Wireless load control device

• US 9,679,696 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Bhutani, Ankit, Shivell, William Taylor, Pearson, Sean R., Bhate, Nikhil Vithal
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, GRAHAM P
• Application Number:
  US13/780,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20140132475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 343806, 343900, 343895
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/14 Inductive couplings for wireless supply or distribution of electric power using inductive coupling H02J50/10
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/42 with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength

Abstract

A provided wireless wallbox dimmer may accommodate a plurality of button configurations. The dimmer may be configured to contain a variable number of controllably conductive devices. The dimmer may include a yoke that defines a first plane and an antenna that defines a second plane that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first plane. The yoke may have a flange that is oriented angularly offset relative to the first plane and provides a plurality of mounting locations for controllably conductive devices. The antenna may provide the dimmer with a first wireless transmission range. The dimmer may include a faceplate that cooperates with the antenna to provide the dimmer with a second wireless transmission range that is broader than the first wireless transmission range. The dimmer may include a button assembly that is supported independently of the yoke.

Claims

1. A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered from an alternating current (AC) power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a metal yoke comprising an upper tab, a lower tab, and a plate, the plate defining a first plane, and the plate extending between the upper tab and the lower tab along a first side such that the yoke defines an opening that extends into a second opposite side of the yoke; and

a formed monopole antenna that defines a second plane parallel to and spaced apart from the first plane, wherein the antenna comprises an outer loop and an inner loop spaced apart from the outer loop, the outer loop at least partially enclosing the inner loop; and

a shorting member attached to the yoke and coupled across the opening such that the yoke defines a continuous loop that allows current to flow through the yoke when the antenna is transmitting.

2. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the antenna extends through the opening.

3. The load control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a cradle configured to be at least partially received in the opening of the yoke,

wherein the yoke is configured to receive the cradle in the opening along a direction that is substantially parallel to the first plane.

4. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the yoke further comprises a flange oriented along a third plane that is perpendicular to the first plane, the flange configured to support a plurality of semiconductor power devices.

5. A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a yoke that defines a first plane, the yoke being C-shaped and defining an opening on at least one side; and

a cradle configured to be at least partially received in the yoke, wherein the cradle is configured to be received in the yoke along a direction that is substantially parallel to the first plane and not configured to be received in the yoke along a direction that is substantially normal to the first plane.

6. A load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a plurality of controllably conductive devices;

an enclosure configured to house the controllably conductive devices; and

a yoke comprising;

a conductive plate that defines a first plane; and

a conductive flange supported by the plate and extending into the enclosure, the conductive flange oriented along a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane,

wherein the conductive flange is configured to support the plurality of controllably conductive devices.

7. A load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a metal yoke comprising a conductive plate that defines a first plane;

an electrically conductive element in a second plane parallel to the first plane, the electrically conductive element connected to the yoke by a single electrical connection; and

an antenna that provides the load control device with a first wireless transmission range;

wherein the antenna and the electrically conductive element cooperate to provide the load control device with a second wireless transmission range that is broader than the first wireless transmission range.

8. The load control device of claim 7, wherein the antenna comprises a main radiating element located between the first plane and the second plane.

9. The load control device of claim 7, wherein the metal yoke defines opposed first and second ends and the electrically conductive element is electrically coupled to the metal yoke at the first end but not the second end.

10. The load control device of claim 7, wherein the antenna defines a third plane that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first plane.

11. The load control device of claim 7, further comprising a faceplate assembly that is in electrical communication with the antenna, wherein the faceplate assembly comprises an adapter and at least one electrically conductive screw, wherein a faceplate is configured to be attached to the adapter, and the adapter is connected to the metal yoke with the at least one electrically conductive screw.

12. The load control device of claim 11, wherein the faceplate defines an outer surface and the electrically conductive element comprises a metal plate attached to the outer surface, the metal plate electrically coupled to the metal yoke via the at least one electrically conductive screw.

13. The load control device of claim 11, wherein the electrically conductive element is displaced on a surface of the adapter and is electrically coupled to only the at least one electrically conductive screw.

14. The load control device of claim 7, further comprising a faceplate assembly that is in electrical communication with the antenna, wherein the metal yoke defines opposed first and second ends, and wherein the faceplate assembly comprises a metal faceplate that is electrically coupled to the metal yoke at the first end but not the second end.

15. The load control device of claim 14, wherein the metal faceplate is spaced from the metal yoke and defines a contact member that is configured to abut the metal yoke at the first end.

16. The load control device of claim 14, wherein the metal faceplate is attached to the metal yoke using an electrically conductive screw at the first end and an electrically insulative screw at the second end.

17. The load control device of claim 7, wherein the antenna comprises a formed monopole antenna.

18. A load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a yoke;

a cradle that defines a plurality of activation members; and

a button assembly that is attached to the cradle;

wherein the yoke is oriented such that at least a portion of the yoke is disposed between the button assembly and the cradle, and the button assembly is supported independently of the yoke.

19. The load control device of claim 18,

wherein the button assembly comprises a plurality of buttons adapted to actuate respective ones of the plurality of activation members.

20. The load control device of claim 19, wherein the button assembly is supported directly by the cradle.

21. The load control device of claim 19, further comprising:

a printed circuit board having a plurality of switches mounted thereto,

wherein the cradle is attached to the printed circuit board such that each of the plurality of switches is activated by a respective one of the plurality of activation members.

22. The load control device of claim 20, further comprising a rear cover, wherein the yoke is attached to the rear cover such that the printed circuit board is disposed between the cradle and the rear cover.

23. A load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a cradle that defines a plurality of activation members; and

a formed monopole antenna comprising an outer loop and an inner loop spaced apart from the outer loop, the outer loop at least partially enclosing the inner loop,

wherein the cradle is configured to receive at least a portion of the antenna such that the antenna does not interfere with operation of any of the plurality of activation members, and such that at least one activation member extends inside of the inner loop of the antenna.

24. The load control device of claim 23, wherein the antenna has at least a portion extending between two of the activation members.

25. The load control device of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of activation members comprise a post, and wherein the post of the at least one activation member extends inside of the inner loop of the antenna.

26. The load control device of claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the inner loop extends between two of the plurality of activation members.

27. The load control device of claim 23, wherein the outer loop at least partially surrounds three of the plurality of activation members.

28. A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a C-shaped yoke that defines a first plane and defines an opening on at least one side;

a shorting member coupled across the opening such that the yoke forms a continuous loop that allows current to flow through the yoke when the antenna is transmitting or receiving; and

a formed monopole antenna that defines a second plane that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first plane, the antenna extending through the opening.

29. The load control device of claim 28, wherein the antenna comprises an outer loop and an inner loop spaced apart from the outer loop, the outer loop at least partially encloses the inner loop.

30. The load control device of claim 28, wherein the yoke has a flange oriented along a third plane that is angularly offset relative to the first plane, the flange configured to support a plurality of semiconductor power devices.

31. The load control device of claim 28, further comprising a cradle configured to be at least partially received in the opening along a direction that is substantially parallel to the first plane.