Remote control for a ceiling fan

A remote controlled ceiling fan comprising:

• a ceiling fan;
• a remote control comprising:
• first power supply means for supplying power to said remote control;
• keyboard means for inputting ceiling fan control commands;
• first control means coupled to said keyboard means and said first power supply means for accepting the ceiling fan control commands and outputting a series of ceiling fan control signals;
• transmitter means coupled to said first control means and said first power supply means for transmitting said control signals to the ceiling fan;
• and animated fan display means coupled to said first control means for displaying an animated pictorial representation of said ceiling fan to provide an appearance of rotation of said ceiling fan as determined from the ceiling fan control signals from said first control means, and
• fan control means coupled to said ceiling fan and said remote control, said fan control means comprising:
• second power supply means for providing power to said fan control means;
• receiver means coupled to said second power supply means for receiving the ceiling fan control signals from said remote control and outputting ceiling fan control commands;
• and
• second control means coupled to said second power supply means and said receiver means for receiving the ceiling fan control commands and controlling said ceiling fan.

In a control device for a ceiling fan, an animated display device comprising:

• a plurality of fan blade display elements extending radially from a central point, said plurality of fan blade display elements grouped into at least a first and a second group;
• and
• exciter means coupled to said plurality of fan blade display elements for selectively exciting said fan blade display elements to pictorially represent movement of said ceiling fan,
• wherein said exciter means selectively excites said fan blade display elements to pictorially represent movement of said ceiling fan as determined from ceiling fan control signals from a said control device.

In a control device for a ceiling fan including a light fixture, an animated light display device comprising:

• animated light fixture display shaped substantially as a light fixture;
• a plurality of animated ray display elements arranged radially from said light fixture display;
• and
• exciter means coupled to said plurality of ray display elements for selectively exciting said light fixture display and said plurality of ray display elements to pictorially illumination of said light fixture,
• wherein said exciter means selectively excites said light fixture display and said plurality of ray display elements to pictorially represent illumination of said light fixture as determined from ceiling light control signals from said control device.