Method of configuring a startup sequence of a load control system

• US 20080067959A1
• 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 7,741,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/324
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control

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 method of configuring a lighting control system to power up a plurality of the lighting loads in sequence to reduce stress on the power distribution system. The lighting control system includes a plurality of load control devices for controlling the electrical loads. The method comprising the steps of enabling a startup-delay mode in the load control devices, and determining a startup sequence having a plurality of event times for the electrical loads to turn on after the power distribution system has stabilized. A graphical user interface may be used to create a database defining the operation of the startup sequence.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a load control system having a plurality of load control devices for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power distribution system to a plurality of electrical loads, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling a startup-delay mode in at least one of the plurality of the load control devices; and

determining a first time for the at least one of the plurality of electrical loads to turn on after the power distribution system has stabilized.

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

determining a startup sequence including a plurality of event times for the plurality of electrical loads to turn on after the power distribution system has stabilized.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

creating a database including the plurality of event times of the startup sequence.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

transmitting at least a portion of the database to a first load control device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of:

receiving the portion of the database at the first load control device;

wherein the step of enabling a startup-delay mode comprises setting a startup-delay mode bit in a memory of the first load control device in response to the step of receiving the portion of the database.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the portion of the database includes an event time for the first load control device, the method further comprising the step of:

storing the event time in the memory of the first load control device.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the database to a central processor of the lighting control system.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

configuring an input for receipt of a control signal representative of stable operation of the power distribution system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of configuring an input comprises selecting an input for providing the control signal representative of stable operation of the power distribution system.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of selecting an input comprises selecting a contact closure input.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of configuring an input comprises selecting a timeout period after which the plurality of electrical loads are controlled normally if the control signal is not received.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of determining a startup sequence comprises using a graphical user interface to enter a plurality of event times for the plurality of electrical loads to turn on.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining a startup sequence comprises:

selecting a first load control module; and

entering a first event time for the first load control module to turn on the electrical load coupled to the first load control module after the power distribution system has stabilized.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of determining a startup sequence comprises:

selecting a panel of load control modules; and

entering a first event time for the load control modules of the panel to turn on the electrical loads after the power distribution system has stabilized.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the event times are assigned on a module-by-module basis.

16. The method of claim 2, wherein the event times are assigned on a panel-by-panel basis.

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

storing the first time in the at least one of the plurality of load control devices.

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

storing the first time in a central processor of the load control system.

19. A method of configuring a load control system having a plurality of load control devices for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power distribution system to a plurality of electrical loads, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling a startup-delay mode; and

determining a startup sequence including first and second event times for turning on respective first and second electrical loads after the power distribution system has stabilized.

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

means for controlling the amount of power delivered to each of the plurality of electrical loads;

means for enabling a startup-delay mode; and

means for configuring a startup sequence to first and second event times for turning on respective first and second electrical loads after the power distribution system has stabilized.

21. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method of configuring a load control system having a plurality of load control devices for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power distribution system to a plurality of electrical loads, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling a startup-delay mode; and

determining a startup sequence including first and second event times for turning on respective first and second electrical loads after the power distribution system has stabilized.