Multi-scene preset lighting controller

• US 6,380,696 B1
• Filed: 12/24/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Salvestrini, Christopher J., Jacoby, Elliot G. Jr., Sembhi, Tarvinder S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alemu, Ephrem
• Application Number:
  US09/220,632
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/294, 315/297, 315/308, 315/312, 315/314, 315/316, 315/317, 315/DIG.4, 315/292, 315/321, 359/356, 359/362, 359/709-719
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/086 with possibility of remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps

Abstract

A lighting control device for controlling the light intensity level of at least one lamp. The device is capable of storing preset light intensity levels in a memory. The method for storing the preset light intensity levels is simple and straight forward. The user adjusts the desired light intensity level using an intensity selector and then presses and holds a preset actuator for a nontransitory period of time to store the light intensity level into memory. A master control is capable of outputting control signals to adjacent lighting control devices located in the same wallbox through infrared signals or to lighting control devices located in a spaced wallbox through a flexible cable. The end of the flexible cable does not require connection to the wires of the lighting control devices in the spaced wallbox.

Claims

1. A method for storing and recalling a preset light intensity level in a wall mountable dimming system that includes a user adjustable intensity selector, a preset actuator spaced apart from said intensity selectors and a memory, comprising the steps of:

a. adjusting said intensity selector to achieve a desired light intensity level;

b. actuating said preset actuator for a non-transitory period of time after said desired light level has been selected to store said desired intensity level as said preset light intensity level in said memory; and

c. actuating said preset actuator for a transitory period of time, to recall said stored intensity level.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting said intensity selector to achieve a desired light intensity level is achieved through the actuation of a raise and lower actuator.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting said intensity selector to achieve a desired light intensity level is achieved through the actuation of a cycle actuator.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting said intensity selector to achieve a desired light intensity level is achieved through the actuation of a linear slide potentiometer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuation of said preset actuator for said non-transitory period of time simultaneously stores a plurality of preset light intensity levels for a plurality of intensity selectors.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating said preset actuator in handheld wireless transmitter.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating said preset actuator in a wall mountable device.

8. The method of claims 1, wherein said non-transitory period of time is greater than 1 second.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said non-transitory period of time is greater than 2 seconds.

10. A lighting control system for controlling the light intensity of at least one lamp, comprising:

a. a wallbox dimmer including;

a user actuatable intensity selector for selecting a desired light intensity level,

a memory for storing said light intensity level, and

an IR receiver, and

b. a transmitter including a preset actuator for causing said desired intensity level to be stored in said memory when said preset actuator is actuated for a non-transitory period of time after said desired light level has been selected and for causing said stored intensity level to be recalled when said preset actuator is actuated for a transitory period of time.

11. The lighting control system of claim 10, further comprising a faceplate that when installed allows access to said intensity selector.

12. The lighting control system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of intensity selectors.

13. The lighting control system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of preset actuators.

14. The lighting control system of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of preset actuators and a plurality of intensity selectors.