Lighting control device having improved long fade off

• US 20060279236A1
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Johnson, Benjamin Aaron, Kruse, Glen Andrew, Keagy, Jon Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,382,100 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/083 by the variation-rate of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/086 with possibility of remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps

Abstract

A lighting control device for controlling the light intensity level of at least one lamp is disclosed. The lighting control device includes an actuator and a controller operable to cause 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 upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated, to fade to off at a second fade rate upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated for only a single transitory duration, to fade from the initial intensity level to a preset desired intensity level at a third fade rate upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated for two successive transitory durations, and to fade to off in a predefined fade rate sequence upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated for more than a transitory duration. The first fade rate is based on a predefined fade-off time. The fade-off time represents a time duration allotted for fading the light intensity level of the at least one lamp from the initial light intensity level to off.

Claims

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:

an actuator; and

a controller operable to cause 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 upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated,

to fade to off at a second fade rate upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated for only a single transitory duration,

to fade from the initial intensity level to a preset desired intensity level at a third fade rate upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated for two successive transitory durations, and

to fade to off in a predefined fade rate sequence upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated for more than a transitory duration,

wherein the first fade rate is 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 light intensity level to off.

2. The lighting control device of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to cause the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a fourth fade rate for a predefined long fade time upon the determination that the actuator has been actuated for more than a transitory duration.

3. The lighting control device of claim 2, wherein the controller is operable to cause the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade to off at a fifth fade rate after the long fade time elapses.

4. The lighting control device of claim 3, wherein the fifth fade rate is a predefined rate at which the controller is operable to cause the light intensity level to fade from 100% to off over a predefined amount of time.