LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160124453 | Power Measurement In A Two-Wire Load Control Device - A two-wire load control device may be configured to compute an accurate estimate of real-time power consumption by a load that is electrically connected to, and controlled by, the two-wire load control device. The load control device may be adapted to measure a voltage drop across the device during a first portion of a half-cycle of an AC waveform provided to the device. The device may be further configured to estimate a voltage drop across the load during the second portion of the half-cycle. The estimated voltage drop may be based on the measured voltage drop. The device may be further configured to measure a current supplied to the load during a second portion of the half-cycle. The device may be configured to estimate power consumed by the load based on the measured current and the estimated voltage drop. | 05-05-2016 |
20160123076 | INTERLOCKING PIVOTABLE FASCIA FOR MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT - A battery-powered, motorized window treatment may include a fascia that pivots between a conceal position wherein the fascia covers a window treatment assembly and a battery compartment, and an expose position wherein the fascia does not cover the battery compartment. The fascia may be a two part fascia that includes an arm and a cover that pivots relative to the arm when the battery compartment is operated between respective opened and closed positions. The arm may be attached to the battery compartment such that the arm remains in a fixed orientation relative to the battery compartment. The arm and the cover may define complementary pivotally interlocking connectors that define a pivot axis about which the cover may pivot relative to the arm. The fascia may be configured to generate a perceptible indication when the fascia pivots into the conceal position, and/or when the fascia pivots into the expose position. | 05-05-2016 |
20160113095 | Multiple Location Load Control System - A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and an electrical load, and to be further coupled together via an accessory wiring. The remote devices can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system, such that the main device is wired “in the middle” of the load control system. The main device is operable to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are operable to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle. | 04-21-2016 |
20160113086 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load is able to operate in a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load to low levels. The load control device comprises a control circuit that operates in a normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load to a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current. The control circuit operates in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit regulates a peak magnitude of the load current to the minimum rated current during a first time period, and stops regulating the load current during a second time period, such that the average magnitude of the load current is below the minimum rated current. | 04-21-2016 |
20160073467 | CONTROL DEVICE HAVING BUTTONS WITH MULTIPLE-LEVEL BACKLIGHTING - A control device may have a plurality of buttons that may be backlit to multiple levels, such as first, second, and third adjacent buttons positioned in order, and first, second, and third LEDs positioned to illuminate a respective button. The control device may be configured to illuminate the first LED to a first LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to a first surface illumination intensity; illuminate the third LED to a second LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to a second surface illumination intensity; and illuminate the second LED to a third LED illumination intensity to illuminate the respective button to the second surface illumination intensity. The third LED illumination intensity may be less than the second LED illumination intensity, which may be less than the first LED illumination intensity, and the second surface illumination intensity may be less than the first surface illumination intensity. | 03-10-2016 |
20160073460 | FORWARD CONVERTER HAVING A PRIMARY-SIDE CURRENT SENSE CIRCUIT - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load (e.g., an LED light source) comprises an isolated forward converter comprising a transformer, a controller, and a current sense circuit operable to receive a sense voltage representative of a primary current conducting through to a primary winding of the transformer. The primary winding is coupled in series with a semiconductor switch, while a secondary winding is adapted to be operatively coupled to the load. The forward converter comprises a sense resistor coupled in series with the primary winding for producing the sense voltage that is representative of the primary current. The current sense circuit receives the sense voltage and averages the sense voltage when the semiconductor switch is conductive, so as to generate a load current control signal that is representative of a real component of a load current conducted through the load. | 03-10-2016 |
20160069537 | CONTROL DEVICE HAVING BUTTONS WITH METALLIC SURFACES AND BACKLIT INDICIA - A veneer may be configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device. A plate portion of the veneer may have one or more indicia machined therethrough. The indicia may define an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion. The one or more ribs may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs from view relative to a user of the control device. The rib may define an upper surface that is recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and may define opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The sides may be tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base. The sides and the upper surface of the rib may be unfinished. | 03-10-2016 |
20160066379 | CONTROLLABLE-LOAD CIRCUIT FOR USE WITH A LOAD CONTROL DEVICE - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load is operable to conduct enough current through a thyristor of a connected dimmer switch to exceed rated latching and holding currents of the thyristor. The load control device comprises a controllable-load circuit operable to conduct a controllable-load current through the thyristor of the dimmer switch. The load control device disables the controllable-load circuit when the phase-control voltage received from the dimmer switch is a reverse phase-control waveform. When the phase-control voltage received from the dimmer switch is a forward phase-control waveform, the load control device is operable to decrease the magnitude of the controllable-load current so as to conduct only enough current as is required in order to exceed rated latching and holding currents of the thyristor. | 03-03-2016 |
20160057841 | THREE-WAY SWITCHING CIRCUIT HAVING DELAY FOR INRUSH CURRENT PROTECTION - A three-way load control device may be coupled to a circuit including an AC power source, an electrical load, and an external single-pole double-throw (SPDT) three-way switch. The load control device may include a three-way switching circuit comprising an internal SPDT switch, a relay coupled to the internal SPDT switch, a turn-on delay circuit responsive to a voltage at a movable contact of the internal SPDT switch, and a turn-off delay circuit responsive to voltages at fixed contacts of the internal SPDT switch. The turn-on delay circuit renders the relay conductive after a turn-on delay from when either the internal SPDT switch or the external three-way switch is actuated to turn the electrical load on. The turn-off delay circuit renders the relay non-conductive after a turn-off delay from when either the internal SPDT switch or the external three-way switch is actuated to turn off the electrical load. | 02-25-2016 |
20160056629 | LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM RESPONSIVE TO LOCATION OF AN OCCUPANT AND MOBILE DEVICES - A load control system may control an electrical load in a space of a building occupied by an occupant. The load control system may include a controller configured to determine the location of the occupant, and a load control device configured to automatically control the electrical load in response to the location of the occupant. The load control system may also include a mobile device adapted to be located on or immediately adjacent the occupant and configured to transmit and receive wireless signals. The load control device may be configured to automatically control the electrical load when the mobile device is located in the space. The load control system may further comprise an occupancy sensor and the load control device may automatically control the electrical load when the occupancy sensor indicates that the space is occupied and the mobile device is located in the space. | 02-25-2016 |
20160054023 | LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM RESPONSIVE TO SENSORS AND MOBILE DEVICES - A load control system may control an electrical load in a space of a building based on one or more parameters regarding the physical condition of an occupant. The parameters may be biometric parameters of an occupant that may be gathered by one or more sensing devices. The sensing devices may be included in a mobile device. A system controller may receive the parameters and may automatically control the electrical loads in response to the parameters. The system controller may control the electrical load to attempt to adjust the physical condition of the occupant in response to the sensed parameters. The system controller may control the electrical load to provide an alert, an alarm, and/or a warning in response to the sensed parameters. | 02-25-2016 |
20160041527 | CLOCK DEVICE WITH AUTOMATIC SIMULATION OF SUNRISE OR SUNSET - A clock comprises an alarm clock housing having a front face, a clock display occupying at least a portion of the front face, a control on the housing for activating a shade positioning function, and a processor within the housing. The processor is responsive to the control for generating at least one shade positioning command to be transmitted to at least one motorized window shade, so as to cause the motorized window shade to move to one or more position at one or more corresponding predetermined interval relative to an alarm time. | 02-11-2016 |
20160040478 | MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT MONITORING AND CONTROL - Motorized window treatments may each adjust a position of a covering material to allow light into a space in a building. The control information for controlling the motorized window treatments may be stored and/or accessed to understand how the motorized window treatments are operating. The control information may indicate a control state and/or a position of the covering material when an identified daylight intensity is being received at the space. The control information may inform a user of the operation of the motorized window treatments and allow the user to adjust various control parameters by which the motorized window treatments may be controlled. Recommended adjustments may also be provided to the user based on a user-identified problem with the operation of the motorized window treatments. The recommended adjustments to the control parameters may be accepted by the user and may be stored for being accessed and/or edited. | 02-11-2016 |
20160036349 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A DRIVER FOR A LIGHTING LOAD - A load control device is configured to generate a control signal having a desired magnitude for controlling a load regulation device adapted to control the power delivered to an electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control terminal arranged to provide the control signal to the load regulation device, a communication circuit for generating the control signal, and a control circuit configured to generate an output signal that is provided to the communication circuit. The communication circuit may be characterized by non-linear operation. The control circuit may adjust the magnitude of the output signal in response to 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. The control circuit may also be configured to determine if an incompatible load regulation device is coupled to the load control device. | 02-04-2016 |
20160035217 | WIRELESS CONTROL DEVICE - A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals, and may have a conductive material on a large amount (e.g., greater than or equal to approximately 85%) of a front surface of the wireless control device. The wireless control device may operate consistently when installed with different types of faceplate assemblies (e.g., faceplate assemblies having metal and/or plastic components) and when installed with different types of electrical wallboxes (e.g., metal and plastic wallboxes). The antenna of the wireless control device may comprise a driven element and a conductive component. The wireless control device may comprise a conductive member (e.g., a conductive label or a conductive strap) extending around a rear enclosure of the wireless control device between opposite sides of a conductive yoke. | 02-04-2016 |
20160028320 | AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM - A control module is able to be installed with electrical devices, such as, for example electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads) and/or load regulation devices. The control module may determine whether the electrical loads (e.g., drivers for lighting loads) are responsive to one or more of a plurality of control techniques. The control module may be able to automatically determine an appropriate control technique to use to control the connected driver and/or lighting load. The control module may sequentially attempt to control the connected driver and/or lighting load using each of the plurality of control techniques and determine if the driver and/or lighting load is responsive to the present control technique. The plurality of control techniques may include one or more analog control techniques and one or more digital control techniques. | 01-28-2016 |
20150382437 | STATE CHANGE DEVICES FOR SWITCHED ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLES - A state change device may be electrically connected to a switched receptacle, or to both the switched and unswitched receptacles, of an outlet. The state change device may generate a change of state signal when power is applied to, or removed from, the switched receptacle. The state change device may wirelessly communicate the signal. The state change device may include a load control circuit that may be configured to control the amount of power delivered to an electrical load that is electrically connected to the state change device. The state change device may receive commands directed to the load control circuit. The state change device may be deployed in a load control system and may operate as a control entity, such that the state change device may issue commands to one or more load control devices, responsive to the application or removal of power at the switched receptacle. | 12-31-2015 |
20150373817 | TWO-WIRE DIMMER WITH IMPROVED ZERO-CROSS DETENTION - A two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device, a signal generation circuit, and a filter circuit. The controllably conductive device may apply an AC line voltage to a load, being conductive for a first duration of time and non-conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The signal generation circuit may generate a non-zero-magnitude signal. And, the filter circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the non-zero-magnitude signal from the signal generation circuit during the second duration of time. The non-zero-magnitude signal may, in effect, fill-in or complement the signal from the controllably conductive device, and any delay variation as a function of the firing angle of the controllably conductive device through the filter circuit may be mitigated by the presence of the non-zero-magnitude signal. | 12-24-2015 |
20150371534 | BATTERY-POWERED RETROFIT REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE - A remote control device may be configured to be mounted over the toggle actuator of a light switch and to control a load control device. The remote control device may include a base portion and a rotating portion supported by the base portion so as to be rotatable about the base portion. The remote control device may include a control circuit, a wireless communication circuit, and a rotary encoder circuit. The rotary encoder circuit may be configured to translate a force applied to the rotating portion into input signals, and to operate as an antenna of the remote control device. The rotary encoder circuit may be configured to provide the input signals to the control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to translate the one or more input signals into control signals for transmission to the load control device via the wireless communication circuit. | 12-24-2015 |
20150368970 | RETENTION SYSTEMS FOR WINDOW TREATMENT INSTALLATIONS - A window treatment retention system may include a roller shade assembly and one or more retention brackets that at least partially enclose the roller shade assembly and do not interfere with operation of the roller shade assembly. The retention brackets may be configured to absorb an impact force associated with detachment of the roller shade assembly from a mounted position. The retention brackets may deflect upon absorbing the impact force, and may limit displacement of the detached roller shade assembly from the mounted position. The retention brackets may deflect such that the roller shade assembly does not pass through openings defined by the retention brackets. The retention brackets may deflect such that the width of at least one of the openings defined by the retention brackets does not expand beyond a distance that is equivalent to the diameter of a roller tube of the roller shade assembly. | 12-24-2015 |
20150368967 | CONTROLLING MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENTS IN RESPONSE TO MULTIPLE SENSORS - A motorized window treatment system controls a plurality of motorized window treatments to maximize daylight autonomy, while minimizing cognitive dissonance. The system may include motorized window treatments, window sensors, and a system controller. Each motorized window treatment may be operable to adjust a respective covering material to control the amount of light entering a space. Each sensor may be mounted adjacent to at least one of the motorized window treatments, and may be configured to measure an amount of daylight shining on the sensor. The system controller may receive sensor readings from the sensors and may control the motorized window treatments in response to the sensors to keep the covering materials aligned when the sensor readings are within a predetermined amount. The system controller may dynamically group and re-group the sensors into subgroups based upon the sensor readings and may control the motorized window treatments based upon the subgroups. | 12-24-2015 |
20150362668 | Wireless Control Device Assembly - A control device, such as a gateway device for a wireless load control system, has a light bar extending around a periphery of an enclosure to provide feedback to a user of the load control system, as well as to provide a pleasing aesthetic effect on the gateway device. The control device may include at least one light-emitting diode mounted to a printed circuit board inside the enclosure, a control circuit mounted to the printed circuit board and operatively coupled to the light-emitting diode for controllably illuminating the light-emitting diode, and a multi-functional mounting structure for mounting the printed circuit board inside the enclosure. The mounting structure may have at least one light-pipe structure for conducting light from the at least one light-emitting diode to the light bar. The mounting structure may have an antenna-mounting structure to which an antenna of the control device may be mounted. | 12-17-2015 |
20150349973 | WIRELESS CONTROL DEVICE - A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals. The wireless control device may comprise a user interface, an antenna, a radio-frequency communication circuit, a control circuit, and/or a conductive faceplate. The radio-frequency communication circuit may be configured to transmit or receive radio-frequency signals via the antenna. The user interface may be configured to receive a user input. The conductive faceplate may be configured to operate as a radiating element of the antenna when the conductive faceplate is mounted to the wireless control device and the user interface is received in the opening of the conductive faceplate. The conductive faceplate may comprise a conductive material arranged over a plastic carrier, for example, the conductive material may be provided adjacent to greater than or equal to approximately 85% of the front surface. | 12-03-2015 |
20150349567 | MULTIPLE LOCATION LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM - A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled together via an accessory wiring. The main device can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system. The main device is configured to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are configured to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle, for example, by actively pulling-up and actively pulling-down the accessory wiring to communicate using tri-state logic. | 12-03-2015 |
20150349427 | WIRELESS CONTROL DEVICE - A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna (e.g., a slot antenna or a hybrid slot-patch antenna) for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals, and may have a conductive material on a large amount (e.g., greater than or equal to approximately 85%) of a front surface of the control device. The wireless control device may operate consistently when installed with different types of faceplate assemblies (e.g., faceplate assemblies having metal and/or plastic components) and when installed with different types of electrical wallboxes (e.g., metal and plastic wallboxes). A faceplate comprising a conductive element may be installed on the wireless control device, such that the conductive element operates as a radiating element of the antenna. The wireless control device may comprise a conductive member (e.g., a conductive label or a conductive strap) extending around a rear enclosure of the wireless control device between opposite sides of a conductive yoke. | 12-03-2015 |
20150349402 | WIRELESS CONTROL DEVICE - A wall-mountable wireless control device may comprise a yoke, a faceplate assembly, an antenna, a radio-frequency communication circuit, and/or a control circuit. The radio-frequency communication circuit may be configured to transmit or receive radio-frequency signals via the antenna. The faceplate assembly may comprise a conductive element that is configured to operate as a radiating element of the antenna when the faceplate assembly is attached to the yoke. The conductive element may comprise a conductive material on the front surface of the faceplate. The conductive element may be attached to a rear surface of the faceplate (e.g., as a conductive backer). The conductive element may be located inside of the faceplate. The conductive element may comprise metallization applied to a plastic carrier of the faceplate. The faceplate assembly may comprise an adapter plate comprising a surface on which the conductive element is located. | 12-03-2015 |
20150346702 | WIRELESS CONTROL DEVICE - A wall-mountable wireless control device may include an antenna, a radio-frequency communication circuit, a control circuit, an enclosure, a conductive yoke, and/or a conductive member. The antenna may be configured to transmit and/or receive radio-frequency signals. The radio-frequency communication circuit may be configured to transmit and/or receive the radio-frequency signals via the antenna. The control circuit may be responsive to the radio-frequency communication circuit. The enclosure may be configured to house the radio-frequency communication circuit and the control circuit. The conductive yoke may be attached to the enclosure and configured to mount the control device to an electrical wallbox. The conductive member may extend around a rear side of the enclosure between opposite sides of the yoke. | 12-03-2015 |
20150319817 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE - A load control device for controlling the intensity of a lighting load, such as a light-emitting diode (LED) light source, may include a power converter circuit operable to receive a rectified AC voltage and to generate a DC bus voltage, a load regulation circuit operable to receive the bus voltage and to control the magnitude of a load current conducted through the lighting load, and a control circuit operatively coupled to the load regulation circuit for pulse width modulating or pulse frequency modulating the load current to control the intensity of the lighting load to a target intensity. The control circuit may control the intensity of the lighting load by pulse width modulating the load current when the target intensity is above a predetermined threshold and control the intensity of the lighting load by pulse frequency modulating the load current when the target intensity is below the predetermined threshold. | 11-05-2015 |
20150318787 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load is able to operate in a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load to low levels. The load control device comprises a control circuit that operates in a normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load to a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current. The control circuit operates in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit regulates a peak magnitude of the load current to the minimum rated current during a first time period, and stops regulating the load current during a second time period, such that the average magnitude of the load current is below the minimum rated current. | 11-05-2015 |
20150295411 | DIGITAL MESSAGES IN A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM - A load control system may comprise load control devices for controlling respective electrical loads, and a system controller operable to transmit digital messages including different commands to the load control devices in response to a selection of a preset. The different commands may include a preset command configured to identify preset data in a device database stored at the load control device and/or a multi-output command configured to define the preset data for being stored in the device database. The system controller may decide which of the commands to transmit to the load control devices in response to the selection of the preset. | 10-15-2015 |
20150286941 | SELECTING A WINDOW TREATMENT FABRIC - A fabric selection tool provides an automated procedure for recommending and/or selecting a fabric for a window treatment to be installed in a building. The recommendation may be made to optimize the performance of the window treatment in which the fabric may be installed. The recommended fabric may be selected based on performance metrics associated with each fabric in an environment. The fabrics may be ranked based upon the performance metrics of one or more of the fabrics. One or more of the fabrics, and/or their corresponding ranks, may be displayed to a user for selection. The recommended fabrics may be determined based on combinations of fabrics that provide performance metrics for various façades of the building. Using the ranking system provided by the fabric selection tool, the user may obtain a fabric sample and/or order one or more of the recommended fabrics. | 10-08-2015 |
20150286940 | SELECTING A WINDOW TREATMENT FABRIC - A fabric selection tool provides an automated procedure for recommending and/or selecting a fabric for a window treatment to be installed in a building. The recommendation may be made to optimize the performance of the window treatment in which the fabric may be installed. The recommended fabric may be selected based on performance metrics associated with each fabric in an environment. The fabrics may be ranked based upon the performance metrics of one or more of the fabrics. One or more of the fabrics, and/or their corresponding ranks, may be displayed to a user for selection. The recommended fabrics may be determined based on combinations of fabrics that provide performance metrics for various façades of the building. Using the ranking system provided by the fabric selection tool, the user may obtain a fabric sample and/or order one or more of the recommended fabrics. | 10-08-2015 |
20150286939 | SELECTING A WINDOW TREATMENT FABRIC - A fabric selection tool provides an automated procedure for recommending and/or selecting a fabric for a window treatment to be installed in a building. The recommendation may be made to optimize the performance of the window treatment in which the fabric may be installed. The recommended fabric may be selected based on performance metrics associated with each fabric in an environment. The fabrics may be ranked based upon the performance metrics of one or more of the fabrics. One or more of the fabrics, and/or their corresponding ranks, may be displayed to a user for selection. The recommended fabrics may be determined based on combinations of fabrics that provide performance metrics for various façades of the building. Using the ranking system provided by the fabric selection tool, the user may obtain a fabric sample and/or order one or more of the recommended fabrics. | 10-08-2015 |
20150286938 | SELECTING A WINDOW TREATMENT FABRIC - A fabric selection tool provides an automated procedure for recommending and/or selecting a fabric for a window treatment to be installed in a building. The recommendation may be made to optimize the performance of the window treatment in which the fabric may be installed. The recommended fabric may be selected based on performance metrics associated with each fabric in an environment. The fabrics may be ranked based upon the performance metrics of one or more of the fabrics. One or more of the fabrics, and/or their corresponding ranks, may be displayed to a user for selection. The recommended fabrics may be determined based on combinations of fabrics that provide performance metrics for various façades of the building. Using the ranking system provided by the fabric selection tool, the user may obtain a fabric sample and/or order one or more of the recommended fabrics. | 10-08-2015 |
20150271897 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING AN AMBIENT LIGHT THRESHOLD - A load control device adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load includes a controller, an actuator for turning the electrical load on and off, an occupancy detection circuit, and an ambient light detector. The load control device automatically turns on the electrical load in response to the presence of an occupant only if the detected ambient light is below a predetermined ambient light level threshold. After first detecting the presence of an occupant, the load control device monitors actuations of the actuator to determine whether a user has changed the state of the load. The load control device automatically adjusts the predetermined ambient light level threshold in response to the user actuations that change the state of the load. | 09-24-2015 |
20150271896 | Wireless Sensor Having a Controllable Photosensitive Circuit - A wireless battery-powered daylight sensor for measuring a total light intensity in a space is operable to transmit wireless signals using a variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the total light intensity in the space. The sensor comprises a photosensitive circuit, a wireless transmitter for transmitting the wireless signals, a controller coupled to the photosensitive circuit and the wireless transmitter, and a battery for powering the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transmitter, and the controller. The photosensitive circuit is operable to generate a light intensity control signal in response to the total light intensity in the space. The controller transmits the wireless signals in response to the light intensity control signal using the variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the total light intensity in the space. The variable transmission rate may be dependent upon an amount of change of the total light intensity in the space. In addition, the variable transmission rate may be further dependent upon a rate of change of the total light intensity in the space. | 09-24-2015 |
20150249337 | CONTROLLABLE ELECTRICAL OUTLET WITH A CONTROLLED WIRED OUTPUT - A load control system having a controllable electrical outlet provides a low cost solution for controlling a plurality of standard electrical outlets. The controllable electrical outlet may be coupled in series between a power source and at least one standard electrical outlet for controlling the power delivered to the standard electrical outlet. The controllable electrical outlet may comprise an actuator for allowing the controllable electrical outlet to be associated with an input device for receiving digital messages from the input device. The controllable electrical outlet may be installed in a standard electrical wallbox, e.g., replacing a previously-installed standard electrical outlet. The actuator may be easily accessed to associate the controllable electrical outlet with the input device and a radio-frequency receiver and antenna may be located in the controllable electrical outlet to provide optimum reception of radio-frequency signals. | 09-03-2015 |
20150249336 | ENERGY SAVINGS SELECTOR TOOL - An energy savings selector tool may assists a user in determining electrical devices that, when implemented in a load control system, may reduce an amount of power used by the load control system. The energy savings selector tool may use load control information of the load control system to identify electrical devices that may be added to or replace other electrical devices in the load control system. The load control information may define operations of the load control system and/or include energy usage information of the load control system. The energy savings selector tool may identify savings information associated with implementing an electrical device in the load control system. Once an electrical device is installed in the load control system, the energy savings selector tool may be used to report energy savings information about the electrical device. | 09-03-2015 |
20150247362 | FABRIC-WRAPPED VALANCE FOR A WINDOW TREATMENT - A window treatment may include a housing, a covering material, and a valence. The valence may at least partially conceal the housing and/or a portion of the covering material. The valence may define first and second channels that extend along upper and lower ends of the valence, respectively. The valence may further include a flexible, decorative facing that is attached to an outer surface of valence. The valence may further include a first spline that secures a top edge of the facing in place within the first channel, and a second spline that secures the bottom edge of the facing in place within the second channel. The facing may include a decorative layer, one or more adhesive layers, and may include an interliner layer that is disposed between adhesive layers. The decorative layer may be made of the same material as the covering material, for example shade fabric. | 09-03-2015 |
20150223310 | RADIO-FREQUENCY LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM WITH OCCUPANCY SENSING - A load control system controls an electrical load provided in a space and comprises a load control device and one or more occupancy sensors. The load control device controls the load in response to the wireless control signals received from the occupancy sensors. Each occupancy sensor transmits an occupied control signal to the load control device in response to detecting an occupancy condition in the space and a vacant control signal to the load control device in response to detecting a vacancy condition. The load control device turns on the load in response to receiving the occupied control signal from at least one of the occupancy sensors, and turns off the load in response to receiving vacant control signals from both of the occupancy sensors. The load control device is operable to determine that no wireless control signals have been received from the occupancy sensors for the length of a predetermined timeout period and to subsequently turn off the load. | 08-06-2015 |
20150221213 | WIRELESS BATTERY-POWERED REMOTE CONTROL HAVING MULTIPLE MOUNTING MEANS - A remote control for a wireless load control system, the remote control comprising: a housing having a front surface and an outer periphery defined by a length and a width; an actuator provided at the front surface of the housing; a wireless transmitter contained within the housing; and a controller contained within the housing and coupled to the wireless transmitter for causing transmission of a wireless signal in response to an actuation of the actuator, the wireless transmitter and the controller adapted to be powered by a battery contained within the housing; wherein the length and the width of the housing are slightly smaller than a length and a width of a standard opening of a faceplate, respectively, such that the outer periphery of the housing is adapted to be received within the standard opening of the faceplate when the housing and the faceplate are mounted to a vertical surface. | 08-06-2015 |
20150189725 | FACEPLATE REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE FOR USE IN A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM - A faceplate remote control device may be attached to a wall-mounted mechanical light switch that has a toggle actuator. The faceplate remote control device may include a toggle indicator that detects operation of the toggle actuator of the mechanical switch. The toggle indicator may cause the generation of an indication of detected operation of the toggle actuator. The toggle indicator may comprise a sliding member that is configured to move with the toggle actuator. The toggle indicator may comprise an obstruction detection device that includes an infrared (IR) transmitter and an IR receiver. The faceplate remote control device may include a control circuit and a wireless communication circuit. The control circuit may be configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit one or more messages in response to detecting operation of the toggle actuator of the mechanical switch. | 07-02-2015 |
20150189724 | CONTROLLING LIGHT INTENSITY AT A LOCATION - A mobile device that is configured for wireless communication may be configured to operate as a remote control device in a lighting control system, controlling one or more lighting control devices of the lighting control system. The remote control device may control the light intensity in a space, for instance at a location of the remote control device, in response to an ambient light intensity measured at the remote control device. The remote control device may define a user interface for receiving an input that indicates a desired light intensity at the location. The remote control device may measure the ambient light intensity at the location via a light detector, compare the measured ambient light intensity to the desired light intensity, and cause the one or more lighting control devices to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until it agrees with the desired light intensity. | 07-02-2015 |
20150189721 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR USE WITH A THREE-WAY LAMP SOCKET - A control device may be configured to be installed in a three-way screw-in socket that includes multi-position switches. The control device may be configured to control one or more lighting loads in response to the respective positions of the multi-position switches of the three-way screw-in socket. The lighting loads may include a lighting load that is integral with the control device, a lighting load that is installed in a threaded receptacle of the control device, and/or one or more lighting loads controlled by respective devices that are associated with the control device. The control device may include a wireless communication circuit that is configured to transmit messages in response to operation of the multi-position switches into respective positions. The control device may be configured to control the lighting loads in response to messages received at the wireless communication circuit. | 07-02-2015 |
20150185751 | LOAD-SENSING REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE FOR USE IN A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM - A load control system, such as a lighting control system, may be configured to control a first electrical load in response to a sensed operational characteristic of a second electrical load. The load control system may include a load control device electrically connected to the first electrical load, and a load-sensing remote control device that is configured to sense an operational characteristic of the second electrical load. The load-sensing remote control device may be configured to communicate with the load control device via wireless communication. The load-sensing remote control device may be configured to transmit messages to the load control device in response to sensing a change in the operational characteristic of the second electrical load. The load control device may be configured to, upon receiving messages from the load-sensing remote control device, control an amount of power that is delivered to the first electrical load. | 07-02-2015 |
20150180237 | ULTRASONIC SENSING SYSTEM - A low-cost, simple ultrasonic sensing system has an increased detection range. The ultrasonic sensing system may be implemented as part of a load control system for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load. The load control system may comprise a load control device for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load, an ultrasonic receiver for receiving ultrasonic waves characterized by an ultrasonic frequency, and an ultrasonic transmitter located remotely from the ultrasonic receiver. The load control device controls the power delivered to the electrical load in response to the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic receiver. The load control device may include the ultrasonic receiver and may be a wall-mounted load control device. The ultrasonic receiver may be a wireless ultrasonic receiver for transmitting wireless signals to the load control device in response to the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic receiver. | 06-25-2015 |
20150179058 | WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DIAGNOSTICS - A load control system may include devices for performing communications for controlling an amount of power provided to an electrical load. The devices may include load control devices that may communicate by transmitting digital messages. A user device having an adjustable wireless communication range may be used for discovering devices, configuring devices, and/or diagnosing devices in the load control system. The user device may detect whether devices are within an established wireless communication range of one another for performing communications. The user device may detect digital messages transmitted from a device and/or digital messages received at a device to determine whether the digital messages are correctly communicated in the load control system. The user device may provide an indication to a user indicating whether a digital message is correctly transmitted or received by a device in the load control system. | 06-25-2015 |
20150177709 | METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENTS - A load control system automatically controls the amount of daylight entering a building through at least one window of a non-linear façade of the building. The load control system comprises at least two motorized window treatments located along the non-linear façade, and a system controller. The controller is configured to calculate an optimal position for the motorized window treatments at each of a plurality of different times during a subsequent time interval using at least two distinct façade angles of the non-linear façade, such that a sunlight penetration distance will not exceed a maximum distance during the time interval. The controller is configured to use the optimal positions to determine a controlled position to which both of the motorized window treatments will be controlled during the time interval and to automatically adjust each of the motorized window treatments to the controlled position at the beginning of the time interval. | 06-25-2015 |
20150130372 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load is able to operate in a burst mode to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load to low levels. The load control device comprises a control circuit that operates in a normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the load to a target load current that ranges from a maximum rated current to a minimum rated current. The control circuit operates in the burst mode to regulate the average magnitude of the load current below the minimum rated current. During the burst mode, the control circuit regulates a peak magnitude of the load current to the minimum rated current during a first time period, and stops regulating the load current during a second time period, such that the average magnitude of the load current is below the minimum rated current. | 05-14-2015 |
20150130357 | TURN-ON PROCEDURE FOR A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM - A load regulation device may be adapted to control an electrical load. The load regulation device may be in a low power state, a ready state, and/or an on state. The low power state may be characterized by the electrical load being unenergized. The ready state may be characterized by a load control device and/or the load regulation device using more power than the low power state and the electrical load being unenergized. The on state may be characterized by the electrical load being energized. The load regulation device may receive an indication of a user's presence when the load regulation device is in the low power state. The load regulation device may change from the low power state to the ready state in response to receiving the indication. The load regulation device may wait in the ready state for a change state instruction. | 05-14-2015 |
20150109721 | CORD-MOUNTED REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE - A remote control assembly may include a housing to which a remote control device may be attached (e.g., releasably attached). The remote control assembly may be configured to mount to a cord, for example an electrical cord that includes an insulating sheath. The housing of the remote control assembly may define a path therethrough that is configured to receive a portion of the electrical cord. The housing may be configured to restrain the cord such that the housing remains in a mounted location on the cord. For example, the housing may be configured to engage the insulating sheath of the electrical cord at one or more locations along the path through the housing. The remote control assembly may include a remote control device that is configured to control a load control device, for example via wireless communication signals transmitted from the remote control device. | 04-23-2015 |
20150108913 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY LOADS - A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) includes a thyristor coupled between the source and the load, a gate coupling circuit coupled between a first main load terminal and the gate of the thyristor, and a control circuit coupled to a control input of the gate coupling circuit. The control circuit generates a drive voltage for causing the gate coupling circuit to conduct a gate current to thus render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle of the AC power source, and to allow the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current at any time from the firing time through approximately the remainder of the half cycle, where the gate coupling circuit conducts approximately no net average current to render and maintain the thyristor conductive. | 04-23-2015 |
20150098164 | CONTROLLING A CONTROLLABLY CONDUCTIVE DEVICE BASED ON ZERO-CROSSING DETECTION - A load control device may control power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source. The load control device may include a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load, a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate a zero-cross signal representative of the zero-crossings of an AC voltage. The zero-cross signal may be characterized by pulses occurring in time with the zero-crossings of the AC voltage. The load control device may include a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero cross detect circuit. The control circuit may be configured to identify a rising-edge time and a falling-edge time of one of the pulses of the zero-cross signal, and may control a conductive state of the controllably conductive device based on the rising-edge time and the falling-edge time of the pulse. | 04-09-2015 |
20150083350 | MOTORIZED TRANSITIONAL SHADE SYSTEM - A motorized transitional shade system may move a covering material between open, closed, view, and privacy positions. The covering material may define respective pluralities of opaque and transparent sections that are arranged in an alternating pattern. A bottom bar that is movably supported by the covering material may define first and second portions of the covering material. The opaque and transparent sections in the first and second portions of the covering material may permit visibility through the covering material in a view position, and may impede visibility through the covering material in a privacy position. If movement of the covering material is halted at an intermediate position that is between the open and closed positions, the motorized transitional shade system may cause the motor to rotate the roller tube to move the covering material to a next lowest privacy position or to a next highest view position. | 03-26-2015 |
20150077006 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR HIGH-EFFICIENCY LOADS - A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) is operable to control the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) and has substantially no minimum load requirement. The dimmer switch includes a bidirectional semiconductor switch, which is operable to be rendered conductive each half-cycle and to remain conductive independent of the magnitude of a load current conducted through semiconductor switch. The dimmer switch comprises a control circuit that conducts a control current through the load in order to generate a gate drive signal for rendering the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive each half-cycle. The control circuit may provide a constant gate drive to the bidirectional semiconductor switch after the bidirectional semiconductor switch is rendered conductive each half-cycle. The bidirectional semiconductor switch may comprise, for example, a triac or two field-effect transistors coupled in anti-series connection. | 03-19-2015 |
20150075732 | QUIET MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT SYSTEM - A motorized window treatment system may include a roller tube, a covering material windingly attached to the roller tube, and a drive assembly that may be at least partially disposed within the roller tube. The drive assembly may include a motor having a drive shaft that is elongate along a longitudinal direction and a drive gear attached to the drive shaft such that a toothed portion of the drive gear is cantilevered with respect to the drive shaft. The drive assembly may include a gear assembly having a pair of intermediate gears on opposed sides of the drive gear. Rotation of the drive gear may be transferred through the pair of intermediate gears, a connecting gear, a planetary gear set, a cage, and an idler to the roller tube. Rotation of the roller tube may cause the covering material to move between an open position and a closed position. | 03-19-2015 |
20150034260 | ADJUSTMENT MECHANISMS FOR SHADES - A motorized shading system may include a housing, a roller tube, a sheer shade material, and a bottom bar. The shading system may be configured such that opposed ends of the roller tube are adjustable relative to the housing. The shading system may include first and second sliding members that couple opposed ends of the roller tube to the housing and that are configured to translate along first and second rails defined by the housing. The bottom bar may define a cross-sectional profile such that when the shade material is in a closed position, a first lower most edge of the bottom bar is spaced from the roller tube by a first distance, and when the shade material is in a view position, a second lower most edge of the bottom bar is spaced from the roller tube by a second distance that is substantially equal to the first distance. | 02-05-2015 |
20150034257 | MOTORIZED SHEER SHADING SYSTEM - A motorized sheer shading system may move a sheer shade material between an open position, a closed position, and a view position. The shading system may move the sheer shade material from the open position to the closed position at a first average rotational speed, and from the closed position to the view position at a second average rotational speed. The shading system may automatically determine a control limit that corresponds to the closed position of the sheer shade material after control limits have been set for the open position and the view position. The shading system may cause the sheer shade material to stop moving once it reaches the closed position if the raise button of a remote control is still depressed, and may cause the sheer shade material to stop moving once it reaches the closed position if the lower button of the remote control is still depressed. | 02-05-2015 |
20150015377 | CONFIGURING COMMUNICATIONS FOR A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM - A load control system may include multiple control devices that may send load control messages to load control devices for controlling an amount of power provided electrical loads. To prevent collision of the load control messages, the load control messages may be transmitted using different wireless communication channels. Each wireless communication channel may be assigned to a load control group that may include control devices and load control devices capable of communicating with one another on the assigned channel. A control device may send load control messages to a load control device within a transmission frame allocated for transmitting load control messages. The transmission frame may include equal sub-frames and load control messages may be sent at a random time within each sub-frame. Control devices may detect a status event within a sampling interval to offset transmissions from multiple control devices based on detection of the same event. | 01-15-2015 |
20140354170 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE - A load control device for controlling the intensity of a lighting load, such as a light-emitting diode (LED) light source, may include a power converter circuit operable to receive a rectified AC voltage and to generate a DC bus voltage, a load regulation circuit operable to receive the bus voltage and to control the magnitude of a load current conducted through the lighting load, and a control circuit operatively coupled to the load regulation circuit for pulse width modulating or pulse frequency modulating the load current to control the intensity of the lighting load to a target intensity. The control circuit may control the intensity of the lighting load by pulse width modulating the load current when the target intensity is above a predetermined threshold and control the intensity of the lighting load by pulse frequency modulating the load current when the target intensity is below the predetermined threshold. | 12-04-2014 |
20140333210 | AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF A LOAD CONTROL DEVICE - A load control system for controlling an electrical load may include a sensor, a remote control, and a load control device. The remote control may comprise a button and may be configured to wirelessly transmit a digital message in response to an actuation of the button. The load control device may be configured to control the electrical load, be responsive to the sensor, and/or be configured to be associated with the remote control. The load control device may be responsive to the digital message transmitted by the remote control if the remote control is associated with the load control device. The load control device may be configured to automatically operate in a first mode of operation if the remote control is not associated with the load control device, and automatically operate in a second mode of operation if the remote control is associated with the load control device. | 11-13-2014 |
20140320033 | DIMMABLE SCREW-IN COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP HAVING INTEGRAL ELECTRONIC BALLAST CIRCUIT - A dimmable ballast circuit for a compact fluorescent lamp controls the intensity of a lamp tube in response to a phase-control voltage received from a dimmer switch. The ballast circuit generates a lamp current through the lamp tube having a substantially constant envelope such that flicker in the lamp tube and electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise on an AC voltage supply are minimized. The dimmable ballast circuit comprises a high speed control circuit characterized by a cutoff frequency much greater than a frequency of a voltage ripple on a bus voltage of the ballast circuit. The dimmable ballast circuit may also comprise a non-linear amplifier circuit amplifying a lamp-current-feedback signal representative of the magnitude of the lamp current through the lamp. | 10-30-2014 |
20140312874 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING A TARGET LIGHT INTENSITY FROM A PHASE-CONTROL SIGNAL - A dimmable ballast circuit for a compact fluorescent lamp controls the intensity of a lamp tube in response to a phase-control voltage received from a dimmer switch. The ballast circuit comprises a phase-control-to-DC converter circuit that receives the phase-control voltage, which is characterized by a duty cycle defining a target intensity of the lamp tube, and generates a DC voltage representative of the duty cycle of the phase-control voltage. Changes in the duty cycle of the phase-control voltage that are below a threshold amount are filtered out by the converter circuit, while intentional changes in the duty cycle of the phase-control voltage are reflected in changes in the target intensity level and thereby the intensity level of the lamp tube. | 10-23-2014 |
20140312777 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING COLOR TEMPERATURE - Controlling the color temperature of a composite light source including at least one discrete-spectrum light source is disclosed. For example, the color temperature of a composite light source including at least one discrete-spectrum light source may be determined and/or adjusted based on one or more of the ambient color temperature of a space, the actual temperature of the space, the relative brightness of the space, the occupancy of the space, a time clock, a demand response command (e.g., from an electrical utility), the absolute location of the composite light source, the location of the composite light source relative to other light sources, inputs from a camera or other external devices, the operation of appliances or other machines in the vicinity of the composite light source, media content being utilized in the vicinity of the composite light source, and/or other sensor inputs. | 10-23-2014 |
20140303788 | DYNAMIC FA ADE SYSTEM CONSISTING OF CONTROLLABLE WINDOWS, AUTOMATED SHADES AND DIMMABLE ELECTRIC LIGHTS - The disclosure of the present invention provides for a process for controlling the environmental settings of a building, including: providing a building management system capable of controlling one or more electrochromic devices at least one of (a) one or more automated window shades, and (b) one or more dimmable electric lights; receiving, at the building management system, a plurality of inputs related to (a) a time of day, (b) an occupancy status of the building, (c) a presence of a glare condition, and (d) an operating mode of an HVAC system of the building; and controlling, at the building management system, the status of at least one of the window shades, the lights and the electrochromic devices based on at least one of the plurality of inputs. | 10-09-2014 |
20140282172 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GRAPHICALLY DISPLAYING ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND SAVINGS - A system for displaying the consumption of electrical energy by an electrical energy consumer in a graphical format. An amount of electrical energy saved is the difference between a reference amount of the electrical energy capable of being consumed by the consumer and an actual amount of the electrical energy consumed by the consumer, wherein the reference amount is determined either from a peak amount of power consumed during a preset window of time during which the consumer utilizes electrical energy, or by an average amount of power consumed during the preset time window. A visual display provides an electronic representation of the amount of the electrical energy consumed and the amount of the electrical energy saved in a graphical format. | 09-18-2014 |
20140268630 | GLASS FACEPLATE FOR KEYPAD OF A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM - A glass faceplate is cemented to a plastic carrier which can be removably connected to the adapter plate of a wall box dimmer. The glass plate is a flat tempered glass which may be suitably colored or clear and has a thickness less than three millimeters. Two elastic tethers are connected at one end to the carrier plate and at the other end to the adapter plate to serve as a pivotal connection at the bottoms of the two plates and prevent the accidental fall and breakage of the glass faceplate. | 09-18-2014 |
20140265863 | Identification Of Load Control Devices - A load control system may include a load control device for providing power to an electrical load and a control device that may send instructions to the load control device for providing the power to the electrical load. The control device may communicate with the load control device using a link address assigned to the load control device. The load control device may provide power to the electrical load in a manner that causes the electrical load to indicate the link address assigned to the load control device. The link address may be identified by a user or a user device. The identified link address may be associated with a load control device identifier that may identify a physical location of a load control device that is assigned the link address. A user may control a load control device at a physical location by sending instructions via the link address. | 09-18-2014 |
20140262079 | WINDOW TREATMENT HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM BAR - A motorized window treatment can include a headrail that is configured to be mounted to a structure. A covering material can be attached to the headrail and configured to be raised and lowered by a pair of lift cords that are operatively attached to a lift mechanism. The treatment can also include a bottom bar that is attached to an opposite end of the covering material as the headrail. The bottom bar can define a channel, which can house a sliding member that is configured to move along the bottom bar and is coupled to the ends of the lift cords. By sliding along the channel, the sliding member allows the lengths of the lift cords to change with respect to one another such that when a force is applied to the bottom bar the bottom bar will move from an unleveled position to a leveled position. | 09-18-2014 |
20140262057 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A WINDOW TREATMENT USING A LIGHT SENSOR - A method of controlling a motorized window treatment adjacent to a window or skylight comprises: measuring a light intensity at the window having the window treatment adjacent to the window or skylight; computing a first position of the window treatment based on the measured light intensity, that is expected to produce a predetermined interior illuminance at a predetermined position in a room containing the window or skylight; and automatically actuating the window treatment to the first position. | 09-18-2014 |
20140262056 | WINDOW TREATMENT HAVING BACKLIGHTING - A window treatment can include a headrail that is configured to be mounted to a structure. A covering material can be attached to the headrail and configured to be raised and lowered. The window treatment can also include a bottom bar that is attached to an opposite end of the covering material as the headrail. The window treatment can also include a light source that is configured to illuminate a side of the covering material when the covering material is in a lowered position. In this manner, the light source may be configured to adjust the transparency level of the covering material to thereby adjust the privacy settings of the interior space that is enclosed by the window treatment. | 09-18-2014 |
20140254477 | METHOD FOR ADDING A DEVICE TO A WIRELESS NETWORK - Load control devices may form an energy control network for the purpose of controlling one or more electrical and/or mechanical loads related to energy control in residential and/or commercial environments. The various load control devices of the energy control network may communicate with one another via a wireless communication network. Access information for communicating with/on a wireless communication network often takes the form of character-based information, such as a service set identifier (SSID), a type of network security, and/or a security key. The load control devices may have user interfaces that may not be well suited via which to enter the access information for a wireless communication network. Techniques and devices are described to provide network access information wirelessly in the form of data packets of modulated lengths to load control devices that may decode the access information from the modulated lengths to join the wireless communication network. | 09-11-2014 |
20140252980 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE WITH AN ADJUSTABLE CONTROL CURVE - A load control device, such as a dimmer switch, for example, may provide for user adjustment of the shape of a control curve, such as a dimming curve, for example. The load control device may generate a control curve that has a non-linear relationship between a minimum power level, such as a minimum phase angle of a phase-control signal, for example, and a maximum power level, such as a maximum phase angle of the phase-control signal, for example. The load control device switch may have a default control curve, which may have a linear relationship between the minimum power level and the maximum power level. The load control device may provide for the generation of a control curve that includes two or more different slopes from the minimum power level to the maximum power level. | 09-11-2014 |
20140239842 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE HAVING AUTOMATIC SETUP FOR CONTROLLING CAPACITIVE AND INDUCTIVE LOADS - A load control device, such as an LED dimmer switch, for example, may be configured to automatically determine whether to provide a forward or reverse phase control signal to a load. As disclosed herein, such a load control device may provide a plurality of different control signals to the lighting load, for example, during an initial set-up procedure. The load control device may provide the plurality of different control signals to determine an appropriate control signal for the load. Each control signal may be characterized by a load control type and a switching time. The load control type may be one of a forward phase control type, a reverse phase control type, or a full conduction control type. The switching time may include, but is not limited to, switching times of approximately 0 μs, 10 μs, 50 μs, and 100 μs. | 08-28-2014 |
20140239836 | Controlling An Electronic Dimming Ballast During Low Temperature Or Low Mercury Conditions - An electronic dimming ballast or light emitting diode (LED) driver for driving a gas discharge lamp or LED lamp may be operable to control the lamp to avoid flickering and flashing of the lamp during low temperature or low mercury conditions. Such a ballast or driver may include a control circuit that is operable to adjust the intensity of the lamp. Adjusting the intensity of the lamp may include decreasing the intensity of the lamp. The control circuit may be operable to stop adjustment of the intensity of the lamp if a magnitude of the lamp voltage across the lamp is greater than an upper threshold, and subsequently begin to adjust the intensity of the lamp when the lamp voltage across the lamp is less than a lower threshold. Subsequently beginning to adjust the intensity of the lamp may include subsequently decreasing the intensity of the lamp. | 08-28-2014 |
20140232348 | Battery Holder For Battery-Powered Sensor - A battery holder for use with a battery-powered sensor may be configured such that removing the battery involves at least two distinct motions. The battery holder may include a cradle and a resilient retention strap configured to be deflectable between relaxed and deflected positions. With the retention strap in the relaxed position, the cradle and the retention strap may cooperate to retain the battery in the inserted position within the battery holder. The battery may be removed by first manipulating the retention strap from the relaxed position to the deflected position, and then using a distinct second motion to remove the battery from the holder. The battery holder may be configured to substantially prevent movement of the battery relative to the cradle when the battery is in the inserted position. The battery holder may be configured to facilitate insertion of the battery into the holder in a desired orientation. | 08-21-2014 |
20140231127 | Multi-Finish Printed Circuit Board - A multi-finish printed circuit board may include one or more electrically conductive elements, such as through hole pads, that may have a first surface finish and one or more electrically conductive elements, such as surface mount pads, that may have a second surface finish that is different from the first surface finish. The first surface finish may be a hot air solder leveling (HASL) surface finish or a lead-free hot air solder leveling (LF HASL) surface finish and the second surface finish may be an organic surface protector (OSP) surface finish. The second surface finish may be applied to one or more electrically conductive elements from which the first surface finish was removed. | 08-21-2014 |
20140231032 | BATTERY-POWERED ROLLER SHADE SYSTEM - A battery-powered roller shade system can include a housing that is configured to be coupled to a structure, and can include a housing body that defines an internal cavity and an access opening that extends through the housing body and into the internal cavity. The system can further include a roller tube rotatably mounted in the internal cavity, a roller shade windingly received around the roller tube, and a battery compartment positioned within the internal cavity. The battery compartment can further define an access aperture that is aligned with the access opening, such that at least one battery is removable from the battery compartment through the access aperture and through the access opening without moving the roller shade to a lowered position and without decoupling the housing from the structure. | 08-21-2014 |
20140180487 | OPERATIONAL COORDINATION OF LOAD CONTROL DEVICES - A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals directly from the wireless network. The controller may cooperate with one or more other devices to synchronize in time the adjustments made by one or more load control devices that are operable to control the power delivered to one or more electrical loads. The one or more load control devices may also cooperate with one or more Internet based information providers to provide preconfigured and condition based adjustments of the one or more electrical loads. | 06-26-2014 |
20140180486 | Multi-Zone Plug-In Load Control Device - A multi-zone plug-in load control device controls a plug-in electrical load in a predefined manner in response to received wireless digital messages depending upon which of a plurality of electrical receptacles into which the one of the electrical loads is plugged. The load control device receives wireless digital messages representative of whether the space in which the multi-zone plug-in load control device is located is occupied or vacant from an occupancy sensor. The load control device is operable to determine if one of the electrical loads (e.g., a television) is in a standby mode, and to remove power from the one of the electrical loads in response to determining that the space is vacant only when the one of the electrical loads is in the standby mode. In addition, the load control device is operable to disable further control of the electrical load in response to the received wireless digital messages if an electrical signature of a load current drawn by the one of the electrical loads is similar to a predetermined electrical signature. | 06-26-2014 |
20140126261 | TWO-WIRE LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR LOW-POWER LOADS - A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load includes a thyristor, a gate coupling circuit for conducting a gate current through a gate of the thyristor, and a control circuit for controlling the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current through a first current path to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle. The gate coupling circuit is able to conduct the gate current through the first current path again after the firing time, but the gate current is not able to be conducted through the gate from a transition time before the end of the half-cycle until approximately the end of the half-cycle. The load current is able to be conducted through a second current path to the electrical load after the transition time until approximately the end of the half-cycle. | 05-08-2014 |
20140125463 | CONTROL DEVICE HAVING A NIGHT LIGHT - A control device has a night light that allows the control device to be easily found when the control device is located in a dark space. The control device comprises a low-power night light circuit having an LED characterized by a normal current range. The night light circuit conducts an LED current through the LED in a first mode to illuminate the LED to a first level to provide a night light, where the LED current has a magnitude below the normal current range, such that the night light may be provided in a battery-powered remote control that has an acceptable battery lifetime. The night light circuit is configured to operate in a second mode to illuminate the LED to a second level greater than the first level to provide feedback. The LED current in the second mode has a magnitude within the normal current range of the LED. | 05-08-2014 |
20140125244 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROGRAMMING A CONFIGURABLE LOAD CONTROL DEVICE - A system for configuring at least one output parameter of a lighting load power supply, the lighting load power supply having a programmable controller for regulating the output parameter to a target value and having a memory for storing a variable for setting the target value of the output parameter, the power supply having a communication port for receiving data for setting the target value, the system comprising a computer executing software allowing a user to select a target value of an output parameter of the lighting load power supply and having a first port providing data related to the selected output parameter; and a programming device having a second port in communication with the first port of said computer and for providing data relating to said selected output parameter in a form usable by said lighting load power supply to said communication port of said lighting load power supply for programming said programmable controller to set the output parameter to the selected target value. | 05-08-2014 |
20140103827 | TWO-WIRE DIMMER SWITCH FOR LOW-POWER LOADS - A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) includes a thyristor coupled between the source and the load, a gate coupling circuit coupled between a first main load terminal and the gate of the thyristor, and a control circuit coupled to a control input of the gate coupling circuit. The control circuit generates a drive voltage for causing the gate coupling circuit to conduct a gate current to thus render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle of the AC power source, and to allow the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current at any time from the firing time through approximately the remainder of the half cycle, where the gate coupling circuit conducts approximately no net average current to render and maintain the thyristor conductive. | 04-17-2014 |
20140103826 | TWO-WIRE DIMMER SWITCH FOR LOW-POWER LOADS - A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) includes a thyristor coupled between the source and the load, a gate coupling circuit coupled between a first main load terminal and the gate of the thyristor, and a control circuit coupled to a control input of the gate coupling circuit. The control circuit generates a drive voltage for causing the gate coupling circuit to conduct a gate current to thus render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle of the AC power source, and to allow the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current at any time from the firing time through approximately the remainder of the half cycle, where the gate coupling circuit conducts approximately no net average current to render and maintain the thyristor conductive. | 04-17-2014 |
20140091726 | Filament Miswire Protection In An Electronic Dimming Ballast - An electronic dimming ballast that accommodates miswiring of fluorescent lamp filaments (e.g., miswiring the corresponding lamp sockets) is disclosed. The electronic dimming ballast may drive a plurality of gas discharge lamps. Each gas discharge lamp may have a respective filament. The electronic dimming ballast, via the filament miswire protection element, may establish the same voltage across a first of the filaments regardless of whether the filaments are wired in series or in parallel. The filament miswire protection element may have an impedance that is approximately equal to an impedance of at least one of the filaments. The filament miswire protection element may include one or more capacitors, inductors, and/or resistors. The filament miswire protection element may include only a capacitor. | 04-03-2014 |
20140077720 | TWO-WIRE DIMMER SWITCH FOR LOW-POWER LOADS - A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) is operable to control the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) and has substantially no minimum load requirement. The dimmer switch includes a bidirectional semiconductor switch, which is operable to be rendered conductive each half-cycle and to remain conductive independent of the magnitude of a load current conducted through semiconductor switch. The dimmer switch comprises a control circuit that conducts a control current through the load in order to generate a gate drive signal for rendering the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive each half-cycle. The control circuit may provide a constant gate drive to the bidirectional semiconductor switch after the bidirectional semiconductor switch is rendered conductive each half-cycle. The bidirectional semiconductor switch may comprise, for example, a triac or two field-effect transistors coupled in anti-series connection. | 03-20-2014 |
20140077718 | TWO-WIRE DIMMER WITH IMPROVED ZERO-CROSS DETECTION - A two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device, a signal generation circuit, and a filter circuit. The controllably conductive device may apply an AC line voltage to a load, being conductive for a first duration of time and non-conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The signal generation circuit may generate a non-zero-magnitude signal. And, the filter circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the non-zero-magnitude signal from the signal generation circuit during the second duration of time. The non-zero-magnitude signal may, in effect, fill-in or complement the signal from the controllably conductive device, and any delay variation as a function of the firing angle of the controllably conductive device through the filter circuit may be mitigated by the presence of the non-zero-magnitude signal. | 03-20-2014 |
20140055061 | Battery Powered Control Device For Driving A Load With A Pulse Width Modulated Signal - A battery-powered load control device (e.g., a motorized window treatment) is able to supply a pulse-width modulated current to an electrical load (e.g., a motor) while conducting a substantially DC battery current from a battery powering the motorized window treatment. The motorized window treatment includes a motor drive circuit for driving the motor with a pulse-width modulated signal to adjust the rotational speed of the motor, such that the motor conducts the pulse-with modulated current. The motorized window treatment also has an input circuit coupled between the battery and the H-bridge drive circuit. The input circuit has an output for conducting the pulse-width modulated load current, and conducts the substantially DC battery current from the battery. The input circuit may comprise, for example, a passive filter circuit (such as an inductor-capacitor filter) or an active circuit (such as a power converter). | 02-27-2014 |
20140009084 | Forward Converter Having a Primary-Side Current Sense Circuit - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load (e.g, an LED light source) comprises an isolated forward converter comprising a transformer, a controller, and a current sense circuit operable to receive a sense voltage representative of a primary current conducting through to a primary winding of the transformer. The primary winding is coupled in series with a semiconductor switch, while a secondary winding is adapted to be operatively coupled to the load. The forward converter comprises a sense resistor coupled in series with the primary winding for producing the sense voltage that is representative of the primary current. The current sense circuit receives the sense voltage and averages the sense voltage when the semiconductor switch is conductive, so as to generate a load current control signal that is representative of a real component of a load current conducted through the load. | 01-09-2014 |
20140001977 | Load Control System Having Independently-Controlled Units Responsive To A Broadcast Controller | 01-02-2014 |
20140001846 | Load Control System Having A Broadcast Controller With A Diverse Wireless Communication System | 01-02-2014 |
20130333849 | Window Treatment having an Adjustable Bottom Bar - A window treatment includes mechanisms allowing for easy leveling of a bottom bar of the window treatment without the use of tools and without requiring any portion of the window treatment to be disassembled. The mechanisms allow for incremental adjustment of the amounts of each of two lift cords that extend from the bottom bar to a drive shaft to thus provide fine-tuning adjustment of the levelness of the bottom bar. The mechanisms may be hidden from view on the sides of the bottom bar, such that the mechanisms do not detract from the attractive, aesthetically pleasing appearance of the window treatment. Each lift cord extends from the drive shaft to a pulley of the respective mechanism and wraps around the pulley, such that the amount of the lift cord that extends from the drive shaft to the mechanism may be adjusted in response to rotations of the pulley. | 12-19-2013 |
20130313998 | TWO-WIRE DIMMER SWITCH FOR LOW-POWER LOADS - A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) includes a thyristor coupled between the source and the load, a gate coupling circuit coupled between a first main load terminal and the gate of the thyristor, and a control circuit coupled to a control input of the gate coupling circuit. The control circuit generates a drive voltage for causing the gate coupling circuit to conduct a gate current to thus render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle of the AC power source, and to allow the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current at any time from the firing time through approximately the remainder of the half cycle, where the gate coupling circuit conducts approximately no net average current to render and maintain the thyristor conductive. | 11-28-2013 |
20130293137 | TWO-WIRE DIMMER SWITCH FOR CONTROLLING LOW-POWER LOADS - A two-wire load control device such as a dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load such as a high-efficiency lighting load may be provided. The load control device may include a bidirectional semiconductor switch coupled between the source and the load and a controller operable to control the bidirectional semiconductor switch. The load control device may also include a front accessible trimming actuator to adjust a low end intensity setting of the load control device. The trimming actuator may be coupled to the controller such that the controller may control the bidirectional semiconductor switch appropriately. Additionally, the trimming actuator may include indicia to help a user readily identify the proper low end intensity setting. | 11-07-2013 |
20130271025 | DIMMER SWITCH HAVING AN ALTERNATE FADE RATE WHEN USING IN CONJUNCTION WITH A THREE-WAY SWITCH - A dimmer switch uses different fade rates when turning on or off lighting load depending on a device used to adjust the lighting load. For example, the dimmer switch uses a first fade rate when turning off a lighting load in response to an actuation of a local actuator or accessory switch and uses a second fade rate faster than the first fade rate when turning off the lighting load in response to an actuation of a connected three-way switch may be provided. The dimmer switch may slowly turn off the lighting load in response to an actuation of the actuator to provide an aesthetically pleasing reduction in the intensity of the lighting load. When a user actuates the three-way switch to turn off the lighting load, the dimmer switch quickly reduces the intensity of the lighting load to approximately zero percent as may be expected by the user. | 10-17-2013 |
20130257406 | Method And Apparatus For Phase-Controlling A Load - A load control device may control the amount of power provided to an electrical load utilizing a phase control signal that operates in a reverse phase control mode, a center phase control mode, and a forward phase control mode. A load control device may be configured to determine that the electrical load should be operated via a phase control signal operating in a forward phase-control mode. After determining to operate the electrical load via the phase control signal in the forward phase-control mode, the load control device may provide the phase control signal in a reverse phase-control mode for a predetermined period of time to the electrical load, for example, to charge a bus capacitor of the electrical load. Subsequently, the load control device may be configured to provide the phase control signal in the forward phase-control mode to the electrical load. | 10-03-2013 |
20130249428 | TWO-WIRE DIMMER SWITCH FOR LOW-POWER LOADS - A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) is operable to control the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) and has substantially no minimum load requirement. The dimmer switch includes a bidirectional semiconductor switch, which is operable to be rendered conductive each half-cycle and to remain conductive independent of the magnitude of a load current conducted through semiconductor switch. The dimmer switch comprises a control circuit that conducts a control current through the load in order to generate a gate drive signal for rendering the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive each half-cycle. The control circuit may provide a constant gate drive to the bidirectional semiconductor switch after the bidirectional semiconductor switch is rendered conductive each half-cycle. The bidirectional semiconductor switch may comprise, for example, a triac or two field-effect transistors coupled in anti-series connection. | 09-26-2013 |
20130240165 | Motorized Drive Unit Assembly For A Shade System - A motor drive unit assembly for a motorized drapery system having a drapery fabric can include a motor having a drive shaft, an output member rotatable about a drive axis, such that rotation of the output member about the drive axis causes the drapery fabric to move, and a clutch member operatively coupled between the drive shaft of the motor and the output member. The clutch member is configured to automatically couple the output member to the drive shaft such that rotation of the motor drive shaft causes the output member to rotate about the drive axis when the motor drives the drive shaft. The clutch member is further configured to automatically decouple the output member from the motor drive shaft so that the output member rotates about the drive axis relative to the motor drive shaft when the output member is manually driven. | 09-19-2013 |
20130229269 | REMOTE CONTROL HAVING INDICIA AND A LOCATOR BUMP - A remote control includes a plurality of actuators and plurality of similarly-shaped icons for indicating the function of actuators. At least one of the actuators includes a locator bump that is positioned inside the icon on the actuator and extends above the surface of the actuator to provide tactile feedback to assist a user's finger in locating the actuator (for example, to turn on a lighting load when the control device is being operated in the dark space). The icon that has the locator bump inside of it is bigger than the second icon, such that the icons appear to be the same size to the human eye. In addition, the line weight of the first icon may be smaller than the line weight of the second icon, and there may be a gap between the first icon and the locator bump. For example, the first and second icons may be triangularly shaped or circularly shaped. | 09-05-2013 |
20130226351 | LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING AN ENERGY SAVINGS MODE - A load control system for a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building is operable to control a motorized window treatment in order to attempt to reduce the power consumption of the heating and cooling system. When the window may be receiving direct sunlight, the motorized window treatment closes a fabric covering the window when the heating and cooling system is cooling the space, and opens the fabric when the heating and cooling system is heating the space. In addition, when the space is unoccupied and the heating and cooling system is heating the space, the motorized window treatment may open the fabric if the window may be receiving direct sunlight, and may close the fabric if the window may not be receiving direct sunlight. | 08-29-2013 |
20130222122 | Two-Part Load Control System Mountable To A Single Electrical Wallbox - A load control system includes a load control device and a remote control for configuring and controlling operation of the load control device. The load control device and remote control may be mounted to an electrical wallbox. The system may be configured by associating the remote control with the load control device, and actuating a button on the remote control to configure the load control device. A second remote control device may be directly or indirectly associated with the load control device. The load control device and remote control may communicate via inductive coils that are magnetically coupled together. The remote control may be operable to charge a battery from energy derived from the magnetic coupling between the inductive coils. The load control device and remote control may include near-field communication modules that are operable to communicate wirelessly via near-field radiation. | 08-29-2013 |
20130214609 | Two-Part Load Control System Mountable To A Single Electrical Wallbox - A load control system includes a load control device and a remote control for configuring and controlling operation of the load control device. The load control device and remote control may be mounted to an electrical wallbox. The system may be configured by associating the remote control with the load control device, and actuating a button on the remote control to configure the load control device. A second remote control device may be directly or indirectly associated with the load control device. The load control device and remote control may communicate via inductive coils that are magnetically coupled together. The remote control may be operable to charge a battery from energy derived from the magnetic coupling between the inductive coils. The load control device and remote control may include near-field communication modules that are operable to communicate wirelessly via near-field radiation. | 08-22-2013 |
20130207553 | Load Control SystemHaving a Rotary Actuator - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link. | 08-15-2013 |
20130170263 | TWO-WIRE LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR LOW-POWER LOADS - A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch or an electronic switch) for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load includes a controllably conductive device for controlling the power to the load, a microprocessor operable to generate a control signal that is representative of whether the load should be controlled on or off, a capacitor operable to produce a supply voltage for powering the microprocessor, a power supply that charges the capacitor when the controllably conductive device is non-conductive, and a control circuit that receives the control signal from the microprocessor. The control circuit is operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device for maintaining the controllably conductive device non-conductive after the beginning of each half-cycle until the magnitude of the supply voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold. | 07-04-2013 |
20130169186 | Multiple Location Load Control System - A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and an electrical load, and to be further coupled together via an accessory wiring. The remote devices can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system, such that the main device is wired “in the middle” of the load control system. The main device is operable to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are operable to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle. | 07-04-2013 |
20130153162 | BATTERY-POWERED MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT HAVING A SERVICE POSITION - A battery-powered motorized window treatment for covering at least a portion of a window may be adjusted into a service position to allow for access to at least one battery that is powering the motorized window treatment. A headrail of the motorized window treatment may be adjusted to the service position to allow for easy replacement of the batteries without unmounting the headrail and without requiring tools. The motorized window treatment may comprise brackets having buttons that may be actuated to release the headrail from a locked position, such that the head rail may be rotated into the service position. The headrail easily rotates through a controlled movement into the service position, such that a user only needs one free hand available to move the motorized window treatment into the service position and change the batteries. | 06-20-2013 |
20130134882 | Universal-Voltage Self-Heating Thermal Detector - A self-heating thermal protector operates to disconnect a load control device for a lighting load from an AC power source when insulation is present around the insulation detector independent of the magnitude of an AC mains line voltage of the AC power source. The insulation detector comprises a temperature-sensitive switch and a constant power circuit that are located in a thermally-conductive enclosure. The temperature-sensitive switch is coupled between the AC power source and the load control device and is rendered conductive and non-conductive in response to a temperature inside the enclosure. The constant power circuit is coupled in parallel with the AC power source and dissipates a constant amount of power independent of the magnitude of the AC mains line voltage when the temperature-sensitive switch is conductive. Restricted airflow over the thermal protector causes the temperature inside the enclosure to increase, such that the temperature-sensitive switch is rendered non-conductive. | 05-30-2013 |
20130118695 | DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR A MOTORIZED ROLLER TUBE SYSTEM - A motorized roller tube for reeling and unreeling a flexible member between fully open and fully closed conditions operates with minimized sound level. A variable controller energizes a motor with a controllable RPM driving a gear reduction assembly. The motor has a speed versus torque characteristic which extends linearly from a high maximum RPM and low minimum torque, to a low minimum RPM and high maximum torque, and having a peak efficiency at a given RPM. The motor moves the flexible member between its fully open and fully closed positions at a motor speed less than the given peak efficiency RPM and less than 50% of its high maximum RPM, and at a motor efficiency which is less than 25% of the peak efficiency whereby the motor is intentionally operated in a high torque and low efficiency manner. | 05-16-2013 |
20130113284 | Load Control System Providing Manual Override of An Energy Savings Mode - A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device, a daylight control device, and a temperature control device operable to be controlled so as to decrease a total power consumption of the load control system in an energy-savings mode. The energy-savings mode can be manually overridden in response to actuation of the actuator of an input control device, such that the load control system enters a manual mode for manually adjusting the loads controlled by the lighting control device, the daylight control device, and the temperature control device. The load control system is operable to automatically return to the energy-savings mode at a time after the load control system entered the manual mode. | 05-09-2013 |
20130112797 | MOTORIZED ROLLER TUBE SYSTEM HAVING DUAL-MODE OPERATION - A motorized system for reeling and unreeling a flexible member on a roller tube between fully open wound and fully closed unwound conditions to minimize sound pressure level has a rotatable roller tube and a flexible member that winds on the tube. A d-c motor drives the tube through a gear reduction. The motor has a motor speed versus torque characteristic extending linearly from high maximum RPM, low minimum torque, to low minimum RPM high maximum torque with peak efficiency at a given RPM. The motor moves the member between the two positions at a motor speed less than the given peak efficiency RPM and less than 50% of high maximum RPM with efficiency less than 25% of peak efficiency, intentionally at a high torque and low efficiency. The motor has two or more modes each moving the member at predetermined different linear speed. | 05-09-2013 |
20130076555 | WIRELESS BATTERY-POWERED REMOTE CONTROL HAVING MULTIPLE MOUNTING MEANS - A remote control for a wireless load control system, the remote control comprising: a housing having a front surface and an outer periphery defined by a length and a width; an actuator provided at the front surface of the housing; a wireless transmitter contained within the housing; and a controller contained within the housing and coupled to the wireless transmitter for causing transmission of a wireless signal in response to an actuation of the actuator, the wireless transmitter and the controller adapted to be powered by a battery contained within the housing; wherein the length and the width of the housing are slightly smaller than a length and a width of a standard opening of a faceplate, respectively, such that the outer periphery of the housing is adapted to be received within the standard opening of the faceplate when the housing and the faceplate are mounted to a vertical surface. | 03-28-2013 |
20130073431 | Product Display For Wireless Load Control Devices - A merchandise display system presents a product for sale to a potential customer and allows the customer to control the product using their personal smart phone. The display system includes an electrical load and a load control device (i.e., the product for sale), which is electrically coupled to the electrical load and is operable to receive a wireless message for control of the electrical load. The display system may also include a scannable tag adapted to be scanned by the smart phone, such that the smart phone downloads a product control application in response to scanning the tag. The load control device controls the electrical load in response to the smart phone executing the product control application. Accordingly, the customer is able to simply download the product control application onto the smart phone, and then control the product by executing the product control application on the smart phone. | 03-21-2013 |
20130067264 | DIMMER HAVING A MICROPROCESSOR-CONTROLLED POWER SUPPLY - A load control device for control of the power delivered to an electrical load from a source of AC voltage, the load control device comprising: a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled between the source of AC voltage and the electrical load; a microprocessor coupled to the controllably conductive device for controlling the power delivered to the load; a power supply adapted to draw current from the source of AC voltage through the electrical load for generating a DC voltage across an energy storage capacitor for powering the microprocessor and the LED; and a load circuit drawing current from the energy storage capacitor of the power supply; wherein the microprocessor is operable to cause the load circuit to draw less current in response to determining that the energy storage capacitor does not have enough time to charge during each half-cycle of the AC voltage. | 03-14-2013 |
20130063047 | Load Control Device for a Light-Emitting Diode Light Source - An LED driver for controlling the intensity of an LED light source includes a power converter circuit for generating a DC bus voltage, an LED drive circuit for receiving the bus voltage and controlling a load current through, and thus the intensity of, the LED light source, and a controller operatively coupled to the power converter circuit and the LED drive circuit. The LED drive circuit comprises a controllable-impedance circuit adapted to be coupled in series with the LED light source. The controller adjusts the magnitude of the bus voltage to a target bus voltage and generates a drive signal for controlling the controllable-impedance circuit. To adjust the intensity of the LED light source, the controller controls both the magnitude of the load current and the magnitude of the regulator voltage. The controller controls the magnitude of the regulator voltage by simultaneously maintaining the magnitude of the drive signal constant and adjusting the target bus voltage. | 03-14-2013 |
20130049664 | Method of Automatically Controlling a Motorized Window Treatment While Minimizing Occupant Distractions - A load control system provides for automatically controlling a position of a motorized window treatment to control the amount of sunlight entering a space of a building through a window located in a façade of the building in order to control a sunlight penetration distance within the space and minimize occupant distractions. The load control system automatically generates a timeclock schedule having a number of timeclock events for controlling the position of the motorized window treatment during the present day. A user is able to select a desired maximum sunlight penetration distance for the space and a minimum time period that may occur between any two consecutive timeclock events. In addition, a maximum number of movements that may occur during the timeclock schedule may also be entered. The load control system uses these inputs to determine event times and corresponding positions of the motorized window treatment for each timeclock event. | 02-28-2013 |
20130038237 | BALLASTED LAMP SOCKET FOR A COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP - A ballasted lamp socket for a gas discharge lamp, such as a compact fluorescent lamp, is adapted to replace an Edison screw-in lamp socket in a ceiling mounted light fixture, or a table or floor lamp. The ballasted lamp socket comprises a lamp-receiving portion adapted to be coupled to the gas discharge lamp, an enclosure mechanically coupled to the lamp-receiving portion, a dimming ballast circuit electrically coupled to the lamp-receiving portion and housed within the enclosure, and first and second electrical connections. The ballast portion is adapted to receive an AC line voltage and to generate a high- frequency AC voltage for driving the gas discharge lamp and controlling the light intensity of the gas discharge lamp between a high-end intensity and a low-end intensity. The first and second electrical connections are operable to receive the AC line voltage and to provide the AC line voltage to the ballast circuit. | 02-14-2013 |
20130030589 | Load Control Device Having Internet Connectivity - A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address. | 01-31-2013 |
20130027176 | COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR A LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM - A communication protocol for a lighting control system having a plurality of control devices coupled to a communication link uses a polling technique to coordinate the transmission of digital messages between the control devices. When the control devices are powered up, one of the control devices is established as a “master” device. During normal operation, the master device transmits a standard poll message to each of the control devices in succession using a unique semi-permanent Poll ID for each of the control devices. The master device periodically transmits a Poll-ID-Request poll message to the control devices allow those devices that do not have a Poll ID to request a Poll ID. If a control device determines either that the master device is not transmitting poll messages to it, or that another control device has the same Poll ID, the control device drops its Poll ID and acquires another Poll ID. | 01-31-2013 |
20130026947 | Method Of Programming A Load Control Device Using A Smart Phone - A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address. | 01-31-2013 |
20130020964 | POWER CONVERTER FOR A CONFIGURABLE LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE DRIVER - A converter for an LED driver for an LED light source. The converter has a flyback transformer. The primary receives a rectified AC voltage. A switching transistor is coupled in series with the primary. A controller controls the switching transistor on and off to generate a bus voltage across the secondary and a center tap voltage at a center tap of the secondary. The controller is powered by a first low-voltage DC voltage. A first power supply receives the center tap voltage and generates a second low-voltage DC voltage when the center tap voltage is above a cutover voltage. A second power supply has an output coupled to the first power supply output. The second power supply receives the bus voltage and generates the second DC voltage when the center tap voltage is below the cutover voltage. | 01-24-2013 |
20130018522 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROGRAMMING A CONFIGURABLE LOAD CONTROL DEVICE - A system for configuring an output parameter of a lighting load power supply, the power supply having a programmable controller for regulating the output parameter to a target value and a memory for storing a variable for setting the target value. The power supply has a communication port for data for setting the target value. A computer executes software allowing a user to select a target value and provides data related to the selected parameter. A programming device in communication with the computer provides data relating to the selected parameter to the communication port for programming the controller to set the parameter to the target value. | 01-17-2013 |
20130010018 | Method Of Optically Transmitting Digital Information From A Smart Phone To A Control Device - A load control device is able to receive radio-frequency (RF) signals from a Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone, via a wireless local area network. The load control device comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load, a controller for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive, and a Wi-Fi module operable to receive the RF signals from the wireless network. The controller controls the controllably conductive device to adjust the power delivered to the load in response to the wireless signals received from the wireless network. The load control device may further comprise an optical module operable to receive an optical signal, such that the controller may obtain an IP address from the received optical signal and control the power delivered to the load in response to a wireless signal that includes the IP address. | 01-10-2013 |
20120313535 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING AN AMBIENT LIGHT THRESHOLD - A load control device adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load includes a controller, an actuator for turning the electrical load on and off, an occupancy detection circuit, and an ambient light detector. The load control device automatically turns on the electrical load in response to the presence of an occupant only if the detected ambient light is below a predetermined ambient light level threshold. After first detecting the presence of an occupant, the load control device monitors actuations of the actuator to determine whether a user has changed the state of the load. The load control device automatically adjusts the predetermined ambient light level threshold in response to the user actuations that change the state of the load. | 12-13-2012 |
20120313456 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE HAVING AN ELECTRICALLY ISOLATED ANTENNA - A load control device for controlling the power delivered from a power source to an electrical load includes an antenna and a communication circuit to receive and transmit messages via radio frequency (RF) signals. The communication circuit is coupled to the power source but is capacitively coupled to the antenna. The capacitive coupling is formed through multiple layers of a printed circuit board (PCB) in which each layer includes a conductive trace that neighbors another conductive trace on an adjacent layer. The capacitive coupling provides that the antenna is electrically isolated from the communication circuit which accordingly, provides that the antenna is electrically isolated from the power source. | 12-13-2012 |
20120312576 | MOUNTING PLATE HAVING FACEPLATE GROUNDING MEANS - A mounting plate for a control device is adapted to be coupled to an electrical wallbox and is made of a non-conductive material. The mounting plate comprises at least one faceplate screw opening for receiving a faceplate screw such that a faceplate may be coupled to the mounting plate during installation. The mounting plate further comprises a ground wire. The ground wire is adapted to be coupled to earth ground and is also positioned to overlap a portion of the faceplate screw opening. During the installation of the faceplate, as the faceplate screw is inserted into the faceplate screw opening of the yoke, the faceplate screw contacts the ground wire as well as the faceplate. In the event that the faceplate is made of metal, the faceplate will be coupled to the ground wire, and thus, safely grounded. | 12-13-2012 |
20120306376 | Control Device for Providing A Visual Indication of Energy Savings and Usage Information - A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to and thus the intensity of a lighting load comprises a visual display operable to provide a visual indication representative of energy savings and usage information. The dimmer switch comprises an intensity adjustment actuator, such as a slider knob or a rotary knob, which may be coupled to a potentiometer for adjusting the amount of power delivered to the lighting load. The potentiometer may comprise a dual potentiometer including a resistive element and a conductive element having a cut. The visual display may comprise a single visual indicator, which may be illuminated a first color, such as green, when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to the eco-level intensity, and illuminated a second different color, such as red, when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the eco-level intensity. | 12-06-2012 |
20120286676 | Load Control Device that is Responsive to Different Types of Wireless Transmitters - A load control system for controlling an electrical load includes multiple wireless transmitters and a load control device that is able to automatically adjust how the load control device operates in response to type of wireless transmitters that are associated with the load control device. The load control device automatically operates in a first mode of operation if only the first transmitter is associated with the load control device, and automatically operates in a second mode of operation if both the first and second transmitters are associated with the load control device. The first transmitter may comprise a daylight sensor, and the load control device may only turn on the electrical load in one of the two modes in response to the daylight sensor. | 11-15-2012 |
20120223656 | Smart Load Control Device Having a Rotary Actuator - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link. | 09-06-2012 |
20120133287 | Wireless Sensor Having a Variable Transmission Rate - A sensing device transmits wireless signals when an error between at least one sampled parameter value and at least one predicted parameter value is too great, such that the sensing device transmits wireless signals to a load control device using a variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the amount of change in a value of the parameter. The sensing device uses the one or more estimators to determine the predicted parameter value, and may transmit the estimators to the load control device if the error is too great. The load control device uses the estimators to determine at least one estimated parameter value and controls the electrical load in response to the estimated parameter value. The sensing device may comprise, for example, a daylight sensor for measuring a total light intensity in the space around the sensor or a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature around the sensor. | 05-31-2012 |
20120125543 | Motorized Venetian Blind System - A motorized venetian blind system for covering a window of a space comprising a blind drive unit having two motors to provide for independent control of a position of a bottom rail and a tilt angle of a plurality of slats of the blind system. The blind drive unit is operable to adjust the position of the bottom rail to a preset position, and to adjust the tilt angle of the slats to a preset angle in response to receiving a single digital message (e.g., a preset command). The blind drive unit is operable to automatically adjust the position of the bottom rail and the tilt angle of the slats to limit a direct sunlight penetration distance in the space to a maximum direct sunlight penetration distance, and to maximum a reflected sunlight penetration distance on a ceiling of the space, while minimizing occupant distractions. | 05-24-2012 |
20120095601 | Dynamic Keypad for Controlling Energy-Savings Modes of a Load Control System - A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load, a motorized window treatment comprising a window treatment fabric for covering the window, a temperature control device for controlling a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building, and a dynamic keypad comprising a visual display and operable to receive a user input. The dynamic keypad allows a user to select, adjust, and monitor a plurality of energy-savings modes of the load control system. For example, the dynamic keypad allows the user to enable and adjust a setback temperature of the temperature control device on-the-fly. | 04-19-2012 |
20120091804 | Load Control System Having an Energy Savings Mode - A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load, a daylight control device (such as a motorized window treatment) for adjusting the amount of natural light to be admitted through a window, and a controller for adjusting a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building. In response to receiving a demand response command, the controller controls the lighting control device, the daylight control device, and the heating and cooling system so as to decrease a total power consumption of the load control system. The load control system may comprise a controllable switching device for disconnecting power to or disconnecting the control lines to one or more components of the heating and cooling system. | 04-19-2012 |
20120091213 | Wall-Mountable Temperature Control Device for a Load Control System Having an Energy Savings Mode - A wall-mountable temperature control device having a vertically-arranged temperature adjustment actuator for adjusting a setpoint temperature of a temperature control system to thus control a present temperature in a building, a room temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the present temperature of the building, and a setpoint temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the setpoint temperature. The room and setpoint temperature visual displays each comprising a linear array of light-emitting diodes arranged parallel to the temperature adjustment actuator and controlled such that one of the light-emitting diodes of the setpoint temperature visual display is illuminated to display the setpoint temperature in response to the actuations of the temperature adjustment actuator and one of the light-emitting diodes of the room temperature visual display is illuminated to display the present temperature. | 04-19-2012 |
20120090795 | Manual Roller Shade System - A manual roller shade system includes a rotatably-mounted roller tube, a flexible shade fabric windingly received around the roller tube, and first and second elongated telescoping structures that allow for rotating the roller tube for manually raising and lowering the shade fabric. The roller shade system also has a clutch mechanism coupled to the roller tube, and a drive chain coupled to the clutch mechanism. The first and second elongated telescoping structures receive first and second end portions of the drive chain, respectively, and are connected to the first and second telescoping structures, such that the roller tube rotates in the first angular direction to raise the shade fabric when the first telescoping structure is pulled downward, and in the second angular direction to lower the shade fabric when the second telescoping structure is pulled downward. | 04-19-2012 |
20120078547 | INTERNET BASED ENERGY CONTROL SYSTEM - A system and method for providing power usage information by an electric power meter. The meter measures and reports power usage of at least one of a plurality of electrical loads connected into an electrical power network, wherein the electric power meter is synchronized to measure power usage at a particular time, and is further configured and operable to communicate over a first data network that is communicatively coupled to a second data network, and further wherein at least one firewall is positioned between the first and second data networks. | 03-29-2012 |
20120073765 | Motorized Venetian Blind System - A motorized venetian blind system for covering a window of a space comprising a blind drive unit having two motors to provide for independent control of a position of a bottom rail via a lift cord and a tilt angle of a plurality of slats of the blind system. The blind drive unit has a headrail with a side panel and at least one of the motors is between between the side panel and the lift cord. The blind drive unit also has a spring-wrap brake. The blind drive unit is operable to adjust the position of the bottom rail to a preset position, and to adjust the tilt angle of the slats to a preset angle in response to receiving a single digital message (e.g., a preset command). | 03-29-2012 |
20120056712 | METHOD OF CONFIGURING A TWO-WAY WIRELESS LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING ONE-WAY WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL DEVICES - A radio-frequency (RF) load control system includes both two-way and one-way (e.g., transmit-only) remote control devices, and provides a simple, reliable process for configuring the one-way devices into the system. The one-way device may be programmed to operate at one of a predetermined number of radio frequencies as part of a frequency-selection procedure, during which, the one-way device transmits a test command to a signal repeater of the system. If the test command is transmitted at the same frequency as the repeater, the repeater emits an audible beep to inform the user that the remote control is transmitting at the appropriate frequency. To associate the two-way devices with the system, the signal repeater streams an “enter address mode” command. To allow the one-way device to be associated with the system, the signal repeater pauses the transmission of the enter address mode command to allow the one-way device to transmit an activation request message to the signal repeater. | 03-08-2012 |
20120044599 | Surge Suppression Circuit for a Load Control Device - A surge suppression circuit for a load control device allows the load control device to pass hipot testing, while providing improved protection of the load control device during surge events. The load control device comprises a load control circuit and a filter circuit for preventing noise generated by the load control circuit from being provided to an AC power source. The surge suppression circuit comprises a clamping device adapted to be electrically coupled across the AC power source, and first and second spark gaps coupled across the filter circuit for limiting the magnitude of the voltage generated by inductive components of the filter circuit. The filter circuit may comprise a common-mode choke, and two series-connected capacitor having their junction connected to earth ground. Alternatively, the filter circuit may additionally comprise a differential-mode choke. | 02-23-2012 |
20120043905 | Method of Controlling an Operating Frequency of an Inverter Circuit in an Electronic Dimming Ballast - An electronic ballast having an inverter circuit for driving a gas discharge lamp prevents allows some hard switching to occur in the inverter circuit in order to ensure adequate ballasting impedance to provide stable operation of the lamp, but not enough hard switching to generate excessive power loss in the inverter circuit. The inverter circuit comprises two switching devices that are coupled in series between a DC bus voltage and circuit common and are rendered conductive on a complementary basis, such that a high-frequency output voltage is generated at the junction of the switching devices. When the intensity of the lamp is at or near a low-end intensity, an operating frequency of the high-frequency output voltage is controlled to a low-end frequency that is low enough to ensure stable operation of the lamp and to allow some hard switching to occur in the switching devices, but high enough to prevent excessive power loss due to the hard switching in the switching devices. | 02-23-2012 |
20120043903 | Method of Measuring a Resonant Frequency in an Electronic Dimming Ballast - An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp comprises an inverter circuit, a resonant tank circuit, and a control circuit operable to determine an approximation of a resonant frequency of the resonant tank circuit and to control the inverter circuit in response to the approximation of the resonant frequency. The control circuit determines the approximation of the resonant frequency by adjusting an operating frequency of a high-frequency inverter output voltage provided to the resonant tank circuit from a frequency above the resonant frequency down towards the resonant frequency, measuring the magnitude of a lamp voltage across the lamp, and storing the present value of the operating frequency as the resonant frequency when the magnitude of the lamp voltage reaches a maximum value. The control circuit may control the operating frequency of the inverter output voltage in response to the approximation of the resonant frequency and a target intensity of the lamp. | 02-23-2012 |
20120043900 | Method and Apparatus for Measuring Operating Characteristics in a Load Control Device - A load control device, such as an electronic ballast, for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, such as one or more fluorescent lamps, comprises a power converter having an inductor and a power switching device coupled to the inductor, a load control circuit adapted to be coupled to the electrical load, and a control circuit operable to calculate an average input power of the load control device. The control circuit may be operable to calculate a cumulative output power of the power converter while the ballast is preheating filaments of the lamps, and to subsequently determine a fault condition in the lamps in response to the calculated cumulative output power of the power converter. Further, the control circuit may be operable to transmit a digital message including the calculated average input power of the load control device. | 02-23-2012 |
20120043899 | Electronic Dimming Ballast Having Advanced Boost Converter Control - An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp includes a power converter for generating a DC bus voltage, where the bus voltage is controlled to different magnitudes during different operating modes of the ballast. The ballast comprises a control circuit that is coupled to the power converter for adjusting the magnitude of the bus voltage to a first magnitude when the lamp is off, to a second magnitude when preheating filaments of the lamp, and to a third magnitude when the lamp is on. The control circuit is also operable to preemptively adjust the magnitude of the bus voltage prior to changing modes of operation. For example, when turning the load on, the control circuit first adjusts a power-conversion-drive level of the power converter to begin adjusting the magnitude of the bus voltage towards a predetermined magnitude, and then waits for a predetermined time period before attempting to turn the load on. | 02-23-2012 |
20120032649 | Power Supply for a Load Control Device - A power supply for a load control device generates a DC voltage and provides an asymmetrical output current, while drawing a substantially symmetrical input current. The power supply comprises a controllably conductive switching circuit for controllably charging an energy storage capacitor across which the DC voltage is produced. The energy storage capacitor begins charging at the beginning of a half-cycle and stops charging after a charging time in response to the magnitude of the DC voltage and the amount of time that the energy storage capacitor has been charging during the present half-cycle. The charging time is maintained substantially constant from one half-cycle to the next. The power supply is particularly beneficial for preventing asymmetrical current from flowing in a multiple location load control system having a master load control device supplying power to a plurality of remote load control devices all located on either the line-side or the load-side of the system. | 02-09-2012 |
20120025802 | Power Supply For A Load Control Device - A load control device adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load includes a power supply having an energy storage capacitor and a charge pump circuit adapted to conduct an input charging current through the load and to conduct an output charging current through the energy storage capacitor to thus generate a DC supply voltage across the energy storage capacitor, where the output charging current has a magnitude greater than the input charging current. The charge pump circuit includes a switched capacitor operable to charge through the load during a first half-cycle, and to discharge into the energy storage capacitor in a second, subsequent half-cycle. The charge pump circuit operates at line frequency and the magnitude of the input charging current is substantially small so as to avoid generating noise in a noise-sensitive circuit of the load control device. | 02-02-2012 |
20120001487 | Load Control System That Operates in an Energy-Savings Mode When an Electric Vehicle Charger is Charging a Vehicle - A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, a heating and cooling system, and an electric vehicle charger for charging a vehicle (e.g., an electric or hybrid vehicle) operates in an energy-savings mode to reduce the total power consumption of the load control system when the vehicle charger is presently charging the vehicle. The load control system may comprise a lighting control device for controlling the intensity of the lighting load, a daylight control device for adjusting the amount of natural light admitted through the window, and a temperature control device for controlling a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building. When the vehicle charger is presently charging the vehicle, the load control system automatically controls the lighting control device, the daylight control device, and the temperature control device to decrease the total power consumption of the load control system. | 01-05-2012 |
20110267802 | STRUCTURE FOR MOUNTING A WIRELESS BATTERY-POWERED REMOTE CONTROL - A mounting structure enables a portable remote control device, that operates a load control device of a wirelessly controlled lighting system, to be mounted to a vertical surface (e.g., to an opening of an electrical wallbox). The mounting structure comprises a mounting fixture for attaching to the vertical surface, an opening sized to receive the remote control device, and a flexible leaf in the opening that receives the remote control device. The flexible leaf may project upwardly in the opening for receiving a flanged recess of the remote control device disposed on a rear surface of the remote control device, whereby the remote control device can be slidably received on the flexible leaf and when fully received on the leaf is retained in position on the mounting structure such that the remote control device is framed by the opening in the mounting structure. | 11-03-2011 |
20110266959 | Method of Striking a Lamp in an Electronic Dimming Ballast Circuit - A method of striking a gas discharge lamp involves the steps of generating a high-frequency square-wave voltage having an operating frequency, generating a sinusoidal voltage from the high-frequency square-wave voltage, controlling the operating frequency to a low-end frequency, and increasing the amplitude of the sinusoidal voltage during successive pulse times and then decreasing the amplitude of the sinusoidal voltage towards the low-end amplitude at the end of each of the successive pulse times until the lamp has struck, where the length of each of the successive pulse times being greater than the length of the previous pulse time. A maximum amplitude of the sinusoidal voltage during each pulse time may be greater than a maximum amplitude of the sinusoidal voltage during the previous pulse time. | 11-03-2011 |
20110241561 | Method of Controlling an Electronic Dimming Ballast During Low Temperature Conditions - An electronic ballast circuit for driving a gas discharge lamp is operable to control the lamp to avoid flicking and flashing of the intensity of the lamp during low temperature conditions. The ballast circuit includes an inverter circuit for receiving a DC bus voltage and for generating a high-frequency output voltage, a resonant tank circuit for receiving the high-frequency output voltage and generating a sinusoidal voltage for driving said lamp, and a control circuit operatively coupled to the inverter circuit for adjusting an intensity of the lamp between a minimum intensity and a maximum intensity. The control circuit receives a control signal representative of a lamp temperature of the lamp, and increases the minimum intensity of the lamp if the lamp temperature of the lamp drops below a cold temperature threshold. In addition, the ballast circuit may also include a temperature sensing circuit operable to generate the control signal representative of the lamp temperature of the lamp. | 10-06-2011 |
20110240233 | Roller Shade System Having a Pleated Shade Fabric - A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The system comprises a pleating hembar contained within a hembar pocket of the shade fabric. The hembar is characterized by a non-linear shape, such as a serpentine shape, for causing the shade fabric to hang with a plurality of pleats. The hembar may comprise a plurality of C-shaped hembar sections flexibly coupled to each other. The system may also comprise an elongated pleating assembly mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines a non-linear (e.g., serpentine) path. The shade fabric may be received through the fabric-receiving opening and folded by the pleating assembly, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates. | 10-06-2011 |
20110187332 | Switching Circuit Having Delay For Inrush Current Protection - A two-wire switching circuit can handle a large inrush current, but does not require a neutral connection or a heavy-duty mechanical switch or relay. The switching circuit comprises a mechanical air-gap switch and a controllably conductive device, which are coupled in series and are adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load when the mechanical switch is in a first position. A first delay circuit is coupled in parallel with the controllably conductive device and in series with the mechanical air-gap switch. A latching circuit, which is responsive to the first delay circuit, is coupled to the controllably conductive device for controlling the controllably conductive device. The first delay circuit causes the latching circuit to control the controllably conductive device to be conductive after a first predetermined time after the mechanical air-gap switch changes to the first position. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187286 | Switching Circuit Having Delay For Inrush Current Protection - A two-wire switching circuit can handle a large inrush current, but does not require a neutral connection or a heavy-duty mechanical switch or relay. The switching circuit comprises a mechanical air-gap switch, a first controllably conductive device (e.g., a bidirectional semiconductor switch), and a second controllably conductive device (e.g., a latching relay), which are all adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load when the air-gap switch is in a first position. First and second delay circuits control the semiconductor switch and the latching relay to be conductive at different times after the air-gap switch is changed to the first position. Specifically, the semiconductor switch is rendered conductive before the latching relay is rendered conductive, such that the semiconductor switch conducts the large inrush current. The latching relay conducts current from the AC power source to the electrical load after the inrush current has subsided. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187282 | Smart Load Control Device Having a Rotary Actuator - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link. | 08-04-2011 |
20110181446 | Keypad Device Having a Removable Button Assembly - A control device, such as a keypad device, for use in a load control system for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a switch, a yoke fixedly mounted with respect to the switch, and a removable button assembly that may be removed from the control device. The removable button assembly comprises a spring tree having a frame portion and at least one button pivotably coupled to the frame portion. The button assembly is received within a channel of the yoke and is positioned such that the button is operable to actuate the switch when the button is pressed. The button assembly is adapted to slide through the channel, such that the button assembly may be removed from the control device. Accordingly, the button of the control device may be easily changed after installation of the control device. | 07-28-2011 |
20110162946 | Load Control Device Having A Visual Indication of Energy Savings and Usage Information - A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to and thus the intensity of a lighting load comprises a visual display operable to provide a visual indication representative of energy savings and usage information. The dimmer switch comprises an intensity adjustment actuator, such as a slider knob or a rotary knob, which may be coupled to a potentiometer for adjusting the amount of power delivered to the lighting load. The potentiometer may comprise a dual potentiometer including a resistive element and a conductive element having a cut. The visual display may comprise a single visual indicator, which may be illuminated a first color, such as green, when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to the eco-level intensity, and illuminated a second different color, such as red, when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the eco-level intensity. | 07-07-2011 |
20110147190 | Control Button Having a Single Return Spring for Multiple Buttons - A control device, such as a wireless remote control for a load control system, comprises a return spring that operates to return multiple buttons to respective idle positions resulting in lower cost and complexity of the remote control. Specifically, the remote control comprises a first button having an edge, and a second button having a flange positioned adjacent the edge of the first button, such that the edge of the first button rests on the flange of the second button. The return spring has a first end fixed in location with respect to the housing and a second end contacting the second button for returning to the second button to an idle position after an actuation of the second button. After an actuation of the first button, the return spring causes the flange of the second button to force the first button back to an idle position. | 06-23-2011 |
20110140548 | Method and Apparatus for Converting an Electronic Switch to a Dimmer Switch - A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load is operable to be converted from being configured as an electronic switch to being configured as a dimmer switch after installation. The load control device comprises a dimmer bezel having a control actuator and an intensity adjustment actuator and a detachable switch bezel adapted to be attached to the dimmer bezel. The detachable switch bezel has an opening through which the control actuator may be actuated, and is adapted to cover the intensity adjustment actuator when the detachable switch bezel is attached to the dimmer bezel. The load control device is operable to change from a switch mode of operation to a dimmer mode of operation after the detachable switch bezel is removed from the dimmer bezel. | 06-16-2011 |
20110139965 | Daylight Sensor Having a Rotatable Enclosure - A daylight sensor is adapted to be mounted to a surface in a space having a window, and has a rotatable enclosure for directing a lens of the daylight sensor towards the window. The daylight sensor includes a photosensitive circuit for measuring a light intensity in the space, and an enclosure for housing the photosensitive circuit. The lens directs light from the space towards the photosensitive circuit. The enclosure has a cover portion and a base portion adapted to be mounted to the surface. The cover portion is rotatable with respect to the base portion, so as to direct the lens towards the window after the base portion is mounted to the surface. The base portion may also include a cylindrical wall having a channel adapted to capture a snap of the cover portion, such that the snap may move angularly through the channel to allow for rotation of the cover portion with respect to the base portion. | 06-16-2011 |
20110115293 | METHOD FOR REPLACING A LOAD CONTROL DEVICE OF A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM - The invention regards a system and method for using a handheld programming device to configure a lighting control system wirelessly. In one embodiment, at least one device configured with a processing section is installed in the lighting control system. A communications receiver that is operable to receive a signal from the handheld programming device is also installed in the lighting control system, wherein the signal includes an instruction for configuring the lighting control system. Further, the signal is wirelessly sent from the handheld programming device to the communications receiver, and the instruction is transmitted from the communications receiver to a device in the system. The instruction functions to configure the lighting control system. | 05-19-2011 |
20110080112 | CLOSED-LOOP LOAD CONTROL CIRCUIT HAVING A WIDE OUTPUT RANGE - A load control circuit, such as a light-emitting diode (LED) driver, for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load, such as an LED light source, comprises a regulation transistor adapted to be coupled in series with the load, and a feedback circuit coupled in series with the regulation transistor, whereby the load control circuit is able to control the magnitude of a load current conducted through the load from a minimum load current to a maximum load current, which is at least approximately one thousand times larger than the minimum load current. The feedback circuit generates at least one load current feedback signal representative of the magnitude of the load current. The regulation transistor operates in the linear region to control the magnitude of the load current conducted through the load in response to the magnitude of the load current determined from the load current feedback signal. | 04-07-2011 |
20110080111 | CONFIGURABLE LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCES - A configurable light-emitting diode (LED) driver is adapted to control a plurality of different LED light sources, which may be rated to operate using different load control techniques, different dimming techniques, and different magnitudes of load current and voltage. The LED driver comprises a power converter circuit for generating a DC bus voltage, and an LED drive circuit for receiving the bus voltage and adjusting either the magnitude of the current conducted through the LED light source or the magnitude of the voltage across the LED light source. The LED driver is operable to dim the LED light source using either a pulse-width modulation technique or a constant current reduction technique, and may be configured using a programming device and a personal computer. | 04-07-2011 |
20110080110 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHT SOURCE - A light-emitting diode (LED) driver is adapted to control either the magnitude of the current conducted through a LED light source or the magnitude of a voltage generated across the LED light source. The LED driver comprises a power converter circuit for generating a DC bus voltage, and an LED drive circuit for receiving the bus voltage and adjusting the magnitude of the current conducted through the LED light source. The LED driver is operable to dim the LED light source using either a pulse-width modulation technique or a constant current reduction technique. The LED drive circuit may comprise a controllable-impedance circuit, such as a linear regulator. The LED driver may be operable to control the magnitude of the bus voltage to optimize the efficiency and reduce the power dissipation in the LED drive circuit, as well ensuring that the load voltage and current do not have any ripple. | 04-07-2011 |
20110074222 | Multiple Location Load Control System - A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and an electrical load, and to be further coupled together via an accessory wiring. The remote devices can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system, such that the main device is wired “in the middle” of the load control system. The main device is operable to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are operable to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half-cycle. | 03-31-2011 |
20110068769 | Dimmer Switch With Adjustable High-End Trim - A dimmer switch has a user adjustable high-end trim. The dimmer switch includes a bidirectional semiconductor switch, such as a triac, for controlling the amount of power delivered from a source of alternating current power to a lighting load, such as an electric lamp. A user-adjustable timing circuit controls the conduction time of the triac from a minimum time to a maximum time. The maximum possible conduction time of the triac is the high-end trim. The minimum possible conduction time of the triac is the low-end trim. The timing circuit includes a user-accessible switch that allows a user to reduce the high-end trim from a first nominal level to a second reduced level, lower than the first level, without substantially affecting the low-end trim. The switch allows a user to switch a transient voltage suppressor into and out of parallel connection with a resistor that is part of an RC timing circuit for the triac. The dimmer switch advantageously uses less energy and the lifetime of the lamp is extended when the second reduced level of the high-end trim is selected. | 03-24-2011 |
20110058296 | Method of Detecting a Fault Condition of a Load Control Device - A load control device comprises a bidirectional semiconductor switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load, and the bidirectional semiconductor switch further comprises two field effect transistors (FETs) in anti-series electrical connection. In the event that one of the FETs fails in a shorted state, and if the load control device is using a phase control dimming technique to control the load, the load control device may provide an asymmetric waveform to the electrical load. In order to determine whether this asymmetric waveform is present, a microprocessor of the load control device use voltage thresholds and/or offsets to monitor the voltage across the FETs. Thus, the microprocessor is operable to detect a fault condition of the load control device wherein the fault condition may comprise an asymmetry condition, or more particularly, a failure condition of one of the FETs. | 03-10-2011 |
20110050451 | METHOD OF SELECTING A TRANSMISSION FREQUENCY OF A ONE-WAY WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE - A radio-frequency (RF) load control system includes both two-way and one-way (e.g., transmit-only) remote control devices, and provides a simple, reliable process for configuring the one-way devices into the system. The one-way device may be programmed to operate at one of a predetermined number of radio frequencies as part of a frequency-selection procedure, during which, the one-way device transmits a test command to a signal repeater of the system. If the test command is transmitted at the same frequency as the repeater, the repeater emits an audible beep to inform the user that the remote control is transmitting at the appropriate frequency. To associate the two-way devices with the system, the signal repeater streams an “enter address mode” command. To allow the one-way device to be associated with the system, the signal repeater pauses the transmission of the enter address mode command to allow the one-way device to transmit an activation request message to the signal repeater. | 03-03-2011 |
20110035061 | Load Control System Having An Energy Savings Mode - A load control system for a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building is operable to control a motorized window treatment in response to a demand response command in order to attempt to reduce the power consumption of the heating and cooling system. When the window may be receiving direct sunlight, the motorized window treatment closes a fabric covering the window when the heating and cooling system is cooling the building, and opens the fabric when the heating and cooling system is heating the building. In addition, when the space is unoccupied and the heating and cooling system is heating the building, the motorized window treatment may open the fabric if the window may be receiving direct sunlight, and may close the fabric if the window may not be receiving direct sunlight. | 02-10-2011 |
20110031806 | Load Control System Having An Energy Savings Mode - A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load, a daylight control device, such as a motorized window treatment, for adjusting the amount of natural light to be admitted through a window, and a temperature control device for controlling a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building. The load control system may also comprise a controllable electrical receptacle for turning on and off a plug-in electrical load connected thereto. The lighting control device, the daylight control device, the temperature control device, and the controllable receptacle are controlled so as to decrease a total power consumption of the load control system in response to a received demand response command. | 02-10-2011 |
20110029139 | Load control system having an energy savings mode - A load control system for a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building controls amount of daylight entering the window in order to attempt to reduce the power consumption of the heating and cooling system, and adjusts amount of daylight entering the window if the heating and cooling system is not saving energy. A motorized window treatment of the load control system is operable to move a fabric covering the window in a first direction, and a temperature control device is operable to subsequently determine if the heating and cooling system is consuming more energy than when the fabric was in the initial position. The motorized window treatment then moves the fabric in a second direction opposite the first direction if the heating and cooling system is consuming more energy than when the fabric was in the initial position. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029136 | Load Control System Having An Energy Savings Mode - A load control system for a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building uses a daylighting procedure to adjust the amount of power delivered to the lighting load in response to the amount of daylight entering the window, and controls amount of daylight entering the window in order to attempt to reduce the power consumption of the heating and cooling system if the daylighting procedure is not causing the heating and cooling system to save energy. If the lighting load is consuming more energy when the fabric of the motorized window treatment is at a position above the fully-closed position than the lighting load would consume if the fabric was at the fully-closed position, the motorized window treatment moves the fabric to the fully-closed position. | 02-03-2011 |
20110018611 | FORCE INVARIANT TOUCH SENSITIVE ACTUATOR - A user interface for a lighting control, the user interface comprising a touch sensitive front surface having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis; a four-wire resistive touch pad responsive to a point actuation on the touch sensitive front surface, the resistive touch pad having a longitudinal resistive element for providing a first control signal representative of the position of the point actuation along the longitudinal axis, and a lateral resistive element for providing a second control signal representative of the position of the point actuation along the lateral axis; a controller operable to receive the first and second control signals; a first capacitor adapted to be coupled between the lateral resistive element and a circuit common, the first capacitor operable to charge and discharge through the longitudinal resistive element of the resistive touch pad to stabilize the first control signal; and first, second, and third switches responsive to the controller, each of the switches comprising first, second, and third terminals, and operable to be controlled between a first position in which the first terminal is electrically connected to the second terminal, and a second position in which the first terminal is electrically connected to the third terminal, the switches coupled to the touch sensitive device, such that when the controller controls all of the switches to the first position, a DC supply voltage is coupled across the longitudinal resistive element, the controller is coupled to the lateral resistive element, and the first capacitor is coupled between the lateral resistive element and the circuit common, and when the controller controls all of the switches to the second position, the DC supply voltage is coupled across the lateral resistive element and the controller is coupled to the longitudinal resistive element;
| 01-27-2011 |
20110018610 | FORCE INVARIANT TOUCH SENSITIVE ACTUATOR - A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device comprising a semiconductor switch operable to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load, the semiconductor switch having a control input for controlling the semiconductor switch between a non-conductive state and a conductive state; a controller operatively coupled to the control input of the semiconductor switch for controlling the semiconductor switch between the non-conductive state and the conductive state; a touch sensitive front surface; a touch sensitive device responsive to a point actuation on the touch sensitive front surface, the point actuation characterized by a position and a force, the touch sensitive device comprising a resistive divider and an output operatively coupled to the controller for providing a control signal to the controller; and a capacitor coupled to the output of the touch sensitive device for stabilizing the control signal; wherein the capacitor is operable to charge and discharge through the resistive divider of the touch sensitive device, such that the control signal is representative of the position of the point actuation. | 01-27-2011 |
20100314052 | Roller Shade System Having a Pleated Fabric - A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The system comprises a pleating bar mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines, for example, a serpentine path. The shade fabric is received through the fabric-receiving opening and is folded by the pleating bar, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates. The shade fabric is neatly wrapped around the roller tube (i.e., bunching of the shade fabric is avoided) and is stored out-of-sight when rolled up. | 12-16-2010 |
20100294438 | ROMAN SHADE SYSTEM - A shade system comprises a shade fabric, such as a roman shade fabric, a roller tube, at least one wide flexible lift band (i.e., a section of flexible material) windingly received around the roller tube and extending from the roller tube to a bottom end the of the shade fabric, and a plurality of coupling structures for holding the flexible material adjacent to a rear surface of the shade fabric. Each coupling structure is attached to the rear surface of the shade fabric at attachment points that are spaced apart, such that the coupling structures and the shade fabric form openings for slidingly receiving the lift band. The lift band is coupled to the bottom end of the shade fabric, such that bottom end of the shade fabric moves up and down as the roller tube is rotated in respective directions, so as to raise and lower the shade fabric. | 11-25-2010 |
20100270982 | Smart Electronic Switch for Low-Power Loads - A two-wire smart load control device, such as an electronic switch, for controlling the power delivered from a power source to an electrical load comprises a relay for conducting a load current through the load and an in-line power supply coupled in series with the relay for generating a supply voltage across a capacitor when the relay is conductive. The power supply controls when the capacitor charges asynchronously with respect to the frequency of the source. The capacitor conducts the load current for at least a portion of a line cycle of the source when the relay is conductive. The load control device also comprises a bidirectional semiconductor switch, which is controlled to minimize the inrush current conducted through the relay. The bidirectional semiconductor switch is rendered conductive in response to an over-current condition in the capacitor of the power supply, and the relay is rendered non-conductive in response to an over-temperature condition in the power supply. | 10-28-2010 |
20100269983 | Roller Shade System Having Hembar for Pleating A Shade Fabric - A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The system comprises a pleating hembar contained within a hembar pocket of the shade fabric. The hembar is characterized by a non-linear shape, such as a serpentine shape, for causing the shade fabric to hang with a plurality of pleats. The hembar may comprise a plurality of C-shaped hembar sections flexibly coupled to each other. The system may also comprise an elongated pleating assembly mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines a non-linear (e.g., serpentine) path. The shade fabric may be received through the fabric-receiving opening and folded by the pleating assembly, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates. | 10-28-2010 |
20100246082 | Communication Circuit for a Digital Electronic Dimming Ballast - A communication circuit for an electronic dimming ballast provides high-voltage miswire protection and improved rise and fall times of a transmitted digital signal. The electronic dimming ballast comprises a control circuit, which is coupled to a digital communication link, for example, a DALI communication link, via the communication circuit. The communication circuit comprises a receiving circuit for detecting when the digital ballast communication link is shorted and for providing a received digital message to the control circuit. The communication circuit also comprises a transmitting circuit for shorting the communication link in response to the control circuit. The communication circuit also includes a high-voltage fault protection circuit for protecting the circuitry of the communication circuit if the communication circuit high-voltage mains voltages. The communication circuit is operable to reliably transmit digital messages having improved rise and fall times. The communication circuit draws acceptable amounts of current when the communication link is alternatively in idle and active states. | 09-30-2010 |
20100244709 | Wireless Battery-Powered Daylight Sensor - A wireless battery-powered daylight sensor for measuring a total light intensity in a space is operable to transmit wireless signals using a variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the total light intensity in the space. The sensor comprises a photosensitive circuit, a wireless transmitter for transmitting the wireless signals, a controller coupled to the photosensitive circuit and the wireless transmitter, and a battery for powering the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transmitter, and the controller. The photosensitive circuit is operable to generate a light intensity control signal in response to the total light intensity in the space. The controller transmits the wireless signals in response to the light intensity control signal using the variable transmission rate that is dependent upon the total light intensity in the space. The variable transmission rate may be dependent upon an amount of change of the total light intensity in the space. In addition, the variable transmission rate may be further dependent upon a rate of change of the total light intensity in the space. | 09-30-2010 |
20100244706 | Method of Calibrating a Daylight Sensor - A wireless lighting control system comprises a daylight sensor for measuring a light intensity in a space and a dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to a lighting load in response to the daylight sensor. For example, the daylight sensor may be able to transmit radio-frequency (RF) signals to the dimmer switch. The system provides methods of calibrating the daylight sensor that allow for automatically measuring and/or calculating one or more operational characteristics of the daylight sensor. One method of calibrating the daylight sensor comprises a “single-button-press” calibration procedure during which a user is only required to actuate a calibration button of the daylight sensor once. In addition, the daylight sensor is operable to automatically measure the total light intensity in the space at night to determine the light intensity of only the electrical light generated by the lighting load. | 09-30-2010 |
20100241255 | Method of Semi-Automatic Ballast Replacement - The present invention relates to a semi-automatic method of replacing a ballast within a lighting control system, such that the new replacement ballast can operate in the same manner as the ballast that was replaced. If multiple ballasts in a lighting control system are removed from the system and multiple new ballasts are installed to replace those ballasts, any operational configurations such as group configurations or area information associated with each removed (missing) ballast must be assigned to the proper new replacement ballast. The semi-automatic replacement method relies upon the operational configurations of the removed ballast to help a user identify which new ballast should replace each missing ballast. | 09-23-2010 |
20100238047 | Method of Confirming that a Control Device Complies with a Predefined Protocol Standard - A control device, such as a digital ballast controller, is adapted to be coupled to an electronic ballast, such as a DALI ballast, via a communication link, and is operable to determine whether the ballast is operating within the specifications of a predefined protocol standard, e.g., the DALI standard. For example, the control device may measure the bit times of a digital message received from the ballast and to determine if the bit times fall within the limits set by the standard. The control device may also determine the minimum delay time required between two digital messages received by the ballast and determine if the minimum delay time falls within the limit set by the standard. The control device may adapt its normal operation (e.g., how digital messages are received and transmitted) or may provide feedback (e.g., by flashing a lamp) in response to determining that the ballast is operating outside of the specifications of the standard. | 09-23-2010 |
20100238001 | Method of Automatically Programming a Load Control Device Using a Remote Identification Tag - A method of automatically programming a new load control device that replaces an old load control device takes advantage of a remote identification tag (e.g., an RFID tag) located in the vicinity of the old device. The remote identification tag stores an identifier that is representative of a location in which the old device is installed. The method includes the steps of: (1) storing a setting of an old device in a memory of a controller; (2) associating the setting with the identifier of the old device in the memory of the controller; (3) the new device retrieving the identifier from the remote identification tag after the new device is installed in the location of the old device; (4) the new device transmitting the identifier to the controller; and (5) the controller transmitting the setting of the old device to the new device in response to receiving the identifier. | 09-23-2010 |
20100231055 | ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. Two separate zero cross detectors are used such that timing information can be collected in both two and three wire installations. Both zero cross detectors are monitored and are used to automatically configure the electronic control. Over voltage circuitry senses an over voltage condition across a MOSFET which is in the off state and turns the MOSFET on so that it desirably will not reach the avalanche region. Over current circuitry senses when the current through the MOSFETs has exceeded a predetermined current threshold and then turns the MOSFETs off so they do not exceed the MOSFETs' safe operating area (SOA) curve. Latching circuitry is employed to keep the protection circuitry in effect even after a fault condition has cleared. Lockout circuitry is used to prevent one protection circuit from tripping after the other circuit has already tripped from a fault condition. The protection circuitry output is desirably configured such that it can bypass and override the normal turn on and turn off impedance and act virtually directly on the gates of the MOSFETs. Preferably, the system has a high efficiency switching type power supply in parallel with a low frequency controllably conductive device. | 09-16-2010 |
20100225240 | Multi-Stage Power Supply For a Load Control Device Having a Low-Power Mode - A multi-stage power supply for a load control device is able to operate in a low-power mode in which the power supply has a decreased power consumption when an electrical load controlled by the load control device is off. The load control device comprises a load control circuit and a controller, which operate to control the amount of power delivered to the load. The power supply comprises a first efficient power supply (e.g., a switching power supply) operable to generate a first DC supply voltage. The power supply further comprises a second inefficient power supply (e.g., a linear power supply) operable to receive the first DC supply voltage and to generate a second DC supply voltage for powering the controller. The controller controls the multi-stage power supply to the low-power mode when the electrical load is off, such that the magnitude of the first DC supply voltage decreases to a decreased magnitude and the inefficient power supply continues to generate the second DC supply voltage. | 09-09-2010 |
20100224332 | Splice Structure for Aligning Two Portions of a Drapery Track - A drapery system comprises an elongated track having two track portions and an elongated rectangular splice structure for coupling the two track portions together. Each track portion has a splice channel and at least one track hole located in the splice channel. The splice structure has at least two splice holes extending through the splice structure and is adapted to be received within the splice channels. Screws are received through the splice holes and extend into the track holes in a direction perpendicular to the splice structure. The distance between the two splice holes is less than the distance between the two track holes when the two track portions are aligned adjacent each other and the screws are not installed. Each of the screws contacts an edge of the respective track hole to provide a longitudinal force on the respective track portion when the screws are installed in the splice holes and track holes, such that the track portions are forced together. | 09-09-2010 |
20100219306 | Manual Roller Shade Having Clutch Mechanism, Chain Guide And Universal Mounting - A manual roller shade includes a clutch mechanism having a gear train transferring rotation of an input sprocket to rotation of an output member engaging a roller tube. The gear train includes a sun gear, planet gears supported by a carrier and engaging the sun gear, and a ring gear engaging the planet gears. According to one embodiment, the carrier does not rotate. The ratio between the diameters of the input sprocket and the roller tube is selected to offset mechanical advantage of the gear train to provide an effective gear train ratio of approximately 2:1. A drive chain guide system includes spaced guide wheels controlling where a drive chain is suspended from the manual shade. A roller shade mounting system includes a bracket receiving either an input assembly of the manual roller shade or a motor of a motorized roller shade to facilitate conversion. | 09-02-2010 |
20100207759 | Method and Apparatus for Configuring a Wireless Sensor - A wireless sensor for a load control system is adapted to be releasably mounted to a surface, such as a drop ceiling panel, to allow the optimum location of the sensor to be determined. A releasable mounting means of the sensor comprises two posts extending perpendicularly from a rear surface of the sensor. Each post has a small diameter and is rigid enough to pierce the panel without creating a large aesthetically-displeasing hole. The sensor may be permanently affixed to the panel by bending the posts at a rear surface of the panel without the use of a tool, such that the panel is captured between the mounting plate and the deformed posts. The sensor further comprises multiple test buttons provided on an outwardly-facing surface of the sensor for separately testing the communications of the load control system and the operation of the sensor. Alternatively, the releasable mounting means may comprise one or more magnets for magnetically coupling the sensor to a grid structure of the ceiling. | 08-19-2010 |
20100188009 | Multi-Modal Load Control System Having Occupancy Sensing - A multi-modal load control system includes a sensor that operates as an occupancy sensor in a first mode of operation and operates as a vacancy sensor in a second mode of operation. The load control system comprises a load control circuit adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling the amount of power delivered to the load in response to sensor, which is operable to detect occupancy or vacancy conditions in a space in which the sensor is located. In the first mode of operation, the load control circuit turns the load on when the sensor detects the occupancy condition and turns the load off when the sensor detects the vacancy condition. In the second mode of operation, the load control circuit turns the load off when the sensor detects the vacancy condition and does not turn the load on when the sensor detects the occupancy condition. | 07-29-2010 |
20100145545 | DIMMER SWITCH FOR USE WITH LIGHTING CIRCUITS HAVING THREE-WAY SWITCHES - A dimmer switch adapted to be coupled to a circuit including a power source, a load, and a single-pole double-throw three-way switch, the three-way switch comprising a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact, and a movable contact adapted to be coupled to either the power source or the load, the three-way switch having a first state in which the movable contact is contacting the first fixed contact and a second state in which the movable contact is contacting the second fixed contact, the dimmer switch comprising a first load terminal adapted to be coupled to either the power source or the load to which the three-way switch is not coupled for conducting a load current through the load; a second load terminal adapted to be coupled to the first fixed contact of the three-way switch; a third load terminal adapted to be coupled to the second fixed contact of the three-way switch; a first controllably conductive device electrically coupled between the first and second load terminals, such that the first controllably conductive device is operable to conduct the load current through the second load terminal to control the amount of power delivered to the load when the three-way switch is in the first state; a second controllably conductive device electrically coupled between the first and third load terminals, such that the second controllably conductive device is operable to conduct the load current through the third load terminal to control the amount of power delivered to the load when the three-way switch is in the second state; and a controller operably coupled to the first and second controllably conductive devices for rendering the first and second controllably conductive devices conductive and non-conductive, so as to control the amount of power delivered to the load. | 06-10-2010 |
20100138067 | LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE FOR USE WITH LIGHTING CIRCUITS HAVING THREE-WAY SWITCHES - A lighting control device adapted to be coupled to a circuit including an AC power source, an electrical load, and a single-pole double-throw three-way switch, the three-way switch comprising a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact, and a movable contact adapted to be coupled to either the power source or the load, the three-way switch having a first state in which the movable contact is contacting the first fixed contact and a second state in which the movable contact is contacting the second fixed contact, the lighting control device comprising a first load terminal adapted to be coupled to either the power source or the load to which the three-way switch is not coupled; a second load terminal adapted to be coupled to the first fixed contact of the three-way switch; a third load terminal adapted to be coupled to the second fixed contact of the three-way switch; a controllably conductive device coupled to the first, second, and third load terminals to conduct a load current from the AC power source to the load; a sensing device electrically coupled to the third load terminal, such that when the three-way switch is in the second state, the sensing device is operable to sense an electrical characteristic associated with the third load terminal; and a controller operably coupled to the controllably conductive device and to the sensing device, the controller operable to control the controllably conductive device in response to the electrical characteristic sensed by the sensing device, so as to control the amount of power delivered to the load by rendering the controllably conductive device conductive to conduct the load current through the second terminal when the three-way switch is in the first state, and by rendering the controllably conductive device conductive to conduct the load current through the third load terminal when the three-way switch is in the second state. | 06-03-2010 |
20100127626 | Load Control Device Having A Visual Indication of Energy Savings and Usage Information - A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to and thus the intensity of a lighting load comprises a visual display operable to provide a visual indication representative of energy savings and usage information. The visual display may comprise a single visual indicator or a linear array of visual indicators. The visual display is illuminated in a first manner when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to a predetermined eco-level intensity, and is illuminated in a second manner when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the eco-level intensity. For example, the single visual indicator may be illuminated a first color, such as green, when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to the eco-level intensity, and illuminated a second different color, such as red, when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the eco-level intensity. | 05-27-2010 |
20100117621 | METHOD OF LOAD SHEDDING TO REDUCE THE TOTAL POWER CONSUMPTION OF A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM - A method of determining a setpoint of a load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load located in a space, the method comprising the steps of initially setting the value of the setpoint equal to a desired level; limiting the value of the setpoint to an occupied high-end trim if the space is occupied; limiting the value of the setpoint to a daylighting high-end trim determined by a daylighting procedure; and subsequently reducing the value of the setpoint in response to a load shed parameter. | 05-13-2010 |
20100117620 | METHOD OF LOAD SHEDDING TO REDUCE THE TOTAL POWER CONSUMPTION OF A LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM - A method of determining a setpoint of a load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load located in a space, the method comprising the steps of initially setting the value of the setpoint equal to a desired level; limiting the value of the setpoint to an occupied high-end trim if the space is occupied; limiting the value of the setpoint to a daylighting high-end trim determined by a daylighting procedure; and subsequently reducing the value of the setpoint in response to a load shed parameter. | 05-13-2010 |
20100109597 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR QUIET FAN SPEED CONTROL - A method for controlling the speed of an AC motor by means of an AC motor speed control having a plurality of capacitors operable to be selectively coupled in parallel electrical connection, the parallel coupled capacitors operable to be coupled in series electrical connection with the AC motor, the method comprising charging the capacitors up to substantially the same predetermined voltage prior to combining the capacitors in parallel electrical connection. | 05-06-2010 |
20100071856 | Method of Automatically Controlling a Motorized Window Treatment While Minimizing Occupant Distractions - A load control system provides for automatically controlling a position of a motorized window treatment to control the amount of sunlight entering a space of a building through a window located in a façade of the building in order to control a sunlight penetration distance within the space and minimize occupant distractions. The load control system automatically generates a timeclock schedule having a number of timeclock events for controlling the position of the motorized window treatment during the present day. A user is able to select a desired maximum sunlight penetration distance for the space and a minimum time period that may occur between any two consecutive timeclock events. In addition, a maximum number of movements that may occur during the timeclock schedule may also be entered. The load control system uses these inputs to determine event times and corresponding positions of the motorized window treatment for each timeclock event of the timeclock schedule. | 03-25-2010 |
20100066260 | HYBRID LIGHT SOURCE - A hybrid light source comprises a discrete-spectrum lamp (for example, a fluorescent lamp) and a continuous-spectrum lamp (for example, a halogen lamp). A control circuit individually controls the amount of power delivered to the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp in response to a phase-controlled voltage generated by a connected dimmer switch, such that a total light output of the hybrid light source ranges throughout a dimming range. The discrete-spectrum lamp is turned off and the continuous-spectrum lamp produces all of the total light intensity of the hybrid light source when the total light intensity is below a transition intensity. The continuous-spectrum lamp is driven by a continuous-spectrum lamp drive circuit, which is operable to conduct a charging current of a power supply of the dimmer switch and to provide a path for enough current to flow through the hybrid light source, such that the magnitude of the current exceeds rated latching and holding currents of a thyristor of the dimmer. | 03-18-2010 |
20100043985 | Roller Shade System Having A Pleated Shade Fabric - A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The pleated roller shade system comprises a drive system, such as a motor or manual drive system, for controlling of the rotation of the roller tube. The roller shade system may comprise a pleating hembar that is contained within a hembar pocket of the shade fabric and has a non-linear shape for causing the shade fabric to hang with a plurality of pleats. The roller shade system may also comprise an elongated pleating assembly mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines a non-linear path. The shade fabric may be received through the fabric-receiving opening and folded by the pleating assembly, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates. The pleating assembly includes a plurality of pleating elements that each have a T-shaped or funnel-shaped structure for causing the shade fabric to hang with the pleats. | 02-25-2010 |
20100041263 | Flexible Connector Assembly for a Load Control Device - A load control device has a modular assembly to allow for easy adjustment of the aesthetic and the color of the load control device after installation. The load control device comprises a user interface module and a base module. The user interface module includes an actuation member for receiving a user input and a visual display for providing feedback to the user. A connector of the base module is adapted to be coupled to a connector of the user interface module, such that the base module and the user interface module are electrically connected. The connector of the base module is adapted to move along a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis of the dimmer, such that the actuation member is easily aligned within an opening of a faceplate. | 02-18-2010 |
20100038039 | Roller Shade System Having A Pleated Fabric - A pleated roller shade system allows a thin flexible shade fabric, such as, for example, silk, to be wrapped around a roller tube. The system comprises a pleating bar mounted parallel to the roller tube and having a fabric-receiving opening that defines, for example, a serpentine path. The shade fabric is received through the fabric-receiving opening and is folded by the pleating bar, such that the shade fabric is wrapped around the roller tube in folds as the roller tube rotates. The shade fabric is neatly wrapped around the roller tube (i.e., bunching of the shade fabric is avoided) and is stored out-of-sight when rolled up. | 02-18-2010 |
20100007508 | LIGHTING CONTROL HAVING AN IDLE STATE WITH WAKE-UP UPON ACTUATION - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising a bidirectional semiconductor switch operable to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load, the semiconductor switch having a control input; a controller operatively coupled to the control input of the semiconductor switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to the load; an actuator operatively coupled to the controller such that the controller is operable to determine a desired amount of power to be delivered to the load in response to actuations of the actuator; and a visual display responsive to the controller; wherein the controller is operable to illuminate the visual display to a first intensity upon actuation of the actuator and to subsequently illuminate the visual display to a second intensity less than the first intensity after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the actuation of the actuator. | 01-14-2010 |