IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0835242
(2013-03-15)
|
등록번호 |
US-8786196
(2014-07-22)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Biery, Ethan Charles
- Flowers, Maureen E.
- Knode, Galen Edgar
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
14 인용 특허 :
58 |
초록
▼
A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to
A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link.
대표청구항
▼
1. A system for controlling the intensity of a lighting load powered from an AC power source, the load control device comprising: a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load;a controller coupled to a control
1. A system for controlling the intensity of a lighting load powered from an AC power source, the load control device comprising: a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load;a controller coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device, the controller operable to control the controllably conductive device to adjust the intensity of the lighting load;a communication circuit operable to receive digital messages on a communication link, the controller coupled to the communication circuit, such that the controller is operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load in response to the received digital messages; anda rotary actuator operable to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, the digital messages transmitted to the communication circuit in response to actuations of the rotary actuator, such that the controller is responsive to rotations of the rotary actuator to increase the intensity of the lighting load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction and to decrease the intensity of the lighting load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the second direction;wherein the rotary actuator is continuously rotatable, such that the position of the rotary actuator is not representative of the intensity of the lighting load. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a rotary encoder having a shaft coupled to the rotary actuator and operable to generate one or more control signals in response to the rotations of the rotary actuator. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the rotary encoder is coupled to the controller, such that the controller is operable to determine the direction of rotation of the rotary actuator in response to the one or more control signals and to control the intensity of the lighting load in response to the one or more control signals. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the rotary encoder includes a switch for generating a toggle control signal, the controller operable to receive the toggle control signal for turning the lighting load on and off when the rotary actuator is pushed in towards the load control device. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication circuit comprises an RF transceiver operable to receive digital messages on an RF communication link. 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a housing for containing the controllably conductive device; anda screw-in base connected to the housing and adapted to be screwed into a standard Edison socket to allow for connection to the AC power source. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary knob adapted to be rotated such that the first direction is clockwise and the second direction is counter-clockwise. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary wheel. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to avoid discontinuities in the adjustment of the intensity of the lighting load in response to actuations of the rotary actuator, the rotary actuator operable to continue to rotate when the intensity of the lighting load is at the maximum intensity. 10. A load control system for controlling the intensity of a lighting load powered from an AC power source, the load control system comprising: a load control device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load for controlling the lighting load, the load control device operable to receive digital messages via a communication link, and to adjust the intensity of the lighting load in response to the received digital messages; anda rotary actuator operable to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, the load control device operable to increase the intensity of the lighting load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction and to decrease the intensity of the lighting load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the second direction;wherein the rotary actuator is continuously rotatable, such that the position of the rotary actuator is not representative of the intensity of the lighting load. 11. The load control system of claim 10, wherein the load control device is operable to control the amount of power delivered to the lighting load in order to adjust an intensity of the lighting load between a minimum intensity and a maximum intensity, the load control device operable to avoid discontinuities in the adjustment of the intensity of the lighting load in response to actuations of the rotary actuator. 12. The load control system of claim 11, wherein, after the intensity of the lighting load is controlled to the maximum intensity, the load control device is operable to maintain the intensity of the lighting load at the maximum intensity if the rotary actuator is further rotated in the first direction. 13. The load control system of claim 10, wherein the communication link comprises an RF communication link. 14. The load control system of claim 13, further comprising: a keypad comprising at least one button, and operable to wirelessly transmit digital messages on the RF communication link in response to actuations of the button. 15. The load control system of claim 10, wherein the digital messages are transmitted to the load control device in response to actuations of the rotary actuator. 16. The load control system of claim 10, wherein the load control device comprises a screw-in base adapted to be screwed into a standard Edison socket to allow for connection to the AC power source. 17. The load control system of claim 10, further comprising: a rotary encoder having a shaft coupled to the rotary actuator and operable to generate one or more control signals in response to the rotations of the rotary actuator. 18. The load control system of claim 10, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary knob adapted to be rotated such that the first direction is clockwise and the second direction is counter-clockwise. 19. The load control system of claim 10, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary wheel. 20. A control device for a load control system for controlling the intensity of a lighting load powered from an AC power source, the control device comprising: a rotary actuator operable to rotate in a first direction and a second direction; anda controller responsive to rotations of the rotary actuator, such that the intensity of the lighting load increases when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction and decreases when the rotary actuator is rotated in the second direction;wherein the rotary actuator is continuously rotatable, such that the position of the rotary actuator is not representative of the intensity of the lighting load. 21. The control device of claim 20, further comprising: a rotary encoder having a shaft coupled to the rotary actuator and operable to generate one or more control signals in response to the rotations of the rotary actuator, the controller operable to control the intensity of the lighting load in response to the one or more control signals. 22. The control device of claim 21, wherein the rotary encoder is coupled to the controller, such that the controller is operable to determine the direction of rotation of the rotary actuator in response to the one or more control signals and to control the intensity of the lighting load in response to the one or more control signals. 23. The control device of claim 22, wherein the rotary encoder includes a switch for generating a toggle control signal, the controller operable to receive the toggle control signal for turning the lighting load on and off when the rotary actuator is pushed in towards the load control device. 24. The control device of claim 20, further comprising: a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load;wherein the controller is coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device for controlling the controllably conductive device to adjust the intensity of the lighting load. 25. The control device of claim 24, further comprising: a communication circuit operable to receive digital messages;wherein the controller is coupled to the communication circuit, such that the controller is operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load in response to the received digital messages. 26. The control device of claim 20, further comprising: a communication circuit operable to transmit digital messages in response to rotations of the rotary actuator.
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