Smart Load Control Device Having a Rotary Actuator

• US 20090206769A1
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Biery, Ethan Charles, Spira, Joel S., Lopez, Clive Elton, Knode, Galen Edgar
• Granted Patent: US 7,872,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/041 the light-intensity of the source H05B39/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/08 by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices in converters H02M5/00; with regulation G05F1/44
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/083 by the variation-rate of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/085 by touch control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3921 with possibility of light intensity variations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link.

Claims

1. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for controlling the amount of power delivered to the load;

a controller coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device, the controller operable to selectively render the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive to control the amount of power delivered to the load;

a rotary actuator operable to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, the controller responsive to rotations of the rotary actuator to adjust the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated; and

an audible sound generator responsive to the controller, the controller operable to cause the audible sound generator to repeatedly generate an audible sound when the lamp control module is delivering a predetermined amount of power to the load and the rotary actuator is rotated.

2. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to increase the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated in a first direction, and to cause the audible sound generator to repeatedly generate the audible sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction and the lamp control module is delivering a maximum amount of power to the load.

3. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to decrease the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated in a second direction, and to cause the audible sound generator to repeatedly generate the audible sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the second direction and the lamp control module is delivering a minimum amount of power to the load.

4. The load control device of claim 3, wherein the electrical load is off when the lamp control module is delivering the minimum amount of power to the load.

5. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to cause the audible sound generator to generate the audible sound at a constant frequency.

6. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to cause the audible sound generator to generate the audible sound at a variable frequency dependent upon an angular velocity of the rotary actuator.

7. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to cause the audible sound generator to repeatedly generate the audible sound to produce a ratcheting sound.

8. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator is operable to be pressed in towards the load control device, the controller responsive to presses of the rotary actuator to toggle the electrical load on and off, the controller operable to cause the audible sound generator to generate a second audible sound when the rotary actuator is pressed and the lighting load is toggled off, and to generate the first audible sound when the rotary actuator is pressed and the lighting load is toggled on.

9. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary knob adapted to be rotated in a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction.

10. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary scroll wheel.

21. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary wheel.

11. A method of generating an audible sound in a load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a rotary actuator on the load control device;

adjusting the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated; and

repeatedly generating an audible sound when the rotary actuator is rotated and the lamp control module is delivering a predetermined amount of power to the load.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of adjusting further comprises increasing the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated in a first direction, and the step of repeatedly generating an audible sound comprises repeatedly generating the audible sound when the lamp control module is delivering a maximum amount of power to the load and the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of repeatedly generating an audible sound comprises generating the audible sound at a constant frequency.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining an angular velocity of the rotary actuator;

wherein the step of repeatedly generating an audible sound comprises generating the audible sound at a variable frequency in response to the step of determining an angular velocity of the rotary actuator.

15. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for control of the amount of power delivered to the load;

a controller coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device, the controller operable to selectively render the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive to control the amount of power delivered to the load; and

a rotary actuator operable to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, the controller responsive to rotations of the rotary actuator to increase the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction and to decrease the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the second direction;

wherein the controller is operable to accelerate the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator.

16. The load control device of claim 15, wherein the controller is operable to increase the amount of power delivered to the load at a first rate when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a first angular velocity, and to increase the amount of power delivered to the load at a second rate when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a second angular velocity.

17. The load control device of claim 16, wherein the ratio of the second rate to the second angular velocity is greater than the ratio of the first rate to the first angular velocity.

18. The load control device of claim 15, further comprising:

a rotary encoder having a shaft coupled to the rotary actuator and operable to generate one or more control signals in response to the rotations of the rotary actuator, the rotary encoder coupled to the controller, such that the controller is operable to control the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the one or more control signals.

19. The load control device of claim 18, wherein the controller is operable determine the direction and the angular velocity of the rotary actuator in response to the one or more control signals.

20. The load control device of claim 15, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary knob adapted to be rotated such that the first direction is clockwise and the second direction is counter-clockwise.

22. A method of controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a rotary actuator on the load control device;

increasing the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated in a first direction;

decreasing the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated in a second direction;

determining an angular velocity of the rotary actuator; and

accelerating the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of accelerating the rate of change comprises changing the amount of power delivered to the load at a first rate of change when the angular velocity is at a first magnitude, and changing the amount of power delivered to the load at a second rate of change when the angular velocity is at a second magnitude.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the ratio of the second rate to the second angular velocity is greater than the ratio of the first rate to the first angular velocity.

25. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for control of the amount of power delivered to the load;

a controller coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device, the controller operable to selectively render the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive to control the amount of power delivered to the load;

a communication circuit operable to receive digital messages on a communication link, the controller coupled to the communication circuit, such that the controller is operable to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to the received digital messages; and

a rotary actuator operable to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, the controller responsive to rotations of the rotary actuator to increase the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction and to decrease the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the second direction.

26. The load control device of claim 25, wherein the communication circuit is further operable to transmit digital messages on the communication link.

27. The load control device of claim 26, wherein the communication circuit comprises an RF transceiver operable to transmit and receive digital messages on an RF communication link.

28. The load control device of claim 25, wherein the rotary knob comprises a rotary knob adapted to be rotated such that the first direction is clockwise and the second direction is counter-clockwise.

29. The load control device of claim 25, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary wheel.