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Load control device having a compact antenna

  • US 7,834,817 B2
  • Filed: 06/24/2009
  • Issued: 11/16/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A load control device for controlling the power delivered to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

  • a controllably conductive device for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load, the controllably conductive device having a control input;

    a controller coupled to the control input of the controllably conductive device for control of the controllably conductive device;

    a transmitter and/or a receiver in communication with the controller;

    a substantially-planar mounting yoke adapted to receive a traditional-style faceplate mounted thereto;

    an actuator button for providing an input to the controller, the actuator button mounted relative to the yoke, such that the actuator button is adapted to extend through an opening of the traditional-style faceplate when the faceplate is attached to the yoke; and

    an antenna coupled to the transmitter and/or receiver, the antenna adapted to receive a first signal at a specified frequency from a remote control device and/or transmit a second signal at a specified frequency to a remote control device, the receiver operable to couple the first signal from the antenna to the controller for remotely controlling the controllably conductive device, and/or the transmitter operable to couple the second signal from the controller to the antenna, the antenna comprising;

    a printed circuit board having first and second sides disposed in a plane perpendicular to the mounting yoke;

    a first loop of conductive material having a capacitance and an inductance, the capacitance and the inductance forming a circuit resonant at the specified frequency, the first loop formed on the first side of the printed circuit board; and

    a second loop of conductive material having two ends adapted to be electrically coupled to the transmitter and/or receiver, the second loop formed on one of the sides of the printed circuit board and magnetically coupled to the first loop;

    wherein the antenna is positioned inside and behind the actuator button and is adapted to extend through the opening of the faceplate beyond the front surface of the faceplate when the faceplate is attached to the mounting yoke.

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