Toggle switch and variable actuator control

A device for regulating an amount of electrical power provided to at least one electrical load, the device comprising:

• a housing configured to be installed within a wall box, the housing including a front housing portion coupled to a back housing portion, the front housing portion including a front surface having a control aperture disposed therein, the housing portion further including a plurality of wiring terminals at least partially disposed in the housing;
• a control circuit disposed in the housing and including at least one switch device movable between a first switch state and a second switch state, the control circuit further including a power control device disposed on a mounting surface, the power control device including a linear actuator configured to adjust the amount of electrical power, the linear actuator being substantially perpendicular to the front surface;
• a user-accessible control assembly coupled to the control circuit via the control aperture, the user-accessible control assembly including a switch control element coupled to the at least one switch device and a variable control element coupled to the linear actuator via a linkage structure, the variable control element being characterized by a rotational motion about a control axis, the linkage structure including a pin and channel arrangement configured to convert the rotational motion of the variable control element into linear motion by the linear actuator.

A device for regulating an amount of electrical power provided to at least one electrical load, the device comprising:

• a housing configured to be installed within a wall box, the housing including a front housing portion coupled to a back housing portion, the front housing portion including a control aperture disposed therein, the housing portion further including a plurality of wiring terminals at least partially disposed in the housing;
• a control circuit disposed in the housing and including at least one switch device movable between a first switch state and a second switch state, the control circuit further including a power control element disposed on a mounting surface, the power control element including a power control actuator configured to adjust the amount of power provided to the at least one electrical load;
• a toggle switch actuator coupled to the at least one switch device and accessible to a user via the control aperture;
• and
• a variable control actuator accessible to the user via the control aperture and coupled to the power control actuator via a linkage structure, the linkage structure further including a pin and channel arrangement configured to convert a user control action into a power control actuator adjustment by translating rotational motion into linear motion or linear motion into rotational motion.