Battery-powered retrofit remote control device

• US 9,633,557 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Dimberg, Chris, DeJonge, Stuart W., Twaddell, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US14/748,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20150371534A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 340 125, 307104, 307143, 315246, 29825
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/12 Power saving techniques of remote control or controlled devices

Abstract

A remote control device may be configured to be mounted over the toggle actuator of a light switch and to control a load control device. The remote control device may include a base portion and a rotating portion supported by the base portion so as to be rotatable about the base portion. The remote control device may include a control circuit, a wireless communication circuit, and a rotary encoder circuit. The rotary encoder circuit may be configured to translate a force applied to the rotating portion into input signals, and to operate as an antenna of the remote control device. The rotary encoder circuit may be configured to provide the input signals to the control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to translate the one or more input signals into control signals for transmission to the load control device via the wireless communication circuit.

Claims

1. A remote control device, for use in a load control system having a load control device, the load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered to an electrical load that is electrically connected to the load control device, the remote control device comprising:

a base portion that is configured to be mounted over a toggle actuator of a mechanical switch that controls whether power is delivered to the electrical load;

a rotating portion that is supported by the base portion;

a wireless communication circuit; and

a rotary encoder circuit that is configured to detect a rotational movement applied to the rotating portion, the rotary encoder circuit including a plurality of discrete input zones that are electrically interconnected,

wherein the rotary encoder circuit is coupled to the wireless communication circuit and operates as an antenna of the remote control device.

2. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the rotating portion is rotatable about the base portion.

3. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the rotating portion includes an interconnect member that is configured to persistently make contact with at least one of the plurality of input zones.

4. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of input zones are electrically interconnected by capacitors.

5. The remote control device of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit that is in electrical communication with the rotary encoder circuit and with the wireless communication circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to translate the rotational movement applied to the rotating portion into a control signal, and is further configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit the control signal.

6. The remote control device of claim 5, wherein the control signal is representative of a command for execution by the load control device.

7. The remote control device of claim 6, wherein the command is indicative of a change in the amount of power delivered to the electrical load by the load control device.

8. The remote control device of claim 7, wherein the command is indicative of the load control device applying power to, or removing power from, the electrical load.

9. The remote control device of claim 5, wherein when the rotational movement of the rotating portion exceeds a predetermined rotational distance, the control signal is indicative of a change of state command that is directed to a plurality of electrical loads.

10. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is configured to be mounted over the toggle actuator when the toggle actuator is in an on position.

11. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the remote control device is configured to prevent actuation of the toggle actuator when the rotational movement is applied to the rotating portion.

12. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the base portion defines an opening that is configured to receive the toggle actuator, and wherein the base portion is configured to engage with, and retain, the toggle actuator in the opening.

13. The remote control device of claim 12, wherein the base portion defines a deflectable arm that extends into the opening, the arm configured to engage with the toggle actuator.

14. The remote control device of claim 13, wherein the base portion includes a resilient strap that abuts the arm and that is configured to bias the arm against the toggle actuator.

15. The remote control device of claim 1, further comprising a battery that is supported by the base portion, wherein the battery powers the wireless communication circuit and the rotary encoder circuit.

16. The remote control device of claim 15, wherein the rotating portion is configured to be removably attached to the base portion via a magnetic connection to the battery.

17. A remote control device that is configured to control a load control device, the load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered to an electrical load, the remote control device comprising:

a rotary encoder circuit that is configured to translate a rotational force applied to the remote control device into an input signal, and that is configured to operate as an antenna;

a control circuit that is communicatively coupled to the rotary encoder circuit and that is configured to receive the input signal and to generate a control signal based upon the input signal; and

a wireless communication circuit that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit and that is configured to transmit the control signal to the load control device,

wherein the rotary encoder circuit includes a plurality of discrete input zones that are electrically interconnected, thereby defining the antenna.

18. The remote control device of claim 17, wherein the control signal is indicative of a change of the amount of power delivered to the electrical load by the load control device.

19. A load control system configured to receive power from an alternating current (AC) power source, the load control system comprising:

a load control device that is configured to control an amount of power delivered to a lighting load that is electrically connected to the load control device; and

a remote control device that includes;

a base portion that is configured to be mounted over a toggle actuator of a mechanical switch that controls whether power is delivered to the load control device;

a rotating portion that is operatively coupled to the base portion and that is configured to rotate relative to the base portion; and

a rotary encoder circuit that is configured to detect a rotational movement applied to the rotating portion, the rotary encoder circuit including a plurality of discrete input zones that are electrically interconnected such that the rotary encoder circuit operates as an antenna,

wherein the remote control device is configured to transmit, via the antenna, a signal to the load control device in response to detection of the rotational movement of the rotating portion, and

wherein the load control device is configured to adjust an amount of power delivered to the lighting load responsive to receipt of the signal.

20. The load control system of claim 19, wherein the load control device and the remote control device include respective actuators that may be actuated to associate the load control device and the remote control device with each other.

21. The load control system of claim 20, wherein the remote control device further comprises a fixed portion that supports the rotating portion, such that the rotational movement causes the rotating portion to rotate about the fixed portion, wherein the fixed portion defines one of the respective actuators.

22. The load control system of claim 21, wherein the one of the respective actuators comprises a button located on an outer surface of the fixed portion.

23. The load control system of claim 19, wherein the remote control device further comprises a battery that is supported by the rotating portion, and wherein the battery is magnetically attachable to the base portion.