Location independent dimmer switch for use in multiple location switch system, and switch system employing same
First Claim
1. A wall mountable dimmer switch for controlling the level of AC power delivered from an AC source to a load in a lighting control circuit having N switch locations each for receiving a device for controlling the load, where N is at least 3, the N switch locations being interconnected by AC wiring which is subjected to AC line voltage and at least one line being an AC load current carrying line, comprising:
- a) a dimming circuit and hookup wires for connecting the dimmer switch to the AC wiring at one of the N locations; and
,b) auxiliary circuitry connected to the dimming circuit enabling remote devices wired to the AC wiring at the remaining ones of the N locations, and the dimmer switch, to control the load irrespective of which one of the N locations wherein the dimmer switch is wired to the AC wiring.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wall mountable dimmer switch for controlling the level of AC power delivered to a load, such as a lighting load. The switch is capable of being used as a single pole, three-way or four-way dimmer switch. The switch is responsive to signals supplied by auxiliary devices to increase, decrease or toggle on/off the power delivered to the load irrespective of the location of the switch when it is used in a multiple location switching system, and irrespective of the wiring of its hot and dimmed leads.
144 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A wall mountable dimmer switch for controlling the level of AC power delivered from an AC source to a load in a lighting control circuit having N switch locations each for receiving a device for controlling the load, where N is at least 3, the N switch locations being interconnected by AC wiring which is subjected to AC line voltage and at least one line being an AC load current carrying line, comprising:
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a) a dimming circuit and hookup wires for connecting the dimmer switch to the AC wiring at one of the N locations; and
,b) auxiliary circuitry connected to the dimming circuit enabling remote devices wired to the AC wiring at the remaining ones of the N locations, and the dimmer switch, to control the load irrespective of which one of the N locations wherein the dimmer switch is wired to the AC wiring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A lighting control system for controlling the level of AC power delivered from an AC source to a load from a plurality, N, of locations, where N is at least 2, comprising:
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a) a wall mountable microprocessor based dimmer switch for installation at one of the N locations and comprising three hookup wires for connection to AC wiring interconnecting the N locations, the AC wiring being subjected to AC line voltage and at least one line being an AC load current carrying line, a pair of the hookup wires being for connection to the AC wiring so as to define a portion of said AC load current carrying line, the third hookup wire defining a control wire for receiving commands to be communicated to the microprocessor, the microprocessor being responsive to actuation of one or more user actuatable switches located at the dimmer switch and to receipt of commands communicated as control signals over the control wire to control the load, including to alter the level of power delivered to the load; and
,b) N-1 wall mountable remote devices for installation at the remaining N-1 ones of the N locations, the remote devices generating, in circuit operation, the commands in response to actuation of user actuatable switches located at each of the remote devices, each remote device comprising at least one hookup wire for wiring to the AC wiring which defines a portion of said AC load current carrying line and another hookup wire for wiring to the AC wiring to communicate the commands as said control signals thereover to the dimmer switch; the dimmer switch comprising enabling means for enabling the load to be controlled by any of the devices at any of the N locations irrespective of the manner in which the pair of hookup wires of the dimmer switch is connected to the AC wiring to define said portion of the AC load current carrying line. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A lighting control system comprising:
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a) a wall mountable dimmer switch for connection to AC wiring interconnecting an AC source, a load and a plurality N of switch locations, where N is at least 3, the AC wiring having an AC load current carrying line, the dimmer switch having dimming circuitry for controlling a level of power to be delivered from the AC source to the load; and
,b) a plurality N-1 of wall mountable remote devices for connection to the AC wiring for controlling the dimmer switch, one of the remote devices being connectable to the AC wiring at a first switch location that is electrically closest to the AC source, and another one of the remote devices being connectable to the AC wiring at an Nth switch location that is electrically closest to the load, the dimmer switch being connectable at a switch location electrically intermediate the first and Nth switch locations; the dimmer switch comprising enabling means enabling the dimmer switch and all remote devices to be operative to control the load from any of the N switch locations. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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- 30. A wall mountable dimmer switch comprising an electronic dimming circuit, at least one user actuatable switch for adjusting the level of power delivered from an AC source to a load, and receiving and processing means for receiving and processing control signals generated from remote devices coupled to a lighting control circuit in which the dimmer switch is adapted to be disposed, the dimmer switch, when installed in the lighting control circuit, having a source side and a load side, the receiving and processing means further receiving and processing an indication of the polarity of the AC source, the receiving and processing means being responsive to control signals generated by remote devices on the source side and to the polarity indication to provide a first arrangement of data signals to the dimming circuit, and being responsive to control signals generated by remote devices on the load side and to the polarity indication to provide a second arrangement of data signals to the dimming circuit, the dimming circuit being responsive to the data signals to either increase or decrease a level of power delivered to the load, or to turn the load on or off, based upon the arrangements of the data signals.
- 34. A wall mountable dimmer switch for wiring to one of N switching locations of a lighting control system, where N is at least 3, the dimmer switch comprising an electronic dimming circuit adapted for connection to AC wiring interconnecting an AC source, a plurality N of switch locations and a load, the dimming circuit having means for receiving command information over said AC wiring from remote devices adapted to be disposed at the remaining ones of the N locations, the dimming circuit being responsive to actuation of a user actuatable switch on the dimmer switch, and to the command information received from a remote device, to adjust the level of power delivered to a load, irrespective of which one of the N locations wherein the dimmer switch is connected to the AC wiring.
Specification