Digital load control system providing power and communication via existing power wiring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020214115-A1
Application number	US-202016811149-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 6, 2020
Priority date	Jan 17, 2012
Publication date	Jul 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A controller comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and a load control device. The controller also comprises a control circuit coupled to the controllably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive each half-cycle of the AC power source to generate a phase-control voltage. The control circuit is operable to render the controllably conductive device conductive for a portion of each half-cycle of the AC power source. The control circuit is operable to transmit a digital message to the load control device for controlling the power delivered to the load by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage, where the phase-control voltage having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the control circuit is transmitting the digital message to the load control device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A lighting fixture adapted to receive power from an alternating-current (AC) power source through a controller, the lighting fixture comprising:
a light source; a load regulation circuit adapted to be coupled to the light source for controlling an amount of power delivered to the light source; and a control circuit coupled to the load regulation circuit for controlling the amount of power delivered to the light source to control an intensity of the light source in response to a phase-control voltage received from the controller; wherein the control circuit is operable to control the amount of power delivered to the light source in response to digital information encoded in timing edges of the phase-control voltage, the phase-control voltage received from the controller having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the digital information is encoded in the timing edges of the phase-control voltage.

2 . The lighting fixture of claim 1 , further comprising:
a load control device including the load regulation circuit and the control circuit; wherein the load regulation circuit of the load control device is adapted to be electrically coupled between the AC power source and the light source for controlling the amount of power delivered to the light source.

3 . The lighting fixture of claim 2 , wherein the load control device further comprises a phase-control terminal adapted to be coupled to the controller for receiving the phase-control voltage and a neutral terminal adapted to be coupled to a neutral side of the AC power source, the load regulation circuit configured to conduct a load current from the AC power source to the light source through the phase-control terminal.

4 . The lighting fixture of claim 3 , further comprising:
an active load circuit coupled between the phase-control terminal and the neutral terminal of the load control device for providing a path for a charging current of a power supply of the controller to be conducted.

5 . The lighting fixture of claim 3 , wherein the load control device further comprises an edge detect circuit for detecting the timing edges of the phase-control voltage.

6 . The lighting fixture of claim 2 , further comprising:
electrical wires coupled between the load control device and the light source.

7 . The lighting fixture of claim 6 , wherein the load control device is mounted to a pan of a retrofit kit.

8 . The lighting fixture of claim 2 , wherein the load regulation circuit comprises a dimming circuit for controlling the intensity of the light source.

9 . The lighting fixture of claim 2 , wherein the load regulation circuit comprises a switching circuit for toggling the light source on and off.

10 . The lighting fixture of claim 2 , wherein the light source comprises a gas-discharge lamp and the load regulation circuit comprises a dimming ballast circuit.

11 . The lighting fixture of claim 2 , wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode light source and the load regulation circuit comprises a light-emitting diode driver circuit.

12 . The lighting fixture of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to detect a number of sequential data patterns of the phase-control voltage, each data pattern having a first timing edge at a reference edge time during a first half-cycle and a second timing edge at a data edge time during a second subsequent half-cycle, the control circuit configured to measure an offset time period between the reference edge time and the data edge time of each data pattern, and to decode a digital message from the controller based on the measured offset time period in each of the sequential data patterns, the control circuit configured to control the power delivered to the light source in response to the digital message.

13 . The lighting fixture of claim 12 , wherein the offset time period between the reference edge time during the first half-cycle and the data edge time during the second half-cycle are one of a plurality of possible predetermined offset time periods.

14 . The lighting fixture of claim 13 , wherein the offset time period between the reference edge time during the first half-cycle and the data edge time during the second half-cycle are one of four possible predetermined offset time periods.

15 . The lighting fixture of claim 14 , wherein the control circuit is configured to detect a third timing edge of the phase-control voltage at a data edge time during a third half-cycle immediately following the second half-cycle of each data pattern, the control circuit configured to measure a second offset time period between the reference edge time during the first half-cycle and the data edge time during the third half-cycle.

16 . The lighting fixture of claim 14 , wherein the control circuit is configured to detect a third timing edge at a second reference edge time during a third half-cycle immediately following the second half-cycle and a fourth timing edge at a second data edge time during a fourth subsequent half-cycle, the control circuit configured to measure a second offset time period between the second reference edge time and the second data edge time.

17 . The lighting fixture of claim 12 , wherein the control circuit is configured to decide whether to respond to the digital message or not in response to a control channel included in the digital message.

18 . The lighting fixture of claim 17 , wherein the control circuit is configured to control the light source in response to a command in the digital message if the control channel in the digital message is stored in memory.

19 . The lighting fixture of claim 17 , wherein the control circuit is configured to select the control channel in response to one or more digital messages received from the controller.

20 . The lighting fixture of claim 12 , wherein the control circuit is configured to determine how to control the load regulation circuit to adjust the intensity of the light source in response to command data and a command type included in the digital message.

Assignees

• Lutron Tech Co Llc

Inventors

• Taipale Mark S
• Steiner James P
• Zaharchuk Walter S
• Pessina Michael W
• Spira Joel S

Classifications

• H05B47/11 Primary

  by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light · CPC title

• H05B47/185 Primary

  via power line carrier transmission · CPC title

• H05B47/19 Primary

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• H05B47/115

  by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings · CPC title

• H05B45/10

  Controlling the intensity of the light · CPC title