Abstract:
A lighting control circuit is provided with a plurality of wireless controls. Each of the wireless controls receives wireless signals from at least one switch, and processes those signals to control components in at least a plurality of rooms. In addition, the controls are operable to dim at least one component supplied with power by the control.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application relates to an electric load control system for supplying electric power to various components such as lights, receptacles, fans, etc. A wireless multi-channel receiver receives wireless signals from switches, and processes those signals to control various components. There are local receivers spaced within the building, and controlling components in at least several rooms. 
         [0002]    Electrical control systems are known, which include a multi-channel receiver. The multi-channel receiver receives signals from a plurality of wireless switches, and processes those signals to control power to various components such as lights, or electrical receptacles. These systems have benefits over the prior art, in that wire is not required to run between the switches and a controller, as has historically been the case. 
         [0003]    For the most part, these systems have included a single main receiver for an entire building. A single receiver receives signals from a plurality of switches, and controls various components throughout a building. Electric power wires must run from the receiver to each of the components. Since there has been a single receiver, some of the electrical power lines have run for great distances. 
         [0004]    In one system, which has been utilized in a large office complex, there are separate wireless receivers for each of a plurality of offices. Thus, each of the offices is provided with a single receiver that receives wireless signals from a switch, and then processes those signals to control components within that room. While the distance that power lines must run from the receiver to the components is reduced, each of the receivers must receive a power supply from an electrical power source. Thus, the use of so many receivers somewhat defeats the purpose of having plural receivers. Moreover, these proposed systems have not been provided with a dimmer circuit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, a plurality of receivers are spaced within a building. Each of the receivers includes a plurality of channels for controlling a plurality of components. Wireless signals are sent from switches to the receiver, and the receiver processes those signals to control various components such as a light, or an electrical receptacle. In addition, for some electrical receptacles, electric power may be supplied constantly, with no control. The receivers control components in a plurality of rooms. Thus, there are fewer receivers, and fewer power lines need to be supplied. 
         [0006]    In addition, the receivers are able to dim the intensity of components, such as a light. 
         [0007]    These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a lighting control system. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a dimmer circuit, which may be incorporated into the  FIG. 1  system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows the use of a plurality of the  FIG. 1  systems spaced across a building. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a load control circuit  20  for a building. A plurality of dimmer switches  22 A,  22 B communicate through a wireless connection to a multi-channel receiver  24 . The receiver  24  in one example comprises a commercially available component. One example is available from Enocean under its Product No. RCM130C. The type of wireless receiver and wireless switches are not limiting on this invention, but only mentioned as one possible type of system. The wireless connection between the switches  22  and the receiver  24  allows for the switches to be located remotely from the receiver  24 . For example, the receiver  24  may be supported at or near an electrical outlet in a selected room and the switches may be positioned at any convenient other location within or near the room. 
         [0012]    The receiver  24  communicates with a microcontroller  26 , which in turn communicates with dimmer circuit  28 . The dimmer circuit  28  controls the intensity of several lights  30 A,  30 B. The illustrated dimmer circuit  28  includes timing circuitry  40 , a dimmer portion  42  and a power train portion  44 . The illustrated example also includes an overload protection portion and a thermal management portion. 
         [0013]    One example embodiment of the dimmer circuit  28  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . The microcontroller  28  provides a timing control signal input to the timing portion  40 . The timing control signal in one example comprises a pulse width modulation control signal. The timing control signal controls when the dimming portion  42  activates the MOSFET switches  46  of the power train portion  44  to control the amount of power supplied to a load  50 . The microcontroller  26  determines how to set the timing control signal based upon what setting a user selects (e.g., what dimming level is desired). In one example, the microcontroller  26  uses known techniques for providing the pulse width modulation input to achieve a desired corresponding amount of dimming. 
         [0014]    One example load  50  is a light bulb. Controlling the light intensity of a bulb is one example use of the illustrated arrangement. In this example, the load  50  is plugged into a wall socket having terminals schematically represented at  52  and  54   
         [0015]    The MOSFETs  46  in one example operate according to a known reverse phase control strategy when the gate and source of each is coupled with a sufficient voltage to set the MOSFETs  46  into an operative state (e.g., turn them on) so that they allow power from a source  56  (e.g., line AC) to be supplied to the load  50 . In the reverse phase control example, the MOSFETs  46  are turned on at 0 volts and turned off at a high voltage. In another example a forward phase control strategy is used where the MOSFETs  46  turn on at a high voltage and off at 0 volts. Another example includes turning the MOSFETs  46  on at a non-zero voltage and turning them off at another non-zero voltage. 
         [0016]    The dimming portion  42  controls when the power train portion  44  is on and, therefore, controls the amount of power provided to the load  50 . Controlling the amount of power provided to a light bulb controls the intensity of light emitted by the bulb, for example. 
         [0017]    In this example, an isolated DC voltage source  60  is selectively coupled directly to the gate and source of the MOSFETs  46  for setting them to conduct for delivering power to the load. The isolated DC voltage source  60  has an associated floating ground  62 . A switch  64  responds to the timing control signal input from the microcontroller  26  and enters an operative state (e.g., turns on) to couple the isolated DC voltage source  60  to the MOSFETs  46 . In the illustrated example, the switch  64  comprises an opto-coupler component. Other examples include a relay switch or a transformer component for selectively coupling the isolated DC voltage source  60  to the MOSFETs  46 . 
         [0018]    In one example, the isolated DC voltage source  60  provides  12  volts. In another example, a lower voltage is used. The voltage of the isolated DC voltage source  60  is selected to be sufficient to turn on the MOSFETs  46  to the saturation region. 
         [0019]    One example includes using an isolated DC-DC converter to achieve the isolated DC voltage source  60 . Another example includes a second-stage transformer. Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this description will realize what components will work best for including an isolated DC voltage source in their particular embodiment. 
         [0020]    The illustrated example includes voltage controlling components for controlling the voltage that reaches the gate and source of the MOSFETs  46 . The illustrated example includes resistors  66  and  68  and a zener diode  70 . The resistor  66  sets the turn on speed or the time it takes to turn on the MOSFETs  46 . The resistors  66  and  68  set the turn off speed or the time it takes to turn off the MOSFETs  46 . In one example, the resistor  68  has a much higher resistance compared to that of the resistor  66  such that the resistor  68  effectively sets the turn off time for the MOSFETs  46 . Selecting an off speed and on speed allows for avoiding oscillation of the MOSFETs  46  and avoiding generating heat if the MOSFETs  46  were to stay in a linear operation region too long. 
         [0021]    The zener diode  70  provides over voltage protection to shield the MOSFETs from voltage spikes and noise, for example. The zener diode  70  is configured to maintain the voltage provided to the MOSFET gate and source inputs at or below the diode&#39;s reverse breakdown voltage in a known manner. One example does not include a zener diode. 
         [0022]    One advantage to the disclosed example is that the MOSFETs can be fully controlled during an entire AC cycle without requiring a rectifier. The disclosed example is a more efficient circuit arrangement compared to others that relied upon RC circuitry and a rectifier for controlling the MOSFETs. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows a residential building  100  incorporating a plurality of the receivers/microprocessors as set forth in  FIG. 1 . As shown, an electrical power source  102 , such as a circuit breaker box, supplies power through a plurality of power lines  104  to a plurality of receivers/microprocessors  106 . Essentially, each receiver/microprocessor  106  may be similar to the control as set forth in claim  1 . Each of the receivers/microprocessors  106  are shown to have power lines  108  communicating with various components  110 , which may be electrical receptacles, lights, fans, or other components. Lights and receptacles may be associated with a dimmer circuit, if it is desirable to dim the light, or a component plugged into the receptacle. 
         [0024]    As can be seen, the receivers/microprocessor  106  control components  110  in a plurality of rooms. As such, fewer receivers/microprocessor are necessary than would be the case if each room had its own. This reduces the number of power lines  104 , which must travel to each receiver/microprocessor. 
         [0025]    As shown, the receivers/microprocessors  106  receive wireless signals from switches  1   12 . Again, the technology for providing a wireless signal from a switch  112  to the receiver/microprocessor  106  is generally as known. However, the use of local receivers/microprocessor for controlling components in a plurality of rooms is novel. Moreover, the use of dimming circuitry into the arrangement such as shown in  FIG. 3 , wherein there are local receivers, is also novel. 
         [0026]    While the receivers/microprocessors  106  are shown directly connected by electrical supply lines to the various components that are controlled, more recent developments which include the supply of wireless power to the components would also come within the scope of this invention. That is, the receivers/microprocessors  106 , receive wireless signals from switches, and are specifically disclosed as delivering power to the components over electric lines, but that power supply can also be wireless. 
         [0027]    While an embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.