DIGITAL WIRING DEVICE

• US 20110062896A1
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Duckworth, Paul, Stannis, Gordon, Van Faasen, Joel, Soccoli, Paul, Klamer, David, Chou, Cheng-Lung
• Granted Patent: US 8,786,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/362
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers

Abstract

A digital wiring device including a user interface panel, a digital display, and a paddle including a transparent portion to reveal the digital display and an opaque portion to cover the user interface panel. The paddle rotates from a first closed position to a second open position. A digital “schedule-at-a-glance” may be provided so that a user can quickly assess a schedule of events. The digital wiring device may include a back light to illuminate the digital display. The paddle may be operatively associated with the back light. A battery may provide an electrical current to power the digital wiring device in a battery backup mode, and the back light may be disabled based on the mode. The user interface panel may be used to schedule events or otherwise configure the digital wiring device.

Claims

1. A digital wiring device configured to be mounted in a single-gang electrical box, comprising:

a user interface panel;

a digital display; and

a paddle comprising a transparent portion to reveal at least a portion of the digital display, said paddle overlapping at least in part said digital display.

2. The digital wiring device of claim 1, wherein the paddle comprises an opaque or translucent portion to cover at least a portion of the user interface panel.

3. The digital wiring device of claim 1, wherein the paddle is movable from a first closed position to a second open position.

4. The digital wiring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a frame, the paddle hingedly attached to the frame; and

a base unit which supports at least one of the user interface panel and the digital display.

5. The digital wiring device of claim 3, further comprising:

a mating element to engage a projection of the paddle and maintain the paddle in the second open position.

6. The digital wiring device of claim 5, wherein at least one of the projection and the mating element is flexible.

7. The digital wiring device of claim 3, wherein the paddle is rotatable between a position proximate to and distal from the base unit.

8. The digital wiring device of claim 7, wherein the paddle has a rotatable range of not less than about 90 degrees.

9. The digital wiring device of claim 4, wherein the paddle is movable to an open and maintained position forming an arc of about 90 degrees or greater between the base unit and the paddle.

10. The digital wiring device of claim 9, wherein the paddle is movable to the open and maintained position forming an arc of about 110 degrees between the base unit and the paddle.

11. The digital wiring device of claim 1, wherein the digital wiring device is configured to be mounted in a single-gang electrical box where the single-gang electrical box has nominal dimensions of not greater than three inches by two inches.

12. The digital wiring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a light configured to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display; and

the paddle operatively associated with the light.

13. The digital wiring device of claim 12, wherein the user interface panel includes at least one actuator operatively associated with the light.

14. The digital wiring device of claim 12, wherein the light is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display responsive to any one of a press of the paddle, a press of the at least one actuator, or a lift of the paddle.

15. The digital wiring device of claim 12, wherein the light is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display responsive to a user pressing the paddle when the paddle is in a closed position.

16. The digital wiring device of claim 12, wherein the light is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display responsive to a user opening the paddle to an open position.

17. The digital wiring device of claim 12, further comprising:

a frame, the paddle hingedly attached to the frame; and

a base unit which supports at least one of the user interface panel and the digital display, wherein the base unit includes;

an actuator operatively associated with the light, said actuator configured to be actuated by the paddle,

wherein the paddle is moveable between at least a stationary closed position and a temporary closed position, and

wherein the light is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display when the paddle is moved to the temporary closed position.

18. The digital wiring device of claim 12, wherein the digital wiring device is configured to be mounted in a single-gang electrical box where the single-gang electrical box has nominal dimensions of not greater than three inches by two inches.

19. The digital wiring device of claim 1, wherein the digital wiring device is a digital timer.

20. The digital wiring device of claim 19, wherein the digital timer includes at least one time cycle, the digital display being capable of outputting a representation of the time cycle.

21. The digital wiring device of claim 20, wherein the representation of the time cycle comprises a schedule-at-a-glance for a complete duration of the time cycle.

22. The digital wiring device of claim 21, wherein the schedule-at-a-glance includes a flashing icon to denote a specific point in the time cycle.

23. The digital wiring device of claim 22, wherein the specific point in the time cycle represents the present time.

24. The digital wiring device of claim 21, wherein the schedule-at-a-glance is in the shape of an oval, ellipse, or a circle.

25. A system configured to be mounted in a single-gang electrical box, comprising:

a digital wiring device, including;

a user interface panel;

a digital display;

a paddle including a window to reveal at least a portion of the digital display;

a frame, the paddle hingedly attached to the frame,

wherein the paddle is rotatable between a first closed position and a second open position.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the paddle further includes an opaque portion or translucent portion to cover at least a portion of the user interface panel.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the paddle has a rotatable range of not less than about 90 degrees.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the second open position is an open and maintained position.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the paddle is rotatable in a range of about 110 degrees between the base unit and the paddle.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the paddle is rotatable between a position proximate to and distal from a base unit.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the digital wiring device is configured to be mounted in a single-gang electrical box where the single-gang electrical box has nominal dimensions of not greater than three inches by two inches.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the digital wiring device is a digital timer.

33. A method for operating a digital wiring device configured to be mounted in a single-gang electrical box, comprising the steps of:

moving a paddle of said digital wiring device from a first position to a second position;

activating a light in response to said moving step, said light illuminating a digital display; and

viewing at least a portion of said digital display through said paddle.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first position corresponds to a closed at-rest position and the second position corresponds to a momentary pressed position, and wherein moving the paddle comprises pressing the paddle from the closed at-rest position to the momentary pressed position.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the first position corresponds to a closed position and the second position corresponds to an open position.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein moving the paddle comprises lifting the paddle from the closed position.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the open position is an open and maintained position.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the first position corresponds to an open and maintained position and the second position corresponds to a closed position, and wherein moving the paddle comprises moving the paddle from the open and maintained position to the closed position.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

covering at least a portion of the user interface panel with an opaque portion of the paddle when the paddle is in the closed position.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein activating the light further comprises:

activating the light when the user performs at least one of pressing one or more actuators of a user interface panel, pressing the paddle, opening the paddle, and lifting the paddle.

41. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

actuating an actuator by the paddle when the paddle is in a closed position; and

energizing the light in response to the actuating.

42. The method of claim 33, wherein the digital wiring device is a digital timer.

43. A method for operating a digital wiring device comprising the steps of:

mounting the digital wiring device in a single-gang electrical box where the single-gang electrical box has nominal dimensions of not greater than three inches by two inches;

moving a paddle of said digital wiring device from a first position to a second position;

activating a light in response to said moving step, said light illuminating a digital display; and

viewing at least a portion of said digital display through said paddle.

44. A system for operating a digital wiring device configured to be mounted in a single-gang electrical box, comprising:

a digital display;

a light to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display;

a user interface panel including at least one actuator operatively associated with the light;

a paddle including a window and an opaque portion; and

a frame, the paddle hingedly attached to the frame,

wherein the paddle is operatively associated with the light.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the light is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display responsive to a user pressing the paddle from a closed at-rest position to a momentary pressed position.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the light is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display responsive to a user lifting the paddle from a closed position.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the light is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display responsive to a user moving the paddle from a closed position to an open and maintained position.

48. The system of claim 44, wherein the light is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display responsive to a user moving the paddle from an open and maintained position to a closed position.

49. The system of claim 44, wherein at least a portion of the digital display is viewable through a window in the paddle.

50. The system of claim 44, wherein at least a portion of the user interface panel is covered by the opaque portion of the paddle when the paddle is in a closed position.

51. The system of claim 44, wherein:

the frame is attached to a base unit; and

the base unit includes an actuator operatively associated with the light and configured to be actuated by a surface of the paddle when a user presses the paddle from a stationary closed position to a temporary closed position.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the paddle is biased toward the stationary closed position by the actuator.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the actuator is structured to contact the surface of the paddle when the paddle is in the stationary closed position, and to be actuated responsive to the user pressing the paddle from the stationary closed position to the temporary closed position, thereby energizing the light.

54. The system of claim 44, wherein the digital wiring device is configured to be mounted in a single-gang electrical box where the single-gang electrical box has nominal dimensions of not greater than three inches by two inches.

55. The system of claim 44, wherein the digital wiring device is a digital timer.

56. A digital wiring device configured to be mounted in a single-gang electrical box, comprising:

a digital display;

a power input configured to receive power from an electrical supply in a normal power mode;

a detection circuit configured to detect a power loss of the electrical power supply;

a battery configured to provide power to the power input of the digital wiring device in a battery backup mode based on the detection of the power loss; and

a light to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display,

wherein the light is disabled in the battery backup mode.

57. The digital wiring device of claim 56, further comprising at least one programmable instruction, wherein the battery backup mode prevents loss of the at least one programmable instruction.

58. The digital wiring device of claim 57, wherein the battery has a battery life and the disablement of the light extends the battery life.

59. The digital wiring device of claim 56, wherein the light is enabled when the digital wiring device is in the normal power mode.

60. The digital wiring device of claim 56, further comprising a paddle including a window, wherein the light is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display and reveal at least a portion of the digital display through the window of the paddle when the digital wiring device is in the normal power mode and the paddle is pressed by a user.

61. The digital wiring device of claim 56, further comprising a paddle, wherein the light is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display when the digital wiring device is in the normal power mode and the paddle is opened by a user.

62. The digital wiring device of claim 56, further comprising one or more actuators, wherein the light is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the digital display when the digital wiring device is in the normal power mode and responsive to an actuation of the one or more actuators by a user.

63. The digital wiring device of claim 56, wherein the digital wiring device is configured to be mounted in a single-gang electrical box where the single-gang electrical box has nominal dimensions of not greater than three inches by two inches.

64. The digital wiring device of claim 56, wherein the digital wiring device is a digital timer.

65. A method for preserving at least one programmable instruction in the event of a power loss of a digital wiring device mountable in a single-gang electrical gang box, comprising:

detecting a power loss from an electrical supply;

switching a power input of the digital wiring device from a normal power mode to a batter backup mode using power from a battery; and

disabling a light of a digital display.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein disabling the light extends the life of the battery.

67. The method of claim 65, wherein disabling the light of the digital display further comprises disabling the light of the digital display when the digital wiring device is in the battery backup mode.

68. The method of claim 65, further comprising enabling the light of the digital display when the digital wiring device is in the normal power mode.

69. The method of claim 65, further comprising preventing the light from illuminating at least a portion of the digital display when the digital wiring device is in the battery backup mode.

70. The method of claim 65, further comprising illuminating at least a portion of the digital display and revealing at least a portion of the digital display through a window of a paddle when the digital wiring device is in the normal power mode and the paddle is pressed by a user.

71. The method of claim 65, further comprising illuminating at least a portion of the digital display and revealing at least a portion of the digital display when the digital wiring device is in the normal power mode and the paddle is opened by a user.

72. The method of claim 65, further comprising illuminating at least a portion of the digital display when the digital wiring device is in the normal power mode and a user presses one or more actuators of a user interface panel associated with the digital wiring device.

73. The method of claim 65, wherein the device is configured to be mounted in a single-gang electrical box where the single-gang electrical box has nominal dimensions of not greater than three inches by two inches.

74. The method of claim 65, wherein the digital wiring device is a digital timer.