Zero power lighting control device and method

• US 9,510,428 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2010
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: The Watt Stopper Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Mix, Steven, Phan, Tho, Weidman, Louia, Grey, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Crystal L
• Application Number:
  US12/806,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20110037417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,302 Days
• Field of Search: 315/362, 315/294, 315312-313, 315/295, 315/308, 315/291, 315/219, 315/159, 315/154, 315/360, 315/307, 315/158, 315/361
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• 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

The present invention is directed to a lighting control system with a motion sensor unit that electrically couples to a load circuit through a latching relay or load controller for turning on and off lights. The motion sensor unit is configured to power down to draw zero power after a time delay, when motion is longer detected within the work space by the motion sensor unit. The lighting control system further includes a control circuit that reinitiates or turns the motion sensor back on through a switch device.

Claims

1. A zero power lighting control system for electrically coupling to a load circuit, the zero power lighting control system comprising:

a) a sensor unit for detecting motion and sending control signal to a load controller, wherein the load controller opens the load circuit when there is no motion detected by the sensor unit after a first time delay and the motion sensor unit powers down to draw zero current after a second time delay, such that the motion sensor unit is disabled and unable to detect motion;

b) a separate switch device for closing the load controller; and

c) a control circuit for powering the motion sensor unit “

On”

when the switch device is activated to close the load controller, such that the sensor unit is reenergized and capable of detecting motion.

2. The zero power lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the separate switch device is a manual momentary switch device.

3. The zero power lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the separate switch device is a motion sensor switch.

4. The zero power lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit includes a motion sensor selected from the group consisting of an infrared motion sensor, and ultrasonic motion sensor and image motion sensor.

5. The zero power lighting control system of claim 1, further comprising a latching circuit in line with the control circuit and the sensor circuit.

6. The zero power lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the separate switch device includes a current limiting rectifier bridge and ganged-pairs of switches for providing “

On” and

“

Off’

functions.

7. The zero power lighting control system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface for selecting the first time delay when the load controller is opened after the motion detected by the sensor unit is below a threshold value.

8. The zero power lighting control system of claim 7, wherein the threshold value is selectable through the user interface.

9. A system for electrically coupling to a load circuit, the system comprising:

a) at least one sensor unit for detecting motion, wherein the at least one sensor unit powers down to draw zero current when load circuits are opened after a zero power time delay, such that the at least one sensor unit is disabled;

b) a plurality of load controllers electrically coupled to the load circuits and the at least one sensor unit, wherein the at least one sensor unit instructs the plurality of load controllers to open the load circuits when motion detected by the at least one sensor unit is below a threshold value;

c) a separate switch device for opening and closing the plurality of load controllers; and

d) a control circuit for powering the at least one motion sensor unit “

On”

when the switch device is activated to close the plurality of controllers and, wherein the at least one sensor unit is re-energized and is enabled to detect motion.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the separate switch device is a manual momentary switch device.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the separate switch device includes a motion sensor.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor unit includes a motion sensor selected from the group consisting of an infrared motion sensor, an ultrasonic motion sensor, acoustic sensor and an image motion sensor.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a latching circuit in line with the control circuit and the sensor circuit.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the separate switch device includes a current limiting rectifier bridge and ganged-pairs of switches for providing “

On” and

“

Off’

functions.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising a user interface for selecting a load disabling time delay when the plurality of load controllers are opened after the motion detected by the sensor unit is below the threshold value.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the load disabling time delay is selectable through the user interface.

17. A method for controlling lights, the method comprising:

a) monitoring motion with a motion sensor unit in a detection area;

b) verifying that the motion in the detection area is above a threshold value;

c) opening a load circuit to shut off the lights when the motion is not detected within the detection area after a first delay period and switching the motion sensor off to draw zero power after a second delay period, wherein the motion sensor is disabled; and

d) resetting the motion sensor unit by closing the load with a separate switch device, wherein the motion sensor is energized and is enabled to detect motion through a control circuit electrically coupled to the switch device and the sensor unit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the separate switch device is a manual momentary switch device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the separate switch device is a motion sensor switch device.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the separate switch device controls a latching relay to open and close the load circuit.