Wireless Battery-Powered Remote Control Having Multiple Mounting Means

• US 20090251352A1
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Felegy, Edward M. JR., Jacoby, Elliot G., Altonen, Gregory, Snyder, Gregory M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,330,638 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6809 Control
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6818 using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/02 Bases, casings, or covers accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/025 Stands or organisers to facilitate location or operation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/088 by wireless means, e.g. infrared transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A remote control for a wireless load control system comprises a housing having a length and a width slightly smaller than the length and the width of an opening of a standard faceplate, respectively, such that the housing is adapted to be received within the opening of the standard faceplate. The remote control comprises a controller, a radio-frequency transmitter coupled to the controller, and a battery coupled to provide power to the controller and the radio-frequency transmitter, which are all contained within the housing. The remote control may be provided with multiple mounting means. For example, the remote control may be coupled to a lanyard, clipped to a car visor, rested on a table top, or mounted to a wall.

Claims

1. A remote control for a wireless load control system, the remote control comprising:

a controller;

a radio-frequency transmitter coupled to the controller;

a battery coupled to provide power to the controller and the radio-frequency transmitter; and

a housing containing the controller, the radio-frequency transmitter, and the battery;

wherein the housing has a length and a width slightly smaller than the length and the width of an opening of a standard faceplate, respectively, such that the housing is adapted to be received within the opening of the standard faceplate.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a slide-receiving portion adapted to receive a plurality of mounting structures.

3. The remote control of claim 2, further comprising:

a plate having two parallel slide rails extending along opposite sides of the plate;

wherein the slide-receiving portion of the housing comprises two parallel flanges arranged to slidingly receive the slide rails of the plate.

4. The remote control of claim 3, wherein the plate is adapted to be fastened to a substantially flat vertical surface to mount the housing to the surface.

5. The remote control of claim 4, further comprising:

a faceplate having a standard-sized opening and adapted to be mounted to the surface, such that an outer periphery of the housing is received within the opening of the faceplate.

6. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the plate is prevented from being removed from the slide-receiving portion when the housing is received within the opening of the faceplate.

7. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the faceplate comprises a multiple-gang faceplate having two standard-sized openings.

8. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the faceplate comprises a mounting hole for receipt of a screw to attach the faceplate to the vertical surface.

9. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the faceplate comprises a designer-style faceplate.

10. The remote control of claim 5, wherein the housing is characterized by a depth that is approximately equal to the distance between a front surface of the faceplate and the vertical surface.

11. The remote control of claim 4, wherein the plate comprises a mounting hole for receipt of a screw to attach the plate to the surface.

12. The remote control of claim 4, wherein the plate comprises an adhesive for attaching the plate to the surface.

13. The remote control of claim 3, further comprising:

a base portion connected to the plate, the base portion having a substantially flat surface for resting on a substantially flat horizontal surface.

14. The remote control of claim 13, wherein the plate is connected to the base portion at an angle from the horizontal surface, such that the housing is oriented at the angle from the horizontal surface.

15. The remote control of claim 3, further comprising a clip attached to the plate.

16. The remote control of claim 3, further comprising:

a lanyard attached to the housing.

17. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the length of the housing is approximately 2.605 inches and the width of the housing is approximately 1.280 inches.

18. The remote control of claim 17, wherein the housing is characterized by a depth less than approximately 0.5 inches.

19. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator provided in a surface of the housing, the controller operable to cause the radio-frequency transmitter to transmit a wireless transmission in response to an actuation of the actuator.

20. The remote control of claim 1, wherein in the wireless transmitter circuit comprises an RF transmitter.

21. A system for mounting a remote control for a wireless load control system, the remote control comprising a controller, a radio-frequency transmitter coupled to the controller, and a battery adapted to provide power to the controller and the radio-frequency transmitter, the system comprising:

a housing containing the controller, the wireless transmitter circuit, and the battery, the housing comprising a slide-receiving portion, the housing including an outer periphery having a length and a width slightly smaller than the length and the width of an opening of a standard faceplate, respectively;

a base portion having an extension adapted to be received in the slide-receiving portion, the base portion having a substantially flat surface for resting on a substantially flat horizontal surface;

a clip assembly comprising a clip and a plate portion adapted to be received in the slide-receiving portion; and

a slide-mount plate adapted to be received in the slide-receiving portion of the housing and adapted to be fastened to a substantially flat vertical surface to mount the housing to the surface, such that the periphery of the housing is sized to fit within the opening of the standard faceplate.

22. A remote load control device adapted to be mounted to a substantially flat vertical surface, the load control device comprising:

a controller;

a radio-frequency transmitter coupled to the controller;

a battery adapted to provide power to the controller and the radio-frequency transmitter;

a housing containing the controller, the wireless transmitter circuit, and the battery, the housing adapted to be mounted to the surface; and

a faceplate having a standard-sized opening;

wherein the housing has a length and a width slightly smaller than the length and the width of the standard-sized opening of the faceplate, respectively, such that the housing is received within the opening of the standard faceplate.

23. The remote load control device of claim 22, further comprising:

a slide-mount plate adapted to be fastened to the surface;

wherein the housing comprises a slide-receiving portion for receiving the slide-mount plate, such that the housing is coupled to the slide-mount plate.

24. A method of mounting a remote load control device to a substantially flat vertical surface, the remote load control device comprising a housing, the method comprising the steps of:

fastening the housing of the remote load control device to the surface; and

attaching a faceplate to the remote load control device, the faceplate having a standard-sized opening having dimensions slightly larger than the dimensions of the outer periphery of the housing of the remote load control device.

25. A system for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the system comprising:

a standard designer-style multi-gang faceplate having first and second openings of the same standard size;

a wall-mounted designer-style load control device mounted to an electrical wallbox provided in a wall, the load control device coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load for controlling the amount of power delivered to the load, the load control device comprising a bezel having a length and a width slightly smaller than the length and the width of the first opening of the faceplate, respectively; and

a remote control device comprising a controller, a radio-frequency transmitter coupled to the controller, a battery adapted to provide power to the controller and the radio-frequency transmitter, and a housing containing the controller, the wireless transmitter circuit, and the battery, the remote control device mounted to the wall immediately adjacent the electrical wallbox, the housing having a length and a width slightly smaller than the length and the width of the second opening of the faceplate, respectively;

wherein the faceplate is mounted such that the bezel of the load control device is received within the first opening of the faceplate and the housing of the remote control device is adapted to be received within the second opening of the faceplate.