Wireless control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10068466-B2
Application number	US-201715431851-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 14, 2017
Priority date	May 30, 2014
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wall-mountable wireless control device comprising:
a yoke configured to mount the control device to an electrical wallbox;
a slot antenna, comprising:
a conductive element defining a slot; and
two drive points on opposite sides of the slot, wherein the slot antenna is configured to communicate radio-frequency signals;

a radio-frequency communication circuit configured to communicate the radio-frequency signals via the slot antenna; and
a control circuit configured to be responsive to the radio-frequency communication circuit.

2. The wireless control device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive element of the slot antenna is capacitively coupled to a radiating element.

3. The wireless control device of claim 2 , wherein the radiating element defines a second slot substantially aligned with the slot of the conductive element.

4. The wireless control device of claim 3 , wherein the radiating element is electrically coupled to the yoke via a single electrical connection.

5. The wireless control device of claim 4 , wherein the radiating element is part of a faceplate of the wireless control device.

6. The wireless control device of claim 1 , wherein the two drive points comprise respective feet connected to the conductive element that allow for electrical connection between the conductive element and the radio-frequency communication circuit.

7. The wireless control device of claim 6 , wherein the radio-frequency communication circuit is configured to drive the feet differentially.

8. The wireless control device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a bezel configured to be attached to the yoke;
wherein the conductive element is located between the bezel and the yoke.

9. The wireless control device of claim 8 , further comprising:
a user interface provided on the bezel and received through the slot of the conductive element, the user interface comprising an actuation member configured to receive a user input;
wherein the control circuit is responsive to the user input received via the actuation member.

10. The wireless control device of claim 1 , wherein the two drive points are located at the middle of the slot of the conductive element.

11. The wireless control device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive element is configured to operate as a radiating element.

12. The wireless control device of claim 1 , wherein the conductive element is part of a faceplate of the wireless control device.

13. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:
a controllably conductive device adapted to be electrically coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load;
a slot antenna, comprising:
a conductive element defining a slot; and
two drive points on opposite sides of the slot, wherein the slot antenna is configured to communicate radio-frequency signals;

a radio-frequency communication circuit configured to communicate the radiofrequency signals via the slot antenna; and
a control circuit configured to be responsive to the radio-frequency communication circuit, and configured to control the controllably conductive device to control the power delivered to the electrical load.

14. The load control device of claim 13 , wherein the conductive element of the slot antenna is capacitively coupled to a radiating element.

15. The load control device of claim 14 , wherein the radiating element defines a second slot substantially aligned with the slot of the conductive element.

16. A wall-mountable wireless control device comprising:
a yoke configured to mount the control device to an electrical wallbox;
a user interface configured to receive a user input;
an antenna configured to communicate radio-frequency signals;
a radio-frequency communication circuit configured to communicate the radio-frequency signals via the antenna;
a control circuit configured to be responsive to the user input and the radio-frequency communication circuit; and
a conductive element electrically coupled to the yoke via a single electrical connection, the conductive element defining a slot, wherein the user interface is received through the slot of the conductive element, and wherein the conductive element is configured to operate as a radiating element of the antenna.

17. The wireless control device of claim 16 , wherein the antenna is capacitively coupled to the conductive element.

18. The wireless control device of claim 17 , wherein the antenna defines a second slot substantially aligned with the slot of the conductive element.

19. The wireless control device of claim 18 , wherein the control circuit is configured to transmit the radio-frequency signals while receiving the user input.

20. The wireless control device of claim 16 , wherein the user interface comprises a touch sensitive actuator.

Assignees

• Lutron Electronics Co

Inventors

• Camden Richard S
• Mosebrook Donald R
• Shivell William Taylor
• Miller Amy E

Classifications

• G08C17/02 Primary

  using a radio link · CPC title

• H01Q13/10

  Resonant slot antennas · CPC title

• G08C2201/30

  User interface · CPC title

• H01Q1/24

  with receiving set · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title