US 2014/0180486 A1 · Multi-Zone Plug-In Load Control Device

Abstract

A multi-zone plug-in load control device controls a plug-in electrical load in a predefined manner in response to received wireless digital messages depending upon which of a plurality of electrical receptacles into which the one of the electrical loads is plugged. The load control device receives wireless digital messages representative of whether the space in which the multi-zone plug-in load control device is located is occupied or vacant from an occupancy sensor. The load control device is operable to determine if one of the electrical loads (e.g., a television) is in a standby mode, and to remove power from the one of the electrical loads in response to determining that the space is vacant only when the one of the electrical loads is in the standby mode. In addition, the load control device is operable to disable further control of the electrical load in response to the received wireless digital messages if an electrical signature of a load current drawn by the one of the electrical loads is similar to a predetermined electrical signature.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A multi-zone plug-in load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to a plurality of electrical loads, the load control device comprising:

a plurality of electrical receptacles adapted to receive respective electrical plugs of the electrical loads;
a plurality of load control circuits, each coupled to a respective one of the electrical receptacles, each load control circuit adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the respective one of the electrical loads;
a controller operatively coupled to the load control circuits for controlling the power delivered to the respective loads;
and
an RF receiver operatively coupled to the controller, such that the controller is operable to receive wireless digital messages representative of whether the space in which the electrical load is located is occupied or vacant;
wherein the controller is operable to determine if the space in which the electrical load is located is occupied or vacant in response to the received wireless digital messages, the controller operable to turn on the electrical loads in response to determining that the space is occupied and to turn off the electrical loads in response to determining that the space is vacant.

3 more elements

A plug-in load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to a plug-in electrical load having an electrical plug and located in a space, the load control device comprising:

an electrical receptacle adapted to receive the electrical plug of the electrical load;
a load control circuit coupled to the electrical receptacle, such that the load control circuit is adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load;
a controller operatively coupled to the load control circuit for controlling the power delivered to the load;
and
an RF receiver operatively coupled to the controller, such that the controller is operable to receive wireless digital messages and to determine if the space in which the electrical load is located is occupied or vacant in response to the received wireless digital messages;
wherein the controller is operable to determine if the electrical load is in a standby mode, the controller operable to remove power from the electrical load in response to determining that the space is vacant only when the electrical load is in the standby mode.

3 more elements

A load control system for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to a plug-in electrical load having an electrical plug and located in a space, the load control device comprising:

an occupancy sensor operable to determine if the space is occupied or vacant and to transmit digital messages representative of whether the space in which the electrical load is located is occupied or vacant;
and
a plug-in load control device comprising an electrical receptacle adapted to receive the electrical plug of the electrical load and to control the power delivered to the electrical load, the load control device operable to receive the digital messages representative of whether the space in which the electrical load is located is occupied or vacant from the occupancy sensor;
wherein the load control device is operable to determine if the electrical load is in a standby mode, and to remove power from the electrical load in response to determining that the space is vacant only when the electrical load is in the standby mode.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-Zone Plug-In Load Control Device

Life of this patent

Multi-Zone Plug-In Load Control Device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20