IP Library Granted Patent US 11,617,253
Granted Patent B2
US 11,617,253 · App. 17/557,969 · Granted Mar 28, 2023

Switch for commissioning and controlling a device

Inventors: Jeffrey G. Reh (Longmont, CO); Matthew B. O'Kelley (Boulder, CO)
Assignee: Fabriq, Ltd.
H05B47/19G05B15/02H05B47/14H05B47/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,617,253
App. No.
17/557,969
Granted
Mar 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multimode switch includes a line voltage switch, coupled to a line voltage and a device; a switch controller that directs the line voltage switch to provide line voltage to, and subsequently remove line voltage from, the device, and that receives a functional group designation for the device, and that controls the device according to the functional group designation; and a ground leakage power supply, coupled to an AC hot line and to an earth ground, that generates a regulated voltage to power the switch controller without requiring connection to an AC neutral line, while limiting ground leakage current to the earth ground to a prescribed leakage value.

Claims (30)

1. A multimode switch, comprising:

a line voltage switch, coupled to a line voltage and a device;

a switch controller, configured to direct said line voltage switch to provide said line voltage to, and subsequently remove line voltage from, said device, and configured to receive a functional group designation for said device, and configured to thereafter control said device according to said functional group designation; and

a ground leakage power supply, coupled to an AC hot line and to an earth ground, configured to generate a regulated voltage to power said switch controller without requiring connection to an AC neutral line, while limiting ground leakage current to said earth ground to a prescribed leakage value.

2. The multimode switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein said switch controller directs said line voltage switch to provide said line voltage to, and subsequently remove line voltage from, said device to allow for discovery and commissioning of said device.

3. The multimode switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein said switch controller is configured to transmit identifying information for capture by a commissioning device.

4. The multimode switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein said device comprises a wireless lighting fixture.

5. The multimode switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein said regulated voltage comprises a value of approximately 3.3 volts DC.

6. The multimode switch as recited in claim 5 , wherein said ground leakage power supply is configured to supply a 25 milliampere current for at least 1 millisecond.

7. The multimode switch as recited in claim 5 , wherein said ground leakage power supply is configured to supply a 6 milliampere current for at least 47 seconds.

8. A multimode switch, comprising:

an actuator, configured to indicate a state responsive to a change in actuation;

a line voltage switch, coupled to a line voltage and a device;

a switch controller, configured to direct said line voltage switch to provide said line voltage to, and subsequently remove line voltage from, said device, and configured to receive a functional group designation for said device, and configured to thereafter control said device according to said functional group designation; and

a ground leakage power supply, coupled to an AC hot line and to an earth ground, configured to generate a regulated voltage to power said switch controller without requiring connection to an AC neutral line, while limiting ground leakage current to said earth ground to a prescribed leakage value.

9. The multimode switch as recited in claim 8 , wherein said switch controller directs said line voltage switch to provide said line voltage to, and subsequently remove line voltage from, said device to allow for discovery and commissioning of said device.

10. The multimode switch as recited in claim 8 , wherein said switch controller is configured to transmit identifying information for capture by a commissioning device.

11. The multimode switch as recited in claim 8 , wherein said device comprises a wireless lighting fixture.

12. The multimode switch as recited in claim 8 , wherein said regulated voltage comprises a value of approximately 3.3 volts DC.

13. The multimode switch as recited in claim 12 , wherein said ground leakage power supply is configured to supply a 25 milliampere current for at least 1 millisecond.

14. The multimode switch as recited in claim 12 , wherein said ground leakage power supply is configured to supply a 6 milliampere current for at least 47 seconds.

15. A multimode switch method, comprising:

coupling a line voltage switch to a line voltage and to a device;

via a switch controller, directing the line voltage switch to provide the line voltage to, and subsequently remove line voltage from, the device; receiving a functional group designation for the device; and thereafter controlling the device according to the functional group designation; and

coupling a ground leakage power supply to an AC hot line and to an earth ground and generating a regulated voltage to power the switch controller without requiring connection to an AC neutral line, while limiting ground leakage current to the earth ground to a prescribed leakage value.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the switch controller directs the line voltage switch to provide the line voltage to, and subsequently remove line voltage from, the device to allow for discovery and commissioning of the device.

17. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the switch controller is configured to transmit identifying information for capture by a commissioning device.

18. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the device comprises a wireless lighting fixture.

19. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein said regulated voltage comprises a value of approximately 3.3 volts DC.

20. The method as recited in claim 19 , wherein said ground leakage power supply is configured to supply a 25 milliampere current to the switch controller for at least 1 millisecond.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2021
From: REH, JEFFREY G.; O'KELLEY, MATTHEW B.
To: FABRIQ, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058448/0981 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 16881993 · May 22, 2020
Provisional Application 62851741 · May 23, 2019
Provisional Application 62851733 · May 23, 2019
Related Publication 20220117070A1 · Apr 14, 2022