Load control device having a split enclosure

• US 7,499,261 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Hash, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US12/047,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150446A1
• Time in Patent Office: 355 Days
• Field of Search: 361621-648, 361/678, 361688-689, 361710-714, 361/828, 361/837, 307/115, 307/146, 307/157, 200/33.R, 200/547, 200/600, 315/112, 315/115, 315/291, 315/307, 338/165, 338/172, 338/191, 338/198, 174/50, 174/50.1, 174/50.5, 174/53, 174/54, 174/505
• US Class Current: 361/625
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/086 with possibility of remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/148 Arrangements of two or more hingeably connected rigid printed circuit boards, i.e. connected by flexible means

Abstract

A load control device is adapted to be installed in an electrical wallbox having a barrier. The load control device comprises a split enclosure having first and second enclosure portions spaced apart so as to define a gap, such that the gap is adapted to receive the barrier of the electrical wallbox when the load control device is installed in the wallbox. First and second connectors are provided in first and second openings of the first and second enclosure portions, respectively. The load control device is operable to receive a first control signal at the first connector and to generate a second control signal, which is provided at the second connector, in response to the first control signal.

Claims

1. A load control device for installation in an electrical wallbox having a barrier, the load control device comprising:

an electrical circuit having first and second circuit portions;

a split enclosure having first and second enclosure portions, the first and second enclosure portions spaced apart so as to define a gap between the first and second enclosure portions, the gap adapted to receive the barrier of the electrical wallbox when the load control device is installed in the wallbox;

a first connector operatively coupled to the first circuit portion and provided in a first opening of the first enclosure portion, the first connector operable to receive a first control signal; and

a second connector operatively coupled to the second circuit portion and provided in a second opening of the second enclosure portion, the second connector operable to provide a second control signal;

wherein the electrical circuit is operable to generate the second control signal in response to the first control signal.

2. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the second control signal comprises a phase control signal.

3. The load control device of claim 2, wherein the second circuit portion comprises a phase control circuit operable to generate the second control signal.

4. The load control device of claim 3, wherein the second circuit portion comprises a controller responsive to the first control signal, the controller operatively coupled to the phase control circuit to control the generation of the second control signal.

5. The load control device of claim 4, wherein the first control signal comprises a digital control signal, and the first connector is adapted to be coupled to an external digital communication link for receipt of the first control signal.

6. The load control device of claim 5, wherein the second circuit portion comprises a communication circuit operatively coupled to the first connector and the controller, such that the controller is operable to receive the first control signal.

7. The load control device of claim 5, wherein the digital communication link comprises a Class 2 communication link.

8. The load control device of claim 5, wherein the digital communication link comprises a DALI communication link.

9. The load control device of claim 5, wherein the digital communication link comprises an RS-485 communication link.

10. The load control device of claim 4, wherein the second connector is operable to provide a switched hot control signal, the second circuit portion comprising a relay coupled to the controller, such that the controller is operable to control the relay to generate the switched hot control signal.

11. The load control device of claim 4, wherein the first circuit portion is coupled to the second circuit portion via an optocoupler.

12. The load control device of claim 2, wherein the first control signal comprises a phase control signal.

13. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the first control signal has a first magnitude and the second control signal has a second magnitude greater than the first magnitude.

14. The load control device of claim 13, wherein the second control signal comprises a 277-volt phase control signal.

15. The load control device of claim 14, wherein the first circuit portion comprises a Class 2 circuit and the first control signal comprises a digital control signal.

16. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the load control device comprises a power booster.

17. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the second control signal comprises a dimmed hot signal.

18. A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a fluorescent lamp, the system comprising:

a remote control device operable to generate a first control signal;

a load control device adapted to be installed in an electrical wallbox having a barrier, the load control device comprising a split enclosure having first and second enclosure portions spaced apart so as to define a gap, such that the gap is adapted to receive the barrier of the electrical wallbox when the load control device is installed in the wallbox, the load control device coupled to the remote control device and operable to generate a second control signal in response to the first control signal; and

a dimming ballast adapted to be coupled to the fluorescent lamp, the ballast operable to receive the second control signal and to control the intensity of the fluorescent lamp in response to the second control signal.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a Class 2 digital communication link coupled between the remote control device and the load control device, the remote control device operable to transmit the first control signal to the load control device via the communication link;

wherein the first control signal comprises a digital control signal and the second control signal comprises a 277-volt dimmed hot signal.

20. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load, the load control device adapted to be received within an electrical wallbox having an electrical isolation barrier dividing a volume enclosed by the wallbox into first and second sections, the load control device comprising:

a support plate adapted for mounting the load control device to the electrical wallbox;

a split enclosure comprising a first enclosure portion having a first opening and a second enclosure portion having a second opening, the first and second enclosure portions spaced apart so as to define a gap between the first and second enclosure portions, the split enclosure adapted to be mounted with the electrical wallbox, such that the first and second openings are electrically isolated from each other by the barrier; and

an electrical circuit housed between the support plate and the enclosure, the electrical circuit operable to be coupled to a first voltage having a first magnitude and to be coupled a second voltage having a second magnitude substantially larger than the first magnitude, the first and second voltages operable to pass through the split enclosure through the first and second openings in the enclosure, respectively, the electrical circuit operable to generate the second control signal in response to the first control signal.