Moveable desktop load controller

• US 5,598,042 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Young, James M., Mix, Jerome M., Hu, Charles C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/481,604
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 307/112, 307/116, 315/133, 315/154, 315/150, 340/527, 340/541, 340/554, 340/565, 340/573, 364/138, 367/94
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/042 by measuring the incident light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3922 and measurement of the incident light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• 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 device for controlling power to an electrical load. The device has two components: a portable desktop detector unit and an electrical powerstrip. The desktop detector detects the presence of a human in a room and sends signals to the powerstrip to supply power to or withhold power from individual electrical loads connected to the strip. Since the detector is portable, it can be positioned and repositioned at different locations in a room to maximize its ability to detect the presence of a person. The system can also communicate by wireless signals to a wall-mounted control unit to control light fixtures in the room. When used with a wall-mounted control unit, a photo sensor that detects the level of ambient light in a room allows the system to adjust the brightness of lights in the room depending upon the available ambient light level. Each detector and receiver pair have matching addresses so that a receiver will operate an electrical load only in response to its mated detector, thus allowing multiple devices to be used to control multiple lights without interfering with each other. The device can also operate with a third component that acts as a master key and controls the maximum brightness, at which lights may be operated.

Claims

1. A system for controlling power to first and second electric outlets, said system comprising:

(a) a portable unit enclosed in a first casing, said portable unit comprising;

1) a motion detector for detecting whether an area in which the portable apparatus is positioned is occupied;

2) a first switch, corresponding to said first electric outlet, for allowing a user to select a first state where power to said first electric outlet is switched ON and OFF in response to said motion detector and a second state where power to said first electric outlet is not switched ON and OFF in response to said motion detector;

3) a second switch, corresponding to said second electric outlet, for allowing a user to select a first state where power to said second electric outlet is switched ON and OFF in response to said motion detector and a second state where power to said second electric outlet is not switched ON and OFF in response to said motion detector;

4) a processor, coupled to said motion detector and said first and second switches, for timing periods in which motion is not detected by said motion detector and for generating an analog dam signal to control whether power to said first and second switches is switched ON or OFF;

(b) a powerstrip, enclosed in a second casing separate from said first casing and coupled to said portable unit, for housing said first and second electric outlets, said powerstrip comprising;

1) means for receiving AC power from an external source;

2) an analog-to-digital converter for receiving and converting said analog data signal into first and second power control signals;

3) a first power switch, coupled to said analog-to-digital converter, for switching power to said first electric outlet ON and OFF in response to said first power control signal; and

4) a second power switch, coupled to said analog-to-digital converter, for switching power to said second electric outlet ON and OFF in response to said second power control signal.

2. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said data signal indicates power to said first electric outlet is switched OFF when said motion detector does not detect motion for a predetermined time and said first switch is set to said first state and indicates power to said second electric outlet is switched OFF when said motion detector does not detect motion for a predetermined time and said second switch is set to said first state.

3. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second power switches each comprise a control transistor, coupled at a base to said analog-to-digital converter, and a relay, coupled to an emitter of said control transistor.

4. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said powerstrip further comprises a third electric outlet which cannot be switched ON and OFF by said processor.

5. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second switches in said portable unit each comprise a push button switch coupled to an LED which indicates the position of the switch.

6. The system set forth in claim 1 wherein said portable unit further comprises a master control switch, coupled to said processor, for overriding said first and second switches and allowing a user to select a first state where power to said first and second electric outlets is switched ON and OFF in response to said motion detector and a second state where power to said first and second electric outlets is not switched ON and OFF in response to said motion detector.

7. A system for controlling power to at least one electric outlet, said system comprising:

(a) a portable remote desktop unit comprising;

1) a motion detector for detecting whether an area in which the portable apparatus is positioned is occupied;

2) a switch, corresponding to said at least one electric outlet, for allowing a user to select whether power to said one electrical outlet is switched ON and OFF in response to said motion detector;

3) a processor, coupled to said motion detector and said switch, for timing periods in which no motion is detected by the motion detector and for generating a control signal when said area is unoccupied for a predetermined period of time and said switch is set so that said one electrical outlet is switched ON and OFF in response to said motion detector;

(b) a powerstrip for housing said at least one electrical outlet, said powerstrip comprising a switch, responsive to said control signal, to switch said one electrical outlet OFF in response to said control signal.

8. A portable apparatus for controlling power to a lighting unit and for controlling power to at least one electrical outlet housed in an external housing, said apparatus comprising:

(a) detecting means for detecting whether an area in which the portable apparatus is positioned is occupied;

(b) signal generating means, coupled to said detecting means, for generating a control signal indicating whether said area is occupied;

(c) a brightness selection system which allows a user to select a particular brightness level of the lighting unit and generates an intensity signal indicating said desired brightness level;

(d) wireless transmitting means, coupled to said signal generating means, for transmitting a wireless transmission of said control signal and said intensity signal from said detecting means; and

(e) second transmitting means, coupled to said signal generating means, for transmitting said control signal to said electrical outlet.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said brightness selection system comprises at least a first and a second key, said first key for enabling said user to select incrementally increasing brightness levels of said light and said second key for allowing said user to select incrementally decreasing brightness levels of said light.

10. A system for controlling power to a lighting unit including the portable apparatus set forth in claim 8 and further comprising a light control unit, coupled to said lighting unit, said light control unit including:

(a) signal receiving means for receiving said wireless transmission of said control signal and said intensity signal;

(b) brightness adjusting means, coupled to said signal receiving means and responsive to said wireless transmission of said intensity signal, for adjusting the brightness level of said light in response to said intensity signal; and

(c) power switching means, coupled to said signal receiving means and responsive to said wireless transmission of said control signal, for switching power to said lighting unit.

11. A portable apparatus for controlling power to a lighting unit and for controlling power to at least one electrical outlet housed in an external housing, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a motion detector for detecting whether an area in which the portable apparatus is positioned is occupied;

(b) a timing circuit for timing periods in which no motion is detected by the motion detector and generating a timeout signal when said area is unoccupied for a predetermined period of time;

(c) outlet control means for allowing a user to select whether said at least one electrical outlet is switched ON and OFF in response to said timeout signal;

(d) signal generating means, coupled to said timing circuit, for generating a lighting unit control signal in response to said timeout signal and for generating an electrical outlet control signal in response to said timeout signal and said outlet control means;

(e) wireless transmitting means, coupled to said signal generating means, for transmitting a wireless transmission of said lighting unit control signal from said detecting means; and

(f) second transmitting means, coupled to said signal generating means, for transmitting said electrical outlet control signal to said electrical outlet.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein a microprocessor comprises said timing circuit and said signal generating means.

13. A system for controlling power to a lighting unit including the portable apparatus set forth in claim 11 and further comprising a light control unit, coupled to said lighting unit, said light control unit including:

(a) signal receiving means for receiving said wireless transmission of said control signal and said intensity signal; and

(b) power switching means, coupled to said signal receiving means and responsive to said wireless transmission of said control signal, for switching power to said lighting unit.