STATE CHANGE DEVICES FOR SWITCHED ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES

• US 20140265881A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Bhutani, Ankit, Knode, Galen Edgar, Steffie, Jamie, Karc, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 9,167,669 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/158
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00 Circuit arrangements for providing remote indication of network conditions, e.g. an instantaneous record of the open or closed condition of each circuitbreaker in the network; Circuit arrangements for providing remote control of switching means in a power distribution network, e.g. switching in and out of current consumers by using a pulse code signal carried by the network
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• 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 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A state change device may be electrically connected to a switched receptacle, or to both the switched and unswitched receptacles, of an outlet. The state change device may generate a change of state signal when power is applied to, or removed from, the switched receptacle. The state change device may wirelessly communicate the signal. The state change device may include a load control circuit that may be configured to control the amount of power delivered to an electrical load that is electrically connected to the state change device. The state change device may receive commands directed to the load control circuit. The state change device may be deployed in a load control system and may operate as a control entity, such that the state change device may issue commands to one or more load control devices, responsive to the application or removal of power at the switched receptacle.

Claims

1. A device configured to be electrically connected to a switched alternating current (AC) receptacle, the device comprising:

a sensing circuit that detects whether power is present at the switched receptacle;

a controller that is communicatively coupled to the sensing circuit and configured to generate a signal that is indicative of a change of state of power being supplied at the switched receptacle; and

a communication circuit that is configured for wireless communication,

wherein the controller causes the communication circuit to transmit the signal to one or more associated devices.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply configured to supply power to the sensing circuit, the controller, and the communication circuit.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the power supply is transitory.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the power supply is a capacitor configured to store electricity supplied to the switched receptacle.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the capacitor is able to store sufficient electricity for the device to generate and transmit the signal once power is removed from the switched receptacle.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store respective last known states of the one or more associated devices.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more associated devices are load control devices.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a control interface.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising a housing, wherein the control interface comprises a plurality of buttons that protrude through the housing, the buttons configured to control respective functions of the device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the control interface further comprises a plurality of visual indicators, each of the plurality of visual indicators corresponding to one of the plurality of buttons.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle configured to receive an electrical component and to place the electrical component in electrical communication with the switched receptacle.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a socket configured to receive a light bulb.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to wait for a predetermined amount of time before generating the signal.

14. A device configured to be electrically connected to a switched alternating current (AC) receptacle, the device configured for wireless communication with an associated load control device, the device comprising:

a sensing circuit that is configured to detect an event representative of a change of state of power at the switched receptacle;

a controller that is configured to generate a change of state signal for transmission to the load control device; and

a transmitter that is configured to transmit the signal based on the detection of the event.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the event is the application of power to the switched receptacle.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the event is the removal of power from the switched receptacle.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the sensing circuit is further configured to inform the controller to the occurrence of the event.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the controller causes the transmitter to transmit the signal responsive to being informed of the detection of the event by the sensing circuit.

19. The device of claim 14, further comprising a power supply configured to, after the removal of power from the switched receptacle, supply an amount of voltage to the device sufficient for the device to generate and transmit the signal.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the power supply is a capacitor configured to store electricity when power is applied to the switched receptacle.

21. The device of claim 14, further comprising a memory communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to store a last known state of the load control device in the memory.

22. The device of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to wait for a predetermined amount of time before generating the signal.

23. A device configured to be electrically connected to the switched and unswitched receptacles of an alternating current (AC) outlet, the device comprising:

a sensing circuit that is configured to be electrically connected to switched receptacle so as to detect whether power is present at the switched receptacle;

a controller that is communicatively coupled to the sensing circuit and configured to generate a signal indicative of a change of state of power at the switched receptacle;

a power supply that is configured to be electrically connected to the unswitched receptacle; and

a communication circuit that is configured to transmit the signal.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the sensing circuit is further configured to signal the controller when power is applied at the switched receptacle.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the controller is further configured to, upon being signaled by the sensing circuit of the application of power at the switched receptacle, wait a predetermined amount of time before causing the communication circuit to transmit the signal.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein the sensing circuit is further configured to signal the controller when power is removed from the switched receptacle.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the controller is further configured to, upon being signaled by the sensing circuit of the removal of power from the switched receptacle, wait a predetermined amount of time before causing the communication circuit to transmit the signal.

28. The device of claim 23, further comprising a pair of receptacles electrically connected to the unswitched receptacle.

29. The device of claim 28, further comprising a load control circuit electrically connected to a first receptacle of the pair of receptacles, such that the first receptacle is a dimmed receptacle.

30. The device of claim 23, wherein the device is configured to issue commands to an associated device via radio frequency signals broadcast from the communication circuit.

31. The device of claim 23, wherein the device is configured to receive commands from an associated device via radio frequency signals received by the communication circuit.

32. A device configured to be electrically connected to alternating current (AC) having a switched receptacle and an unswitched receptacle, the device comprising:

a first plug that is configured to be inserted into the switched receptacle;

a second plug that is configured to be inserted into the unswitched receptacle;

a sensing circuit that detects whether power is present at the switched receptacle;

a controller that is communicatively coupled to the sensing circuit and configured to generate a signal that is indicative of a change of state of power at the switched receptacle; and

a communication circuit that is configured to transmit the signal.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the sensing circuit is electrically connected to the switched receptacle.

34. The device of claim 32, further comprising a power supply that is electrically connected to the unswitched receptacle.

35. The device of claim 32, further comprising a receptacle electrically connected to the unswitched receptacle.

36. The device of claim 35, further comprising a load control circuit electrically connected to the receptacle, such that the receptacle is a dimmed receptacle.

37. The device of claim 32, further comprising a pair of receptacles electrically connected to the unswitched receptacle.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein both receptacles of the pair of receptacles are unswitched receptacles.

39. The device of claim 37, further comprising a load control circuit electrically connected to a first receptacle of the pair of receptacles, such that the first receptacle is a dimmed receptacle.

40. The device of claim 39, wherein a second receptacle of the pair of receptacles is an unswitched receptacle.

41. The device of claim 32, further comprising a control interface.

42. The device of claim 41, further comprising a housing, wherein the control interface comprises a plurality of buttons that protrude through the housing, the buttons configured to control respective functions of the device.

43. The device of claim 42, wherein the control interface further comprises a plurality of visual indicators, each of the plurality of visual indicators corresponding to one of the plurality of buttons.

44. A load control device configured to be electrically connected to the switched and unswitched receptacles of an alternating current (AC) power source and configured to control an amount of power delivered from the AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a sensing circuit that detects whether power is present at the switched receptacle;

a controller that is communicatively coupled to the sensing circuit and that is configured to generate a signal that is indicative of a change of state of power being supplied at the switched receptacle; and

a communication circuit that is configured to transmit the signal.

45. The load control device of claim 44, wherein the sensing circuit is further configured to signal the controller when power is applied at the switched receptacle or removed from the switched receptacle.

46. The load control device of claim 45, wherein the controller is further configured to, upon being signaled by the sensing circuit of the application of power at the switched receptacle or the removal of power from the switched receptacle, wait a predetermined amount of time before causing the communication circuit to transmit the signal.

47. The load control device of claim 44, wherein the load control device is configured to issue commands to an associated device via radio frequency signals broadcast from the communication circuit.

48. The load control device of claim 44, wherein the load control device is configured to receive commands from an associated device via radio frequency signals received by the communication circuit.

49. A load control device configured to be electrically connected to the switched and unswitched receptacles of an alternating current (AC) power source, the load control device comprising:

a load control circuit that is configured to control an amount of power delivered from the AC source to an electrical load electrically connected to the load control device;

a sensing circuit that is configured to be electrically connected to the switched receptacle and to detect whether power is present at the switched receptacle;

a controller that is configured to generate a signal that is indicative of a change of state of power being supplied at the switched receptacle; and

a communication circuit that is configured to transmit the signal.

50. The load control device of claim 49, wherein the sensing circuit is further configured to signal the controller when power is applied at the switched receptacle or removed from the switched receptacle.

51. The load control device of claim 50, wherein the controller is further configured to, upon being signaled by the sensing circuit of the application of power at the switched receptacle or the removal of power from the switched receptacle, wait a predetermined amount of time before causing the communication circuit to transmit the signal.

52. The load control device of claim 49, wherein the load control device is configured to issue commands to an associated load control device via radio frequency signals broadcast from the communication circuit.

53. The load control device of claim 49, wherein the load control device is configured to receive commands from an associated load control device via radio frequency signals received by the communication circuit.

54. A load control system, the load control system comprising:

a load control device configured for wireless communication, the load control device further configured to control an amount of power delivered to an electrical load electrically connected to the load control device; and

a state change device configured for wireless communication and associated with the load control device, the state change device electrically connected to respective switched and unswitched alternating current receptacles of an outlet, the state change device further configured to generate a signal indicative of a change of state of power being supplied at the switched receptacle and to transmit the signal to the load control device.

55. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the state change device performs a master role within the load control system and the load control device performs a subservient role within the load control system.

56. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the load control device performs a master role within the load control system and the state change device performs a subservient role within the load control system.

57. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the state change device comprises:

a sensing circuit that detects whether power is present at the switched receptacle;

a controller that is communicatively coupled to the sensing circuit and configured to generate a signal indicative of a state change; and

a communication circuit configured for wireless communication,

wherein the controller causes the communication circuit to transmit the signal to the load control device.

58. The load control system of claim 57, wherein the state change device further comprises a power supply electrically connected to the unswitched receptacle.

59. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the controller is further configured to, upon being informed by the sensing circuit of application of power to the switched hot and switched neutral terminals, wait a predetermined interval of time before causing the communication circuit to transmit the signal to the load control device.

60. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the controller is further configured to, upon being informed by the sensing circuit of removal of power from the switched hot and switched neutral terminals, wait a predetermined interval of time before causing the communication circuit to transmit the signal to the load control device.

61. The load control system of claim 54, further comprising a pair of receptacles electrically connected between the unswitched hot terminal and the unswitched neutral terminal.

62. The load control system of claim 60, further comprising a load control circuit electrically connected to a first receptacle of the pair of receptacles, such that the first receptacle is a dimmed receptacle.

63. The load control system of claim 62, wherein a second receptacle of the pair of receptacles is an unswitched receptacle.

64. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the state change device is configured to issue commands to the load control device via radio frequency signals broadcast from the communication circuit.

65. The load control system of claim 54, wherein the state change device is configured to receive commands from the load control device via radio frequency signals received by the communication circuit.