Patent application number | Description | Published |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |