In-wall occupancy sensor with dimmable night light

• US 8,646,936 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Issued: 02/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Goyal, Rahul, Neundorfer, Oscar, Fair, James, Elgayyar, Ahmed, Sherrill, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): WALFORD, NATALIE K
• Application Number:
  US12/794,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20110298392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 362/147
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• 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: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An electrical wiring device includes a dimmable night light therein. The night light includes one or more light sources for emitting light and an optional lens disposed over the light sources. The lens allows light from the light sources to be emitted therethrough. In some embodiments, the lens is used to turn on the night light, turn off the night light, and dim the night light. In some exemplary embodiments, manipulation of the lens selects an operating mode for the device. The device optionally includes an occupancy detection sensor to assist detecting occupancy within a monitored area.

Claims

1. A light switch device, comprising:

a night light, the night light comprising one or more light sources for emitting light; and

a user accessible switch, the user accessible switch used to control at least one load external to the light switch device,

wherein the intensity of the light emitted from the night light is variable, and

wherein the light switch device is configured to be electrically coupled to and control the at least one load.

2. The light switch device of claim 1, wherein the night light further comprises a lens disposed over the light sources, wherein the lens allows the light to be emitted therethrough.

3. The light switch device of claim 2, wherein manipulation of the lens is used to adjust the intensity of the light emitted from the night light.

4. The light switch device of claim 3, wherein the lens is pressed in and held in to adjust the intensity of the light emitted from the night light.

5. The light switch device of claim 3, wherein the lens is pressed in and released to turn on or turn off the light emitted from the night light.

6. The light switch device of claim 3, wherein the lens is rotated to turn on or turn off the light emitted from the night light.

7. The light switch device of claim 3, wherein the lens is rotated to adjust the intensity of the light emitted from the night light.

8. The light switch device of claim 1, further comprising:

a microcontroller communicably coupled to the night light and the at least one load,

an occupancy detection sensor communicably coupled to the microcontroller, the occupancy detection sensor sending one or more signals to the microcontroller to allow the microcontroller to determine occupancy within a monitored area; and

a manual controller communicably coupled to the microcontroller,

wherein the light switch device is operable in a plurality of operating modes,

wherein the manual controller and the night light are accessible to an end-user without any portion of the device being disassembled,

wherein the operating modes are selected by manipulating one or more of the night light and manual controller, and

wherein the microcontroller controls operation of the at least one load based upon the operating mode selected.

9. The light switch device of claim 8, further comprising an indicator communicably coupled to the microcontroller, the indicator providing information to the end-user as to when to stop manipulating one or more of the night light and manual controller, thereby resulting in a change in the operating mode of the light switch device.

10. The light switch device of claim 8, wherein the light switch device is operable in an occupancy operating mode, wherein the microcontroller turns on the at least one load when occupancy within the monitored area is detected and turns off the at least one load when occupancy within the monitored area is no longer detected.

11. The light switch device of claim 8, wherein the light switch device is operable in an occupancy override operating mode, wherein the microcontroller turns on or off the at least one load based only upon operation of the manual controller.

12. The light switch device of claim 8, wherein the light switch device is operable in a vacancy operating mode, wherein the microcontroller turns on the at least one load only when the manual controller is operated, and wherein the microcontroller turns off the at least one load when occupancy within the monitored area is no longer detected.

13. The light switch device of claim 8, wherein the light switch device is operable in a night light operating mode, wherein operation of the light switch device in the night light operating mode is dependent upon the status of the night light.

14. The electrical wiring device of claim 13, wherein the microcontroller turns on the at least one load only when the manual controller is operated when the light switch device is operating in the night light operating mode with the night light on.

15. The light switch device of claim 13, wherein the microcontroller turns on the at least one load when occupancy within the monitored area is detected and turns off the at least one load when occupancy within the monitored area is no longer detected when the light switch device is operating in the night light operating mode with the night light off.

37. The electrical wiring device of claim 1, wherein the wiring device is operable in a plurality of operating modes, one or more of the plurality of operating modes selected from a group consisting of an occupancy operating mode, an occupancy override mode, a vacancy operating mode, and a night light operating mode.

16. An electrical wiring device, comprising:

a night light, the night light comprising;

one or more sources for emitting light; and

a lens optically coupled to the sources, wherein the lens is entirely translucent, allowing the light to be emitted therethrough;

wherein the intensity of the light emitted from the night light is variable, and

wherein manipulation of the lens is used to adjust the intensity of the light emitted from the night light.

17. The electrical wiring device of claim 16, wherein the lens is pressed in and held to adjust the intensity of the light emitted from the night light.

18. The electrical wiring device of claim 16, wherein the lens is pressed in and released to turn on or turn off the light emitted from the night light.

19. The electrical wiring device of claim 16, wherein the lens is rotated to turn on or turn off the light emitted from the night light.

20. The electrical wiring device of claim 16, wherein the lens is rotated to adjust the intensity of the light emitted from the night light.

21. A lighting control system, comprising:

at least one load positioned within an area; and

a light switch electrically coupled to and configured to control the at least one load, wherein the at least one load is external to the light switch, and wherein the light switch comprises;

a night light, the night light comprising one or more sources for emitting light, wherein the intensity of the light emitted from the night light is variable.

22. The lighting control system of claim 21, wherein the night light further comprises a lens optically coupled to the sources, the lens allowing the light to be emitted therethrough.

23. The lighting control system of claim 22, wherein manipulation of the lens is used to adjust the intensity of the light emitted from the night light.

24. The lighting control system of claim 21, wherein the light switch further comprises:

a microcontroller communicably coupled to the night light and at least one load,

an occupancy detection sensor communicably coupled to the microcontroller, the occupancy detection sensor sending one or more signals to the microcontroller to allow the microcontroller to determine occupancy within a monitored area; and

a manual controller communicably coupled to the microcontroller,

wherein the light switch is operable in a plurality of operating modes,

wherein the manual controller and the night light are accessible to an end-user without any portion of the device being disassembled, and

wherein the operating modes are selected by manipulating one or more of the night light and manual controller.

25. The lighting control system of claim 24, wherein the light switch further comprises an indicator communicably coupled to the microcontroller, the indicator providing information to the end-user as to when to stop manipulating one or more of the night light and manual controller, thereby resulting in a change in the operating mode of the light switch.

26. A method for operating a night light formed within a light switch device, comprising:

providing a light switch device comprising a night light, the night light comprising one or more light sources for emitting light; and

manipulating the intensity of the light emitted from the night light,

wherein the light switch device is configured to be electrically coupled to and control at least one load external to the light switch device in response to a user accessible switch or an occupancy sensor.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the night light further comprises a lens disposed over the light source, wherein the lens allows the light to be emitted therethrough.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein manipulating the intensity of the light comprises at least one of pressing and holding in or rotating the lens to adjust the intensity of the light emitted from the night light.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein manipulating the intensity of the light comprises at least one of pressing and holding in or rotating the lens to turn on or turn off the light emitted from the night light.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the light switch device is operable in a plurality of operating modes.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein one or more of the plurality of operating modes are selected from a group consisting of an occupancy operating mode, an occupancy override mode, a vacancy operating mode, and a night light operating mode.

32. An electrical wiring device, comprising:

a night light comprising one or more sources for emitting light; and

a manual interface communicably coupled to the night light,

wherein the intensity of the light emitted from the night light is variable,

wherein manipulation of the manual interface is used to adjust the intensity of the light emitted from the night light,

wherein the electrical wiring device is configured to be coupled to and control at least one load, wherein the at least one load is external to the electrical wiring device, and

wherein the electrical wiring device comprises a user accessible interface, an occupancy sensor, or both, to control the at least one load.

33. The electrical wiring device of claim 32, wherein the manual interface is pressed in and held to adjust the intensity of the light emitted from the night light.

34. The electrical wiring device of claim 32, wherein the manual interface is pressed in and released to turn on or turn off the light emitted from the night light.

35. The electrical wiring device of claim 32, wherein the manual interface is rotated to turn on or turn off the light emitted from the night light.

36. The electrical wiring device of claim 32, wherein the manual interface is rotated to adjust the intensity of the light emitted from the night light.