US 11,737,194 B2
Light switch system
Stephen B. E. McFadyen, Toronto (CA); and Houston Keil-Vine, Toronto (CA)
Assigned to GENERAC POWER SYSTEMS, INC., Waukesha, WI (US)
Filed by ECOBEE INC., Toronto (CA)
Filed on Sep. 8, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/14,582.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/897,466, filed on Sep. 9, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0076469 A1, Mar. 11, 2021
Int. Cl. H05B 47/13 (2020.01); H05B 45/10 (2020.01); H05B 47/19 (2020.01)
CPC H05B 47/13 (2020.01) [H05B 45/10 (2020.01); H05B 47/19 (2020.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light switch system comprising:
a housing;
a controller secured to the housing, the controller to control a light source to generate a light output based on a demanded output, the light source to illuminate at least a portion of an operational volume;
an occupancy sensor communicatively coupled to the controller, the occupancy sensor to generate an occupancy indicator to indicate whether the operational volume is occupied; and
a functional module communicatively coupled to the controller;
the controller to divert power from the light source to the functional module by controlling the light source to alter the light output to produce an altered light output based on the occupancy indicator;
wherein:
the light switch system is to receive AC power to operate the light source; and
to divert power from the light source to the functional module the controller is to implement one or more of a first scheme and a second scheme, wherein:
in the first scheme, the controller is to divert one out of every n cycles of the AC power from the light source to the functional module, where n is greater than or equal to two; and
in the second scheme, the controller is to use a first portion of a given cycle of the AC power to power the light source and to divert a second portion of the given cycle to the functional module.