Bi-level switching with power packs

• US 8,008,802 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2009
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Hick, Robert, Leonard, Thomas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US12/397,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20100225166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 307/150, 307/29
• US Class Current: 307/29
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/14 by switching loads on to, or off from, network, e.g. progressively balanced loading
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/246 the system involving the remote operation of lamps or lighting equipment

Abstract

An electrical power pack may include a first power switch and a cycle control to cycle between the first power switch and a second power switch. An electrical power pack may include a first power switch and a delay element to delay an operation of the first power switch. A power pack system may include a first power switch to operate in response to a constant-on control and a second power switch to operate in response to an automatic control. A power pack system may include a first power switch to operate in response to a manual-on control, and a second power switch to operate in response to an automatic-on control.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

energizing a first load with a first power switch in response to a constant-on control without regard to the detected presence or actions of occupants in a space served by the first load; and

automatically energizing a second load with a second power switch;

where the first and second power switches are included in one or more power packs;

where the one or more power packs are adapted to connect the first and second power switches to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from one or more sources outside of the power pack to the first and second loads.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically de-energizing the second load.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising de-energizing the first load in response to ambient light.

4. A system comprising:

a first power switch disposed to energize a first load in response to a constant-on control switch without regard to the detected presence or actions of occupants in a space served by the first load; and

a second power switch disposed to energize a second load in response to an automatic control;

where the first and second power switches are included in one or more power packs; and

where the one or more power packs are adapted to connect the first and second power switches to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from one or more sources outside of the power pack to the first and second loads.

5. The system of claim 4 where the second power switch is disposed to de-energize the second load in response to the automatic control.

6. The system of claim 4 where the automatic control comprises an occupancy sensor.

7. A method comprising:

manually energizing a first load with a first power switch; and

automatically energizing a second load with a second power switch;

where the first and second power switches are included in one or more power packs; and

where the one or more power packs are adapted to connect the first and second power switches to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from one or more sources outside of the power pack to the first and second loads.

8. The method of claim 7 where the second load is automatically energized in response to sensing an occupant in a space served by the first and second loads.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising automatically de-energizing the first and second loads.

10. A system comprising:

a first power switch disposed to energize a first load in response to a manual-on control; and

a second power switch disposed to energize a second load in response to an automatic-on control;

where the first and second power switches are included in one or more power packs; and

where the one or more power packs are adapted to connect the first and second power switches to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from one or more sources outside of the power pack to the first and second loads.

11. The system of claim 10 where the first and second power switches are disposed to be de-energized by an automatic-off control.

12. The system of claim 10 where the automatic-on and automatic-off controls comprise an occupancy sensor.

13. The system of claim 10 where the first and second power switches are included in the same power pack.

14. A method comprising:

automatically de-energizing a first load with a first power switch;

automatically de-energizing a second load with a second power switch; and

delaying de-energizing the second load relative to the first load;

where the first and second power switches are included in one or more power packs; and

where the one or more power packs are adapted to connect the first and second power switches to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from one or more sources outside of the power pack to the first and second loads.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

automatically energizing the first load; and

automatically energizing the second load.

16. A system comprising:

a first power switch disposed to de-energize a first load in response to an automatic-off control;

a second power switch disposed to de-energize a second load in response to the automatic-off control; and

a delay element disposed to delay de-energizing the second load in response to the automatic-off control;

where the first and second power switches are included in one or more power packs; and

where the one or more power packs are adapted to connect the first and second power switches to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from one or more sources outside of the power pack to the first and second loads.

17. The system of claim 16 where:

the first power switch is disposed to energize a first load in response to an automatic-on control; and

the second power switch is disposed to energize the second load in response to the automatic-on control.

18. The system of claim 17 where the automatic-on and automatic-off controls comprise an occupancy sensor.

19. A method comprising:

energizing a first load with a first power switch in response to a control;

energizing a second load with a second power switch in response to the control; and

cycling between the first and second loads in response to the control;

where the first power switch is included in a power pack; and

where the power pack is adapted to connect the first power switch to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from a source outside of the power pack to the first load.

20. The method of claim 19 where the power pack includes logic disposed to implement the cycling function.

21. The method of claim 20 where the power pack includes the second power switch and is adapted to connect the second power switch to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from a source outside of the power pack to the second load.

22. A method comprising:

operating a first load with a first power switch in response to a first control; and

delaying operating the first load in response to the first control;

where the first power switch is included in a power pack; and

where the power pack is adapted to connect the first power switch to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from a source outside of the power pack to the first load.

23. The method of claim 22 where operating the first load comprises de-energizing the first load.

24. The method of claim 22 where the power pack includes logic disposed to implement the delaying function.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising operating a second load with a second power switch in response to a second control.

26. The method of claim 25 where the power pack includes the second power switch and is adapted to connect the second power switch to a building wiring system to control the flow of power from a source outside of the power pack to the second load.

27. The method of claim 25 further comprising delaying operating the second load in response to the second control.