Lighting control with wireless remote control and programmability

• US 5,909,087 A
• Filed: 03/13/1996
• Issued: 06/01/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Spira, Joel S., Wolbert, Donald J. III, Hakkarainen, Simo Pekka, Bryde, Gary W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, DAVID HUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/614,712
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 359/355, 359/356, 359/362, 359/708, 359/709-719, 315/149, 315/158, 315/321, 315/291, 315/295, 315/315, 315/DIG. 4
• US Class Current: 315/149
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/086 with possibility of remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/088 by wireless means, e.g. infrared transmitting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

A remotely controllable and programmable power control unit for controlling and programming the state and power level, including special functions, of one or more electrical devices. The electrical device can be an electric lamp. The system includes a user-actuatable remote transmitter unit and a user-actuatable power control unit adapted to receive control signals from the remote transmitter unit. Both the remote transmitter unit and the power control unit include a power selection actuator for selecting a desired power level between a minimum power level and a maximum power level, and control switches for generating control signals representative of programmed power levels of one or more power scenes and special functions. In response to an input from a user, either directly or remotely, the one or more devices of the one or more power scenes can be controlled between an on or off state, to a desired programmed preset, or to a maximum power level.

Claims

1. A lens for receiving infrared light, comprising:

a planar infrared light receiving surface,

an infrared light output surface, and

a flat infrared light transmissive body portion connected therebetween,

said output surface having a shape substantially conforming to an input surface of an infrared detector, said flat body portion having external side surfaces substantially conforming to an ellipse, said side surfaces being laterally spaced from a longitudinal axis of said body portion and shaped to reflect infrared light entering said lens input surface and said body portion to said output surface, said output surface directing the infrared light onto said input surface of said infrared detector, said body portion having a thickness which is less than the distance between said input and said output surfaces and further less than the distance between said external side surfaces.

2. A lens according to claim 1, wherein said lens is located on a movable member such that said lens output surface is adjacent to and moves toward and away from the input surface of said infrared detector.