Electrical wiring device for lighting control
First Claim
1. A power control device for use in an electrical distribution system that includes at least one electrical load, the device comprising:
- a housing assembly including a plurality of terminals configured to couple the device to the electrical distribution system and a circuit assembly coupled to the plurality of terminals, the circuit assembly including a set of electrical contacts movable between a first position and a second position, the circuit assembly further comprising a power regulation circuit coupled to the set of electrical contacts, the power regulation circuit being configured to control an amount of power provided to the at least one electrical load;
a heat sink coupled to the housing assembly, the heat sink being configured to dissipate thermal energy generated by the circuit assembly, the heat sink further comprising a major surface including a plurality of frame connection apertures;
a rocker switch mechanism including a switch actuator member configured to actuate the set of electrical contacts between the first position and the second position, the switch actuator member having a first axis of rotation in or below the major surface;
a dimmer actuator configured to adjust the power regulation circuit; and
an interchangeable user interface assembly including a frame member having a plurality of connector elements configured to mate with the plurality of frame connection apertures to thereby connect the frame member to the heat sink, the frame member being removable from the heat sink without any tools, the interchangeable user interface assembly including an interface paddle rotatably coupled to the frame member and detached relative to the rocker switch mechanism such that the interface paddle slidably moves relative to the rocker switch mechanism with at least one degree of freedom during a rotational movement, the user interface assembly further including an interface dimmer movably disposed within the frame member and coupled to the dimmer actuator.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to a power control device. The device includes an interchangeable user interface assembly includes a frame member having a plurality of connector elements configured to mate with a plurality of frame connection apertures. The frame member is removable from the device heat sink without any tools. The interchangeable user interface assembly includes an interface paddle rotatably coupled to the frame member and detached relative to the device'"'"'s rocker switch such that the interface paddle slidably moves relative to the rocker switch with at least one degree of freedom during a rotational movement, the user interface assembly further including an interface dimmer movably disposed within the frame member and coupled to the device'"'"'s dimmer actuator.
55 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A power control device for use in an electrical distribution system that includes at least one electrical load, the device comprising:
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a housing assembly including a plurality of terminals configured to couple the device to the electrical distribution system and a circuit assembly coupled to the plurality of terminals, the circuit assembly including a set of electrical contacts movable between a first position and a second position, the circuit assembly further comprising a power regulation circuit coupled to the set of electrical contacts, the power regulation circuit being configured to control an amount of power provided to the at least one electrical load; a heat sink coupled to the housing assembly, the heat sink being configured to dissipate thermal energy generated by the circuit assembly, the heat sink further comprising a major surface including a plurality of frame connection apertures; a rocker switch mechanism including a switch actuator member configured to actuate the set of electrical contacts between the first position and the second position, the switch actuator member having a first axis of rotation in or below the major surface; a dimmer actuator configured to adjust the power regulation circuit; and an interchangeable user interface assembly including a frame member having a plurality of connector elements configured to mate with the plurality of frame connection apertures to thereby connect the frame member to the heat sink, the frame member being removable from the heat sink without any tools, the interchangeable user interface assembly including an interface paddle rotatably coupled to the frame member and detached relative to the rocker switch mechanism such that the interface paddle slidably moves relative to the rocker switch mechanism with at least one degree of freedom during a rotational movement, the user interface assembly further including an interface dimmer movably disposed within the frame member and coupled to the dimmer actuator. - 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, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A power control device for use in an electrical distribution system that includes at least one electrical load, the device comprising:
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a housing assembly including a plurality of terminals configured to couple the device to the electrical distribution system and a circuit assembly coupled to the plurality of terminals, the circuit assembly including a set of electrical contacts movable between a first position and a second position, the circuit assembly further comprising a power regulation circuit coupled to the set of electrical contacts, the power regulation circuit being configured to control an amount of power provided to the at least one electrical load; a heat sink coupled to the housing assembly, the heat sink having a major surface configured to dissipate thermal energy generated by the circuit assembly, the major surface including a plurality of frame connection apertures; a rocker switch mechanism including a switch actuator member configured to actuate the set of electrical contacts between the first position and the second position, the switch actuator member having a first axis of rotation within the housing assembly and under the heat sink; a dimmer actuator configured to adjust the power regulation circuit, the dimmer actuator including a dimmer registration feature; and an interchangeable user interface assembly including a frame member having a plurality of connector elements configured to mate with the plurality of frame connection apertures, the frame member being removable from the heat sink without any tools, the interchangeable user interface assembly including an interface paddle rotatably coupled to the frame member with a second axis of rotation offset from the first axis of rotation such that the interface paddle is disposed over the rocker switch mechanism but detached therefrom, the interface paddle being slidably movable relative to the rocker switch mechanism during rocker switch actuation, the user interface assembly further including an interface dimmer movably disposed within the frame member and coupled to the dimmer actuator via the dimmer registration feature. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification