Remote Control for a Wireless Load Control System

• US 20170181256A1
• Filed: 03/03/2017
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Snyder, Gregory M., Altonen, Gregory S., Jacoby, Elliot G., Felegy, Jr., Edward M.
• Granted Patent: US 11,177,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6809 Control
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 2009/6818 using sensors
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/68 Operating devices or mechanisms, e.g. with electric drive
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/02 Bases, casings, or covers accommodating more than one switch or a switch and another electrical component H02B1/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/025 Stands or organisers to facilitate location or operation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/088 by wireless means, e.g. infrared transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A remote control for a wireless load control system, the remote control comprising: a housing having a front surface and an outer periphery defined by a length and a width; an actuator provided at the front surface of the housing; a wireless transmitter contained within the housing; and a controller contained within the housing and coupled to the wireless transmitter for causing transmission of a wireless signal in response to an actuation of the actuator, the wireless transmitter and the controller adapted to be powered by a battery contained within the housing; wherein the length and the width of the housing are slightly smaller than a length and a width of a standard opening of a faceplate, respectively, such that the outer periphery of the housing is adapted to be received within the standard opening of the faceplate when the housing and the faceplate are mounted to a vertical surface.

Claims

1. A control device comprising:

a housing comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and sidewalls,

wherein the sidewalls spatially separate the front surface and the rear surface and define a hollow volume between the front surface and the rear surface,

wherein the front surface comprises a planar surface, and wherein the sidewalls are in perpendicular relation to the planar surface of the front surface, and

wherein the sidewalls comprise a first pair of sidewalls and a second pair of sidewalls,

the first pair of sidewalls comprising respective planar surfaces that are in parallel relation to each other, and

the second pair of sidewalls comprising respective planar surfaces that are in parallel relation to each other and are in perpendicular relation to the first pair of sidewalls;

a first button at the front surface of the housing, wherein the first button is associated with a first command for controlling a load device, wherein the first button comprises a surface configured to be pressed;

a second button at the front surface of the housing, wherein the second button is associated with a second command, and wherein the second button comprises a surface configured to be pressed;

a battery enclosure configured to hold at least one battery;

a transmitter;

an antenna; and

a printed circuit board comprising a battery-powered controller, a first sensor positioned relative to the first button, and a second sensor positioned relative to the second button;

wherein the battery enclosure, the transmitter, the antenna, and the printed circuit board are contained within the volume between the front surface and the rear surface of the housing;

wherein the controller is configured to detect via the first sensor an actuation of the first button and to cause the transmitter to transmit via the antenna the first command in response to the actuation of the first button, and wherein the controller is further configured to detect via the second sensor an actuation of the second button and to cause the transmitter to transmit via the antenna the second command in response to the actuation of the second button;

wherein the control device is configured to be mounted to a surface in combination with a faceplate with the control device positioned within an opening in a front planar surface of the faceplate;

wherein a size and a shape of the control device as defined at least in part by the sidewalls and the front surface of the housing are configured to match a size and a shape of the opening in the front planar surface of the faceplate; and

wherein the opening in the front planar surface of the faceplate is defined at least in part by a first pair of edges and a second pair of edges, wherein the first pair of edges are in parallel relation to each other, and wherein the second pair of edges are in parallel relation to each other and are in perpendicular relation to the first pair of edges.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the first pair of edges of the opening of the faceplate are spatially separated by approximately 2.630″

and the second pair of edges of the opening of the faceplate are spatially separated by approximately 1.310″

.

3. The control device of claim 2, wherein the first pair of sidewalls of the housing are spatially separated by less than 2.630″

and the second pair of sidewalls of the housing are spatially separated by less than 1.310″

.

4. The control device of claim 3, wherein a depth of the housing is less than 0.5″

.

5. The control device of claim 4, wherein the first pair of sidewalls of the housing are spatially separated by approximately 2.605″

, and the second pair of sidewalls of the housing are spatially separated by approximately 1.280″

.

6. The control device of claim 5, wherein the depth of the housing is approximately 0.3209″

.

7. The control device of claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to have a depth such that when the control device is mounted in combination with the faceplate and the control device is positioned within the opening of the faceplate, the front planar surface of the housing is substantially flush with the front planar surface of the faceplate.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein:

the surface of the first button comprises a planar surface;

the surface of the second button comprises a planar surface; and

the surface of the first button and the surface of the second button are in parallel relation to the front planar surface of the housing.

9. The control device of claim 8, wherein the surface of the first button and the surface of the second button are in a raised position relative to the front planar surface of the housing.

10. The control device of claim 1, wherein:

the surface of the first button comprises four edges; and

the surface of the second button comprises four edges.

11. The control device of claim 10,

wherein the control device further comprises a third button at the front surface of the housing, wherein the third button is associated with a third command, and wherein the third button comprises a surface having a circular shape and that is configured to be pressed;

wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a third sensor positioned relative to the third button; and

wherein the controller is further configured to detect via the third sensor an actuation of the third button and to cause the transmitter to transmit via the antenna the third command in response to the actuation of the third button.

12. The control device of claim 10, wherein:

the surface of the first button comprises a planar surface; and

the surface of the second button comprises a planar surface.

13. The control device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises four rounded corners defined at least in part by the sidewalls.

14. The control device of claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator provided at the front surface of the housing, wherein the controller is further configured to illuminate the visual indicator in response to an actuation of the first button.

15. The control device of claim 1, wherein the first pair of sidewalls of the housing are spatially separated by less than 2.630″

and the second pair of sidewalls of the housing are spatially separated by less than 1.310″

.

16. The control device of claim 15, wherein a depth of the housing is less than 0.5″

.

17. The control device of claim 16, wherein the first pair of sidewalls of the housing are spatially separated by approximately 2.605″

, and the second pair of sidewalls of the housing are spatially separated by approximately 1.280″

.

18. The control device of claim 17, wherein the depth of the housing is approximately 0.3209″

.

19. The control device of claim 1, wherein the first command is for controlling a load device that comprises a lighting load or a motorized window treatment.

20. The control device of claim 1, wherein the first command comprises a preset command for controlling the load device to a preset configuration.

21. The control device of claim 1, further comprising an adapter configured to mount the control device in combination with the faceplate.

22. The control device of claim 1, wherein the control device is further configured to be removably affixed to a tabletop stand.

23. The control device of claim 22, wherein the control device is further configured to be removably affixed to a visor clip for removably affixing the control device to a visor.

24. A system comprising a load device, a remote control for controlling the load device, and a faceplate:

wherein the remote control comprises;

a housing comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and sidewalls,

wherein the sidewalls spatially separate the front surface and the rear surface and define a hollow volume between the front surface and the rear surface;

wherein the front surface comprises a planar surface, and wherein the sidewalls are in perpendicular relation to the planar surface of the front surface, and

wherein the sidewalls comprise a first pair of sidewalls and a second pair of sidewalls,

the first pair of sidewalls comprising respective planar surfaces that are in parallel relation to each other, and

the second pair of sidewalls comprising respective planar surfaces that are in parallel relation to each other and are in perpendicular relation to the first pair of sidewalls;

a first button at the front surface of the housing, wherein the first button is associated with a first command for controlling the load device, and wherein the first button comprises a surface configured to be pressed;

a second button at the front surface of the housing, wherein the second button is associated with a second command for controlling the load device, and wherein the second button comprises a surface configured to be pressed;

a battery enclosure configured to hold at least one battery;

a transmitter;

an antenna; and

a printed circuit board comprising a battery-powered controller, a first sensor positioned relative to the first button, and a second sensor positioned relative to the second button;

wherein the battery enclosure, the transmitter, the antenna, and the printed circuit board are contained within the volume between the front surface and the rear surface of the housing; and

wherein the controller is configured to detect via the first sensor an actuation of the first button and to cause the transmitter to transmit via the antenna the first command in response to the actuation of the first button, and wherein the controller is further configured to detect via the second sensor an actuation of the second button and to cause the transmitter to transmit via the antenna the second command in response to the actuation of the second button;

wherein the faceplate comprises a front planar surface having an opening therein, wherein the remote control and the faceplate are configured to be mounted to a surface in combination with the remote positioned within the opening of the faceplate; and

wherein the load device comprises;

a receiver;

an antenna;

a motor for moving a window treatment; and

a controller configured to receive the first command and the second command from the remote control via the antenna and the receiver of the load device and to cause the motor to move the window treatment in response to the first command and the second command respectively.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first pair of sidewalls of the housing are spatially separated by less than 2.630″

and the second pair of sidewalls are spatially separated by less than 1.310″

.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein a depth of the housing is less than 0.5″

.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the first pair of sidewalls of the housing are spatially separated by approximately 2.605″

, and the second pair of sidewalls are spatially separated by approximately 1.280″

.

28. The system of claim 24,

wherein the remote control further comprises a third button at the front surface of the housing, wherein the third button is associated with a third command, and wherein the third button comprises a surface configured to be pressed;

wherein the printed circuit board further comprises a third sensor positioned relative to the third button;

wherein the controller of the remote control is further configured to detect via the third sensor an actuation of the third button and to cause the transmitter to transmit the third command in response to the actuation of the third button; and

wherein the controller of the load device is configured to cause the motor to move the window treatment in a first direction in response to the first command, is configured to cause the motor to move the window treatment in a second direction opposite the first direction in response to the second command, and is configured to cause the motor to move the window treatment to a preset configuration in response to receiving the third command from the remote control.

29. A control device comprising:

a housing comprising a front surface, a rear surface, and sidewalls,

wherein the sidewalls spatially separate the front surface and the rear surface and define a hollow volume between the front surface and the rear surface,

wherein the front surface comprises a planar surface, and wherein the sidewalls are in perpendicular relation to the planar surface of the front surface, and

wherein the sidewalls comprise a first pair of sidewalls and a second pair of sidewalls,

the first pair of sidewalls comprising respective planar surfaces that are in parallel relation to each other, and

the second pair of sidewalls comprising respective planar surfaces that are in parallel relation to each other and are in perpendicular relation to the first pair of sidewalls;

a first button at the front surface of the housing, wherein the first button is associated with a first command for controlling a load device, wherein the first button comprises a surface configured to be pressed;

a second button at the front surface of the housing, wherein the second button is associated with a second command, and wherein the second button comprises a surface having a triangular shape and that is configured to be pressed;

a third button at the front surface of the housing, wherein the third button is associated with a third command, wherein the third button comprises a surface having a triangular shape and that is configured to be pressed, and wherein the front surface of the housing comprises an opening defined by four edges and wherein the second button and the third button are positioned within the opening of the front surface of the housing;

a battery enclosure configured to hold at least one battery;

a transmitter;

an antenna; and

a printed circuit board comprising;

a battery-powered controller, a first sensor positioned relative to the first button, a second sensor positioned relative to the second button, and a third sensor positioned relative to the third button;

wherein the battery enclosure, the transmitter, the antenna, and the printed circuit board are contained within the volume between the front surface and the rear surface of the housing; and

wherein the controller is configured to;

detect via the first sensor an actuation of the first button and to cause the transmitter to transmit via the antenna the first command in response to the actuation of the first button,

detect via the second sensor an actuation of the second button and to cause the transmitter to transmit via the antenna the second command in response to the actuation of the second button,

detect via the third sensor an actuation of the third button and to cause the transmitter to transmit via the antenna the third command in response to the actuation of the third button.

30. The control device of claim 29, wherein:

the surface of the first button comprises four edges;

the surface of the first button comprises a planar surface;

the surface of the second button comprises a planar surface; and

the surface of the third button comprises a planar surface.