Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080258644 | Load Control Device Having A Modular Assembly - A load control device has a modular assembly to allow for easy adjustment of the aesthetic and the color of the load control device after installation. The load control device comprises a user interface module and a base module. The user interface module includes an actuation member for receiving a user input and a visual display for providing feedback to the user. The base module has a controllably conductive device and a controller for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load. A connector of the base module is adapted to be coupled to a connector of the user interface module, such that the controller is operatively coupled to the actuation member and the visual display. | 10-23-2008 |
20080258859 | Load Control Device Having A Flexible Connector - A load control device has a modular assembly to allow for easy adjustment of the aesthetic and the color of the load control device after installation. The load control device comprises a user interface module and a base module. The user interface module includes an actuation member for receiving a user input and a visual display for providing feedback to the user. A connector of the base module is adapted to be coupled to a connector of the user interface module, such that the base module and the user interface module are electrically connected. The connector of the base module is adapted to move along a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis of the dimmer, such that the actuation member is easily aligned within an opening of a faceplate. | 10-23-2008 |
20080303451 | RADIO-FREQUENCY DIMMER HAVING A SLIDER CONTROL - A dimmer control operable to adjust a status of a connected electrical lamp in response to a radio frequency control signal received from a remote control device, the dimmer control comprising a communication and control circuit comprising at least a radio frequency transmitter/receiver and an antenna operable to receive a radio frequency signal from the remote control device that includes control information for controlling the status of the electrical lamp; a manual actuator operable to change the on/off status of the electrical lamp; and a slider control operable to change the dimming status of the electrical lamp, wherein the slider control operates to dim the electrical lamp and the communication and control circuit is operable to transmit to the remote control device status information representing the changed status of the electrical lamp, or the setting of the slider control, or both. | 12-11-2008 |
20080309169 | Touch sensitive actuator having a uniform actuation force and a maximum active area - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source comprises a touch sensitive device having a touch sensitive front surface responsive to a point actuation. The front surface is adapted to be provided in an opening of a faceplate such that the front surface of the touch sensitive actuator extends through the opening at a distance equal to or greater than the depth of the faceplate. According to the present invention, the operational area of the front surface is maximized to substantially the entire area of the front surface. Further, a minimum magnitude of a force of each of the point actuations is substantially equal at each of the respective positions on the front surface of the touch sensitive actuator, such that the front surface provides a substantially uniform force profile. | 12-18-2008 |
20090184652 | Antenna for a Load Control Device Having a Modular Assembly - A load control device has a modular assembly to allow for easy adjustment of the aesthetic, the color, and the functionality of the load control device after installation. The load control device comprises a user interface module and a base module. The user interface module includes an actuation member for receiving a user input, a visual display for providing feedback to the user, and an antenna for transmitting and receiving radio-frequency signals. The base module has a controllably conductive device and a controller for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load. A connector of the base module is adapted to be coupled to a connector of the user interface module, such that the controller is operatively coupled to the actuation member, the visual display, and the antenna. | 07-23-2009 |
20090251352 | Wireless Battery-Powered Remote Control Having Multiple Mounting Means - A remote control for a wireless load control system comprises a housing having a length and a width slightly smaller than the length and the width of an opening of a standard faceplate, respectively, such that the housing is adapted to be received within the opening of the standard faceplate. The remote control comprises a controller, a radio-frequency transmitter coupled to the controller, and a battery coupled to provide power to the controller and the radio-frequency transmitter, which are all contained within the housing. The remote control may be provided with multiple mounting means. For example, the remote control may be coupled to a lanyard, clipped to a car visor, rested on a table top, or mounted to a wall. | 10-08-2009 |
20090256483 | Load Control Device Having a Visual Indication of an Energy Savings Mode - A load control system (e.g., a dimmer switch) operates in a normal mode of operation and an energy-saver mode and displays a visual indication when the system is operating in the energy-saver mode. The system comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series between a power source and a lighting load, a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device for adjusting the intensity of the lighting load, and a visual indicator for providing the visual indication that the system is in the energy-saver mode of operation. The control circuit controls the intensity of the lighting load between a minimum intensity and a first maximum intensity when the system is in the normal mode of operation, and between the minimum intensity and a second maximum intensity less than the first maximum intensity when the system is in the energy-saver mode. | 10-15-2009 |
20090256484 | LOAD CONTROL DEVICE HAVING A COMPACT ANTENNA - A load control device for controlling the power delivered to an electrical load, the load control device comprising a controllably conductive device for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load, the controllably conductive device having a control input; a controller coupled to the control input of the controllably conductive device for control of the controllably conductive device; a transmitter and/or a receiver in communication with the controller; a substantially-planar mounting yoke adapted to receive a traditional-style faceplate mounted thereto; an actuator button for providing an input to the controller, the actuator button mounted relative to the yoke, such that the actuator button is adapted to extend through an opening of the traditional-style faceplate when the faceplate is attached to the yoke; and an antenna coupled to the transmitter and/or receiver, the antenna adapted to receive a first signal at a specified frequency from a remote control device and/or transmit a second signal at a specified frequency to a remote control device, the receiver operable to couple the first signal from the antenna to the controller for remotely controlling the controllably conductive device, and/or the transmitter operable to couple the second signal from the controller to the antenna, the antenna comprising: a printed circuit board having first and second sides disposed in a plane perpendicular to the mounting yoke; a first loop of conductive material having a capacitance and an inductance, the capacitance and the inductance forming a circuit resonant at the specified frequency, the first loop formed on the first side of the printed circuit board; and a second loop of conductive material having two ends adapted to be electrically coupled to the transmitter and/or receiver, the second loop formed on one of the sides of the printed circuit board and magnetically coupled to the first loop; wherein the antenna is positioned inside and behind the actuator button and is adapted to extend through the opening of the faceplate beyond the front surface of the faceplate when the faceplate is attached to the mounting yoke. | 10-15-2009 |
20100001877 | TOUCH SCREEN WITH SENSORY FEEDBACK - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source provides improved sensory feedback to a user of the load control device. The load control device comprises a touch screen actuator having a touch sensitive front surface responsive to a plurality of point actuations, each characterized by a position and a force. The touch screen actuator has an output operatively coupled to a controller for providing a control signal representative of the position of the point actuation. The load control device further comprises a visual display and an audible sound generator, both responsive to the controller. The controller is operable to cause the visual display to illuminate and the audible sound generator to generate an audible sound in response to the control signal of the touch screen actuator. | 01-07-2010 |
20100007508 | LIGHTING CONTROL HAVING AN IDLE STATE WITH WAKE-UP UPON ACTUATION - A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising a bidirectional semiconductor switch operable to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load, the semiconductor switch having a control input; a controller operatively coupled to the control input of the semiconductor switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to the load; an actuator operatively coupled to the controller such that the controller is operable to determine a desired amount of power to be delivered to the load in response to actuations of the actuator; and a visual display responsive to the controller; wherein the controller is operable to illuminate the visual display to a first intensity upon actuation of the actuator and to subsequently illuminate the visual display to a second intensity less than the first intensity after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the actuation of the actuator. | 01-14-2010 |
20100041263 | Flexible Connector Assembly for a Load Control Device - A load control device has a modular assembly to allow for easy adjustment of the aesthetic and the color of the load control device after installation. The load control device comprises a user interface module and a base module. The user interface module includes an actuation member for receiving a user input and a visual display for providing feedback to the user. A connector of the base module is adapted to be coupled to a connector of the user interface module, such that the base module and the user interface module are electrically connected. The connector of the base module is adapted to move along a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis of the dimmer, such that the actuation member is easily aligned within an opening of a faceplate. | 02-18-2010 |
20100127626 | Load Control Device Having A Visual Indication of Energy Savings and Usage Information - 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 visual display may comprise a single visual indicator or a linear array of visual indicators. The visual display is illuminated in a first manner when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to a predetermined eco-level intensity, and is illuminated in a second manner when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the eco-level intensity. For example, the single visual indicator 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. | 05-27-2010 |
20110018610 | FORCE INVARIANT TOUCH SENSITIVE ACTUATOR - A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device comprising a semiconductor switch operable to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load, the semiconductor switch having a control input for controlling the semiconductor switch between a non-conductive state and a conductive state; a controller operatively coupled to the control input of the semiconductor switch for controlling the semiconductor switch between the non-conductive state and the conductive state; a touch sensitive front surface; a touch sensitive device responsive to a point actuation on the touch sensitive front surface, the point actuation characterized by a position and a force, the touch sensitive device comprising a resistive divider and an output operatively coupled to the controller for providing a control signal to the controller; and a capacitor coupled to the output of the touch sensitive device for stabilizing the control signal; wherein the capacitor is operable to charge and discharge through the resistive divider of the touch sensitive device, such that the control signal is representative of the position of the point actuation. | 01-27-2011 |
20110018611 | FORCE INVARIANT TOUCH SENSITIVE ACTUATOR - A user interface for a lighting control, the user interface comprising a touch sensitive front surface having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis; a four-wire resistive touch pad responsive to a point actuation on the touch sensitive front surface, the resistive touch pad having a longitudinal resistive element for providing a first control signal representative of the position of the point actuation along the longitudinal axis, and a lateral resistive element for providing a second control signal representative of the position of the point actuation along the lateral axis; a controller operable to receive the first and second control signals; a first capacitor adapted to be coupled between the lateral resistive element and a circuit common, the first capacitor operable to charge and discharge through the longitudinal resistive element of the resistive touch pad to stabilize the first control signal; and first, second, and third switches responsive to the controller, each of the switches comprising first, second, and third terminals, and operable to be controlled between a first position in which the first terminal is electrically connected to the second terminal, and a second position in which the first terminal is electrically connected to the third terminal, the switches coupled to the touch sensitive device, such that when the controller controls all of the switches to the first position, a DC supply voltage is coupled across the longitudinal resistive element, the controller is coupled to the lateral resistive element, and the first capacitor is coupled between the lateral resistive element and the circuit common, and when the controller controls all of the switches to the second position, the DC supply voltage is coupled across the lateral resistive element and the controller is coupled to the longitudinal resistive element;
| 01-27-2011 |
20110029136 | Load Control System Having An Energy Savings Mode - A load control system for a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building uses a daylighting procedure to adjust the amount of power delivered to the lighting load in response to the amount of daylight entering the window, and controls amount of daylight entering the window in order to attempt to reduce the power consumption of the heating and cooling system if the daylighting procedure is not causing the heating and cooling system to save energy. If the lighting load is consuming more energy when the fabric of the motorized window treatment is at a position above the fully-closed position than the lighting load would consume if the fabric was at the fully-closed position, the motorized window treatment moves the fabric to the fully-closed position. | 02-03-2011 |
20110029139 | Load control system having an energy savings mode - A load control system for a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building controls amount of daylight entering the window in order to attempt to reduce the power consumption of the heating and cooling system, and adjusts amount of daylight entering the window if the heating and cooling system is not saving energy. A motorized window treatment of the load control system is operable to move a fabric covering the window in a first direction, and a temperature control device is operable to subsequently determine if the heating and cooling system is consuming more energy than when the fabric was in the initial position. The motorized window treatment then moves the fabric in a second direction opposite the first direction if the heating and cooling system is consuming more energy than when the fabric was in the initial position. | 02-03-2011 |
20110031806 | Load Control System Having An Energy Savings Mode - A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load, a daylight control device, such as a motorized window treatment, for adjusting the amount of natural light to be admitted through a window, and a temperature control device for controlling a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building. The load control system may also comprise a controllable electrical receptacle for turning on and off a plug-in electrical load connected thereto. The lighting control device, the daylight control device, the temperature control device, and the controllable receptacle are controlled so as to decrease a total power consumption of the load control system in response to a received demand response command. | 02-10-2011 |
20110035061 | Load Control System Having An Energy Savings Mode - A load control system for a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building is operable to control a motorized window treatment in response to a demand response command in order to attempt to reduce the power consumption of the heating and cooling system. When the window may be receiving direct sunlight, the motorized window treatment closes a fabric covering the window when the heating and cooling system is cooling the building, and opens the fabric when the heating and cooling system is heating the building. In addition, when the space is unoccupied and the heating and cooling system is heating the building, the motorized window treatment may open the fabric if the window may be receiving direct sunlight, and may close the fabric if the window may not be receiving direct sunlight. | 02-10-2011 |
20110162946 | Load Control Device Having A Visual Indication of Energy Savings and Usage Information - 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. | 07-07-2011 |
20120091213 | Wall-Mountable Temperature Control Device for a Load Control System Having an Energy Savings Mode - A wall-mountable temperature control device having a vertically-arranged temperature adjustment actuator for adjusting a setpoint temperature of a temperature control system to thus control a present temperature in a building, a room temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the present temperature of the building, and a setpoint temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the setpoint temperature. The room and setpoint temperature visual displays each comprising a linear array of light-emitting diodes arranged parallel to the temperature adjustment actuator and controlled such that one of the light-emitting diodes of the setpoint temperature visual display is illuminated to display the setpoint temperature in response to the actuations of the temperature adjustment actuator and one of the light-emitting diodes of the room temperature visual display is illuminated to display the present temperature. | 04-19-2012 |
20120091804 | Load Control System Having an Energy Savings Mode - A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load, a daylight control device (such as a motorized window treatment) for adjusting the amount of natural light to be admitted through a window, and a controller for adjusting a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building. In response to receiving a demand response command, the controller controls the lighting control device, the daylight control device, and the heating and cooling system so as to decrease a total power consumption of the load control system. The load control system may comprise a controllable switching device for disconnecting power to or disconnecting the control lines to one or more components of the heating and cooling system. | 04-19-2012 |
20120095601 | Dynamic Keypad for Controlling Energy-Savings Modes of a Load Control System - A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to the lighting load, a motorized window treatment comprising a window treatment fabric for covering the window, a temperature control device for controlling a setpoint temperature of the heating and cooling system to thus control a present temperature in the building, and a dynamic keypad comprising a visual display and operable to receive a user input. The dynamic keypad allows a user to select, adjust, and monitor a plurality of energy-savings modes of the load control system. For example, the dynamic keypad allows the user to enable and adjust a setback temperature of the temperature control device on-the-fly. | 04-19-2012 |
20120306376 | Control Device for Providing A Visual Indication of Energy Savings and Usage Information - 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. | 12-06-2012 |
20130076555 | WIRELESS BATTERY-POWERED REMOTE CONTROL HAVING MULTIPLE MOUNTING MEANS - A remote control for a wireless load control system, the remote control comprising: a housing having a front surface and an outer periphery defined by a length and a width; an actuator provided at the front surface of the housing; a wireless transmitter contained within the housing; and a controller contained within the housing and coupled to the wireless transmitter for causing transmission of a wireless signal in response to an actuation of the actuator, the wireless transmitter and the controller adapted to be powered by a battery contained within the housing; wherein the length and the width of the housing are slightly smaller than a length and a width of a standard opening of a faceplate, respectively, such that the outer periphery of the housing is adapted to be received within the standard opening of the faceplate when the housing and the faceplate are mounted to a vertical surface. | 03-28-2013 |
20130113284 | Load Control System Providing Manual Override of An Energy Savings Mode - A load control system for a building having a lighting load, a window, and a heating and cooling system comprises a lighting control device, a daylight control device, and a temperature control device operable to be controlled so as to decrease a total power consumption of the load control system in an energy-savings mode. The energy-savings mode can be manually overridden in response to actuation of the actuator of an input control device, such that the load control system enters a manual mode for manually adjusting the loads controlled by the lighting control device, the daylight control device, and the temperature control device. The load control system is operable to automatically return to the energy-savings mode at a time after the load control system entered the manual mode. | 05-09-2013 |
20130226351 | LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING AN ENERGY SAVINGS MODE - A load control system for a building having a heating and cooling system and a window located in a space of the building is operable to control a motorized window treatment in order to attempt to reduce the power consumption of the heating and cooling system. When the window may be receiving direct sunlight, the motorized window treatment closes a fabric covering the window when the heating and cooling system is cooling the space, and opens the fabric when the heating and cooling system is heating the space. In addition, when the space is unoccupied and the heating and cooling system is heating the space, the motorized window treatment may open the fabric if the window may be receiving direct sunlight, and may close the fabric if the window may not be receiving direct sunlight. | 08-29-2013 |
20140001846 | Load Control System Having A Broadcast Controller With A Diverse Wireless Communication System | 01-02-2014 |
20140300275 | Control Device for Providing A Visual Indication of Energy Savings and Usage Information - 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. | 10-09-2014 |