Smart load control device having a rotary actuator

• US 8,427,061 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2012
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Biery, Ethan Charles, Flowers, Maureen E., Knode, Galen Edgar
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US13/474,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20120223656A1
• Time in Patent Office: 341 Days
• Field of Search: 315149-158, 315/291, 315/292, 315/294, 315/297, 315/307, 315/308, 315/312
• US Class Current: 315/149
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/041 the light-intensity of the source H05B39/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/08 by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices in converters H02M5/00; with regulation G05F1/44
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/083 by the variation-rate of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/085 by touch control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3921 with possibility of light intensity variations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprises a rotary actuator, such as a rotary knob or a rotary wheel. The load control device increases and decreases the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to rotations of the rotary knob in first and second directions, respectively. The load control device accelerates the rate of change of the amount of power delivered to the load in response to the angular velocity of the rotary actuator. The load control device generates a ratcheting sound when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction at a high-end intensity of the load control device. The load control device is operable to control the electrical load in response to both actuations of the rotary actuator and digital messages received via a communication link.

Claims

1. A load control device for controlling the intensity of a lighting load powered from an AC power source, the load control device comprising:

a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load;

a controller coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device, the controller operable to control the controllably conductive device to adjust the intensity of the lighting load;

a communication circuit operable to receive digital messages on a communication link, the controller coupled to the communication circuit, such that the controller is operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load in response to the received digital messages; and

a rotary actuator operable to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, the controller responsive to rotations of the rotary actuator to increase the intensity of the lighting load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction and to decrease the intensity of the lighting load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the second direction;

wherein the rotary actuator is continuously rotatable, such that the position of the rotary actuator is not representative of the intensity of the lighting load.

2. The load control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a rotary encoder having a shaft coupled to the rotary actuator and operable to generate one or more control signals in response to the rotations of the rotary actuator, the rotary encoder coupled to the controller, such that the controller is operable to control the intensity of the lighting load in response to the one or more control signals.

3. The load control device of claim 2, wherein the controller is operable determine the direction of rotation of the rotary actuator in response to the one or more control signals.

4. The load control device of claim 2, wherein the rotary encoder includes a switch for generating a toggle control signal, the controller operable to receive the toggle control signal for turning the lighting load on and off when the rotary actuator is pushed in towards the load control device.

5. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the communication circuit is further operable to transmit digital messages on the communication link.

6. The load control device of claim 5, wherein the communication circuit comprises an RF transceiver operable to transmit and receive digital messages on an RF communication link.

7. The load control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a screw-in base adapted to be screwed into a standard Edison socket to allow for connection to the AC power source; and

a socket portion adapted to be connected to the lighting load.

8. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to adjust the intensity of the lighting load between a minimum intensity and a maximum intensity.

9. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary knob adapted to be rotated such that the first direction is clockwise and the second direction is counter-clockwise.

10. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary wheel.

11. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to avoid discontinuities in the adjustment of the intensity of the lighting load in response to actuations of the rotary actuator, the rotary actuator operable to continue to rotate when the intensity of the lighting load is at the maximum intensity.

12. A load control system for controlling the intensity of a lighting load powered from an AC power source, the load control system comprising:

a load control device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the lighting load for controlling the lighting load, the load control device operable to receive digital messages via a communication link, and to adjust the intensity of the lighting load in response to the received digital messages, the load control device comprising a rotary actuator operable to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, the load control device operable to increase the intensity of the lighting load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction and to decrease the intensity of the lighting load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the second direction;

wherein the rotary actuator is continuously rotatable, such that the position of the rotary actuator is not representative of the intensity of the lighting load.

13. The load control system of claim 12, wherein the load control device is operable to control the amount of power delivered to the lighting load in order to adjust an intensity of the lighting load between a minimum intensity and a maximum intensity, the load control device operable to avoid discontinuities in the adjustment of the intensity of the lighting load in response to actuations of the rotary actuator, the rotary actuator operable to continue to rotate when the intensity of the lighting load is at the maximum intensity.

14. The load control system of claim 13, wherein the load control device comprises a screw-in lamp control module adapted to be screwed into a standard Edison socket to allow for connection to the AC power source and having a socket portion adapted to be connected to the lighting load.

15. The load control system of claim 13, wherein the load control device comprises a wall-mounted dimmer.

16. The load control system of claim 12, wherein the communication link comprises an RF communication link.

17. The load control system of claim 16, further comprising:

a keypad comprising at least one button, and operable to wirelessly transmit digital messages on the RF communication link in response to actuations of the button.

18. The load control system of claim 12, wherein the load control device comprises a rotary encoder having a shaft coupled to the rotary actuator and operable to generate one or more control signals in response to the rotations of the rotary actuator, the load control device operable to control the intensity of the lighting load in response to the one or more control signals.

19. The load control system of claim 12, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary knob adapted to be rotated such that the first direction is clockwise and the second direction is counter-clockwise.

20. The load control system of claim 12, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a rotary wheel.