Zero power lighting control device and method
AssigneeThe Watt Stopper, Inc.
InventorsSteven Mix, Tho Phan, Thomas L. Grey, Louia Weidman
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a lighting control system with a motion sensor unit that electrically couples to a load circuit through a latching relay or load controller for turning on and off lights. The motion sensor unit is configured to power down to draw zero power after a time delay, when motion is longer detected within the work space by the motion sensor unit. The lighting control system further includes a control circuit that reinitiates or turns the motion sensor back on through a switch device.
Claims8
A method for controlling lights with a lighting control system, the method comprising the steps:
- providing a sensor unit for detecting motion and sending control signals to a load controller, wherein the load controller opens a load circuit when there is no motion detected by the sensor unit after a first time delay and the sensor unit is deenergized to draw zero current after a second time delay, such that the sensor unit is disabled and unable to detect motion;
- providing a separate switch device operable to signal the load controller to close the load circuit;
- and
- providing a control circuit for powering the sensor unit ON when the separate switch device is activated to close the load circuit, such that the sensor unit is reenergized and capable of detecting motion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.