Configurable Device Control Network
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network includes a first device control assembly and at least one second device control assembly. The first device control assembly is electrically connected to a power distribution panel. The first device control assembly is further configured to regulate a load. The at least one second device control assembly is electrically connected to a power distribution panel. The first device control assembly is in data communication with the at least one second device control assembly. The first device control assembly regulating the load based on the data communication from the at least one second device control assembly.
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Citations
116 Claims
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1-70. -70. (canceled)
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71. A network of backplates, comprising:
two or more backplates configured to mount to one or more electrical junction boxes, each of the two or more backplates configured to interchangeably couple with one or more device assemblies of a plurality of device control assemblies, the plurality of device control assemblies configured to be in data communication via one or more data pathways, each of the two or more backplates comprising; a backplate junction box electrical connector configured to connect to electrical wiring within an electrical junction box of the one or more electrical junction boxes; a housing providing a cavity to interchangeably receive a device control assembly of the plurality of device control assemblies, the device control assembly including a set of device control assembly electrical contacts; a set of backplate electrical contacts configured to couple to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts; a translatable cover, the cover configured to shield the set of backplate electrical contacts from the cavity when translated to a closed position, the cover further configured to expose the set of backplate electrical contacts to the cavity when translated to an open position; and a lock configured to maintain the cover in the closed position unless the device control assembly is inserted into the cavity, wherein inserting the device control assembly into the cavity engages the lock to allow the cover to be translated to the open position to expose the set of backplate electrical contacts to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. A network of device control assemblies, comprising:
two or more device control assemblies configured to be in data communication via one or more data pathways, each of the two or more device control assemblies configured to be interchangeably inserted into a backplate, the backplate configured to mount to an electrical junction box, the backplate configured to connect to electrical wiring within the electrical junction box, the backplate comprising; a housing providing a cavity to interchangeably accept a device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies, the device control assembly including a set of device control assembly electrical contacts; a set of backplate electrical contacts configured to couple to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts; a translatable cover, the cover configured to shield the set of backplate electrical contacts from the cavity when translated to a closed position, the cover further configured to expose the set of backplate electrical contacts to the cavity when translated to an open position; and a lock configured to maintain the cover in the closed position unless one of the two or more device control assemblies are inserted into the cavity, wherein inserting the received device control assembly into the cavity engages the lock to allow the cover to be translated to the open position to expose the set of backplate electrical contacts to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106)
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107. A network of modular control units, comprising:
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two or more device control assemblies configured to be in data communication via one or more data pathways, each of the two or more device control assemblies including a set of device control assembly electrical contacts; and two or more backplates configured to interchangeably accept the two or more device control assemblies, each of the two or more backplates configured to mount to an electrical junction box, each of the two or more backplates further configured to connect to electrical wiring within the electrical junction box, each of the two or more backplates comprising; a housing providing a cavity to accept a device control assembly of the two or more device control assemblies; a set of backplate electrical contacts configured to couple to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts; a translatable cover, the cover configured to shield the set of backplate electrical contacts from the cavity when translated to a closed position, the cover further configured to expose the set of backplate electrical contacts to the cavity when translated to an open position; and a lock configured to maintain the cover in the closed position unless the device control assembly is inserted into the cavity, wherein inserting the device control assembly into the cavity engages the lock to allow the cover to be translated to the open position to expose the set of backplate electrical contacts to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116)
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Specification