Multiple location load control system
First Claim
1. A multiple location load control system for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control system comprising:
- a main load control device comprising a first main terminal, a second main terminal, and an accessory terminal, the main load control device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for control of the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the main load control device configured to conduct a load current from the AC power source to the electrical load via the first and second main terminals; and
a remote load control device adapted to be coupled between the first main terminal and the accessory terminal of the main load control device or between the second main terminal and the accessory terminal of the main load control device, the remote load control device adapted to be coupled to the accessory terminal of the main load control device via an accessory wiring, the remote load control device comprising a power supply;
wherein the main load control device is configured to control the accessory wiring using tri-state logic, the main load control device configured to enable a charging path to allow the power supply of the remote load control device to charge through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, the main load control device and the remote load control device configured to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle of the AC power source;
wherein the main load control device comprises a first switching circuit operably coupled between the AC power source and the accessory wiring for conducting a charging current from the AC power source to the power supply of the remote load control device; and
wherein the main load control device further comprises a second switching circuit operably coupled between the accessory wiring and a circuit common.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled together via an accessory wiring. The main device can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system. The main device is configured to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are configured to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle, for example, by actively pulling-up and actively pulling-down the accessory wiring to communicate using tri-state logic.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A multiple location load control system for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control system comprising:
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a main load control device comprising a first main terminal, a second main terminal, and an accessory terminal, the main load control device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for control of the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the main load control device configured to conduct a load current from the AC power source to the electrical load via the first and second main terminals; and a remote load control device adapted to be coupled between the first main terminal and the accessory terminal of the main load control device or between the second main terminal and the accessory terminal of the main load control device, the remote load control device adapted to be coupled to the accessory terminal of the main load control device via an accessory wiring, the remote load control device comprising a power supply; wherein the main load control device is configured to control the accessory wiring using tri-state logic, the main load control device configured to enable a charging path to allow the power supply of the remote load control device to charge through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, the main load control device and the remote load control device configured to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle of the AC power source; wherein the main load control device comprises a first switching circuit operably coupled between the AC power source and the accessory wiring for conducting a charging current from the AC power source to the power supply of the remote load control device; and wherein the main load control device further comprises a second switching circuit operably coupled between the accessory wiring and a circuit common. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A communication circuit for transmitting signals from a first control device to a second control device over an electrical wire, the communication circuit comprising:
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a first switching circuit adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and the electrical wire, the first switching circuit configured to conduct a charging current for a power supply of the second control device through the electrical wire during a first time period of the half-cycle of an AC power source; and a second switching circuit adapted to be coupled between the electrical wire and a circuit common, the first and second switching circuits rendered conductive and non-conductive on a complementary basis to transmit a digital message to the second control device via the electrical wire during a second time period of the half-cycle of the AC power source; wherein the first and second switching circuits are configured to be rendered non-conductive to generate a high impedance state on the electrical wire outside of the first and second periods of the half-cycle of the AC power source; and wherein the first switching circuit is rendered conductive and the second switching circuit is rendered non-conductive in an active pull-up state to transmit a first bit during the second time period. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A multiple location load control system for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control system comprising:
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a main load control device comprising a first main terminal, a second main terminal, and an accessory terminal, the main load control device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for control of the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the main load control device configured to conduct a load current from the AC power source to the electrical load via the first and second main terminals, wherein the main load control device further comprises; a first switching circuit operably coupled between the AC power source and an accessory wiring for conducting a charging current from the AC power source to a power supply of a remote load control device; a second switching circuit operably coupled between the accessory wiring and a circuit common; and a control circuit coupled to the first and second switching circuits for rendering the first and second switching circuits conductive and non-conductive; and
wherein the load control system further comprises;the remote load control device adapted to be coupled between the first main terminal and the accessory terminal of the main load control device or between the second main terminal and the accessory terminal of the main load control device, the remote load control device adapted to be coupled to the accessory terminal of the main load control device via the accessory wiring, the remote load control device comprising the power supply; wherein the control circuit is configured to render the first and second switching circuits conductive and non-conductive on a complementary basis to transmit a digital message via the accessory wiring during a second time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, the control circuit configured to render the first and second switching circuits non-conductive to generate a high impedance state on the accessory wiring. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification