IP Library Granted Patent US 9,021,302
Granted Patent B2
US 9,021,302 · App. 13/499,791 · Granted Apr 28, 2015

Load control system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,021,302
App. No.
13/499,791
Granted
Apr 28, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A load control system includes: a power supply control unit for controlling a power feeding to multiple load devices; and a backup power supply unit for supplying backup power during a power failure. During a power failure, the power supply control unit supplies the power from the backup power supply unit only to a part of load devices selected among the load devices, and the load devices are devoid of communications function for communicating with the power supply control unit.

Claims (22)

1. A load control system, further comprising:

a power supply control unit for controlling a power feeding to multiple load devices; and

a backup power supply unit for supplying backup power during a power failure,

wherein, during a power failure, the power supply control unit supplies the power from the backup power supply unit only to a part of load devices selected among the load devices, and the load devices are devoid of communications function for communicating with the power supply control unit,

wherein the load control system further comprises:

a power supply unit for supplying an operation power of the whole system;

a load operation terminal connected to the power supply control unit via a communications line;

a power failure notification unit for outputting, when a the power failure is detected, a power failure notification signal to the power supply control unit; and

a number of load circuits, each of which having one or more of the load devices connected to the power supply control unit via power lines,

wherein the power supply control unit includes power feeding on/off units, each of which being connected to one of the load circuits, to independently turn on or off the power feeding to corresponding load circuits, thereby operating or stopping the load devices of the load circuits; a first communications unit for receiving a load control signal inputted via the communications line; and a control circuit for switching on or off one or more power feeding on/off units corresponding to the load control signal received by the first communications unit,

wherein the load operation terminal includes an operation unit for performing on/off operation of one or more target load circuits; and a second communications unit for receiving an operation input from the operation unit and outputting to the communications line the load control signal for controlling said one or more the power feeding on/off units corresponding to the target load circuits,

wherein the control circuit of the power supply control unit controls, when the power failure notification signal is received from the power failure notification unit, the power feeding on/off units to supply the backup power from the backup power supply unit only to a part of the load circuits, and

wherein the power supply control unit further includes a storage unit for storing a power feeding state of the respective load circuits immediately before the power failure occurs; and when the power failure is recovered, the control circuit controls the power feeding on/off units to return to the power feeding state immediately before the power failure occurs based on the power feeding state stored in the storage unit.

2. The load control system of claim 1 , wherein the power supply control unit further includes a setting unit for setting one or more load circuits to which the backup power is supplied during the power failure; and

when the power failure notification signal is received, the control circuit controls the power feeding on/off units to supply the backup power from the backup power supply unit only to the load circuits set by the setting unit.

3. The load control system of claim 2 , wherein the backup power supply unit includes a secondary battery, the power supply unit supplies a DC power as the operation power, and the first and the second communications unit receive and transmit the load control signal by superposing signals on DC voltage.

4. The load control system of claim 3 , wherein a power level of the backup power supplied by the backup power supply unit during the power failure is less than that of the operation power supplied by the power supply unit in a normal state other than the power failure.

5. The load control system of claim 2 , wherein a power level of the backup power supplied by the backup power supply unit during the power failure is less than that of the operation power supplied by the power supply unit in a normal state other than the power failure.

6. The load control system of claim 1 , wherein the backup power supply unit includes a secondary battery, the power supply unit supplies a DC power as the operation power, and the first and the second communications unit receive and transmit the load control signal by superposing signals on DC voltage.

7. The load control system of claim 6 , wherein a power level of the backup power supplied by the backup power supply unit during the power failure is less than that of the operation power supplied by the power supply unit in a normal state other than the power failure.

8. The load control system of claim 1 , wherein a power level of the backup power supplied by the backup power supply unit during the power failure is less than that of the operation power supplied by the power supply unit in a normal state other than the power failure.

9. The load control system of claim 8 , wherein the load devices are lighting devices.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2012
From: HIRATA, SATOSHI; MATSUURA, SHUJI; FUJITA, YUJI
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029342/0501 →