US 11,943,854 B2
Method and apparatus for adjusting an ambient light threshold
Ryan S. Bedell, West Palm Beach, FL (US); and James P. Steiner, Royersford, PA (US)
Assigned to Lutron Technology Company LLC, Coopersburg, PA (US)
Filed by Lutron Technology Company LLC, Coopersburg, PA (US)
Filed on May 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/314,097.
Application 17/314,097 is a continuation of application No. 16/780,416, filed on Feb. 3, 2020, granted, now 11,006,501.
Application 16/780,416 is a continuation of application No. 16/222,351, filed on Dec. 17, 2018, granted, now 10,555,401, issued on Feb. 4, 2020.
Application 16/222,351 is a continuation of application No. 14/733,867, filed on Jun. 8, 2015, granted, now 10,159,137, issued on Dec. 18, 2018.
Application 14/733,867 is a continuation of application No. 13/492,026, filed on Jun. 8, 2012, granted, now 9,084,310, issued on Jul. 14, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/495,457, filed on Jun. 10, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2021/0267038 A1, Aug. 26, 2021
Int. Cl. H05B 47/16 (2020.01); H05B 47/105 (2020.01); H05B 47/11 (2020.01); H05B 47/115 (2020.01); H05B 47/13 (2020.01)
CPC H05B 47/16 (2020.01) [H05B 47/105 (2020.01); H05B 47/11 (2020.01); H05B 47/13 (2020.01); H05B 47/115 (2020.01); Y02B 20/40 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical switch apparatus, comprising:
occupancy sensor circuitry;
ambient light sensor circuitry;
controller circuitry operatively coupled to the occupancy sensor circuitry and the ambient light sensor circuitry, the controller circuitry to:
cause the electrical switch to transition to a conductive state responsive to:
a determination that an ambient light level as measured by the ambient light sensor circuitry is less than a defined threshold light level; and
a determination that an occupant is present as detected by the occupancy sensor circuitry; and
maintain the electrical switch in a non-conductive state responsive to:
a determination that the ambient light level as measured by the ambient light sensor circuitry is greater than the defined threshold light level; and
a determination that an occupant is present as detected by the occupancy sensor circuitry.
 
8. An electrical switching method, comprising:
causing an electrical switch operatively coupled to controller circuitry to transition to a conductive state responsive to:
determining, by the controller circuitry, that an ambient light level as measured by ambient light sensor circuitry communicatively coupled to the controller circuitry is less than a defined threshold light level; and
determining, by the controller circuitry, that an occupant is present as detected by occupancy sensor circuitry communicatively coupled to the controller circuitry; and
maintaining the electrical switch in a non-conductive state responsive to:
determining, by the controller circuitry, that the ambient light level as measured by the ambient light sensor circuitry is greater than the defined threshold light level; and
determining, by the controller circuitry, that an occupant is present as detected by the occupancy sensor circuitry.
 
15. A non-transitory, machine-readable, storage device that includes instructions that, when executed by electrical switch controller circuitry cause the controller circuitry to:
cause the electrical switch to transition to a conductive state responsive to:
a determination by the controller circuitry that an ambient light level as measured by the ambient light sensor circuitry is less than a defined threshold light level; and
a determination by the controller circuitry that an occupant is present as detected by the occupancy sensor circuitry; and
maintain the electrical switch in a non-conductive state responsive to:
a determination by the controller circuitry that the ambient light level as measured by the ambient light sensor circuitry is greater than the defined threshold light level; and
a determination by the controller circuitry that an occupant is present as detected by the occupancy sensor circuitry.