Lutron Electronics Company, Inc.

Michael J Rowen

Joel S Spira

Michael J D'Aleo

Jonathan H Ference

David G Luchaco

Denis P Darragh

Richard J Kwiatkowski

Stephen J Yuhasz

David L Buehler

Elliot G Jacoby

Robert Charles Newman

Darryl W Tucker

John E Longenderfer

Russell J Jacobs

John T Graef

Steven M Blonstein

James R Graybill

A wall-mountable system for controlling electrical power to a load includes a switch and a dimmer, with the switch actuator being substantially larger than the dimmer actuator. Preferably, the switch is a short-throw, light-force switch and the dimmer is a linear slide dimmer. Another embodiment of the invention provides a wallbox-mountable, pushbutton-actuated electrical control device in which the pushbutton is resiliently supported on the device support.

Wall-mountable switch & dimmer

A system controls electrical power to multiple loads from both a central location and from local three-way controls. In one embodiment, the system includes means for sensing the power to each load. That sensing capability, in turn, permits the master to set all loads to the same power level, simultaneously, regardless of their original level. The local controls may be standard three-way dimmers or switches.

Master electrical load control system

Combined dimmer control and faceplate

Combined switch and face plate

A system to control power from a source to a load consists of a cover plate, a touch-operable device that is mounted behind a flexible area on the cover plate, and a power control circuit that responds in accordance with a signal generated by the touch-operable device. The system is operated by touching a point within the flexible area of the cover plate to activate the device. In a preferred embodiment, the system provides power over a continuous range of values, depending on the particular point at which the device is activated. Alternatively, the system operates as a switch, alternately turning power on or off when any point on the flexible area is touched. The control circuit preferably includes an electronically adjustable voltage divider. The system is well-adapted to permit control of power to a load from multiple locations. The appearance of the front surface of the cover plate can be dictated entirely by aesthetic considerations and can, if desired, be entirely featureless.

Touch-operated power control

Wall-mounted lighting control panel

Transmitter for wireless switch

Transmitter for wireless switch and dimmer

Selectable level lighting control faceplate

Wireless transmitter for selectable light level control switch

A system for controlling power to multiple groups of lights requires only a few controls. The system permits power to each group of lights to be adjusted independently and, at the same time, to be stored for later recall. Several combinations of power levels can be stored, and a particular combination can be selected, for example, by pressing a corresponding push button. In a preferred embodiment, a single control permits adjustment of any selected group, or groups, of lights.

Multi-zone, multi-scene lighting control system

A system controls power to multiple a.c. lighting loads from both a central location and from individual controls that are located near the loads. The system includes individual wallbox dimmers that include enabling switches, a master control, and isolation means to accept input signals from the master control and to provide output signals to the dimmers. In a preferred embodiment, a dimmer also provides to the master control a signal that indicates the power being provided to the load that the dimmer controls. Preferably the individual controls provide linear slide dimming, in which the power provided to a load is determined by the slider position. The system permits simplified installation and replacement of system components.

One or more power dimmers have a preshaped phase controlled input signal connected to their control input. The preshaped phase controlled input signal is generated from the output of a master dimmer having conventional phase control circuits operated from a manual or other control. A relay having contacts in the output circuit of the power dimmers is opened in response to the reduction of the phase controlled input signal to a value less than a given value. In an alternative embodiment, the power dimmers are replaced by an interface circuit which produces a variable frequency, pulse width modulated or other signal.

Power control circuit with phase controlled signal input

Growing community of inventors

Center Valley, PA, United States of America

Michael J Rowen