Load control using ac signalling with unique signatures

Abstract

A load control system includes a controller that modifies an alternating current (AC) signal at a controller input to provide, on a cycle-by-cycle basis, one of a plurality of unique AC signature signals to a controller output. The AC signatures correspond to different selections that a user provides to the system to instruct the system with respect to the particular load characteristic desired. The load circuit receives the plurality of unique AC signal signature signals. The load circuit changes a characteristic of the load circuit in response to the received plurality of unique AC signature signals, thus responding to the user's choice of load characteristic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 modifying, by a controller, an alternating current (AC) signal at a controller input to provide, on a cycle-by-cycle basis, one of a plurality of unique AC signature signals to a controller output, the controller being configured to operate in a 3-wire AC system;   receiving, by a load circuit, the plurality of unique AC signal signature signals, the load circuit being configured to operate in a 2-wire AC system; and   changing, by the load circuit, a characteristic of the load circuit in response to the received plurality of unique AC signature signals.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the load circuit includes a plurality of lighting devices. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the unique AC signature signal instructs at least one of the lighting devices to change brightness. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of lighting devices exhibits different respective colors, the unique AC signature signal instructing at least one of the lighting devices to activate to exhibit a particular color corresponding to the AC signal signature. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controller receives a user selection from a user input, the user selection indicating a particular characteristic that the user desires the load circuit to exhibit, and in response to the user input the controller modifies the AC signal to exhibit a unique AC signature signal corresponding to the user selection. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a first controller section and a second controller section. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first controller section is installable in a switch cavity associated with a wall switch. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second controller section is installable as a wall place associated with the wall switch. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first controller section and the second controller section are combined in a common structure. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising an arbitration mechanism to resolve contention among multiple controllers that couple to the 3-wire AC system and the 2-wire AC system. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a controller that modifies an alternating current (AC) signal at a controller input to provide, on a cycle-by-cycle basis, one of a plurality of unique AC signature signals to a controller output, the controller being configured to operate in a 3-wire AC system;   a load circuit that receives the plurality of unique AC signal signature signals, the load circuit being configured to operate in a 2-wire AC system; and   a load circuit that changes a characteristic of the load circuit in response to the received plurality of unique AC signature signals.   
     
     
         12 . The system of claim  21 , wherein the load circuit includes a plurality of lighting devices. 
     
     
         13 . The system of claim  22 , wherein the unique AC signature signal instructs at least one of the lighting devices to change brightness. 
     
     
         14 . The system of claim  22 , wherein the plurality of lighting devices exhibits different respective colors, the unique AC signature signal instructing at least one of the lighting devices to activate to exhibit a particular color corresponding to the AC signal signature. 
     
     
         15 . The system of claim  21 , wherein the controller receives a user selection from a user input, the user selection indicating a particular characteristic that the user desires the load circuit to exhibit, and in response to the user input the controller modifies the AC signal to exhibit a unique AC signature signal corresponding to the user selection. 
     
     
         16 . The system of claim  21 , wherein the controller includes a first controller section and a second controller section. 
     
     
         17 . The system of claim  26 , wherein the first controller section is installable in a switch cavity associated with a wall switch. 
     
     
         18 . The system of claim  27 , wherein the second controller section is installable as a wall place associated with the wall switch. 
     
     
         19 . The system of claim  26 , wherein the first controller section and the second controller section are combined in a common structure. 
     
     
         20 . The system of claim  29  further comprising an arbitration mechanism to resolve contention among multiple control panels that couple to the 3-wire AC system and the 2-wire AC system.