The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 23, 2007
Filed:
Dec. 28, 2005
Benjamin Aaron Johnson, Quakertown, PA (US);
Glen Andrew Kruse, Lansdale, PA (US);
Jon Michael Keagy, Perkasie, PA (US);
Benjamin Aaron Johnson, Quakertown, PA (US);
Glen Andrew Kruse, Lansdale, PA (US);
Jon Michael Keagy, Perkasie, PA (US);
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., Coopersburg, PA (US);
Abstract
A lighting control device for controlling the light intensity level of at least one lamp is disclosed. The lighting control device includes an actuator and a controller, such as a microcontroller, for example. The controller is operable to cause the light intensity level of the lamp to fade at a first fade rate when the actuator is actuated. If the controller determines that the actuator has been actuated for at least a predefined hold time, the controller causes the light intensity level of the lamp to fade at a second fade rate for a predefined long fade time. After the long fade time elapses, the controller causes the light intensity level of the lamp to fade to off at a third fade. The first fade rate is based on a predefined fade-off time that represents a time allotted for fading the light intensity level of the lamp from its initial light intensity level to off. To prevent the light intensity level from fading to off before the hold time elapses, the fade off time may be defined to be longer than the hold time. The second fade rate may be slower than the first fade rate and have an exponential fade profile. The third fade rate may be a predefined rate at which the controller is operable to cause the light intensity level to fade from full on to full off. The third fade rate may be faster than the second fade rate.