DIGITAL LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM PROVIDING POWER AND COMMUNICATION VIA EXISTING POWER WIRING
First Claim
1. A load control system for controlling an electrical load receiving power from an AC power source, the load control system comprising:
- a load control device for controlling the electrical load; and
a controller adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the load control device, the controller operable to produce a phase-control voltage is adapted to be received by the load control device;
wherein the controller is operable to transmit a digital message to the load control device for controlling the load by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage, the phase-control voltage having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the controller is transmitting the digital message to the load control device.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load control system comprises a load control device for controlling an electrical load receiving power from an AC power source, and a controller adapted to be coupled in series between the source and the load control device. The load control system may be installed without requiring any additional wires to be run, and is easily configured without the need for a computer or an advanced commissioning procedure. The load control device receives both power and communication over two wires, and the controller generates a phase-control voltage that has at least one timing edge in each half-cycle, and transmits digital messages by modulating a timing edge of the phase-control voltage relative to a reference edge. The controller may be operable to receive inputs from a plurality of different input devices, and the load control device may be operable to control a plurality of different loads.
147 Citations
159 Claims
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1. A load control system for controlling an electrical load receiving power from an AC power source, the load control system comprising:
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a load control device for controlling the electrical load; and a controller adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the load control device, the controller operable to produce a phase-control voltage is adapted to be received by the load control device; wherein the controller is operable to transmit a digital message to the load control device for controlling the load by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage, the phase-control voltage having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the controller is transmitting the digital message to the load control device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A controller for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load by a load control device, the controller comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the load control device; and a control circuit coupled to the controllably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive each half-cycle of the AC power source to generate a phase-control voltage, the control circuit operable to render the controllably conductive device conductive for a portion of each half-cycle of the AC power source; wherein the control circuit is operable to transmit a digital message to the load control device for controlling the power delivered to the load by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage, the phase-control voltage having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the control circuit is transmitting the digital message to the load control device. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load in response to a controller, the load control device comprising:
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a load regulation circuit adapted to be coupled to the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load; and a control circuit coupled to the load regulation circuit for controlling the power delivered to the load in response to a phase-control voltage received from the controller; wherein the control circuit is operable to control the power delivered to the load in response to digital information encoded in the timing edges of the phase-control voltage, the phase-control voltage received from the controller having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the digital information is encoded in the timing edges of the phase-control voltage. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A retrofit kit comprising:
a load control device adapted to control the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load in response to a controller, the load control device operable to receive a phase-control voltage and to control the power delivered to the load in response to digital information encoded in timing edges of the phase-control voltage, the phase-control voltage received from the controller has at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the digital information is encoded in the timing edges of the phase-control voltage. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. A method of transmitting a digital message from a controller to a load control device for controlling an electrical load receiving power from an AC power source, the method comprising:
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the controller generating a phase-control voltage; the controller transmitting a digital message by encoding digital information in the timing edges of the phase-control voltage, the phase-control voltage having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the controller is transmitting the digital message; the load control device receiving the phase-control voltage from the controller; and the load control device controlling the load in response to the digital information encoded in the timing edges of the phase-control voltage. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92)
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93. A load control system for controlling an electrical load receiving power from an AC power source, the load control system comprising:
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a load control device adapted to be coupled to the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load; and a controller adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the load control device, the controller operable to produce a phase-control voltage that is adapted to be received by the load control device; wherein the phase-control voltage produced by the controller is characterized by a number of sequential data patterns, each data pattern having a first timing edge at a predetermined reference edge time during a first half-cycle and a second timing edge at a data edge time during a second subsequent half-cycle, such that an offset time period exists between the reference edge time and the data edge time of each data pattern, the controller operable to transmit a digital message to the load control device for controlling the power delivered to the load by controlling the offset time period in each of the sequential data patterns.
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94. A load control system for controlling a plurality of electrical loads receiving power from an AC power source via a power wiring, the load control system comprising:
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a plurality of load control devices adapted to be coupled in parallel with each other and operable to control respective electrical loads; and a controller adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the parallel combination of the load control devices via the power wiring, the controller operable to produce a phase-control voltage that is received by the load control devices, the controller operable to transmit a digital message to the load control devices via the power wiring by encoding digital information in the timing edges of the phase-control voltage, the phase-control voltage having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the controller is transmitting the digital message to the load control devices; wherein each of the digital messages includes data representing at least one of a plurality of control channels, the at least one of the control channels indicating which of the load control devices should react to the digital message. - View Dependent Claims (95, 96, 97, 98)
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99. A load control system for controlling a plurality of electrical loads receiving power from an AC power source via a power wiring, the load control system comprising:
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a plurality of load control devices coupled in parallel with each other and operable to control respective electrical loads; and a controller adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the parallel combination of the load control devices via the power wiring, the controller operable to produce a phase-control voltage that is adapted to be received by the load control devices, the phase-control voltage characterized by a number of sequential data patterns, each data pattern having a first timing edge at a predetermined reference edge time during a first half-cycle and a second timing edge at a data edge time during a second subsequent half-cycle, such that an offset time period exists between the reference edge time and the data edge time of each data pattern, the controller operable to transmit a digital message to the load control devices via the power wiring by controlling the offset time period in each of the sequential data patterns; wherein the digital message includes data representing at least one of a plurality of control channels, the at least one of the control channels indicating which of the load control devices should react to the digital message.
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100. A load control system for controlling an electrical load receiving power from an AC power source via a power wiring, the system comprising:
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a load control device for controlling the electrical load; a controller adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the load control device, the controller operable to produce a phase-control voltage that is received by the load control device; and an input device operable to transmit a control signal to the controller; wherein the controller is operable to transmit a digital message to the load control device for controlling the load by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage in response to the control signal received from the input device. - View Dependent Claims (101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113)
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114. A load control system for controlling a plurality of electrical loads receiving power from an AC power source via a power wiring, the load control system comprising:
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a plurality of load control devices adapted to be coupled in parallel with each other and operable to control respective electrical loads; a controller adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the parallel combination of the load control devices via the power wiring, the controller operable to produce a phase-control voltage that is received by the load control device; and a plurality of input devices operable to transmit control signals to the controller; wherein the controller is operable to transmit a digital message to the load control device via the power wiring by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage in response to a control signal received from one of the input devices, the digital message including data representing at least one of a plurality of control channels that is dependent upon the input device from which the control signal was received. - View Dependent Claims (115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120)
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121. A load control system for controlling an electrical load receiving power from an AC power source via a power wiring, the system comprising:
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a load control device for controlling the electrical load; and a controller comprising a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the load control device via the power wiring, such that the controllably conductive device is operable to conduct a load current from the AC power source to the electrical load, the controller operable to produce a phase-control voltage that is received by the load control device, the controller adapted to swallow the phase-control signal, such that the phase-control signal only exists on the power wiring between the controller and the load control device; wherein the controller is operable to transmit a digital message to the load control device for controlling the load by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage. - View Dependent Claims (122, 123, 124)
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125. A load control system for controlling the power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads, the load control system coupled to an AC power source, the load control system comprising:
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a plurality of load control devices, each of the load control devices adapted to be coupled to one or more of the electrical loads for controlling the power delivered to the loads, the plurality of load control devices comprising a first load control device and a second load control device adapted to be coupled in parallel electrical connection, the first and second load control devices adapted to be coupled to a first circuit wiring for receiving power from the AC power source, the plurality of load control devices further comprising a third load control device and a fourth load control device adapted to be coupled in parallel electrical connection, the third and fourth load control devices adapted to be coupled to a second circuit wiring for receiving power from the AC power source; a plurality of controllers, the plurality of controllers comprising a first controller adapted to be coupled to the first circuit wiring in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the first and second load control devices, the plurality of controllers further comprising a second controller adapted to be coupled to the second circuit wiring in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the third and fourth load control devices, the first and third load control devices characterized with a first channel and the second and fourth load control devices characterized with a second channel; and an input device adapted to transmit control signals directly to the first and second controllers; wherein the first controller is operable to transmit a first digital message to the first and second load control devices via the first circuit wiring and the second controller is operable to transmit a second digital message to the third and fourth load control devices via the second circuit wiring in response to the control signals received from the input device, the first and second digital messages indicating the first channel, such that the first and third load control devices are responsive to the first and second digital messages transmitted by the first and second controllers in response to the control signals received from the input device. - View Dependent Claims (126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139)
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140. A lighting control system for controlling the intensities of a plurality of fluorescent lamps, the lighting control system coupled to an AC power source, the system comprising:
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a plurality of two-wire digital ballasts, each of the ballasts adapted to be coupled to one or more of the plurality of lamps for controlling the intensities of the lamps, the plurality of ballasts comprising a first ballast and a second ballast coupled in parallel electrical connection, the first and second ballasts coupled to a first circuit wiring for receiving power from the AC power source, the plurality of ballasts further comprising a third ballast and a fourth ballast coupled in parallel electrical connection, the third and fourth ballasts coupled to a second circuit wiring for receiving power from the AC power source; a plurality of ballast controllers, the plurality of ballast controllers comprising a first ballast controller coupled to the first circuit wiring in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the first and second ballasts, the plurality of ballast controllers further comprising a second ballast controller coupled to the second circuit wiring in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the third and fourth ballasts, the first and third ballasts characterized with a first channel and the second and fourth ballasts characterized with a second channel; and a wireless transmitter adapted to transmit a wireless signal directly to the first and second ballast controllers; wherein the first ballast controller is operable to transmit a first digital message to the first and second ballasts via the first circuit wiring and the second ballast controller is operable to transmit a second digital message to the third and fourth ballasts via the second circuit wiring in response to the wireless signal received from the wireless transmitter, the first and second digital messages indicating the first channel, such that only the first and third ballasts are responsive to the first and second digital messages transmitted in response to the wireless signal transmitted by the wireless transmitter.
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141. A load control system for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the system comprising:
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a load control device adapted to be coupled to the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load; and a controller adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the load control device, the controller operable to produce a phase-control voltage that is received by the load control device; wherein the controller is operable to transmit digital messages to the load control device for controlling the power delivered to the load by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage, the controller operable to interrupt a first digital message that is being transmitted in order to transmit a second digital message to the load control device. - View Dependent Claims (142, 143)
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144. A controller for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load, the controller comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load; and a control circuit coupled to the controllably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive for a portion of each half-cycle of the AC power source for generating a phase-control voltage to control the intensity of lighting load; wherein the control circuit is operable to alternately operate in a dimmer mode and a digital communication mode, the control circuit operable to render the controllably conductive device conductive each half-cycle at a phase angle that is dependent upon the desired lighting intensity when operating in the dimmer mode, the control circuit operable to transmit digital messages by encoding digital information for controlling the intensity of the lighting load in timing edges of the phase-control voltage when operating in the digital communication mode. - View Dependent Claims (145, 146)
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147. A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load in response to a controller, the load control device comprising:
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a load regulation circuit adapted to be coupled to the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the lighting load and thus the intensity of the lighting load; and a control circuit coupled to the load regulation circuit for controlling the intensity of the lighting load in response to a phase-control voltage received from the controller; wherein the control circuit is operable to alternately operate in a dimmer mode and a digital communication mode, the control circuit operable to control the intensity of the lighting load in dependence upon a phase angle of the phase-control voltage when operating in the dimmer mode, the control circuit operable to control the intensity of the lighting load in response to digital information encoded in timing edges of the phase-control voltage when operating in the digital communication mode.
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148. A system for encoding digital data in an alternating current powering a controlled device over an alternating-current electrical network, wherein the digital data controls a processor of the controlled device, the system comprising:
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a control circuit having a controlled switch disposed in series between a source of the alternating current and the controlled device and passing the alternating current to the controlled device over the electrical network; the controlled switch having a control input responsive to an input signal; the control circuit encoding control information in the alternating current passed to the controlled device by the controlled switch from which the processor can decode the digital data to control the controlled device, the control circuit causing the controlled switch to make a first transition in said alternating current in a first half-cycle of the alternating current and to make a second transition in a second half-cycle of said alternating current, with a time difference between the two transitions defining the digital data. - View Dependent Claims (149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159)
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Specification