Auto dim and color adjusting backlight for a wall mounted control device

A wall mounted control device comprising:

• at least one button;
• at least one LED adapted to backlight the at least one button;
• a light sensor that detects light and outputs light level readings;
• a time clock that determines time of day indications;
• a memory comprising:
• at least one dimming curve represented by a relationship between light level readings and intensity levels wherein the intensity levels increase as the light level readings increase, and
• a color temperature curve represented by a relationship between color temperature levels and time of day indications wherein cool color temperatures are associated with mid-day time of day indications and warm color temperatures are associated with night time of day indications;
• at least one controller adapted to control an operation of an associated electrical load upon actuation of the at least one button;
• wherein in response to receiving a light level reading from the light sensor, the at least one controller determines an intensity level using the received light level reading and the dimming curve;
• wherein in response to receiving a time of day indication from the time clock, the at least one controller determines a target color temperature level using the received time of day indication and the color temperature curve;
• and
• wherein the at least one controller drives the at least one LED to backlight the at least one button at the determined intensity level and the target color temperature level.

A system for backlighting at least one button of a wall mounted control device comprising:

• at least one LED adapted to backlight the at least one button;
• at least one LED driver adapted to drive the at least one LED;
• a light sensor that detects light and outputs light level readings;
• a time clock that determines time of day indications;
• at least one memory comprising:
• at least one dimming curve represented by a relationship between light level readings and intensity levels wherein the intensity levels increase as the light level readings increase, and
• a color temperature curve represented by a relationship between color temperature levels and time of day indications;
• and
• at least one controller adapted to control an operation of an associated electrical load upon actuation of the at least one button;
• wherein in response to receiving a light level reading from the light sensor, the at least one controller determines an intensity level using the received light level reading and the dimming curve;
• wherein in response to receiving a time of day indication from the time clock, the at least one controller determines a target color temperature level using the received time of day indication and the color temperature curve;
• and
• wherein the at least one LED driver drives the at least one LED to backlight the at least one button at the determined intensity level and at the target color temperature level.