EP0301680A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wireless control system
Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1988-04-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-04-29
Abstract
Abstract A remote wireless load control system wherein the power supplied to a load can be varied from a remote location using a remote control device not electrically wired to the load. The load control system includes a transmitter 20 and a receiver 60, each having a control actuator for adjusting the power supplied to the load. Control can be conferred upon either the transmitter or the receiver immediately upon manipulation of a control switch, the adjustment in power level occurring substantially instantaneously upon manipulation of the control actuator. Transmission of load level information between transmitter and receiver is by digitally pulse-coded infrared signal.
Inventors
- 👤 David G. Luchaco
- 👤 Stephen J. Yuhasz
- 👤 David Buehler
- 👤 Raphael K. T. Tang
- 👤 Joel S. Spira
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q9/00; G; G08; G08C; G08C17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A remotely controlled power control system comprising, in combination: (a) means for transmitting a radiant control signal, including actuator means, manually movable through a range of positions, said positions determining said control signal; (b) means for detecting said control signal; and (c) means for controlling the power delivered to an AC load in accordance with the detection of said control signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
61 words
A remotely controlled power control system comprising, in combination: (a) means for transmitting a radiant control signal, including actuator means, manually movable through a range of positions, said positions determining said control signal; (b) means for detecting said control signal; and (c) means for controlling the power delivered to an AC load in accordance with the detection of said control signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said control signal is electromagnetic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 2 in which said control signal is an infrared signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 2 in which said control signal is a radio frequency signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said control signal is an acoustic signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said control signal is amplitude modulated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said control signal is digitally encoded.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said control signal is a multichannel signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The system according to claim 8 further comprising channel selector means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said transmitter means is battery-powered.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said actuator means is manually operable along a substantially linear path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said actuator means is positionable for turning off power to said load.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 12 in which said actuator power-off position has a detent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system according to claim 13, in which said detent requires that a greater force be applied to said actuator to turn said system off than to turn said system on.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 12, in which positioning said actuator for turning off power to said load causes an air gap switch to open in said controller means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said actuator means position determines the value of a variable impedance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said transmitter means further comprises switch means for enabling and disabling transmission of said control signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 17 in which said switch means is mechanically coupled to said actuator means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 18 in which said switch means is a push-button on said actuator means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system according to claim 18 in which said switch means enables transmission of said control signal substantially instantaneously on positioning of said actuator means and disables transmission of said control signal after positioning of said actuator means has ceased.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system according to claim 20 in which said switch means enables transmission of said control signal substantially instantaneously on positioning of said actuator means, even if said actuator means is initially substantially at an extreme end of its position range.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system according to claim 20 in which said switch means disables transmission of said control signal after a delay time of not more than one second after positioning of said actuator means has ceased.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
23 words
The system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a source of an auxiliary signal for controlling the power delivered to the load.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system according to claim 23 in which the source of the auxiliary signal comprises at least one non-radiant signal source.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 24 in which said non-radiant signal source is in electrical contact with said control means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 25 further comprising switch means for enabling said non-radiant signal source.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one additional controller means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 1 in which said AC load comprises lighting.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
137 words
A remotely controlled power control system comprising, in combination: (a) means for transmitting a radiant control signal, including actuator means, manually movable through a range of positions, which (i) enables transmission, substantially instantaneously on positioning of said actuator means, of the control signal determined by the actuator position, and (ii) disables transmission of said control signal after positioning has ceased; (b) means for detecting said control signal; (c) an auxiliary signal source for providing an auxiliary signal by electrical conduction, said auxiliary signal source comprising auxiliary actuator means, manually movable through a range of positions, which provides, substantially instantaneously on positioning of said auxiliary actuator means, the auxiliary signal determined by the auxiliary actuator position; and (d) means for controlling power to a load in accordance with said auxiliary signal or the detection of said control signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
137 words
A remotely controlled power control system comprising, in combination: (a) means for transmitting a radiant control signal, including actuator means, manually movable through a range of positions, which (i) enables transmission, substantially instantaneously on positioning of said actuator means, of the control signal determined by the actuator position, and (ii) disables transmission of said control signal after positioning has ceased; (b) means for detecting said control signal; (c) an auxiliary signal source for providing an auxiliary signal by electrical conduction, said auxiliary signal source comprising auxiliary actuator means, manually movable through a range of positions, which provides, substantially instantaneously on positioning of said auxiliary actuator means, the auxiliary signal determined by the auxiliary actuator position; and (d) means for controlling power to a load in accordance with said auxiliary signal or the detection of said control signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
A transmitter for remote control of a system, comprising means for transmitting a radiant control signal, including actuator means, manually movable through a range of positions, which enables transmission, substantially instantaneously on positioning of said actuator means, of the control signal determined by the actuator position.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
46 words
A transmitter for remote control of a system, comprising means for transmitting a radiant control signal, including actuator means, manually movable through a range of positions, which enables transmission, substantially instantaneously on positioning of said actuator means, of the control signal determined by the actuator position.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
36 words
A transmitter according to claim 30 in which said control signal comprises a plurality of transmission sequences and said transmission is maintained, after actuator motion ceases, for a time sufficient to transmit a valid transmission sequence.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
A remotely controlled power control system comprising, in combination, the transmitter according to claim 30, means for detecting said control signal, and means for controlling power to a load in accordance with the detection of said control signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system according to claim 32 in which said load comprises lighting.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
53 words
A transmitter for remote control of a system, comprising: (a) means for transmitting a radiant control signal, including actuator means, manually movable through a range of positions, whose position determines said control signal; and (b) push-button switch means, mechanically coupled to said actuator means, for enabling and disabling transmission of said control signal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
53 words
A transmitter for remote control of a system, comprising: (a) means for transmitting a radiant control signal, including actuator means, manually movable through a range of positions, whose position determines said control signal; and (b) push-button switch means, mechanically coupled to said actuator means, for enabling and disabling transmission of said control signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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