IP Library Granted Patent US 10,517,163
Granted Patent B2
US 10,517,163 · App. 16/251,634 · Granted Dec 24, 2019

Power receptacle control circuitry

Inventor: Michael James Harris (Cary, NC)
Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting LLC
H05B37/0272F21S8/026F21V7/0008H05B33/0809H05B33/0842H05B33/0854H05B37/02H05B37/0218H05B37/0254F21K9/62F21V5/04F21V7/00F21V29/70F21Y2115/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,517,163
App. No.
16/251,634
Granted
Dec 24, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

Power receptacle control circuitry includes load switching circuitry, communications circuitry, sensor circuitry, processing circuitry, and a memory. The sensor circuitry includes a light sensor. The processing circuitry is coupled to the load switching circuitry, the communications circuitry, the sensor circuitry, and the memory. The memory includes instructions, which, when executed by the processing circuitry cause the power receptacle control circuitry to selectively deliver power to a load via the load switching circuitry, detect a modulated light signal via the light sensor, and join a group of devices based on the modulated light signal.

Claims (56)

1. Power receptacle control circuitry comprising:

load switching circuitry;

processing circuitry coupled to the load switching circuitry; and

a memory coupled to the processing circuitry, the memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the power receptacle control circuitry to:

selectively deliver power to a load via the load switching circuitry;

analyze power consumption characteristics of the load; and

classify the load based on the power consumption characteristics.

2. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 1 wherein the power consumption characteristics include one or more of voltage over time, current over time, and power factor.

3. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 1 wherein the memory includes further instructions, which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the power receptacle control circuitry to change one or more operating parameters of the power receptacle control circuitry based on a classification of the load.

4. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 3 wherein the one or more operating parameters include a series of actions performed when delivering power to the load.

5. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 3 wherein the one or more operating parameters include a series of actions performed when removing power from the load.

6. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 3 wherein the memory includes further instructions, which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the power receptacle control circuitry to:

detect restoration of power following a power outage; and

selectively deliver power to the load based on a power outage protocol.

7. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 6 wherein the one or more operating parameters include the power outage protocol.

8. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 3 wherein the memory includes further instructions, which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the power receptacle control circuitry to selectively deliver power to the load based at least in part on the classification of the load.

9. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 1 wherein the load switching circuitry is further configured to provide a contact closure output, wherein a state of the contact closure output is synchronized with the selective delivery of power to the load.

10. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 1 wherein:

the power receptacle control circuitry further comprises sensor circuitry;

the sensor circuitry comprises one or more of a light sensor, an occupancy sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an air quality sensor, an image sensor, a Hall effect sensor, a position sensor, and a location sensor; and

the memory stores further instructions, which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the power receptacle control circuitry to selectively deliver power to the load based on one or more measurements from the sensor circuitry.

11. Power receptacle control circuitry comprising:

load switching circuitry;

processing circuitry coupled to the load switching circuitry; and

a memory coupled to the processing circuitry, the memory storing instructions, which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the power receptacle control circuitry to:

selectively deliver power to a load via the load switching circuitry;

deliver power to the load in response to user input; and

remove power to the load based on an occupancy status of an environment surrounding the power receptacle control circuitry.

12. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 11 wherein:

the power receptacle control circuitry further comprises communications circuitry; and

data about the user input is received via the communications circuitry.

13. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 12 wherein:

the power receptacle control circuitry further comprises sensor circuitry;

the sensor circuitry comprises an occupancy sensor, which is configured to detect a presence of humans in the environment surrounding the power receptacle control circuitry; and

the occupancy status is based on measurements from the occupancy sensor.

14. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 11 wherein:

the power receptacle control circuitry further comprises sensor circuitry;

the sensor circuitry comprises an occupancy sensor; and

the occupancy status is based on measurements from the occupancy sensor.

15. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 11 wherein the memory stores further instructions, which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the power receptacle control circuitry to join a group of devices.

16. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 15 wherein:

the group of devices includes a wall control configured to receive the user input;

the power receptacle control circuitry further comprises communications circuitry; and

data about the user input is received via the communications circuitry from the wall control.

17. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 15 wherein:

the power receptacle control circuitry further comprises communications circuitry; and

the occupancy status is based on data received from one or more of the group of devices.

18. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 17 wherein:

the power receptacle control circuitry further comprises sensor circuitry;

the sensor circuitry comprises an occupancy sensor, which is configured to detect a presence of humans in an environment surrounding the power receptacle control circuitry; and

the occupancy status is further based on measurements from the occupancy sensor.

19. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 11 wherein the load switching circuitry is further configured to provide a contact closure output, wherein a state of the contact closure output is synchronized with the selective delivery of power to the load.

20. The power receptacle control circuitry of claim 11 wherein:

the power receptacle control circuitry further comprises sensor circuitry;

the sensor circuitry comprises one or more of a light sensor, an occupancy sensor, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an air quality sensor, an image sensor, a Hall effect sensor, a position sensor, and a location sensor; and

the memory stores further instructions, which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the power receptacle control circuitry to selectively deliver power to the load based on one or more measurements from the sensor circuitry.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 22, 2026
From: LUMEN ACQUISITION HOLDINGS, LLC
To: LED-IP MANAGEMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 075624/0358 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2023
From: IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC
To: FGI WORLDWIDE LLC
Reel/Frame 064897/0413 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2019
From: HARRIS, MICHAEL JAMES
To: CREE, INC.
Reel/Frame 049559/0069 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2019
From: CREE, INC.
To: IDEAL INDUSTRIES LIGHTING LLC
Reel/Frame 049595/0001 →