Lighting control with wireless remote control and programmability

• US 6,169,377 B1
• Filed: 05/24/1999
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Wolbert, Donald J. III, Hakkarainen, Simo Pekka, Bryde, Gary W., Spira, Joel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US09/317,456
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291-294, 315/297, 315/307, 315/DIG. 4, 315/320, 315/322, 315/315, 315/149, 315/158, 359/356, 359/362, 359/709-719
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/086 with possibility of remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/088 by wireless means, e.g. infrared transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

A remotely controllable and programmable power control unit for controlling and programming the state and power level, including special functions, of one or more electrical devices. The electrical device can be an electric lamp. The system includes a user-actuatable remote transmitter unit and a user-actuatable power control unit adapted to receive control signals from the remote transmitter unit. Both the remote transmitter unit and the power control unit include a power selection actuator for selecting a desired power level between a minimum power level and a maximum power level, and control switches for generating control signals representative of programmed power levels of one or more power scenes and special functions. In response to an input from a user, either directly or remotely, the one or more devices of the one or more power scenes can be controlled between an on or off state, to a desired programmed preset, or to a maximum power level.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling power delivered to at least one electrical device, comprising:

at least one control unit having a power control circuit and a first control unit switch for generating a first control signal,

said power control circuit controlling the power delivered to said at least one electrical device in response to said first control signal, and

said first control unit switch being operative to generate additional control signals to command said at least one control unit to cause the power delivered to said at least one electrical device to decrease from a non-zero power level to a substantially zero power lead, and to store a preset power level in a memory, wherein subsequent changes in the level of power delivered do not affect said stored preset power level.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of said additional control signals commands said at least one control unit to cause the power delivered to said at least one electrical device to increase from a zero power level to a non-zero power level.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one electrical device comprises an electric lamp and said power control circuit for controlling the power delivered to said at least one electrical device, comprises a light intensity control circuit for controlling the light intensity of said electric lamp.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein actuation of said first control switch commands said at least one control unit to decrease the power supplied to said at least one electrical device from said non-zero power level to a zero power level if prior to said actuation said power control circuit is controlling said power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be said non-zero power level, and to increase the power supplied to said at least one electrical device from zero to said non-zero power level if prior to said actuation said power control circuit is controlling said power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be zero.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said non-zero power level is equal to said stored preset power level when the preset power level is stored in said memory, and when no preset power level is stored in said memory the non-zero power level state is the last established power level of said at least one electrical device.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein two successive actuations of said first control unit switch in a short duration of time commands said at least one control unit to provide maximum power to said at least one electrical device.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein three successive actuations of said first control unit switch in a short duration of time commands said at least one control unit to store said preset power level.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein four successive actuations of said first control unit switch in a short duration of time commands said at least one control unit to clear said preset power level from said memory.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a second and a third control unit switch wherein an actuation of said second control unit switch commands said at least one control unit to increase the power level to be delivered to said at least one electrical device and wherein actuation of said third control unit switch commands said at least one control unit to decrease the power level to be delivered to said at least one electrical device.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said second and third control unit switches are used to set said preset power level to be stored in said memory.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an indicator which provides an indication that said preset power level has been stored in said memory.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a wireless transmitter having a first transmitter switch, for generating and transmitting at least one transmitted control signal to said at least one control unit, and a receiver in said at least one control unit for receiving said at least one transmitted control signal.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein actuation of said first transmitter switch commands at least one control unit to decrease the power supplied to said at least one electrical device from said non-zero power level to a zero power level if prior to said actuation said power control circuit is controlling said power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be said non-zero power level, and to increase the power supplied to said at least one electrical device from zero to said non-zero power level if prior to said actuation said power control circuit is controlling said power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be zero.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said non-zero power level is equal to said stored preset power level when said preset power level is stored, in said memory and when no power level is stored in said memory, said non-zero power level is the last established power level of said at least one electrical device.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein two successive actuations of said first transmitter switch in a short duration of time commands said at least one control unit to provide maximum power to said at least one electrical device.

16. An apparatus according to claim 12, comprising a second and a third transmitter switch wherein actuation of said second transmitter switch commands said at least one control unit to increase the power level to be delivered to said at least one electrical device and wherein actuation of said third transmitter switch commands said at least one control unit to decrease the power level to be delivered to said at least one electrical device.

17. Apparatus for controlling power delivered to at least one electrical device, comprising:

at least one control unit having a power control circuit and at least one control unit switch for generating a first, a second and a third control signal,

said power control circuit controlling the power delivered to said at least one electrical device in response to said first control signal,

said second control signal commanding the control unit to store a preset power level in a memory, and

said third control, signal commanding the control unit to clear said preset power level from said memory.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said electrical device comprises an electric lamp and said power control circuit for controlling the power delivered to said at least one electrical device, comprises a light intensity control circuit for controlling the light intensity of said electric lamp.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said at least one control unit switch comprises a first, a second and a third control unit switch for generating said first, second and third control signals respectively.

20. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said at least one control unit switch comprises a first control unit switch for generating said first control signal and said second control unit switch for generating said second and said third control signal, wherein said second and said third control signal are generated alternately upon successive actuations of said second control unit switch.

21. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein actuation of said first control unit switch commands the control unit to decrease the power supplied to said at least one electrical device from a non-zero power level to a zero power level if prior to said actuation said power control circuit is controlling the power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be said non-zero power level, and to increase the power supplied to said at least one electrical device from zero to said non-zero power level if prior to said actuation said power control circuit is controlling the power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be zero.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said non-zero power level is equal to said stored preset power level when said preset power level is stored in said memory, and when no preset power level is stored in said memory said non-zero power level state is the last established power level of said at least one electrical device.

23. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein two successive actuations of said first control unit switch in a short duration of time commands said at least one control unit to provide maximum power to said at least one electrical device.

24. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein three successive actuations of said first control unit switch in a short duration of time commands said at least one control unit to store said preset power level.

25. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein four successive actuations of said first control unit switch in a short duration of time commands said at least one control unit to clear said preset power level from said memory.

26. An apparatus according to claim 17, comprising a second and a third control unit switch wherein actuation of said second control unit switch commands control unit to increase the power level to be delivered to said at least one electrical device, and wherein actuation of said third control unit switch commands control unit to decrease the power level to be delivered to said at least one electrical device.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26 wherein said second and said third control unit switches are used to set said preset power level to be stored in said memory.

28. An apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising an indicator which provides an indication that said preset power level has been stored in said memory.

29. An apparatus according to claim 17 further comprising a wireless transmitter having first transmitter switch for generating and transmitting at least one transmitted control signal to said at least one control unit and a receiver in said at least one control unit for receiving said transmitted control signal.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein actuation of said first transmitter switch commands control unit to decrease the power supplied to said at least one electrical device from a non-zero power level to a zero power level if prior to said actuation said power control circuit is controlling the power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be said non-zero power level and to increase the power supplied to said at least one electrical device from zero to said non-zero power level if prior to said actuation said power control circuit is controlling the power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be zero.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said non-zero power level is equal to said stored preset power level when said preset power level is stored in said memory, and when no power level is stored in said memory said non-zero power level is the last established power level of said at least one electrical device.

32. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein two successive actuations of said first transmitter switch in a short duration of time commands said at least one control unit to provide maximum power to said at least one electrical device.

33. An apparatus according to claim 29, comprising a second and a third transmitter switch wherein actuation of said second transmitter switch commands said at least one control unit to increase the power level to be delivered to said at least one electrical device, and wherein actuation of said third transmitter switch commands said at least one control unit to decrease the power level to be delivered to said at least one electrical device.

34. Apparatus for controlling power delivered to at least one electrical device, comprising:

at least one control unit having a power control circuit and a first control unit switch for generating a first control signal in response to actuation of said first control unit switch,

said power control circuit controlling the power delivered to said at least one electrical device in response to said first control signal, and

said first control signal commanding said control unit to cause the power delivered to said at least one electrical device to decrease to zero after a first delay time, wherein said first delay time is proportional to a length of time said first control unit switch is actuated.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34 wherein said electrical device comprises an electric lamp, and said power control circuit for controlling the power delivered to said at least one electrical device comprises a light intensity control circuit for controlling the light intensity of said electric lamp.

36. An apparatus according to claim 34 wherein said at least one control unit further comprises an indicator which provides an indication of said duration of said first delay time.

37. An apparatus according to claim 34 wherein said at least one control unit further comprises an indicator which provides an indication that said at least one control unit has received said first control signal, and said at least one control unit has initiated the first delay time but has not yet reached the end of said duration of said first delay time.

38. An apparatus according to claim 34 wherein duration of said first delay time is linearly proportional to said length of time said control unit switch is closed.

39. An apparatus according to claim 34 wherein actuation of said first control unit switch for a transitory period of time commands said at least one control unit to decrease the power supplied to said at least one electrical device from a non-zero power level to a zero power level without said first delay time, if prior to said actuation said power control circuit is controlling said power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be a non-zero power level, and to increase the power supplied to said at least one electrical device from zero to said non-zero power level if prior to said actuation said power control circuit is controlling said power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be zero.

40. An apparatus according to claim 34 wherein said first control unit switch further generates a second and a third control signal,

said second control signal commanding the control unit to store a preset power level in a memory,

said third control signal commanding the control unit to clear said preset power level from said memory.

41. An apparatus according to claim 40 comprising a second and a third control unit switch wherein actuation of said second control unit switch commands said at least one control unit to increase the power level to be delivered to said at least one electrical device, and wherein actuation of said third control unit switch commands said at least one control unit to decrease the power level to be delivered to said at least one electrical device.

42. An apparatus according to claim 41 wherein said second and said third control unit switches are used to set said preset power level to be stored.

43. An apparatus according to claim 34 further comprising a wireless transmitter having a first transmitter switch for generating and transmitting a first transmitted control signal to said at least one control unit, and a receiver in said at least one control unit for receiving the transmitted control signal, to cause said power delivered to said at least one electrical device to decrease to zero after a second delay time.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said second delay time is proportional to a length of time said first transmitter switch is actuated.

45. Apparatus for controlling power delivered to at least one electrical device, comprising:

at least one control unit having a power control circuit and at least one control unit switch for generating a first, a second and a third control signal,

said power control circuit controlling the power delivered to said at least one electrical device in response to said first control signal,

said second control signal commanding said at least one control unit to store in a first memory a duration of delay time, and

said third control signal commanding said at least one control unit to cause the power delivered to said at least one electrical device to decrease from a non-zero power level to a zero power level after said delay time.

46. An apparatus according to claim 45 wherein said electrical device comprises an electric lamp, and said power control circuit, for controlling the power delivered to said at least one electrical device, comprises a light intensity control circuit for controlling the light intensity of said electric lamp.

47. An apparatus according to claim 45 wherein said at least one control unit further comprises an indicator which provides an indicator of said duration of said delay time stored in said first memory.

48. An apparatus according to claim 45 wherein said at least one control unit further comprises an indication that said at least one control unit has received said third control signal, and said at least one control unit has initiated said delay time but has not yet reached the end of said duration of said delay time.

49. An apparatus according to claim 45 wherein actuation of said at least one control unit switch for a transitory period of time commands said at least one control unit to decrease the power supplied to said at least one electrical device from a non-zero power level to a zero power level if prior to said actuation said power control circuit is controlling said power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be a non-zero power level, and to increase the power supplied to said at least one electrical device from zero to said non-zero power level if prior to said actuation said power control circuit is controlling said power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be zero.

50. An apparatus according to claim 45 wherein said first control unit switch further generates a fourth and a fifth control signal,

said fourth control signal commanding said at least one control unit to store a preset power level in a second memory, and

said fifth control signal commanding said at least one control unit to clear said preset power level from said second memory.

55. An apparatus according to claim 45 further comprising a wireless transmitter having a first transmitter switch for generating and transmitting a first transmitted control signal to said control unit, and a receiver, in said control unit for receiving said transmitted control signal.

56. An apparatus according to claim 55 wherein said first transmitted control signal commands said at least one control unit to cause the power delivered to said at least one electrical device to decrease from said non-zero power level to a zero power level after said duration of said delay time.

51. An apparatus according to claim 51 wherein said second and a third control unit switch wherein actuation of said second control unit switch commands said at least one control unit to increase the power level to be delivered to said at least one electrical device and wherein actuation of said third control unit switch commands said at least one control unit to decrease the power level to be delivered to said at least one electrical device.

52. An apparatus according to claim 51 wherein said second and said third control unit switches are used to set said preset power level to be stored in said second memory.

53. An apparatus according to claim 51 wherein said at least one control unit further comprises a delay setting switch for setting said duration of said delay time.

54. An apparatus according to claim 53 wherein said delay setting switch is the third control unit switch which is used to set said duration of said delay time when said at least one control unit is controlling the power to be delivered to said at least one electrical device to be zero.