WIRING TOPOLOGY FOR A BUILDING WITH A WIRELESS NETWORK

• US 20090315668A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Light S/A
• Inventors: Klem, R. Craig, Leete, Lawrence F. III, Doman, Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US12/142,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20090315668A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.100
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A power and control system for minimizing home-run power lines to fixtures located throughout a building and wirelessly controlling fixtures according to zones defined irrespective of their wiring. Less “pipe and box” is necessary when branch circuits are not used to define zones. A building may be wired in order to minimize costs, while increasing flexibility and reliability by implementing wireless zone control.

Claims

1. A power and control system for a building comprising:

an electrical panel electrically connected to a power source;

a plurality of nodes distributed throughout said building connected with a power wiring topology that substantially minimizes the amount of wire used in said building to provide power to said plurality of nodes and wherein each of said plurality of nodes is controlled wirelessly; and

a controller for providing wireless zone control of said plurality of nodes, wherein said plurality of nodes may be controlled irrespective of said power wiring topology.

2. The power and control system of claim 1 wherein said power wiring topology consists of one home-run from said plurality of nodes to said electrical panel.

3. The power and control system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of nodes are assigned to a first zone or a second zone wherein said controller separately controls said first zone and said second zone.

4. The power and control system of claim 3 wherein one or more of said plurality of nodes are reassigned to a different zone without changing the power wiring topology.

5. The power and control system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of nodes is a lighting control module integrated into a lighting fixture.

6. The power and control system of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of nodes is connected to one or more lighting fixtures.

7. The power and control system of claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of nodes is powered by at least one of said connected lighting fixtures.

8. The power and control system of claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of nodes provides power to said one or more connected lighting fixtures.

9. A method of wiring and zoning a building with a wireless controller comprising:

installing an electrical panel in the building and connecting the electrical panel to a power source;

installing a plurality of nodes throughout the building;

wiring the plurality of nodes to the electrical panel with one or more home-run power lines, wherein said wiring substantially minimizes home-run power lines to the electrical panel and substantially minimizes circuit breakers; and

assigning each of the plurality of nodes to either a first zone or a second zone with the wireless controller, wherein one of the plurality of nodes in the first zone and one of the plurality of nodes in the second zone are connected to the electrical panel with the same home-run power line.

10. The method of wiring and zoning a building of claim 9 wherein said wiring consists of wiring the plurality of nodes to the electrical panel with one home-run power line and one circuit breaker.

11. The method of wiring and zoning a building of claim 9 further comprising reassigning one or more of said plurality of nodes to a different zone without changing said wiring.

12. The method of wiring and zoning a building of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of nodes is a lighting control module integrated into a lighting fixture.

13. The method of wiring and zoning a building of claim 9 further comprising wiring each of the plurality of nodes to one or more lighting fixtures.

14. The method of wiring and zoning a building of claim 13 further comprising powering each of said plurality of nodes through at least one of said connected lighting fixtures.

15. The method of wiring and zoning a building of claim 13 further comprising powering each of the one or more lighting fixtures through each of said connected plurality of nodes.

16. A power and control system for a building comprising:

an electrical panel electrically connected to a power source, wherein said electrical panel includes a control breaker and a branch circuit output;

a plurality of nodes distributed throughout said building connected so as to minimize the amount of wiring connecting the plurality of nodes;

an electrical path between the branch circuit output of the electrical panel and the plurality of nodes so as to minimize the amount of wiring connecting the electrical panel and the plurality of nodes, wherein the control breaker controls power to the plurality of nodes through the branch circuit output; and

a controller for providing wireless control of said plurality of nodes.

17. The power and control system of claim 16 wherein said electrical path between said branch circuit output and said plurality of nodes consists of one home-run.

18. The power and control system of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of nodes are assigned to a first zone or a second zone, and wherein said controller is capable of providing separate instructions to said plurality of nodes in said first zone than said plurality of nodes in said second zone.

19. The power and control system of claim 16 wherein one or more of said plurality of nodes are reassigned to a different zone without changing the wiring connecting the plurality of nodes or the electrical path between the branch circuit output and the plurality of nodes.

20. The power and control system of claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of nodes is a node integrated into or connected to a fixture.

21. A method of wiring and zoning a building with a wireless controller comprising:

installing an electrical panel in the building with only a single circuit breaker and connecting the electrical panel to a power source;

installing a plurality of nodes throughout the building;

wiring the plurality of nodes to the single circuit breaker in the electrical panel with only a single home-run power line; and

assigning each of the plurality of nodes to either a first zone or a second zone with the wireless controller.

22. A method of retrofitting and zonally controlling a building with a plurality of fixtures distributed throughout the building, the plurality of fixtures connected to a plurality of circuit breakers in an electrical panel by a plurality of home-run power lines, the method comprising:

installing a plurality of wireless control nodes throughout the building;

connecting a power line from each of the plurality of wireless control nodes to one of the fixtures distributed throughout the building;

connecting a control output from each of the plurality of wireless control nodes to at least one of the fixtures distributed throughout the building;

consolidating the plurality of home-run power lines to a single home-run power line that connects to a single circuit breaker;

providing a wireless controller;

assigning each of the plurality of nodes to either a first zone or a second zone with the wireless controller.

reassigning at least one of the plurality of nodes to a different zone, wherein no rewiring is necessary.

23. A power and control system for a building comprising:

an electrical panel electrically connected to a power source;

a plurality of nodes distributed throughout said building connected with a power wiring topology that includes one or more home-runs, wherein the power wiring topology substantially maximizes nodes connected to each home-run such that each home-run reaches its maximum rated capacity before nodes are connected to a different home-run and wherein each of said plurality of nodes is controlled wirelessly; and

a controller for providing wireless zone control of said plurality of nodes, wherein said plurality of nodes may be controlled irrespective of said power wiring topology.