Method of programming a load control device using a smart phone

• US 9,544,977 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Economy, Theodore F., Browne, John C. Jr., Fricke, William Bryce, Knode, Galen Edgar, Bedell, Ryan S., Salvestrini, Christopher J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Girma, Fekadeselassie
• Assistant Examiner(s): EUSTAQUIO, CAL J
• Application Number:
  US13/538,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20130026947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address.

Claims

1. A load control system for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load, the load control system comprising:

a load control device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the lighting load for controlling the power delivered to the lighting load, the load control device configured to store one or more operating parameters; and

a smart phone comprising a camera and a visual display for providing a user interface for configuring the one or more operating parameters of the load control device;

wherein the smart phone is configured to transmit the one or more operating parameters to the load control device, wherein the one or more operating parameters are transmitted via programming instructions that enable the load control device to operate according to the one or more operating parameters when the load control device is executing control instructions to control the power delivered to the lighting load, wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise at least a low-end intensity of the lighting load;

wherein the smart phone is configured to transmit a first digital message to the load control device, and wherein the load control device is configured to set an intensity of the lighting load to a first intensity in response to receiving the first digital message, and to decrease the intensity of the lighting load from the first intensity; and

wherein the smart phone is configured to transmit a second digital message when the smart phone detects a flickering of the intensity of the lighting load, wherein the load control device is configured to increase the intensity of the lighting load in response to receiving the second digital message, and wherein the load control device is configured to increase the intensity of the lighting load to a second intensity and store the second intensity as the low-end intensity.

2. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the load control device comprises a lighting control device for controlling the intensity of the lighting load.

3. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the smart phone is configured to scan, via the camera, a barcode of packaging of the lighting load, wherein the smart phone is configured to determine the low-end intensity for the lighting load using information received from the scanned barcode and to transmit the low-end intensity to the load control device.

4. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the digital messages comprise a third digital message that the smart phone is configured to transmit when the smart phone does not detect the flickering in the intensity of the lighting load, wherein the load control device is configured to cease adjusting the intensity of the lighting load in response to receiving the third digital message, such that the intensity of the lighting load is at the second intensity, and wherein the load control device is configured to store the second intensity as the low-end intensity based on receipt of the third digital message.

5. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise one or more timeclock events of a timeclock schedule.

6. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the load control device comprises an optical receiver for receiving optical signals from the smart phone, wherein the smart phone is configured to transmit the one or more operating parameters to the load control device via the optical signals.

7. The load control system of claim 6, wherein the smart phone is configured to modulate a light output of at least a portion of the visual display to transmit the one or more operating parameters to the load control device via the optical signals.

8. The load control system of claim 6, wherein the smart phone is configured to modulate a light output of a camera flash light source to transmit the one or more operating parameters to the load control device via the optical signals.

9. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the load control device is responsive to near-field communication (NFC) signals, and wherein the smart phone is configured to transmit the one or more operating parameters to the load control device via the NFC signals.

10. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the load control device is responsive to Internet Protocol packets, and wherein the smart phone is configured to transmit the one or more operating parameters to the load control device via the Internet Protocol packets.

11. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the load control device is responsive to radio frequency (RF) signals, and wherein the load control device is configured to receive the one or more operating parameters via the RF signals.

12. A method comprising:

providing a user interface for configuring one or more operating parameters of a load control device, wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise a low-end intensity of a lighting load;

receiving images of the lighting load;

detecting whether an intensity of the lighting load is flickering based on the received images;

transmitting digital messages to the load control device to program or adjust the low-end intensity of the lighting load, wherein the digital messages comprise a first digital message configured to set the intensity of the lighting load to a first intensity and to decrease the intensity of the lighting load from the first intensity, and wherein the digital messages comprise a second digital message that is transmitted when the flickering of the intensity of the lighting load is detected, wherein the second digital message is configured to increase the intensity of the lighting load to a second intensity for programming or adjusting the low-end intensity; and

storing the second intensity as the low-end intensity.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the load control device comprises a lighting control device for controlling the intensity of the lighting load.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

scanning a barcode of packaging of the lighting load;

determining the low-end intensity for the lighting load using information received from the scanned barcode; and

transmitting the low-end intensity to the load control device.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the digital messages comprise a third digital message that is transmitted when the flickering is not detected in the intensity of the lighting load, wherein the third digital message is configured to cease adjusting the intensity of the lighting load, such that the intensity of the lighting load is at the second intensity, and wherein the second intensity is stored as the low-end intensity based on receipt of the third digital message.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting the one or more operating parameters to the load control device, wherein the one or more operating parameters that are transmitted comprise at least the low-end intensity.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise one or more timeclock events of a timeclock schedule.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more operating parameters are transmitted to the load control device via optical signals.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the optical signals comprise modulated light output of at least a portion of a visual display of a wireless control device.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the optical signals comprise modulated light output of a camera flash light source.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more operating parameters are transmitted via near field communication (NFC) signals.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more operating parameters are transmitted via Internet Protocol packets.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more operating parameters are received at the load control device via radio frequency (RF) signals.

24. A wireless control device comprising:

a memory; and

a processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory, the processor being configured to execute the instructions to;

provide a user interface for configuring one or more operating parameters of a load control device, wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise a low-end intensity of a lighting load;

receive images of the lighting load;

detect whether an intensity of the lighting load is flickering based on the received images; and

transmit digital messages to the load control device to program or adjust the low-end intensity of the lighting load, wherein the digital messages comprise a first digital message configured to set the intensity of the lighting load to a first intensity and to decrease the intensity of the lighting load from the first intensity, and wherein the digital messages comprise a second digital message that the processor is configured to transmit when the flickering of the intensity of the lighting load is detected, wherein the second digital message is configured to increase the intensity of the lighting load to a second intensity for programming or adjusting the low-end intensity.

25. The wireless control device of claim 24, wherein the load control device comprises a lighting control device for controlling the intensity of the lighting load.

26. The wireless control device of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to:

scan a barcode of packaging of the lighting load;

determine the low-end intensity for the lighting load using information received from the scanned barcode; and

transmit the low-end intensity to the load control device.

27. The wireless control device of claim 24, wherein the digital messages comprise a third digital message that is transmitted when the flickering is not detected in the intensity of the lighting load, wherein the third digital message is configured to cease adjusting the intensity of the lighting load, such that the intensity of the lighting load is at the second intensity.

28. The wireless control device of claim 24, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the one or more operating parameters to the load control device, wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise the low-end intensity of the lighting load.

29. The wireless control device of claim 28, wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise one or more timeclock events of a timeclock schedule.

30. The wireless control device of claim 28, wherein the one or more operating parameters are transmitted to the load control device via optical signals.

31. The wireless control device of claim 30, wherein the wireless control device further comprises a visual display, and wherein processor is configured to modulate light output of at least a portion of the visual display to transmit the optical signals.

32. The wireless control device of claim 30, wherein the wireless control device further comprises a camera flash light source, and wherein processor is configured to modulate light output of the camera flash light source to transmit the optical signals.

33. The wireless control device of claim 28, wherein the wireless control device further comprises a near field communication (NFC) module configured to transmit NFC signals, and wherein processor is configured to transmit the one or more operating parameters to the load control device via the NFC module.

34. The wireless control device of claim 28, wherein the wireless control device further comprises an Internet Protocol module configured to transmit Internet Protocol packets, and wherein processor is configured to transmit the one or more operating parameters to the load control device via the Internet Protocol module.

35. The wireless control device of claim 28, wherein the wireless control device further comprises a radio frequency (RF) module configured to transmit RF signals, and wherein processor is configured to transmit the one or more operating parameters to the load control device via the RF module.