# US 12,003,134 B2 · Supplemental power supply for a battery-powered device

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- Number: US 12,003,134 B2
- Document ID: US12003134B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/350,827
- Filed: 2023-07-12
- Published: 2023-11-16
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2018-01-05
- Assignees: Lutron Technology Company LLC
- Applicants: Lutron Technology Company LLC
- Inventors: Donald F. Hausman, Jr.; Sean R. Pearson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003134B2

## CPC

- H02J 7/345: {using capacitors as storage or buffering devices}
- E06B 9/38: Other details
- H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators}
- H02J 3/388: Arrangements for the handling of islanding, e.g. for disconnection or for avoiding the disconnection of power
- H02J 3/466: Scheduling or selectively controlling the operation of the generators or sources, e.g. connecting or disconnecting generators to meet a demand
- H02J 7/00: Circuit arrangements for charging or discharging batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
- H02J 7/35: with light sensitive cells
- H02J 9/061: {for DC powered loads}
- H02J 50/20: using microwaves or radio frequency waves
- H02J 2101/24: Photovoltaics
- Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A battery-powered device, such as a motorized window treatment, may provide power to an electrical load, such as a motor. The device may also include a control circuit and a communication circuit. In addition to the battery, the device may be configured to receive power from a supplemental power source, such as a solar cell or wireless RF power supply, through which to power the control and communication circuits. The device may include a voltage monitor and a switch to intelligently control whether the battery or the supplemental power source is powering the control and communication circuits.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A power system for a motorized window treatment, comprising:
a first energy storage device to provide a first voltage;
a supplemental power collection system to provide a second voltage, the second voltage lower than the first voltage;
a drive motor operating at the first voltage electrically coupled to the first energy storage device and operatively coupled to actuate the motorized window treatment;
an electrical load that includes control circuitry operating at the second voltage, the control circuitry to at least control the operation of the drive motor:
controllable switching circuitry transitionable between:
a first state in which the supplemental power collection system electrically couples to the electrical load; and
a second state in which the first energy storage electrically couples to the electrical load;
power converter circuitry including a clamp circuit and a latch circuit disposed between the supplemental power collection system and the electric load; and
monitoring circuitry coupled to the controllable switching circuitry, the monitoring circuitry to:
compare the output voltage of the supplemental power system to a first voltage threshold;
responsive to the determination that the output voltage of the supplemental power system exceeds the first voltage threshold, place the controllable switching circuitry in the first state; and
responsive to the determination that the output voltage of the supplemental power system is below the first voltage threshold, place the controllable switching device in the second state
compare the output voltage of the supplemental power system to a second voltage threshold
responsive to the determination that the output voltage of the supplemental power collection system exceeds the second voltage, the clamp circuit clamps the output voltage of the supplemental power collection system at the first voltage threshold; and
responsive to the determination that the output voltage of the supplemental power collection system is below the second voltage the latch circuit unlatches to place the controllable switching circuitry in the second state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the electrical load further includes communication interface circuitry coupled to the control circuitry.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1 wherein the supplemental power collection system comprises a supplemental power source and a second energy storage device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3 wherein the supplemental power source includes at least one of: one or more photovoltaic cells or one or more inductively couplable coils.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4 wherein the second energy storage device includes at least one of: a secondary battery or a capacitor.

### Claim 6

A motorized window treatment power supply system, comprising:
a primary energy storage device;
a supplemental energy source;
window treatment drive circuitry;
motorized window treatment control circuitry;
a first supplemental energy storage device;
a second supplemental energy storage device;
first switching circuitry to provide power from the supplemental energy source to the first supplemental energy storage device when in a first state; or to the second supplemental energy storage device when in a second state;
second switching circuitry to provide power to the motorized window treatment control circuitry from the primary energy storage device when in a first state or the first supplemental energy storage device when in a second state;
power converter circuitry including a clamp circuit and a latch circuit disposed between the supplemental energy source and the motorized window treatment;
first monitor circuitry to:
measure a first output voltage of the first supplemental energy storage device;
compare the measured first output voltage to a first voltage threshold;
responsive to the determination that the measured first output voltage is at or below the first voltage threshold, place the first switching circuitry in the first state; and
responsive to the determination that the measured first output voltage exceeds the first voltage threshold place the first switching circuitry in the second state; and
compare the measured first output voltage to a second voltage threshold lower than the first voltage threshold;
responsive to the determination that the measured first output voltage exceeds the second voltage threshold, place the second switching circuitry in the first state; and
responsive to the determination that the measured first output voltage is at or below the second voltage threshold, place the second switching circuitry in the second state.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The motorized window treatment power supply system of claim 6, further comprising second monitor circuitry to:
monitor a second output voltage of the second supplemental energy storage device: and
based on the measured second output voltage selectively provide energy from the second energy storage device to the window treatment drive circuitry.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The motorized window treatment power supply system of claim 6 wherein the motorized window treatment control circuitry comprises:
control circuitry; and
communication interface circuitry.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The motorized window treatment power supply system of claim 6 wherein the primary energy storage device comprises:
one or more batteries disposed in a battery housing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The motorized window treatment power supply system of claim 6 wherein the first supplemental energy storage device comprises at least one of: a secondary storage cell or a capacitor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 6)

The motorized window treatment power supply system of claim 6 wherein the second supplemental energy storage device comprises at least one of: a secondary storage cell or a capacitor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The motorized window treatment power supply system of claim 6 wherein the supplemental energy source comprises at least one of: a photovoltaic cell, a radio frequency energy scavenging device, or an inductively couplable coil.