Abstract: A control system may include a direct-current (DC) power bus for charging internal energy storage elements in control devices of the control system. For example, the control devices may be motorized window treatments configured to adjust a position of a covering material to control the amount of daylight entering a space. The system may include a bus power supply that may generate a DC voltage on the DC power bus. For example, the DC power bus may extend from the bus power supply around the perimeter of a floor of the building and may be connected to all of the motorized window treatments on the floor (e.g., in a daisy-chain configuration). An over-power protection circuit may be configured to disconnect the bus power supply if a bus current exceeds a threshold for a period of time.

Abstract: A controllable lighting device may comprise a drive circuit characterized by one or more cycles and a control circuit configured to control the drive circuit to conduct a load current through a light source of the lighting device. The control circuit may be configured to determine one or more operating parameters of the lighting device during a present cycle of the drive circuit based on a feedback signal indicative of a peak magnitude of the load current conducted through the light source. The control circuit may be able to adjust an average magnitude of the load current conducted through the light source so as to adjust an intensity of the light source towards a target intensity based on the operating parameters.

Abstract: A load control device may utilize a feedback signal representative of an average magnitude of the load current conducted through an electrical load to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The feedback signal may be generated based on a sense signal that is electrically isolated from the line voltage input of the load control device. Depending on the operational characteristics of the electrical load, the feedback signal may be generated using different techniques. In one example technique, the sense signal may be integrated and filtered to derive the feedback signal. In another example technique, the sense signal may be used in conjunction with an input power of the load control device and an efficiency parameter of the load control device to derive the feedback signal. In yet another example technique, values derived from the foregoing two techniques may be blended together to obtain the feedback signal.

Abstract: A load control device may utilize a feedback signal representative of an average magnitude of the load current conducted through an electrical load to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The feedback signal may be generated based on a sense signal that is electrically isolated from the line voltage input of the load control device. Depending on the operational characteristics of the electrical load, the feedback signal may be generated using different techniques. In one example technique, the sense signal may be integrated and filtered to derive the feedback signal. In another example technique, the sense signal may be used in conjunction with an input power of the load control device and an efficiency parameter of the load control device to derive the feedback signal. In yet another example technique, values derived from the foregoing two techniques may be blended together to obtain the feedback signal.

Abstract: A control system may include a direct-current (DC) power bus for charging (e.g., trickle charging) internal energy storage elements in control devices of the control system. For example, the control devices may be motorized window treatments configured to adjust a position of a covering material to control the amount of daylight entering a space. The system may include a DC power supply that may generate a DC voltage on the DC power bus. For example, the DC power bus may extend from the DC power supply around the perimeter of a floor of the building and may be connected to all of the motorized window treatments on the floor (e.g., in a daisy-chain configuration). Wiring the DC power bus in such a manner may dramatically reduce the installation labor and wiring costs of an installation, as well as decreasing the chance of a miswire.

Abstract: A control system may include a direct-current (DC) power bus for charging internal energy storage elements in control devices of the control system. For example, the control devices may be motorized window treatments configured to adjust a position of a covering material to control the amount of daylight entering a space. The system may include a bus power supply that may generate a DC voltage on the DC power bus. For example, the DC power bus may extend from the bus power supply around the perimeter of a floor of the building and may be connected to all of the motorized window treatments on the floor (e.g., in a daisy-chain configuration). An over-power protection circuit may be configured to disconnect the bus power supply if a bus current exceeds a threshold for a period of time.

Abstract: A low-power radio-frequency (RF) receiver is characterized by a decreased current consumption over prior art RF receivers, such that the RF receiver may be used in control devices, such as battery-powered motorized window treatments and two-wire dimmer switches. The RF receiver uses an RF sub-sampling technique to check for the RF signals and then put the RF receiver to sleep for a sleep time that is longer than a packet length of a transmitted packet to thus conserve battery power and lengthen the lifetime of the batteries. The RF receiver compares detected RF energy to a detect threshold that may be increased to decrease the sensitivity of the RF receiver and increase the lifetime of the batteries. After detecting that an RF signal is being transmitted, the RF receiver is put to sleep for a snooze time period that is longer than the sleep time and just slightly shorter than the time between two consecutive transmitted packets to further conserve battery power.

Abstract: A controllable lighting device may comprise a drive circuit characterized by one or more cycles and a control circuit configured to control the drive circuit to conduct a load current through a light source of the lighting device. The control circuit may be configured to determine one or more operating parameters of the lighting device during a present cycle of the drive circuit based on a feedback signal indicative of a peak magnitude of the load current conducted through the light source. The control circuit may be able to adjust an average magnitude of the load current conducted through the light source so as to adjust an intensity of the light source towards a target intensity based on the operating parameters.

Abstract: A control device may comprise a primary radio circuit for receiving radio-frequency signals via an antenna, and a secondary radio circuit for waking up the primary radio circuit when a radio-frequency signal is presently being transmitted by an external device. The control device may include a control circuit that may be coupled to the primary radio circuit, and may control the primary radio circuit into a sleep mode. The secondary radio circuit may generate a first control signal indicating that the radio-frequency signal is presently being transmitted by the external device. The control circuit may wake up the primary radio circuit from the sleep mode in response to the secondary radio circuit generating the first control signal indicating that the radio-frequency signal is presently being transmitted by the external device.

Abstract: A control system may include a direct-current (DC) power bus for charging (e.g., trickle charging) internal energy storage elements in control devices of the control system. For example, the control devices may be motorized window treatments configured to adjust a position of a covering material to control the amount of daylight entering a space. The system may include a DC power supply that may generate a DC voltage on the DC power bus. For example, the DC power bus may extend from the DC power supply around the perimeter of a floor of the building and may be connected to all of the motorized window treatments on the floor (e.g., in a daisy-chain configuration). Wiring the DC power bus in such a manner may dramatically reduce the installation labor and wiring costs of an installation, as well as decreasing the chance of a miswire.

Abstract: A motorized window treatment may be configured to adjust a position of a covering material to control the amount of daylight entering a space. The motorized window treatment may include a DC power source for charging an energy storage element, such as a supercapacitor and/or rechargeable battery. The energy storage element may be configured to provide power for the operation of a motor used to adjust the position of the covering material. The energy storage element may discharge when providing power to the motor and may charge such that the current it draws from a battery is at a desired average current level that extends the lifetime of the battery.

Abstract: A low-power radio-frequency (RF) receiver is characterized by a decreased current consumption over prior art RF receivers, such that the RF receiver may be used in control devices, such as battery-powered motorized window treatments and two-wire dimmer switches. The RF receiver uses an RF sub-sampling technique to check for the RF signals and then put the RF receiver to sleep for a sleep time that is longer than a packet length of a transmitted packet to thus conserve battery power and lengthen the lifetime of the batteries. The RF receiver compares detected RF energy to a detect threshold that may be increased to decrease the sensitivity of the RF receiver and increase the lifetime of the batteries. After detecting that an RF signal is being transmitted, the RF receiver is put to sleep for a snooze time period that is longer than the sleep time and just slightly shorter than the time between two consecutive transmitted packets to further conserve battery power.

Abstract: A control device may comprise a primary radio circuit for receiving radio-frequency signals via an antenna, and a secondary radio circuit for waking up the primary radio circuit when a radio-frequency signal is presently being transmitted by an external device. The control device may include a control circuit that may be coupled to the primary radio circuit, and may control the primary radio circuit into a sleep mode. The secondary radio circuit may generate a first control signal indicating that the radio-frequency signal is presently being transmitted by the external device. The control circuit may wake up the primary radio circuit from the sleep mode in response to the secondary radio circuit generating the first control signal indicating that the radio-frequency signal is presently being transmitted by the external device.

Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load is able to operate in a normal mode and a burst mode. The load control device may comprise a control circuit that activates an inverter circuit during active state periods and deactivates the inverter circuit during inactive state periods. The control circuit may operate in the normal mode to regulate an average magnitude of a load current conducted through the electrical load to be above a minimum rated current. The control circuit may operate in the burst mode to adjust the average magnitude of the load current to be below the minimum rated current. The control circuit may adjust the average magnitude of the load current by adjusting the length of the inactive state periods while holding the length of the active state periods constant.

Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from a power source to an electrical load may comprise a control circuit configured to control the load regulation circuit to control the power delivered to the electrical load. The control circuit may be configured to operate in an AC mode when an input voltage is an AC voltage and in a DC mode when the input voltage is a DC voltage. The control circuit may be configured to disable the power converter in the DC mode. The control circuit may be configured to render a controllable switching circuit conductive in the AC mode, and non-conductive in the DC mode. The rectifier circuit may be configured to rectify the input voltage to generate a rectified voltage when the input voltage is an AC voltage, and to pass through the input voltage when the input voltage is a DC voltage.

Abstract: A load control device (e.g., an LED driver) for controlling the intensity of a lighting load (e.g., an LED light source) may provide a wide output range and flicker-free adjustment of the intensity of the lighting load. The load control device may comprise a load regulation circuit, a control circuit, and a filter circuit (e.g., a boxcar filter circuit) that operates in a different manner in dependence upon a target current. When the intensity of the lighting load is near a low-end intensity, the control circuit may adjust an operating frequency of the load regulation circuit in response to the target current, and may control the filter circuit to filter a current feedback signal during a filter window that repeats on periodic basis. When the intensity of the lighting load is near a high-end intensity, the control circuit may control the filter circuit to constantly filter the current feedback signal.

Abstract: A motorized window treatment may be configured to adjust a position of a covering material to control the amount of daylight entering a space. The motorized window treatment may include a DC power source for charging an energy storage element, such as a supercapacitor and/or rechargeable battery. The energy storage element may be configured to provide power for the operation of a motor used to adjust the position of the covering material. The energy storage element may discharge when providing power to the motor and may charge such that the current it draws from a battery is at a desired average current level that extends the lifetime of the battery.

Abstract: A motorized window treatment may be powered (e.g., entirely powered) from solar energy. The motorized window treatment may comprise a roller tube, a covering material extending from the roller tube to a bottom bar, and a motor drive unit configured to rotate the roller tube for adjusting a position of the covering material. The bottom bar may comprise at least one solar cell and an energy storage element electrically coupled to the solar cell. The motorized window treatment may comprise a dock, which may have a base portion electrically coupled the energy storage element of the motor drive unit. The bottom bar may be positioned adjacent to the base portion when the covering material is in a raised position, such that the energy storage element of the bottom bar may discharge through the base portion into an energy storage element of the motor drive unit.

Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from a power source to an electrical load may comprise a control circuit configured to control the load regulation circuit to control the power delivered to the electrical load. The control circuit may be configured to operate in an AC mode when an input voltage is an AC voltage and in a DC mode when the input voltage is a DC voltage. The control circuit may be configured to disable the power converter in the DC mode. The control circuit may be configured to render a controllable switching circuit conductive in the AC mode, and non-conductive in the DC mode. The rectifier circuit may be configured to rectify the input voltage to generate a rectified voltage when the input voltage is an AC voltage, and to pass through the input voltage when the input voltage is a DC voltage.

Abstract: A load control device (e.g., an LED driver) for controlling the intensity of a lighting load (e.g., an LED light source) may provide a wide output range and flicker-free adjustment of the intensity of the lighting load. The load control device may comprise a load regulation circuit, a control circuit, and a filter circuit (e.g., a boxcar filter circuit) that operates in a different manner in dependence upon a target current. When the intensity of the lighting load is near a low-end intensity, the control circuit may adjust an operating frequency of the load regulation circuit in response to the target current, and may control the filter circuit to filter a current feedback signal during a filter window that repeats on periodic basis. When the intensity of the lighting load is near a high-end intensity, the control circuit may control the filter circuit to constantly filter the current feedback signal.