US 8,228,184 B2 · Battery-powered occupancy sensor

Abstract

A load control system comprises a load control device and a battery-powered occupancy sensor, which transmits a first wireless signal to the load control device in response to detecting the presence of an occupant in a space. The load control system further comprises a visual indicator for providing a visual indication when the magnitude of a battery voltage of a battery of the occupancy sensor has dropped below a predetermined low-battery voltage threshold. The occupancy sensor may comprise the visual indicator, such that the visual indicator is illuminated when the occupancy detects the presence of the occupant in the space and the magnitude of the battery voltage is less than the predetermined threshold. Alternatively, the load control device may comprise the visual indicator, such that the visual indicator is illuminated in response to receiving a second wireless signal, which is transmitting by the occupancy sensor when the magnitude of the battery voltage is less than the predetermined threshold.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load in a space in response to detecting the presence or absence of an occupant in the space, the system comprising:

a load control device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for control of the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the load control device operable to receive wireless control signals and to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to the wireless control signals;
an occupancy sensor comprising a controller, an occupancy detector circuit for detecting the presence or absence of the occupant in the space and a wireless transmitter for transmitting a first wireless control signal to the load control device in response to the occupancy detector circuit detecting the presence of the occupant in the space, the load control device operable to enable the delivery of power to the electrical load in response to the first wireless control signal, the occupancy sensor further comprising a battery for powering the controller and the wireless transmitter, the controller operable to monitor the magnitude of a battery voltage of the battery;
and
a visual indicator for providing a visual indication when the magnitude of the battery voltage has dropped below a predetermined low-battery voltage threshold.

1 more element

A wireless occupancy sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an occupant in a space, the sensor comprising:

a detector circuit for detecting the presence or absence of the occupant in the space;
a controller coupled to the detector circuit, such that the controller is responsive to the detector circuit;
a wireless transmitter coupled to the controller for transmitting wireless signals;
a visual indicator coupled to the controller, such that the controller is operable to controllably illuminate the visual indicator;
and
a battery for producing a battery voltage for powering the controller, the wireless transmitter, and the visual indicator;
wherein the controller monitors the magnitude of the battery voltage of the battery, the controller operable to transmit wireless signals in response to the detector circuit detecting the presence of the occupant in the space if the magnitude of the battery voltage is greater than or equal to a predetermined low-battery voltage threshold, the controller operable to illuminate the visual indicator in response to the detector circuit detecting the presence of the occupant in the space if the magnitude of the battery voltage is less than the predetermined low-battery voltage threshold.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Battery-powered occupancy sensor

Life of this patent

Battery-powered occupancy sensor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20