WIRELESS CONTROL DEVICE HAVING A FACEPLATE WITH ILLUMINATED INDICIA

• US 20170102493A1
• Filed: 10/07/2016
• Published: 04/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Vinokurov, Dmitriy, Shivell, William Taylor, McDonald, Matthew Philip, Gage, Alexander Wade, Simchayoff, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 10,782,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/005 the substrate is supporting also the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/44 Electric circuits for command of an exposure part G03B7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/24 Use of specially adapted circuits, e.g. bridge circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0083 Details of electrical connections of light sources to drivers, circuit boards, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/04 portable; hand held
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 13/10 Resonant slot antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• 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 control device may include a removable faceplate, a planar printed circuit board (PCB), a structure located between the faceplate and the PCB, one or more LEDs (e.g., side firing LEDs) mounted to the PCB, and a light-guiding component. The structure may include an antenna configured to transmit or receive radio frequency signals. The faceplate may be configured to be mounted to the control device, and may include a light-conductive body and an opaque material provided on a front surface of the faceplate. At least one indicia may be engraved in the opaque material. The light-guiding component may include a planar portion and a curved portion. The planar portion may be located between the faceplate and the structure. The curved portion may extend between the LEDs on the printed circuit board and the planar portion to transmit light generated by the LEDs to the faceplate to illuminate the indicia.

Claims

1. A control device comprising:

a planar front surface comprising at least one indicia;

a planar printed circuit board;

a structure located between the front surface and the printed circuit board;

one or more LEDs mounted to the printed circuit board; and

a light-guiding component comprising a planar portion and a curved portion, the planar portion located between the front surface and the structure, and the curved portion extending between the LEDs on the printed circuit board and the planar portion, the light-guiding component configured to transmit light generated by the LEDs to the front surface to illuminate the indicia.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the planar portion of the light-guiding component comprises a distal end opposite the curved portion, the distal end configured to illuminate the front surface beyond the distal end.

3. The control device of claim 2, wherein the indicia is configured to extend from a first position on the front surface adjacent the curved portion to a second position on the front surface beyond the distal end of the light-guiding component, the distal end configured to illuminate the indicia located beyond the distal end of the light-guiding component.

4. The control device of claim 2, wherein the at least one indicia comprises a plurality of indicia arranged within a first area on the front surface, the planar portion of the light-guiding component defining a second area arranged such that an orthogonal projection of the second area onto the first area of the front surface is encompassed by the first area.

5. The control device of claim 2, wherein the distal end is curved or beveled to illuminate the front surface beyond the distal end.

6. The control device of claim 1, wherein the curved portion of the light-guiding component comprises a rear curved surface configured to reflect light emitted by the LEDs towards the front surface of the control device, and a front curved surface configured to reflect light away from the front surface and towards the planar portion of the light-guiding component.

7. The control device of claim 6, wherein the curved portion of the light-guiding component comprises one or more protrusions extending from a rear surface of the light-guiding component and substantially aligned with the one or more side-firing LEDs mounted to the printed circuit board.

8. The control device of claim 7, wherein the structure comprises one or more openings configured to be substantially aligned with the one or more LEDs, the one or more protrusions extending through the one or more openings of the structure.

9. The control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a faceplate adapted to be mounted to the control device, the faceplate defining the front surface of the control device.

10. The control device of claim 9, wherein the faceplate comprises a light-conductive body and opaque material provided on a front surface of the faceplate, and the indicia is engraved in the opaque material so as to be illuminated by the light transmitted by the light-guiding component to the front surface of the control device.

11. The control device of claim 1, wherein the light-guiding component comprises a plurality of ridges on a top surface of the light-guiding component, the plurality of ridges configured to disperse light generated by the one or more LEDs towards the front surface of the control device with substantial uniformity.

12. The control device of claim 1, wherein the light-guiding component comprises a dot pattern printed on a rear surface of the light-guiding component, the dot pattern comprising a plurality of dots configured to disperse light generated by the one or more LEDs towards the front surface of the control device with substantial uniformity.

13. The control device of claim 1, wherein the structure is painted a reflective color.

14. The control device of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises:

an antenna configured to transmit or receive radio frequency signals, wherein the antenna comprises a planar driven element located between the light-guiding component and the PCB; and

a radio-frequency communication circuit mounted to the printed circuit board configured to transmit or receive the radio-frequency signals via the antenna.

15. The control device of claim 1, wherein the one or more LEDs comprise one or more side firing LEDs.

16. A wall-mountable wireless control device comprising:

a yoke configured to mount the wireless control device to an electrical wallbox;

a user interface configured to receive a user input;

a bezel configured to be attached to the yoke, the user interface provided through the bezel;

one or more LEDs mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB);

a light-guiding component, the light-guiding component configured to control the transmission of light generated by the one or more LEDs, and the light-guiding component comprising a curved end portion and a plurality of ridges on a surface of the light-guiding component;

an antenna configured to transmit or receive radio frequency signals, wherein the antenna comprises a driven element configured to be located between the light-guiding component and the PCB;

a radio-frequency communication circuit configured to transmit or receive the radio-frequency signals via the antenna; and

a control circuit responsive to the user input and the radio-frequency communication circuit.

17. The wireless control device of claim 16, wherein the light-guiding component further comprises a beveled or curved end portion.

18. The wireless control device of claim 16, wherein the light-guiding component is configured to be attached to the front surface of the bezel.

19. The wireless control device of claim 16, wherein the light-guiding component further comprises one or more protrusions on the back surface of the light-guiding component.

20. The wireless control device of claim 19, wherein the one or more LEDs are configured to be substantially aligned with the one or more protrusions when the light-guiding component is installed in the wireless control device.

21. The wireless control device of claim 16, wherein the plurality of ridges are configured to disperse light generated by the one or more LEDs with substantial uniformity.

22. The wireless control device of claim 16, further comprising:

a faceplate configured to receive the user interface, the faceplate comprising a light-conductive body, and the light-guiding component configured to be located between the faceplate and the driven element.

23. The wireless control device of claim 16, wherein the driven element comprises one or more openings configured to be substantially aligned with the one or more LEDs.

24. The wireless control device of claim 20, wherein the driven element comprises one or more openings configured to be substantially aligned with the one or more protrusions of the light-guiding component.

25. The wireless control device of claim 24, wherein the one or more protrusions of the light-guiding component are configured to extend through the one or more openings of the driven element.

26. The wireless control device of claim 16, wherein the one or more LEDs comprise one or more side firing LEDs.

27. A control device comprising:

a removable faceplate configured to be mounted to the control device, the faceplate comprising a light-conductive body and an opaque material provided on a front surface of the faceplate, wherein at least one indicia is engraved in the opaque material;

a planar printed circuit board;

a structure located between the faceplate and the printed circuit board;

one or more LEDs mounted to the printed circuit board; and

a light-guiding component comprising a planar portion and a curved portion, the planar portion located between the faceplate and the structure, and the curved portion extending between the LEDs on the printed circuit board and the planar portion, the light-guiding component configured to transmit light generated by the LEDs to the faceplate to illuminate the indicia.