Keypad having illuminated buttons
AssigneeLutron Technology Company LLC
InventorsMatthew P. McDonald, Sean Tucker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control device for controlling power delivered to an electrical load may illuminate an area around a button of the control device, such as a gap formed between the button and an opening of a faceplate of the control device. The control device may illuminate the gap to provide a nightlight feature, to provide feedback (e.g., a status of the electrical load), and/or to indicate a selected preset. The button may have a cap portion that may be actuated by a user and a diffuser portion that may contact a rear surface of the cap portion and may conduct light emitted by an internal light source to illuminate the gap around the button.
Claims20
A control device, comprising:
- a faceplate defining an opening;
- a button configured to be received within the opening, the button including:
- a cap portion,
- a diffuser portion disposed adjacent to the cap portion, the diffuser portion including a flange that is configured to abut a rear surface of the faceplate, and
- an elongate portion extending from a rear surface of the diffuser portion;
- a spring surrounding a portion of the elongate portion of the button, the spring configured to bias the button toward the faceplate;
- and
- a light source configured to illuminate a gap between the button and the faceplate.
A control device, comprising;
- a faceplate defining an opening;
- a button configured to be received within the opening defined by the faceplate, the button including:
- a cap portion,
- a diffuser portion disposed adjacent to the cap portion and including a flange that is configured to abut a rear surface of the faceplate, and
- an elongate portion extending from a rear surface of the diffuser portion;
- a control module configured to be coupled to the faceplate, the control module supporting a light source that is configured to illuminate a gap between the button and the faceplate;
- and
- a spring surrounding the elongate portion of the button and disposed between the control module and a surface of the button, the spring configured to bias the button toward the faceplate.
A control device, comprising:
- a faceplate defining an opening;
- a button configured to be received within the opening defined by the faceplate;
- a control module configured to be coupled to the faceplate, the control module including:
- a circuit board including a control circuit for controlling power delivered to an electrical load,
- a light source disposed on the circuit board and coupled to the control circuit, the light source configured to illuminate a gap between the button and the faceplate, and
- a switch coupled to the control circuit and configured to be contacted by an elongate portion of the button;
- and
- a spring disposed between a surface of the button and a surface of the control module, the spring configured to bias the button toward the faceplate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.