Method of powering up a plurality of loads in sequence

• US 20080067871A1
• Filed: 09/13/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Orchowski, Neil, Black, Richard L., Valenta, Brian R., Petrella, Jason P., Hnatow, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 7,566,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/41
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment

Abstract

Power distribution systems that have a limited peak power capability or a high source impedance, such as site supply generators, are often susceptible to abnormal operation in response to the current drawn at power up from the loads connected to the power distribution system. The present invention provides a lighting control system operable to power up a plurality of the lighting loads in sequence to reduce stress on the power distribution system. The lighting loads are each turned on as part of a startup sequence at predetermined times after an output voltage of the power distribution system has stabilized. The lighting control system is operable to begin the startup sequence in response to receiving a control signal representative that the power distribution system has stabilized. The lighting loads are each controlled by a lighting control module, which is operable to wait for a predetermined amount of time for the startup sequence to begin before turning on the lighting loads.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the amount of power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads from a power distribution system in order to prevent abnormal operation of the power distribution system, the method comprising the step of:

sequentially powering up each of the plurality of loads.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sequentially starting up each of the plurality of loads comprises:

powering up a first one of the plurality of loads at a first time; and

powering up a second one of the plurality of loads at a second time different than the first time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of sequentially powering up each of the plurality of loads further comprises:

powering up a third one of the plurality of loads at a third time different than the first and second times.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first, second, and third times are configurable by a user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing a control signal representative of the power distribution system stabilizing.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:

receiving the control signal representative of the power distribution system stabilizing;

wherein the step of sequentially powering up each of the plurality of loads comprises sequentially powering up each of the plurality of loads at predetermined times in response to the step of receiving the control signal.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

receiving the control signal representative of the power distribution system stabilizing; and

transmitting on a communication link a digital message representative of the control signal.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

receiving a digital message on a communication link;

wherein the step of sequentially powering up each of the plurality of loads comprises sequentially powering up each of the plurality of loads at predetermined times in response to the step of receiving a digital message.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

delaying a predetermined amount of time after the power distribution system has stabilized before sequentially powering up each of the plurality of loads.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

supplying to each of the plurality of loads a predetermined amount of power after a predetermined amount of time has expired since the power distribution system has started up.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrical loads comprise a plurality of lighting loads.

12. A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads from a power distribution system, the load control system comprising:

a plurality of load control devices, each load control device coupled to one of the plurality of electrical loads, the load control devices operable to turn on each of the electrical loads in sequence in response to the AC power source powering up to prevent abnormal operation of the power distribution system.

13. The load control system of claim 12, further comprising:

a central processor operatively coupled to the load control devices for controlling the amount of power delivered to each of the plurality of load control devices.

14. The load control system of claim 13, wherein the central processor is operable to control when each of the electrical loads turns on in sequence.

15. The load control system of claim 14, wherein the central processor includes a startup sequence schedule defining the times when each of the electrical loads turns on.

16. The load control system of claim 15, wherein the central processor is operable to receive a control signal from the power management system, the control signal representative of stable operation of the power distribution system.

17. The load control system of claim 16, wherein the central processor begins the startup sequence schedule in response to the control signal representative of stable operation of the power distribution system.

18. The load control system of claim 16, wherein the central processor waits for the control signal to be representative of stable operation of the power distribution system for a predetermined amount of time before turning on the lighting loads.

19. The load control system of claim 16, wherein the control signal representative of stable operation of the power distribution system is a contact closure output signal.

20. The load control system of claim 12, further comprising:

first and second central processors operatively coupled to the load control devices for controlling the amount of power delivered to each of the plurality of load control devices, the first and second central processor coupled to a communication link for transmitting and receiving digital messages, the first and second central processors operable to turn on each of the electrical loads in sequence as part of a startup sequence schedule.

21. The load control system of claim 20, wherein the first central processor is operable to receive a control signal representative of stable operation of the power distribution system, and to transmit a digital message representative of the control signal to the second central processor.

22. The load control system of claim 21, wherein the first central processor begins the startup sequence schedule in response to receiving the control signal representative of stable operation of the power distribution system, and the second central processor begins the startup sequence schedule in response to receiving the digital message representative of the control signal.

23. The load control system of claim 12, wherein each of the load control devices waits to receive a control signal representative of a desired amount of power to be delivered to the respective electrical load for a predetermined amount of time before turning on the electrical load.

24. The load control system of claim 12, wherein each of the load control devices knows when to turn the electrical loads on such that the electrical loads turn on in sequence.

25. The load control system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of electrical loads comprise a plurality of lighting loads.