Abstract: A control device for a ceiling fan may have a motor drive circuit configured to control a rotational speed of a motor of the ceiling fan, an occupancy sensing circuit, and a control circuit configured to adjust the rotational speed of the motor in response to a detected occupancy or vacancy condition. The control circuit may process the signals generated by the occupancy sensing circuit to eliminate the effects of vibrations and/or wobbling of the ceiling fan. The control circuit may control the motor drive circuit to adjust the rotational speed of the motor in response to an accelerometer to minimize the magnitude of the wobble of the ceiling fan. The control circuit may be configured to learn a preferred rotational speed for the motor. The control circuit may also be configured to control the rotational speed of the motor to affect a thermal comfort level of an occupant.

Abstract: An illumination system and method are disclosed for maintaining a consistent change in illumination value among a group of illumination devices whenever a change command is manually sent from a keypad to those illumination devices. The consistent change results from maintaining a common start illumination value among not only the group, but also the keypad which controls the group. From the start illumination value, the keypad can then compute an end illumination value depending upon the amount of time that an increase or decrease in illumination value button is depressed and held. Since the change command can arrive at different illumination devices within the group depending upon where each illumination device is geographically located, a masking time is reserved after the button is released so that enough time is allocated for each of the illumination devices within that group to arrive at a common end illumination value.

Abstract: A device may detect a power removal event, determine whether the power removal event is a local power removal event or a system power removal event, and perform state correction. For example, the device may receive an indication of a state change event turning on the lighting device. The indication may be received from a sensor. For example, the sensor may include a photosensing circuit (e.g., capable of detecting light emission from the lighting device) or the sensor may include a live voltage sensor (e.g., capable of detecting a change in current driven to the lighting device). The device may then determine whether the power removal event is a system power removal event or a local power removal event. If the device determines that the power removal event is a system power removal event, the device may perform state correction (e.g., setting the lighting device to its state prior to the power removal event).

Abstract: A sensor and/or system controller may process an image multiple times at multiple resolutions to detect glare conditions. A glare condition threshold used to determine whether a glare condition exists may be based on the resolution of the image. When the resolution of the image is higher, the glare condition threshold may be higher. The sensor and/or system controller may organize one or more adjacent pixels having similar intensities into pixel groups. The pixel groups may vary in size and/or shape. The sensor and/or system controller may determine a representative group luminance for the pixel group (e.g., an average luminance of the pixels in the group). The sensor and/or system controller may determine a group glare condition threshold, which may be used to determine whether a glare condition exists for the group of pixels and/or may be based on the size of the group.

Abstract: A remote control device may control electrical loads and/or load control devices of a load control system without accessing electrical wiring. The remote control device may be configured to be mounted over an installed mechanical switch having a paddle actuator and may include a base and a control unit that is configured to be removably attached to the base. The base may include a frame, a clamp arm, a screw, and/or a sleeve. The clamp arm may be configured to secure the base to a protruding portion of the paddle actuator. The clamp arm may be attached to the frame at a pivot joint. The clamp arm may be configured to pivot about the pivot joint. The pivot joint may be located proximate to an endpoint or a midpoint of the frame.

Abstract: A remote control device my comprise a control unit and a mounting structure (e.g., a smart mounting structure) to which the control unit is configured to be mounted. The control unit may be configured to operate in a plurality of operating modes. The control unit may transmit a first message for controlling a first electrical load when the control unit is operating in a first operating mode and a second message for controlling a second electrical load when the control unit is operating in a second operating mode. When the control unit is mounted to the mounting unit, the mounting unit may transmit a third message to the first control circuit of the control unit in response to receiving a user input received via an input circuit of the control unit. The control unit may change between the plurality of operating modes in response to receiving the third message.

Abstract: A device may be configured to detect a glare condition and may comprise a photo sensing circuit and a visible light sensing circuit. The photo sensing circuit may be configured to periodically generate an illuminance signal that indicates an illuminance value. The visible light sensing circuit may be configured to periodically record images of the space at an exposure time. The device may receive an illuminance signal from the photo sensing circuit and determine a present illuminance based on the illuminance signal. The device may adjust the frequency at which the visible light sensing circuit records images based on the present illuminance. The exposure time may be determined based on the present illuminance and a glare condition type. An image recorded at a respective exposure time may wash out pixels above a certain illuminance value. The device may detect a glare condition at the location of washed out pixels.

Abstract: A control device may be configured to be installed in a three-way screw-in socket that includes multi-position switches. The control device may be configured to control one or more lighting loads in response to the respective positions of the multi-position switches of the three-way screw-in socket. The lighting loads may include a lighting load that is integral with the control device, a lighting load that is installed in a threaded receptacle of the control device, and/or one or more lighting loads controlled by respective devices that are associated with the control device. The control device may include a wireless communication circuit that is configured to transmit messages in response to operation of the multi-position switches into respective positions. The control device may be configured to control the lighting loads in response to messages received at the wireless communication circuit.

Abstract: A visible light sensor (VLS) may be configured to sense environmental characteristics using images of a space. The VLS may be controlled in one or more modes, including a daylight glare sensor mode, a daylighting sensor mode, a color sensor mode, and/or an occupancy/vacancy sensor mode. In the daylight glare sensor mode, the VLS may be configured to decrease or eliminate glares. In the daylighting sensor mode and/or color sensor mode, the VLS may be configured to provide a preferred amount of light and color temperature, respectively, within the space. In the occupancy/vacancy sensor mode, the VLS may be configured to detect an occupancy/vacancy condition within the space and adjust one or more control devices according to the occupation or vacancy of the space. The visible light sensor may be configured to protect the privacy of users within the space via software, a removable module, and/or a special sensor.

Abstract: A motorized window treatment may include a roller tube, a flexible material, a motor drive unit, and mounting brackets. The roller tube may be configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis that defines a longitudinal direction to operate the flexible material between a raised position and a lowered position. The motor drive unit may include a housing that defines a cavity that receives a motor and one or more batteries for powering the motor drive unit. The motor drive unit may include a printed circuit board to which a control circuit is mounted. The control circuit may comprise a switch. The motor drive unit may comprise an actuation member configured to transfer a first force applied in a first direction at an end portion of the motor drive unit to a second force in a second direction within the cavity of the housing to actuate the switch.

Abstract: A remote control device is provided that is configured for use in a load control system that includes one or more electrical loads. The remote control device includes a mounting structure and a control unit, and the control unit is configured to be attached to the mounting structure in a plurality of different orientations. The control unit includes a user interface, an orientation sensing circuit, and a communication circuit. The control unit is configured to determine an orientation of the control unit via the orientation sensing circuit. The control unit is also configured to translate a user input from the user interface into control data to control an electrical load of the load control system based on the orientation of the control unit and/or provide a visual indication of an amount of power delivered to the electrical load based on the orientation of the control unit.

Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may have a closed-loop gate drive circuit for controlling a semiconductor switch of a controllably conductive device. The controllably conductive device may be coupled in series between the source and the load. The gate drive circuit may generate a target signal in response to a control circuit. The gate drive circuit may shape the target signal over a period of time and may increase the target signal to a predetermined level after the period of time. The gate drive circuit may receive a feedback signal that indicates a magnitude of a load current conducted through the semiconductor switch. The gate drive circuit may generate a gate control signal in response to the target signal and the feedback signal, and render the semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive in response to the gate control signal.

Abstract: A device may be configured to process messages from a plurality of input devices. The messages may be received on a first communication link and may be processed for being transmitted on a second communication link. The device may receive messages comprising data on the first communication link from the plurality of input devices. The data from the input devices may be aggregated and transmitted in at least one message on the second communication link.

Abstract: A load control system may be provided including control devices and a system controller. The system controller may be configured to broadcast a service set identifier (SSID) and provide a wireless network connection to a network device. The system controller may provide a web page to the network device, wherein the web page may include an indication of target system controllers. The target system controllers may be used for configuring (e.g., associating) the control devices. The system controller may receive an indication of a target system controller selected to associate the control devices. The system controller may determine an address and port number of the target system controller identified by the network device. The system controller may provide, to the network device, the web page from the target system controller while the network device is connected to the system controller via the wireless network connection.

Abstract: A load control device is configured to generate a control signal having a desired magnitude for controlling a load regulation device adapted to control the power delivered to an electrical load. The load control device may comprise a control terminal arranged to provide the control signal to the load regulation device, a communication circuit for generating the control signal, and a control circuit configured to generate an output signal that is provided to the communication circuit. The communication circuit may be characterized by non-linear operation. The control circuit may adjust the magnitude of the output signal in response to the difference between the magnitude of the control signal and the desired magnitude to adjust the magnitude of the control signal towards the desired magnitude. The control circuit may also be configured to determine if an incompatible load regulation device is coupled to the load control device.

Abstract: A remote control device may be configured to be mounted over the toggle actuator of a light switch and to control a load control device. The remote control device may include a mounting assembly and a control unit that is removably attachable to the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly may include a release tab that is configured to be operated from a locking position in which the control unit is secured to the mounting assembly, to a release position in which the control unit may be detached from the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly may include a clamp that is configured to engage with the toggle actuator of a mechanical switch to which the remote control device is mounted.

Abstract: A low-cost, simple ultrasonic sensing system has an increased detection range. The ultrasonic sensing system may be implemented as part of a load control system for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load. The load control system may comprise a load control device for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load, an ultrasonic receiver for receiving ultrasonic waves characterized by an ultrasonic frequency, and an ultrasonic transmitter located remotely from the ultrasonic receiver. The load control device controls the power delivered to the electrical load in response to the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic receiver. The load control device may include the ultrasonic receiver and may be a wall-mounted load control device. The ultrasonic receiver may be a wireless ultrasonic receiver for transmitting wireless signals to the load control device in response to the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic receiver.