METHOD OF ASSOCIATING WIRELESS CONTROL DEVICES

• US 20150137699A1
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Killo, Jason C., Twaddell, Daniel L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,149,369 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

A first wireless control device may be associated with a second wireless control device in response to the movement of the first wireless control device in relation to the second wireless control device. The second control device may determine whether the signal strength of the wireless signals received from the first wireless control device has changed, and may associate the first wireless control device with the second wireless control device if the signal strength of the received wireless signals has changed. The second control device may be disassociated with the first control device by moving the first wireless control device in relation to the second wireless control device. The second control device may disassociate the first control device when the signal strength of subsequent wireless signals received from the first wireless control device has changed.

Claims

1. A method for associating a first wireless control device with a second wireless control device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the second wireless control device, wireless signals from the first wireless control device;

measuring a signal strength of each of the wireless signals received by the second wireless control device;

determining whether a change has occurred in the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the second wireless control device; and

associating the first wireless control device and the second wireless control device when the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the second wireless control device has changed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disassociating the first wireless control device from the second wireless control device when a signal strength of subsequent wireless signals received by the second wireless control device has changed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first wireless control device is disassociated from the second wireless control device when the signal strength of the subsequent wireless signals received by the second wireless control device have decreased.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein disassociating the first wireless control device from the second wireless control device further comprises removing a unique identifier of the first wireless control device from a memory of the second wireless control device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless control device comprises a remote control device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second wireless control device comprises one of a controllable light source, a remotely-located electronic ballast for driving a fluorescent lamp, a remotely-located LED driver for driving an LED light source, or a motorized window treatment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wireless control device is associated with the second wireless control device when the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the second wireless control device has increased.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the wireless signals received from the first wireless control device comprises an associate command.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the first wireless control device with the second wireless control device further comprises storing a unique identifier of the first wireless control device in a memory of the second wireless control device.

10. A control-target device configured to receive wireless signals from a control-source device, the control-target device comprising:

a wireless communication circuit configured to receive the wireless signals; and

a control circuit operatively coupled to the wireless communication circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to;

measure a signal strength of each of the wireless signals received by the wireless communication circuit,

determine whether a change has occurred in the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the wireless communication circuit, and

associate the control-source device with the control-target device when the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the wireless communication circuit has changed.

11. The control-target device of claim 10, further comprising:

a lighting load; and

a load regulation circuit configured to control an intensity of the lighting load, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive digital messages for controlling the intensity of the lighting load after the control-source device is associated with the control-target device and to control the load regulation circuit to control the lighting load in response to the digital messages.

12. The control-target device of claim 11, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the load regulation circuit to turn the lighting load on and off.

13. The control-target device of claim 12, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the load regulation circuit to adjust the intensity of the lighting load.

14. The control-target device of claim 11, wherein the lighting load comprises an LED light source and the load regulation circuit comprises an LED drive circuit.

15. The control-target device of claim 11, wherein the lighting load comprises a fluorescent lamp and the load regulation circuit comprises a ballast circuit.

16. The control-target device of claim 10, wherein the control circuit is configured to associate the control-source device with the control-target device when the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the wireless communication circuit has increased.

17. The control-target device of claim 16, wherein the control circuit is configured to disassociate the control-source device with the control-target device when a signal strength of subsequent wireless signals received by the wireless communication circuit has decreased.

18. The control-target device of claim 10, further comprising:

a memory operatively coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to associate the control-source device with the control-target device by storing a unique identifier of the control-source device in the memory.

19. A method for associating a first wireless control device with a second wireless control device, the method comprising:

actuating at least one actuator on the first wireless control device to cause the first wireless control device to repetitively transmit wireless signals; and

while the at least one actuator on the first wireless control device is actuated, moving the first wireless control device in relation to the second wireless control device to associate the first wireless control device with the second wireless control device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each wireless signal comprises an associate command.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, at the second wireless control device, two or more of the wireless signals;

measuring, at the second wireless control device, a signal strength of each of the wireless signals received by the second wireless control device;

determining whether a change has occurred in the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the second wireless control device; and

associating the first wireless control device and the second wireless control device when the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the second wireless control device has changed.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first wireless control device and the second wireless control device are associated when the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the second wireless control device has increased.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein associating the first wireless control device with the second wireless control device further comprises storing a unique identifier of the first wireless control device in a memory of the second wireless control device.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the movement of the first wireless control device in relation to the second wireless control device comprises moving the first wireless control device toward the second wireless control device.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the movement of the first wireless control device in relation to the second wireless control device comprises rotating the first wireless control device.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the movement of the first wireless control device in relation to the second wireless control device comprises moving the first wireless control device horizontally or vertically.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the movement of the first wireless control device in relation to the second wireless control device comprises a compound movement of the first wireless control device.

28. A controllable light source configured to receive wireless signals from a remote control device, the controllable light source comprising:

a lighting load;

a load regulation circuit configured to control an intensity of the lighting load;

a wireless communication circuit configured to receive the wireless signals; and

a control circuit operatively coupled to the load regulation circuit and the wireless communication circuit, the control circuit configured to;

measure a signal strength of the wireless signals received by the wireless communication circuit,

determine whether a change has occurred in the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the wireless communication circuit,

associate the remote control device with the controllable light source when the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the wireless communication circuit has changed, wherein the control circuit is configured to receive digital messages for controlling the intensity of the lighting load after the remote control device is associated with the controllable light source and to control the load regulation circuit to control the lighting load in response to the digital messages.

29. The controllable light source of claim 28, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the load regulation circuit to turn the lighting load on and off.

30. The controllable light source of claim 29, wherein the control circuit is configured to control the load regulation circuit to adjust the intensity of the lighting load.

31. The controllable light source of claim 28, wherein the control circuit is configured to associate the remote control device with the controllable light source when the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the wireless communication circuit has increased.

32. The controllable light source of claim 31, wherein the control circuit is configured to disassociate the remote control device with the controllable light source when a signal strength of subsequent wireless signals received by the wireless communication circuit has decreased.

33. The controllable light source of claim 28, wherein the lighting load comprises an LED light source and the load regulation circuit comprises an LED drive circuit.

34. The controllable light source of claim 28, wherein the lighting load comprises a fluorescent lamp and the load regulation circuit comprises a ballast circuit.

35. The controllable light source of claim 28, further comprising:

a memory operatively coupled to the control circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to associate the remote control device with the controllable light source by storing a unique identifier of the remote control device in the memory.

36. A method for disassociating a first wireless control device from a second wireless control device, the method comprising:

receiving wireless signals at the second wireless control device;

measuring, at the second wireless control device, a signal strength of the wireless signals received by the second wireless control device;

determining whether a change has occurred in the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the second wireless control device; and

disassociating the first wireless control device from the second wireless control device when the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the second wireless control device has changed.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first wireless control device is disassociated from the second wireless control device when the signal strength of the wireless signals received by the second wireless control device has decreased.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the first wireless control device is disassociated from the second wireless control device by deleting a unique identifier of the first wireless control device from a memory of the second wireless control device.