TWO-PART LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM MOUNTABLE TO A SINGLE ELECTRICAL WALLBOX

• US 20160254699A1
• Filed: 05/10/2016
• Published: 09/01/2016
• 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 10,587,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 device for controlling an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a first inductive coil, wherein the first inductive coil is configured to wirelessly receive load control settings via magnetic coupling from a second inductive coil of a device, wherein the load control settings are configured to enable control of an operation of the load control device; and

a controller configured to control the operation based on the load control settings received via the magnetic coupling.

2. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the load control device is adapted to be mounted to an electrical wallbox.

3. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the first inductive coil is configured to wirelessly receive load control instructions via the magnetic coupling from the second inductive coil of the device, wherein the load control instructions are configured to control the operation of the load control device.

4. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the first inductive coil is configured to wirelessly receive association information via the magnetic coupling from the second inductive coil of the device, wherein the association information comprises information configured to associate the device with the load control device for the device to control the electrical load via the load control device.

6. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a power supply, and wherein the first inductive coil is configured to charge the power supply of the device using energy derived from the magnetic coupling.

7. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the operation comprises providing the amount of power from the AC power source to the electrical load.

5. The load control device of claim 5, wherein the association information comprises information configured to associate a second device with the load control device.

8. A method for controlling an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving load control settings via magnetic coupling between a first inductive coil of a load control device and a second inductive coil of a device, wherein the load control settings are configured to enable control of an operation of the load control device; and

controlling the operation based on the load control settings received via the magnetic coupling.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the load control device is mounted to an electrical wallbox.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising wirelessly receiving load control instructions via the magnetic coupling between the first inductive coil of the load control device and the second inductive coil of the device, wherein the load control instructions are configured to control the operation of the load control device.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising wirelessly receiving association information via the magnetic coupling between the first inductive coil of the load control device and the second inductive coil of the device, wherein the association information comprises information configured to associate the device with the load control device for the device to control the electrical load via the load control device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the association information comprises information configured to associate a second device with the load control device.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the device further comprises a power supply, and wherein the method further comprises charging the power supply of the device using energy derived from the magnetic coupling.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the operation comprises providing the amount of power from the AC power source to the electrical load.

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

a first near field communication (NFC) module, wherein the first NFC module is configured to wirelessly receive load control settings via NFC signals from a second NFC module of a device, wherein the load control settings are configured to enable control of an operation of the load control device; and

a controller configured to control the operation based on the load control settings received via the NFC signals.

16. The load control device of claim 15, wherein the load control device is adapted to be mounted to an electrical wallbox.

17. The load control device of claim 15, wherein the first NFC module is configured to wirelessly receive load control instructions via the NFC signals from the second NFC module of the device, wherein the load control instructions are configured to control the operation of the load control device.

18. The load control device of claim 15, wherein the first NFC module is configured to wirelessly receive association information via the NFC signals from the second NFC module of the device, wherein the association information comprises information configured to associate the device with the load control device for the device to control the electrical load via the load control device.

19. The load control device of claim 18, wherein the association information comprises information configured to associate a second device with the load control device.

20. The load control device of claim 15, wherein the operation comprises providing the amount of power from the AC power source to the electrical load.

21. A method for controlling an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving load control settings via near field communication (NFC) signals transmitted between a first NFC module of a load control device and a second NFC module of a device, wherein the load control settings are configured to enable control of an operation of the load control device; and

controlling the operation based on the load control settings received via the NFC signals.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the load control device is mounted to an electrical wallbox.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising wirelessly receiving load control instructions via the NFC signals transmitted between the first NFC module and the second NFC module, wherein the load control instructions are configured to control the operation of the load control device.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising wirelessly receiving association information via the NFC signals transmitted between the first NFC module and the second NFC module, wherein the association information comprises information configured to associate the device with the load control device for the device to control the electrical load via the load control device.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the association information comprises information configured to associate a second device with the load control device.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the operation comprises providing the amount of power from the AC power source to the electrical load.