Control device for controlling multiple operating characteristics of an electrical load

Abstract

A load control device may be configured to control multiple characteristics of one or more electrical loads such as the intensity and color of a lighting load. The load control device may include concentric rotating portions for adjusting the multiple characteristics. A control circuit of the load control device may be configured to generate control data for controlling one or more of the characteristics of the electrical loads in response to rotations of the concentric rotating portions. The control circuit may be further configured to provide feedback regarding the control being applied on one or more visual indicators. The load control device may be a wall-mounted dimmer device or a battery-powered remote control device.

1 . A control device configured for use in a load control system to control a lighting load external to the control device, the control device comprising:
 a first rotating portion configured to be rotatable with respect to the base portion;   a second rotating portion concentric with the first rotating portion and configured to be rotatable with respect to the base portion, the first and second rotating portions occupying different planes along an axis perpendicular to the base portion; and   a control circuit configured to:
 generate first control data for changing a first characteristic of the lighting load based on a position of the first rotating portion; 
 generate second control data for changing a second characteristic of the lighting load based on a position of the second rotating portion; and 
 when the first and second rotating portions are simultaneously rotated, generate the first control data based on the position of the first rotating portion and generate the second control data based on a relationship between the second characteristic and the first characteristic. 
   
     
     
         2 . The control device of  claim 1 , wherein the relationship between the second characteristic and the first characteristic is associated with a predetermined dimming curve, wherein the predetermined dimming curve is a dim-to-warm dimming curve that is configured to simulate the intensity and color of a black body radiator across a dimming range. 
     
     
         3 . The control device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rotating portions are configured to be locked together to become simultaneously rotatable. 
     
     
         4 . The control device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rotating portions are configured to be locked together when the first and second rotating portions and moved towards each other, and wherein the first and second rotating portions are configured to be unlocked and become independently rotatable when the first and second rotating portions are moved away from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The control device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a locking member configured to lock the first and second rotating portions together so that they are simultaneously rotatable.   
     
     
         6 . The control device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an actuation portion surrounded by at least one of the first or second rotating portion; and   wherein the control circuit is configured to generate and transmit third control data for toggling the lighting load between on and off in response to an actuation of the actuation portion.   
     
     
         7 . The control device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a base portion configured to be mounted to an electrical wallbox or over a mechanical switch.   
     
     
         8 . The control device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a load control circuit adapted to be electrically coupled in series between an AC power source and the lighting load for controlling power delivered to the lighting load.   
     
     
         9 . The control device of  claim 1 , wherein the control device is configured to be mounted over a toggle actuator of the mechanical switch that controls whether power is delivered to the lighting load. 
     
     
         10 . The control device of  claim 1 , wherein the first rotating portion is configured as a front ring and the second rotating portion is configured as a rear ring, the control circuit configured to generate the first control data for adjusting an intensity of the lighting load while the first rotating portion is being rotated by the user, the control circuit further configured to generate the second control data for changing a color of the lighting load while the second rotating portion is being rotated by the user. 
     
     
         11 . The control device of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 one or more visual indicators configured to be illuminated by one or more light sources;   wherein, when the first rotating portion is being rotated to adjust the intensity of the lighting load, the control circuit is configured to illuminate the one or more visual indicators to display feedback information regarding the intensity of the lighting load; and   wherein, when the second rotating portion is being rotated to adjust the color of the lighting load, the control circuit is configured to illuminate the one or more visual indicators to display feedback information regarding the color of the lighting load.   
     
     
         12 . The control device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rotating portions have approximately the same outer diameter. 
     
     
         13 . The control device of  claim 1 , wherein an outer diameter of the second rotating portion is larger than an outer diameter of the first rotating portion. 
     
     
         14 . The control device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second rotating portions are independently rotatable. 
     
     
         15 . The control device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication circuit configured to transmit a first control signal associated with the first control data and a second control signal associated with the second control data.   
     
     
         16 . A control device configured for use in a load control system to control an electrical load external to the control device, the control device comprising:
 a first rotating portion configured to be rotatable with respect to the base portion;   a second rotating portion concentric with the first rotating portion and configured to be rotatable with respect to the base portion, the first and second rotating portions occupying different planes along an axis perpendicular to the base portion;   a first rotational sensing circuit configured to translate forces applied to the first rotating portion into one or more input signals;   a second rotational sensing circuit configured to translate forces applied to the second rotating portion into one or more input signals; and   a control circuit configured to:
 receive the one or more input signals from the first rotational sensing circuit, and generate first control data for changing a first characteristic of the one or more electrical loads in response to one or more input signals received from the first rotational sensing circuit; and 
 receive the one or more input signals from the second rotational sensing circuit, and generate second control data for changing a second characteristic of the one or more electrical loads in response to one or more input signals received from the second rotational sensing circuit, wherein the second characteristic is different from the first characteristic. 
   
     
     
         17 . The control device of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first characteristic or the second characteristic is volume of the electrical load, a music selection of the electrical load, a heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) setting of the electrical load, a ceiling fan speed of the electrical load, or a relative height or location of a motorized window treatment of the electrical load. 
     
     
         18 . The control device of  claim 16 , wherein the first characteristic comprises intensity of the electrical load, and the second characteristic comprises color of the electrical load. 
     
     
         19 . The control device of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 an actuation portion surrounded by at least one of the first or second rotating portion; and   wherein the control circuit is configured to generate and transmit third control data for toggling the one or more electrical loads between on and off in response to an actuation of the actuation portion.   
     
     
         20 . The control device of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a base portion configured to be mounted to an electrical wallbox or over a mechanical switch.