Deako, Inc.

Derek Richardson

Patrick N Prendergast

Dana Jon Olson

Erik Anderson

Chris Keeser

Allen Stedman

Cole Wilson

Kyle Montgomery

Dan Blase

A system is disclosed. The system may include a modular control unit configured to control power to at least one load device. The modular control unit may include a backplate with a recess that includes a set of backplate electrical contacts. The system may also include a contact element configured to receive the power. The system may also include at least one device control assembly configured to be removably coupled to the backplate. The device control assembly may include a set of device control assembly electrical contacts configured to electrically couple with the set of backplate electrical contacts of the backplate when the at least one device control assembly is coupled to the backplate and configured to electrically decouple from the set of backplate electrical contacts when the at least one device control assembly is decoupled from the backplate.

User-upgradeable load control

A modular device backbone may include a controller and two or more backplates configured to be distributed throughout a user space and further configured to couple with swappable devices. Any of the two or more backplates may include a configuration storage device to store backplate-based configuration information including a backplate identifier and a controller address for communicating with the controller, and a communication unit to transmit the backplate-based configuration information. Upon coupling of a particular swappable device to a particular backplate, the particular swappable device may receive the backplate-based configuration information from the particular backplate and further communicate with the controller using the controller address to receive controller-based configuration information from the controller, which may include information for communicating with additional swappable devices.

Modular device backbone for a network of user-swappable products

In one embodiment, a configurable system may be capable of verification and include a modular control unit configured to control power. The modular control unit may include a first contact element configured to receive the power, a backplate, and at least one device control assembly. Other embodiments may include a system configured for dynamically assignable pairings. Further embodiments may include a backplate configured to control power to at least one load device, the backplate including one or more power control elements. Additional embodiments may include a system including a receptacle. The system with the receptacle may include a modular control unit, a backplate, a contact element, and at least one device control assembly configured to be removably coupled to the backplate.

User-upgradeable load control network

A backplate may include a backplate housing providing a cavity to removably accept any of a plurality of device control assemblies, where a device control assembly of the plurality of device control assemblies includes a set of device control assembly electrical contacts. The backplate housing may mount to an electrical junction box. The backplate may further include a backplate junction box electrical connector to connect to electrical wiring within the electrical junction box, and a set of backplate electrical contacts to couple to the set of device control assembly electrical contacts.

A living space feature control apparatus includes a living space feature controller, a junction box controller receiver, wireless capabilities, and a programmable user interface. The living space feature control apparatus is configured with modular units including a junction box, backplate, device control assembly and faceplate making the control apparatus toollessly exchanged, upgraded or replaced. The control apparatus functions in a variety of ways including identifying different users, recording user preferences, automatically turning lights on and off according to user preferences, closing blinds automatically, initiating security actions, acting as an intercom system and triangulating occupant location. The living space feature controller may include inductive coils for inductive signal and power transfer and a rotary optical encoder for selectable user living space control.

System for controlling living space features

A modular device backbone includes two or more backplates configured to be distributed throughout a user space and further configured to couple with swappable devices. Each of the one or more backplates may include a configuration storage device to store configuration information for communicating with additional swappable devices coupled to additional backplates. Each of the one or more backplates may further include a communication unit to provide the configuration information to a coupled swappable device, where the coupled swappable device unit establishes a communication link to the additional swappable devices based on the configuration information.

A method for installing a user-upgradeable load control network includes mounting backplates to electrical junction boxes throughout a building, where at least some backplates include a cavity to interchangeably accept device control assemblies, electrical contacts, and a translatable cover to shield the electrical contacts from the cavity when translated to a closed position and to expose the electrical contacts to inserted device control assemblies. The method may further include connecting the electrical contacts to electrical loads throughout the building. The method may further include installing device control assemblies into the backplates by inserting the one or more device control assemblies and translating the respective covers to the open positions. Further, an installed device control assembly is upgradeable by translating the cover to the closed position, removing the installed device control assembly, inserting device control assembly, and translating the cover to the open position.

A system for occupancy prediction includes one or more occupancy sensors configured to detect a current occupancy state of one or more detection zones including at least one of occupied by one or more occupants or vacant of occupants. The system including one or more occupancy sensors configured to predict a future occupancy state of the one or more zones based on the current occupancy state and one or more historical occupancy states, wherein at least one occupancy sensor of the one or more occupancy sensor is communicatively coupled to an electrical load. The system including at least one occupancy sensor is configured to actuate the electrical load based on the predicted future occupancy state of the one or more zones.

Systems and methods for occupancy prediction

An occupancy-sensing apparatus a device control assembly including a detector configured to generate an image wherein the device control assembly includes one or more illumination sources configured to emit illumination including at least one wavelength of radiation measurable by the detector. The apparatus includes a controller communicatively coupled to the detector configured to detect occupants based on the image generated by the detector, wherein the controller is configured to determine an active state of the detected occupants, the activity state including at least one of a stationary state or moving state.

Occupancy sensing apparatus network

An apparatus includes a backplate including at least one backplate contact, a cover, and a lock. The at least one backplate contact facilitates an electrical connection to a power source. The cover shields the at least one backplate contact when the cover is placed in a closed position. The cover is further translatable to an open position to conditionally expose the at least one backplate contact. The lock applies a force to the cover and positions the cover in the closed position unless a counter-force greater than the force is received by the lock.

Modular device control unit

A network includes a first device control assembly and at least one second device control assembly. The first device control assembly is electrically connected to a power distribution panel. The first device control assembly is further configured to regulate a load. The at least one second device control assembly is electrically connected to a power distribution panel. The first device control assembly is in data communication with the at least one second device control assembly. The first device control assembly regulating the load based on the data communication from the at least one second device control assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Derek Richardson