Bi-level switching with power packs

• US 8,710,697 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Leonard, Thomas W., Hick, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US13/191,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20110278922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 307/29, 307/41, 307/116, 307/150
• US Class Current: 307/29
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment

Abstract

An electrical power pack may include a first power switch and a cycle control to cycle between the first power switch and a second power switch. An electrical power pack may include a first power switch and a delay element to delay an operation of the first power switch. A power pack system may include a first power switch to operate in response to a constant-on control and a second power switch to operate in response to an automatic control. A power pack system may include a first power switch to operate in response to a manual-on control, and a second power switch to operate in response to an automatic-on control.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first power switch disposed to energize a first load in response to a first control;

a second power switch disposed to energize a second load in response to a second control; and

a cycle control responsive to one of the first and second controls to cycle alternately between operation of one or more of the first and second switches to designate which of the first and second load acts as a primary load;

where the first and second power switches are included in one or more power packs that are adapted to connect the first and second power switches to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from one or more sources outside of the power pack to the first and second loads.

2. The system of claim 1 where the one or more power packs include the cycle control.

3. The system of claim 1 where the cycle control is adapted to cycle between operation of one or more of the first and second power switches in response to the number of times one or both of the first and second power switches are actuated.

4. The system of claim 1 where the cycle control is adapted to cycle between operation of one or more of the first and second power switches on a time period basis.

5. A system comprising:

an occupancy sensor disposed to detect a presence of an occupant in an area and to send a first control signal in response to detecting the presence of the occupant in the area;

a first power switch disposed to energize a first load in response to the first control signal and to de-energize the first load in response to a de-energize control signal; and

a second power switch disposed to energize a second load in response to a second control signal;

a delay element disposed to delay de-energizing the first load in response to the de-energize control;

a cycle control responsive to one of the first and second controls to cycle alternately between operation of the first and second power switches to designate which of the first and second loads acts as a primary load; and

where the first power switch is included in a power pack that is adapted to connect the first power switch to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from a source outside of the power pack to the first load.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a second power switch disposed to energize a second load in response to a second control.

7. The system of claim 6 where the power pack includes the second power switch and is adapted to connect the second power switch to the building wiring system to control the flow of power from a source outside of the power pack to the second load.

8. The system of claim 6 further comprising a second delay element disposed to delay de-energizing the second load in response to the de-energize control.

9. The system of claim 8 where the power pack includes logic disposed to implement the first and second delay elements.

10. A system comprising:

a first power switch disposed to energize a first lighting load arranged to serve a building space in response to a first control;

a second power switch disposed to energize a second lighting load arranged to serve the building space in response to a second control; and

a cycle control connected to the first and second power switches, the cycle control responsive to first and second control signals to cause the first and second power switches to cycle alternately between operation of one or more of the first and second loads to alternate which of the first and second lighting load acts as a primary load;

where the first and second power switches are included in one or more power packs;

where the one or more power packs are adapted to connect the first and second power switches to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from one or more sources outside of the one or more power packs to the first and second lighting loads; and

the first control comprises a manual-on control.

11. The system of claim 10 where the second control comprises a manual-on control.

12. The system of claim 10 where the second control comprises an automatic-on control.

13. The system of claim 12 where the first and second power switches are included in the same power pack.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a power supply included in the power pack to operate the first and second controls.

15. The system of claim 14 where:

the first control comprises a low-voltage wall switch; and

the second control comprises an occupancy sensor.

16. The system of claim 12 where the first and second power switches are disposed to be de-energized by an automatic-off control.

17. The system of claim 16 where the automatic-on and automatic-off controls comprise an occupancy sensor.

18. The system of claim 12 further comprising a manual-off override arranged to control the first power switch to de-energize the first lighting load.

19. The system of claim 12 further comprising a manual-on override arranged to control the second power switch to energize the second lighting load.

20. The system of claim 12 further comprising a power supply disposed within the one or more power packs to operate one or more of the manual-on and automatic-on controls.