WIRELESS OCCUPANCY SENSING WITH ACCESSIBLE LOCATION POWER SWITCHING

• US 20100277306A1
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Wright, Daniel M., Leinen, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US12/434,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20100277306A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.3
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/13 by using passive infrared detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A system including an accessible electrical box; a wireless receiver to receive a wireless signal from an occupancy sensor; a power switch to control power to a load; and a controller to control the power switch in response to the wireless signal. The wireless receiver, controller, and power switch are included in the accessible electrical box.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an accessible electrical box;

a wireless receiver to receive a wireless signal from an occupancy sensor;

a power switch to control power to a load; and

a controller to control the power switch in response to the wireless signal;

where the wireless receiver, controller, and power switch are included in the accessible electrical box.

2. The system of claim 1 where the controller is configured to control the power switch to apply power to the load in response to an occupied signal in the wireless signal.

3. The system of claim 2 where the controller is configured to control the power switch to remove power from the load if another occupied signal in the wireless signal is not received during a time period.

4. The system of claim 1, where the controller is configured to control the power switch to apply power to the load in response to an occupied signal if the occupied signal is received within a time period after the controller controlled the power switch to remove power from the load.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a switch included in the accessible electrical box where the controller is configured to control the power switch in response to the switch.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a trim plate to expose the switch and cover an interface between the accessible electrical box and a wall.

7. The system of claim 1 where the accessible electrical box is a wall box.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface included in the accessible electrical box to enable a user to adjust a parameter for controlling the power switch in response to the wireless signal.

9. The system of claim 8 where the parameter comprises a time period.

10. A method comprising:

receiving a wireless signal from an occupancy sensor outside of an accessible electrical box; and

controlling power to a load in response to the wireless signal;

where the wireless signal is received at the accessible electrical box; and

where the power is controlled by a power switch in the accessible electrical box.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving an occupied signal in the wireless signal; and

turning on the power to the load in response to the occupied signal.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising turning off the power to the load if another occupied signal in the wireless signal is not received within a time period.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

turning off power to the load; and

turning on the power to the load if the occupied signal is received within a time period after turning off power to the load

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving a switch signal from a switch located at the accessible electrical box; and

controlling the power to the load in response to the switch signal.

15. A system comprising:

a wireless occupancy sensor to generate a wireless signal; and

an accessible electrical box, the accessible electrical box including;

a wireless receiver to receive the wireless signal;

a power switch to control power to a load; and

a controller to control the power switch in response to the wireless signal;

where the wireless occupancy sensor is separate from the accessible electrical box.

16. The system of claim 15 where the wireless occupancy sensor is configured to transmit a signal indicating that an occupant was detected.

17. The system of claim 16 where:

the wireless occupancy sensor is configured to not transmit a signal indicating that an occupant was not detected; and

the controller is configured to control the power switch to remove power from the load if the signal indicating that an occupant was detected is not received within a time period.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising a wireless switch separate from the accessible electrical box where the controller is configured to control the power switch in response to the wireless switch.

19. A method comprising:

detecting a first signal indicating occupancy;

transmitting a second signal indicating the occupancy in response to the detected first signal;

receiving the second signal at an accessible electrical box; and

controlling power to a load in response to the second signal.

20. The method of claim 19 where transmitting the second signal comprises only transmitting signals related to occupancy if an occupant was detected.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising turning off power to the load if a signal related to occupancy is not received within a time period.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

transmitting a switch signal from a wireless switch;

receiving the switch signal at the accessible electrical box; and

controlling the power to the load in response to the switch signal.

23. A system comprising:

an assembly including a mount to attach the housing to an accessible electrical box;

a wireless receiver to receive a wireless signal from an occupancy sensor;

a power switch to control power to a load; and

a controller to control the power switch in response to the wireless signal;

where the wireless receiver, power switch, and controller are included in the assembly.

24. The system of claim 23 where the assembly is included in a housing, the system further comprising a switch disposed on an exterior of the housing.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising an antenna coupled to the wireless receiver, the antenna disposed around the switch.

26. The system of claim 23 the flange further comprising a second mount to attach a trim plate to the assembly.

27. The system of claim 23 further comprising an input disposed on the assembly to enable a user to adjust a parameter for controlling the power switch in response to the wireless signal.