and a first gate terminal, the first cathode terminal coupled to the air-gap switch, the first anode terminal coupled to the load node;

a second triac portion, having a second cathode terminal, a second anode terminal and a second gate terminal, the second cathode terminal coupled to the first gate terminal, the second anode terminal coupled to the first anode terminal and the zero crossing detector circuit;

a first resistor coupled between the first cathode terminal and the second gate terminal; and

a second resistor coupled between the second gate terminal and the first microprocessor.

47. The switching control system of claim 26, wherein the remote control switch further comprises:

a zero cross detector circuit coupled between a power supply rail and the first microprocessor to detect the zero crossings of the power supply at predetermined intervals, wherein the power supply rail and the zero crossing detector circuit couple to form a neutral node;

wherein the second transceiver includes a transmitter portion and a receiver portion coupled to form a travel node, wherein the travel node couples to the control switch for transmitting the second control signal and for receiving the status signal, the transmitter portion coupled to the zero cross detector circuit, the second microprocessor coupled to a control input of the transmitter portion to control the operation of the transmitter; and

an analog to digital converter coupled between the receiver portion and the second microprocessor for converting the status signal received from the control switch.

48. The switching control system of claim 47, wherein the second plurality of actuators comprises:

a first switch, a second switch and a third switch coupled in parallel between the first microprocessor and ground.

49. The switching control system of claim 4, wherein the unidirectional control switch comprises:

a resistor coupled to a neutral node;

a first switch, a second switch and a third switch coupled in parallel to the resistor, wherein the first switch coupled to a travel node, the travel node coupled to the control switch for transferring the third control signal to the control switch;

a first diode coupled between the second switch and the travel node; and

a second diode coupled between the third switch and the travel node.

57. A method of controlling an electrical device as recited in claim 40, further comprising the step of:

setting an increase fade rate of the control switch whereby the control switch controls the amount of power delivered to the electrical device at the increase fade rate.

58. A method of controlling an electrical device as recited in claim 40, further comprising the step of:

setting a decrease fade rate of the control switch whereby the control switch controls the amount of power delivered to the electrical device at the decrease fade rate.

50. A method of controlling the state and light intensity level of an electrical device coupled to a control switch, comprising:

receiving a first user-command to control the electrical device from the control switch;

generating a first control signal from the first user-command;

modifying a state of the electrical device responsive to the first control signal;

reading the state of the electrical device;

generating a status signal indicative of the state of the electrical device such that the status signal enables the state of the electrical device to be displayed on a remote display of at least one remote control switch coupled to the control switch; and

displaying the state of the electrical device on the remote display.

51. A method of controlling an electrical device as recited in claim 50, further comprising the step of:

displaying the state of the electrical device on a master display on the control switch.

52. A method of controlling an electrical device as recited in claim 50, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second user-command to control the electrical device from the remote control switch;

generating a second control signal from the second user-command;

modifying a state of the electrical device responsive to the second control signal;

generating a status signal indicative of the state of the electrical device such that the status signal enables the state of the electrical device to be displayed on the remote display; and

displaying the state of the electrical device on the remote display.

53. A method of controlling an electrical device as recited in claim 50, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a third user-command to control the electrical device from a unidirectional switch;

generating a third control signal from the third user-command, wherein the control switch modifies the state of the electrical device by using the third control signal generating a status signal indicative of the state of the electrical device such that the status signal enables the state of the electrical device to be displayed on the remote display; and

displaying the state of the electrical device on the remote display.

54. A method of controlling an electrical device as recited in claim 50, further comprising the step of:

setting a minimum intensity of the control switch whereby the electrical device is incremented and decremented using this minimum intensity.

55. A method of controlling an electrical device as recited in claim 50, further comprising the step of:

setting a preset intensity level of the control switch whereby the electrical device is set at by default upon system initiation.

56. A method of controlling an electrical device as recited in claim 50, further comprising the step of:

setting a fade rate of the control switch whereby the control switch controls the amount of power delivered to the electrical device at the fade rate.

59. A system for controlling an electrical load, the system comprising:

a control switch coupled to the electrical load; and

at least one remote control switch able to communicate with the control switch;

wherein the control switch controls the electrical load in accordance with command information generated from either switch and the control switch generates electrical load status information which is shown by a control switch main display and a remote control switch display.

60. A control switch for controlling an electrical coupled to the control switch, the control switch comprising:

a controller coupled to user accessible actuators is configured to generate command information in response to one or more engagement of said user accessible actuators, the controller further configured to also receive command information and generate electrical load status information as a result of a generated command or a received command which status information is used to display a status of the electrical load using a display coupled to said controller and/or a display in communication with said controller.