CONTROLLABLE LIGHT SOURCE

• US 20140117859A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Swatsky, Matthew J., Osle, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,538,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/158
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/02 Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A controllable light source is provided that includes a load control circuit and an integrated lighting load. The controllable light source is configured to receive wirelessly communicated commands transmitted by a remote control device associated with the controllable light source, such as a rotary remote control device. The controllable light source may include an actuator for associating the controllable light source with the remote control device, such that the load control circuit is operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load in response to wireless signals received from the remote control device. The controllable light source may support the actuator such that the actuator may be actuated when the controllable light source is installed in a fixture.

Claims

1. A light source configured to be electrically connected to an alternating current power source and to be controlled using wirelessly communicated control signals generated by a remote control device, the light source comprising:

a wireless communication circuit that is configured to receive the control signals;

a lighting load;

a load control circuit that is configured to control an amount of power delivered to the lighting load in accordance with the control signals received by the wireless communication circuit; and

an actuator that is exposed and operable when the light source is installed in a fixture, the actuator configured to cause the light source to associate with the remote control device.

2. The light source of claim 1, wherein when the light source is associated with the remote control device, the light source is responsive to the control signals received from the remote control device.

3. The light source of claim 1, further comprising a housing that encloses the lighting load.

4. The light source of claim 3, wherein the housing includes an intermediate portion and an end portion.

5. The light source of claim 4, wherein the actuator is translucent and extends into the end portion of the housing.

6. The light source of claim 4, wherein the intermediate portion is reflective and the end portion is translucent.

7. The light source of claim 4, further comprising a screw-in base that is attached to the housing, the screw-in base configured to be screwed into a standard Edison socket.

8. The light source of claim 7, wherein the actuator is supported by the housing and configured to be actuated when the end portion of the housing is biased toward the screw-in base.

9. The light source of claim 4, wherein the actuator protrudes through the end portion.

10. The light source of claim 9, wherein the actuator is translucent.

11. The light source of claim 9, wherein the light source is configured to be installed in a fixture that surrounds the housing such that the actuator may be actuated when the light source is installed in the fixture.

12. The light source of claim 4, wherein the end portion of the housing defines an end surface and the actuator includes a capacitive touch surface supported by the end surface of the end portion of the housing.

13. The light source of claim 4, wherein the actuator is communicatively coupled to the load control circuit such that rotation of actuator adjusts a power rating of the light source.

14. The light source of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuit includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver configured to receive RF signals.

15. The light source of claim 1, further comprising:

an occupancy sensing circuit configured to detect occupancy conditions in a space surrounding the light source,

wherein the load control circuit is further configured to control the amount of power delivered to the lighting load in accordance with a control signal received from the occupancy sensing circuit.

16. The light source of claim 1, further comprising:

a daylight sensing circuit configured to measure a light intensity in a space around the light source,

wherein the load control circuit is configured to control the amount of power delivered to the lighting load in accordance with the light intensity measured by the daylight sensing circuit.

17. The light source of claim 1, further comprising:

a power measurement circuit configured to measure a power consumption of the lighting load,

wherein the wireless communication circuit is further configured to transmit a signal pertaining to the power consumption measured by the power measurement circuit.

18. A light source, comprising an integrated lighting load, wherein the light source is configured to be electrically connected to an alternating current power source, to receive a control signal transmitted to the light source via wireless communication, and to control an amount of power delivered to the lighting load in accordance with the control signal.

19. The light source of claim 18, wherein the light source is further configured to associate with a remote control device configured to transmit the control signal.

20. The light source of claim 19, wherein the light source associates with the remote control device responsive to actuation of an actuator communicatively coupled to the light source.

21. The light source of claim 20, wherein the light source includes a housing that encloses the lighting load, the actuator includes a translucent button that protrudes through the housing, and actuation of the actuator comprises depressing the button.

22. The light source of claim 20, wherein the light source includes a housing that defines an end surface, the actuator includes a capacitive touch surface supported by the end surface of the housing, and actuation of the actuator comprises touching the capacitive touch surface.

23. The light source of claim 20, wherein the light source includes a base and a housing supported by the base, and actuation of the actuator comprises biasing the housing toward the base.

24. The light source of claim 18, wherein the light source is configured to be electrically connected to a standard Edison socket.

25. A load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered from an alternating current (AC) power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit that is configured to receive a control signal transmitted to the load control device via wireless communication; and

a screw-in base that is configured to be received in a standard Edison socket so as to electrically connect the load control device to the AC power source.

26. The load control device of claim 25, wherein the electrical load is a lighting load that is integrally connected to the load control device.

27. The load control device of claim 26, further comprising a housing that is attached to the screw-in base and encloses the lighting load.

28. The load control device of claim 27, wherein the housing includes a reflective portion and a translucent portion.

29. The load control device of claim 27, further comprising an actuator that is configured to facilitate association of the load control device with a remote control device configured to generate the control signal.

30. The load control device of claim 29, wherein the housing is operatively attached to the actuator.