Wireless Lighting Control With Rotary Dimming and Color Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face challenges in installing advanced load control systems due to the need for electrical wiring skills, and existing wall-mounted light switches can disrupt power to controllable light sources, preventing remote control functionality.
Innovation Solution
A load control system with a remote control device featuring a touch-sensitive surface and rotatable member for intensity and color temperature adjustments, along with load control devices capable of phase-control dimming and wireless communication, ensuring uninterrupted power and advanced lighting control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If standard mechanical switches are replaced by load control devices requiring electrical wiring, then advanced lighting control functionality is achieved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical switch installation with a wireless load control system. The load control device communicates with lighting loads wirelessly, eliminating the need for complex electrical wiring modifications. The system uses wireless communication protocols to transmit control signals, substituting mechanical wiring with wireless electromagnetic communication while maintaining full lighting control functionality including dimming and color temperature adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wireless communication intermediary between the user and the lighting load. Instead of direct electrical connection control, the system uses wireless signals as an intermediary to transmit control commands. This intermediary layer simplifies installation by removing the need for physical wiring changes while still enabling advanced lighting control through the wireless communication channel.
2Ease of operation
If wall-mounted light switches are used to control power, then simple on/off control is achieved, but power interruption prevents remote control operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous power delivery to the controllable light source by eliminating the use of wall-mounted light switches that interrupt power. The load control device maintains uninterrupted power flow while providing control functionality through wireless communication. This allows the light source to remain powered and responsive to remote control commands at all times, ensuring continuous operation and reliability of the remote control system.
3Ease of manufacture
If controllable light sources are installed in sockets controlled by wall switches, then easy lamp replacement is achieved, but power cut-off disables remote control responsiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuous power to the controllable light source installed in the socket by bypassing wall-mounted light switches. The load control device receives power continuously and uses wireless communication to control the light source. This ensures the light source remains powered and responsive to remote control commands even when installed in a socket that would traditionally be controlled by a wall switch, preserving both the ease of lamp replacement and remote control responsiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A remote control device for use in a load control system including one or more load control devices for controlling one or more lighting loads may comprise a touch sensitive surface configured to received touch actuations by a user, a rotatable member having a circular shape and surrounding the touch sensitive surface and configured to be rotated by the user, and a control circuit responsive to the touch actuations of the touch sensitive surface and rotations of the rotatable member. When operating in an intensity-adjustment mode, the control circuit may be configured to generate first control data for adjusting a present intensity level of the lighting loads in response to rotations of the rotatable member. When operating in a color-temperature-adjustment mode, the control circuit may be configured to generate second control data for adjusting a present color temperature of the lighting loads in response to rotations of the rotatable member.