Load control device having a visual indication of energy savings and usage information
First Claim
1. A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:
- a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the lighting load for controlling the intensity of the lighting load;
an intensity adjustment actuator operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device, such that the controllably conductive device is operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load between a low-end intensity and a high-end intensity in response to actuations of the intensity adjustment actuator; and
a visual display operable to be illuminated in a first manner when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to a predetermined eco-level intensity, and in a second manner when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the predetermined eco-level intensity, the predetermined eco-level intensity being greater than 75% of a maximum possible intensity of the lighting load.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to and thus the intensity of a lighting load comprises a visual display operable to provide a visual indication representative of energy savings and usage information. The visual display may comprise a single visual indicator or a linear array of visual indicators. The visual display is illuminated in a first manner when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to a predetermined eco-level intensity, and is illuminated in a second manner when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the eco-level intensity. For example, the single visual indicator may be illuminated a first color, such as green, when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to the eco-level intensity, and illuminated a second different color, such as red, when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the eco-level intensity.
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Citations
54 Claims
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1. A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the lighting load for controlling the intensity of the lighting load; an intensity adjustment actuator operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device, such that the controllably conductive device is operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load between a low-end intensity and a high-end intensity in response to actuations of the intensity adjustment actuator; and a visual display operable to be illuminated in a first manner when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to a predetermined eco-level intensity, and in a second manner when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the predetermined eco-level intensity, the predetermined eco-level intensity being greater than 75% of a maximum possible intensity of the lighting load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the lighting load for controlling the intensity of the lighting load; a timing circuit coupled in parallel electrical connection with the controllably conductive device, the timing circuit coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive in response to a timing voltage generated by the timing circuit, such that the intensity of the lighting load is adjusted between a low-end intensity and a high-end intensity; and a visual indicator operable to be illuminated a first color when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to a predetermined eco-level intensity, and a second color different than the first color when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the predetermined eco-level intensity, the predetermined eco-level intensity being greater than 75% of a maximum possible intensity of the lighting load. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method of providing feedback on a dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising an intensity adjustment actuator and a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the lighting load and responsive to the intensity adjustment actuator for controlling the intensity of the lighting load, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a visual display on the dimmer switch; adjusting the intensity of the lighting load between a low-end intensity and a high-end intensity in response to actuations of the intensity adjustment actuator; illuminating the visual display in a first manner when the amount of power being delivered to the load is less than or equal to a predetermined eco-level intensity; and illuminating the visual display in a second manner when the amount of power being delivered to the load is greater than the eco-level intensity; wherein the predetermined eco-level intensity is greater than 75% of a maximum possible intensity of the lighting load. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load for controlling the amount of power delivered to the load; an adjustment actuator operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device, such that the controllably conductive device is operable to adjust the amount of power delivered to the load between a low-end level and a high-end level in response to actuations of the adjustment actuator; and a visual display operable to be illuminated a first color when the amount of power delivered to the load is less than or equal to a predetermined level, and a second color different than the first color when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the predetermined level, the predetermined level intensity being 85% of a maximum possible amount of power that may be delivered by the source to the load.
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50. A lighting control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:
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a lighting control device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the lighting load for controlling the intensity of the lighting load; and a remote control having an intensity adjustment actuator and a visual display, the lighting control device operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load between a low-end intensity and a high-end intensity in response to actuations of the intensity adjustment actuator; wherein the remote control illuminates the visual display in a first manner when the intensity of the lighting load is less than or equal to a predetermined eco-level intensity, and in a second manner when the intensity of the lighting load is greater than the predetermined eco-level intensity, the predetermined eco-level intensity being greater than 75% of a maximum possible intensity of the lighting load. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification