Controls with independent pendant buttons for controlled actuation

Abstract

A control device comprising a button assembly (110, 610) having one or more buttons (112, 612) and a button carrier ( 116, 516, 616). The control device may be configured as a wall key (100) to control a load control device, or as a thermostat to control a thermostat. The button carrier may be configured to prevent interference between buttons during operation of the control device. The button assembly may be captured between a panel (102, 602) of the control device and a housing (186, 690) attached to the rear side of the panel. The control device may include one or more button holders (634) attached to the buttons and configured to align relative to each other and to the panel of the control device when the buttons are in respective rest positions the corresponding outer surface.

Description

[0001] Cross references to related applications [0002] This application claims the priority of provisional patent application No. 62 / 150,227 filed on April 20, 2015. Background technique [0003] The load control device can be used to control the amount of power delivered from a power source, such as an alternating current (AC) power source, to one or more electrical loads. An example of such a load control device is a wall-mounted dimmer switch. [0004] Home automation systems have become increasingly popular, which can be used by homeowners to integrate and / or control multiple electrical and / or electronic devices in their home. For example, the homeowner can connect devices such as appliances, lights, blinds, thermostats, wired or satellite boxes, security systems, telecommunication systems, etc., to each other via a wireless network. [0005] The homeowner can use this central (for example, automation) controller, dedicated remote control device (for example, wall-mounted butto...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0006] However, known dedicated remote controls, such as wall keys, often exhibit one or more undesirable characteristics

For example, in wall-mounted keys that include physical buttons, the gap between adjacent buttons may be undesirably large, which may detract from the aesthetic appearance of the key

Also, in keys with tighter button spacing tolerances, the buttons may mechanically interfere with each other during actuation such that the tactile sensation for the user of the key may be degraded.

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