Wireless lighting controller with abnormal event detection

1. A device for a wireless device control system for controlling lighting devices, the device powered by a power source, the device comprising:

an output circuit for controlling at least one of the lighting devices;

a power loss detection circuit coupled to the power source to monitor power supplied to the device, the power loss detection circuit including a first timer and configured to detect power loss upon loss of power supplied to the device for greater than a preset time of the first timer;

a wireless receiver for receiving control instructions from at least one other component of the wireless device control system; and

a communication loss detection circuit coupled to the wireless receiver, the communication loss detection circuit including a second timer and configured to detect power loss upon loss of communication received by the wireless receiver for greater than a preset time of the second timer; and

wherein the device:

enters a communication loss mode upon detecting communication loss and not detecting power loss, the communication loss mode operating the output circuit according to a preselected communication loss action; and

enters a power loss mode upon detecting power loss, the power loss mode operating the device according to a preselected power loss action.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein another device of the wireless device control system periodically transmits a heartbeat communication and the loss of communication is detected upon the wireless receiver not receiving a heartbeat communication for greater than a preset time of the second timer.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a processor, and wherein the processor at least in part forms the communication loss detection circuit.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the preselected communication loss action includes the output circuit configured to switch the at least one of the lighting devices to a desired state.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the lighting devices is a light source and the desired state is on.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power monitoring circuit coupled to the output circuit for monitoring the power load to the at least one of the lighting devices, a comparison of a current non-instantaneous load power with a historical non-instantaneous load power provides detection of a load power fault with the at least one of the lighting devices; and

wherein the device enters a lighting device fault mode upon detecting the load power fault.

7. The device of claim 6 , further comprising a wireless transmitter, and wherein upon entering the lighting device fault mode the wireless transmitter transmits a communication indicating the detection of a load power fault.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the wireless transceiver transmits load power information to another device of the wireless device control system and the another device provides the comparison of the current non-instantaneous load power with the historical non-instantaneous load power and detects the load power fault and notifies a user of the wireless device control system.

9. The device of claim 6 , wherein the comparison of the current non-instantaneous load power with the historical non-instantaneous load power accounts for any variances in dimming selected for the at least one of the lighting devices.

10. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transmitter, and wherein the preselected power loss action includes the wireless transmitter transmitting a communication indicating the detection of a power loss.

11. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

an AC to DC converter for transforming the power source to a DC supply: and

wherein:

the power loss detection circuit includes a first and a second subcircuit for detecting power loss;

the first subcircuit for detecting power loss is configured to detect an absence of AC voltage zero crossings; and

the second subcircuit for detecting power loss is configured to detect a loss of DC voltage output from the AC to DC converter.

12. The device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a temporary power source circuit; and

a wireless transmitter; and

wherein the preselected power loss action includes:

powering the device with the temporary power source circuit; and

the wireless transmitter transmitting a communication indicating detection of a power loss.

13. A device for a wireless device control system for controlling lighting devices, the device powered by a power source, the device comprising:

an output circuit for controlling a power load to at least one of the lighting devices;

a power loss detection circuit coupled to the power source to monitor power supplied to the device, the power loss detection circuit including a first timer and configured to detect power loss upon loss of power supplied to the device for greater than a preset time of the first timer;

a power monitoring circuit coupled to the output circuit for monitoring the power load to the at least one of the lighting devices, a comparison of a current non-instantaneous load power with a historical non-instantaneous load power provides detection of a load power fault with the at least one of the lighting devices;

a wireless transceiver for communication with at least one other component of the wireless device control system; and

wherein the device enters a power loss mode upon detecting power loss, the power loss mode operating the device according to a preselected power loss action.

14. The device of claim 13 , wherein upon detecting a load power fault the wireless transceiver transmits a communication indicating the detection of a load power fault.

15. The device of claim 13 , wherein the wireless transceiver transmits load power information to another device of the wireless device control system and the another device provides the comparison of the current non-instantaneous load power with the historical non-instantaneous load power and configured to detect the load power fault and notifies a user of the wireless device control system.

16. A device for a wireless device control system for controlling lighting devices, the device powered by a power source, the device comprising:

an output circuit for controlling at least one of the lighting devices;

a wireless transceiver for communicating with at least one other component of the wireless device control system;

a communication loss detection circuit coupled to the wireless receiver, the communication loss detection circuit including a second timer and configured to detect power loss upon loss of communication received by the wireless receiver for greater than a preset time of the second timer; and

a power monitoring circuit coupled to the output circuit for monitoring the power load to the at least one of the lighting devices, a comparison of a current non-instantaneous load power with a historical non-instantaneous load power provides detection of a load power fault with the at least one of the lighting devices; and

wherein the device enters a communication loss mode upon detecting communication loss, the communication loss mode operating the output circuit according to a preselected communication loss action.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein another device of the wireless device control system periodically transmits a heartbeat communication and the loss of communication is detected upon the wireless receiver not receiving a heartbeat communication for greater than a preset time of the second timer.

18. The device of claim 16 , further comprising a processor, and wherein the processor forms at least a portion of the communication loss detection circuit.

19. The device of claim 16 , wherein the preselected communication loss action includes the output circuit configured to switch the at least one of the lighting devices to a desired state.

20. The device of claim 19 , wherein the at least one of the lighting devices is a light source and the desired state is on.