US 2019/0166678 A1Published application

Multiple Location Load Control System

AssigneeLutron Electronics Co., Inc.

InventorDaniel C. Raneri

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Abstract

A multiple location dimming system may include a smart dimmer (e.g., a main load control device) and one or more remote dimmers (e.g., accessory devices) for controlling the amount of power delivered to a lighting load. The multiple location dimming system may be installed in place of a multiple location switch system (e.g., having three, four, or more multi-way switches), and may not require a neutral connection at any of the control devices of the multiple location dimming system. The main load control device and the accessory devices of the multiple location dimming system may be configured to display a present intensity level of a lighting load on one or more visual indicators. The accessory devices may have the same or different user interfaces as the main load control device, and may provide additional functionality over that which the main load control device offers.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A load control system for controlling power delivered from an alternating-current power source to a plurality of electrical loads including a first electrical load and a second electrical load, the load control system comprising:

a first load control device comprising a first main terminal, a second main terminal, and an accessory terminal, the first load control device adapted to be electrically coupled in series between the AC power source and the first electrical load for control of the power delivered to the first electrical load, the first load control device configured to conduct a load current from the AC power source to the first electrical load via the first and second main terminals;
an accessory device adapted to be coupled between the first main terminal and the accessory terminal of the first load control device or between the second main terminal and the accessory terminal of the first load control device, the accessory device adapted to be coupled to the accessory terminal of the first load control device via an accessory wiring;
and
a second load control device adapted to be electrically coupled in series between the AC power source and the second electrical load for control of the power delivered to the second electrical load;
wherein the accessory device is configured to transmit a first digital message including a command for controlling the first electrical load to the first load control device via the accessory wiring, the accessory device further configured to transmit a second digital message including a command for controlling the second electrical load.

2 more elements

A main load control device for use in a load control system for controlling power delivered from an alternating-current power source to plurality of electrical loads, the plurality of electrical loads including a first electrical load and a second electrical load, the load control system including an accessory device adapted to be coupled to the main load control device via an electrical wire and a second load control device adapted to control the power delivered to the second electrical load, the main load control device comprising:

a controllably conductive device adapted to be electrically coupled in series between the AC power source and the first electrical load;
a control circuit configured to control the controllably conductive device to control the power delivered to the first electrical load;
a first communication circuit adapted to be coupled to the electrical wire, the communication circuit configured to transmit digital messages to and receive digital messages from the accessory device via the electrical wire;
and
a second communication circuit adapted to wirelessly transmit digital messages to and receive digital messages from the second load control device;
wherein the control circuit is configured to receive a first digital message including a command for controlling the first electrical load from the accessory device via the first communication circuit, the control circuit further configured to receive a second digital message including a command for controlling the second electrical load from the accessory device via the first communication circuit, and to subsequently transmit a third digital message including the command for controlling the second electrical load to the second load control device via the second communication circuit.

3 more elements

An accessory device for use in a load control system for controlling power delivered from an alternating-current power source to plurality of electrical loads, the load control system including a main load control device adapted to control the power delivered to a first electrical load and a second load control device adapted to control the power delivered to a second electrical load, the main load control device adapted to be coupled to the accessory device via an electrical wire, the accessory device comprising:

a first communication circuit adapted to be coupled to the electrical wire, the communication circuit configured to transmit digital messages to and receive digital messages from the main load control device via the electrical wire;
a control circuit coupled to the first communication circuit for transmitting and receiving digital messages via the electrical wire;
and
a power supply configured to generate a supply voltage for powering the control circuit and the first communication circuit, the power supply configured to conduct a charging current from the main load control device through the electrical wire;
wherein the control circuit is configured to transmit a first digital message including a command for controlling the first electrical load to the main load control device via the first communication circuit, the control circuit further configured to transmit a second digital message including a command for controlling the second electrical load.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.