# US 11,367,288 B1 · User-upgradeable load control network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,367,288 B1 - Document ID: US11367288B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/915,817 - Filed: 2020-06-29 - Granted: 2022-06-21 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-31 - Assignees: Deako, Inc. - Applicants: Deako, Inc. - Inventors: Derek Richardson; Patrick Prendergast; Chris Keeser; Allen Stedman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11367288B1 ## CPC - G05B 15/02: electric - G06V 20/52: Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - G06V 40/13: Sensors therefor - G06V 40/161: {Detection; Localisation; Normalisation} - G06V 40/23: {Recognition of whole body movements, e.g. for sport training} - H01R 13/447: Shutter or cover plate - H05B 47/105: in response to determined parameters - H05B 47/19: via wireless transmission - H05B 47/196: {characterised by user interface arrangements} - G05B 19/048: Monitoring; Safety - G05B 2219/25011: Domotique, I-O bus, home automation, building automation - G05B 2219/2642: Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house - H01R 12/724: {containing contact members forming a right angle} - H01R 13/2407: {characterized by the resilient means} - H01R 13/6275: {Latching arms not integral with the housing (H01R13/6276, H01R13/6277, H01R13/6278 take precedence)} - H01R 24/62: Sliding engagements with one side only, e.g. modular jack coupling devices - H01R 2107/00: Four or more poles - H02G 3/081: {Bases, casings or covers} - H02G 3/12: for flush mounting - H02G 3/16: structurally associated with support for line-connecting terminals within the box - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract A backplate may include a backplate housing providing a cavity to removably accept any of a plurality of device control assemblies, where a device control assembly of the plurality of device control assemblies includes a set of device control assembly electrical contacts. The backplate housing may mount to an electrical junction box. The backplate may further include a backplate junction box electrical connector to connect to electrical wiring within the electrical junction box, and a set of backplate electrical contacts to couple to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A backplate, comprising: a backplate housing providing a cavity to removably accept any of a plurality of device control assemblies, a device control assembly of the plurality of device control assemblies including a set of device control assembly electrical contacts, the backplate housing configured to mount to an electrical junction box and further including a user interface for user control of one or more electrical loads connected to electrical wiring within the electrical junction box; a backplate junction box electrical connector configured to connect to the electrical wiring within the electrical junction box; a set of backplate electrical contacts configured to couple to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts; and a translatable cover, the cover configured to shield the set of backplate electrical contacts from the cavity when translated to a closed position, the cover further configured to expose the set of backplate electrical contacts to the device control assembly when the device control assembly is inserted into the cavity and when the translatable cover is translated to an open position, wherein the cover remains attached to the backplate housing in the open and the closed position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The backplate of claim 1, further comprising: a locking lever configured to secure the device control assembly in the cavity when the cover is in the open position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The backplate of claim 2, wherein the locking lever is configured to be pressed against the cover by a spring when the cover is in the closed position, wherein the locking lever is configured to be exposed to the cavity when the cover is translated from the closed position to the open position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The backplate of claim 1, wherein the backplate junction box electrical connector comprises: at least one of a set of connection wires configured to connect to the electrical wiring within the junction box via a pigtail connection, a set of internal spring push-type connectors, a set of push-on wire connectors, or a set of screw-on wire connectors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The backplate of claim 1, wherein the cover is formed from an electrically insulating material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The backplate of claim 1, wherein the set of backplate electrical contacts comprises: a set of spring contacts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The backplate of claim 1, wherein the backplate is configured to removably couple with the device control assembly when the backplate is connected to live power via the electrical wiring within the electrical junction box. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The backplate of claim 7, wherein the set of backplate electrical contacts is configured to provide an ordered set of electrical connections to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The backplate of claim 8, wherein the set of backplate electrical contacts is configured to provide a ground connection to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts prior to providing one or more additional electrical connections when the device control assembly is inserted into the cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The backplate of claim 8, wherein the set of backplate electrical contacts is configured to release a ground connection to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts subsequent to releasing, one or more additional electrical connections when the device control assembly is removed from the cavity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The backplate of claim 1, wherein the device control assembly includes at least one of a switch, a dimmer, an outlet, a sensor, or a control panel. ### Claim 12 A backplate, comprising: a backplate housing providing a cavity to removably accept any of a plurality of device control assemblies, a device control assembly of the plurality of device control assemblies including a set of device control assembly electrical contacts, the backplate housing configured to mount to an electrical junction box and further including a user interface for user control of one or more electrical loads connected to electrical wiring within the electrical junction box; a backplate junction box electrical connector configured to connect to electrical wiring within the electrical junction box; and a set of backplate electrical contacts configured to couple to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The backplate of claim 12, wherein the backplate junction box electrical connector comprises: at least one of a set of connection wires configured to connect to the electrical wiring within the junction box via a pigtail connection, a set of internal spring push-type connectors, a set of push-on wire connectors, or a set of screw-on wire connectors. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The backplate of claim 12, wherein the cover is formed from an electrically insulating material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The backplate of claim 12, wherein the set of backplate electrical contacts comprises: a set of spring contacts. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The backplate of claim 12, wherein the backplate is configured to removably couple with the device control assembly when the backplate is connected to live power via the electrical wiring within the electrical junction box. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The backplate of claim 16, wherein the set of backplate electrical contacts is configured to provide an ordered set of electrical connections to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The backplate of claim 17, wherein the set of backplate electrical contacts is configured to provide a ground connection to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts prior to providing one or more additional electrical connections when the device control assembly is inserted into the cavity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The backplate of claim 17, wherein the set of backplate electrical contacts is configured to release a ground connection to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts subsequent to releasing, one or more additional electrical connections when the device control assembly is removed from the cavity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The backplate of claim 12, wherein the device control assembly includes at least one of a switch, a dimmer, an outlet, a sensor, or a control panel.