Apparatus and method for displaying operating characteristics on status indicators

• US 7,312,695 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2005
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Dobbins, Aaron, Lehmer, Matthew J., Boring, Nathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Haissa
• Application Number:
  US11/191,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20060272569A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 315/129, 315131-133, 315/291, 315/294, 315/297, 315/153, 315/315, 315/DIG.4, 340/426.12, 340/426.15, 340/425.5, 340/438, 323/318, 116/200, 116/202, 116/204
• US Class Current: 340/426.15
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/302 characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/04 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

A user interface for a load control device allows a user to control an operating characteristic of a load to a plurality of discrete levels. The user interface comprises an adjustment member for allowing the user to select one of the discrete levels and a linear array of status indicators for displaying the discrete level. The number of discrete levels is greater than the number of status indicators. According to a first embodiment of the present invention, either one status indicator or two consecutive status indicators are illuminated to indicate the presently selected discrete level. According to a second embodiment, a fully illuminated status indicator is surrounded by two dimly illuminated status indicators to indicate the presently selected discrete level. According to a third embodiment, a single status indicator may be illuminated to indicate one or more of the discrete levels.

Claims

1. A user interface for a load control device for allowing a user to control an operating characteristic of a load to a plurality M of discrete levels, comprising:

an adjustment member for allowing the user to select one of the M discrete levels; and

a plurality N of illuminable status indicators arranged in a linear array for indicating a presently selected discrete level L of the M discrete levels,

the number M greater than the number N and equal to (2*N—

1),

each of the M discrete levels indicated by a unique combination of illuminated status indicators selected from the group consisting of one illuminated status indicator and two consecutive illuminated status indicators;

wherein one status indicator X₁ is illuminated to indicate the discrete level L if L is odd, where X₁ equals ((L+1)/2), and two consecutive status indicators X₂ and X₃ are simultaneously illuminated to indicate the discrete level L if L is even, where X₂ equals (L/2) and X₃ equals (L/2+1).

2. A method for indicating a presently selected discrete level L of a plurality M of discrete levels on a plurality N of illuminable status indicators arranged in a linear array, the number M greater than the number N and equal to (2*N−

1), the method comprising the steps of;

illuminating one status indicator X₁ if the presently selected discrete level L is odd, where X₁ equals ((L+1)/2); and

simultaneously illuminating two consecutive status indicators X₂ and X₃ if the presently selected discrete level L is even, where X₂ equals (L/2+1).

3. A method for indicating a presently selected discrete level L of a plurality M of discrete levels on a plurality N of illuminable status indicators arranged in a linear array, the number M greater than the number N, the method comprising the step of:

illuminating one status indicator X to indicate a plurality K of discrete levels, such that X equals FLOOR[{L+2*(K−

1)}/K] and 2≦

K≦

3;

wherein M equals (K*(N−

2)+2).

4. A user interface for a load control device for allowing a user to control an operating characteristic of a load to a plurality M of discrete levels, comprising:

an adjustment member for allowing the user to select one of the M discrete levels; and

a plurality N of illuminable status indicators for indicating a presently selected discrete level L of the M discrete levels, the N status indicators arranged in a linear array;

wherein the number M is greater than the number N; and

wherein first, second, and third consecutive status indicators X₁, X₂, X₃ are illuminated to indicate the discrete level L.

5. The user interface of claim 4, wherein the first consecutive status indicator X₁ and the third consecutive status indicator X₃ are illuminated to a dim level.

6. The user interface of claim 4, wherein M equals (N+2).

7. The user interface of claim 4, wherein to indicate the discrete level L for 1≦

l≦

M,

X₁ equals (L−

2) and is illuminated if and only if 1≦

X₁≦

N;

X₂ equals (L−

1) and is illuminated if and only if 1≦

X₂≦

N; and

X₃ equals L and is illuminated if and only if 1≦

X₃≦

N.

8. A user interface for a load control device for allowing a user to control an operating characteristic of a load to a plurality M of discrete levels, comprising:

an adjustment member for allowing the user to select one of the M discrete levels; and

a plurality N of illuminable status indicators for indicating a presently selected discrete level L of the M discrete levels, the N status indicators arranged in a linear array;

wherein

the number M is greater than the number N;

one status indicator X is illuminated to indicate a plurality K of discrete levels with2≦

K≦

3;

M equals (K*(N−

2)+2); and

to indicate the discrete level L, X equals FLOOR[{L+2*(K−

1)}/K].

9. A method for indicating a presently selected discrete level L of a plurality M of discrete levels on a plurality N of illuminable status indicators arranged in a linear array, the number M greater than the number N, the method comprising the step of:

illuminating first, second, and third consecutive status indicators X₁, X₂, X₃ to indicate the discrete level L.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of illuminating comprises:

illuminating the second consecutive status indicator X₂ to a full level; and

illuminating the first consecutive status indicator X₁ and the third consecutive status indicator X₃ to a dim level, the dim level having an intensity substantially less than the full level.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein M equals (N+2).

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of illuminating comprises:

illuminating the first consecutive status indicator X₁, such that X₁ equals (L−

2), if and only if 1≦

X₁≦

N;

illuminating the second consecutive status indicator X₂, such that X₂ equals (L−

1), if and only if 1≦

X₂≦

N; and

illuminating the third consecutive status indicator X₃, such that X₃ equals L, if and only if 1≦

X₃≦

N;

wherein 1≦

L≦

M.