260, the dimmer switch 210 may control the intensity of the lighting load 212 to the occupied intensity in response to receiving a first occupied command from any one of the occupancy sensors, and to the vacant intensity in response to the last vacant command received from those occupancy sensors from which the occupancy sensor received occupied commands.

Alternatively, the occupancy sensor 260 could be implemented as a vacancy sensor. The load control devices that are responsive to vacancy sensors only operate to disconnect power from the controlled electrical loads in response to the vacancy sensors. For example, the dimmer switch 210 would only operate to turn off the lighting load 212 in response to receiving the vacant commands from the vacancy sensor. Examples of RF load control systems having occupancy and vacancy sensors are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,009,042, issued Aug. 30, 2011, entitled RADIO-FREQUENCY LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM WITH OCCUPANCY SENSING; U.S. Pat. No. 8,228,184, issued Jul. 24, 2012, entitled BATTERY-POWERED OCCUPANCY SENSOR; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,199,010, issued Jun. 12, 2012, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIGURING A WIRELESS SENSOR, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The daylight sensor 370 is mounted so as to measure a total light intensity in the space around the daylight sensor. The daylight sensor 370 is responsive to a total light intensity measured by an internal photosensitive circuit, e.g., a photosensitive diode. Specifically, the daylight sensor 370 is operable to wirelessly transmit digital messages including a value representative of the total lighting intensity to the relevant load control devices via the RF signals. For example, a digital ballast controller or LED driver (not shown) may control respective lighting loads (not shown) in response to increases in the total lighting intensity measured by the daylight sensor 370. Examples of load control systems having daylight sensors are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,451,116, issued May 28, 2013, entitled WIRELESS BATTERY-POWERED DAYLIGHT SENSOR, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,410,706, issued Apr. 2, 2013, entitled METHOD OF CALIBRATING A DAYLIGHT SENSOR, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

In addition to digital ballast controllers and/or light-emitting diode (LED) drivers for controlling the intensities of LED and fluorescent light sources, the load control system 100 may further include additional elements not depicted here, such as contact-closure output pack to control a damper of the HVAC system for adjusting the amount of air flowing through the damper and thus the present temperature, for example. The load control devices of the load control system 100 may further comprise, for example, one or more of a dimming circuit for controlling the intensity of an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, an electronic low-voltage lighting load, a magnetic low-voltage lighting load, or another type of lighting load; an electronic switch, controllable circuit breaker, or other switching device for turning electrical loads or appliances on and off; a controllable electrical receptacle or a controllable power strip for controlling one or more plug-in electrical loads (such as coffee pots and space heaters); a screw-in luminaire including a dimmer circuit and an incandescent or halogen lamp; a screw-in luminaire including a ballast and a compact fluorescent lamp; a screw-in luminaire including an LED driver and an LED light source; a motor control unit for controlling a motor load, such as a ceiling fan or an exhaust fan; a drive unit for controlling a motorized projection screen; motorized interior or exterior shutters; a thermostat for a heating and/or cooling system; an air conditioner; a compressor; an electric baseboard heater controller; a controllable damper; a variable air volume controller; a fresh air intake controller; a ventilation controller; a hydraulic valve for a radiator or radiant heating system; a humidity control unit; a humidifier; a dehumidifier; a water heater; a boiler controller; a pool pump; a refrigerator; a freezer; a TV or computer monitor; a video camera; an audio system or amplifier; an elevator; a power supply; a generator; an electric charger, such as an electric vehicle charger; an energy storage system (e.g., a battery, solar, or thermal energy storage system), and an alternative energy controller (e.g., a solar, wind, or thermal energy controller).

The input devices of the load control system may also comprise, for example, occupancy sensors, vacancy sensors, daylight sensors, radiometers, cloudy-day sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, pressure sensors, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, air-quality sensors, security sensors, proximity sensors, fixture sensors, partition sensors, keypads, battery-powered remote controls, kinetic or solar-powered remote controls, key fobs, cell phones, smart phones, tablets, personal digital assistants, personal computers, laptops, timeclocks, audio-visual controls, keycard switches, safety devices, power monitoring devices (such as power meters, energy meters, utility submeters, and utility rate meters), central controllers, residential, commercial, or industrial controllers, or any combination of these input devices.

The system controller 180 transmits digital messages to the load control devices. However the system controller 180 is also operable to receive digital messages from the input devices and load control devices. Accordingly, the system controller 180 may be operable to collect data from the input devices and load control devices of the load control system 100. The system controller 180 may be operable to transmit a query message to the load control devices, in response to which the load control devices transmit the appropriate data back to the system controller 180.

The system controller may be further operable to collect data (e.g., energy usage information) for use in energy analysis of the load control system. For example, the system controller may be operable to log data from one or more input devices that may be used to predict energy savings of the load control system before load control devices are installed. The load control system may also provide feedback (such as an audible sound) when the load control system adjusts the load in response to the demand response command.

The system controller 180 may additionally be operable to log data from one or more input devices. The system controller 180 may be operable to log occupancy patterns, natural light patterns, glare and shadow patterns, and temperature patterns. The logged data may be used to predict energy savings of the load control system 100 before load control devices are installed. For example, prior to the installation of new ballasts (not shown) (i.e., when non-controllable and/or non-dimmable ballasts are controlling the lamps (not shown)), the system controller 180 may log data from the occupancy sensor 260, the daylight sensor 370, and fixture sensors located in the lighting fixtures (not shown) to determine if the energy savings could be provided if the new controllable ballasts are installed (e.g., due to turning the lights off when the space is unoccupied and/or due to dimming the lights when there is natural light shining into the space). The system controller 180 may also be operable to log data from the input devices and load control devices after the load control devices are installed.

For example, the data collected by the system controller 180 may comprise operational characteristics and settings of the load control devices, number and type of input devices, present modes of operation, energy usage information, light intensities of lighting loads, load failures, occupancy status of spaces, ambient light levels measured by daylight sensors, present capacity of energy storage systems, and status of plug-in electrical loads (e.g., whether plug-in loads are plugged in or not). In addition, the system controller 180 may be operable to determine additional data from the occupancy status information received from the occupancy sensor 260, for example, number of occupants, direction of movement of occupants, security information (such as rooms occupied by unauthorized individuals, energy saving due to reduced usage of electrical lights and heating and cooling in unoccupied rooms, room utilization information (such as conference rooms that are not occupied indicating that the conference rooms are presently available for use), building utilization information (such as information indicating that the building may be operated with more efficiency by consolidating workers), and employee status information (such as information indicating that employees may be working all day or leaving early).

During a setup procedure of the load control system 100, the load control devices may be associated with (e.g., assigned to) one or more of the input devices. For example, the dimmer switch 210 may be assigned to the occupancy sensor 260 by actuating buttons on both the dimmer switch and the occupancy sensor. An example of an assignment procedure for RF control devices is described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0111491, published May 15, 2008, entitled RADIO-FREQUENCY LIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Each load control device may be associated with a plurality of input devices, and each input device may be associated with a plurality of load control devices.

In addition, the operating characteristics and functionality of the load control system 100 may be programmed during the setup procedure. For example, the load control devices are associated with and programmed to be responsive to the input devices. In addition, the preset intensity of the dimmer switch 210 may be programmed using the toggle actuator 214 and the intensity adjustment actuator 216 of the dimmer switch or the buttons 252-258 of the remote control 250. The load control system 100 may be configured using a walk-around programming procedure, for example, as described in greater detail in previously-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,442. Alternatively, the system controller 180 may be connected to a network, allowing the load control system 100 to be configured using a computer-aided programming procedure via a graphical user interface (GUI) software running on a computing device (e.g., a tablet, a smart phone, a personal computer, or a laptop) coupled to the network (not shown) to create a database that defines the operation of the load control system 100. At least a portion of the database could be uploaded to the load control devices such that the load control devices know how to respond to the input devices during normal operation.

The system controller 180 is operable to determine the digital messages to be transmitted to the load control devices of the load control system 100 in response to digital messages received from the network via a network communication link (not shown). The system controller 180 may also be responsive to digital messages received directly from a demand response remote control (not shown) via the RF signals or a contact closure signal received from an external device. In addition, the system controller 180 may be operable to transmit and receive digital messages via the power lines connected to the system controllers, i.e., via powerline communication (PLC) signals, for example, as described in previously-referenced U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0181630. Further, the system controller 180 may also be operable to calculate the present position of the sun and, for example, to control the motorized window treatments 320 to prevent sun glare as described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,288,981, issued Oct. 16, 2012, entitled METHOD OF AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING A MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT WHILE MINIMIZING OCCUPANT DISTRACTIONS, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

An example of the load control system 100 is described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0001977, published Jan. 2, 2014, entitled LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING INDEPENDENTLY CONTROLLED UNITS RESPONSIVE TO A SYSTEM CONTROLLER, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

As shown in FIG. 1, the system controller 180 is shown recessed into, for example, a dropped ceiling, e.g., a tile ceiling. The system controller 180 has a visible antenna structure 400 extending therefrom. The antenna structure 400 includes a light-transmissive slightly-tapering cylindrical (or terete) cover member that surrounds an RF antenna element, as explained in more detail below. The cover member comprises a light-transmissive cover 410 (e.g., a translucent or diffusive cover) that serves the purposes of protecting the RF antenna element and transmitting visible light energy to the occupant for informational purposes. Since the light-transmissive cover 410 of the antenna structure 400 extends from the system controller 180 (and down from the ceiling as shown in FIG. 1), the light-transmissive cover 410 may be viewed by a user at large viewing angles and at a distance away from the system controller. This case in visualizing the light-transmissive cover 410 of the system controller 180 may simplify and improve reliability of commissioning of the load control system 100 as well as speed up troubleshooting of the load control system 100 after commissioning is completed.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the system controller 180 with the antenna structure 400 extending from a housing 401 of the controller. FIG. 3 is a side view of the housing 401 of the system controller 108. The housing 401 for the system controller 180 is shown as a two-part structure comprising an upper housing part 402 and the lower housing part 404 through which the antenna structure 400 extends. The system controller 180 is designed to be a ceiling-mount unit that can be mounted in a ceiling through an opening, for example, in an opening of a dropped ceiling tile. The opening may be made slightly larger than the diameter of the housing 401. The lower housing part 404 is connected to the upper housing part 402. Suitable means are provided for fastening the housing 401 into the dropped ceiling, for example, into a tile of the dropped ceiling which has a hole cut therein to accept the housing 401. Although the system controller 180 is shown as of the type that can be mounted recessed into a ceiling, other housing designs can be employed, for example, surface mount, wall mount, etc.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of the system controller 180 taken along the respective lines. The system controller 180 may have the two-part housing that may include the upper housing part 402 and the lower housing part 404. The upper housing part 402 may be removable from the lower housing part 404 via suitable means, for example, snap fasteners or other fasteners such as screws. The system controller 180 may be provided with a suitable power connection to the AC power source, not shown, as well as a network connection to network 182. The network connection may be wired or wireless or both.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper housing part 402 houses a printed circuit board 406 of the system controller 180 and suitably mounts to the lower housing part 404, for example, via a snapfit, such that the circuit board is supported in the two-part housing. The lower housing part 404 includes suitable flanges 405 that abut against the printed circuit board 406. In addition, the interlocking structure of the two housing parts 402 and 404 maintains the light-transmissive cover 410, the reflective shroud 414 and the light pipe 412 in a fixed relationship, as explained below.

The electronics of the system controller 180 are disposed on the printed circuit board 406 (as will be described in greater detail below). In addition, the printed circuit board 406 provides a connection 416 to an RF antenna element 408 which may be a helical antenna as shown, operating at a frequency of approximately 434 MHz or any other desired frequency. The antenna element 408 is housed at least partly in the light-transmissive antenna cover 410, which extends through an opening 403 in the lower housing part 404 and is visible to the room occupant. The light-transmissive cover 410 is designed to convey light energy to the room occupant to enable the room occupant to determine the functional status of the controller. For example, the light-transmissive cover 410 may extend by at least approximately 0.5 inches from a front surface of the housing 401.

In order to provide light energy to the light-transmissive cover 410, a light pipe 412 is provided that is mounted or positioned adjacent to the lower housing part 404 and held in close proximity to light-emitting elements on the printed circuit board 406. Surrounding the light pipe 412 is a reflective shroud 414, which is provided to reflect light energy that escapes or diffuses out of the light pipe 412 back into the light pipe to maximize the light energy that remains in the light pipe for transmission to the light-transmissive cover 410. The antenna element 408 has a straight portion 416 that is connected to the printed circuit board and is otherwise not attached to light-transmissive cover 410. The light pipe 412 and reflective shroud 414 can be described as approximately curved frusto-conical sections. The light-transmissive cover 410 may be made of a suitable plastic material, for example, polycarbonate.

The light pipe 412 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 7 and the reflective shroud 414 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 6. The reflective shroud 414 comprises a rounded conically-shaped member that surrounds the light pipe 412. The reflective shroud 414 includes support portions 414A that abut parts 410A of the light-transmissive cover 410 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The parts 410A and 414A are aligned by tubular parts 404B projecting upwardly from lower housing part 404. The tubular parts 404B are received in aligned openings 1811 in the parts 410A and 414A. In FIG. 7, the reflective shroud 414 is shown removed and the light pipe 412 is exposed. The light pipe 412 comprises a rounded partly conical section with cut-away portions. The light pipe 412 is made of a suitable plastic material (e.g., an optically clear plastic material having a high refractive index) for conveying the light energy from light sources disposed on the printed circuit board 406. The light sources may be light-emitting diode packages 420 that are mounted to the printed circuit board 406. The light-emitting diode packages 420 may each include three color light-emitting diodes and can emit light based upon combining three colors red, green and blue (R, G and B), essentially to provide nearly all colors of the visible spectrum, as well known, by combining different intensities of the three color light-emitting devices. The light energy from the light-emitting diodes of the light-emitting diode packages 420 is transmitted into the light pipe 412. The printed circuit board 406 may be provided with reflective material, e.g., white electrically non-conductive paint, in a circular area 418 shown by the dashed lines adjacent the light pipe 412, as shown in FIG. 7 to enhance light collection by the light pipe 412.

The light energy from light-emitting diode packages 420 is conveyed through the light pipe 412 into the light-transmissive cover 410. FIGS. 8 and 9 show example modes of display. FIG. 8 shows the light-transmissive cover 410 at a high intensity, so that the entire cover is displaying light energy. FIG. 9 shows the light-transmissive cover 410 displaying light energy at a reduced intensity. The color and color combination, for example, red, blue, orange, green, etc., as well as the blinking frequency and illumination levels, convey information to the occupant of the room concerning the functional status of the controller, as described below.

FIG. 10 is a simplified example block diagram of the system controller 180. The system controller 180 includes a control circuit 510 (e.g., a processor circuit), which may alternatively comprise a microprocessor or microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or any suitable processing device or control circuit. The control circuit 510 is coupled to RF transceiver circuit 512, which may be coupled to the antenna 408, as well as a second antenna 409 for transmitting and receiving RF signals. The system controller 180 (as well as the load control devices) are configured to transmit digital messages in predetermined time slots according to a time division technique.

In addition to antenna 408 covered by the light-transmissive cover 410, a further antenna 409 may be provided that is arranged orthogonally to antenna 408. The orthogonal arrangement of the antennas maximizes the reliability of the RF communications of the system controller, as explained in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0001977. The two orthogonally disposed antennas can transmit and receive RF signals in the same or different time slots. The second antenna 409 may be arranged as a conductor or conductive trace on PCB 406, thereby providing an orthogonal orientation to antenna 408.

As shown in FIG. 10, the control circuit 510 is configured to illuminate the antenna cover 410 via light-emitting diodes DR, DG, DB in the light-emitting diode package 420 to provide feedback to the occupant. Only one light-emitting diode package 420 is shown in FIG. 10, although two are provided in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4-7. The system controller 180 may also comprise an audible sound generator for providing feedback to the user during configuration and normal operation. The control circuit 510 is also coupled to a memory