LOAD CONTROL DEVICE HAVING AUDIBLE FEEDBACK
First Claim
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; and
an audible sound generator responsive to the controller to generate an audible sound having an operational characteristic, the operational characteristic of the audible sound controlled in response to the amount of power being delivered to the load.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a non-visual, haptic sensory output structure for producing a variable human detectable output related to the amount of power being delivered to the load. Specifically, the load control device may comprise an audible sound generator for generating audible sounds having operational characteristics that are representative of the amount of power being delivered to the load. For example, the amplitude (or frequency) of the audible sounds may increase as the amount of power delivered to the load increases and may decrease as the amount of power delivered to the load decreases. The audible sound generator may generate a turn-on audible sound that increases in amplitude (or frequency) with respect to time when the load is turned on, and a turn-off audible sound that decreases in amplitude (or frequency) with respect to time when the load is turned off.
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Citations
40 Claims
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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:
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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; and an audible sound generator responsive to the controller to generate an audible sound having an operational characteristic, the operational characteristic of the audible sound controlled in response to the amount of power being delivered to the load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of providing feedback of the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the method comprising the steps of:
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adjusting the amount of power being delivered to the load; generating an audible sound having an operational characteristic; and controlling the operational characteristic of the audible sound in response to the amount of power being delivered to the load. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A load control device for an electrical load, said load control device being connectable between a power source and said load, said load control device comprising:
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a controllably conductive circuit for controlling the power supplied to said load from said power source between maximum and minimum values; a control structure operatively coupled to said controllably conductive circuit for adjusting the power applied to said load at any desired value between and including said maximum and minimum values; and a non-visual sensory output structure electronically coupled to said control structure for producing a variable human detectable output related to the adjustment of said control structure to indicate at least the direction of the change in power to said load during a change in the power applied to said load due to an adjustment of said control structure. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A lamp dimmer system for controlling the power delivered to a lamp, said system comprising:
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an adjustment control movable between first and second positions to vary the power applied to said lamp between respective first and second conditions; and a non-visual haptic output to announce the adjustment state of said lamp and to indicate at least the direction of the change in power to said load in response to said adjustment control. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A process for operating a lamp dimming system comprising the steps of:
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adjusting the power applied to a lamp; producing an audio output signal containing at least one of a variable volume or variable frequency; and adjusting at least one of said variable volume or variable frequency in accordance with the step of adjusting of the power applied to a lamp, such that said variable volume or variable frequency is related to the instantaneous power applied to said lamp, whereby increasing and decreasing the power applied to said lamp is respectively accompanied by one of an increasing or decreasing audio volume or audio frequency signal.
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Specification