CONTROL DEVICE FOR USE WITH A THREE-WAY LAMP SOCKET

• US 20150189721A1
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• 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, Knode, Galen Edgar
• Granted Patent: US 10,806,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

A control device may be configured to be installed in a three-way screw-in socket that includes multi-position switches. The control device may be configured to control one or more lighting loads in response to the respective positions of the multi-position switches of the three-way screw-in socket. The lighting loads may include a lighting load that is integral with the control device, a lighting load that is installed in a threaded receptacle of the control device, and/or one or more lighting loads controlled by respective devices that are associated with the control device. The control device may include a wireless communication circuit that is configured to transmit messages in response to operation of the multi-position switches into respective positions. The control device may be configured to control the lighting loads in response to messages received at the wireless communication circuit.

Claims

1. A control device comprising:

a threaded base that is configured to be installed in a three-way screw-in socket, the base including first, second, and third electrical connection portions that electrically connect the control device, via the three-way screw-in socket, to an alternating current (AC) power source, wherein the first and second electrical connection portions are configured to receive a line voltage from the AC power source, and the third electrical connection portion is configured to couple to a neutral side of the AC power source; and

a control circuit that is in electrical communication with the first and second electrical connection portions, the control circuit configured to;

detect a presence of the AC line voltage at one or both of the first and second electrical connection portions; and

in response to detecting the presence, generate status information that is based on the presence.

2. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless communication circuit that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit,

wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit a message that is related to the status information to a second device that is associated with the control device.

3. The control device of claim 2, wherein the status information corresponds to respective positions of multi-position switches of the three-way screw-in socket.

4. The control device of claim 2, further comprising:

a threaded receptacle that is in electrical communication with the base,

wherein the second device includes a lighting control device and a lighting load that is controlled by the lighting control device, and

wherein the message includes a command that causes an operating characteristic of the lighting load to be changed.

5. The control device of claim 4, wherein the operating characteristic is an intensity of the lighting load, and wherein the command causes the intensity of the lighting load to be synchronized with a second lighting load that is installed in the threaded receptacle of the control device.

6. The control device of claim 2, wherein the message includes a command that causes a plurality of lighting control devices that are associated with the control device to synchronize corresponding lighting loads that are controlled by the plurality of lighting control devices.

7. The control device of claim 2, further comprising:

a first detect circuit that is in electrical communication with the first and third electrical connection portions, and that is configured to generate a first detect signal if the AC line voltage is present at the first electrical connection portion; and

a second detect circuit coupled between the second and third electrical connections and that is configured to generate a second detect signal representative of if the AC line voltage is present at the second electrical connection portion.

8. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a threaded receptacle that is in electrical communication with the base; and

a load regulation circuit that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit and that is configured to control an amount of power delivered from the AC power source to the threaded receptacle.

9. The control device of claim 8, wherein the threaded receptacle is configured to receive a lighting load, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to generate a command based on the status information, wherein the command controls an operating characteristic of the lighting load.

10. The control device of claim 9, wherein the operating characteristic is an intensity of the lighting load, and wherein the command causes the intensity of the lighting load to be adjusted in accordance with a preset that is associated with the status information.

11. The control device of claim 8, wherein the load regulation circuit comprises a dimmer circuit.

12. The control device of claim 8, further comprising:

a wireless communication circuit that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit,

wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit a message that is related to the status information to a second device that is associated with the control device.

13. The control device of claim 12, wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine respective positions of multi-position switches of the three-way screw-in socket, and wherein the message further includes information related to the respective positions of the multi-position switches.

14. The control device of claim 8, further comprising:

a first detect circuit that is in electrical communication with the first and third electrical connection portions, and that is configured to generate a first detect signal if the AC line voltage is present at the first electrical connection portion; and

a second detect circuit coupled between the second and third electrical connections and that is configured to generate a second detect signal representative of if the AC line voltage is present at the second electrical connection portion.

15. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

an integrated lighting load; and

a load regulation circuit that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit and that is configured to control an amount of power delivered from the AC power source to the integrated lighting load,

wherein the control circuit is further configured to control an operating characteristic of the integrated lighting load in accordance with the status information.

16. The control device of claim 15, further comprising:

a wireless communication circuit that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit,

wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit a message that is related to the status information to a second device that is associated with the control device.

17. The control device of claim 16, wherein the second device includes a lighting control device and a lighting load that is controlled by the lighting control device, and wherein the message includes a command causes the intensity of the lighting load to be synchronized with the integrated lighting load.

18. The control device of claim 15, further comprising a housing that at least partially surrounds the lighting load, wherein the housing is configured such that light from the lighting load shines through a portion of the housing.

19. The control device of claim 15, wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine respective positions of multi-position switches of the three-way screw-in socket, and wherein the message further includes information related to the respective positions of the multi-position switches.

20. The control device of claim 15, wherein the operating characteristic is an intensity of the integrated lighting load, and wherein the command causes the intensity of the integrated lighting load to be adjusted in accordance with a preset that is associated with the status information.

21. A control device that is configured to be placed in electrical communication with a three-way socket, the control device comprising:

a control circuit that is configured to;

detect a first presence of an alternating current (AC) line voltage at a first electrical interface with the three-way socket;

detect a second presence of the AC line voltage at a second electrical interface with the three-way socket;

generate a status information that is based on at least one of the first presence or the second presence; and

transmit a message that is related to the status information via wireless communication.

22. The control device of claim 21, wherein the message includes a preset light intensity that is associated with the status information.

23. The control device of claim 21, wherein the message includes a command that causes a plurality of lighting control devices that are associated with the control device to synchronize corresponding lighting loads that are controlled by the plurality of lighting control devices.

24. The control device of claim 21, wherein the control circuit is further configured cause the message to be transmitted to a second device that is associated with the control device.

25. The control device of claim 21, further comprising:

a load regulation circuit that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit and that is configured to control an amount of power delivered to a lighting load that is in electrical communication with the control device,

wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the load regulation circuit to control the lighting load in accordance with at least one of the first presence or the second presence.

26. The control device of claim 25, wherein the lighting load is integral with the control device.

27. A controllable light source comprising:

a lighting load;

a housing that is configured to enclose the lighting load, the housing configured to permit light from the lighting load to shine through a portion of the housing;

a load regulation circuit that is configured to control an amount of power delivered to the lighting load;

a threaded base that is configured to be installed in a three-way screw-in socket; and

a control circuit that is configured to generate status information that is based on at least one of a first presence of an alternating current (AC) line voltage at the three-way screw-in socket or a second presence of the AC line voltage at the three-way screw-in socket,

wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the load regulation circuit to change an operating characteristic of the lighting load in accordance with the status information.

28. The controllable light source of claim 27, further comprising:

a wireless communication circuit that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit,

wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit a message that is related to the status information to a second device that is associated with the control device.

29. The controllable light source of claim 28, wherein the second device includes a lighting control device and a second lighting load that is controlled by the lighting control device, and wherein the message includes a command that causes the second lighting load to be synchronized with the lighting load.

30. The controllable light source of claim 28, wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine a position of a multi-position switch of the three-way screw-in socket, and wherein the message further includes information related to the position of the multi-position switch.

31. The controllable light source of claim 27, wherein the operating characteristic is an intensity of the lighting load, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to cause the load regulation circuit to adjust the intensity of the lighting load in accordance with a preset that is associated with the status information.