LIGHTING CONTROLLER

• US 20100207532A1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: C.P. Electronics Limited (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: C.P. Electronics Limited (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Mans, Paul
• Application Number:
  US12/517,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20100207532A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/158
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A device for replacing conventional wall mounted light switches in situ comprises a dimmer (1) and an occupancy sensor (4). These are arranged such that the electrical power of at least one output (2) can be varied manually and in response to signals generated by the occupancy sensor.

Claims

1. A lighting controller suitable for replacing a conventional wall-mounted light switch, the controller comprising:

a dimmer arranged to vary the electrical power of at least one electrical output of the controller;

a light sensor responsive to the intensity of visible light incident on the light sensor;

at least one manually-operable control; and

an occupancy sensor,

wherein the dimmer is arranged to vary the electrical power of the output in response to operation of the manually-operable control and in response to signals generated by the occupancy sensor and the dimmer is further arranged to vary the electrical power of the output by reference to signals generated by the light sensor.

2. A controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimmer is configured to vary the electrical power of the output in accordance with at least two operating regimes, one of the operating regimes being for the supply of power to incandescent lamps and another of the operating regimes being for the supply of power to non-incandescent lamps, and

wherein the controller is configured to select an operating regime by reference to the response of the light sensor when the dimmer varies the electrical power of the output.

3. A controller as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a light configured to illuminate when the intensity of the light detected by the light sensor is below a predetermined threshold.

4. A controller as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a timer, wherein the dimmer is further arranged to vary the electrical power of the output by reference to signals generated by the timer.

5. A lighting controller suitable for replacing a conventional wall-mounted light switch, the controller comprising:

a dimmer arranged to vary the electrical power of at least one electrical output of the controller;

at least one manually-operable control; and

a light sensor responsive to the intensity of visible light incident on the light sensor,

wherein the dimmer is arranged to vary the electrical power of the output in response to operation of the manually-operable control; and

wherein the dimmer is configured to vary the electrical power of the output in accordance with at least two operating regimes, one of the operating regimes being for the supply of power to incandescent lamps and another of the operating regimes being for the supply of power to non-incandescent lamps, and

wherein the controller is configured to select an operating regime by reference to the response of the light sensor when the dimmer varies the electrical power of the output.