AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF A LOAD CONTROL DEVICE

• US 20160205745A1
• Filed: 03/23/2016
• Published: 07/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Saveri, David T. III, Schmalz, Andrew Peter, Bhat, Akshay
• Granted Patent: US 9,743,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A load control system for controlling an electrical load may include a sensor, a remote control, and a load control device. The remote control may comprise a button and may be configured to wirelessly transmit a digital message in response to an actuation of the button. The load control device may be configured to control the electrical load, be responsive to the sensor, and/or be configured to be associated with the remote control. The load control device may be responsive to the digital message transmitted by the remote control if the remote control is associated with the load control device. The load control device may be configured to automatically operate in a first mode of operation if the remote control is not associated with the load control device, and automatically operate in a second mode of operation if the remote control is associated with the load control device.

Claims

1. A load control system for controlling power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the load control system comprising:

a daylight sensor configured to wirelessly transmit a first message;

a remote control configured to wirelessly transmit a second message; and

a load control device adapted to be electrically coupled in series between the power source and the lighting load, the load control device configured to be associated with at least one of the daylight sensor and the remote control;

wherein the load control device is configured to automatically operate in a first mode of operation if the daylight sensor is associated with the load control device and the remote control is not associated with the load control device, and automatically operate in a second mode of operation if the daylight sensor and the remote control are associated with the load control device;

the first mode of operation characterized by the load control device being configured to turn the lighting load on and off in response to the first message transmitted by the daylight sensor; and

the second mode of operation characterized by the load control device being configured to turn the lighting load off in response to the first message transmitted by the daylight sensor, but not turn the lighting load on in response to the first message transmitted by the daylight sensor, and the load control device being operable to turn the lighting load on in response to the second message transmitted by the remote control.

2. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the load control device is responsive to the first message if the load control device is associated with the daylight sensor and to the second message if the load control device is associated with the remote control.

3. The load control system of claim 1, further comprising an occupancy sensor configured to wirelessly transmit a third message;

wherein the load control device is configured to be associated with at least one of the daylight sensor, the remote control, and the occupancy sensor, and the load control device is responsive to the third message if the load control device is associated with the occupancy sensor; and

wherein the load control device is configured to automatically operate in the first mode of operation if the daylight sensor is associated with the load control device and the remote control and the occupancy sensor are not associated with the load control device, automatically operate in the second mode of operation if the daylight sensor and the remote control are associated with the load control device and the occupancy sensor is not associated with the load control device, and automatically operate in a third mode of operation if the daylight sensor, the remote control, and the occupancy sensor are associated with the load control device.

4. The load control system of claim 3, wherein the third mode of operation characterized by the load control device being configured to turn the lighting load on in response to the first message received from the daylight sensor only when the load control device has received the third message from the occupancy sensor.

5. The load control system of claim 3, wherein the third message indicates that a space in which the lighting load is located is occupied.

6. The load control system of claim 3, wherein the third mode of operation is further characterized by the load control device being configured to turn the lighting load off in response to the first message transmitted by the daylight sensor, and the load control device being configured to turn the lighting load on in response to the second message transmitted by the remote control.

7. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the load control device comprises a remote switching pack.

8. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the load control device does not comprises an actuator for turning the lighting load on and off

9. A load control device for controlling power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the load control device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit configured to receive a first message from a daylight sensor and a second message from a remote control; and

a controller configured to be associated with at least one of the daylight sensor or the remote control, the controller responsive to the first message if the controller is associated with the daylight sensor and to the second message if the controller is associated with the remote control;

wherein the controller is configured to automatically operate in a first mode of operation if the daylight sensor is associated with the controller and the remote control is not associated with the controller, and automatically operate in a second mode of operation if the daylight sensor and the remote control are associated with the controller;

the first mode of operation characterized by the controller being configured to turn the lighting load on and off in response to the first message transmitted by the daylight sensor; and

the second mode of operation characterized by the controller being configured to turn the lighting load off in response to the first message transmitted by the daylight sensor, but not turn the lighting load on in response to the first message transmitted by the daylight sensor, and the controller being configured to turn the lighting load on in response to the second message transmitted by the remote control.

10. The load control device of claim 9, wherein the load control device is configured to be electrically coupled in series between the power source and the lighting load.

11. The load control device of claim 9, wherein the controller is responsive to the first message if the controller is associated with the daylight sensor and responsive to the second message if the controller is associated with the remote control.

12. The load control device of claim 9, further comprising:

an occupancy sensor configured to wirelessly transmit a third message;

wherein the controller is configured to be associated with at least one of the daylight sensor, the remote control, and the occupancy sensor, and the controller is responsive to the third message if the controller is associated with the occupancy sensor; and

wherein the controller is configured to automatically operate in the first mode of operation if the daylight sensor is associated with the controller and the remote control and the occupancy sensor are not associated with the controller, automatically operate in the second mode of operation if the daylight sensor and the remote control are associated with the controller and the occupancy sensor is not associated with the controller, and automatically operate in a third mode of operation if the daylight sensor, the remote control, and the occupancy sensor are associated with the controller.

13. The load control device of claim 12, wherein the third mode of operation characterized by the controller being configured to turn the lighting load on in response to the first message received from the daylight sensor only when the controller has received the third message from the occupancy sensor.

14. The load control device of claim 12, wherein the third message indicates that a space in which the lighting load is located is occupied.

15. The load control device of claim 12, wherein the third mode of operation is further characterized by the controller being configured to turn the lighting load off in response to the first message transmitted by the daylight sensor, and the controller being configured to turn the lighting load on in response to the second message transmitted by the remote control.

16. The load control device of claim 9, wherein the load control device comprises a remote switching pack.

17. A load control device for controlling power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the load control device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit configured to receive a first message from a daylight sensor, a second message from a remote control, and a third message from an occupancy sensor; and

a controller configured to be associated with at least one of the daylight sensor, the remote control, or the occupancy sensor, the controller responsive to the first message if the controller is associated with the daylight sensor, to the second message if the controller is associated with the remote control, and to the third message if the controller is associated with the occupancy sensor;

wherein the controller is configured to automatically operate in a first mode of operation if the daylight sensor is associated with the controller and the remote control and the occupancy sensor are not associated with the controller, automatically operate in a second mode of operation if the daylight sensor and the remote control are associated with the controller and the occupancy sensor is not associated with the controller, and automatically operate in a third mode of operation if the daylight sensor, the remote control, and the occupancy sensor are associated with the controller.

18. The load control device of claim 17, wherein the first mode of operation characterized by the controller being configured to turn the lighting load on and off in response to the first message transmitted by the daylight sensor.

19. The load control device of claim 17, wherein the second mode of operation characterized by the controller being configured to turn the lighting load off in response to the first message transmitted by the daylight sensor, but not turn the lighting load on in response to the first message transmitted by the daylight sensor, and the controller being configured to turn the lighting load on in response to the second message transmitted by the remote control.

20. The load control device of claim 17, wherein the third mode of operation characterized by the controller being configured to turn the lighting load off in response to the first message transmitted by the daylight sensor, turn the lighting load on in response to the first message received from the daylight sensor only when the controller has received the third message from the occupancy sensor, and turn the lighting load on in response to the second message transmitted by the remote control;

and

wherein the third message indicates that a space in which the lighting load is located is occupied.