Method of automatically programming a load control device using a remote identification tag
First Claim
1. A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:
- a load control circuit adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load;
a controller operatively coupled to the load control circuit for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load;
a first communication circuit operatively coupled to the controller and adapted to be coupled to a communication link, such that the controller is operable to transmit and receive digital messages via the communication link; and
an identifier retrieval circuit comprising a second communication circuit coupled to the controller, the identifier retrieval circuit operable to transmit a digital message to a remote identification tag located in the vicinity of the load control device, and to receive a digital message including an identifier from the remote identification tag;
wherein the load control device is adapted to be mounted adjacent to or in a fixture in which the remote identification tag is located, the identifier of the remote identification tag representative of a location of the fixture, the controller operable to transmit a digital message including the identifier on the communication link via the first communication circuit, and to subsequently receive a digital message including a load control setting associated with the identifier via the first communication circuit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of automatically programming a new load control device that replaces an old load control device takes advantage of a remote identification tag (e.g., an RFID tag) located in the vicinity of the old device. The remote identification tag stores an identifier that is representative of a location in which the old device is installed. The method includes the steps of: (1) storing a setting of an old device in a memory of a controller; (2) associating the setting with the identifier of the old device in the memory of the controller; (3) the new device retrieving the identifier from the remote identification tag after the new device is installed in the location of the old device; (4) the new device transmitting the identifier to the controller; and (5) the controller transmitting the setting of the old device to the new device in response to receiving the identifier.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:
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a load control circuit adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load; a controller operatively coupled to the load control circuit for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load; a first communication circuit operatively coupled to the controller and adapted to be coupled to a communication link, such that the controller is operable to transmit and receive digital messages via the communication link; and an identifier retrieval circuit comprising a second communication circuit coupled to the controller, the identifier retrieval circuit operable to transmit a digital message to a remote identification tag located in the vicinity of the load control device, and to receive a digital message including an identifier from the remote identification tag; wherein the load control device is adapted to be mounted adjacent to or in a fixture in which the remote identification tag is located, the identifier of the remote identification tag representative of a location of the fixture, the controller operable to transmit a digital message including the identifier on the communication link via the first communication circuit, and to subsequently receive a digital message including a load control setting associated with the identifier via the first communication circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A load control system for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the system comprising:
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a remote identification tag coupled to the AC power source and comprising a first communication circuit and a memory for storing an identifier; a load control device mounted in the vicinity of the remote identification tag and coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load, the load control device comprising a second communication circuit for transmitting a first digital message to the remote identification tag and receiving a second digital message including the identifier from the remote identification tag, the identifier representative of a location at which the load control device is mounted; and a controller coupled to the load control device via a communication link, the controller operable to store a load control setting in a memory, the load control setting associated with the identifier of the remote identification tag; wherein the load control device is operable to transmit the identifier to the controller via the communication link, and the controller is operable to transmit the load control setting associated with the identifier to the load control device via the communication link in response to receiving the identifier. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of automatically programming a new load control device of a load control system, the method comprising:
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storing a setting of an old load control device in a memory of a controller; associating the setting with an identifier of the old load control device in the memory of the controller, the identifier representative of a location in which the old load control device is installed, the identifier stored in a remote identification tag located in the vicinity of the old load control device; transmitting from the new load control device a first digital message to the remote identification tag after the new load control device is installed in the location of the old load control device; receiving by the new load control device a second digital message including the identifier from the remote identification tag; transmitting from the new load control device to the controller a third digital message including the identifier; and transmitting from the controller to the new load control device a fourth digital message including the setting of the old load control device in response to receiving the identifier. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification