Faceplates of switching devices having programmable functionality markings and methods of using the same

A faceplate having programmable functionality markings for a switching device, comprises:

• an outside surface, and an inside surface, wherein a circuit board is installed directly on the inside surface of the faceplate;
• a functionality marking programmer, wherein a user uses the functionality marking programmer to designate the switching device to a specific functionality with a corresponding functionality marking according to functionality marking programming instructions received from a functionality marking input interface, wherein the functionality marking programmer comprise:
• a functionality marking programming device having an application built-in, wherein the user uses the functionality marking programming device to select one of a plurality of signs displayed on a display screen of the functionality marking programming device, and sends functionality marking programming instructions over a connection to the functionality marking input interface of the faceplate to designate the switching device to one of the plurality of functionality markings;
• a functionality marking selection icon inside of a touch screen, wherein the user touches the functionality marking selection icon to cycle though the plurality of signs, to select one of the plurality of signs displayed on the touch screen, and sends functionality marking programming instructions to a control module of the faceplate to designate the switching device to one of the plurality of functionality markings;
• a functionality marking programmer button on the faceplate, wherein the user presses the functionality marking programmer button to cycle though the plurality of signs, to select one of the plurality of signs displayed on the touch screen, and sends functionality marking programming instructions to the control module of the faceplate to designate the switching device to one of the plurality of functionality markings;
• a dial, wherein as the user turns the dial, a plurality of symbols is displayed on a functionality marking display, and the user selects one of the plurality of symbols to designate the switching device;
• a push button with display having the functionality marking display, wherein the user pushes the push button with display repeatedly to cycle though the plurality of signs, selects one of the plurality of signs displayed on the functionality marking display, and sends functionality marking programming instructions to the control module of the faceplate to designate the switching device to one of the plurality of functionality markings;
• a functionality marking selection push button on the faceplate having the LED array, wherein the user pushes the functionality marking selection push button repeatedly to cycle though a plurality of user-defined colored patterns, selects one of the plurality of user-defined colored patterns displayed on the functionality marking display, and sends functionality marking programming instructions to the control module of the faceplate to designate the switching device to one of the plurality of functionality markings;
• and
• a pair of functionality marking selection push buttons on the faceplate having the multi-color LED, wherein the user pushes a left arrow button to move down a list of a plurality of user-defined distinctive colors and pushes a right arrow button to move up the list of the plurality of user-defined distinctive colors, selects one of the plurality of user-defined distinctive colors displayed on the multi-color LED, and sends functionality marking programming instructions to the control module of the faceplate to designate the switching device to one of the plurality of functionality markings;
• the functionality marking display installed on the outside surface of the faceplate, wherein the functionality marking display displays one of the plurality of functionality markings of the switching device programmed by the functionality marking programmer;
• and
• the control module having a processor and a non-volatile memory storing an operating system and computer executable instructions, when executed at the processor, the computer executable instructions cause the processor to:
• receive the functionality marking programming instructions from the user via the functionality marking input interface;
• designate the functionality of the switching device with the functionality marking according to the functionality marking programming instructions received from the functionality marking input interface;
• and
• display the programmed functionality marking of the switching device via the functionality marking display.