Multi-scene preset lighting controller

• US 20020060530A1
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Published: 05/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Salvestrini, Christopher J., Sembhi, Tarvinder S., Jacoby, Elliot G. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,545,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/086 with possibility of remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps

Abstract

A lighting control device for controlling the light intensity level of a least one lamp. The device is capable of storing preset light intensity levels in a memory. The method for storing the preset light intensity levels is simple and straight forward. The user adjusts the desired light intensity level using an intensity selector and then presses and holds a preset actuator for a non-transitory period of time to store the light intensity level into memory. A master control is capable of outputting control signals to adjacent lighting control devices located in the same wallbox through infrared signals or to lighting control devices located in a spaced wallbox through a flexible cable. The end of the flexible cable does not require connection to the wires of the lighting control devices in the spaced wallbox.

Claims

37. A wallbox mountable lighting control device, comprising:

a. a plurality of lighting preset actuators,

b. a radiation output device capable of outputting an IR signal within said wallbox relating to the actuation of at least one of said preset actuators.

38. The lighting control device of claim 37, wherein said radiation output device is located at a first end of a flexible cable, the second end of said flexible cable being coupled to said control device.

39. The lighting control device of claim 37, further comprising a flexible cable for conducting the radiation.

40. The lighting control device of claim 39, wherein said flexible cable is a fiber optic cable.

45. The lighting control device of claim 37, further comprising:

an optically clear backcover wherein said radiation output device is positioned within said backcover and is oriented to transmit said IR signal through said backcover to be received exteriorly thereof.

46. The lighting control device of claim 37, wherein said radiation output device is an IR light emitting diode.

47. The lighting control device of claim 37, further comprising a radiation receiver for receiving IR signals, said radiation receiver being located within said wallbox for receiving IR signals interiorly of said wallbox.

41. A wallbox mountable lighting control device, comprising:

a. a plurality of lighting scene selector actuators mounted in a first wallbox,

b. a radiation conductor for conducting infrared signals relating to the actuation of said scene select actuators from said first wallbox to a second spaced wallbox.

43. The lighting control device of claim 41, wherein said radiation conductor is flexible.

44. The lighting control device of claim 41, wherein said radiation conductor is a fiber optic cable.

48. The lighting control device of claim 47, further comprising an optically clear backcover, said radiation receiver mounted within said backcover.

50. The wallbox mountable lighting control device according to claim 49 wherein the lighting control device is part of a lighting control system in which the lighting control device is one of at least one lighting control devices that is controlled by a master lighting control device, the master lighting control device comprising a radiation output device capable of generating the IR signal, the master lighting control device further comprising an optically clear backcover adapted to be received within the wallbox, the radiation output device being positioned interiorly of the backcover for outputting the IR signal to the wallbox through the backcover.

49. A wallbox mountable lighting control device comprising:

a radiation input device capable of receiving an IR signal interiorly of said wallbox, the lighting control device being responsive to the IR signal for controlling electrical energy to be delivered to a lighting load; and

an optically clear backcover adapted to be received within the wallbox, the radiation input device being positioned interiorly of said backcover for receiving said IR signal through said backcover.

51. An electrical load control system comprising:

at least one dimmer control comprising an infrared input device for receiving an infrared control signal, the at least one dimmer control responsive to the infrared control signal for controlling power to be delivered to a load, the at least one dimmer control further comprising an optically clear backcover adapted to be received within a wallbox, the radiation input device being positioned interiorly of the backcover for receiving the infrared control signal from the wallbox through the backcover;

an infrared output device capable of generating the infrared control signal, the infrared output device supported in light communication with the backcover of the at least one dimmer control; and

a master control electrically connected to the infrared output device for transmitting an electrical command signal to the infrared output device, the infrared output device responsive to the electrical command signal to generate the infrared control signal.

52. The electrical load control system according to claim 51 wherein the master control further comprises an optically clear backcover adapted to be received in the wallbox, the infrared output device being positioned interiorly of the master control backcover in light communication therewith for transmitting the infrared signal to the wallbox through the master control backcover.

53. The electrical load control system according to claim 51 wherein the master control and the infrared output device are located in a first wallbox and the at least one dimmer control is located in a separate second wallbox, and wherein the electrical load control system further comprises an elongated infrared conductor for conveying the infrared signal, the infrared conductor having a first end in light communication with the infrared output device of the first wallbox and an opposite second end in light communication with the backcover of the at least one dimmer control of the second wallbox.

54. The electrical load control system according to claim 53 wherein the infrared conductor comprises a length of flexible tube.

55. The electrical load control system according to claim 53 wherein the infrared conductor comprises a fiber optic cable.

56. The electrical load control system according to claim 51 wherein the master control is located in a first wallbox and the infrared output device and the at least one dimmer control are located in a separate second wallbox, and wherein the electrical control system further comprises an elongated electrical conductor for conveying the electrical command signal, the electrical conductor having a first end electrically connected to the master control of the first wallbox and an opposite second end electrically connected to the infrared output device of the second wallbox.

57. The electrical load control system according to claim 56 wherein the electrical conductor comprises an electrical cable having at least one conductive wire.

58. The electrical load control system according to claim 51 wherein the infrared output device comprises at least one LED.

59. The electrical load control system according to claim 58 wherein the infrared output device includes a pair of LEDs, the LEDs being oppositely directed with respect to one another to provide for broadcast of the infrared signal from the infrared output device in opposite directions within the wallbox.