Load control system providing power and communication over AC line wiring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9301371-B2
Application number	US-201414329145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 11, 2014
Priority date	Apr 23, 2007
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

A load control system comprises a main load control device and a remote load control device, which does not require a neutral connection and allows for feedback at the remote load control device. The main device and the remote load control device are adapted to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load. The main load control device comprises a load control circuit for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The main load control device is operable to enable a charging path to allow the remote load control device to charge a power supply during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source. The main load control device and the remote load control device are operable to communicate with each other during a second time period of the half-cycle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A load control system for controlling the power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the system comprising:
a main load control device for controlling the electrical load, the main load control device operable to conduct an AC current from the AC power source, the main load control device comprising a load control circuit for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the main load control device further comprising a receiver for receiving digital messages, such that the main load control device is able to control the electrical load in response to the received digital messages; and
a remote load control device configured to be coupled in series electrical connection with the main load control device for conducting the AC current from the AC power source, the remote load control device comprising a power supply configured to charge from the AC power source through the main load control device during a first time period of a present half-cycle of the AC power source, the power supply configured to charge during time periods in subsequent half-cycles that occur at approximately the same time during the respective half-cycle as the first time period occurs during the present half-cycle, the remote load control device further comprising a transmitter for transmitting digital messages;
wherein the remote load control device is configured to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the main load control device; and
wherein the transmitter of the remote load control device and the receiver of the main load control device are coupled together such that the transmitter of the remote load control device is able to transmit at least a portion of a digital message to the receiver of the main load control device during a second time period of the present half-cycle, the transmitter of the remote load control device configured to transmit at least a portion of a digital message to the receiver of the main load control device during time periods in subsequent half-cycles that occur at approximately the same time during the respective half-cycle as the second time period occurs during the present half-cycle.

2. The load control system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter of the remote load control device and the receiver of the main load control device are coupled together so as to form a communication path during the second time period of the present half-cycle.

3. The load control system of claim 2 , wherein the main load control device comprises a switching circuit that is rendered conductive to form the communication path between the receiver of the main load control device and the transmitter of the remote load control device during the second time period of the present half-cycle.

4. The load control system of claim 2 , wherein the communication path formed by the main load control device and the remote control device does not pass through the electrical load.

5. The load control system of claim 2 , wherein the communication path formed by the main load control device and the remote control device does not pass through the AC power source.

6. The load control system of claim 1 , wherein the remote load control device is configured to be coupled in series electrical connection with the main load control device between the AC power source and the electrical load.

7. The load control system of claim 6 , wherein the remote load control device is configured to be coupled to the main load control device through an accessory wiring, such that the transmitter of the remote load control device is able to transmit digital messages to the receiver of the main load device via the accessory wiring during the second time period.

8. The load control system of claim 7 , wherein the main load control device generates a supply voltage and provides the supply voltage on the accessory wiring to allow the remote load control device to charge the power supply.

9. The load control system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter of the remote load control device is configured to transmit a single digital message to the receiver of the main load control device over multiple half-cycles, such that the transmitter transmits a predetermined number of bits of the single digital message during each of the multiple half-cycles.

10. The load control system of claim 9 , wherein the remote load control device comprises an actuator for receiving a user input, the transmitter configured to transmit the single digital message over the multiple half-cycles in response to an actuation of the actuator.

11. The load control system of claim 1 , wherein the main load control device and the remote load control device both comprise transceivers, such that the main load control device and the remote load control device are able to communicate with each other.

12. The load control system of claim 1 , wherein the second time period occurs after the first time period during the present half-cycle.

13. The load control system of claim 1 , wherein the load control circuit conducts the AC current through the electrical load.

14. A load control device for controlling the power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device configured for use in a load control system including a remote control device having a power supply and a transmitter, the load control device comprising:
a load control circuit configured to be coupled to the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load;
a controller operatively coupled to the load control circuit for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load;
a switching circuit configured to be rendered conductive by the controller to allow the power supply of the remote control device to draw current in order to charge during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, the controller configured to render the switching circuit conductive to allow the power supply of the remote control device to draw current to charge during time periods in subsequent half-cycles that occur at approximately the same time during the respective half-cycle as the first time period occurs during the present half-cycle; and
a communication circuit coupled to the controller for receiving digital messages, the communication circuit configured to be coupled to the transmitter of the remote control device such that the controller is configured to receive at least a portion of a digital message from the transmitter of the remote load control device during a second time period of the half-cycle, the controller configured to receive at least a portion of a digital message from the transmitter of the remote load control device during time periods in subsequent half-cycles that occur at approximately the same time during the respective half-cycle as the second time period occurs during the present half-cycle.

15. The load control device of claim 14 , wherein the communication circuit is configured to be coupled to the transmitter of the remote control device so as to form a communication path during a second time period of the half-cycle.

16. The load control device of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to render the switching circuit conductive during the second time period to form the communication path.

17. The load control device of claim 14 , wherein the load control circuit comprises a bidirectional semiconductor switch having a control input, the controller coupled to the control input of the bidirectional semiconductor switch for rendering the bidirectio

Assignees

• Lutron Electronics Co

Inventors

• Steiner James P
• Baby Cyril
• Buck Christopher
• Carmen Daniel F

Classifications

• H05B47/185

  via power line carrier transmission · CPC title

• H05B47/18

  via data-bus transmission · CPC title

• H05B39/044

  continuously (H05B39/042 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05B47/196

  characterised by user interface arrangements · CPC title

• H05B47/175

  by remote control · CPC title