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177 US Patents Recently Issued To: "Lutron Technology Company LLC"
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US Pat. No. 10,405,411
LOCATION-BASED CONFIGURATION OF A LOAD CONTROL DEVICE
Lutron Technology Company...
1. A lighting control device for controlling an intensity of a lighting load, the lighting control device comprising:a load control circuit adapted to be coupled to the lighting load;
a controller configured to control the load control circuit to control the intensity of the lighting load;
a first communication circuit configured to transmit and receive digital messages; and
an identifier-retrieval circuit comprising a second communication circuit, the identifier-retrieval circuit configured to receive a first digital message including an identifier from an identifier-transmitting device when the lighting control device is mounted in close proximity to the identifier-transmitting device, wherein the identifier transmitted by the identifier-transmitting device is representative of a location of the identifier-transmitting device, the identifier-transmitting device adapted to be installed in a fixture in which the lighting control device is installed;
wherein the controller is configured to transmit a second digital message including the identifier via the first communication circuit, and to subsequently receive a third digital message including a configuration setting associated with the identifier via the first communication circuit.
CONTROLLING GROUPS OF ELECTRICAL LOADS VIA MULTICAST AND/OR UNICAST MESSAGES
1. An input device for controlling a lighting load, the input device comprising:a user interface responsive to user interface events;
a communication circuit configured to communicate digital messages; and
a control circuit configured to:
detect a user interface event at the user interface;
determine, based on the user interface event, a message transmission configuration, wherein the message transmission configuration includes a message selected from a group comprising a unicast message and a multicast message, wherein the message transmission configuration comprises the multicast message when the user interface event is determined to be a first event configured to cause an intensity change at the lighting load and a number of multicast messages transmitted within a predefined period of time is within a predefined threshold, and wherein the message transmission configuration comprises the unicast message when the user interface event is determined to be a second event that is configured to cause a smaller intensity change at the lighting load than the first event; and
transmit, via the communication circuit, a digital message configured to control the lighting load using the message transmission configuration.
ASSOCIATING WIRELESS CONTROL DEVICES
1. A control device for a load control system having a load control device configured to control an electrical load, the control device comprising:a button for receiving a user input via an actuation of the button;
a memory;
a communications circuit; and
identify a first actuation of the button;
generate a first control instruction configured to control the electrical load in response to the first actuation of the button;
send, via the communications circuit, the first control instruction in a first digital message for controlling the electrical load;
in response to the first digital message that includes the first control instruction, receive an identifier configured to associate the control device with at least one other device in the load control system, wherein the at least one other device comprises the load control device configured to control the electrical load;
store the identifier in the memory;
identify a second actuation of the button;
generate a second control instruction configured to control the electrical load in response to the second actuation of the button; and
send, via the communications circuit, the second control instruction in a second digital message that includes the identifier configured to associate the control device with the at least one other device in the load control system.
TURN-ON PROCEDURE FOR A LOAD CONTROL DEVICE
1. A load control device for controlling the intensity of a lighting load, the load control device comprising:a power converter circuit configured to receive a first voltage and to produce a second voltage across a capacitor; and
a control circuit operatively coupled to the power converter circuit and configured to control the power converter circuit to generate the second voltage across the capacitor;
wherein the control circuit is configured to determine a learned capacitor voltage from the magnitude of the second voltage of the capacitor, the control circuit configured to determine an operating parameter associated with the power converter circuit as a function of the learned capacitor voltage, the control circuit configured to control the power converter circuit according to the operating parameter to charge the capacitor until the magnitude of the second voltage reaches a threshold.
LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE
1. A circuit for controlling an intensity of a LED light source, the circuit comprising:an LED drive circuit configured to control a magnitude of a load current conducted through the LED light source to control the intensity of the LED light source;
a current sense circuit configured to provide a load current feedback signal that indicates the magnitude of the load current; and
a control circuit configured to generate at least one drive signal for controlling the LED drive circuit to adjust the intensity of the LED light source towards a target intensity;
wherein, when the target intensity is greater than a transition intensity, the control circuit is configured to adjust a value of an operational characteristic of the at least one drive signal in response to the load current feedback signal in order to regulate an average magnitude of the load current towards a target current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current; and
wherein, when the target intensity is less than the transition intensity, the control circuit is configured to control the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current by:
operating in a first state and a second state on a periodic basis;
controlling the LED drive circuit in the first state during a first time period in which the control circuit adjusts the value of the operational characteristic of the at least one drive signal to regulate a peak magnitude of the load current towards approximately the minimum rated current in response to the load current feedback signal; and
controlling the LED drive circuit in the second state during a second time period in which the control circuit maintains the operational characteristic of the at least one drive signal approximately constant.
a control circuit configured to generate at least one drive signal for controlling the LED drive circuit to control an average magnitude of the load current to adjust the intensity of the LED light source towards a target intensity;
wherein the control circuit is configured to:
operate in a first state and a second state on a periodic basis over a plurality of burst periods, each of the plurality of burst periods including a first time period and a second time period;
control the LED drive circuit in the first state during the first time period in which the control circuit adjusts a value of an operational characteristic of the at least one drive signal to regulate a peak magnitude of the load current towards a target current in response to the load current feedback signal;
control the LED drive circuit in the second state during the second time period in which the control circuit maintains the operational characteristic of the at least one drive signal approximately constant; and
adjust the average magnitude of the load current by adjusting a length of one of the first or second time period while holding a length of the other of the first or second time period constant in at least some of the burst periods.
TURN-ON PROCEDURE FOR A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
1. A load regulation device for controlling an electrical load, the load regulation device comprising:a load regulation circuit configured to control the electrical load; and
a control circuit configured to control the load regulation circuit to control an amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the control circuit configured to operate in an on state during which the control circuit controls the load regulation circuit to energize the electrical load, and in a low power state during which the electrical load is unenergized;
receive an indication of a user's presence;
transition from a low power state to a ready state in response to receiving the indication, wherein the ready state is characterized by the load regulation device using more power than the low power state and the electrical load being unenergized;
wait in the ready state for a change state instruction;
transition from the ready state to the low power state if the change state instruction is not received within a first predetermined period of time;
transition from the ready state to the on state in response to receiving the change state instruction within the first predetermined period of time; and
transition from the on state to one of the ready state or the low power state in response to receiving an actuation of an actuator or in response to determining a lack of the user's presence in a vicinity of the electrical load for a second predetermined period of time.
CONTROLLING GROUPS OF ELECTRICAL LOADS
1. A load control system comprising:a group of lighting devices configured to control an amount of power provided to respective lighting loads; and
a remote control device configured to:
identify an actuation on the remote control device, wherein the actuation is configured to toggle an on/off state of the lighting devices;
transmit a status query message for the on/off state to at least one lighting device of the group of lighting devices in response to the actuation to identify the on/off state of the at least one lighting device prior to controlling one or more lighting devices in the group of lighting devices;
receive a status message from the at least one lighting device of the group of lighting devices, wherein the status message indicates a respective on/off state of the at least one lighting device; and
transmit a digital message configured to control the on/off state of the one or more lighting devices in the group of lighting devices.
MOUNTING BRACKET LOCK
1. A window treatment comprising:a rail that is elongate between a first end and an opposed second end;
first and second mounting brackets defining a first attachment member and a second attachment member, respectively, wherein the first and second mounting brackets are configured to attach to the first and second ends of the rail via the respective first and second attachment members;
a covering material that is configured to be supported by the first and second mounting brackets; and
a first mounting bracket lock that is configured to be slidably attached to the rail and that is configured to, when in a locked position, prevent the first attachment member of the first mounting bracket from detaching from the rail;
wherein the first mounting bracket lock defines a first projection that extends from the first mounting bracket lock, the first projection configured to engage with a first surface of the first mounting bracket via a friction fit to secure the first mounting bracket in the locked position.
LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE HAVING DIFFERENT OPERATING MODES
1. A method for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load, the method comprising:during a normal mode, regulating an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the electrical load by holding a burst duty cycle of a load regulation circuit constant and adjusting a target load current conducted through the electrical load; and
during an intermediate mode and a low-end mode, controlling the load regulation circuit to operate in active state periods during which the load regulation circuit is active and in inactive state periods during which the load regulation circuit is inactive, and
during the intermediate mode, adjusting the burst duty cycle and the average magnitude of the load current by keeping the length of the inactive state periods constant and adjusting the length of the active state periods; and
during the low-end mode, adjusting the burst duty cycle and the average magnitude of the load current by keeping the length of the active state periods constant and adjusting the length of the inactive state periods.
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from a power source to an electrical load, the load control device configured to receive an input voltage from the power source, the load control device comprising:a power converter configured to generate a bus voltage;
a load regulation circuit configured to receive the bus voltage and to control the power delivered to the electrical load;
a rectifier circuit configured to receive the input voltage from the power source, the rectifier circuit configured to rectify the input voltage to generate a rectified voltage and provide the rectified voltage to the power converter when the input voltage is an AC voltage, the rectifier circuit further configured to pass through the input voltage to the power converter when the input voltage is a DC voltage, the rectifier comprising first and second input terminals, first and second output terminals, a first controllable switching circuit, and a second controllable switching circuit, the first and second switching circuits rendered non-conductive when the input voltage is an AC voltage and rendered conductive when the input voltage is a DC voltage; and
a control circuit configured to control the load regulation circuit to control the power delivered to the electrical load, the control circuit configured to operate in an AC mode when the input voltage is an AC voltage and in a DC mode when the input voltage is a DC voltage;
wherein the control circuit is configured to disable the power converter when operating in the DC mode.
LOAD-SENSING REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE FOR USE IN A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
1. A load control system comprising:a remote control device configured to be clamped around at least one electrical conductor of an AC power cord of an electrical load, the remote control device comprising:
a control circuit;
a sensing circuit communicatively coupled to the control circuit and configured to sense an electrical current of the electrical load, the sensed electrical current indicating a change in state of the electrical load from an on state to an off state;
a programming button communicatively coupled to the control circuit, wherein in response to the programming button being actuated, the control circuit is configured to associate the remote control device with a load control device so that the load control device is responsive to messages transmitted by the remote control device, wherein the load control device is configured to control an intensity of a lighting load by controlling an amount of power delivered to the lighting load, and wherein the lighting load and the electrical load are different loads; and
a communication circuit communicatively coupled to the control circuit and configured to transmit messages to the associated load control device;
wherein in response to sensing, via the sensing circuit, the change in the state of the electrical load from the on state to the off state, the control circuit is configured to transmit a message to the load control device via the communication circuit, wherein the transmitted message includes information related to the change in the state of the electrical load from the on state to the off state, and wherein the transmitted message causes the load control device, in response to receiving the transmitted message, to control the amount of power that is delivered to the lighting load to blink the lighting load by increasing and decreasing the intensity of the lighting load.
MODULAR LIGHTING PANEL
1. A system for controlling a plurality of electrical loads, the system comprising:an electrical control panel comprising:
an alternating current (AC) line feed;
a direct current (DC) line feed configured to provide DC power from at least one DC power source;
a plurality of power supplies, where each power supply is configured to receive AC power or DC power and output DC power; and
a plurality of control modules, wherein more than one control module is associated with each of the plurality of power supplies, and each control module is configured to receive DC power from an associated power supply and provide a DC voltage to at least one electrical load; and
a grid-tie inverter electrically connected between the DC line feed and the AC line feed, the grid-tie inverter configured to receive DC power via the DC line feed, convert the DC power to AC power, and provide the AC power to the AC line feed;
wherein, based on one or more factors, the control circuit is configured to determine an amount of DC power received via the DC line feed to provide to one or more of the power supplies, and to determine an amount of DC power received via the DC line feed to convert to AC power and direct to the AC line feed.
CONTROL DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE FEEDBACK TYPES
1. A remote control device comprising:a status indicator configured to be illuminated by three or more light sources; and
receive device information regarding one or more devices that are responsive to the remote control device, wherein the device information comprises at least one of an address or a device type of each of the one or more devices;
select, based on the device information, a feedback type of a plurality of feedback types to be provided via the status indicator, wherein the plurality of feedback types comprise at least one simple feedback type that is provided in response to a user interface event on the remote control device and at least one advanced feedback type provided in response to a status of one or more load control devices; and
provide feedback according to the selected feedback type via the status indicator by illumination of one or more of the three or more light sources, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide a different illumination configuration of the three or more light sources for different feedback types.
CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING MULTIPLE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ELECTRICAL LOAD
1. A control device configured for use in a load control system to control one or more electrical loads external to the control device, the control device comprising:a base portion configured to be mounted to an electrical wallbox or over a mechanical switch;
a first rotating portion configured to be rotatable with respect to the base portion;
a second rotating portion concentric with the first rotating portion and configured to be rotatable with respect to the base portion, the first and second rotating portions occupying different planes along an axis perpendicular to the base portion;
an actuation portion surrounded by at least one of the first or second rotating portion; and
a control circuit configured to generate and transmit first control data for changing a first characteristic of the one or more electrical loads while the first rotating portion is being rotated by a user, the control circuit configured to generate and transmit second control data for changing a second characteristic of the one or more electrical loads while the second rotating portion is being rotated by the user, the control circuit further configured to generate and transmit third control data for turning the one or more electrical loads on and off in response to the actuation portion being pressed in towards the base portion.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PHASE-CONTROLLING A LOAD
1. A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered from an alternating current (AC) power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:a bidirectional semiconductor switch configured to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load; and
a controller operatively coupled to the bidirectional semiconductor switch, the controller configured to:
receive, via an actuator or a communication circuit, a command to turn on;
control the bidirectional semiconductor switch to provide a phase control signal using a reverse phase control technique to control the electrical load in response to the command to turn on;
subsequent to using the reverse phase control technique, control the bidirectional semiconductor switch using a center phase control technique to control the electrical load; and
subsequent using the center phase control technique, control the bidirectional semiconductor switch using a forward phase control technique to control the electrical load.
LASER-CUT BUTTON VENEER FOR A CONTROL DEVICE HAVING A BACKLIT KEYPAD
1. A veneer that is configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device, the veneer comprising:a plate portion that includes one or more indicia defined therethrough by a laser cutting process, wherein at least one of the one or more indicia comprises an alphanumeric character, and wherein the plate portion defines a rib that suspends a floating portion of the alphanumeric character relative to an open portion of the alphanumeric character, wherein the rib defines a thickness that does not exceed 0.003 inches.
1. A light-emitting diode (LED) driver for controlling an intensity of an LED light source, the LED driver comprising:an LED drive circuit configured to control a magnitude of a load current conducted through the LED light source to control the intensity of the LED light source, the LED drive circuit including a controllable-impedance circuit adapted to conduct the load current through the LED light source; and
a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllable-impedance circuit of the LED drive circuit to control the intensity of the LED light source to a target intensity, the control circuit configured to control the controllable-impedance circuit to adjust a peak magnitude of the load current, the control circuit configured to control a duty cycle of the load current to adjust an average magnitude of the load current;
wherein the control circuit is configured to control the intensity of the LED light source by maintaining a frequency of the load current constant and adjusting an on time of the load current when the target intensity is above a predetermined threshold, and maintaining the on time of the load current constant and adjusting the frequency of the load current when the target intensity is below the predetermined threshold.
DIGITAL LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM PROVIDING POWER AND COMMUNICATION VIA EXISTING POWER WIRING
1. A load control system comprising:a power device adapted to receive power from an AC power source via a power wiring; and
a controller adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection on the power wiring between the AC power source and the power device, the controller configured to produce a phase-control voltage that is adapted to be received by the power device via the power wiring, the controller configured to transmit a forward digital message to the power device by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage;
wherein the power device is configured to transmit a reverse digital message to the controller via the power wiring, the reverse digital message being split up into two or more packets; and
wherein the controller is configured to transmit a continuation pattern between the packets of the reverse digital message.
CONTROL DEVICE HAVING BUTTONS WITH MULTIPLE-LEVEL BACKLIGHTING
1. A control device comprising:a backlighting circuit including a first light source, a second light source, and a third light source;
a first button having a first indicia configured to be illuminated by the first light source;
a second button having a second indicia configured to be illuminated by the second light source;
a third button having a third indicia configured to be illuminated by the third light source; and
a control circuit responsive to actuations of the first, second, and third buttons, and electrically coupled to the first, second, and third light sources of the backlighting circuit, the control circuit configured to:
control the first light source to emit light at a first source illumination intensity to illuminate the first indicia on the first button;
control the second light source to emit light at a second source illumination intensity to illuminate the second indicia on the second button; and
control the third light source to emit light at a third source illumination intensity to illuminate the third indicia on the third button;
wherein the first button is located between the second and third buttons, and the first indicia on the first button is located closer to the second button than the third button; and
wherein the control circuit is configured to set both of the second and third source illumination intensities to be less than the first source illumination intensity so that the first indicia on the first button is illuminated to a brighter intensity than the respective indicia on the second and third buttons, the control circuit further configured to set the second source illumination intensity to be less than the third source illumination intensity so that the second and third buttons are illuminated to the same intensity.
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DIAGNOSTICS
1. A user device for determining whether a message from a control-source device to a control-target device is correctly communicated, wherein the control-source device is configured to indirectly control an amount of power provided to an electrical load by sending messages to the control-target device, the user device comprising:a control circuit configured to:
adjust a wireless range for transmitting a first message to the control-source device;
transmit the first message within the wireless range to the control-source device, wherein the first message comprises a transmission range identifier that indicates a threshold;
receive a second message from the control-source device, wherein the second message is received in a transmission from the control-source device to the control-target device, and wherein the transmission of the second message from the control-source device indicates that a received signal strength of the first message at the control-source device was greater than the threshold indicated by the transmission range identifier; and
determine, based on information in the second message, whether the second message is correctly communicated from the control-source device.
FACEPLATE REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE FOR USE IN A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
1. A faceplate remote control device comprising:a housing that defines an opening that is configured to receive a toggle actuator of a light switch, wherein the housing is configured such that the toggle actuator protrudes through the opening and is operable between a first position and a second position when protruding through the opening;
a user interface integrated with the housing, wherein the user interface is configured to receive an input from a user of the faceplate remote control device; and
a wireless communication circuit that is configured to transmit a message in response to receiving the input at the user interface.
COMMISSIONING LOAD CONTROL SYSTEMS
1. A load control system comprising:a plurality of control devices, wherein the plurality of control devices include a control-source device and a control-target device, wherein the control-target device is capable of controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load at a location based on digital messages received from the control-source device, and wherein the control-source device or the control-target device is determined to be a load control discovery device configured to send a discovery message to the plurality of control devices; and
a system controller, wherein the system controller is configured to discover one or more of the plurality of control devices that received the discovery message from the load control discovery device, wherein the system controller is configured to notify a network device of the discovered one or more of the plurality of control devices that received the discovery message, and wherein the system controller is configured to receive association information from the network device that indicates an association of at least one of the discovered one or more of the plurality of control devices with the location of the electrical load for enabling control of the electrical load at the location.
METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL LOAD
1. A method for controlling a magnitude of a load current delivered to an electrical load, the method comprising:receiving a command to adjust to the magnitude of the load current a target magnitude of the load current;
adjusting the magnitude of the load current toward the target magnitude in response to receiving the command;
determining that a magnitude of a load voltage across the electrical load is equal to or greater than an upper voltage threshold;
maintaining the magnitude of the load current constant for a period of time based on the magnitude of the load voltage being equal to or greater than the upper voltage threshold;
determining that the magnitude of the load voltage is less than a lower voltage threshold; and
adjusting the magnitude of the load current toward the target magnitude based on the magnitude of the load voltage being less than the lower voltage threshold.
MULTI-CHANNEL LIGHTING FIXTURE HAVING MULTIPLE LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE DRIVERS
1. A lighting fixture configured to emit a cumulative light, the lighting fixture comprising:a first light source;
a second light source;
a first driver coupled to the first light source and configured to control an intensity of the first light source;
a second driver coupled to the second light source and configured to control an intensity of the second light source;
wherein the first and second drivers are coupled to a communication link and configured to communicate on the communication link using a respective sub-address; and
wherein the first and second drivers are configured to:
receive, via the communication link, a single digital message;
determine whether the single digital message includes a link address;
based on determining that the message includes the link address, determine whether the digital message includes a parameter, wherein the parameter indicates a specific color temperature;
based on determining that the single digital message includes the parameter, determine a preset intensity for the respective light source of the first and second light sources; and
adjust the intensity of the respective light source to the preset intensity.
CONTROL MODULE FOR A LIGHTING FIXTURE
1. A control module for a lighting fixture, the control module comprising:a front cover portion comprising a plastic lip configured to rest against a bottom edge of a metal lighting fixture;
a main printed circuit board that extends from a front side of the control module to a rear side of the control module, the main printed circuit board having a wireless communication circuit mounted thereto, the main printed circuit board comprising a loop antenna for communicating radio frequency communication signals via the wireless communication circuit, wherein the loop antenna is located on the main printed circuit board such that at least a portion of transmit/receive portions of the loop antenna are contained within the plastic lip when the control module is attached to the lighting fixture; and
a sensor printed circuit board that is attached perpendicular to the main printed circuit board to enable at least one sensing circuit mounted to the sensor printed circuit board to face the front side of the control module.
LOAD CONTROL DEVICE HAVING STUCK RELAY DETECTION
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical device, the load control device comprising:a relay adapted to be electrically coupled between the AC power source and the electrical device, the relay being configured to receive a hot voltage from the AC power source and generate a switched-hot voltage for controlling the power delivered to the electrical device;
a detect circuit electrically coupled to the relay to receive the switched-hot voltage and configured to generate a detect signal indicating a magnitude of the switched-hot voltage;
a control circuit configured to generate a drive signal for attempting to open and close the relay, configured to monitor the detect signal, and configured to determine whether the relay is open or closed based on the detect signal;
wherein, in response to determining that the relay is stuck closed, the control circuit is configured to:
attempt to close the relay;
attempt to open the relay;
monitor the detect signal; and
determine whether the relay is stuck closed.
LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING AUDIO CONTROL DEVICES
1. A control system comprising:a plurality of audio output devices; and
a remote control device comprising a button for selecting a preset, the actuation of the button causing different commands to be transmitted to at least two of the audio output devices;
wherein the at least two of the audio output devices are configured to be controlled according to the different commands in response to the actuation of the button of the remote control device.
METHOD OF OPTICALLY TRANSMITTING DIGITAL INFORMATION FROM A SMART PHONE TO A CONTROL DEVICE
1. A control device for controlling an electrical load comprising:a wireless communication module configured to receive wireless communications on a wireless network;
a controller responsive to the wireless communication module; and
an optical module configured to receive an optical signal comprising programming instructions from at least one of a visual display or a camera flash light source of a wireless device, wherein the programming instructions are configured to enable the wireless communication module to receive messages via the wireless communications on the wireless network; and
wherein the controller is configured, in response to the programming instructions in the optical signal received from the at least one of the visual display or the camera flash light source of the wireless control device, to connect to the wireless network and receive the messages on the wireless network via the wireless communication module, the controller further configured to control the electrical load in response to the messages received via the wireless communications on the wireless network.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING COLOR TEMPERATURE
1. A system controller for a load control system having a plurality of lighting fixtures in a space, the system controller comprising:a communication circuit configured to transmit and receive messages;
a memory for storing fixture capability information associated with one or more of the plurality of lighting fixtures located in the space; and
receive the fixture capability information for the plurality of lighting fixtures via the communication circuit,
wherein the fixture capability information comprises at least a first color temperature range associated with a color temperature for a first lighting fixture of the plurality of lighting fixtures and a second color temperature range associated with a color temperature for a second lighting fixture of the plurality of lighting fixtures,
wherein each of the first color temperature range and the second color temperature range comprise a respective color temperature range between a warm-white color temperature and a respective cool-white color temperature;
compare the first color temperature range with the second color temperature range;
determine a third color temperature range that is common to the first color temperature range associated with the first lighting fixture and the second color temperature range associated with the second lighting fixture,
wherein the determined third color temperature range comprises a maximum warm-white color temperature that is common to the first color temperature range and the second color temperature range,
and wherein the third color temperature range comprises a minimum cool-white color temperature that is common to the first color temperature range and the second color temperature range, and
update the respective color temperature range of each of the first lighting fixture and the second lighting fixture such that control of each of the first lighting fixture and second lighting fixture is limited within the maximum warm-white color temperature and the minimum cool-white color temperature of the third color temperature range that is common to the first color temperature range associated with the first lighting fixture and the second color temperature range associated with the second lighting fixture.
CONTROLLING LIGHTING LOADS TO ACHIEVE A DESIRED LIGHTING PATTERN
1. A method of controlling a plurality of lighting fixtures to obtain a predefined light profile across a surface, the method comprising:retrieving an image of a space;
determining a lighting level for a first sub-area within the space;
determining a lighting level for a second sub-area within the space;
determining a first lighting fixture that affects the lighting level for the first sub-area and the lighting level for the second sub-area;
determining a second lighting fixture that affects the lighting level for the second sub-area; and
adjusting the first lighting fixture and the second lighting fixture to achieve a first target light level in the first sub-area and a second target light level in the second sub-area, wherein the adjustment of the second lighting fixture is in response to an amount that the first lighting fixture affects the lighting level for the second sub-area when the first lighting fixture is adjusted.
METHOD OF ASSOCIATING WIRELESS CONTROL DEVICES
1. A method for associating a device with a controllable light source, the method comprising:receiving, at the controllable light source, a first wireless signal at a first time and a second wireless signal at a second time subsequent to the first time, the first and second wireless signals received from the device;
measuring, by the controllable light source, a respective signal strength of each of the first and second wireless signals;
determining, by the controllable light source, a difference in signal strength between the first and second wireless signals received by the controllable light source;
comparing, by the controllable light source, the difference in signal strength to a threshold; and
associating the device and the controllable light source when the difference in signal strength exceeds the threshold.
LOAD CONTROL DEVICE HAVING A REDUCED LEAKAGE THROUGH GROUND
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical device, the load control device comprising:a first electrical connection adapted to be electrically coupled to a hot side of the AC power source;
a second electrical connection adapted to be electrically coupled to the electrical device;
a third electrical connection adapted to be electrically coupled to an earth ground connection or a neutral side of the AC power source;
a controllably conductive device electrically coupled between the first and second electrical connections and configured to control the power delivered from the AC power source to the electrical device so as to generate a switched-hot voltage at the second electrical connection;
a detect circuit electrically coupled between the second and third electrical connections and configured to generate a detect signal indicating a magnitude of the switched-hot voltage;
a switching circuit electrically coupled in series with the detect circuit between the second and third electrical connections; and
a control circuit configured to render the switching circuit conductive to cause the detect circuit to begin generating the detect signal, the control circuit configured to subsequently monitor the detect signal from the detect circuit and to render the switching circuit non-conductive after detecting an edge on the detect signal.
1. A circuit for controlling an intensity of a light-emitting diode (LED) light source, the circuit comprising:an LED drive circuit configured to control a magnitude of a load current conducted through the LED light source to control the intensity of the LED light source;
control the LED drive circuit in the second state during the second time period in which the control circuit maintains the operational characteristic of the at least one drive signal approximately constant;
when the target intensity is within a first intensity range, adjust the average magnitude of the load current by keeping a length of the first time period constant and adjusting a length of the second time period; and
when the target intensity is within a second intensity range, adjust the average magnitude of the load current by keeping the length of the second time period constant and adjusting the length of the first time period.
CONTROL SYSTEM WITH OCCUPANCY SENSING
1. A control device for controlling power delivered to an electrical load, the control device comprising:a receiver configured to receive signals from occupancy sensors, the signals comprising an occupied signal indicating an occupancy condition and a vacant signal indicating a vacancy condition, the vacant signal transmitted based on the occupancy condition not being detected by the respective occupancy sensor;
a memory; and
a controller configured to control the power delivered to the electrical load in response to the signals received via the receiver based on a determination of which one of the occupied signal and the vacant signal is received, the controller configured to store in the memory for a respective occupancy sensor an occupied indication when the controller receives the occupied signal from the respective sensor, and store in the memory for a respective occupancy sensor a vacant indication when the controller receives the vacant signal from the respective sensor;
wherein the controller is configured not to cease the delivery of power to the electrical load based on a vacant signal received from one of the occupancy sensors when the memory indicates the occupied indication for at least one other occupancy sensor, the controller further configured to cease the delivery of power to the electrical load based on a vacant signal received from one of the occupancy sensors when the memory indicates the vacant indication for all other occupancy sensors.
ENERGY SAVINGS SELECTOR TOOL
1. A system controller device configured to recommend, via an energy savings selector tool, an electrical device for reducing an amount of power consumed by a load control system, the system controller device comprising:at least one processor configured to:
receive load control information associated with a first electrical device;
determine the amount of power consumed by the load control system over a period of time, wherein the amount of power consumed by the load control system is determined based on the load control information associated with the first electrical device, wherein the first electrical device is at least one of a first electrical load or a first electrical load control device configured to control an amount of power provided to the first electrical load;
determine a second electrical device as a recommended addition to the first electrical device in the load control system that, when installed in the load control system, reduces the amount of power consumed by the load control system, wherein the second electrical device is at least one of a second electrical load or a second electrical load control device configured to control an amount of power provided to the second electrical load;
determine savings information associated with using the second electrical device as the recommended addition to the first electrical device in the load control system, wherein the savings information indicates a savings associated with using the second electrical device as the recommended addition to the first electrical device in the load control system; and
provide to a network device, via a network communication circuit, the savings information associated with using the second electrical device as the recommended addition to the first electrical device in the load control system and information identifying the second electrical device as the recommended addition to the first electrical device in the load control system.
LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING INDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLED UNITS RESPONSIVE TO A BROADCAST CONTROLLER
1. A load control system comprising:a plurality of wireless transmitters configured to transmit wireless signals;
a plurality of load control devices, each of the plurality of load control devise adapted to control at least one respective electrical load, the plurality of load control devices including a first load control device that is configurable to be responsive to wireless signals transmitted by one or more of the plurality of wireless transmitters by controlling the respective electrical load based on the wireless signals received from the one or more wireless transmitters; and
a controller configured to enter an association mode, and while in the association mode:
receive a first digital message from the first load control device, the first digital message including a unique identifier of the first load control device;
subsequent to receiving the first digital message, receive a second digital message from the first load control device, wherein the first load control device is configured to include in the second digital message a unique identifier of a first one of the plurality of wireless transmitters when the first load control device has been configured to be responsive to wireless signals transmitted by the first one of the wireless transmitters; and
associate the first load control device with the controller such that the first load control device is responsive to wireless signals transmitted from the controller to the first load control device.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL DEVICE WITH AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE BACKLIGHTING
1. A method for controlling an HVAC system by a control circuit of a temperature control device, the method comprising:receiving a temperature control signal indicating a temperature in a space around the temperature control device;
receiving a set point temperature;
controlling, in an idle state, an internal electrical load to a first state;
sampling, in the idle state, the temperature control signal;
determining, in the idle state, a sampled temperature based on the temperature control signal;
storing, in the idle state, the sampled temperature in memory;
controlling, in an awake state, the internal electrical load to a second state, wherein the internal electrical load consumes more power in the second state than in the first state;
ceasing sampling of the temperature control signal, in the awake state;
retrieving, in the awake state, the sampled temperature stored in the memory during the idle state;
comparing the retrieved sampled temperature to the set point temperature; and
based on comparing the retrieved sampled temperature to the set point temperature, controlling the HVAC system.
LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A DRIVER FOR A LIGHTING LOAD
1. A load control device for controlling a load regulation device adapted to control power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:a control terminal adapted to be coupled to the load regulation device for providing a control signal to the load regulation device, the control signal having a magnitude indicating a target amount of power to be delivered to the electrical load;
a communication circuit coupled to the control terminal for generating the control signal; and
prior to the communication circuit generating the control signal at the control terminal, receive a feedback signal indicating a magnitude of a voltage at the control terminal;
monitor the magnitude of the voltage at the control terminal to determine if the load regulation device is generating a link supply voltage;
based on the determinization, enter a normal mode or a fault mode; and
in the normal mode, provide an output signal to the communication circuit to cause the communication circuit to control the magnitude of the control signal in response to a magnitude of the output signal.
RETENTION SYSTEMS FOR WINDOW TREATMENT INSTALLATIONS
1. A roller shade retention system comprising:a roller shade assembly that defines opposed first and second ends that are spaced from each other, the roller shade assembly comprising a roller tube and a shade material, and configured to be secured in a mounted position relative to a structure such that an axis of rotation of the roller shade assembly remains in a fixed location relative to the structure during normal operation of the roller shade assembly;
a first retention bracket that, when mounted to the structure at a first location, is configured to at least partially surround a first portion of the roller shade assembly such that, during normal operation of the roller shade assembly, the first retention bracket does not carry weight of the roller tube or the shade material; and
a second retention bracket that, when mounted to the structure at a second location that is spaced from the first location, is configured to at least partially surround a second portion of the roller shade assembly such that, during normal operation of the roller shade assembly, the second retention bracket does not carry weight of the roller tube or the shade material,
wherein the first and second retention brackets are further configured to absorb corresponding portions of an impact force associated with detachment of the roller shade assembly from the mounted position, and to limit displacement of the detached roller shade assembly from the mounted position; and wherein the first and second retention brackets define respective first and second openings that are sized to allow raising and lowering of the shade material of the roller shade assembly therethrough, wherein a width of at least one of the first and second openings is narrower than a diameter of the roller tube.
BATTERY-POWERED RETROFIT REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
1. A remote control device configured to be mounted over an installed light switch, the light switch having a switch actuator that is operable to control whether power is delivered to an electrical load, the remote control device comprising:a control unit that comprises an attachment portion and a rotary knob that is configured to rotate relative to the attachment portion;
a mounting assembly to which the control unit is attachable, the mounting assembly configured to releasably retain the control unit when the control unit is attached thereto, the mounting assembly comprising:
a base that is configured to be mounted over the switch actuator, the base comprising an opening configured to receive a portion of the switch actuator, the base being configured to be affixed to the switch actuator; and
a release tab that is operable to cause the control unit to release from the mounting assembly;
a wireless communication circuit; and
a control circuit that is communicatively coupled to the rotary knob and the wireless communication circuit, the control circuit configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit a control signal in response to an actuation of the rotary knob.
CONTROL DEVICE HAVING AN INTEGRAL REFLECTING STRUCTURE FOR A SENSING CIRCUIT
1. A control device comprising:a button comprising a veneer, the veneer having an indicia cut therethrough;
a light source that is configured to backlight the indicia of the veneer;
a light detector circuit that is configured to measure a light level of ambient light that is external relative to the control device;
a control circuit that is configured to, responsive to an actuation of the button, cause the light source to backlight the indicia of the veneer in accordance with the measured light level; and
an enclosure that houses the light detector circuit, the enclosure including an integral reflector that is configured to direct the ambient light to the light detector circuit.
CONTROLLING A CONTROLLABLY CONDUCTIVE DEVICE BASED ON ZERO-CROSSING DETECTION
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device comprising:a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in electrical connection with the AC power source and the electrical load;
a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate zero-cross signals, each representative of a zero-crossing of an AC voltage of the AC power source; and
a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero-cross detect circuit and configured to:
receive from the zero-cross detect circuit a zero-cross signal representative of a zero-crossing of the AC voltage;
at a delay time following the received zero-cross signal, change a conductive state of the controllably conductive device;
determine whether the change in the conductive state of the controllably conductive device occurs within an error window, wherein the error window is based on the received zero-cross signal; and
adjust the delay time based upon determining that the change in the conductive state occurs within the error window.
1. An electrical control panel for controlling a plurality of electrical loads, the control panel comprising:a control circuit;
a plurality of power supplies, where each power supply is configured to receive AC power and output DC power; and
a plurality of control modules, wherein more than one control module is associated with each of the plurality of power supplies, and each control module is configured to receive DC power from the associated power supply and provide a DC voltage to at least one electrical load, the at least one electrical load comprising at least one emergency electrical load;
determine a loss of AC power via the AC line feed; and
in response to losing AC power via the AC line feed, provide the at least one emergency electrical load DC power via the DC line feed.
SELF-ADJUSTING FRAME FOR MOUNTING OVER A WALL-MOUNTED ELECTRICAL DEVICE
1. A remote control device that is configured for use in a load control system having a load control device, the load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered to an electrical load that is electrically connected to the load control device, the remote control device comprising:a mounting frame that is configured to be attached to a yoke of a mechanical switch installed in a wallbox, wherein the mechanical switch controls whether power is delivered to the electrical load;
a control unit that is configured to be attached to the mounting frame, the control unit including a control interface and a wireless communication circuit, the control unit configured to translate a user input from the control interface into a control signal that controls the load control device, the control unit further configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit the control signal; and
a faceplate that is configured to be attached to the mounting frame, the faceplate having an opening that is configured to receive at least a portion of the control interface,
wherein the mounting frame includes a biasing member that extends inward from a perimeter wall of the mounting frame, the biasing member configured to bias a rear surface of the mounting frame against an outer surface of a structure that surrounds the wallbox, and
wherein the biasing member includes an attachment portion and a pair of resilient spring arms that suspend the attachment portion relative to the perimeter wall of the mounting frame such that the attachment portion is spaced outward relative to the rear surface of the mounting frame.
CONFIGURING A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
1. A method of configuring a load control system using a graphical user interface, the method comprising:displaying by at least one processor a first panel icon representing a first load control panel capable of housing control devices for controlling at least one electrical load;
responsive to determining a selection of the first panel icon, displaying by the at least one processor a configuration window for the first load control panel;
displaying by the at least one processor on the configuration window a listing of control devices that are to be installed in a housing of the first load control panel;
in response to a selection of an additional control device, adding by the at least one processor the additional control device to the listing of control devices on the configuration window that are to be installed in the housing of the first load control panel;
generating by the at least one processor a model number for the first load control panel having the control devices displayed in the listing of control devices on the configuration window that are to be installed in the housing of the first load control panel; and
associating by the at least one processor the model number with the first panel icon.
FAN SPEED CONTROL DEVICE
1. A motor control device for a ceiling fan, the motor control device comprising:a motor drive circuit configured to control a rotational speed of a motor of the ceiling fan;
a RADAR circuit configured to transmit and receive RADAR signals; and
receive the received RADAR signals from the RADAR circuit;
process the received RADAR signals to detect harmonic frequencies present in the received RADAR signals due to a wobbling of the ceiling fan; and
detect an occupancy condition or a vacancy condition in response to the processed RADAR signals.
CONTROL DEVICE HAVING BUTTONS WITH BACKLIT INDICIA
1. A veneer that is configured to be attached to a control device, the veneer comprising:a front surface;
an indicium defined through the front surface, the indicium comprising:
an open portion;
a floating portion within the open portion; and
a rib that suspends the floating portion within to the open portion;
wherein the rib comprises:
an upper surface that is recessed relative to the front surface; and
opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface; and
wherein the sides are configured to be tapered between the base and the upper surface such that the upper surface is narrower than the base.
GESTURE-BASED LOAD CONTROL VIA WEARABLE DEVICES
1. A control device for controlling an electrical load via a control-target device, the control device comprising:a communication circuit; and
receive, via the communication circuit, data indicative of at least one of a first gesture or a second gesture performed by a user via a wearable control device;
receive, via the communication circuit, an indication of a location of the user;
identify, based on the data indicative of the first gesture performed by the user via the wearable control device, the control-target device;
identify, based on the data indicative of the first gesture or the second gesture performed by the user via the wearable control device and the location of the user, control instructions for causing the control-target device to control the electrical load; and
send the control instructions to the control-target device for controlling the electrical load.
CHARGING AN INPUT CAPACITOR OF A LOAD CONTROL DEVICE
1. An apparatus comprising:a rectifier circuit configured to receive a phase-control voltage and produce a rectified voltage at an output;
a power converter configured to receive the rectified voltage at an input;
an input capacitor coupled across the output of the rectifier circuit and the input of the power converter;
a bus capacitor coupled across the output of the power converter, wherein the power converter is configured to generate a bus voltage across the bus capacitor; and
a power supply configured to receive the bus voltage and to charge the input capacitor during non-conductive portions of the phase-control voltage.
CONTROLLABLE ELECTRICAL OUTLET HAVING A RESONANT LOOP ANTENNA
1. A controllable electrical outlet for use in a load control system adapted to receive power from a power source, the controllable electrical outlet comprising:two electrical receptacles, each configured to receive a plug of at least one plug-in electrical load;
an electrical connection configured to be electrically coupled to the power source to receive a hot voltage;
a main printed circuit board;
a load control circuit mounted to the main printed circuit board and electrically coupled in series between the electrical connection and at least one of the electrical receptacles to control power delivered to the plug-in electrical load;
a radio-frequency (RF) communication circuit configured to receive an RF signal at a specified frequency;
an antenna printed circuit board comprising first and second layers, the antenna printed circuit board arranged perpendicular to the main printed circuit board, the first layer having a main loop trace characterized by an inductance and a capacitance that are resonant at the specified frequency, the second layer having a feed loop trace electrically coupled to the RF communication circuit and magnetically coupled to the main loop trace; and
a control circuit coupled to the load control circuit and the communication circuit to control power delivered to at least one of the electrical receptacles in response to the RF signal received via the RF communication circuit.
METHOD OF IDENTIFYING A LIGHTING FIXTURE
1. A method of flashing a lighting load, the method comprising:generating a controlled intensity for the lighting load;
decreasing the controlled intensity from a high-end intensity to off across a first period of time;
after the controlled intensity has been decreased from the high-end intensity to off, maintaining the controlled intensity at off for a second period of time;
after the second period of time, abruptly increasing the controlled intensity from off to the high-end intensity;
after the controlled intensity has been increased from off to the high-end intensity, maintaining the controlled intensity at the high-end intensity for a third period of time; and
periodically repeating the steps of decreasing, maintaining, increasing, and maintaining.
LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY LOADS
1. A dimmer switch for controlling an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load for controlling an intensity of the lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:a triac adapted to be electrically coupled between the AC power source and the lighting load, the triac having first and second main terminals through which current can be conducted to energize the lighting load and a gate terminal through which current can be conducted to render the triac conductive between the first and second main terminals;
a gate coupling circuit electrically coupled to the first main terminal of the triac and arranged to conduct current through the gate terminal of the triac;
a controllable switching circuit electrically coupled in series between the gate coupling circuit and the gate terminal of the triac and configured to conduct current through the gate terminal of the triac; and
a control circuit configured to render the controllable switching circuit conductive and to control the gate coupling circuit to conduct a pulse of current through the gate terminal of the triac at a firing time during a present half-cycle of an AC mains voltage of the AC power source to render the triac conductive, the control circuit configured to control the firing time to adjust the intensity of the lighting load;
wherein the control circuit is configured to control the gate coupling circuit to allow the gate coupling circuit to conduct at least one other pulse of current through the gate terminal of the triac after the firing time during the present half-cycle, the control circuit further configured to render the controllable switching circuit non-conductive before the end of the present half-cycle to prevent any further pulses of current from being thereafter conducted through the gate terminal of the triac during the present half-cycle.
GESTURE-BASED CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL LOAD
1. A control device configured for use in a lighting control system to control respective amount of power delivered to a plurality of lighting loads, the lighting loads being external to the control device, the control device comprising:a base portion configured to be mounted over a toggle actuator of a mechanical switch that controls power delivered to at least one of the lighting loads; and
a control unit comprising a touch sensitive surface configured to detect a first user input and a second user input, a control circuit responsive to the touch sensitive surface, and a communication circuit configured to transmit control signals;
wherein the control circuit is configured to generate first control data to adjust the respective amount of power delivered to each of the plurality of lighting loads to an absolute power level based on the first user input, the absolute power level corresponding to a percentage of respective maximum power levels of the plurality of lighting loads, the control circuit configured to generate second control data to adjust the respective amount of power delivered to the plurality of lighting loads by a relative amount based on the second user input, the relative amount corresponding to an amount of adjustment relative to respective present power levels of the plurality of lighting loads, the control circuit further configured to transmit a first control signal including the first control data and a second control signal including the second control data via the communication circuit.
REMOTE CONTROL HAVING A CAPACITIVE TOUCH SURFACE AND A MECHANISM FOR AWAKENING THE REMOTE CONTROL
1. A remote control device configured for use with a load control device for controlling an electrical load, the remote control device comprising:a housing comprising:
a first surface having a resiliently deformable portion configured to be operated from a relaxed state to a deformed state; and
a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface, the second surface comprising a capacitive touch surface configured to provide and receive touch controls for controlling the electrical load using the load control device;
a printed circuit board disposed in the housing, the printed circuit board comprising a switch disposed between the first and second surfaces, the switch configured to awaken the capacitive touch surface from a sleep state, wherein the sleep state comprises a low power state that disables the receipt of the touch controls on the capacitive touch surface; and
a member in contact with the deformable portion of the housing;
wherein, when the deformable portion of the housing is deformed into the deformed state, the member electrically contacts the switch such that the capacitive touch surface is awakened from the sleep state to enable the capacitive touch surface to receive the touch controls for controlling the electrical load using the load control device.
CONTROL DEVICE HAVING AN ILLUMINATED PORTION CONTROLLED IN RESPONSE TO AN EXTERNAL SENSOR
1. A system for controlling one or more electrical loads, the system comprising:a plurality of control devices installed in a multi-gang configuration, each of the plurality of control devices configured to receive a user input and control at least one of the electrical loads, the control devices each comprising a user interface and a light source internal to a housing of the control device, the light source configured to illuminate the user interface to provide feedback to a user of the control device; and
a first sensor internal to and within the housing of one of the plurality of control devices and external to and outside of the housing of at least another one of the plurality of control devices, the first sensor configured to sense a condition of a space in which the plurality of control devices are installed, wherein all of the plurality of the control devices are configured to control their respective light sources in response to the condition sensed by the first sensor.
GESTURE-BASED LOAD CONTROL
1. A control device for controlling an amount of power provided to electrical loads via a plurality of load control devices, the control device comprising:a controller configured to:
identify a gesture indicated by a user, wherein the gesture is associated with a scene that is configured to control the plurality of load control devices;
determine the plurality of load control devices based on the gesture;
determine control instructions for each load control device of the plurality of load control devices based on the gesture; and
send the control instructions for each load control device of the plurality of load control devices to control the amount of power provided to the electrical loads.
WIRELESS CONTROL DEVICE HAVING AN ANTENNA ILLUMINATED WITH VISIBLE LIGHT
1. A wireless control device configured to be installed on a ceiling, the wireless control device comprising:a housing comprising a light-transmissive cover and a base portion;
wherein the light-transmissive cover is configured to protrude from the base portion;
wherein the base portion is configured to be attached to the ceiling and defines an enclosed volume;
a printed circuit board disposed within the enclosed volume of the base portion;
a wireless communication circuit mounted to the printed circuit board;
an antenna coupled to said wireless communication circuit and configured to communicate wireless signals, the antenna electrically connected to, and extending in a normal direction away from, the printed circuit board;
wherein the antenna comprises a first portion and a second portion different from the first portion;
a control circuit coupled to said wireless communication circuit, mounted to the printed circuit board, and configured to control the generation of signals by said wireless communication circuit to be transmitted by said antenna;
a visible-light-generating circuit coupled to said control circuit and mounted to the printed circuit board;
a light pipe proximate to the visible-light-generating circuit and disposed within the enclosed volume of the base, the light pipe configured to provide an amount of light energy from the visible-light-generating circuit to the light-transmissive cover; and
a reflective shroud disposed within the enclosed volume of the base and surrounding said light pipe to reduce loss of light energy from said light pipe; and
wherein the first portion of the antenna is disposed inside of the enclosed volume of the base portion of the housing and is surrounded by the light pipe and the reflective shroud; and
wherein the second portion of the antenna is surrounded by the light-transmissive cover.
WALL-MOUNTABLE WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
1. A remote control device for controlling an electrical load device adapted to receive power from an alternating-current (AC) power source, the remote control device comprising:an air-gap switch device comprising an enclosure configured to be installed in an electrical wallbox, the air-gap switch device further comprising an air-gap switch located in the enclosure and adapted to be electrically coupled in series between the AC power source and the electrical load, and an air-gap switch actuator configured to be actuated by a user to open and close the air-gap switch; and
a wireless communication device configured to be mounted to the air-gap switch device, the wireless communication device comprising a user interface configured to receive an input, a wireless communication circuit configured to transmit a wireless signal, and a control circuit configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit the wireless signal in response to the input received via the user interface, the wireless signal including a command for controlling the electrical load device.
1. A control device comprising:a status indicator configured to be illuminated by a plurality of light sources; and
receive device information regarding one or more devices that are responsive to the control device, wherein the device information comprises at least one of an address or a device type of each of the one or more devices that are responsive to the control device;
select, based on the device information, a feedback type of a plurality of feedback types to be provided via the status indicator, wherein the plurality of feedback types comprise at least one simple feedback type that is provided in response to a user interface event on the control device and at least one advanced feedback type provided in response to a level associated with the one or more devices that are responsive to the control device; and
provide feedback according to the selected feedback type via the status indicator by illumination of at least one light source of the plurality of light sources, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide a different illumination configuration for the plurality of light sources for different feedback types.
1. A method for a load control system comprising:receiving, via a power device, power from an AC power source via a power wiring;
producing, via a controller, a phase-control voltage that is adapted to be received by the power device via the power wiring, the controller adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection on the power wiring between the AC power source and the power device;
transmitting, via the controller, a forward digital message to the power device by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage;
transmitting, via the power device, a reverse digital message to the controller via the power wiring, the reverse digital message being split up into two or more packets; and
transmitting, via the controller, a continuation pattern between the packets of the reverse digital message.
1. A load control device for controlling an intensity of a lighting load, the load control device comprising:a communication circuit configured to generate a control signal for controlling the intensity of the lighting load, the control signal being capable of causing the lighting load to be turned on when a magnitude of the control signal rises above a threshold; and
a control circuit configured to control the communication circuit to adjust the magnitude of the control signal so as to adjust the intensity of the lighting load between a low-end intensity and a high-end intensity, the control signal having a magnitude less than the threshold when the intensity of the lighting load is being controlled to the low-end intensity;
wherein, when power has been applied to the lighting load, the control circuit is configured to temporarily set the magnitude of the control signal to be greater than a desired magnitude of the control signal before decreasing the magnitude of the control signal to the desired magnitude.
DISPLAY AND CONTROL OF LOAD CONTROL DEVICES IN A FLOORPLAN
1. A load control system comprising a motorized window treatment configured to control a position of a covering material in a load control environment, the load control system comprising:an electrical load control device, wherein the electrical load control device comprises the motorized window treatment configured to control the position of the covering material in the load control environment; and
a computing device configured to:
receive load control information associated with the electrical load control device, wherein the load control information comprises status information associated with the motorized window treatment, and wherein the load control information includes at least one of window sensor information that indicates an amount of natural light directly received at a window, weather information, a global position system (GPS) location associated with the load control environment, or at least one of a date or time;
determine, based on the load control information, at least one of a direction or an intensity of natural light allowed by the covering material of the motorized window treatment in at least one area in the load control environment; and
display a floorplan comprising the at least one area in the load control environment, wherein the floorplan comprises a graphical representation indicating the position of the covering material and the at least one of the direction or the intensity of the natural light allowed by the covering material of the motorized window treatment in the at least one area in the load control environment.
1. A remote control device comprising:a user interface;
a communication circuit; and
identify an actuation of the user interface, wherein the actuation is configured to control a state of one or more lighting devices in a group of lighting devices;
transmit, via the communication circuit in response to the actuation, a status query message to at least one lighting device of the group of lighting devices to identify a state of the at least one lighting device prior to controlling the state of the one or more lighting devices in the group of lighting devices;
receive, via the communication circuit, a status message from the at least one lighting device of the group of lighting devices, wherein the status message indicates the state of the at least one lighting device; and
transmit, via the communication circuit, a digital message configured to control the state of the one or more lighting devices in the group of lighting devices based on the state indicated by the status message received from the at least one lighting device of the group of lighting devices.
CONFIGURING CONTROL DEVICES OPERABLE FOR A LOAD CONTROL ENVIRONMENT
12. A method comprising:causing a network device to display a plurality of configuration parameters, wherein the plurality of the configuration parameters are each associated with a plurality of configuration options for configuring control devices;
receiving, from a network device, an indication of a selection of a first configuration parameter associated with a control device;
determining configuration options for the first configuration parameter of the control device, wherein the determination of the configuration options indicates compatible configuration options based on a previously selected configuration option for a second configuration parameter of the control device, and wherein the determination of the configuration options indicates incompatible configuration options based on the previously selected configuration option for the second configuration parameter of the control device;
based on the determination, causing the network device to display the compatible configuration options and the incompatible configuration options;
receiving, from the network device, an indication of a selection of an incompatible configuration option of the first configuration parameter;
based on the selection of the incompatible configuration option of the first configuration parameter:
generating a result set that identifies control devices that meet the selected incompatible configuration option of the first configuration parameter;
determining from the result set that the selected incompatible configuration option of the first configuration parameter is not compatible with at least the selected configuration option for the second configuration parameter; and
causing the network device to display an alert message that indicates that the selected incompatible configuration option of the first configuration parameter is not compatible with the selected configuration option for the second configuration parameter.
USER INTERFACE FOR A CONTROL DEVICE
1. A control device for controlling an electrical load in a load control system, the control device comprising:a base portion configured to be mounted over an actuator of a mechanical switch that controls power delivered to the electrical load;
a rotating portion for adjusting an amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the rotating portion configured to be rotatable about the base portion;
a plurality of light sources arranged in a complete or partial loop; and
a control circuit configured to generate a control signal for adjusting the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to a rotational movement of the rotating portion, the control circuit further configured to illuminate the plurality of light sources to and maintain the plurality of light sources at a first intensity while the rotating portion is being rotated in a first direction to indicate that the amount of power delivered to the electrical load is being raised, the control circuit further configured to illuminate the plurality of light sources to and maintain the plurality of light sources at a second intensity while the rotating portion is being rotated in a second direction to indicate that the amount of power delivered to the electrical load is being lowered.
LOAD CONTROL ADJUSTMENT FROM A WIRELESS DEVICE
1. A device comprising a touch-responsive visual display and a communication circuit, the device configured to:display, via the touch-responsive visual display, a feedback of a parameter of a load control device, wherein the load control device is configured to be responsive to a network device to provide adjustments of the parameter;
receive, via the touch-responsive visual display, a user input to adjust the parameter of the load control device; and
responsive to the user input, cause an adjustment of the parameter by communicating, via the communication circuit, one or more messages to the network device;
wherein user inputs received via the touch-responsive visual display cause adjustments of the parameter of the load control device by a greater percentage than adjustments provided by the network device.
1. A control device configured for use in a load control system to control one or more electrical loads external to the control device, the control device comprising:a base portion configured to be mounted over a toggle actuator of a mechanical switch that controls whether power is delivered to the one or more electrical loads;
a front surface that comprises a plurality of touch sensitive areas;
one or more light sources configured to illuminate the plurality of touch sensitive areas; and
control the one or more light sources so that the touch sensitive areas are unilluminated by the one or more light sources;
determine that a user input has been received, the user input indicating that the touch sensitive areas should be illuminated;
control the one or more light sources to illuminate the touch sensitive areas of the front surface; and
in response to an actuation of one of the touch sensitive areas, generate control data for controlling an amount of power delivered to the one or more electrical loads.
AUDIO-BASED LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
1. A load control device for controlling an amount of power to an electrical load in a zone, the load control device comprising:a microphone for receiving voice commands;
an occupancy sensor for detecting occupancy in the zone;
at least one communication circuit;
a controllably conductive device configured to control the amount of power to the electrical load; and
a control circuit operably connected to the microphone, the at least one communication circuit, and the controllably conductive device, the control circuit configured to:
receive a voice command via the microphone;
determine, based on a signal from the occupancy sensor, whether the zone is occupied;
based on determining that the zone is not occupied, do not transmit the voice command to a voice service;
based on determining that the zone is occupied, transmit via the at least one communication circuit the voice command received via the microphone to a voice service;
receive a response from the voice service;
interpret the response to determine a command;
interpret the response to determine whether the response comprises an indication of a zone;
in response to determining that the response comprises the indication of the zone, determine whether the indication of the zone matches the zone in which the load control device is located;
in response to determining that the indication of the zone matches the zone in which the load control device is located, control the controllably conductive device to control the amount of power to the electrical load in response to the command; and
in response to determining that the indication of the zone does not match the zone in which the load control device is located, do not control the controllably conductive device in response to the command.
LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING A VISIBLE LIGHT SENSOR
1. A sensor comprising:a visible light sensing circuit configured to record an image of a space;
a communication circuit configured to transmit and receive digital messages;
a low-energy occupancy sensing circuit configured to detect occupancy conditions in the space; and
a control circuit configured to disable the visible light sensing circuit when the space is vacant, the control circuit configured to detect an occupancy condition in the space in response to the low-energy occupancy sensing circuit and to subsequently enable the visible light sensing circuit, wherein the control circuit is configured to transmit a digital message indicating the occupancy condition via the communication circuit after detecting the occupancy condition in the space in response to the low-energy occupancy sensing circuit, the control circuit further configured to transmit a second digital message indicating a vacancy condition via the communication circuit after detecting the vacancy condition in the space in response to the visible light sensing circuit.
LOAD CONTROL DEVICE HAVING AN OVERCURRENT PROTECTION CIRCUIT
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an alternating-current (AC) power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load for conducting a load current through the electrical load to control the power delivered to the electrical load;
a control circuit configured to control the controllably conductive device using a forward phase-control dimming technique, the control circuit configured to control the controllably conductive device to be non-conductive at the beginning of each half-cycle of the AC power source and to render the controllably conductive device conductive at a firing time during each half-cycle; and
an overcurrent protection circuit coupled to the controllably conductive device and configured to render the controllably conductive device non-conductive in the event of an overcurrent condition in the controllably conductive device;
wherein the overcurrent protection circuit is configured to receive an enable control signal for disabling the overcurrent protection circuit when the controllably conductive device is non-conductive and enabling the overcurrent protection circuit after the firing time when the controllably conductive device is rendered conductive during each half-cycle.
a control circuit configured to generate at least one drive signal for controlling the LED drive circuit to adjust the magnitude of the load current, the at least one drive signal characterized by an operating period and a duty cycle;
wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
operate in a first state and a second state on a periodic basis;
control the LED drive circuit in the first state during a first time period in which the control circuit adjusts an on time of the at least one drive signal in response to the load current feedback signal to regulate a peak magnitude of the load current towards a target current;
control the LED drive circuit in the second state during a second time period in which the control circuit ceases adjustment of the on time of the at least one drive signal in response to the load current feedback signal;
adjust an average magnitude of the load current by adjusting respective lengths of the first and second time periods; and
adjust the operating period of the at least one drive signal to a low-end operating period by adjusting the on time of the at least one drive signal to a value less than or equal to a minimum on time while holding the duty cycle of the at least one drive signal constant.
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to a light-emitting diode (LED) driver for an LED light source, the load control device comprising:a relay adapted to provide a voltage for controlling the power delivered to the LED driver;
a detect circuit electrically coupled to the relay to receive the voltage and configured to generate a detect signal indicating a magnitude of the voltage;
LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL LOADS IN RESPONSE TO STATE CHANGE INFORMATION
1. An apparatus for use in a load control system for controlling an amount of power delivered to at least one lighting load, the apparatus comprising:a plug that comprises a pair of blades configured to be inserted into a receptacle of an electrical outlet, the receptacle comprising a switched receptacle;
a sensing circuit that detects whether power is present at the switched receptacle;
a controller that is communicatively coupled to the sensing circuit and configured to:
receive an indication from the sensing circuit that power is not present at the switched receptacle;
in response to receiving the indication, determine whether power has been removed or a line disturbance has occurred;
in response to determining that power has been removed, generate a signal that is indicative of a change of state of power being supplied at the switched receptacle; and
in response to determining that a line disturbance has occurred, do not generate the signal; and
a wireless communication circuit coupled to the controller,
wherein the controller causes the wireless communication circuit to transmit the signal to one or more associated devices.
TWO-WIRE DIMMER WITH IMPROVED ZERO-CROSS DETECTION
1. A lighting control device comprising:a controllably conductive device for supplying an AC line voltage to a load in response to a drive signal, wherein the controllably conductive device is non-conductive for a first duration of time and is conductive for a second duration of time, wherein the first duration of time and the second duration of time are within the same half-cycle of the AC line voltage;
receive a signal from the controllably conductive device that represents a voltage developed across the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time;
generate a sine-wave-shaped signal that complements the voltage developed across the controllably conductive device during the second duration of time; and
filter the signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the sine-wave-shaped signal during the second duration of time.
AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF A LOAD CONTROL DEVICE
1. A device capable of automatically adjusting control of a lighting load in response to types of radio frequency (RF) transmitting devices with which the device is associated, the device comprising:an RF transceiver configured to receive RF signals; and
a controller configured to:
receive, via the RF transceiver, at least one first wireless association message comprising first identifying information associated with at least one sensor, the at least one sensor comprising an occupancy sensor;
perform association with the at least one sensor in response to the first identifying information;
after the association with the at least one sensor, automatically establish the control of the lighting load to turn on and off in response to wireless control messages received from the at least one sensor;
receive, via the RF transceiver, a second wireless association message comprising second identifying information associated with a remote control device;
perform association with the remote control device in response to receiving the second identifying information; and
after associating with the at least one sensor and the remote control device, automatically adjust the control of the lighting load to:
turn off in response to the wireless control messages from the at least one sensor when the lighting load is on;
not turn on in response to the wireless control messages from the at least one sensor when the lighting load is off; and
turn on in response to wireless control messages from the remote control device when the lighting load is off.
1. A dimmer switch for controlling an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load for controlling an intensity of the lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:a triac adapted to be electrically coupled between the AC power source and the lighting load, the triac having first and second main terminals through which current can be conducted to energize the lighting load and a gate terminal through which current can be conducted to render the triac conductive;
a first current path electrically coupled between the first main terminal of the triac and the gate terminal of the triac to conduct current through the gate terminal of the triac;
a control circuit configured to control the first current path to conduct a pulse of current through the gate terminal of the triac to render the triac conductive at a firing time during a present half-cycle of an AC mains voltage of the AC power source, the control circuit configured to control the first current path to allow the first current path to conduct at least one other pulse of current through the gate terminal of the triac again after the firing time until a second time before the end of the present half-cycle, the control circuit configured to control the firing time to adjust the intensity of the lighting load; and
a second current path electrically coupled between the first and second terminals of the triac to conduct current through the lighting load between the second time and the end of the present half-cycle.
CONTROL DEVICE BASE THAT ATTACHES TO THE PADDLE ACTUATOR OF A MECHANICAL SWITCH
1. A base configured to be attached to a paddle actuator of an installed mechanical switch, wherein the installed mechanical switch controls whether power is delivered to an electrical load, the base comprising:a mounting tab that is configured to be attached to a protruding portion of the paddle actuator, the protruding portion projecting outward when the installed mechanical switch is operated into a position that causes power to be delivered to the electrical load; and
a frame that defines an opening that is configured to receive the protruding portion of the paddle actuator therein, wherein, when the protruding portion is received in the opening, the frame at least partially surrounds the paddle actuator,
wherein the mounting tab and the frame are configured to, when the base is attached to the paddle actuator, cause a rear surface of the frame to be biased against a structure that surrounds the paddle actuator.
MULTIPLE LOCATION LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
1. A load control system for controlling power delivered from an alternating-current power source to a plurality of electrical loads including a first electrical load and a second electrical load, the load control system comprising:a first load control device comprising a first main terminal, a second main terminal, and an accessory terminal, the first load control device adapted to be electrically coupled in series between the AC power source and the first electrical load for control of the power delivered to the first electrical load, the first load control device configured to conduct a load current from the AC power source to the first electrical load via the first and second main terminals;
an accessory device adapted to be coupled between the first main terminal and the accessory terminal of the first load control device or between the second main terminal and the accessory terminal of the first load control device, the accessory device adapted to be coupled to the accessory terminal of the first load control device via an accessory wiring; and
a second load control device adapted to be electrically coupled in series between the AC power source and the second electrical load for control of the power delivered to the second electrical load;
wherein the accessory device is configured to transmit a first digital message including a command for controlling the first electrical load to the first load control device via the accessory wiring, the accessory device further configured to transmit a second digital message including a command for controlling the second electrical load.
CONFIGURATION FOR A LOAD REGULATION DEVICE FOR LIGHTING CONTROL
1. A load regulation device for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load, the load regulation device comprising:a load regulation circuit configured to control a magnitude of a load current conducted through the electrical load to control an operational characteristic of the electrical load; and
a control circuit configured to receive an analog control signal and control the load regulation circuit for controlling the operational characteristic of the electrical load based on a stored relationship between the operational characteristic of the electrical load and a magnitude of the analog control signal, wherein the magnitude of the analog control signal ranges between a low-end magnitude and a high-end magnitude according to the stored relationship, and wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
measure the magnitude of the analog control signal;
determine when the measured magnitude of the analog control signal is less than the low-end magnitude of the stored relationship;
adjust the stored relationship between the operational characteristic of the electrical load and the magnitude of analog control signal based on the measured magnitude of the analog control signal being less than the low-end magnitude; and
control the load regulation circuit based on the adjusted relationship.
COMMUNICATING WITH AND CONTROLLING LOAD CONTROL SYSTEMS
1. An apparatus comprising:a display screen;
a communications circuit;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device communicatively coupled to the at least one processor and having software instructions stored thereon that when executed by the at least one processor, direct the at least one processor to:
receive via the communications circuit from a communications network information communicated by a controller, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with a lighting control device, wherein the lighting control device is configured to control a lighting load, wherein the lighting load is configured to produce light of any of a plurality of different colors, and wherein the information comprises an indication of a color the lighting load is configured to produce;
display on the display screen a graphical user interface that comprises an on-off actuator to turn the lighting load on and off; and
display together with the on-off actuator in the graphical user interface a color indicator that indicates the color the lighting load is configured to produce.
LOAD CONTROL DEVICE HAVING A CONTROLLABLE FILTER CIRCUIT
1. A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered from an alternating-current (AC) power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:a first terminal adapted to be coupled to the AC power source;
a second terminal adapted to be coupled to the electrical load;
a bidirectional semiconductor switch coupled in series between the first terminal and the second terminal, the bidirectional semiconductor switch configured to be controlled to a conductive state and a non-conductive state;
a filter circuit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal, the filter circuit comprising a first capacitor and an inductor coupled in series between the bidirectional semiconductor switch and the second terminal, the filter circuit further comprising a controllable switch; and
a control circuit configured to render the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the control circuit further configured to adjust an impedance of the filter circuit;
wherein the control circuit is configured to render the controllable switch conductive and non-conductive to respectively connect and disconnect the first capacitor from series connection between the first terminal and the second terminal to adjust the impedance of the filter circuit.
KEYPAD INTERFACE FOR PROGRAMMING A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
1. A load control system comprising:a load control device configured to control an electrical load, the load control device comprising a default configuration for controlling the electrical load in response to at least one message from at least one input device; and
a keypad device comprising one or more buttons, where the keypad device is configured to:
receive at least one actuation of the one or more buttons; and
in response to the at least one actuation of the one or more buttons, override the default configuration for controlling the electrical load in response to the at least one message from the at least one input device and generate programming information configured to enable the load control device to control the electrical load differently than the default configuration.
1. A light-emitting diode (LED) driver for controlling an intensity of an LED light source, the LED driver comprising:a power converter circuit configured to receive a first voltage and to produce a second voltage across a capacitor; and
a control circuit operatively coupled to the power converter circuit and configured to control the power converter circuit to generate the second voltage across the capacitor, the control circuit configured to receive a target intensity and control the intensity of the LED light source towards the target intensity, the control circuit configured to determine a learned capacitor voltage from the magnitude of the second voltage of the capacitor and determine an operating parameter associated with the power converter circuit as a function of the learned capacitor voltage;
wherein, when turning on the LED light source after the learned capacitor voltage has been determined, the control circuit is configured to control the power converter circuit according to the operating parameter to charge the capacitor until the magnitude of the second voltage reaches a threshold.
USER INTERFACE FOR CONTROLLING INTENSITY AND COLOR OF A LIGHTING LOAD
1. A control device for controlling a lighting load in a load control system, the control device comprising:a bezel;
a first elongated actuator provided on the bezel and vertically arranged with respect to the bezel, the first elongated actuator configured to receive a first user input for controlling an intensity of the lighting load;
a second elongated actuator provided on the bezel and horizontally arranged with respect to the bezel, the second elongated actuator configured to receive a second user input for controlling a color temperature of the lighting load;
a toggle actuator provided on the bezel and configured to receive a third user input for turning the lighting load on and off; and
a control circuit configured to generate a first control signal for raising the intensity of the lighting load in response to a first actuation applied to the first elongated actuator, generate a second control signal for lowering the intensity of the lighting load in response to a second actuation applied to the first elongated actuator, generate a third control signal for changing the color temperature of the lighting load to a first color temperature in response to a third actuation applied to the second elongated actuator, and generate a fourth control signal for changing the color temperature of the lighting load to a second color temperature in response to a fourth actuation applied to the second elongated actuator.
FORWARD CONVERTER HAVING A PRIMARY-SIDE CURRENT SENSE CIRCUIT
1. A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:a transformer comprising a primary winding configured to conduct a primary current and a secondary winding adapted to supply current to the electrical load;
at least one semiconductor switch electrically coupled to generate a primary voltage across the primary winding of the transformer to cause the transformer to transfer power to the secondary winding when the at least one semiconductor switch is conductive;
a current sense circuit configured to receive a sense voltage representative of a magnitude of the primary current conducted through the primary winding of the transformer, the current sense circuit comprising an averaging circuit configured to generate a load current signal that is representative of a real component of the primary current by averaging the sense voltage via the averaging circuit when the at least one semiconductor switch is conductive; and
a controller configured to generate at least one drive signal for periodically rendering the at least one semiconductor switch conductive for an on time to control a load current conducted through the electrical load in response to the load current signal, the controller further configured to control the current sense circuit to provide the sense voltage to the averaging circuit for the on time plus an additional amount of time to generate the load current signal when a target amount of power to be delivered to the electrical load is less than a threshold amount.
a third button having a third indicia configured to be illuminated by the third light source, the first button located between the second and third buttons; and
wherein the control circuit is configured to set both of the second and third source illumination intensities of the second and third buttons, respectively, using one or more correction factors so that the second and third source illumination intensities are both less than the first source illumination intensity and the first indicia on the first button is illuminated to a brighter intensity than the respective indicia on the second and third buttons, the control circuit further configured to set the second source illumination intensity to be less than the third source illumination intensity so that the second and third buttons are illuminated to the same intensity.
1. A battery-powered control device for controlling an electrical load in a load control system, the control device comprising:a base portion configured to be mounted over an actuator of a mechanical switch that controls power delivered to the electrical load;
a control unit configured to control an amount of power delivered to the electrical load;
a battery compartment configured to store a battery for powering the control unit;
a control unit removal device operable to release the control unit from the base portion to provide access to the battery compartment; and
a low battery indicator configured to be illuminated by one or more light sources to indicate a low battery condition and a location of the control unit removal device;
wherein the control unit is further configured to detect the low battery condition and control the one or more light sources to illuminate the low battery indicator in response to detecting the low battery condition.
1. A method comprising:receiving, at a product control application running on a programming device, association information comprising unique identifiers for a plurality of control devices in a load control system, wherein the plurality of control devices comprise a control-target device configured to directly control an electrical load in the load control system, and wherein the plurality of control devices comprise a control-source device configured to send messages configured to control the electrical load;
displaying, via a user interface of the product control application running on the programming device, the association information for each control device of the plurality of control devices;
receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of control devices to be grouped for enabling the control-target device to respond to messages that include a group identifier, wherein the selection of the at least one of the plurality of control devices comprises: selection of both the control-source device and the control-target device, or selection of the control-source device and the control-target device is predefined;
defining an association between the selected control-source device and the control-target device for storage in a memory, wherein the association is defined to enable control of the electrical load by the control-target device based on subsequent messages received from the control-source device that include the group identifier; and
transmitting the defined association to at least one device in the load control system to enable assignment of the group identifier for messages communicated between the control-source device and the control-target device.
a control circuit configured to control the load regulation circuit to control an amount of power delivered to the electrical load;
control the load regulation circuit to not energize the electrical load;
in response to receiving the indication, perform at least one control function to prepare for energizing the electrical load while the electrical load remains unenergized;
wait for a change state instruction;
stop or reverse the performance of the at least one control function if the change state instruction is not received within a first predetermined period of time; and
control the load regulation circuit to energize the electrical load in response to receiving the change state instruction within the first predetermined period of time.
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load in response to a controller, the load control device comprising:a load regulation circuit adapted to be coupled to the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load; and
a control circuit coupled to the load regulation circuit for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load in response to a phase-control voltage received from the controller;
wherein the control circuit is operable to control the power delivered to the electrical load in response to digital information encoded in timing edges of the phase-control voltage, the phase-control voltage received from the controller having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the digital information is encoded in the timing edges of the phase-control voltage.
MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT
1. A motorized window treatment comprising:a headrail having first and second opposite ends;
a covering material having a top end connected to the headrail, the covering material further having a bottom end;
a motor drive unit including a motor and located in the headrail;
first and second drive shafts extending from both sides of the motor drive unit and rotatably coupled to the motor drive unit thereby allowing rotations of the motor to result in rotations of the drive shafts;
first and second lift cords, the first lift cord located proximate to the first opposite end of the headrail and the second lift cord located proximate to the second opposite end of the headrail, each lift cord rotatably received around a respective one of the drive shafts and connected to the bottom end of the covering material; and
first and second battery packs configured to hold respective first and second batteries for powering the motor drive unit, the first and second battery packs located on respective sides of the motor drive unit, the first battery pack located between the first opposite end of the headrail and the first lift cord, and the second battery pack located between the second opposite end of the headrail and the second lift cord;
wherein the motor drive unit is configured to rotate the first and second drive shafts to adjust the bottom end of the covering material between a closed position and an open position in response to rotations of the drive shaft.
STATE RETENTION LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
1. A load control system, comprising:a first control device that is configured to be connected to a first alternating current (AC) circuit, wherein the first control device is configured to control an amount of power provided from the first AC circuit to a first electrical load;
a second control device that is configured to be connected to a second AC circuit, wherein the second control device is configured to control an amount of power provided from the second AC circuit to a second electrical load; and
a hub device, comprising:
a communication circuit, wherein the communication circuit is configured to send and receive messages from the first control device; and
determine, based on contents of a first message, that the first control device that is configured to be connected to the first AC circuit has experienced a power removal event due to a loss of power from the first AC circuit;
send, via the communication circuit, a query message to the second control device that is configured to be connected to the second AC circuit;
determine, based on contents of a second message received from the second control device in response to the query message, that the second control device has experienced a power removal event due to a loss of power from the second AC circuit;
determine, based on the loss of power at the first control device from the first AC circuit and the loss of power at the second control device from the second AC circuit, that the power removal event experienced by the first control device is a system power removal event; and
in response to the determination that the first control device experienced the system power removal event, send, via the communication circuit, a first power removal event indication to the first control device that indicates that the power removal event experienced by the first control device is the system power removal event,
wherein the first control device is configured to, in response to receiving the first power removal event indication, adjust a power state of the first control device to a prior power state, wherein the prior power state of the first control device is the power state of the first control device prior to the first control device experiencing the system power removal event.
CONTROLLABLE-LOAD CIRCUIT FOR USE WITH A LOAD CONTROL DEVICE
1. A method for controlling an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the method comprising:receiving a phase-control voltage from a dimmer switch, the phase-control voltage characterized by a conduction period;
controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to the conduction period of the phase-control voltage;
conducting a pulse of controllable-load current from the AC power source through the dimmer switch for a first portion of each half-cycle of the AC power source;
maintaining a magnitude of the controllable-load current at an initial constant magnitude for a second portion of each half-cycle of the AC power source, wherein the second portion follows the first portion;
decreasing the magnitude of the controllable-load current from the initial constant magnitude to a decreased constant magnitude;
maintaining the magnitude of the controllable-load current at the decreased constant magnitude for the second portion of each half-cycle of the AC power source;
based at least in part on decreasing the magnitude of the controllable-load current from the initial constant magnitude to the decreased constant magnitude, monitoring the conduction period of the phase-control voltage;
determining whether the conduction period of the phase-control voltage remains substantially constant;
further adjusting the magnitude of the controllable-load current from the decreased constant magnitude to an adjusted constant magnitude based at least in part on determining whether the conduction period of the phase-control voltage remains substantially constant; and
maintaining the magnitude of the controllable-load current at the adjusted constant magnitude for the second portion of each half-cycle of the AC power source.
a controller configured to control the bidirectional semiconductor switch to generate a phase-control signal for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load;
wherein the controller is further configured to:determine to generate the phase-control signal using a forward phase-control technique;subsequently control the bidirectional semiconductor switch to generate the phase-control signal using a reverse phase-control technique for a predetermined period of time to charge a capacitance of the electrical load;begin to control the bidirectional semiconductor switch to generate the phase control signal using the forward phase-control technique after the predetermined period of time has elapsed; andcontinue to control the bidirectional semiconductor switch to generate the phase control signal using the forward phase-control technique to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load.
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:a bidirectional semiconductor switch adapted to be electrically coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load, and configured to conduct a load current to energize the electrical load, the bidirectional semiconductor switch comprises first and second switching transistors coupled in anti-series connection, the bidirectional semiconductor switch having a control input configured to receive at least one drive signal to render the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive;
a control circuit configured to control the bidirectional semiconductor switch to render the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive, the control circuit configured to determine a zero-crossing time of a present half-cycle of the AC power source in response to a voltage developed across the bidirectional semiconductor switch; and
a power supply electrically coupled to conduct a charging current through the electrical load to generate a supply voltage;
wherein the control circuit is configured to control the magnitude of the drive signal to a first magnitude to render the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive after a first, variable amount of time has elapsed since the zero-crossing time of the present half-cycle, the control circuit configured to maintain the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive independent of the magnitude of the load current conducted through the bidirectional semiconductor switch during the present half-cycle, the control circuit further configured to control the magnitude of the drive signal to a second magnitude to render the bidirectional semiconductor switch non-conductive after a second, fixed amount of time has elapsed since the zero-crossing time of the present half-cycle, the second, fixed amount of time being less than a length of the present half-cycle, the control circuit configured to vary the first, variable amount of time in accordance with a determinate amount of power to be delivered to the electrical load in order to cause the amount of power delivered to the electrical load to be the determinate amount.
LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM WITH EMERGENCY MODE
1. A control device comprising:a load control circuit for controlling power to one or more electrical loads;
a communication circuit;
a control circuit coupled to the communication circuit and the load control circuit; and
a memory coupled to the control circuit; and
wherein when power is applied to the control circuit, the control circuit is configured to:
recall an emergency mode control setting from memory;
control, via the load control circuit, the one or more electrical loads according to the emergency mode control setting; and
transmit, via the communication circuit, a message indicating the control device is in an emergency mode.
1. A lighting control system comprising:a lighting control device configured to control an amount of power to a lighting load; and
a remote control device configured to be mounted over a wall-mounted light switch, the remote control device comprising:
a housing that defines an opening, wherein an actuator of the wall mounted light switch is configured to protrude through the opening;
a user interface integrated with the housing, wherein the user interface is configured to receive an input from a user of the remote control device;
a control circuit configured to detect an operation of the actuator of the wall-mounted light switch; and
a wireless communication circuit configured to transmit a message to the lighting control device in response to one of: the detection of the operation of the actuator or receiving the input at the user interface.
1. A control-target device for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load, the control-target device comprising:a memory for storing a device type associated with the control-target device;
receive, via the communications circuit, a discovery message from a user device, wherein the discovery message comprises an indication of a type of control-target device;
compare the type of control-target device indicated in the discovery message with the device type associated with the control-target device;
send, via the communications circuit, a discovery response to the discovery message when the device type is the same as the type of control-target device indicated in the discovery message, wherein the discovery response indicates whether the control-target device is within an established range of the user device;
receive, via the communications circuit, an association message from the user device, wherein the association message comprises identification information of a control-source device; and
store, in the memory, the identification information of the control-source device, wherein the identification information of the control-source device enables the control-target device to recognize digital messages from the control-source device.
1. A method of configuring a sensor that is mounted in a space to record images of the space, the method comprising:recording an image of the space;
processing the image to determine a location of at least one object within the space; and
based on the location of the at least one object within the space, automatically configuring a first mask for identifying a first unmasked portion of the image to be processed to sense an environmental characteristic of the space.
MOTORIZED SHEER SHADING SYSTEM
1. A method of controlling a motorized sheer shading system that is mounted proximate to an opening, the sheer shading system including a rotatably supported roller tube, a sheer shade material that is windingly attached to the roller tube, and a motor that is configured to rotate the roller tube so as to move the sheer shade material, the method comprising:causing the motor to rotate the roller tube so as to move the sheer shade material between an open position wherein the sheer shade material is wound about the roller tube, a closed position wherein the sheer shade material covers the opening and visualization through the sheer shade material is impeded, and a view position wherein the sheer shade material covers the opening and visualization through the sheer shade material is permitted;
in response to receiving a command to move the sheer shade material to the view position when the sheer shade material in the open position, controlling the motor to move the sheer shade material through the closed position to the view position without stopping rotation of the motor;
in response to receiving a first fine tune command to lower the sheer shade material when the sheer shade material is in the open position, controlling the motor to move the sheer shade material towards the closed position by rotating the roller tube at a first average rotational speed;
subsequently stopping rotation of the motor when the sheer shade material is at the closed position; and
in response to receiving a second fine tune command to lower the sheer shade material when the sheer shade material is at the closed position, controlling the motor to move the sheer shade material towards the view position by rotating the roller tube at a second average rotational speed that is slower than the first average rotational speed.
KEYPAD HAVING ILLUMINATED BUTTONS
1. A control device for controlling power delivered to an electrical load, the control device comprising:a faceplate having an opening;
a button received in the opening of the faceplate, wherein a gap is formed between the button and the opening of the faceplate, the button comprising:
a cap portion; and
a diffuser portion, wherein the diffuser portion extends laterally beyond the cap portion within the opening;
at least one light source located inside of the control device and configured to provide light to the diffuser portion of the button to illuminate the gap between the button and the opening of the faceplate; and
a control circuit configured to cause the power delivered to the electrical load to be adjusted in response to an actuation of the button.
WIRELESS SENSOR HAVING A LASER-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT
1. A sensor for measuring a light intensity, the sensor comprising:a photosensitive circuit configured to generate a light intensity control signal in response to the light intensity;
a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals;
a laser pointer circuit configured to be exposed to light from a laser pointer;
a controller coupled to the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transceiver, and the laser pointer circuit, the controller configured to transmit a wireless signal in response to the light intensity control signal; and
a battery for powering the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transceiver, the laser pointer circuit, and the controller;
wherein the controller is configured to enter a sleep mode in which the controller consumes less power, the controller further configured to enable the wireless transceiver in response to the laser pointer circuit being exposed to light from a laser pointer and to receive a wireless signal while the wireless transceiver is enabled and wherein the controller is configured to enable the wireless transceiver as part of an interrupt procedure after waking up from the sleep mode.
BATTERY-POWERED MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT HAVING A SERVICE POSITION
16. An apparatus comprising:a headrail having a top side and a bottom side opposite the top side;
a material adapted to hang from the bottom side of the headrail; and
a motor drive unit configured to control the material between a fully opened position and a fully-closed position;
wherein the headrail includes a compartment configured to receive at least one battery for powering the motor drive unit, and to be arranged such that access is provided to the at least one battery through the top side of the headrail.
LOAD CONTROL DEVICE HAVING INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
1. An apparatus comprising:a first communications module configured to receive a first message via a wireless network, wherein the wireless network has an associated identifier and an associated password;
a second communications module configured to receive a second message from a first device via a point-to-point connection between the apparatus and the first device, wherein the point-to-point connection does not comprise the wireless network, and the first device comprises at least one of a smart phone, a tablet, and a laptop; and
receive the identifier and the password of the wireless network from the second message received from the first device via the point-to-point connection,
use the identifier and the password of the wireless network received from the first device to connect the apparatus to the wireless network via the first communications module;
receive from a second device, that is communicatively connected to the wireless network, an address for the apparatus to communicate on the wireless network, wherein the second device assigns the address to the apparatus based in part on the apparatus connecting to the wireless network;
store at the apparatus the address received from the second device, wherein storing the address enables the apparatus to communicate messages on the wireless network; and
receive from the first device, via the wireless network and the first communications module, one or more messages, wherein the one or more received messages comprise one or more control instructions.
1. A load control system for controlling power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the load control system comprising:a load control device adapted to be electrically coupled in series between a power source and the lighting load for controlling an intensity of the lighting load, the load control device configured to receive a first message including an identifier from an identifier-transmitting device when the load control device is mounted in close proximity to the identifier-transmitting device, wherein the identifier transmitted by the identifier-transmitting device is representative of a location of the identifier-transmitting device, the identifier-transmitting device adapted to be installed in a fixture in which the load control device is installed, the load control device configured to transmit a second message including the identifier via a communication link; and
a controller configured to receive the second message from the load control device via the communication link, and to subsequently transmit a third message including a configuration setting associated with the identifier to the load control device via the communication link.
1. A lighting fixture for controlling a cumulative light, the lighting fixture comprising:a plurality of light-emitting diode (LED) light sources having different colors;
a plurality of LED drivers adapted to be coupled to a respective one of the LED light sources and configured to control an intensity of the respective LED light source, wherein the plurality of LED drivers are coupled to a communication link and are responsive to communications having a common link address; and
wherein each of the plurality of LED drivers is configured to adjust the intensity of the respective LED light source to a preset intensity in response to a single digital message received on the communication link to cause the cumulative light emitted by the lighting fixture to correspond to one of multiple color trajectories, wherein each color trajectory defines a plurality of color temperatures corresponding to a plurality of respective intensities.
1. A window treatment, comprising:a rail configured to mount to a structure, the rail elongate between a first end and an opposed second end;
first and second mounting brackets that are configured to attach to the first and second ends of the rail via a first attachment member and a second attachment member, respectively, wherein the first and second mounting brackets are configured to mount to the structure via attachment to the first and second ends of the rail; and
a first mounting bracket lock that is coupled to the rail and that is configured to slide along the rail between a locked position and an unlocked position;
wherein, in the locked position, the first mounting bracket lock is configured to engage with the first attachment member of the first mounting bracket to prevent the first mounting bracket from detaching from the rail; and
wherein, in the unlocked position, the first mounting bracket is detachable from the rail while the rail is mounted to the structure.
CALIBRATION OF A LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE
1. A system for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power source to an electrical load, the load control system comprising:a load regulation device comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, the first and second terminals configured to be coupled to the electrical load via load wiring;
wherein the load regulation device is configured to generate an output voltage on the first and second terminals for producing a load voltage across the electrical load; and
a calibration device configured to be coupled to the load wiring in parallel electrical connection between the first and second terminals of the load regulation device and the electrical load; and
wherein the calibration device is further configured to:
determine a magnitude of the load voltage across the electrical load;
determine that the magnitude of the load voltage across the electrical load is greater than or equal to a predetermined level; and
in response to determining that the magnitude of the load voltage across the electrical load is greater than or equal to a predetermined level, provide feedback to the load regulation device indicating that the magnitude of the load voltage across the electrical load is greater than or equal to the predetermined level,
wherein the load regulation device is configured to adjust a magnitude of the output voltage based on the feedback from the calibration device indicating that the magnitude of the load voltage across the electrical load is greater than or equal to the predetermined level.
1. A control device configured for use in a load control system to control one or more electrical loads external to the control device, the control device comprising:a first mechanical switch;
a second mechanical switch;
an actuation portion comprising a front surface, the front surface defining a touch sensitive surface, the actuation portion configured to pivot about a pivot axis to actuate the first mechanical switch in response to an actuation of an upper portion of the actuation portion, the actuation portion further configured to pivot about the pivot axis to actuate the second mechanical switch in response to an actuation of a lower portion of the actuation portion;
a touch sensitive circuit configured to detect user inputs applied via the touch sensitive surface of the actuation portion; and
a control circuit configured to control an amount of power delivered to the one or more electrical loads in response to the touch sensitive circuit detecting the user inputs, the control circuit further configured to turn the one or more electrical loads on or off in response to the actuation portion being pivoted about the pivot axis to actuate the first or second mechanical switch;
wherein the touch sensitive surface and the touch sensitive circuit are configured to move with the actuation portion when the actuation portion is pivoted about the pivot axis.
1. A motorized window treatment comprising:a covering material;
a drive shaft;
at least one lift cord rotatably received around the drive shaft and arranged to extend to a bottom end of the covering material in such a way that the lift cord provides a torque on the drive shaft;
a motor drive unit having a motor coupled to the drive shaft and configured to rotate the drive shaft to raise and lower the covering material, wherein the motor drive unit is configured to receive power from one or more batteries; and
a spring assist assembly coupled to the drive shaft and configured to provide torque on the drive shaft in a direction opposite a direction of the torque provided on the drive shaft by the lift cord;
wherein an amount of energy required by the motor to drive the drive shaft is reduced by the spring assist assembly.
POWER MEASUREMENT IN A TWO-WIRE LOAD CONTROL DEVICE
1. A lighting control device for controlling an amount of power delivered from an alternating current (AC) power source to a lighting load, the lighting control device comprising:a controllably conductive device configured to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load;
a control circuit configured to render the controllably conductive device non-conductive during a first portion of a half-cycle of an AC waveform and render the controllably conductive device conductive during a second portion of the half-cycle to control the amount of power delivered to the lighting load;
a voltage measuring circuit configured to measure a voltage across the lighting control device during the first portion of the half-cycle;
a signal generator configured to generate a complementary voltage waveform that approximates a voltage across the lighting load during the second portion of the half-cycle, wherein the complementary voltage waveform is based on the voltage measured across the lighting control device during the first portion of the half-cycle;
a current measuring circuit configured to measure a current supplied to the lighting load from the lighting control device during the second portion of the half-cycle;
a power supply adapted to draw a power supply current from the AC power source, and the power supply coupled to the control circuit through the lighting load for generating a direct current (DC) voltage to power the control circuit; and
a load terminal adapted to be connected to the lighting load for conducting the current supplied to the lighting load and the power supply current.
1. A load control device for controlling power to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device comprising:a semiconductor switch configured to conduct a load current from the AC power source to the electrical load;
a first terminal and a second terminal, the first and second terminals adapted to be coupled to a remote device;
a first switching circuit coupled to the second terminal, the first switching circuit configured to conduct a charging current through the second terminal to power the remote device;
a second switching circuit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal; and
a control circuit configured to control the semiconductor switch to control the power to the electrical load, the control circuit further configured to render the first switching circuit conductive to conduct the charging current to the remote device through the second terminal during a first time period of a present half-cycle of the AC power source, the control circuit further configured to subsequently render the first and second switching circuits conductive and non-conductive on a complementary basis to communicate with the remote device via the second terminal during a second time period of the present half-cycle of the AC power source.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING AN AMBIENT LIGHT THRESHOLD
1. A method for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprising:receiving, by at least one processor, a measured ambient light level;
detecting, by the at least one processor, an occupancy condition;
comparing, by the at least one processor, the measured ambient light level to a first value of an ambient light level threshold in response to detecting the occupancy condition;
determining, by the at least one processor, whether to control the power delivered to the electrical load based on comparing the measured ambient light level to the first value of the ambient light level threshold;
receiving, by the at least one processor, an actuation to change a state of the electrical load within a predetermined time window after detecting the occupancy condition; and
adjusting, by the at least one processor, the ambient light level threshold to a second value in response to receiving the actuation.
1. A load control device for controlling an intensity of a lighting load, the load control device comprising:a regulation circuit configured to control a magnitude of a load current conducted through the lighting load to control the intensity of the lighting load, the regulation circuit including a controllable-impedance circuit adapted to conduct the load current through the lighting load; and
a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllable-impedance circuit of the regulation circuit to control the intensity of the lighting load to a target intensity, the control circuit configured to control the controllable-impedance circuit to adjust a peak magnitude of the load current, the control circuit configured to control a duty cycle of the load current to adjust an average magnitude of the load current;
wherein the control circuit is configured to control the intensity of the lighting load by maintaining a frequency of the load current constant and adjusting an on time of the load current when the target intensity is above a predetermined threshold, and maintaining the on time of the load current constant and adjusting the frequency of the load current when the target intensity is below the predetermined threshold.
ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE ASSEMBLY WITH OUTWARD-BIASING FACEPLATE
1. A faceplate assembly comprising:a faceplate that defines an opening that is configured to receive an electrical device insert of an electrical device;
a biasing member comprising a plurality of resilient fingers that are cantilevered from a perimeter of the opening, the plurality of resilient fingers configured to abut a yoke of the electrical device; and
an adapter that is configured to be disposed between the faceplate and a structure, such that the adapter at least partially surrounds a portion of the electrical device insert, the adapter further configured to abut a surface of the structure.
METHOD OF CONTROLLING A MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT
1. A method of controlling a motorized window treatment for adjusting an amount of sunlight entering a space of a building through a window to control a sunlight penetration distance in the space, the method comprising:measuring a total light intensity at the window;
calculating a solar elevation angle;
calculating a cloudy-day threshold as a function of the calculated solar elevation angle;
determining if the total light intensity exceeds the cloudy-day threshold;
enabling a sunlight penetration limiting mode when the total light intensity is greater than the cloudy-day threshold; and
operating in the sunlight penetration limiting mode to control the motorized window treatment to thus control the sunlight penetration distance in the space.
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical device, the load control device comprising:a first hot detect circuit configured to generate a first hot-detect signal;
a second hot detect circuit configured to generate a second hot-detect signal;
a first switching circuit electrically coupled between the second hot detect circuit and a connection, the connection adapted to be electrically coupled to earth ground or a neutral side of the AC power source; and
a control circuit configured to receive the first hot-detect signal and the second hot-detect signal, configured to render the first switching circuit conductive and non-conductive, and configured to determine whether the first hot-detect signal and the second hot-detect signal are in phase;
wherein, when the control circuit determines that the first hot-detect signal and the second hot-detect signal are in phase, the control circuit is configured to render the first switching circuit non-conductive; and
wherein, when the control circuit determines that the first hot-detect signal and the second hot-detect signal are out of phase, the control circuit is configured to render the first switching circuit conductive.
INTEGRATING AND CONTROLLING MULTIPLE LOAD CONTROL SYSTEMS
19. A load control system comprising:a Composite Gateway, comprising a Resource Database and a Gateway Group Database, wherein the Composite Gateway is a single point of access for a user to communicate with a first Gateway and a second Gateway;
the first Gateway comprising a first Logging Database and a first Project Database, wherein the first Gateway actively manages one or more load control devices, and wherein each of the one or more load control device is associated with a respective uniform resource identifier (URI) that indicates that the first Gateway actively manages each of the one or more load control devices; and
the second Gateway comprising a second Logging Database and a second Project Database, wherein the second Gateway actively manages one or more other load control devices, and wherein each of the other one or more load control devices is associated with a respective URI that indicates that the second Gateway actively manages each of the one or more other control devices,
wherein the Composite Gateway is a single point of access for a user to communicate with a first Gateway and a second Gateway, such that in response to a user's request message, the Composite Gateway sends a first information request message to the first Gateway and a second information request message to the second Gateway, aggregates information received from the first Gateway and the second Gateway, and sends the aggregated information in response to the user's request message.
WALLBOX INSTALLATION TOOL
1. A wall box installation tool, comprising:a template body having a front surface, a guide ring that extends from a rear surface of the template body, and a plurality of bores that extend through the template body from the front surface to the rear surface; and
a first template card located on the front surface of the template body and having a first plurality of holes;
wherein the guide ring is configured to be installed within a pre-drilled hole in a wall, and wherein the first template card is configured to move from a first position associated with a first electrical device configuration to a second position associated with a second electrical device configuration, and wherein a first subset of the plurality of bores in the template body are accessible via the first template card in the first position, and wherein a second subset of the plurality of bores in the template body are accessible via the first template card in the second position.
1. A circuit for controlling an intensity of a light-emitting diode (LED) light source, the circuit comprising:an LED drive circuit configured to control a magnitude of a load current conducted through the LED light source to control the intensity of the LED light source; and
control the LED drive circuit in the first state during the first time period in which the control circuit adjusts a value of an operational characteristic of the at least one drive signal to regulate a peak magnitude of the load current towards a target current in response to a feedback signal;
CIRCUITS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING AN INTENSITY OF A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE
a control circuit configured to generate at least one drive signal for controlling the LED drive circuit to adjust an average magnitude of the load current by:
controlling the LED drive circuit in the first state during a first time period in which the control circuit adjusts a value of an operational characteristic of the at least one drive signal to regulate a peak magnitude of the load current towards a target current in response to the load current feedback signal;
controlling the LED drive circuit in the second state during a second time period in which the control circuit maintains the operational characteristic of the at least one drive signal approximately constant; and
adjusting a length of the first time period to adjust the average magnitude of the load current.
1. A power device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load in response to a controller that is coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the power device, the power device comprising:a forward receiving circuit adapted to be coupled to the controller via a power wiring, and configured to receive a phase-control voltage from the controller via the power wiring;
a control circuit configured to receive a forward digital message from the controller via the forward receiving circuit; and
a reverse transmitting circuit adapted to be coupled to the controller via the power wiring;
determine a reference edge time in response to detecting a reference pulse generated by the controller during a first half-cycle of a reverse digital message, the reference edge time being after a zero-crossing of the first half-cycle;
transmit an acknowledgement (ACK) pulse using the reverse transmitting circuit to signal that the power device received the forward digital message by adjusting a magnitude of a controller-drop voltage developed across the controller in a window time period during a second half-cycle of the reverse digital message, wherein a start time of the window time period during the second half-cycle of the reverse digital message is based on the reference edge time during the first half-cycle; and
transmit a data pulse using the reverse transmitting circuit to respond to the forward digital message by adjusting the magnitude of the controller-drop voltage developed across the controller in a window time period during a third half-cycle of the reverse digital message, wherein a start time of the window time period during the third half-cycle of the reverse digital message is based on the reference edge time during the first half-cycle.
1. An apparatus comprising:a control circuit configured to:
retrieve an image of a space;
determine a lighting level for a first sub-area within the space;
determine a lighting level for a second sub-area within the space;
determine a first lighting fixture that affects the lighting level for the first sub-area and the lighting level for the second sub-area;
determine a second lighting fixture that affects the lighting level for the second sub-area; and
adjust the first lighting fixture and the second lighting fixture to achieve a first target light level in the first sub-area and a second target light level in the second sub-area, wherein the adjustment of the second lighting fixture is in response to an amount that the first lighting fixture affects the lighting level for the second sub-area when the first lighting fixture is adjusted.
SELECTING A WINDOW TREATMENT FABRIC
1. A method of selecting a recommended fabric for a window treatment to be installed in a building, the method comprising:computing, by at least one processor, an associated score for each fabric option of a plurality of fabric options, wherein the associated score for each fabric option is computed between a predefined high-level threshold and a predefined low-level threshold for the plurality of fabric options, wherein the associated score for each fabric option is based on a value of at least one predicted performance metric for the fabric option relative to values of the at least one predicted performance metric for the plurality of fabric options, wherein the value of the at least one predicted performance metric for each fabric option depends on characteristics of daylight entering an interior space of the building when the fabric option of the plurality of fabric options is used as the window treatment for at least one window of the building;
determining, by the at least one processor, a recommended fabric option for the window treatment to be installed in the building based on values of the at least one predicted performance metric for the plurality of fabric options that correspond to environmental characteristics of an environment that is associated with at least one of the building or a location in the building in which the recommended fabric option is to be installed as the window treatment; and
displaying a visual representation of the recommended fabric option and the computed associated score of the recommended fabric option on a visual display of a network device.
LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM RESPONSIVE TO THE LOCATION OF AN OCCUPANT AND/OR MOBILE DEVICE
1. A load control system for controlling an electrical load, the load control system comprising:a beacon transmitting device configured to transmit a beacon signal including a unique identifier; and
a mobile device configured to:
receive the beacon signal and determine a received signal strength indication (RSSI) of the beacon signal;
virtually link to the beacon signal of the beacon transmitting device if the RSSI of the beacon signal is greater than a first threshold;
receive a location-based control element according to the unique identifier of the beacon signal to which the mobile device is virtually linked, wherein the location-based control element comprises a user-selectable control level that is displayed to a user to enable control of the electrical load via a user input of the user-selectable control level of the location-based control element and
transmit a message for controlling the electrical load in response to receiving the user input of the user-selectable control level of the location-based control element;
wherein the mobile device is configured to virtually unlink from the beacon signal to which the mobile device is virtually linked if the RSSI of the beacon signal drops below a second threshold less than the first threshold.
REMOTE LOAD CONTROL DEVICE CAPABLE OF ORIENTATION DETECTION
1. A control unit configured to be mounted to a mounting structure, the control unit comprising:a user interface;
an orientation sensing circuit;
a communication circuit configured to communicate messages; and
a control circuit, wherein the control unit is configured to be supported by the mounting structure in a plurality of orientations, and wherein the control circuit is configured to:
determine an orientation of the control unit relative to the mounting structure in response to the orientation sensing circuit;
translate a user input from the user interface into control data based on the orientation of the control unit, the control data configured to control an electrical load of a load control system; and
cause the communication circuit to transmit a control signal comprising the control data.
RETROFIT REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE
1. A control device adapted to be mounted over a bezel portion of an electrical device, the electrical device having a faceplate mounted thereto, the faceplate having an opening through which the bezel portion is received, the opening of the faceplate defining a gap between the faceplate and the bezel portion, the control device comprising:a wireless communication circuit;
a control circuit configured to transmit a digital message via the wireless communication circuit in response to a user input;
a base portion having a rectangular shape with a top wall, a bottom wall, and opposed sidewalls; and
a plurality of planar extensions that extend from two or more of the top wall, the bottom wall, or the opposed sidewalls of the base portion, the plurality of planar extensions adapted to be received in the gap between the faceplate and the bezel portion.
CONTROLLING LIGHT INTENSITY AT A LOCATION
1. A non-transient computer readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed by a control circuit of a mobile device cause the control circuit to:receive, via a user interface, an input indicative of a desired light intensity;
receive, via an ambient light sensor, a measurement of ambient light intensity in response to receipt of the input;
compare the measurement of ambient light intensity with the desired light intensity;
determine that a difference between the measurement of ambient light intensity and the desired light intensity exceeds a threshold; and
based on the determination that the difference exceeds the threshold, cause a wireless communication circuit to transmit one or more first messages to a lighting control device based on the measurement of ambient light intensity and a determined location of the mobile device, wherein the one or more first messages causes an ambient light intensity at the mobile device to be adjusted towards the desired light intensity.
LOAD CONTROL DEVICE USER INTERFACE AND DATABASE MANAGEMENT USING NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC)
1. A mobile device operable for wireless communication, the mobile device comprising:a processor configured to:
transmit a serial number of the mobile device to a radio-frequency identification (RFID) device via a near-field communication (NFC) protocol, when the mobile device is proximate to the RFID device;
receive a load control command to change an amount of power delivered by a dimmer to an electrical load, wherein the load control command is received from the RFID device via the NFC protocol subsequent to transmission of the serial number; and
transmit the received load control command via a second wireless protocol to a wireless control device,
wherein the wireless control device is further configured to transmit the load control command to the dimmer.
MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an alternating-current (AC) power source to a motor load, the load control device comprising:first and second capacitors;
first and second controllable switching circuits coupled in series with the first and second capacitors, respectively;
a control circuit configured to control the first controllable switching circuit to electrically couple the first capacitor in series between the AC power source and the motor load to cause the motor load to rotate at a first rotational speed, the control circuit configured to control the second controllable switching circuit to electrically couple the second capacitor in series between the AC power source and the motor load to cause the motor load to rotate at a second rotational speed; and
first and second resistors configured to be coupled in parallel with the first and second capacitors, respectively, when the respective capacitor is not electrically coupled in series between the AC power source and the motor load;
wherein, when the control circuit receives a command to change the motor load from the first rotational speed to the second rotational speed, the control circuit is configured to:
control the first controllable switching circuit to disconnect the first capacitor from the series electrical connection between the AC power source and the motor load at approximately a first zero-crossing of the AC power source;
wait for a wait time period to allow the first capacitor to discharge through the first resistor; and
subsequently control the second controllable switching circuit to connect the second capacitor in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the motor load at approximately a second zero-crossing of the AC power source;
wherein the first and second resistors are not coupled in parallel with the first and second capacitors, respectively, when the respective capacitor is electrically coupled in series between the AC power source and the motor load.
1. A system controller comprising:at least one communication circuit, wherein the at least one communication circuit is configured to send and receive digital messages; and
determine a load control discovery device, wherein the load control discovery device is one of a control-source device or a control-target device included in a plurality of control devices, wherein the control-target device is capable of controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load at a location based on digital messages received from the control-source device;
discover one or more of the plurality of control devices that received a discovery message from the load control discovery device;
notify a network device of the discovered one or more of the plurality of control devices that received the discovery message;
receive, via the at least one communication circuit, association information from the network device that indicates an association of at least one of the discovered one or more of the plurality of control devices with the location of the electrical load; and
store the association information for enabling control of the electrical load at the location.
1. A non-transient computer readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed by a control circuit of a wireless control device cause the control circuit to:display, via a visual display of the wireless control device, a user interface for programming a load control device;
receive, via an actuation of a soft button on the visual display, at least one setting for programming the load control device, wherein the at least one setting comprises one of a high end trim, a low end trim, or an occupancy or vacancy mode;
display, via the visual display, a second user interface to assist a user in aligning a light source of the wireless control device with an optical receiver of the load control device, wherein the light source of the wireless control device comprises one of a camera flash or a portion of the display screen configured to optically alternate between at least two colors to flash the portion of the display screen; and
transmit, via the light source of the wireless control device, an optical signal containing the received at least one setting to the load control device to program the load control device.
LOAD CONTROL DEVICE HAVING A WIDE OUTPUT RANGE
1. A light-emitting diode (LED) driver for controlling an intensity of an LED light source, the LED driver comprising:an LED drive circuit configured to control the magnitude of a load current conducted through the LED light source to adjust the intensity of the LED light source between a low-end intensity and a high-end intensity, the LED drive circuit characterized by an operating frequency;
a filter circuit configured to receive a current feedback signal from the LED drive circuit and to filter the current feedback signal to generate a filtered feedback signal; and
a control circuit operatively coupled to the LED drive circuit for controlling the magnitude of the load current towards a target current in response to the filtered feedback signal;
wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust the operating frequency of the LED drive circuit in response to the target current when the intensity of the LED light source is near the low-end intensity, the control circuit configured to control the filter circuit to filter the current feedback signal during a filter window that repeats on a periodic basis when the intensity of the LED light source is near the low-end intensity, the control circuit configured to control the filter circuit to constantly filter the current feedback signal when the intensity of the LED light source is near the high-end intensity.
1. A controller for use in a load control system for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the controller comprising:a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection on a power wiring between the AC power source and a power device of the load control system;
a control circuit coupled to the controllably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive during each half-cycle of the AC power source to generate a phase-control signal, the control circuit configured to transmit a forward digital message to the power device by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control signal, and to generate a reference edge at a reference edge time during a first half-cycle of a reverse digital message, the reference edge time being after a zero-crossing of the first half-cycle; and
a reverse receiving circuit coupled in parallel electrical connection with the controllably conductive device for receiving a controller-drop voltage developed across the controllably conductive device, the reverse receiving circuit configured to receive a reverse digital message from the power device via the power wiring, the reverse digital message transmitted by the power device in response to the forward digital message;
receive, via the reverse receiving circuit, an acknowledgement (ACK) pulse in a window time period during a second half-cycle of the reverse digital message, wherein a start time of the window time period during the second half-cycle of the reverse digital message is based on the reference edge time during the first half-cycle; and
receive, via the reverse receiving circuit, a data pulse in a window time period during a third half-cycle of the reverse digital message, wherein a start time of the window time period during the third half-cycle of the reverse digital message is based on the reference edge time during the first half-cycle.
1. A remote control device comprising:a status indicator comprising a plurality of light sources; and
receive a user interaction event for controlling a plurality of lighting devices that are responsive to the remote control device, wherein the user interaction event corresponds to a command;
receive device information regarding the plurality of lighting devices that are responsive to the remote control device, wherein the device information comprises present intensity levels of the plurality of lighting devices;
determine that the command is a first command type configured to increase the present intensity levels of the plurality of lighting devices or a second command type configured to decrease the present intensity levels of the plurality of lighting devices; and
provide feedback, via the status indicator, to indicate one of a first present intensity level of a first lighting device of the plurality of lighting devices or a second present intensity level of a second lighting device of the plurality of lighting devices, wherein the feedback is based on the command being the first command type or the second command type and a comparison of the first present intensity level to the second present intensity level.
1. A circuit for controlling an intensity of a LED light source, the circuit comprising:an LED drive circuit configured to control a magnitude of a load current conducted through the LED light source to control the intensity of the LED light source; and
1. A dimmer switch for controlling power delivered from an alternating-current (AC) power source to a lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the lighting load for conducting a load current through the electrical load to control an amount of power delivered to the lighting load and an intensity of the lighting load;
a control circuit configured to control the controllably conductive device using a forward phase-control dimming technique to adjust the intensity of the lighting load, the control circuit configured to control the controllably conductive device to be non-conductive at the beginning of each half-cycle of the AC power source and to render the controllably conductive device conductive at a firing time during each half-cycle; and
CONTROL DEVICE HAVING BUTTONS WITH METALLIC SURFACES AND BACKLIT INDICIA
1. A veneer that is configured to be attached to a control device configured to control an electrical load, the veneer comprising:a front surface;
an indicium representative of a command for controlling an electrical load, wherein the indicium defines:
an open portion within the front surface of the veneer;
a rib that suspends the floating portion within the open portion, the rib comprising:
opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface; and wherein the opposed sides are configured to be tapered between the base and the upper surface such that the upper surface is narrower than the base.
WIRELESS LOAD CONTROL DEVICE
1. A faceplate assembly configured to be mounted over a load control device, the load control device comprising a yoke configured to mount the load control device to an electrical wallbox, the faceplate assembly comprising:a faceplate defining a front surface,
the faceplate assembly adapted to connect to the yoke of the load control device via first and second connections; and
a conductive element parallel to the front surface, the conductive element adapted to electrically connect to the yoke via the first connection, and not electrically connect to the yoke via the second connection when the faceplate assembly is mounted over the load control device; and
wherein the first connection comprises a metal screw and one of a post or a finger, wherein the one of the post or the finger is configured to abut the metal screw when the faceplate assembly is mounted over the load control device.
MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT MONITORING AND CONTROL
1. A load control system for controlling an amount of light in a space, the load control system comprising:a motorized window treatment comprising a covering material and configured to adjust the covering material in response to received messages to control the amount of light in the space;
at least one control circuit configured to:
receive, from a computing device via a communications network, an indicated problem with an operation of the motorized window treatment;
determine a system state at which the indicated problem occurred;
assign respective weights to at least two motorized window treatment control parameters, wherein the assigned weights are based on the indicated problem with the operation of the motorized window treatment and the system state;
compare the assigned weights for each of the at least two motorized window treatment control parameters;
based on the comparison, determine a change to one or more of the at least two motorized window treatment control parameters; and
determine a position of the covering material for the motorized window treatment based on the determined change; and
in response to determining the position, communicate, via the communication circuit, a control command to the motorized window treatment; and
wherein the motorized window treatment is configured to adjust the covering material to the determined position in response to receiving the control command.
COMMUNICATING WITH AND CONTROLLING LOAD CONTROL SYSTEMS BY COMMUNICATING MESSAGES FROM THE LOAD CONTROL SYSTEMS RELATED TO EVENTS THAT OCCUR IN THE LOAD CONTROL SYSTEMS
1. An apparatus comprising:at least one processor;
maintain a database configured to store entries corresponding to a plurality of load control systems including a first load control system and a second load control system, wherein:
each of the plurality of load control systems is configured to control electrical loads for a respective environment,
each of the plurality of load control systems has a value and an identifier associated with it,
the database is configured for each of the plurality of load control systems to associate the value of the load control system with the identifier of the load control system,
the first load control system comprises a first value and a first identifier and the second load control system comprises a second value and a second identifier,
the first load control system is configured to communicate messages related to events that occur in the first load control system, and
the second load control system is configured to communicate messages related to events that occur in the second load control system;
receive from a network device a request to receive messages communicated by the first load control system, wherein the request comprises the first value associated with the first load control system;
receive a first message communicated by the first load control system, wherein the first message has associated with it the first identifier of the first load control system;
based at least in part on the request comprising the first value and the first message having associated with it the first identifier, determine that the network device requested to receive the first message communicated by the first load control system; and
based at least in part on determining that the network device requested to receive the first message, communicate the first message to the network device.
TWO-PART LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM MOUNTABLE TO A SINGLE ELECTRICAL WALLBOX
1. A load control system comprising:a device
comprising a second inductive coil and one or more buttons configured to be actuated by a user;
wherein the device is configured to wirelessly transmit load control settings via the second inductive coil in response to an actuation of the one or more buttons by a user; and
wherein the device is further configured to be attached to a wallbox such that the device, when attached, is located on an outside of the wallbox; and
a load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load and further configured to be located inside the wallbox, the load control device comprising:
a first inductive coil, wherein the first inductive coil is configured to wirelessly receive the load control settings via magnetic coupling from the second inductive coil of the 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 of the load control device based on the load control settings received via the magnetic coupling from the second inductive coil of the device in response to the actuation of the one or more buttons of the device.
CONTROLLABLE ELECTRICAL OUTLET WITH A CONTROLLED WIRED OUTPUT
1. An electrical outlet comprising:a first connection configured to be electrically coupled to a hot connection;
a second connection configured to be electrically coupled to a downstream electrical outlet;
an electrical receptacle in electrical connection with the first connection and configured to receive a plug of a plug-in electrical load;
a load control circuit electrically coupled between the first and second connections to control power delivered to the downstream electrical outlet;
a sense circuit electrically coupled to the load control circuit and configured to measure a magnitude of a load current conducted through the second electrical connection;
a control circuit coupled to the load control circuit, the sense circuit, and the communication circuit, the control circuit configured to:
receive at least one message via the communication circuit;
determine that the at least one message comprises an indication to disconnect power;
based at least in part on determining that the at least one message comprises the indication to disconnect power, compare the magnitude of the load current conducted through the second electrical connection, as measured by the sense circuit, to a threshold; and
when the magnitude of the load current conducted through the second electrical connection is determined to be below the threshold, control the load control circuit to disconnect power from the downstream electrical outlet in response to the indication to disconnect power; and
wherein when the magnitude of the load current conducted through the second electrical connection is determined to be above the threshold, the control circuit is configured not to disconnect power from the downstream electrical outlet in response to the indication to disconnect power.
1. A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:a load regulation circuit configured to control a magnitude of a load current conducted through the electrical load to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load;
a control circuit configured to generate at least one drive signal for controlling the load regulation circuit to adjust the magnitude of the load current, the at least one drive signal characterized by an operating period and a duty cycle, the control circuit configured to operate in an active state during an active time period to adjust an on time of the at least one drive signal in response to the load current feedback signal in order to regulate a peak magnitude of the load current towards a target current, the control circuit configured to operate in an inactive state during an inactive time period to stop generating the at least one drive signal in response to the load current feedback signal, the control circuit further configured to adjust an average magnitude of the load current by adjusting a length of the active time period and a length of the inactive time period;
wherein the control circuit is configured to adjust the operating period of the at least one drive signal to a low-end operating period by adjusting the on time of the at least one drive signal to a value less than or equal to a minimum on time while holding the duty cycle of the at least one drive signal constant.
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from a power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:a rectifier circuit configured to receive an input voltage from the power source, the rectifier circuit comprising first and second controllable switching circuits configured to be rendered nonconductive when the input voltage is an alternating-current (AC) voltage to allow the rectifier circuit to rectify the input voltage to generate a rectified voltage, the first and second controllable switching circuits configured to be rendered conductive when the input voltage is a direct-current (DC) voltage to pass through the input voltage;
a power converter configured to generate a bus voltage, the power converter configured to receive the rectified voltage generated by the rectifier circuit when the input voltage is an AC voltage and receive the input voltage passed through the rectifier circuit when the input voltage is a DC voltage; and
wherein the rectifier circuit further comprises first and second input terminals configured to receive the input voltage, and first and second output terminals coupled to the power converter, and wherein the first controllable switching circuit is coupled between the first input terminal and the first output terminal, and the second controllable switching circuit is coupled between the second input terminal and the second output terminal.
1. A load control device for controlling a light-emitting diode (LED) driver for an LED light source, the load control device comprising:a communication circuit adapted to be coupled to the LED driver via a control wiring, the communication circuit configured to generate a control signal on the control wiring for controlling an intensity of the LED light source, the LED driver configured to turn on the LED light source when a magnitude of the control signal rises above a threshold; and
a control circuit configured to control the communication circuit to adjust the magnitude of the control signal so as to adjust the intensity of the LED light source between a low-end intensity and a high-end intensity, the control signal having a magnitude less than the threshold when the intensity of the LED light source is being controlled to the low-end intensity;
wherein, when power has been applied to the LED driver, the control circuit is configured to temporarily set the magnitude of the control signal to be greater than a desired magnitude of the control signal before decreasing the magnitude of the control signal to the desired magnitude.
1. A method of controlling an intensity of a lighting load, the method comprising:controlling, by a load regulation circuit, a magnitude of a load current conducted through the lighting load to adjust the intensity of the lighting load between a low-end intensity and a high-end intensity;
filtering a current feedback signal received from the load regulation circuit to generate a filtered feedback signal;
adjusting the magnitude of the load current towards a target current in response to the filtered feedback signal; and
adjusting an operating frequency of the load regulation circuit in response to the target current when the intensity of the lighting load is near the low-end intensity;
wherein filtering the current feedback signal comprises filtering the current feedback signal during a filter window that repeats on a periodic basis when the intensity of the lighting load is near the low-end intensity, and constantly filtering the current feedback signal when the intensity of the lighting load is near the high-end intensity.
wherein the control circuit is configured to detect degradation in at least one of the first source illumination intensity, the second source illumination intensity, or the third source illumination intensity, and
wherein the control circuit further configured to compensate for the degradation in the at least one of the first source illumination intensity, the second source illumination intensity, or the third source illumination intensity so that the second and third source illumination intensities are both less than the first source illumination intensity and the first indicia on the first button is illuminated to a brighter intensity than the respective indicia on the second and third buttons, and
wherein the control circuit further configured to set the second source illumination intensity to be less than the third source illumination intensity so that the second and third buttons are illuminated to the same intensity.
1. A system controller for a load control system having a plurality of lighting fixtures in a space, the system controller comprising:a memory for storing fixture capability information associated with one or more of the plurality of lighting fixtures located in the space,
wherein the fixture capability information comprises respective color temperature ranges for the plurality of lighting fixtures, and each of the respective color temperature ranges extends between a respective warm-white color temperature and a respective cool-white color temperature; and
determine a common color temperature range for the plurality of lighting fixtures, wherein the common color temperature range extends between a common warm-white color temperature and a common cool-white color temperature that are common to the respective color temperature ranges for the plurality of lighting fixtures,
wherein the common color temperature range comprises a lower limit and an upper limit,
wherein each of the respective color temperature ranges comprises the lower limit of the common color temperature range, and each of the respective color temperature ranges comprises the upper limit of the common color temperature range; and
update the respective color temperature ranges of the plurality of lighting fixtures such that control of a lighting fixture of the plurality of lighting fixtures is limited within the common warm-white color temperature and the common cool-white color temperature of the common color temperature range.
1. A load control system for controlling power delivered from an alternating current power source to a plurality of electrical loads including a first electrical load and a second electrical load, the load control system comprising:a first load control device comprising a first main terminal, a second main terminal, and an accessory terminal, the first load control device adapted to be electrically coupled in series between the AC power source and the first electrical load for control of the power delivered to the first electrical load, the first load control device configured to conduct a load current from the AC power source to the first electrical load via the first and second main terminals;
wherein the second load control device is configured to transmit a first digital message including data to the first load control device, the first load control device configured to transmit a second digital message including the data from the first digital message to the accessory device via the accessory wiring.
LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM PROVIDING MANUAL OVERRIDE OF AN ENERGY SAVINGS MODE
1. A load control system installed in a building and responsive to a demand response command from an electrical utility company, the load control system comprising:a temperature control device configured to control a heating and cooling system in a space to adjust a present temperature towards a setpoint temperature;
a motorized window treatment configured to control an amount of light admitted through a window, wherein the motorized window treatment comprises a fabric for covering the window, the motorized window treatment configured to adjust the fabric between a fully-open position in which the window is not covered and a fully-closed position in which the window is covered; and
a controller communicably coupled to the temperature control device, and the motorized window treatment to control the temperature control device and the motorized window treatment,
the controller configured to:
receive the demand response command from the electrical utility company, wherein the demand response command indicates a demand response event; and
in response to receiving the demand response command:
determine whether the heating and cooling system is heating or cooling the space;
based on determining that the heating and cooling system is cooling the space, transmit a command to the temperature control device to increase the setpoint temperature to control the heating and cooling system to reduce energy consumption;
determine whether a façade on which the motorized window treatment is installed is receiving direct sunlight; and
in response to determining that the façade is receiving direct sunlight, transmit a command to the motorized window to lower the fabric.
CONTROLLING MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENTS IN RESPONSE TO MULTIPLE SENSORS
1. A system for controlling a plurality of electrical loads, the system comprising:a plurality of load control devices for controlling the electrical loads; and
a plurality of sensors, each sensor mounted adjacent a respective one of the electrical loads for sensing a parameter in the vicinity of the electrical load; and
a system controller configured to:
receive sensor values associated with the sensed parameters; and
dynamically group the sensors together into groups based upon the sensor values;
determine a group value for each group based on the sensor values from the respective group;
determine a mode of operation for each group based on the group value for the respective group; and
control the load control devices based upon the group value from the sensor group.
NETWORK ACCESS COORDINATION OF LOAD CONTROL DEVICES
1. An apparatus for controlling power delivered to at least one electrical load, the apparatus comprising:a controller;
a first wireless communication circuit coupled to the controller, the first wireless communication circuit operable to communicate via a first protocol and operable to join a first wireless communication network operable for communication via the first protocol; and
a second wireless communication circuit coupled to the controller, the second wireless communication circuit operable to communicate via a second protocol;
wherein the controller is configured to:
communicate load control signals via the second protocol via the second wireless communication circuit with one or more load control devices;
determine a first condition for communicating via the first protocol; and
control the first wireless communication circuit to join the first wireless communication network and execute a task via the first wireless communication network in response to determining the first condition.
QUIET MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT SYSTEM
12. A drive assembly comprising:a motor having a drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft defines a drive shaft diameter and a distal end that is spaced from the motor;
a drive gear that engages the drive shaft, the drive gear having a toothed portion that is spaced from the distal end of the drive shaft along a rotational axis of the drive shaft;
a pair of intermediate gears disposed on opposed sides of the toothed portion of the drive gear, each of the pair of intermediate gears comprising a first gear portion having a plurality of helical gear teeth and a second gear portion having a plurality of straight gear teeth;
a planetary gear set;
a connecting gear operatively coupled to the pair of intermediate gears and the planetary gear set; and
an idler,
wherein rotation of the motor causes the drive gear to rotate, rotation of the drive gear causes the pair of intermediate gears to rotate, rotation of the pair of intermediate gears causes the connecting gear to rotate, rotation of the connecting gear causes respective planetary gear shafts of the planetary gear set to rotate about the drive shaft, rotation of the planetary gear shafts causes the idler to rotate.
DIGITAL MESSAGES IN A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
1. A system controller for controlling a load control device configured to control an electrical load, the system controller comprising:a communication circuit configured to communicate commands for controlling the load control device;
a control circuit; and
a memory having instructions stored therein that when executed by the control circuit direct the control circuit to:
in response to a first selection of a first preset, communicate a first command via the communication circuit to the load control device, wherein the first command comprises preset data that defines one or more operations of the load control device in response to a selection of the first preset and further comprises a preset identifier for referencing the preset data, the first command configured to cause the load control device to store the preset identifier and at least a portion of the preset data in a memory of the load control device, and to control the electrical load based on the preset data;
store within the memory of the system controller an indication for the first preset that the preset data was communicated to the load control device;
in response to a second selection of the first preset, determine from the indication for the first preset stored within the memory of the system controller that the preset data was communicated to the load control device; and
based at least in part on determining from the indication for the first preset stored within the memory of the system controller that the preset data was communicated to the load control device, communicate a second command via the communication circuit to the load control device, wherein the second command comprises the preset identifier and does not include the preset data, the second command configured to cause the load control device to use the preset identifier from the second command to access the at least portion of the preset data from the memory of the load control device, and to control the electrical load using the at least portion of the preset data accessed from the memory of the load control device.
1. An input device for controlling an electrical load, the input device comprising:a user interface responsive to user interface events;
determine whether the user interface event is configured to cause greater than a threshold amount of change at a load control device for controlling the electrical load;
when the user interface event is determined to cause greater than the threshold amount of change at the load control device, transmit, via the communication circuit, a message as a multicast message; and when the user interface event is determined to cause less than the threshold amount of change at the load control device, transmit, via the communication circuit, the message as a unicast message to the load control device.
1. A lighting control system comprising:a first lighting control device configured to control a source of artificial light in a space;
a second lighting control device that is configured to control an amount of natural light that enters the space; and
a remote control device associated with the first and second lighting control devices, the remote control device comprising:
a light detector configured to measure a light intensity of ambient light in the space; and
a control circuit operably connected to the light detector, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
receive a light intensity measurement of the ambient light in the space from the light detector;
analyze a spectral content of the ambient light based on the received ambient light intensity measurement;
in response to analyzing the spectral content, determine whether an artificial light intensity or a natural light intensity is greater in the space; and
based on the determination, control at least one of the first or the second lighting control devices to adjust the ambient light intensity measured by the light detector of the remote control device.
COLLISION DETECTION METHOD
1. A wireless device comprising:an antenna configured to communicate wireless signals;
a transceiver operably connected to the antenna, wherein the transceiver is configured to:
detect a first RF packet via the antenna;
synchronize to and demodulate the first RF packet to create demodulated bits;
store the demodulated bits of the first RF packet in a buffer;
during the demodulation of the first RF packet, detect a second RF packet, wherein the second RF packet further comprises a preamble, a resync byte sequence prior to the preamble, a payload subsequent to the preamble, and one or more bits of dead time between the resync byte sequence and the preamble, wherein to detect the second RF packet comprises to detect the resync byte sequence;
upon detection of the second RF packet, synchronize to the second RF packet and clear the demodulated bits from the buffer during the dead time;
demodulate the second RF packet; and
store the demodulated bits from the second RF packet in the buffer.
1. A non-transient computer readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that when executed by a control circuit cause the control circuit to:receive a first command to control a rotational speed of a motor of a ceiling fan to a particular rotational speed, wherein the ceiling fan comprises a motor drive circuit configured to adjust the rotational speed of the motor of the ceiling fan;
in response to receiving the first command, determine a first parameter value of a first parameter, wherein the first parameter comprises at least one of: a present time of day, a present time of year, or a present temperature;
cause the motor drive circuit to adjust the rotational speed of the motor of the ceiling fan in response to the received first command; and
receive a subsequent second command to control the rotational speed of the motor of the ceiling fan to a particular rotational speed, wherein the second command is the same as the first command;
determine a second parameter value of a second parameter, wherein the second parameter comprises at least one of: a present time of day, a present time of year, or a present temperature;
determine whether the second parameter value is the same as the first parameter value; and
based on the determination that the second parameter value is the same as the first parameter value, store the particular rotational speed as the preferred rotational speed for the motor of the ceiling fan corresponding to the second parameter value.
1. A method for controlling an amount of power delivered from a power source to an electrical load, the method comprising:receiving a feedback signal indicating a magnitude of a control signal generated by a communication circuit and provided to a load regulation circuit for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load;
determining a difference between the magnitude of the control signal and a desired magnitude, the desired magnitude indicating a target amount of power to be delivered to the electrical load;
generating an output signal based on the difference between the magnitude of the control signal and the desired magnitude to adjust the magnitude of the control signal towards the desired magnitude; and
providing the output signal to the communication circuit, wherein the communication circuit comprises a current sink circuit configured to receive a link supply voltage from the load regulation circuit and sink current through the load regulation circuit so as to control the magnitude of the control signal towards the desired magnitude based on the output signal, and wherein the load regulation circuit is configured to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load towards the target amount based on the control signal.
19. A method of configuring a load control system, the method comprising:accessing, via a network device, design software;
automatically determining programming data for controlling electrical loads in the load control system, wherein the programming data is automatically determined for the electrical loads based on light type information and location information that are associated with each of the respective electrical loads;
creating a user account via the design software after automatically determining the programming data for controlling the electrical loads in the load control system;
connecting the network device to a system controller of the load control system;
obtaining a system identifier (ID) from the system controller, wherein the system ID is associated with the user account;
transmitting the system ID to an external cloud server managed by a manufacturer of the load control system; and
accessing the system controller via the network device to control the electrical load.
1. A control device for controlling an electrical load, the control device comprising:a temperature sensing circuit configured to generate a temperature signal indicating a temperature in a space around the control device;
an internal electrical load configured to generate heat when energized; and
a control circuit configured to receive the temperature signal from the temperature sensing circuit and to control the internal electrical load;
wherein in a first state, the control circuit is configured to:
not energize the internal electrical load;
sample the temperature signal to determine a sampled temperature; and
store the sampled temperature in memory; and
wherein in a second state, the control circuit is configured to:
energize the internal electrical load;
cease sampling the temperature signal;
retrieve the sampled temperature stored in the memory during the first state; and
control an HVAC system based on the retrieved sampled temperature.
1. A dimmer switch for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:a triac adapted to be electrically coupled between the AC power source and the lighting load, the triac comprising a first main terminal, a second main terminal, and a gate terminal, the first and second main terminals configured to conduct current to energize the lighting load, the gate terminal configured to conduct current to render the triac conductive;
a gate current path connected to the gate terminal, the gate current path comprising a gate coupling circuit and configured to conduct current through the gate terminal of the triac; and
a control circuit electrically coupled to the gate coupling circuit to control the gate current path, the control circuit configured to control the gate current path to conduct a pulse of the current through the gate terminal of the triac to render the triac conductive at a firing time during a half-cycle of the AC power source, the control circuit further configured to operate in a first gate drive mode and a second gate drive mode,
wherein, in the first gate drive mode, the control circuit renders the gate current path conductive for a pulse time period and renders the gate current path non-conductive after the pulse time period during the half-cycle of the AC power source, and
wherein, in the second gate drive mode, the control circuit maintains the gate current path conductive after the pulse time period to allow at least one other pulse of current to be conducted through the gate terminal of the triac after the pulse time period during the half-cycle of the AC power source.
MULTI-LOCATION LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
1. A load control device configured to operate in a multiple location load control system for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device comprising:a first main terminal and a second main terminal, the load control device configured to conduct a load current from the AC power source to the electrical load via the first and second main terminals;
an accessory terminal configured to be electrically coupled to an accessory control device and receive an input signal from the accessory control device, the input signal representing an actuation state of the accessory control device;
a multi-location circuit configured to sense the input signal and generate a multi-location signal in response to sensing the input signal; and
a control circuit configured to control of the amount of power delivered to the electrical load based on the multi-location signal, wherein the control circuit is configured to:
determine a pattern of the multi-location signal over one or more half cycles of an AC mains line voltage generated by the AC power source, the pattern determined based on a high threshold and a low threshold and the control circuit configured to adjust the high threshold based on an indication of a magnitude of a voltage across the load control device;
determine the actuation state of the accessory control device based on the pattern; and
generate a control signal to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in accordance with the actuation state of the accessory control device.
WIRELESS CONTROL DEVICE ASSEMBLY
1. A device comprising:an enclosure having an upper portion, and a lower portion, the lower portion configured to rest on a surface, the enclosure having four sides;
an antenna encased within the enclosure, wherein the antenna comprises a helical antenna configured to communicate wirelessly;
a mounting structure encased within the enclosure and having four sides adjacent to the four sides of the enclosure, the mounting structure comprising a cylindrical portion, wherein the helical antenna is mounted around an outer surface of the cylindrical portion; and
wherein the mounting structure is mechanically coupled to the upper portion of the enclosure.
RETROFIT REMOTE CONTROL DEVICES
1. A remote control device that is configured for use in a load control system having a load control device, the load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered to an electrical load that is electrically connected to the load control device, the remote control device comprising:an adapter that is configured to be attached to a first yoke of a first electrical device that is a mechanical switch that controls whether power is delivered to the electrical load, the adapter defining first and second openings;
a control unit that is configured to be attached to the adapter, the control unit including a user interface and a wireless communication circuit, the control unit configured to translate a user input from the user interface into a control signal that controls the load control device, and to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit the control signal;
a faceplate that is configured to be attached to the adapter, the faceplate having an opening that is configured to receive at least a portion of the user interface; and
an attachment member that is configured to be installed into the adapter in the first opening or the second opening in respective first or second orientations, and that is further configured to attach to the first yoke of the mechanical switch or a second yoke of a second electrical device,
wherein the attachment member comprises a bracket that defines a yoke abutment surface that is spaced a first distance from a rear surface of the adapter when the bracket is installed in the adapter in the first orientation, and that is spaced a second distance from the rear surface of the adapter when the bracket is installed in the adapter in the second orientation, and
wherein when the mechanical switch is mounted in a multi-gang wallbox adjacent to the second electrical device, the first opening is configured to surround a bezel of the mechanical switch and the second opening is configured to surround a portion of the second electrical device.
WIRELESS LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM
1. An apparatus comprising a control device and battery backup device, wherein the battery backup device comprises:an output connector adapted to be coupled to the control device so as to provide power to the control device;
a power supply configured to be coupled to a power source and to generate a supply voltage;
a battery configured to produce a battery voltage;
a switching circuit configured to be controlled to provide one of the supply voltage or the battery voltage at the output connector; and
detect a power outage at the power source;
control the switching circuit to provide the battery voltage at the output connector in response to detecting the power outage; and
generate at the output connector a control signal indicating the power outage; and
wherein the control device comprises:
a communication circuit configured to transmit wireless signals;
a control circuit electrically coupled to the communication circuit, and configured to transmit digital messages via the communication circuit to a load control device that is configured to control at least one electrical load;
an input connector adapted to be coupled to the battery backup device so as to receive power from the battery backup device for powering the control circuit and the communication circuit; and
wherein the control circuit of the control device is further configured to:
receive via the input connector from the battery backup device the control signal indicating the power outage at the power source; and
operate in a low-power mode in response to receiving the control signal.
LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING A BROADCAST CONTROLLER WITH A DIVERSE WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
1. An apparatus comprising:a first antenna;
a second antenna;
at least one communication circuit coupled to the first antenna and to the second antenna, and configured to transmit a first signal via the first antenna and to transmit a second signal via the second antenna; and
a control circuit coupled to the at least one communication circuit and configured to:
generate a command; and
cause the at least one communication circuit to transmit the first signal via the first antenna in a first time slot and to transmit the second signal via the second antenna in a second time slot;
wherein the first time slot and the second time slot are not overlapping, and wherein the first signal and the second signal comprise the command; and
wherein a control device is configured to:
randomly select the first time slot and the second time slot from a number of non-overlapping time slots, and
receive at least one of the first signal and the second signal, and to control an electrical load in response to the command.
CLOCK DEVICE WITH AUTOMATIC SIMULATION OF SUNRISE OR SUNSET
1. An apparatus, comprising:a housing having a front face, wherein at least a portion of the front face is configured to display a time;
a radio frequency transceiver configured to transmit shade positioning control commands for controlling a motorized window shade;
an audio alarm configured to emit an audible alarm sound; and
a processor within the housing, the processor configured to:
receive an alarm time from a user;
generate a plurality of shade positioning commands responsive to receiving the alarm time, each positioning command to be transmitted to the motorized window shade over a time period so as to cause the motorized window shade to move to successively higher positions over the time period at one or more corresponding predetermined shade-movement intervals prior to the alarm time;
during the time period before the alarm time, transmit, via the radio frequency transceiver, the plurality of shade positioning commands at the one or more corresponding predetermined shade-movement intervals to cause the motorized window shade to move to the successively higher positions over the time period;
at a predetermined time after transmitting respective ones of the plurality of shade positioning commands:
determine an ambient light level;
compare the ambient light level with a threshold to determine whether the ambient light level is lower than the threshold; and
transmit a lighting control command, via the radio frequency transceiver, based on the determination that the ambient light level is less than the threshold, wherein the lighting control command is configured to cause a dimmer to increase a light level of a lighting load; and
cause the audio alarm to emit the audible alarm sound at the alarm time or at a predetermined audible-sound interval after the alarm time.
1. A control device comprising a button with a metal veneer that is configured to be secured to a backlit portion of the control device, the control device comprising:a translucent carrier portion configured to be backlit by one or more light emitting diodes;
a metal plate portion having a front surface to be depressed to actuate the button, and a rear surface opposite the front surface, the metal plate portion including one or more indicia defined through the front surface and the rear surface by a laser cutting process, wherein the metal plate portion is configured to be secured to the translucent carrier portion; and
a filler material that is disposed in the one or more indicia of the metal plate portion, wherein the filler material forms a filler surface within the one or more indicia thereby reducing an effective depth of the one or more indicia, wherein the filler surface is at least one of subsurface or convex to the front surface of the metal plate portion.
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to a light-emitting diode (LED) driver for an LED light source, the load control device comprising:a first electrical connection adapted to be electrically coupled to the AC power source;
a second electrical connection adapted to be electrically coupled to the LED driver;
a relay electrically coupled between the first and second electrical connections and configured to generate a switched-hot voltage at the second electrical connection and control the power delivered from the AC power source to the LED driver;
a detect circuit electrically coupled to the second electrical connection and configured to generate a detect signal indicating a magnitude of the switched-hot voltage; and
a control circuit configured to generate a drive signal for attempting to open and close the relay and configured to determine whether the relay is open or closed based on the detect signal;
wherein the control circuit is further configured to perform a stuck closed procedure in response to determining that the relay is stuck closed, the stuck closed procedure comprising the control circuit attempting to close the relay prior to attempting to open the relay, attempting to open the relay after attempting to close the relay, monitoring the detect signal after attempting to open the relay, and determining whether the relay is stuck closed.
VISIBLE LIGHT SENSOR CONFIGURED FOR GLARE DETECTION AND CONTROLLING MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENTS
1. A sensor for detecting a location of a glare condition and for controlling a shade position of a motorized window treatment, the sensor comprising:a visible light sensing circuit configured to record one or more images; and
process at least one image at a plurality of different resolutions,
determine if a glare condition exists in the at least one image at each of the plurality of different resolutions, wherein the glare condition at each of the plurality of different resolutions is determined when a luminance value of a pixel in the at least one image exceeds a respective glare condition threshold for the resolution, and
generate control instructions for controlling the shade position of the motorized window treatment to a position corresponding to a location of the glare condition detected at one of the plurality of resolutions.
1. A method of installing a wall box comprising:drilling a first hole in a wall;
installing a wall box installation tool in the wall by inserting a guide ring of the wall box installation tool in the drilled first hole, the wallbox installation tool comprising a template body having a front surface and a rear surface from which the guide ring extends, the wall box installation tool also comprising a plurality of bores that extend through the template body from the front surface to the rear surface and a first template card located on the front surface of the template body and having a first plurality of holes;
adjusting the first template card from a first position associated with a first electrical device configuration to a second position associated with a second electrical device configuration, wherein a first subset of the plurality of bores in the template body are accessible via the first template card in the first position, and wherein a second subset of the plurality of bores in the template body are accessible via the first template card in the second position;
marking, via the second subset of the plurality of bores, one or more pilot holes that correspond to the second electrical device configuration;
removing the wall box installation tool from the wall;
drilling at least a second hole at the one or more marked pilot holes;
removing excess wall material between the first hole and the second hole to create a wall opening; and
installing the wall box in the wall opening.
1. A control device adapted to be mounted over a bezel portion of an electrical device, the electrical device having a faceplate mounted thereto, the faceplate defining a first opening through which the bezel portion is received, the first opening of the faceplate defining a gap between the faceplate and the bezel portion of the electrical device, the control device comprising:a control module comprising a wireless communication circuit and a control circuit that is configured to transmit a digital message via the wireless communication circuit in response to a user input; and
a mounting structure having a base that defines a second opening extending therethrough, the base of the mounting structure configured to be disposed between a yoke of the electrical device and the faceplate, the mounting structure defining a plurality of planar extensions that extend from two or more sides of the second opening of the base, the plurality of planar extensions configured to be disposed into the gap between the first opening of the faceplate and the bezel portion of the electrical device and protrude beyond a front surface of the faceplate;
wherein the planar extensions are configured to secure the control module in an attached position relative to the electrical device.
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