Control device configured to provide visual feedback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10910176-B2
Application number	US-201916567922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2019
Priority date	Sep 11, 2018
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

A control device configured for use in a load control system to control an external electrical load may provide simple feedback regarding the operation of the control device. For example, the control device may comprise a base portion configured to be mounted to an electrical wallbox or over a mechanical switch, and a control unit connected to the base portion. The control unit may comprise a rotation portion rotatable with respect to the base portion, an actuation portion, and a light source. The control unit may be configured to control the light source to illuminate at least an illuminated portion of the actuation portion in response to actuations of the rotation portion and the actuation portion. In addition, the control unit may provide a limit indication on the illuminated portion by blinking the illuminated portion when the electrical load has reached a limit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control device configured for use in a load control system to control an external lighting device, the control device comprising:
a base portion;
a control unit configured to connect to the base portion, the control unit comprising a rotation portion rotatable with respect to the base portion, an actuation portion comprising a front surface and received in an opening of the rotation portion, a first light source, a second light source, and a control circuit, wherein the first light source illuminates an illuminated portion when the control unit is mounted to the base portion in a first orientation, and wherein the second light source illuminates the illuminated portion when the control unit is mounted to the base portion in a second orientation;
wherein the first light source or the second light source is configured to illuminate at least the illuminated portion on the front surface of the actuation portion, wherein the illuminated portion of the actuation portion is located near the top of the actuation portion; and the control circuit is configured to:
in response to a rotation of the rotation portion, determine first control data for controlling the lighting device, control the first light source or the second light source to illuminate the illuminated portion of the actuation portion, and transmit control signals including the first control data; and
in response to an actuation of the actuation portion, determine second control data for controlling the lighting device, control the first light source or the second light source to illuminate the illuminated portion of the actuation portion, and transmit control signals including the second control data.

2. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to control the first light source or the second light source to provide a first indication on the illuminated portion of the actuation portion when the rotation portion has been rotated by a first amount in a first direction.

3. The control device of claim 2 , wherein the control circuit is configured to control the first light source or the second light source to provide a second indication on the illuminated portion of the actuation portion when the rotation portion has been rotated by a second amount in a second direction.

4. The control device of claim 3 , wherein the first direction is clockwise and the first indication indicates when the lighting device is at a high-end intensity, and wherein the second direction is counter-clockwise and the second indication indicates when the lighting device is at a low-end intensity.

5. The control device of claim 2 , wherein the control circuit is configured to determine when the rotation portion has been continuously rotated by a predetermined threshold amount, and provide the first indication on the illuminated portion of the actuation portion in response to determining that the rotation portion has been continuously rotated by the predetermined threshold amount.

6. The control device of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined threshold amount is an amount of rotation required to raise the lighting device from a low-end intensity to a high-end intensity.

7. The control device of claim 2 , wherein the control unit further comprises a communication circuit configured to receive a message indicating that the lighting device has reached a limit, the control circuit configured to provide the first indication on the illuminated portion of the actuation portion in response to receiving the message indicating that the lighting device has reached the limit.

8. The control device of claim 2 , wherein the control circuit is configured to keep track of an intensity of the lighting device and provide the first indication on the illuminated portion of the actuation portion when the intensity of the lighting device has reached the limit.

9. The control device of claim 2 , wherein the control circuit is configured to provide the first indication on the illuminated portion of the actuation portion by blinking the first light source or the second light source.

10. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to control the first light source or the second light source to continuously illuminate the illuminated portion for a period of time after detecting the actuation of the actuation portion.

11. The control device of claim 10 , wherein the period of time is a fixed period of time.

12. The control device of claim 10 , wherein the control circuit is configured to control the first light source or the second light source to continuously illuminate the illuminated portion while the actuation portion is being actuated.

13. The control device of claim 10 , wherein the control circuit is configured to control the first light source or the second light source to illuminate the illuminated portion red to indicate a low-battery condition after detecting the actuation of the actuation portion.

14. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to:
determine the first control data for adjusting a color temperature of the one or more lighting devices in response to the rotation of the rotation portion;
illuminate the illuminated portion a first color when the rotation portion is rotated in a first direction; and
illuminate the illuminated portion a second color when the rotation portion is rotated in a second direction.

15. The control device of claim 14 , wherein the control circuit is configured to illuminate the illuminated portion a blue color when the rotation portion is rotated to adjust the color temperature towards a cool-white color, and illuminate the illuminated portion a red color when the rotation portion is rotated to adjust the color temperature towards a warm-white color.

16. The control device of claim 14 , wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the first control data for adjusting the color temperature of the one or more lighting devices when the actuation portion is being actuated while the rotation portion is being rotated.

17. The control device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mask located between the first light source or the second light source and the actuation portion, the mask comprising an aperture through which light emitted by the first light source or the second light source may shine onto the actuation portion.

18. The control device of claim 17 , wherein the actuation portion is made of clear plastic and an inner surface of the actuation portion is coated with paint, and wherein the illuminated portion of the actuation portion is a sharp circle of light.

19. The control device of claim 17 , wherein the actuation portion is made of white plastic, and the illuminated portion of the actuation portion is a diffuse circle of light.

20. The control device of claim 17 , wherein the mask comprises a piece of mylar that is folded and is configured to mount above a printed circuit board to which the first light source or the second light source is mounted.

21. The control device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to determine whether the control unit is mounted to the base portion in the first orientation or the second orientation in response to an orientation sensing circuit, the control circuit configured to determine which of the first and second light sources to control in response to the orientation sensing circuit.

22. The control device of claim 21 , wherein, when the control unit is mounted in

Assignees

• Lutron Tech Co Llc

Inventors

• Altonen Gregory S
• Dimberg Chris
• Killo Jason C
• Knauss Matthew
• Pessina Michael W
• Twaddell Daniel L

Classifications

• H05B47/196

  characterised by user interface arrangements · CPC title

• H05B47/19 Primary

  via wireless transmission · CPC title

• Y02B20/40

  Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection · CPC title

• H01H19/14

  Operating parts, e.g. turn knob · CPC title

• H01H19/54

  the operating part having at least five or an unspecified number of operative positions · CPC title