Lutron Electronics Company, Inc.

Jonathan A Barney

Robin C Moseley

Arjuna Karunaratne

Joel S Spira

John Wylie

Arjuna R Karunaratne

A remotely controllable power control system wherein the power supplied to a load may be varied locally via an actuator, positionable through a continuous range, on a wall control or from a remote location using a remote control device not electrically wired to the wall control. The load control system includes a transmitter and a wall control/receiver, each having a control actuator for adjusting the power supplied to the load. Control can be obtained by either the transmitter or the wall control/receiver immediately upon manipulation of either control actuator, with the adjustment in power level occurring substantially instantaneously. Communication between the transmitter and the wall control/receiver is by digitally encoded infrared signal.

Remotely controllable power control system

A circuit and apparatus for sensing the adjustment of a variable impedance device includes an elongated switching element having an alternating series of conductive and non-conductive areas. The conductive areas are electrically connected. As the device is adjusted, a wiper alternately operates the switch between open and closed states. A circuit detects the switch-state change and provides a signal which indicates that the device is being adjusted. The signal can, in turn, determine the output of a dimming circuit, a wireless transmitter, etc., or can determine whether power is provided to a microprocessor or the like. In another embodiment of the invention, a variable impedance device includes an end-of-travel return mechanism.

Variable impedance device and circuit for sensing adjustment thereof

A position-sensing circuit includes an elongated electrically-conductive element divided into two elongated segments. A conductor moves along the element, maintaining electrical contact with at least one of the segments. A first capacitor is connected to the conductor and a second capacitor is connected to one of the segments. When the conductor bridges a gap between the segments, a step-wise change in the time constant of the circuit results. This step-wise change precisely and reproducibly indicates the position of the conductor as being across the gap. The circuit finds particular advantage in a three-way dimming system that permits a remote switch to provide power to a load even if a dimmer that controls the load has been set to provide minimum or no power to the load.

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Whitehall, PA, United States of America

Jonathan A Barney