US 8,274,233 B2 · Load control device having a visual indication of energy savings and usage information

Abstract

A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to and thus the intensity of a lighting load comprises a visual display operable to provide a visual indication representative of energy savings and usage information. The dimmer switch comprises an intensity adjustment actuator, such as a slider knob or a rotary knob, which may be coupled to a potentiometer for adjusting the amount of power delivered to the lighting load. The potentiometer may comprise a dual potentiometer including a resistive element and a conductive element having a cut. The visual display may comprise a single visual indicator, which may be illuminated a first color, such as green, when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to the eco-level intensity, and illuminated a second different color, such as red, when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the eco-level intensity.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:

a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the lighting load for controlling the intensity of the lighting load;
an intensity adjustment actuator operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device, such that the controllably conductive device is operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load between a low-end intensity and a high-end intensity in response to actuations of the intensity adjustment actuator;
and
a visual indicator operable to be illuminated a first color when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to a predetermined eco-level intensity, and a second color different than the first color when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the predetermined eco-level intensity, the predetermined eco-level intensity being greater than 75% of a maximum possible intensity of the lighting load.

1 more element

A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:

a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the lighting load for controlling the intensity of the lighting load;
an intensity adjustment actuator operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device, such that the controllably conductive device is operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load between a low-end intensity and a high-end intensity in response to actuations of the intensity adjustment actuator;
and
a visual indicator operable to be illuminated a first color when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to a predetermined lower eco-level intensity, and a second color different than the first color when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than a predetermined upper eco-level intensity, the lower and upper eco-level intensities being greater than 75% of a maximum possible intensity of the lighting load.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Load control device having a visual indication of energy savings and usage information

Life of this patent

Load control device having a visual indication of energy savings and usage information

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21