Load control device having Internet connectivity
First Claim
1. A wall-mountable dimmer switch for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load, the wall-mountable dimmer switch comprising:
- a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load;
a controller operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device for controlling the controllably conductive device; and
an Internet Protocol communications module operatively coupled to the controller and operable to receive Internet Protocol packets via a wireless network, wherein the wireless network has an associated identifier and an associated password;
wherein the controller is configured to;
receive the identifier and the password of the wireless network from a control device that is connected to the wireless network,wherein the controller receives the identifier and the password of the wireless network from the control device via a point-to-point connection between the dimmer switch and the control-device,wherein the point-to-point connection does not comprise the wireless network, andwherein the control device comprises at least one of a smart phone, a tablet, and a laptop;
use the identifier and the password of the wireless network received from the control device to connect the dimmer switch to the wireless network;
receive from a wireless access point, that is communicatively connected to the wireless network, an Internet Protocol address for the dimmer switch to communicate on the wireless network, wherein the wireless access point assigns the Internet Protocol address to the dimmer switch based in part on the dimmer switch connecting to the wireless network;
program the dimmer switch with the Internet Protocol address received from the wireless access point, wherein the programming enables the dimmer switch to communicate Internet Protocol packets on the wireless network;
receive from the control device, via the wireless network and the Internet Protocol communications module, one or more Internet Protocol packets, wherein the one or more received Internet Protocol packets comprise the Internet Protocol address and one or more lighting control instructions; and
control the controllably conductive device to control the AC power delivered to the lighting load in response to the received one or more lighting control instructions.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address.
298 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A wall-mountable dimmer switch for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load, the wall-mountable dimmer switch comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load; a controller operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device for controlling the controllably conductive device; and an Internet Protocol communications module operatively coupled to the controller and operable to receive Internet Protocol packets via a wireless network, wherein the wireless network has an associated identifier and an associated password; wherein the controller is configured to; receive the identifier and the password of the wireless network from a control device that is connected to the wireless network, wherein the controller receives the identifier and the password of the wireless network from the control device via a point-to-point connection between the dimmer switch and the control-device, wherein the point-to-point connection does not comprise the wireless network, and wherein the control device comprises at least one of a smart phone, a tablet, and a laptop; use the identifier and the password of the wireless network received from the control device to connect the dimmer switch to the wireless network; receive from a wireless access point, that is communicatively connected to the wireless network, an Internet Protocol address for the dimmer switch to communicate on the wireless network, wherein the wireless access point assigns the Internet Protocol address to the dimmer switch based in part on the dimmer switch connecting to the wireless network; program the dimmer switch with the Internet Protocol address received from the wireless access point, wherein the programming enables the dimmer switch to communicate Internet Protocol packets on the wireless network; receive from the control device, via the wireless network and the Internet Protocol communications module, one or more Internet Protocol packets, wherein the one or more received Internet Protocol packets comprise the Internet Protocol address and one or more lighting control instructions; and control the controllably conductive device to control the AC power delivered to the lighting load in response to the received one or more lighting control instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wall-mountable dimmer switch for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load, the wall-mountable dimmer switch comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load; a controller operatively coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive; and a Wi-Fi module operatively coupled to the controller and operable to receive, via Wi-Fi signals, Internet Protocol packets via a wireless network, wherein the wireless network has an associated identifier and an associated password; wherein the controller is configured to; receive the identifier and the password of the wireless network from a control device, wherein the controller receives the identifier and the password of the wireless network from the control device via a point-to-point connection between the dimmer switch and the control-device, wherein the point-to-point connection does not comprise the wireless network, and wherein the control device comprises at least one of a smart phone, a tablet, and a laptop; use the identifier and the password of the wireless network received from the control device to connect the dimmer switch to the wireless network; receive from a wireless access point, that is communicatively connected to the wireless network, an Internet Protocol address for the dimmer switch to communicate on the wireless network, wherein the wireless access point assigns the Internet Protocol address to the dimmer switch based in part on the dimmer switch connecting to the wireless network; program the dimmer switch with the Internet Protocol address received from the wireless access point, wherein the programming enables the dimmer switch to communicate Internet Protocol packets on the wireless network; receive from the control device, via the wireless network and the Wi-Fi module, one or more Internet Protocol packets, wherein the one or more received Internet Protocol packets comprise the Internet Protocol address and one or more lighting control instructions; and control the controllably conductive device to control the AC power delivered to the lighting load in response to the received one or more lighting control instructions. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wall-mountable dimmer switch for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load, the wall-mountable dimmer switch comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load; a controller operatively coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive; a first communications module operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the first communications module comprises an Internet Protocol communications module operable to receive Internet Protocol packets via a wireless network, wherein the wireless network has an associated identifier and an associated password; and a second communications module operatively coupled to the controller; wherein the controller is configured to; receive, via the second communications module, the identifier and the password of the wireless network from a control device that is connected to the wireless network, wherein the controller receives the identifier and the password of the wireless network from the control device via a point-to-point connection between the second communications module of the dimmer switch and the control-device, wherein the point-to-point connection does not comprise the wireless network, and wherein the control device comprises at least one of a smart phone, a tablet, and a laptop; use the identifier and the password of the wireless network received from the control device to connect the dimmer switch to the wireless network; receive from a wireless access point, that is communicatively connected to the wireless network, an Internet Protocol address for the dimmer switch to communicate on the wireless network, wherein the wireless access point assigns the Internet Protocol address to the dimmer switch based in part on the dimmer switch connecting to the wireless network; program the dimmer switch with the Internet Protocol address received from the wireless access point, wherein the programming enables the dimmer switch to communicate Internet Protocol packets on the wireless network; receive from the control device, via the wireless network and the first communications module, one or more Internet Protocol packets, wherein the one or more received Internet Protocol packets comprise the Internet Protocol address and one or more lighting control instructions; and control the controllably conductive device to control the AC power delivered to the lighting load in response to the received one or more lighting control instructions. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method performed by a dimmer switch for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load, the method comprising:
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receiving, by the dimmer switch from a control device that is connected to a wireless network, an identifier and a password of the wireless network, wherein the dimmer switch receives the identifier and the password of the wireless network from the control device via a point-to-point connection between the dimmer switch and the control-device, wherein the point-to-point connection does not comprise the wireless network, and wherein the control device comprises at least one of a smart phone, a tablet, and a laptop; using, by the dimmer switch, the identifier and the password of the wireless network received from the control device to connect the dimmer switch to the wireless network; receiving, by the dimmer switch, from a wireless access point, that is communicatively connected to the wireless network, an Internet Protocol address for the dimmer switch to communicate on the wireless network, wherein the wireless access point assigns the Internet Protocol address to the dimmer switch based in part on the dimmer switch connecting to the wireless network; programming the dimmer switch with the Internet Protocol address received from the wireless access point, wherein the programming enables the dimmer switch to communicate Internet Protocol packets on the wireless network; receiving, by the dimmer switch from the control device via the wireless network, one or more Internet Protocol packets, wherein the one or more received Internet Protocol packets comprise the Internet Protocol address and one or more lighting control instructions; and controlling, by the dimmer switch, the AC power delivered to the lighting load in response to the received one or more lighting control instructions. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A wall-mountable dimmer switch for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load, the wall-mountable dimmer switch comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load; a controller operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device for controlling the controllably conductive device; and a communications module operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the communications module is operable to receive Internet Protocol packets on a wireless network, wherein the wireless network has an associated identifier and an associated password; wherein the controller is configured to; receive (i) the identifier and the password of the wireless network and (ii) an Internet Protocol address from a control device that is connected to the wireless network, wherein the controller receives the identifier and the password of the wireless network and Internet Protocol address from the control device via a point-to-point connection between the dimmer switch and the control-device, wherein the point-to-point connection does not comprise the wireless network, and wherein the control device comprises at least one of a smart phone, a tablet, and a laptop; use the identifier and the password of the wireless network received from the control device to connect the dimmer switch to the wireless network; program the dimmer switch with the Internet Protocol address received from the control device, wherein the programming enables the dimmer switch to communicate Internet Protocol packets on the wireless network; receive from the control device, via the wireless network and the communications module, one or more Internet Protocol packets, wherein the one or more received Internet Protocol packets comprise the Internet Protocol address and one or more lighting control instructions; and control the controllably conductive device to control the AC power delivered to the lighting load in response to the received one or more lighting control instructions. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification