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:
Nov. 09, 2010
Filed:
Mar. 14, 2007
Jon M. Keagy, Perkasie, PA (US);
Steven E. Detmer, Hellertown, PA (US);
Jon M. Keagy, Perkasie, PA (US);
Steven E. Detmer, Hellertown, PA (US);
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., Coopersburg, PA (US);
Abstract
A smart dimmer switch for control of a lighting load from an AC voltage source can replace any switch in a three-way or four-way lighting control system. The smart dimmer switch can be connected on the line-side or the load-side of a three-way system with a standard three-way switch in the other location. Further, the dimmer switch can replace a four-way switch in a four-way system and is operable to be coupled to two standard three-way switches. The dimmer switch includes either one or two semiconductor switches to control the intensity of the connected lighting load. The dimmer switch preferably includes a sensing circuit for detecting an electrical characteristic (i.e., either a voltage or a current) at a terminal of the dimmer to determine the state of the connected three-way switch(s) or four-way switch. The dimmer switch preferably controls the state of the semiconductor switch in response to either a toggle of any of the other switches in the system or an actuation of a toggle button of the dimmer switch.