Y04S20/246

Detecting Actuations of Buttons of a Control Device
20210218275 · 2021-07-15 · ·

A load control device may be used to control and deliver power to an electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control circuit for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load. The load control device may comprise multiple actuators, where each of the actuators is connected between a terminal of the control circuit and a current regulating device. The number of the actuators may be greater than the number of the terminals. The control circuit may measure signals at the terminals and determine a state configuration for the actuators based on the measured signals. The control circuit may compare the state configuration to a predetermined dataset to detect a ghosting condition.

Digital Messages in a Load Control System

A load control system may comprise load control devices for controlling respective electrical loads, and a system controller operable to transmit digital messages including different commands to the load control devices in response to a selection of a preset. The different commands may include a preset command configured to identify preset data in a device database stored at the load control device and/or a multi-output command configured to define the preset data for being stored in the device database. The system controller may decide which of the commands to transmit to the load control devices in response to the selection of the preset.

Load Control System for Controlling Electrical Loads in Response to State Change Information

A state change device may be electrically connected to a switched receptacle, or to both the switched and unswitched receptacles, of an outlet. The state change device may generate a change of state signal when power is applied to, or removed from, the switched receptacle. The state change device may wirelessly communicate the signal. The state change device may include a load control circuit that may be configured to control the amount of power delivered to an electrical load that is electrically connected to the state change device. The state change device may receive commands directed to the load control circuit. The state change device may be deployed in a load control system and may operate as a control entity, such that the state change device may issue commands to one or more load control devices, responsive to the application or removal of power at the switched receptacle.

Load Control System Having a Broadcast Controller with a Diverse Wireless Communication System

A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a plurality of electrical load includes a plurality of energy controllers. Each energy controller is operable to control at least one of the electrical loads. The load control system also includes a first broadcast controller that has a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna is arranged in a first position and the second antenna is arranged in a second position that is orthogonal to the first position. The broadcast controller is operable to transmit a first wireless signal via the first antenna and a second wireless signal via the second antenna. Each of the energy controllers is operable to receive at least one of the first and second wireless signals, and to control the respective load in response to the received wireless signal.

Indoor location services using a distributed lighting network

A method includes the steps of obtaining distance measurements between a device and a number of lighting fixtures, processing the distance measurements to assign coordinates to each one of the lighting fixtures, and facilitating registration of the coordinates of a subset of the lighting fixtures to obtain registered coordinates for all of the lighting fixtures. The coordinates indicate a relative location of each one of the lighting fixtures with respect to one another. The registered coordinates indicate a location of each lighting fixture in a desired coordinate space. Accordingly, a location of a lighting fixture within a desired coordinate space can be easily obtained, which may enable significant additional functionality of the lighting fixture.

Communication interface for front panel and power module

This disclosure describes, in part, voice-controlled light dimmers that act as voice-controlled endpoints at which users may provide voice commands. These light dimmers include a front panel module coupled to a power module using a hardware interface. The front panel module may receive input from a user indicating commands for controlling appliances, and send communications to the power module using the hardware interface to control the appliances. In some examples, the communications involve encrypted data sent using an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) protocol using the hardware interface to an electrically isolated power module. The power provided to the appliances may be controlled by the power module of the voice-controlled light dimmer.

Smart light switch with temperature sensing
10819113 · 2020-10-27 · ·

A smart light switch includes a control block and heat generating components such as a light actuator, a processor and memory, a data communications module, and an environmental sensor. The processor is operable to receive as an input a measured temperature value from the environmental sensor and a power consumption value from the of heat generating components. The processor is operable to select a temperature offset value from a dataset of temperature offset values that is stored in memory. Each temperature offset value stored in the dataset of temperature offset values is associated with a potential combination of power consumption inputs. The processor is further operable to determine a calibrated temperature value from the measured temperature value adjusted by the temperature offset values selected from the dataset of temperature offset values.

Adjustable electronic control system
10802524 · 2020-10-13 ·

An electrical device with a power switch has at least two different electrical operational states and a circuit which detects a sequence of momentary fluctuations of power defining a First user message, corresponding to a change in state. The circuit implements that change in state in response to detection of the First message. Another circuit detects a sequence of momentary fluctuations of power, different from the sequence of the First user message, defining a Second user message and defining a fixed Reset electrical operational state. The device also implements a change from the current electrical operational state, to the fixed Reset electrical operational state. A memory circuit stores the current electrical operational state, a number corresponding to one of the countable numbers of electrical operational state, and provides retentions of its memory, including the stored current electrical operational state, during periods of power off.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING MULTIPLE GENERATORS WITH AN ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
20200293077 · 2020-09-17 ·

Systems and method for synchronizing power generators with a power grid are provided. One system among various implementations includes a plurality of synchronization modules, wherein each synchronization module corresponds to one power generator. The synchronization modules are configured to output a control signal to adjust a frequency of the respective power generator to correspond with the frequency of the existing power grid. The system also includes a central controller in communication with the plurality of synchronization modules. The central controller is configured to determine a propagation delay with respect to each synchronization module. The propagation delay is a measure of time for a signal to propagate from the respective synchronization module to the central controller. The central controller is further configured to send a control signal to each synchronization module to control when each synchronization module connects the respective power generator to the existing power grid.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO ALLOW FOR A SMART DEVICE
20200295597 · 2020-09-17 ·

Smart switch devices, systems, and. methods for modifying an existing electrical system to utilize the power state output of a physical switch as an indicator or signal for the operation of a smart home device or system or network of such devices to facilitate interoperability of physical switches with smart devices. The smart switch detects or determines the power state of a circuit and infers the corresponding state of a mechanical switch that operates the circuit. This information is then transmitted to associated smart devices, which may not be physically connected to the circuit controlled by the switch. When the mechanical switch is operated, it can control both electrically attached loads, such as a conventional light appliance, and wirelessly control unconnected smart devices.