Automatic configuration of a load control device

• US 9,313,859 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Saveri, David T. III, Schmalz, Andrew Peter, Bhat, Akshay
• Primary Examiner(s): Tan, Vibol
• Application Number:
  US14/341,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20140333210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 626 Days
• Field of Search: 315/149, 315/152, 315/154, 315/159
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A load control system for controlling an electrical load may include a sensor, a remote control, and a load control device. The remote control may comprise a button and may be configured to wirelessly transmit a digital message in response to an actuation of the button. The load control device may be configured to control the electrical load, be responsive to the sensor, and/or be configured to be associated with the remote control. The load control device may be responsive to the digital message transmitted by the remote control if the remote control is associated with the load control device. The load control device may be configured to automatically operate in a first mode of operation if the remote control is not associated with the load control device, and automatically operate in a second mode of operation if the remote control is associated with the load control device.

Claims

1. A load control system for controlling an electrical load, the load control system comprising:

a sensor;

a remote control comprising a button and configured to wirelessly transmit a digital message in response to an actuation of the button; and

a load control device configured to control the electrical load, the load control device configured to be responsive to the sensor, the load control device further configured to be associated with the remote control and to be responsive to the digital message transmitted by the remote control if the remote control is associated with the load control device;

wherein the load control device is configured to automatically operate in a first mode of operation if the remote control is not associated with the load control device, and automatically operate in a second mode of operation if the remote control is associated with the load control device.

2. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the electrical load comprises a lighting load and the sensor comprises a daylight sensor configured to measure a light intensity.

3. The load control system of claim 2, wherein the load control device is configured to turn the lighting load on and off in response to the daylight sensor in the first mode of operation when the remote control is not associated with the load control device.

4. The load control system of claim 3, wherein the load control device is configured to not turn on the lighting load in response to the daylight sensor in the second mode of operation when the remote control is associated with the load control device.

5. The load control system of claim 4, wherein the load control device is configured to turn on the lighting load in response to the digital message transmitted by the remote control in the second mode of operation when the remote control is associated with the load control device.

6. The load control system of claim 3, wherein the load control device is configured to only turn on the lighting load in response to the remote control in the second mode of operation.

7. The load control system of claim 2, wherein the daylight sensor is configured to wirelessly transmit a digital message including the measured light intensity to the load control device.

8. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the load control device is configured to automatically turn on the electrical load in response to the sensor in the first mode of operation.

9. The load control system of claim 8, wherein the load control device is configured to not automatically turn on the electrical load in response to the sensor in the second mode of operation.

10. The load control system of claim 9, wherein the load control device is configured to automatically turn off the electrical load in response to the sensor in both of the first and second modes of operation.

11. The load control system of claim 8, wherein the load control device is configured to only turn on the electrical load in response to the remote control in the second mode of operation.

12. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to detect either an occupancy condition, a vacancy condition, or both.

13. The load control system of claim 12, wherein the sensor is configured to wirelessly transmit a digital message to the load control device in response to detecting one of the occupancy condition and the vacancy condition.

14. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to wirelessly transmit a first digital message to the load control device and the remote control is configured to wirelessly transmit a second digital message to the load control device.

15. The load control system of claim 14, wherein the sensor is configured to be associated with the load control device, the load control device configured to respond to the first digital message if the load control device is associated with the sensor and to the second digital message if the load control device is associated with the remote control, the load control device configured to automatically operate in the first mode of operation if only the sensor is associated with the load control device, and automatically operate in the second mode of operation if both the sensor and the remote control are associated with the load control device.

16. A load control device for controlling an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit configured to receive a digital message from a remote control; and

a controller configured to control the electrical load, the controller configured to be responsive to a sensor, the controller coupled to the wireless communication circuit and configured to be responsive to the digital message transmitted by the remote control if the remote control is associated with the load control device;

wherein the controller is configured to automatically operate in a first mode of operation if the remote control is not associated with the load control device, and automatically operate in a second mode of operation if the remote control is associated with the load control device.

17. The load control device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to turn the electrical load on and off in response to the sensor in the first mode of operation when the remote control is not associated with the load control device.

18. The load control device of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to not turn on the electrical load in response to the sensor in the second mode of operation when the remote control is associated with the load control device.

19. The load control device of claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to turn on the electrical load in response to the sensor in the second mode of operation when the remote control is associated with the load control device.

20. The load control device of claim 17, wherein the controller is configured to only turn on the electrical load in response to the remote control in the second mode of operation.

21. The load control device of claim 16, wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured to receive a first digital message from the sensor and a second digital message from the remote control.

22. The load control device of claim 21, wherein the load control device is configured to respond to the first digital message if the load control device is associated with the sensor and to the second digital message if the load control device is associated with the remote control, the load control device configured to automatically operate in the first mode of operation if only the sensor is associated with the load control device, and automatically operate in the second mode of operation if both the sensor and the remote control are associated with the load control device.

23. The load control device of claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to automatically turn on the electrical load in response to the sensor in the first mode of operation.

24. The load control device of claim 23, wherein the controller is configured to not automatically turn on the electrical load in response to the sensor in the second mode of operation.

25. The load control device of claim 24, wherein the controller is configured to automatically turn off the electrical load in response to the sensor in both of the first and second modes of operation.

26. The load control device of claim 23, wherein the controller is configured to only turn on the electrical load in response to the remote control in the second mode of operation.

27. The load control device of claim 16, further comprising:

a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between a power source and the electrical load for controlling an amount of power delivered from the power source to the electrical load.