US-12620302-B2 - Retrofit remote control device

US12620302B2US 12620302 B2US12620302 B2US 12620302B2US-12620302-B2

Abstract

Remote control devices may control electrical loads and/or load control devices of a load control system without accessing electrical wiring. The remote control device may be mounted over a mechanical switch that is installed in a wallbox. The remote control device may include a base, a battery, a battery holder, and a control unit. The base may be configured to attach the remote control device to the mechanical switch. The control unit may be configured to be removably attached to the base. The battery holder may be configured to retain the battery therein. The battery holder may be configured to be installed within the void defined by the housing. The battery holder may be operable between a first position in a lower portion of the void and a second position in an upper portion of the void.

Inventors

Chris Dimberg

Assignees

LUTRON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20240718

Claims (20)

1 . A remote control device for use in a load control system, the remote control device configured to be mounted over an installed mechanical switch that controls whether power is delivered to an electrical load, the remote control device comprising: a base that defines an opening that is configured to receive a protruding portion of a paddle actuator of the mechanical switch therein, the protruding portion of the paddle actuator projecting outward when the mechanical switch is operated into a position that causes power to be delivered to the electrical load, wherein when the protruding portion is received in the opening, the base at least partially surrounds the paddle actuator; a control unit that is configured to be attached to the base, the control unit comprising a control interface and a housing, the control unit further configured to transmit a control signal in response to a user input, the housing comprising an upper wall, a lower wall, and opposed side walls, the housing defining a void bounded by the upper wall, the lower wall, and the opposed side walls, wherein the opposed side walls comprise ribs extending into the void; a battery that is configured to power the control unit; and a battery holder that is configured to retain the battery therein, the battery holder configured to be installed within the void defined by the housing, wherein the battery holder is configured to be translated along the ribs within the void between a first position and a second position such that a location of the battery within the control unit is adjusted, the first position being in a lower portion of the void that is proximate to the lower wall and the second position being in an upper portion of the void that is proximate to the upper wall.
2 . The remote control device of claim 1 , wherein the battery holder is operable between the first position and the second position such that the battery holder is configured to be in the first position when an upper portion of the paddle actuator is the protruding portion and the battery holder is configured to be in the second position when the lower portion of the paddle actuator is the protruding portion.
3 . The remote control device of claim 1 , wherein the battery holder comprises a plurality of tabs configured to captively engage the ribs when the battery holder is installed within the control unit.
4 . The remote control device of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the plurality of tabs is configured to abut a front side of a respective one of the ribs and at least one of the plurality of tabs is configured to abut a rear side of the respective one of the ribs such that the battery holder is configured to translate in a plane parallel to the respective one of the ribs.
5 . The remote control device of claim 1 , wherein each of the ribs defines a first stop proximate to the lower wall of the housing and a second stop proximate to the upper wall of the housing, and wherein the first stop is configured to stop the battery holder in the first position, and wherein the second stop is configured to stop the battery holder in the second position.
6 . The remote control device of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible connector configured to electrically connect the battery holder and a printed circuit board of the control unit.
7 . The remote control device of claim 1 , wherein the battery holder is configured to electrically connect the battery to the control unit.
8 . The remote control device of claim 7 , wherein the battery holder comprises a pair of electrical contacts configured to abut respective positive and negative terminals of the battery.
9 . The remote control device of claim 1 , wherein the battery holder comprises a frame, a plate configured to be attached to the frame, and a battery socket, wherein the plate defines an opening configured to receive the battery socket.
10 . The remote control device of claim 9 , wherein the battery socket defines a plurality of clips configured to secure the battery socket to the plate.
11 . The remote control device of claim 9 , wherein the frame defines one or more tabs configured to secure the plate within the battery holder.
12 . The remote control device of claim 9 , wherein the battery holder is configured to receive a retaining clip to secure the battery within the battery holder.
13 . The remote control device of claim 12 , wherein the retaining clip defines a plurality of tabs configured to engage complimentary features on the plate.
14 . The remote control device of claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to attach the remote control device to the mechanical switch.
15 . The remote control device of claim 14 , wherein the base is configured to be attached to the protruding portion of the paddle actuator.
16 . The remote control device of claim 15 , wherein the base defines a tab configured to attach to the protruding portion of the paddle actuator.
17 . The remote control device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is removably attachable to the base.
18 . The remote control device of claim 1 , wherein the void of the control unit is configured to receive the protruding portion of the paddle actuator when the control unit is attached to the base.
19 . The remote control device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a wireless communication circuit that is configured to transmit the control signal, the control unit configured to translate the user input from the control interface into the control signal.
20 . The remote control device of claim 1 , further comprising a spacer between the base and the control unit.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of Non-Provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/124,247, filed Mar. 21, 2023, which is a continuation of Non-Provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/874,433, filed May 14, 2020, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,636,754 on Apr. 25, 2023, which claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 62/847,494, filed May 14, 2019, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their respective entireties. BACKGROUND During the installation of typical load control systems, standard mechanical switches, such as traditional toggle switches or decorator paddle switches, may be replaced by more advanced load control devices, such as dimmer switches, that control the amount of power delivered from an alternating current (AC) power source to one or more electrical loads. Such an installation procedure typically requires that the existing mechanical switch be disconnected from the electrical wiring and removed from a wallbox in which it is mounted, and that the load control device then be connected to the electrical wiring and installed in the wallbox. An average consumer may not feel comfortable performing the electrical wiring required in such an installation. Accordingly, such a procedure may typically be performed by an electrical contractor or other skilled installer. However, hiring an electrical contractor may be cost prohibitive to the average consumer. Controllable light sources, such as controllable screw-in light-emitting diode (LED) lamps, may provide an easier solution for providing advanced control of lighting. For example, an older incandescent lamp may simply be unscrewed from a socket and the controllable light source may be screwed into the socket. The controllable light sources may be controlled by remote control devices. However, the sockets in which the controllable light sources are installed may be controlled by an existing wall-mounted light switch. When the wall-mounted light switch is operated to an off position, power to the controllable light source may be cut, such that the controllable light source may no longer respond to commands transmitted by the remote control devices. Accordingly, it is desirable to prevent operation of such a wall-mounted light switch to ensure that the delivery of power to the controllable light source continues uninterrupted. SUMMARY As described herein, an example remote control device may provide a simple retrofit solution for existing switched control systems. Implementation of the remote control device, for example in existing switched control systems, may enable energy savings and/or advanced control features, for example without requiring any electrical re-wiring and/or without requiring the replacement of any existing mechanical switches. The remote control device may be configured to control one or more electrical loads, such as lighting loads, and/or load control devices. The remote control device may be configured to be mounted over the respective actuators of existing mechanical switches that, for example, may control whether power is delivered to the one or more electrical loads. The remote control device may be configured to control one or more load control devices of a load control system without requiring access to the electrical wiring of the load control system. One or more electrical loads may be electrically connected to a load control device such that the load control device may control an amount of power delivered to the one or more electrical loads. The control unit of the remote control device may be configured to transmit one or more commands for controlling the electrical loads via wireless communication. The remote control device may be configured to maintain the actuators of mechanical switches over which they are installed in respective on positions, such that users of the remote control device are not able to mistakenly switch the actuators to the off position, which may cause one or more electrical load to be unpowered such that the one or more electrical loads cannot be controlled by one or more remote control device. The remote control device may be configured to control multiple types of electrical loads on a single electrical circuit, for instance substantially in unison. A load control system may include multiple remote control devices that are configured to provide individual, such as zoned control of each of a plurality of electrical loads coupled to a single electrical circuit. The remote control device may include a base, a battery, a battery holder, and a control unit. The base may define an opening that is configured to receive a protruding portion of a paddle actuator of the mechanical switch therein. The protruding portion of the paddle actuator may project outward when the mechanical switch is operated into a position that causes power to be delivered to the electrical load. When the protruding portion is rec