Moveable desktop load controller

Abstract

A device for controlling power to an electrical load. The device has two components: a portable desktop detector unit and an electrical powerstrip. The desktop detector detects the presence of a human in a room and sends signals to the powerstrip to supply power to or withhold power from individual electrical loads connected to the strip. Since the detector is portable, it can be positioned and repositioned at different locations in a room to maximize its ability to detect the presence of a person. The system can also communicate by wireless signals to a wall-mounted control unit to control light fixtures in the room. When used with a wall-mounted control unit, a photo sensor that detects the level of ambient light in a room allows the system to adjust the brightness of lights in the room depending upon the available ambient light level. Each detector and receiver pair have matching addresses so that a receiver will operate an electrical load only in response to its mated detector, thus allowing multiple devices to be used to control multiple lights without interfering with each other. The device can also operate with a third component that acts as a master key and controls the maximum brightness, at which lights may be operated.