Lighting control device having improved long fade off
First Claim
1. A lighting control device for controlling a light intensity level of at least one lamp, the at least one lamp having an initial light intensity level, the lighting control device comprising:
- a microcontroller; and
a user-actuatable switch controller operatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller causes the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a first fade rate when the switch controller is actuated, the first fade rate being based on a predefined fade-off time, the fade-off time representing a time duration allotted for fading the light intensity level of the at least one lamp from the initial intensity level to off; and
wherein the microcontroller causes the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a second fade rate upon a determination that the switch controller has been actuated for at least a predefined actuator hold time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lighting control device for controlling the light intensity level of at least one lamp is disclosed. The lighting control device includes a microcontroller and a user-actuatable switch controller that is operatively coupled to the microcontroller. The microcontroller causes the light intensity level of the lamp to fade at a first fade rate when the switch controller is actuated. If the microcontroller determines that the switch controller has been actuated for at least a predefined actuator hold time, the microcontroller causes the light intensity level of the lamp to fade at a second fade rate for a predefined long fade time. After the long fade time elapses, the microcontroller causes the light intensity level of the lamp to fade to off at a third fade. The first fade rate is based on a predefined fade-off time that represents a time allotted for fading the light intensity level of the lamp from its initial light intensity level to off. To prevent the light intensity level from fading to off before the actuation time elapses, the fade off time may be defined to be longer than the actuation time. The second fade rate may be slower than the first fade rate and have an exponential fade profile. The third fade rate may be a predefined rate at which the microcontroller is programmed to cause the light intensity level to fade from full on to full off. The third fade rate may be quicker than the second fade rate.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A lighting control device for controlling a light intensity level of at least one lamp, the at least one lamp having an initial light intensity level, the lighting control device comprising:
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a microcontroller; and
a user-actuatable switch controller operatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller causes the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a first fade rate when the switch controller is actuated, the first fade rate being based on a predefined fade-off time, the fade-off time representing a time duration allotted for fading the light intensity level of the at least one lamp from the initial intensity level to off; and
wherein the microcontroller causes the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a second fade rate upon a determination that the switch controller has been actuated for at least a predefined actuator hold time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A lighting control device for controlling a light intensity level of at least one lamp, the at least one lamp having an initial light intensity level, the lighting control device comprising:
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a microcontroller; and
a user-actuatable switch controller operatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller causes the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a first fade rate when the switch controller is actuated and at a second fade rate upon a determination that the switch controller has been actuated for at least a predefined actuator hold time, wherein the first fade rate is based on a predefined fade-off time that is longer than the predefined actuator hold time.
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10. A lighting control device for controlling a light intensity level of at least one lamp, the at least one lamp having an initial light intensity level, the lighting control device comprising:
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a microcontroller; and
a user-actuatable switch controller operatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein, upon a determination that the switch controller has been actuated, the microcontroller causes the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a fade rate that is based on the initial intensity level of the at least one lamp.
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11. A method for controlling a light intensity level of at least one lamp, the at least one lamp having an initial light intensity level, the method comprising:
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determining that a switch actuator has been actuated; and
causing the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a first fade rate that is based on the initial intensity level of the at least one lamp. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing a method for controlling a light intensity level of at least one lamp, the at least one lamp having an initial light intensity level, the method comprising:
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determining that a switch actuator has been actuated; and
causing the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a first fade rate that is based on the initial intensity level of the at least one lamp.
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23. A lighting control device for controlling a light intensity level of at least one lamp, the at least one lamp having an initial light intensity level, the lighting control device comprising:
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a microcontroller; and
a user-actuatable switch controller operatively coupled to the microcontroller, wherein, upon a determination that the switch controller has been actuated, the microcontroller causes the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a first fade rate that is based on the initial light intensity level of the at least one lamp, and wherein, upon a determination that the switch controller has been actuated for only a single transitory duration, the microcontroller causes the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade to off at a second fade rate, and wherein, upon a determination that the switch controller has been actuated for two successive transitory durations, the microcontroller that causes the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade from the initial intensity level to a preset desired intensity level at a third fade rate, and wherein, upon a determination that the switch controller has been actuated for more than a transitory duration, the microcontroller causes the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade to off in a predetermined fade rate sequence.
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Specification