Two-Part Load Control System Mountable To A Single Electrical Wallbox

• US 20130222122A1
• Filed: 08/29/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Killo, Jason C., Blakeley, Matthew Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/598,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20130222122A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/12.22
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/16 in which transmission is by pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/088 by wireless means, e.g. infrared transmitting means
• 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 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A load control system includes a load control device and a remote control for configuring and controlling operation of the load control device. The load control device and remote control may be mounted to an electrical wallbox. The system may be configured by associating the remote control with the load control device, and actuating a button on the remote control to configure the load control device. A second remote control device may be directly or indirectly associated with the load control device. The load control device and remote control may communicate via inductive coils that are magnetically coupled together. The remote control may be operable to charge a battery from energy derived from the magnetic coupling between the inductive coils. The load control device and remote control may include near-field communication modules that are operable to communicate wirelessly via near-field radiation.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a load control system, the method comprising:

associating a first remote control device with a load control device; and

subsequently actuating a button on the first remote control device to associate a second remote control device with the load control device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an instruction from the first remote control device to the load control device for controlling an operation of the load control device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an instruction directly from the second remote control device to the load control device for controlling an operation of the load control device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting an instruction indirectly from the second remote control device to the load control device, via the first remote control device, for controlling an operation of the load control device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the load control device is adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling an amount of power delivered to the electrical load.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting an instruction from the first remote control device to the load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the load control device comprises a controllably conductive device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the electrical load comprises a lighting load.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the load control device comprises a screw-in controllable luminaire.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the load control device comprises a motorized window treatment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the load control device comprises one of:

a dimming circuit for controlling the intensity of a lighting load;

an electronic dimming ballast for driving a gas-discharge lamp;

a light-emitting diode driver for driving a light-emitting diode light source;

a screw-in luminaire including a dimmer circuit and an incandescent or halogen lamp;

a screw-in luminaire including a ballast and a compact fluorescent lamp;

a screw-in luminaire including an LED driver and an LED light source;

an electronic switch, controllable circuit breaker, or other switching device for turning an appliance on and off;

a plug-in load control device, controllable receptacle, or controllable power strip for controlling one or more plug-in loads;

a motor control unit for controlling a motor load, such as a ceiling fan or an exhaust fan;

a drive unit for controlling a motorized window treatment or a projection screen;

motorized interior or exterior shutters;

a thermostat for a heating and/or cooling system;

a temperature control device for controlling a setpoint temperature of an HVAC system;

an air conditioner;

a compressor;

an electric baseboard heater controller;

a controllable damper;

a humidity control unit;

a dehumidifier;

a water heater;

a pool pump;

a TV or computer monitor;

an audio system or amplifier;

a generator;

an electric charger;

electric vehicle charger, and an alternative energy controller.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the first remote control device with the load control device includes storing, at the load control device, a unique identifier corresponding the first remote control device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the second remote control device with the load control device includes storing, at the load control device, a unique identifier corresponding the second remote control device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is a remote control, an occupancy sensor, a daylight sensor, a vacancy sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a security sensor, a proximity sensor, a keypad, a key fob, a cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, a timeclock, an audio-visual control, a safety device, or a central control transmitter.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the load control device is located inside of an electrical wallbox and the remote control device is mounted to the electrical wallbox.

16. A load control device comprising:

a communication circuit configured to receive messages from a first remote control device; and

a controller adapted to associate the first remote control device with the load control device based on a first message received from the first remote control device, and to associate a second remote control device with the load control device based on a second message received from the first remote control device.

17. The load control device of claim 16, wherein the communication circuit is further configured to receive messages from the second remote control device, and the second remote control device is associated with the load control device based on a first message received from the second remote control device.

18. The load control device of claim 16, wherein the communication circuit is further configured to receive an instruction from the first remote control device for controlling an operation of the load control device.

19. The load control device of claim 16, wherein the communication circuit is further configured to receive an instruction directly from the second remote control device for controlling an operation of the load control device.

20. The load control device of claim 16, wherein the communication circuit is further configured to receive an instruction indirectly from the second remote control device to the load control device, via the first remote control device, for controlling an operation of the load control device.

21. The load control device of claim 16, wherein the load control device is located inside of an electrical wallbox and the remote control device is mounted to the electrical wallbox.

22. The load control device of claim 16, wherein the load control device is adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling an amount of power delivered to the electrical load.

23. The load control device of claim 22, wherein the load control device is adapted to receive an instruction from the first remote control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load.

24. The load control device of claim 23, wherein the load control device is adapted to receive an instruction directly from the second remote control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load.

25. The load control device of claim 23, wherein the load control device is adapted to receive an instruction indirectly from the second remote control device via the first remote control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein the load control device comprises a screw-in controllable luminaire.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein the load control device comprises a motorized window treatment.

28. The load control device of claim 16, further comprising a memory, wherein the controller is adapted to store in the memory a unique identifier associated with the first remote control device.

29. The load control device of claim 28, wherein the controller is adapted to store in the memory a unique identifier associated with the second remote control device.

30. The load control device of claim 16, wherein the controller is further adapted to determine that the first remote control device is already associated with the load control device prior to associating the second remote control device with the load control device based on the second message.

31. A remote control device comprising:

a communication circuit configured to transmit messages to a load control device for associating the remote control device with the load control device and for associating a second remote control device with the load control device.

32. The remote control device of claim 31, wherein the remote control device is adapted to transmit an instruction to the load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load.

33. The load control device of claim 32, wherein the remote control device is adapted to transmit an instruction on behalf of the second remote control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the load control device is located inside of an electrical wallbox and the remote control device is mounted to the electrical wallbox.