Electrical load controller having a frame with an integrally formed backlightable indicator region

• US 10,062,528 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Kevelos, Adam, Mathew, Renjith
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane, Adolf
• Application Number:
  US15/706,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20180005781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 323318, 323320, 323905, 200310, 200313-315, 200317
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/455 with phase control
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 23/145 the actuating surface having two slightly inclined areas extending from the middle outward

Abstract

An electrical load controller includes an electrical switching device and an actuator assembly having at least one user actuator for use in turning power on and off to the load and for use in adjustably controlling the level of power to the load. A frame attached to the actuator includes an integrally formed backlightable indicator region having an outer continuous solid surface. Light from an illumination assembly related to the level of power to the load is directable onto a portion of an inner surface of the backlightable indicator region, transmittable through the backlightable region from the inner surface to the outer surface, emittable from a portion of the outer surface, and observable by the user.

Claims

1. A load controller having an indicator for indicating an operational parameter of the load controller, the indicator comprising:

an indicator region having an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface being a continuous solid surface, and the inner surface having a backlightable portion configured to receive backlighting from the interior of the load controller;

wherein the backlighting is transmittable through the backlightable portion to a corresponding emitting portion of the outer surface such that it can be observed by a user the transmitted backlighting being indicative of a characteristic of the operational parameter.

2. The load controller of claim 1 wherein the operational parameter is selected from the group consisting of a status, a temperature, a humidity, a sensed level, or a remote monitoring level.

3. The load controller of claim 2 wherein the operational parameter is a measured value, a threshold value, or a target value.

4. The load controller of claim 1 further comprising an actuator configured to adjust the operational parameter.

5. The load controller of claim 4 wherein the actuator further comprises first and second actuators, wherein the first actuator is configured to adjust a first characteristic of the operational parameter and the second actuator is configured to adjust a second characteristic of the operational parameter.

6. The load controller of claim 5 wherein the first actuator toggles the first characteristic ON/OFF and the second actuator adjusts a value of the second characteristic.

7. The load controller of claim 4 further comprising a housing, and wherein the actuator is releasably attachable to the housing.

8. The load controller of claim 1 further comprising an indicator assembly disposed within the interior of the load controller, the indicator assembly comprising a light source configured to emit the backlighting and a light guide arranged and configured to receive light from the light source and direct it towards the indicator region.

9. The load controller of claim 8 wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs and the light guide comprises a plurality of light guides.

10. The load controller of claim 9 wherein the inner surface comprises a plurality of cavities, each of the plurality of light guides comprises a lower end and an upper end, and the upper ends received in the cavities.

11. The load controller of claim 10 wherein the plurality of light guides comprises a monolithic structure.

12. The load controller of claim 1 further comprising an electrical switching device configured to adjust the operational parameter.

13. The load controller of claim 1 further comprising a frame, and wherein the indicator is integrally formed within the frame.

14. The load controller of claim 13 wherein the frame and the indicator region comprise the same observable color when backlighting is absent from the interior of the load controller.

15. The load controller of claim 1 wherein the indicator region is not discernible as an indicator region by the user in ambient light when backlighting is absent from the interior of the load controller.

16. The load controller of claim 1 wherein light emitted from the emitting portion comprises a plurality of spaced-apart illuminatable outer surface portions.

17. The load controller of claim 1 wherein the indicator region does not comprise an aperture extending from and through the outer surface to the inner surface.

18. The load controller of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the indicator region comprises a plurality of spaced-apart recessed areas, and wherein backlighting from the interior of the load controller is emittable from the plurality of spaced-apart recessed portions of the outer surface.

19. The load controller of claim 1 wherein the inner surface of the indicator region comprises a plurality of spaced-apart recessed portions, and wherein backlighting from the interior of the load controller is receivable in the spaced-apart recessed portions of the inner surface.

20. The load controller of claim 19 wherein the outer surface of the indicator region comprises an elongated raised land relative to the frame.

21. The load controller of claim 1 wherein the outer surface of the indicator region comprises a plurality of spaced-apart raised portions, and wherein backlighting from the interior of the load controller is emittable from the plurality of spaced-apart raised portions of the outer surface.

22. The load controller of claim 1 wherein the backlightable portion of the inner surface comprises a plurality of spaced-apart raised portions that act as lenses for receiving the backlighting, and the outer surface of the indicator region comprises a plurality of spaced-apart raised portions that act as lenses for emitting the backlighting.

23. The load controller of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical switching device configured to adjust the operational parameter;

a first actuator configured to adjust a first characteristic of the operational parameter;

a second actuators configured to adjust a second characteristic of the operational parameter;

a frame comprising the indicator integrally formed indicator region; and

an indicator assembly for providing the backlighting.

24. An actuator assembly removably attachable to a load controller for controlling a load, the actuator assembly comprising:

an actuator configured to adjustably control an operational parameter of the load;

an integrally formed indicator region comprising an outer continuous solid surface and an inner surface, the inner surface configured to receive backlighting from the interior of the load controller; and

wherein the backlighting is indicative of the state and/or the operational parameter and is transmittable through the indicator region from the inner surface to the outer surface, a portion of the outer surface being configured to emit the backlighting transmitted from the inner surface such that it is observable by a user.

25. The actuator assembly of claim 24 further comprising:

the actuator comprises first and second actuators, wherein the first actuator is configured to adjust a first characteristic of the operational parameter and the second actuator is configured to adjust a second characteristic of the operational parameter;

a frame which includes the integrally formed indicator region, wherein the frame extends peripherally around the first actuator, and wherein the second actuator is disposed within an opening in the frame; and

wherein the first actuator is configured to toggle the first characteristic and the second actuator is configured to adjust a value of the second characteristic.

26. The actuator assembly of claim 25 wherein the first characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a state or a mode of operation.

27. The actuator assembly of claim 25 wherein the second characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a value, a minimum value, a maximum value, a threshold value, or a target value.

28. An actuator assembly attachable to a load controller for controlling a load, the actuator assembly comprising:

a main actuator configured to toggle a state of the load;

a peripherally-extending frame disposed around the main actuator;

an adjustment actuator extendable through an opening in the peripherally-extending frame, the adjustment actuator configured to adjustably control an operational parameter of the load;

the peripherally-extending frame comprising an integrally formed indicator region comprising an outer continuous solid surface and an inner surface, the inner surface configured to receive backlighting from the interior of the load controller; and

wherein the backlighting is indicative of the state and/or the operational parameter and is transmittable through the indicator region from the inner surface to the outer surface, a portion of the outer surface being configured to emit the backlighting transmitted from the inner surface such that it is observable by a user.