Lighting controller
View Patent ↗An automation system includes a lighting controller having a WiFi interface through which wireless communication may be established with one or more mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and the like. Using a mobile device, an installer may rapidly and reliably configure the lighting controller including creating or modifying bindings and settings for keypads which are associated with the lighting controller. The lighting controller includes a dynamic snubber circuit which automatically adjusts itself to operate with different types of loads.
1. A method for creating a binding between a keypad and a lighting controller comprising:
executing a configuration application (app) on a mobile device having a touch-sensitive display screen, a user interface of the configuration app being displayed to a user on the touch-sensitive display screen;
displaying, in the user interface, a user-selectable option to create a binding between the lighting controller and the keypad;
in response to selection of the option, displaying, in the user interface, a location that is to have keypad functionality, but that is not currently associated with a physical keypad bound to the lighting controller;
prompting a user to press a key of the keypad to be associated with the displayed location;
detecting a press of at least one key on the keypad;
displaying, in the user interface, a user-selectable entry corresponding to the keypad;
receiving a user selection of the entry; and
in response to the user's press on the keypad and the user selection of the entry, creating a binding between the keypad and the lighting controller by associating the keypad with the displayed location.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the keypad is WiFi-enabled to communicate with the lighting controller via WiFi signals, and the detecting comprises:
receiving a WiFi signal from the keypad indicating a press of the at least one key.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying, in the user interface, settings of the lighting controller, the settings including a WiFi network associated with the lighting controller.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
scanning the WiFi network for WiFi signals from the keypad indicating the press of the at least one key.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying a user-selectable entry comprises:
displaying a unique identifier of the keypad.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying a user-selectable entry comprises:
displaying an indication of the at least one key that was pressed.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the displaying a user-selectable entry comprises:
displaying an indication of a time elapsed since the at least one key was pressed.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a smartphone or a tablet computer.
9. A system comprising:
a plurality of WiFi-enabled keypads having keys to receive user input related to lighting functions;
a lighting controller having a WiFi module configured to control lighting devices based on user input received on the keys of the plurality of WiFi-enabled keypads, the lighting controller configured to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of WiFi-enabled keypads via a WiFi network; and
a configuration application (app) that when executed is operable to:
display a location that is to have keypad functionality, but that is not currently associated with a physical keypad,
prompt a user to press a key of a keypad of the plurality of WiFi-enabled keypads to be associated with the displayed location,
scan the WiFi network for WiFi signals from any keypads indicating the press of a key,
receive a WiFi signal from the keypad of the plurality of WiFi-enabled keypads indicating the user has pressed the key on the keypad, and
in response to the user's press on the keypad, bind the keypad to the lighting controller by associating the keypad with the displayed location.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the configuration app when executed is further operable to receive a selection of the displayed location from a user in a user interface of the control application.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the configuration app when executed is further operable to display elements representing bound and unbound locations in the user interface, and the displayed location is an unbound location that has been selected by the user.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the configuration app when executed is operable to:
display, in a user interface of the configuration app, a user-selectable entry corresponding to the keypad, and
receive a user selection of the entry,
wherein the keypad is bound in response to the user selection of the entry.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the entry includes a unique identifier of the at least one keypad.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the entry includes an indication of the at least one key that was pressed.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the entry includes an indication of a time elapsed since the at least one key was pressed.
16. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a mobile device configured to execute the configuration app and display a user interface of the configuration app on the touch sensitive screen, the mobile device separate from the plurality of keypads and the lighting controller.