OPERATIONAL COORDINATION OF LOAD CONTROL DEVICES

• US 20140180487A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• 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: Bull, John
• Granted Patent: US 10,019,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/295
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/12 Arrangements for remote connection or disconnection of substations or of equipment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators

Abstract

A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals directly from the wireless network. The controller may cooperate with one or more other devices to synchronize in time the adjustments made by one or more load control devices that are operable to control the power delivered to one or more electrical loads. The one or more load control devices may also cooperate with one or more Internet based information providers to provide preconfigured and condition based adjustments of the one or more electrical loads.

Claims

1. A device configured to control an electrical load, the device comprising:

a controller; and

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, the controller being operable to;

receive a first signal via the first wireless communication circuit and via the first protocol, the first signal including a power control command that includes;

a power control adjustment for the device; and

a synchronization condition;

determine a synchronization condition status being at least one of satisfied or unsatisfied; and

implement the power control adjustment upon the synchronization condition status being satisfied.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first protocol is a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the synchronization condition includes a completion of a frame count, the frame count indicated by the power control command, and the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes the device completing the frame count.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the synchronization condition includes an occurrence of an identified time of day, the identified time of day indicated by the power control command, and the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes the device determining that a present time of day is substantially similar to the identified time of day.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the synchronization condition includes a detection of a message sent from a designated address of the first wireless communication network, the designated address indicated by the power control command, and the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes the device detecting the message from the designated address.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the synchronization condition further includes a detection of a type of message sent from the designated address of the first wireless communication network, the type of message indicated by the power control command, and the synchronization condition status being satisfied further includes the device detecting the type of message from the designated address.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the type of message is an acknowledgement message.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the synchronization condition includes a detection of a message sent to a designated address of the first wireless communication network, the designated address indicated by the power control command, and the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes the device detecting the message to the designated address.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the synchronization condition further includes a detection of a type of message sent to the designated address of the first wireless communication network, the type of message indicated by the power control command, and the synchronization condition status being satisfied further includes the device detecting the type of message to the designated address.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the type of message is a user datagram protocol multicast message.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

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, wherein the synchronization condition includes receiving a second signal via the second communication circuit and via the second protocol, the second signal indicated by the power control command, and the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes the device receiving the second signal.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the first protocol is a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol, the second communication network is a wireless network, and the second protocol is a proprietary radio-frequency (RF) protocol.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the first and second protocols both are a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol operating on separate channels.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second communication circuit operable to communicate via a second protocol on one or more conductors providing line source power to the device, the second communication circuit in communication with the controller, wherein the synchronization condition includes receiving a second signal via the second communication circuit and via the second protocol, the second signal indicated by the power control command, and the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes the device receiving the second signal.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the second protocol is a power line communication protocol.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second communication circuit operable to communicate via at least one energy pulse on one or more conductors providing line source power to the device, the second communication circuit in communication with the controller, wherein the synchronization condition includes interpreting a receipt of the at least one energy pulse via the second communication circuit as a second signal, the second signal indicated by the power control command, and the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes the device receiving the second signal.

17. A method performed by a device configured to control an electrical load, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal from a first wireless communication network via a first wireless communication circuit and via a first protocol, the first signal including a power control command;

interpreting a power control adjustment for the device from the power control command;

interpreting a synchronization condition from the power control command;

determining a synchronization condition status being at least one of satisfied or unsatisfied; and

implementing the power control adjustment upon the synchronization condition status being satisfied.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first protocol is a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol.

19. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

interpreting from the power control command that the synchronization condition includes a completion of a frame count; and

interpreting the frame count from the power control command, wherein the determining the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes determining that the device completed the frame count.

20. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

interpreting from the power control command that the synchronization condition includes an occurrence of an identified time of day; and

interpreting the identified time of day from the power control command, wherein the determining the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes the determining that the device determined that a present time of day is substantially similar to the identified time of day.

21. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

interpreting from the power control command that the synchronization condition includes a detection of a message sent from a designated address of the first wireless communication network; and

interpreting the designated address from the power control command, wherein the determining the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes determining that the device detected the message from the designated address.

22. The method of claim 21, the method further comprising:

interpreting from the power control command that the synchronization condition further includes a detection of a type of message sent from the designated address of the first wireless communication network; and

interpreting the type of message from the power control command, wherein the determining the synchronization condition status being satisfied further includes determining that the device detected the type of message from the designated address.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the type of message is an acknowledgement message.

24. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

interpreting from the power control command that the synchronization condition includes a detection of a message sent to a designated address of the first wireless communication network; and

interpreting the designated address from the power control command, wherein the determining the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes determining that the device detected the message to the designated address.

25. The method of claim 24, the method further comprising:

interpreting from the power control command that the synchronization condition further includes a detection of a type of message sent to the designated address of the first wireless communication network; and

interpreting the type of message from the power control command, wherein the determining the synchronization condition status being satisfied further includes determining the device detected the type of message to the designated address.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the type of message is a user datagram protocol multicast message.

27. The method of claim 17, the method further comprising:

interpreting from the power control command that the synchronization condition includes a receipt of a second signal from a second communication network via a second communication circuit via a second protocol; and

receiving the second signal from the second communication network via the second communication circuit via the second protocol, wherein the determining the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes determining that the device received the second signal.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first protocol is a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol, the second communication network is a wireless network, and the second protocol is a proprietary radio-frequency (RF) protocol.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the first and second protocols both are a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol operating on separate channels.

30. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

interpreting from the power control command that the synchronization condition includes a receipt of a second signal via a second communication circuit operable to communicate via a second protocol on one or more conductors providing line source power to the device; and

receiving the second signal via the second communication circuit operable to communicate via the second protocol on one or more conductors providing line source power to the device, wherein the determining the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes the determining that the device received the second signal.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the second protocol is a power line communication protocol.

32. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

interpreting from the power control command that the synchronization condition includes a receipt of at least one energy pulse via a second communication circuit operable to communicate via one or more conductors providing line source power to the device;

receiving the at least one energy pulse via the second communication circuit; and

interpreting the receipt of the at least one energy pulse via the second communication circuit as a second signal, wherein the determining the synchronization condition status being satisfied includes determining that the device receiving the second signal.

33. A method for controlling power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads, the method comprising:

detecting a first command to adjust a respective amount of power to be delivered to each of the plurality of electrical loads;

determining respective network addresses of each of a plurality of load control devices, each of the plurality of load control devices capable of adjusting the respective amount of power to be delivered to the plurality of electrical loads;

determining a synchronization condition for the plurality of load control devices, the synchronization condition coordinating the respective adjustments made by the plurality of load control devices of the respective amount of power to the plurality of electrical loads; and

transmitting a second command via the respective network address to the plurality of load control devices, the second command causing the plurality of load control devices to adjust the respective amount of power to be delivered to the plurality of electrical loads upon the synchronization condition being satisfied.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the synchronization condition coordinates the respective adjustments made by the plurality of load control devices such that each of the respective adjustments of the amount of power to the plurality of electrical loads are made within a predetermined period of time.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the synchronization condition coordinates the respective adjustments made by the plurality of load control devices such that the respective adjustments of the amount of power to the plurality of electrical loads are made at the completion of a respectively indicated frame count.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the synchronization condition is an occurrence of an identified time of day and the second command includes the identified time of day.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the synchronization condition is a detection of a transmission of an acknowledgement of the second command from an identified one of the plurality of load control devices, and the second command includes the network address of the identified one of the plurality of load control devices.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the synchronization condition is a detection of a synchronization message by the plurality of load control devices, the method further including transmitting the synchronization message on one or more conductors providing line source power to the plurality of load control devices.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the synchronization message is transmitted via a communication circuit operable to communicate via a power line communication protocol.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the second command is transmitted via a first communication circuit and the synchronization condition is a detection of a synchronization message by the plurality of load control devices, the method further including transmitting the synchronization message via a second communication circuit.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the first communication circuit is a wireless communication circuit and the first communication circuit is operable to communicate via a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the wireless IP based protocol is a Wi-Fi protocol.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the second communication circuit is a wireless communication circuit and the second communication circuit is operable to communicate via a proprietary radio-frequency (RF) protocol.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the second communication circuit is a wireless communication circuit and the second communication circuit is operable to communicate via a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol.

45. The method of claim 33, wherein the synchronization condition is the detection of a synchronization message, the method further including transmitting the synchronization message as a multicast message receivable by each of the plurality of load control devices.

46. An apparatus, the apparatus in communication with a plurality of load control devices, each of the plurality of load control devices respectively controlling the power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads, the apparatus comprising:

a controller;

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, the controller being operable to;

receive a first signal via the first wireless communication circuit and via the first protocol, the first signal including a power control command that includes a respective power control adjustment for one or more of the plurality of load control devices;

identify the respective one or more of the plurality of load control devices for which the power control command includes the respective power control adjustment; and

transmit a respective second signal to the identified one or more of the plurality of load control devices via the second communication circuit and via the second protocol, each respective second signal including the respective power control adjustment for the respective one or more of the plurality of load control devices.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the first wireless communication circuit includes a first radio operable to communicate via the first protocol.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the first protocol is a wireless Internet Protocol (IP) based protocol.

49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the second protocol is a reliable radio-frequency (RF) protocol.

50. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the apparatus is a load control device and the power control command includes a respective power control adjustment for the apparatus.

51. A load control device, comprising:

a controller operable to;

receive a first command to perform an adjustment of an amount of power delivered to a connected electrical load;

receive a second command to perform an adjustment of the amount of power delivered to the connected electrical load;

implement the first command;

determine a difference in time between the receipt of the second command and the implementation of the first command; and

disregard the second command upon at least one of the second command being received before the implementation of first command or the receipt of the second command being before an expiration of a predetermined period of time following the implementation of the first command.

52. The load control device of claim 51, wherein the second command is at least one of a same adjustment of the amount of power delivered to the connected electrical load as the first command or a different adjustment of the amount of power delivered to the connected electrical load as the first command.

53. The load control device of claim 51, wherein the predetermined period of time is at least 50 milliseconds.