Battery-powered retrofit remote control device
First Claim
1. A remote control device configured to be mounted over an installed light switch, the light switch having a mechanical toggle actuator that extends through a faceplate of the light switch, the toggle actuator configured to control whether power is delivered to an electrical load, the remote control device comprising:
- a rotating portion;
a base portion to which the rotating portion is operably coupled such that the rotating portion is rotatable around the base portion, the base portion configured to receive a portion of the toggle actuator when the remote control device is mounted over the light switch;
a wireless communication circuit; and
a control circuit operably coupled to the rotating portion and communicatively coupled to the wireless communication circuit, the control circuit is configured to translate a force applied to the rotating portion into a control signal that causes an adjustment of an amount of power delivered to the electrical load, and to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit the control signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A remote control device may be configured to be mounted over the toggle actuator of a light switch and to control a load control device via wireless communication. The remote control device may include a base portion and a rotating portion supported by the base portion so as to be rotatable about the base portion. The remote control device may include a control circuit and a wireless communication circuit. The control circuit may be operably coupled to the rotating portion and to the wireless communication circuit. The control circuit may be configured to translate a force applied to the rotating portion of the remote control device into a control signal and to cause the communication circuit to transmit the control signal to the load control device.
97 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A remote control device configured to be mounted over an installed light switch, the light switch having a mechanical toggle actuator that extends through a faceplate of the light switch, the toggle actuator configured to control whether power is delivered to an electrical load, the remote control device comprising:
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a rotating portion; a base portion to which the rotating portion is operably coupled such that the rotating portion is rotatable around the base portion, the base portion configured to receive a portion of the toggle actuator when the remote control device is mounted over the light switch; a wireless communication circuit; and a control circuit operably coupled to the rotating portion and communicatively coupled to the wireless communication circuit, the control circuit is configured to translate a force applied to the rotating portion into a control signal that causes an adjustment of an amount of power delivered to the electrical load, and to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit the control signal. - 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)
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29. A remote control device that is configured to be mounted over an installed light switch, the light switch having a mechanical toggle actuator that controls whether power is delivered to an electrical load, the remote control device comprising:
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a rotating portion; a base portion to which the rotating portion is operably coupled such that the rotating portion is rotatable around the base portion, the base portion configured to receive a portion of the toggle actuator when the remote control device is mounted over the light switch; a rotary encoder circuit that is configured to translate a rotational force applied to the rotating portion into an input signal; a control circuit that is communicatively coupled to the rotary encoder circuit and that is configured to receive the input signal and to generate a control signal based upon the input signal; and a wireless communication circuit communicatively coupled to the control circuit and that is configured to transmit the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A remote control device configured to be mounted over an installed light switch, the installed light switch having a mechanical toggle actuator that controls whether power is delivered to an electrical load, the remote control device comprising:
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an intensity adjustment actuator; a base portion to which the intensity adjustment actuator is operably coupled such that the intensity adjustment actuator is moveable relative to the base portion, the base portion configured to receive a portion of the toggle actuator when the remote control device is mounted over the light switch; a wireless communication circuit; and a control circuit operably coupled to the intensity adjustment actuator and communicatively coupled to the wireless communication circuit, the control circuit configured to translate a force applied to the intensity adjustment actuator into a signal that causes an adjustment of an amount of power delivered to the electrical load, and to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit the signal. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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38. A remote control device configured to be mounted over an installed light switch, the installed light switch having a mechanical toggle actuator that controls whether power is delivered to an electrical load, the remote control device comprising:
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an intensity adjustment actuator; a base portion to which the intensity adjustment actuator is operably coupled such that the intensity adjustment actuator is moveable relative to the base portion, the base portion configured to receive and engage with a portion of the toggle actuator, such that actuation of the toggle actuator is restrained when the remote control device is mounted over the light switch. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. A load control system configured to receive power from an alternating current (AC) power source, the load control system comprising:
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a controllable light source configured to receive an AC line voltage from the AC power source, the controllable light source including a lighting load; and a remote control device that includes; an intensity adjustment actuator; and a base portion to which the intensity adjustment actuator is operably coupled such that the intensity adjustment actuator is movable relative to the base portion, the base portion configured to receive a portion of a toggle actuator of a mechanical switch that controls whether power is delivered from the AC power source to the controllable light source, wherein the remote control device is configured to transmit a signal, via wireless communication, to the controllable light source in response to movement of the intensity adjustment actuator relative to the base portion, and wherein the controllable light source is configured to adjust an amount of power delivered from the AC power source to the lighting load responsive to receipt of the signal. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of retrofitting a load control system for wireless control, the load control system including an installed mechanical switch coupled in series electrical connection between an alternating current (AC) power source and a socket, the mechanical switch having a toggle actuator that is configured to control whether power is delivered from the AC power source to the socket, the method comprising:
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installing a controllable light source in the socket; mounting a remote control device over the mechanical switch such that a base portion of the remote control device receives a portion of the toggle actuator of the mechanical switch, wherein the remote control device includes an intensity adjustment actuator that is operably coupled to the base portion and movable relative to the base portion; and associating the controllable light source and the remote control device with each other, such that the controllable light source is responsive to a signal transmitted to the controllable light source by the remote control device via wireless communication in response to movement of the intensity adjustment actuator. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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Specification