Timed control system with shifted time features

• US 7,310,559 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2003
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Walko, Robert F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARTMAN JR, RONALD D
• Application Number:
  US10/698,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20050094493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/83
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A control system with a clock or calendar based control has two time frames defined for assigning control events during different days of the week. The weekday time frame is defined as Sunday noon through Friday noon, while the weekend time frame is defined as Friday noon through Sunday noon. The defined timeframes are shifted from conventional definitions of weekday and weekend periods, which permits appropriate control scenarios to be realized that are closer to typical expectations. The control system uses a simple, two-timeframe control that permits greater flexibility in realizing lighting control applications without increased cost.

Claims

1. A method of controlling timed events arranged to occur during two timeframes in a week, the week comprising equal days, a total time in the timeframes being equal to a total time in the week,

the method comprising the steps of:

setting a first timeframe to begin at a first time during a first day and to end at a second time during a second day, the first timeframe including a portion of the first day that is less than a total time of the first day and a portion of the second day that is less than the second day;

setting a second timeframe to begin just after the second time of the second day and to end just before the first time of the first day; and

programming a controlled event to occur at a specific time of day, for each portion of a day including the specific time of day, that is included within the first timeframe.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time is about noon on Sunday and the second time is about noon on Friday, the first timeframe comprising a weekday timeframe and the second timeframe comprising a weekend timeframe.