Multi-scene preset lighting controller

• US 6,545,434 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• 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:
  US10/004,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20020060530A1
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 315/312, 315/291, 315/294, 315/307, 315/308, 315/DIG.4, 315/316-319, 315/292, 315/158, 315/149, 359/152, 359/154, 359/180, 359/189, 174/48, 174/49
• US Class Current: 315/312
• 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 a 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 non-transitory 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 wallbox mountable lighting control device, comprising:

a. a plurality of lighting preset actuators;

b. an optically transparent backcover; and

c. a radiation output device capable of outputting an IR signal within said wallbox relating to the actuation of at least one of said preset actuators;

said radiation output device located interiorly of said backcover and oriented to transmit said IR signal through said backcover to be received exteriorly thereof.

2. The lighting control device of claim 1, wherein said radiation output device is an IR light emitting diode.

3. The lighting control device of claim 1, further comprising a radiation receiver for receiving IR signals, said radiation receiver being located within a second optically transparent backcover for receipt of the IR signal from said IR output device interiorly of said second backcover.

4. An electrical load control system comprising:

at least one dimmer control comprising an infrared input device for receiving an infrared control signal, the at least one dimmer control responsive to an infrared control signal for controlling power to be delivered to a load, the at least one dimmer control further comprising an optically clear backcover adapted to be received within a wallbox, the radiation input device being positioned interiorly of the backcover for receiving the infrared control signal through the backcover from exteriorly of the backcover;

an infrared output device capable of generating the infrared control signal, the infrared output device supported in light communication with the exterior of the backcover of the at least one dimmer control; and

a master control electrically connected to the infrared output device for transmitting an electrical command signal to the infrared output device, the infrared output device responsive to the electrical command signal to generate the infrared control signal.

5. The electrical load control system according to claim 4 wherein the master control further comprises an optically clear backcover adapted to be received in the wallbox, the infrared output device being positioned interiorly of the master control backcover in light communication therewith for transmitting the infrared signal to the interior of the wallbox through the masts control backcover.

6. The electrical load control system according to claim 4 wherein the master control is located in a first wallbox and the infrared output device and the at least one dimmer control are located in a separate second wallbox, and wherein the electrical control system further comprises an elongated electrical conductor for conveying the electrical command signal, the electrical conductor having a first end electrically connected to the master control of the first wallbox and an opposite second end electrically connected to the infrared output device of the second wallbox, the infrared output device in light communication with the exterior of the dimmer backcover.

7. The electrical load control system according to claim 6 wherein the electrical conductor comprises an electrical cable having at least one conductive wire.

8. The electrical load control system according to claim 4 wherein the infrared output device comprises at least one LED.

9. The electrical load control system according to claim 8 wherein the infrared output device includes a pair of LEDs, the LEDs being oppositely directed with respect to one another to provide for broadcast of the infrared signal from the infrared output device in opposite directions within the wallbox.

10. The electrical load control system according to claim 4 wherein the master control and the infrared output device are located in a first wallbox and the at least one dimmer control is located in a separate second wallbox, and wherein the electrical load control system further comprises an elongated infrared conductor for conveying the infrared signal, the infrared conductor having a first end in light communication with the infrared output device of the first wallbox and an opposite second end in light communication with the exterior of the backcover of the at least one dimmer control of the second wallbox.

11. The electrical load control system according to claim 10 wherein the infrared conductor comprises a length of flexible tube.

12. The electrical load control system according to claim 10 wherein the infrared conductor comprises a fiber optic cable.