Two-Part Load Control System Mountable To A Single Electrical Wallbox

• US 20130214609A1
• Filed: 08/29/2012
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Carmen, Lawrence R. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,368,025 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/104
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/16 in which transmission is by pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/266 One coil at each side, e.g. with primary and secondary coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/088 by wireless means, e.g. infrared transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• 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 load control system includes a load control device and a remote control for configuring and controlling operation of the load control device. The load control device and remote control may be mounted to an electrical wallbox. The system may be configured by associating the remote control with the load control device, and actuating a button on the remote control to configure the load control device. A second remote control device may be directly or indirectly associated with the load control device. The load control device and remote control may communicate via inductive coils that are magnetically coupled together. The remote control may be operable to charge a battery from energy derived from the magnetic coupling between the inductive coils. The load control device and remote control may include near-field communication modules that are operable to communicate wirelessly via near-field radiation.

Claims

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

a load control device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the load control device comprising a first inductive coil; and

a remote control device for controlling an operation of the load control device, the remote control device comprising a power supply and a second inductive coil,

wherein the remote control device is configured to charge the power supply using energy derived from magnetic coupling between the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil.

2. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the remote control device and the load control device are adapted to be mounted to an electrical wallbox.

3. The load control system of claim 1, further comprising an electrical wallbox, wherein the remote control device and the load control device are mounted to the electrical wallbox.

4. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the second inductive coil of the remote control device is adapted to wirelessly communicate information to the load control device via the magnetic coupling.

5. The load control system of claim 4, wherein the information includes instructions for directly controlling the operation of the load control device from the remote control device.

6. The load control system of claim 4, wherein the information includes instructions for indirectly controlling the operation of the load control device on behalf of a second remote control device.

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

a load control device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the load control device comprising a first inductive coil; and

a remote control device for controlling an operation of the load control device, the remote control device comprising a second inductive coil,

wherein the remote control device is configured to communicate information to the load control device via magnetic coupling between the first inductive coil and the second inductive coil.

8. The load control system of claim 7, wherein the remote control device and the load control device are adapted to be mounted to an electrical wallbox.

9. The load control system of claim 7, wherein the remote control device and the load control device are mounted to an electrical wallbox.

10. The load control system of claim 7, wherein the information includes association information for directly associating the remote control device with the load control device.

11. The load control system of claim 7, wherein the information includes association information for indirectly associating a second remote control device with the load control device.

12. The load control system of claim 7, wherein the information includes instructions for direct control of the load control device by the remote control device.

13. The load control system of claim 7, wherein the information includes instructions for indirect control of the load control device by a second remote control device.

14. The load control system of claim 7, wherein the remote control device further comprises a power supply, and wherein the remote control device is further configured to charge the power supply using energy derived from the magnetic coupling.

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

a load control device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the load control device comprising a first near-field communication (NFC) module; and

a remote control device for controlling an operation of the load control device, the remote control device comprising a second NFC module,

wherein the remote control device is configured to communicate information to the load control device via transmission of NFC radio signals to the first NFC module.

16. The load control system of claim 15, wherein the remote control device and the load control device are adapted to be mounted to an electrical wallbox.

17. The load control system of claim 15, wherein the remote control device and the load control device are mounted to an electrical wallbox.

18. The load control system of claim 15, wherein the information includes association information for directly associating the remote control device with the load control device.

19. The load control system of claim 15, wherein the information includes association information for indirectly associating a second remote control device with the load control device.

20. The load control system of claim 15, wherein the information includes instructions for direct control of the load control device by the remote control device.

21. The load control system of claim 15, wherein the information includes instructions for indirect control of the load control device by a second remote control device.