MULTIPLE NETWORK ACCESS LOAD CONTROL DEVICES

• US 20140175875A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Newman, Robert C. Jr., Carmen, Lawrence R. Jr., Bull, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,244,086 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

An apparatus for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may include a controllably conductive device. The apparatus may also include a first wireless communication circuit that may be operable to communicate on a first wireless communication network via a first protocol and the first communication circuit may be in communication with the controller. The apparatus may also include a second communication circuit that may be operable to communicate on a second communication network via a second protocol. The controller may be further operable to control the first wireless communication circuit to communicate configuration data with the first wireless communication network via the first protocol. The controller may also be operable to control the second wireless communication circuit to communicate operational data with the second communication network via the second protocol.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the power delivered to at least one electrical load, the apparatus comprising:

a controllably conductive device;

a controller in communication with the controllably conductive device;

a first wireless communication circuit operable to communicate on a first wireless communication network via a first protocol, the first wireless communication circuit being in communication with the controller; and

a second communication circuit operable to communicate on a second communication network via a second protocol, the second communication circuit in communication with the controller, the controller being operable to;

control the first wireless communication circuit to communicate configuration data with the first wireless communication network via the first protocol; and

control the second wireless communication circuit to communicate operational data with the second communication network via the second protocol.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication circuit includes a first radio operable to communicate via the first protocol.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first protocol is a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the wireless IP based protocol is a Wi-Fi protocol.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first protocol is operable at a first frequency, the first frequency being part of the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second communication circuit includes a second radio operable to communicate via the second protocol.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second protocol is a reliable radio-frequency (RF) protocol.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wherein the reliable RF protocol is Clear Connect.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second protocol is operable at one or more of a second frequency and a third frequency, at least one of the second frequency or the third frequency being part of a regulated band.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second communication circuit is operable to communicate with a conductor delivering electrical energy from a power source to the apparatus via the second protocol.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second protocol is a power line communication protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration information represents relatively high bandwidth data and is at least one of firmware upgrade data for the apparatus, programming data for the apparatus, user-interface data from the apparatus, or database data from the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operational information represents relatively low bandwidth data and is at least one of operational commands, operational error codes, programming error codes, or timing synchronization signals.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus being a first apparatus and the first apparatus being in communication with a second apparatus and a third apparatus, the second apparatus comprising a third wireless communication circuit operable to communicate on the first wireless communication network via the first protocol, the third apparatus comprising a fourth communication circuit operable to communicate on the second communication network via the second protocol, the second apparatus being inoperable to communicate via the second communication network, and the third apparatus being inoperable to communicate via the first wireless communication network, the controller being further operable to:

receive via the first wireless communication circuit at least one signal from the second apparatus, the at least one signal sent via the third wireless communication circuit and the first wireless communication network, and the at least one signal recognizable to the first apparatus as being intended for the third apparatus; and

send via the second communication circuit the at least one signal to the third apparatus via the fourth communication circuit and the second communication network.

15. A first apparatus for controlling the power delivered to at least a first electrical load, the first apparatus in communication with one or more other apparatuses, each of the one or more other apparatuses respectively controlling the power delivered to one or more other electrical loads, the first apparatus comprising:

a controllably conductive device;

a controller, the controller in communication with the controllably conductive device;

a first wireless communication circuit operable to communicate on a first wireless communication network via a first protocol, the first communication circuit in communication with the controller; and

a second communication circuit operable to communicate on a second communication network via a second protocol, the second communication circuit in communication with the controller, and the communication with the one or more other apparatuses being conducted via the second communication network, the controller being operable to;

receive via the second communication circuit and via the second protocol, a first signal from a second apparatus of the one or more other apparatuses, the first signal indicating that the second apparatus of the one or more other apparatuses is operable to respond to an operational command from the first apparatus.

16. The first apparatus of claim 15, wherein the controller is further operable to:

receive via the first wireless communication circuit and via the first protocol a third signal, the third signal recognizable to the first apparatus as a power control command that includes a power control adjustment corresponding to both the first apparatus and the second apparatus.

17. The first apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller is further operable to:

control the controllably conductive device to implement the power control adjustment corresponding to the first apparatus; and

send via the second communication circuit and via the second protocol an operational command to the second apparatus, the operational command instructing the second apparatus to implement the power control adjustment corresponding to the second apparatus.

18. An apparatus configured to provide information for the control of power delivered to at least one electrical load, the apparatus comprising:

a controller;

at least one of a sensor or a manual operator, the at least one sensor or manual operator being in communication with the controller;

a first wireless communication circuit operable to communicate on a first wireless communication network via a first protocol, the first wireless communication circuit being in communication with the controller; and

a second communication circuit operable to communicate on a second communication network via a second protocol, the second communication circuit in communication with the controller, the controller being operable to;

control the first wireless communication circuit to communicate configuration data with the first wireless communication network via the first protocol; and

control the second wireless communication circuit to communicate operational data with the second communication network via the second protocol.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first wireless communication circuit includes a first radio operable to communicate via the first protocol.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first protocol is a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the wireless IP based protocol is a Wi-Fi protocol.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first protocol is operable at a first frequency, the first frequency being part of the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second communication circuit includes a second radio operable to communicate via the second protocol.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second protocol is a reliable radio-frequency (RF) protocol.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first protocol is a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the second protocol is operable at one or more of a second frequency and a third frequency, at least one of the second frequency or the third frequency being part of a regulated band.

27. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second communication circuit is operable to communicate with a conductor delivering electrical energy from a power source to the apparatus via the second protocol.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the second protocol is a power line communication protocol.

29. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the configuration information represents relatively high bandwidth data and is at least one of firmware upgrade data for the apparatus, programming data for the apparatus, user-interface data from the apparatus, or database data from the apparatus.

30. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the operational information represents relatively low bandwidth data and is at least one of operational commands, operational error codes, programming error codes, or timing synchronization signals.

31. A method for controlling power delivered to an electrical load, the method comprising:

configuring a condition, the condition including information obtained from at least one source via the Internet;

associating the condition with the electrical load, the condition being further associated with an adjustment of an amount of power delivered to the electrical load;

determining a load control device that is in operable communication with the electrical load;

associating the condition with the load control device;

detecting an occurrence of the condition; and

directing the load control device to implement the adjustment of the amount of power delivered to the electrical load upon the occurrence of the condition.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the one source is a sporting news service provider, the electrical load is a lighting load, the condition is an indication from the sporting news service provider that an identified sports team has scored at least one point, the adjustment of the amount of power delivered being the repetitive cycling of the electrical load from a high intensity to a low intensity over a predefined period of time, and the load control device is a dimmer switch in operable communication with the lighting load.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the one source is a weather news service provider, the electrical load is an outdoor lighting load, the condition is an indication from the weather news service provider that a forecast for a defined location during a period of time is at least one of overcast or rain, the adjustment of the amount of power delivered being the setting of the lighting load to a particular intensity for the period of time, and the load control device is a dimmer switch in operable communication with the outdoor lighting load.