Control device for controlling multiple operating characteristics of an electrical load
AssigneeLutron Technology Company LLC
InventorShan Shi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load control device may be configured to control multiple characteristics of one or more electrical loads such as the intensity and color of a lighting load. The load control device may switch from controlling one characteristic of the electrical loads to controlling another characteristic of the electrical loads based on the position of one or more components of the load control device. Such a position may be manipulated by moving the one or more components relative to an idle position of the load control device. The load control device may be a wall-mounted device or a battery-powered remote control device.
Claims20
A control device configured for use in a load control system to control one or more electrical loads external to the control device, the control device comprising:
- a base portion configured to be mounted to an electrical wallbox or over a mechanical switch;
- a rotating portion rotatable with respect to the base portion;
- an actuation portion comprising a front surface, the front surface of the actuation portion biased to an idle plane along an axis that is perpendicular to the base portion;
- and
- a control circuit configured to generate control signals for controlling a characteristic of the one or more lighting loads in response to rotations of the rotating portion;
- wherein the control circuit is further configured to generate first control data in response to an actuation of the actuation portion through a first distance along the axis perpendicular to the base portion to place the front surface of the actuation portion in a first plane, and generate second control data in response to an actuation of the actuation portion through a second distance along the axis perpendicular to the base portion to place the front surface of the actuation portion in a second plane, wherein the idle plane, the first plane, and the second plane are parallel with one another.
A control device configured for use in a load control system to control one or more electrical loads external to the control device, the control device comprising:
- a base portion configured to be mounted to an electrical wallbox or over a mechanical switch;
- an actuation portion comprising a front surface, the front surface actuation portion biased to an idle plane along an axis that is perpendicular to the base portion;
- and
- a control circuit configured to generate first control data for controlling a first characteristic of at least one of the electrical loads in response to an actuation of the actuation portion through a first distance along the axis perpendicular to the base portion to place the front surface of the actuation portion in a first plane, and generate second control data for controlling a second characteristic of at least one of the electrical loads in response to actuation of the actuation portion through a second distance along the axis perpendicular to the base portion to place the front surface of the actuation portion in a second plane, wherein the idle plane, the first plane, and the second plane are parallel with one another.
A control device configured for use in a load control system to control one or more electrical loads external to the control device, the control device comprising:
- a base portion configured to be mounted to an electrical wallbox or over a mechanical switch;
- an actuation portion comprising a front surface that is parallel with a faceplate when installed, the front surface of the actuation portion biased to an idle plane along an axis that is perpendicular to the faceplate;
- and
- a control circuit configured to generate at least first and second control signals based respectively on first and second distances through which the front surface of the actuation portion is pressed away from the idle plane, wherein the first distance and the second distance are different.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.