Patent Grant
10424233
Load control devices may 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. Load control devices may be integrated into home automation systems.
Home automation systems, which have become increasingly popular, may be used by homeowners to integrate and/or control multiple electrical and/or electronic devices in their homes. For example, a homeowner may connect devices such as appliances, lights, blinds, thermostats, cable or satellite boxes, security systems, telecommunication systems, and the like to each other via a wireless network.
The homeowner may control such devices using a central (e.g., automated) controller, a dedicated remote control device (e.g., a wall-mounted keypad), a user interface provided via a phone, tablet, computer, or other device that is directly connected to a home network or remotely connected via the Internet, and so on. These devices may communicate with each other and/or with a control device, for example to improve efficiency, convenience, and/or usability of the devices.
Dedicated remote control devices, such as wall-mounted keypads, may be manufactured to be aesthetically pleasing. For example, wall-mounted keypads may include faceplates and/or buttons made of metal, glass, or other materials to lend the keypads a luxury aesthetic when compared to traditional plastic keypads.
The buttons and/or faceplates of such keypads may be marked with indicia. The indicia may be representative of functions that the keypad is configured to execute or that the keypad is configured to cause to be executed. Such indicia are typically marked on outer surfaces of the keypad. For example, indicia may be painted onto the outer surfaces of buttons of the keypad. However, keypads having such indicia may exhibit limitations. For instance, indicia that is painted onto the outer surface of a button may not be visible to a user in low light. Moreover such indicia may at least partially wear off over time as the keypad is operated, thereby diminishing the aesthetic of the keypad.
As described herein, a veneer may be configured to be secured to a component of a control device, such as a wall-mounted keypad. The control device may be configured for use with a load control device, such as a dimmer switch. The veneer may be configured to be attached to a backlit button of the control device. The veneer may have a surface finish applied thereto.
The veneer may include a plate portion that has one or more indicia machined therethrough. The veneer may further include a filler material that is disposed in the one or more indicia. The indicia may be representative of one or more commands for controlling an electrical load. The indicia may include alphanumeric characters, icons, or the like.
The indicia may define an open portion, a floating portion, and one or more ribs that suspend the floating portion relative to the open portion. The one or more ribs may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs from view relative to a user of the control device. For example, the rib may define an upper surface that is recessed relative to a front surface of the veneer, and may define opposed sides that extend from a base of the rib to the upper surface. The sides may be tapered between the base and the upper surface, such that the upper surface is narrower than the base. The sides and the upper surface of the rib may be unfinished.
The faceplate 102 may define an opening 104 that extends therethrough and that is configured to at least partially receive the buttons 110. For example, in accordance with the illustrated keypad 100, the opening 104 may be sized to receive the buttons 110 such that a gap 106 is defined between inner edges of the opening 104 and corresponding outer peripheral surfaces of the buttons 110. The keypad 100 may be configured such that the gap 106 remains uniform around the perimeter of the opening 104. The keypad 100 may further be configured such that facing edges of adjacent buttons 110 are spaced apart from each other by a gap 108 that is substantially the same as (e.g., equal to) the gap 106 between the buttons 110 and the opening 104 of the faceplate 102.
The faceplate 102 and the buttons 110 may be made of the same material, or may be constructed using the same mix of materials. Alternatively, the faceplate 102 and the buttons 110 may be made of different materials. In accordance with an example implementation of the keypad 100, the buttons 110 may be made of plastic and may have metal veneers that are attached thereto, and the faceplate 102 may be made of the same metal as the button veneers. The faceplate 102 may be configured to be attached to (e.g., removably attached to) the housing 112.
The illustrated keypad 100 includes four buttons 110 that are rectangular in shape and are of the same size. However, it should be appreciated that the keypad 100 is not limited to buttons having the illustrated button geometries. For example, the keypad 100 may alternatively include more or fewer buttons having the same or different geometries and/or sizes.
The buttons 110 may be made of a mix of materials. For example, as shown in
Each veneer 130 may have an indicium 140 or indicia 140 formed therein, such as cut therethrough. The indicia 140 may be representative of a function that the keypad 100 is configured to execute or that the keypad is configured to cause to be executed. For example, the indicia 140 may be representative of a command for controlling an electrical load. In accordance with an example implementation of the keypad 100, the indicia 140 may be representative of a message that the keypad 100 is configured to transmit, for instance a digital message that includes a command for execution by a load control device that is associated with the keypad 100. In accordance with an alternative example implementation, the keypad 100 may include an integral load control circuit (e.g., a dimming circuit), and the command may cause the integral load control circuit to control an electrical load that is electrically connected thereto. The indicia 140 of a particular button 110 may include one or more visual representations of a function associated the button 110, such as, for example, one or more alphanumeric characters, icons, etc. in any combination.
In accordance with the buttons 110 of the illustrated keypad 100, the indicia 140 may be words that are indicative of respective functions that are invoked by depressing the buttons 110. The indicia 140 may be cut through the veneers 130 of the buttons 110 via one or more machining processes. For example, in accordance with an example implementation, indicia 140 may be cut through the veneers 130 via a machine engraving process executed by an engraving machine. The keypad 100 may include one or more lighting elements (not shown) that are configured to illuminate respective interiors of the buttons 110, such that the indicia 140 are backlit from within an interior of the keypad 100. For example, the keypad 100 may include a plurality of lighting elements, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), that are disposed within the housing 112 of the keypad 100, behind the buttons 110, and that are configured to backlight the buttons 110. In this regard, the illustrated keypad 100 may be referred to as a backlit keypad or control device.
Examples of button backlighting systems are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/048,658, titled “Control Device Having Buttons With Multiple-Level Backlighting,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The keypad 100 may be configured to transmit one or more digital messages to one or more external load control devices (e.g., dimmer switches) and/or electrical loads via a communication link, for example in response to one or more buttons 110 being depressed. The one or more digital messages may include, for example, one or more commands for execution by the one or more external load control devices to control respective electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads). The communication link may comprise a wired communication link or a wireless communication link, such as a radio-frequency (RF) communication link. In accordance with an alternative configuration, the keypad 100 may further include an internal load control circuit (not shown) for controlling the power delivered to one or more electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads). Examples of load control systems having remote control devices, such as the keypad 100, are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/150,227, titled “Control Devices Having Independently Suspended Buttons For Controlled Actuation,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,728, issued Oct. 12, 2004, entitled “System For Control Of Devices,” and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0001977, published Jan. 2, 2014, entitled “Load Control System Having Independently-Controlled Units Responsive To A Broadcast Controller,” the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
As shown in
The veneer 130 may include a plate portion 132 and may define one or more peripheral walls 134 that extend rearward from the plate portion 132. The plate portion 132 may define a front surface 133 of the veneer 130. As shown, the plate portion 132 may define a flat, substantially planar front surface 133. The plate portion 132 and the peripheral walls 134 may define four corners 131 of the veneer 130.
The veneer 130 may be made of an opaque material through which little or no light may pass. In accordance with the illustrated example, the veneer 130 may be formed from a sheet of metal, such as brass, aluminum, or the like. Alternatively, the veneer 130 may be machined from a block of material (e.g., metal), may be molded (e.g., via an injection molding process), may be fabricated via an additive manufacturing process (e.g., via a 3D printing process), or may otherwise be manufactured.
The veneer 130 may be formed, for example by performing an embossing process, a progressive stamping process, or the like on the sheet of metal. The sheet of metal may have a surface finish applied thereto, such as plated brass or anodized aluminum, for example. The surface finish may be applied to the veneer 130 before the indicia 140 are machined in the veneer 130.
The veneer 130 may be formed such that the veneer 130 at least partially encloses one or more portions of the body 120. For example, as shown, the veneer 130 may be configured such that when the plate portion 132 abuts the front surface 121 of the body 120 (e.g., when the veneer 130 is attached to the body 120), the peripheral walls 134 wrap around respective sides of the body 120 (as shown in
The body 120 of the button 110 may be made of any suitable material, such as plastic. In accordance with the illustrated example, the body 120 may be made of a translucent material, for instance white plastic, such that when the body 120 is backlit, light may pass through the body 120 and reach an inner surface of the veneer 130, for example an inner surface of the plate portion 132. Such light may be emitted, for example, from the interior of a control device in which the button 110 is installed, such as the keypad 100. In accordance with such an implementation, the indicia 140 of the veneer 130 may expose corresponding underlying surfaces of the body 120 (e.g., portions of the front surface 121), such that the indicia 140 may be illuminated when the body 120 is backlit. In this regard, the veneer 130 may be configured to be secured to a backlit button of a control device.
Each button 110 may be backlit by one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The one or more LEDs may be located, for example, behind the button 110 in the interior of the keypad 100 (e.g., within the housing 112). Illumination from the one or more LEDs may shine through the translucent material of the body 120, but may not shine through the veneer 130, such that the indicia 140 are illuminated relative to surrounding portions of the veneer 130. In accordance with the illustrated example, the keypad 100 may include sixteen LEDs (not shown), with four LEDs located proximate to (e.g., behind) each button 110.
As shown in
Each veneer 130 may include one or more indicia, such as indicia 140 that are defined in the plate portion 132 of the veneer 130. For example, the indicia 140 may be formed during a machining process. As shown, the indicia 140 may extend into the front surface 133 of the veneer 130 and through the plate portion 132. The front surface 133 of the veneer 130 may alternatively be referred to as an outer surface of the veneer 130.
The illustrated indicia 140 include letters that form a word. However, the indicia 140 are not limited to letters, and may include any combination of alphanumeric characters, icons (e.g., symbols), or the like. The indicia 140 may be representative of a command for controlling an electrical load. For example, the indicia 140 may be representative of: a command message that may be transmitted by a control device in which the button 110 is operatively installed (e.g., the keypad 100); of a command that is executed internally by such a control device; of a result of the performance of a command; or the like. To illustrate, one or more command messages may be transmitted by such a control device in response to one or more actuations of the button 110. For example, the indicia 140 of a button 110 may be representative of a preset (e.g., a lighting scene) and the one or more command messages cause one or more load control devices that are associated with the keypad 100 to adjust corresponding electrical loads in order to implement the preset.
The veneer 130 may include a filler material (not shown) that is disposed into the indicia 140. The filler material may prevent the accumulation of debris in the indicia 140. The filler material may, for example, be disposed into the indicia 140 such that the filler material is coplanar with the front surface 133 of the veneer 130.
The plate portion 132 may further define one or more ribs 141 that suspend one or more corresponding floating portions 137 relative to one or more open portions 135. For example, in accordance with the illustrated “D,” the plate portion 132 defines two ribs 141 that suspend the floating portion 137 relative to the two open portions 135. The ribs 141 within a portion of indicia 140, for instance within a particular alphanumeric character, may be operate to hold respective one or more floating portions 137 of the alphanumeric character in position relative to one or more open portions 135 of the alphanumeric character. The ribs 141 may hold one or more floating portions 137 in position, for example, during machining of the indicia 140. The indicia 140 may be machined into the veneer 130 before the veneer 130 is attached to the body 120 of a corresponding button 110. Alternatively, the indicia 140 may be machined after the veneer 130 is attached to the body 120 of the button 110, thereby exposing corresponding portions of the front surface 121 of the body 120. In accordance with an example implementation, if the indicia 140 are machined after the veneer 130 is attached to the body 120 of the button 110, an engraving bit of an engraving machine may extend through both the veneer 130 and the adhesive 115, and into the body 120 of the button 110 to ensure that the body 120 is exposed in the open portions 135 of the indicia 140.
It should be appreciated that the ribs 141 of a particular portion of indicia 140, such as the letter “D,” may have the same thickness (e.g., TH). Alternatively, one or more ribs 141 of the indicia 140 may have different thicknesses. Reducing the thickness of the ribs 141 may cause the ribs 141 to be less visible, for example by a user of a control device in which the button is installed 110, such as the keypad 100. Reducing the thickness of one or more ribs 141 of indicia 140 may improve the aesthetic characteristics of the indicia 140, and thus of the button 110, for instance when the button 110 is backlit. It should further be appreciated that indicia 140 may have any number of ribs 141 having the same or different dimensions, and that the ribs 141 may be located in any locations within the indicia 140.
One or more ribs 141 of the indicia 140 of a veneer 130 may be configured such that perception of the ribs 141 by a user of the keypad 100 is minimized. For example, the ribs 141 of within a portion of indicia 140 may be configured to create an optical illusion that conceals the ribs 141 from view when the indicia 140 is viewed, for instance by a user of the keypad 100. In this regard, indicia 140 may be configured such that ribs 141 of the indicia 140 are substantially hidden from view to a user of the keypad 100.
With reference to
The illustrated rib 141 defines opposed sides 142, a base 143, and an upper surface 144 that is spaced from the base 143 and that may be referred to as a front surface of the rib 141. As shown, the upper surface 144 of the rib 141 resides in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane in which the front surface 133 of the veneer 130 resides. In this regard, it may be said that the upper surface 144 of the rib 141 extends parallel to the front surface 133 of the veneer 130.
One or more ribs 141 of the indicia 140 of a veneer 130 may be configured such that the respective upper surfaces 144 of the ribs 141 are spaced inward from the front surface 133 of the veneer 130. In this regard, the upper surfaces 144 of the ribs 141 may be recessed relative to the front surface 133 of the veneer 130. For example, the upper surface 144 of the rib 141 illustrated in
The sides 142 of the rib 141 may be sloped, extending upward and tapering inward between the base 143 and the upper surface 144, for instance from the base 143 to the upper surface 144 as shown in
It should be appreciated that within a portion of indicia 140 that defines multiple ribs 141, the ribs 141 may define the same or different geometries. For example, the ribs 141 within a portion of indicia 140 may define the same or different heights (e.g., as defined by the distance D2), the same or different widths D4 at the bases 143, and/or the same or different widths D5 at the upper surfaces 144.
The illustrated geometry of the rib 141 may create an optical illusion when viewed, for example by a user of the keypad 100, such that the rib 141 may be essentially concealed from view. For example, the sloped sides 142 of the ribs 141 may operate to reflect light from internal sources (e.g., from one or more LEDs disposed within the housing 112) and/or external sources (e.g., lighting loads in a room in which the keypad 100 is located), which may cause the ribs 141 to essentially disappear from view.
The sides 142 and the upper surfaces 144 of the ribs 141 may be unfinished, exposing shiny material of the veneer 130, which may enhance the optical illusion, thereby further hiding the ribs 141 from view. The ribs 141 may be located to enhance the optical illusion. For example, in accordance with the illustrated portion 500 of the indicia 140 of the “Evening” button 110, the ribs 141 may be oriented vertically and located along the flat side of the central floating portion 137 of the “D” as shown in
It should be appreciated that indicia 140 having one or more floating portions 137 are not limited to including one or more ribs 141 to suspend the one or more floating portions 137. For example, the veneer 130 of a button 110 may be attached to the front surface 121 of the body 120 of the button 110 before the indicia 140 is machined in the veneer 130. The veneer 130 may be attached to the front surface 121 of the body 120 using adhesive 115, for example. The adhesive 115 may be selected such that the one or more floating portions 137 are held in place on the front surface 121 of the body 120 as the indicia 140 is machined into the veneer 130. It should further be appreciated that indicia 140 may be defined in the veneer 130 by processes other than machining, such as by chemical photo etching, electrical discharge machining, or the like. It should further still be appreciated that for the purposes of illustration, the distances depicted in the instant figures (e.g., distances D1, D2, D3, D4, and/or D5) are not necessarily to scale, and may not accurately reflect particular distance values described herein.
The control device 1000 may include a communication circuit 1014, such as a wired communication circuit or a wireless communication circuit (e.g., an RF transmitter coupled to an antenna for transmitting RF signals). The control circuit 1010 may be communicatively coupled to the communication circuit 1014 for transmitting one or more digital messages, for example in response to actuations of the actuators 1012. Alternatively, the communication circuit 1014 may include an RF receiver for receiving RF signals, an RF transceiver for transmitting and receiving RF signals, or an infrared (IR) transmitter for transmitter IR signals.
The control circuit 1010 may be configured to receive one or more digital messages including, for example via the communication circuit 1014. Such digital messages may include, for example, information associated with a selected preset and/or the status of an electrical load controlled by an external load control device.
The control device 1000 may include a memory 1016. The memory 1016 may be communicatively coupled to the control circuit 1010. The control circuit 1010 may be configured to use the memory 1016 for the storage and/or retrieval of, for example, commands and/or preset information to transmit in response to actuations of the actuators 1012. The memory 1016 may be implemented, for example, as an external integrated circuit (IC) or as an internal circuit of the control circuit 1010.
The control device 1000 may include a power supply 1018 for generating a direct-current (DC) supply voltage VCC for powering one or more of the control circuit 1010, the communication circuit 1014, the memory 1016, and other low-voltage circuitry of the control device 1000. The power supply 1018 may be coupled to an alternating-current (AC) power source or an external DC power source via electrical connections 1019. Alternatively, the control device 1000 may include an internal power source (e.g., one or more batteries) for supplying power to the power supply 1018.
The control device 1000 may further comprise a backlighting circuit 1020 for illuminating indicia on one or more buttons of the control device 1000 (e.g., for illuminating the indicia 140 in the veneers 130 of the buttons 110 of the keypad 100). The backlighting circuit 1020 may include one or more lighting elements, for instance four LEDs 1022 that may be coupled to respective ports on the control circuit 1010 via respective resistors 1024. The control circuit 1010 may be configured to individually turn each LED 1022 on by pulling the respective port low towards circuit common, such that each LED 1022 is coupled between the supply voltage VCC and circuit common through a corresponding resistor 1024. The control circuit 1010 may be configured to dim the illumination of each LED 1022 below a first (or maximum) LED illumination intensity, for example by pulse-width modulating the LED current conducted through each LED 1022.
While the control device 1000 shown in
It should be appreciated that the veneer 130 is not limited to being attached to the body 120 of the button 110 using the adhesive 115. For example, the veneer 130 may be configured to be mechanically attached to the body 120 (e.g., via complementary attachment features defined by the veneer 130 and/or by the body 120, using one or more external fasteners, or otherwise).
It should further be appreciated that the example machined indicia illustrated and described herein are not limited to use in veneers that are attached to the buttons of backlit keypads, and that the machined indicia may be defined in the surfaces of other objects. For example, one or more machined indicia may be defined in a veneer (e.g., a metal veneer) that is configured to be attached to a faceplate (e.g., a translucent faceplate) of a control device that is configured for use with a load control device. Filler material may be disposed into the machined indicia of such a veneer. A control device that includes a faceplate having a veneer with machined indicia may be configured with an illuminated interior, such that the indicia machined in the veneer may be backlit when the faceplate is attached to the control device. In this regard, a control device may be configured with a backlit faceplate. A control device may be implemented with a backlit faceplate in addition to, or in place of, being implemented with backlit buttons.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/850,800, filed on Sep. 10, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/048,652, filed Sep. 10, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62048652 | Sep 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14850800 | Sep 2015 | US |
| Child | 15911581 | US |
