Actuator assembly for a wallbox dimmer
First Claim
1. A touch-sensitive actuator assembly configured for use with a load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered to an electrical load, the actuator assembly comprising:
- a resilient, deformable membrane supporting a plurality of discrete force-sensitive impedance members; and
an actuator having a plurality of posts that are spaced from each other, each post configured to transfer a force applied to the actuator at a location proximate to the post to a corresponding location on the membrane;
wherein, in response to the transferred force, the membrane is configured to deform and actuate at least one of the plurality of discrete force-sensitive impedance members; and
wherein each of the plurality of discrete force-sensitive impedance members is configured to, when actuated, cause the load control device to apply one of a plurality of dimming levels to the electrical load.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wall-mounted dimmer may include an actuator assembly configured to translate a touch interaction with the dimmer into a desired dimming level. The actuator assembly may include a control interface having a resilient, deflectable membrane, a plurality of force-sensitive impedance members supported by the membrane, and an actuator configured to transfer a touch along the actuator to the membrane, causing the membrane to actuate one or more corresponding force-sensitive impedance members. The force-sensitive impedance members may be configured to make contact with corresponding ones of a plurality of open circuit pads supported by a printed circuit board. Each of the plurality of open circuit pads may correspond to a predetermined dimming level applied to a lighting load electrically connected to the dimmer. The control interface may be configured such that contact between the force-sensitive impedance members and corresponding ones of the open circuit pads is pressure sensitive.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A touch-sensitive actuator assembly configured for use with a load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered to an electrical load, the actuator assembly comprising:
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a resilient, deformable membrane supporting a plurality of discrete force-sensitive impedance members; and an actuator having a plurality of posts that are spaced from each other, each post configured to transfer a force applied to the actuator at a location proximate to the post to a corresponding location on the membrane; wherein, in response to the transferred force, the membrane is configured to deform and actuate at least one of the plurality of discrete force-sensitive impedance members; and wherein each of the plurality of discrete force-sensitive impedance members is configured to, when actuated, cause the load control device to apply one of a plurality of dimming levels to the electrical load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A touch-sensitive actuator assembly configured for use with a load control device configured to control an amount of power delivered to an electrical load, the actuator assembly comprising:
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a rubber membrane supporting a plurality of discrete force-sensitive impedance members; and an actuator having a plurality of posts that are spaced apart from each other, wherein in response to receiving a force, the one or more of the plurality of posts of the actuator are configured to deform the rubber membrane to actuate at least one of the plurality of discrete force-sensitive impedance members with an amount of force; wherein the at least one of the plurality of discrete force-sensitive impedance members is configured to provide an impedance in accordance with the amount of force applied to the force-sensitive impedance member when actuated by the rubber membrane; and wherein the load control device is configured to apply one of a plurality of dimming levels to the electrical load based on a voltage output set by the impedance in response to the impedance provided by the at least one of the plurality of discrete force-sensitive impedance members. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification