# US 10,455,665 B2 · Zero power lighting control device and method

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- Number: US 10,455,665 B2
- Document ID: US10455665B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/362,577
- Filed: 2016-11-28
- Published: 2017-05-25
- Granted: 2019-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-08-13
- Assignees: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
- Applicants: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
- Inventors: Steven Mix; Tho Phan; Thomas L. Grey; Louia Weidman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10455665B2

## CPC

- H05B 47/16: by timing means
- H05B 47/115: by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
- Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the separate switch device is a manual momentary switch device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the separate switch device is a motion sensor switch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit includes a motion sensor selected from the group consisting of an infrared motion sensor, and ultrasonic motion sensor and image motion sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step:
providing a latching circuit in line with the control circuit and the sensor circuit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the separate switch device includes a current limiting rectifier bridge and ganged-pairs of switches for providing On and Off functions.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step:
selecting the first time delay when the load controller is opened after the motion detected by the sensor unit is below a threshold value.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7 further comprising the step:
selecting the threshold value is selectable through the user interface.