LOAD-SENSING REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE FOR USE IN A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20150185751A1
• Filed: 12/19/2014
• Published: 07/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: KARC, JEFFREY, CRAFTS, JORDAN H.
• Granted Patent: US 10,317,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/088 by wireless means, e.g. infrared transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A load control system, such as a lighting control system, may be configured to control a first electrical load in response to a sensed operational characteristic of a second electrical load. The load control system may include a load control device electrically connected to the first electrical load, and a load-sensing remote control device that is configured to sense an operational characteristic of the second electrical load. The load-sensing remote control device may be configured to communicate with the load control device via wireless communication. The load-sensing remote control device may be configured to transmit messages to the load control device in response to sensing a change in the operational characteristic of the second electrical load. The load control device may be configured to, upon receiving messages from the load-sensing remote control device, control an amount of power that is delivered to the first electrical load.

Claims

1. A load control system comprising:

a first electrical load;

a load control device that is electrically connected to the first electrical load, the load control device configured to control the first electrical load;

a second electrical load; and

a load-sensing remote control device that is configured to sense an operational characteristic of the second electrical load, the load-sensing remote control device further configured to, in response to sensing a change in the operational characteristic, transmit a message to the load control device that includes information related to the sensed change of the operational characteristic,

wherein the load control device is further configured to, in response to receiving the message, control an amount of power that is delivered to the first electrical load in accordance with the information.

2. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the operational characteristic comprises a load current that flows through the second electrical load, the current originating from a power source.

3. The load control system of claim 2, wherein the load-sensing remote control device comprises a sensing circuit that is configured to measure a magnitude of the load current.

4. The load control system of claim 3, wherein the information is representative of the magnitude of the load current.

5. The load control system of claim 2, wherein the load-sensing remote control device is configured to be coupled in series electrical connection between the power source and the second electrical load.

6. The load control system of claim 5, wherein the load-sensing remote control device is configured to be plugged into an electrical outlet that is powered by the power source, and wherein the load-sensing remote control device defines a receptacle that is configured to receive a plug of the second electrical load.

7. The load control system of claim 2, wherein the load-sensing remote control device comprises at least one of a current clamp meter or a current transformer that is configured to sense the load current.

8. The load control system of claim 7, wherein the load-sensing remote control device is configured to be clamped around a single electrical conductor of an electrical cord of the second electrical load.

9. The load control system of claim 7, wherein the load-sensing remote control device is configured to be clamped around the electrical conductors of an electrical cord of the second electrical load, and wherein the load-sensing remote control device is configured to detect a fringing flux.

10. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the second electrical load comprises a lighting load, wherein the operational characteristic comprises a light intensity of the lighting load, and wherein the load-sensing remote control device comprises a light sensor that is configured to measure the light intensity of the lighting load.

11. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the first electrical load comprises a first lighting load and the second electrical load comprises a second lighting load, wherein the operational characteristic comprises a light intensity of the second lighting load, and wherein the load control device is further configured to synchronize the first lighting load with the second lighting load in response to receiving the message.

12. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the first electrical load comprises a lighting load, and wherein the load control device is further configured to cause the lighting load to blink in response to receiving the message.

13. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the load control device comprises one of a dimmer switch, a plug-in load control device, a tabletop load control device, or a controllable light source.

14. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the operational characteristic comprises a sound emitted by the second electrical load, and wherein the load-sensing remote control device comprises a sound sensor that is configured to detect the sound.

15. A method for controlling a first electrical load, the method comprising:

sensing an operational characteristic of a second electrical load; and

transmitting, in response to sensing a change in the operational characteristic, a message that includes information related to the sensed change of the operational characteristic,

wherein the message causes an amount of power that is delivered to the first electrical load to be controlled in accordance with the information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein sensing an operational characteristic of the second electrical load comprises detecting a load current that flows through the second electrical load, the current originating from a power source.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second electrical load comprises a lighting load, and wherein sensing an operational characteristic of the second electrical load comprises measuring a light intensity of the lighting load.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein sensing an operational characteristic of the second electrical load comprises detecting a sound emitted by the second electrical load.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first electrical load comprises a first lighting load and the second electrical load comprises a second lighting load, and wherein the message further causes the first lighting load to be synchronized with the second lighting load.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first electrical load comprises a lighting load, and wherein the message further causes the lighting load to blink.

21. A load-sensing remote control device comprising:

a sensing circuit that is configured to sense an operational characteristic of a first electrical load; and

a wireless communication circuit that is configured to transmit, in response to the sensing circuit sensing a change in the operational characteristic, a message that includes information related to the sensed change of the operational characteristic,

wherein the message causes an amount of power that is delivered to a second electrical load to be controlled in accordance with the information.

22. The load-sensing remote control device of claim 21, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to sense the operational characteristic of the first electrical load by detecting a load current that flows through the first electrical load, the current originating from a power source.

23. The load-sensing remote control device of claim 21, wherein the first electrical load comprises a lighting load, and wherein the sensing circuit is configured to sense the operational characteristic of the first electrical load by measuring a light intensity of the lighting load.

24. The load-sensing remote control device of claim 21, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to sense the operational characteristic of the first electrical load by detecting a sound emitted by the electrical load.

25. The load-sensing remote control device of claim 21, wherein the first electrical load comprises a first lighting load and the second electrical load comprises a second lighting load, and wherein the message further causes the second lighting load to be synchronized with the first lighting load.

26. The load-sensing remote control device of claim 21, wherein the second electrical load comprises a lighting load, and wherein the message further causes the lighting load to blink.