EP3468306B1

EP3468306B1 - Efficient usage of a dimmer control button

Info

Publication number: EP3468306B1
Application number: EP18198739.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jens De Mey; Diederik Johan Hendrik VERSCHUREN; Peter De Brabander; Wim DE NIEL
Original assignee: Niko NV
Current assignee: Niko NV
Priority date: 2017-10-04
Filing date: 2018-10-04
Publication date: 2021-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-04
Also published as: BE1025618B1; EP3468306A1; BE1025618A1; PL3468306T3; DK3468306T3

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of load control devices, more particularly it relates to the efficient usage of dimmer devices, e.g. flush-mounting or DIN-rail devices, for controlling lighting devices.

Background of the invention

Most of the advanced lighting systems allow the user to adjust the emitted light intensity of a lighting device so as to provide for a comfortable room illumination. This may happen via a user interface of an input unit, common examples of which are rotary dimmer knobs mounted onto a socket base or touch panel light switches, in response to changing environmental factors, e.g. insufficient ambient sun light on a gloomy weather day or during sunset and sunrise, or in response to personal needs, e.g. brighter light source for reading or dimming a source of light during a video projection or presentation. Especially for daily recurring situations, such as reading or switching on a night light in a children's bedroom, it is desirable to not have to dim the lighting device to its optimal point of operation by trial and error every time, but it is preferable to the user to optimize the level of lighting once and then save it as a preference for this lighting control system in its configuration settings. Furthermore also other parameters such as boost modes, minimum dim levels, maximum dim levels, etc. may depend on the lighting device used and thus advantageously are settable during a configuration phase.
An example of a rotary dimmer with a user-operable memory setting is provided by NIKO's base for universal rotary dimmer plus with reference code 310-01900. These dimmer device bases, however, provide a dedicated interface, e.g. a set of setscrews, dip switches, or push-buttons, in order to enable a variety of configuration settings that the user personalizes according to his preferences. This additional set of setscrews, dip switches, or push-buttons incurs extra costs to the socket base manufacturer. Furthermore are these separate, advanced configuration interfaces typically covered by plastic parts for aesthetic as well as safety reasons. Yet customers may be afraid of removing these covering parts in order to access the advanced configuration interfaces and rather call a professional, even though the task does not imply any specific technical skills.
Document WO2016037213A1 discloses a pressable knob which can be rotated to control the illumination level, where the minimum intensity setting can be selected by pressing the knob, then rotating until a desired minimum level is reached, then reverting to the function of controlling the illumination between the maximum illumination and the minimum level set by the user.
Document WO 2015/184485 discloses a phase cutting control dimmer, providing turning off and on by rotation of the dimmer exclusively, e.g. where a microcontroller which recognises the type and degree of rotation, acceleration, rotation time, etc., with no need of extra switches.
Document US 2017/0278383 A1 discloses a device including an actuation portion and a rotating portion. The intensity levels of a lightning load can be adjusted by rotation of the rotating portion, while actuating on the actuation portion allows turning on and off the load. It also allows memorizing the intensity level upon turning the load off, so the intensity can be set directly with no need to adjust by rotation the next time the load is turned back on.
Document WO 2007/072316 discloses an interface device with selection of a mode of a lightning system (e.g. from intensity to color selection) by pressing or tapping a switch for a duration, and adjusting the light attribute (e.g. the color) of that mode by rotation and/or tapping for a different duration.
Document US 2017/0013392 A1 discloses a remote with sensors and switches, including rotary switches, and a processor which determines an action associated with data that identifies external devices or tasks, and sends instructions to the identified external devices to perform the identified tasks.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide good methods and systems for configuring dimmer devices.
The above objective is accomplished by a dimmer device according to claim 1 and a method for controlling dimming according to claim 7.
The present invention relates to a dimmer device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load by an AC power source coupled to the dimmer device, the dimmer device comprising a dimmer control button for performing a conventional dimming function, the dimmer device furthermore being adapted for operating according to at least one customizable operating characteristic and a memory for storing and retrieving selected values for the customizable operating characteristic or for an adjustable dim variable linked thereto, wherein the dimmer control button is furthermore operable to control the selection and adjusting of the at least one customizable operating characteristic of the dimmer device, different from the conventional dimming function, by executing a sequence of rotation and pressing actions on said dimmer control button such that no additional components other than said dimmer control button are required for controlling said one or more customizable operating characteristics.
In particular, the customizable operating characteristics comprise one or more of a minimum dim level mode which allows setting a minimum amount of power delivered to the electrical load, maximum dim level mode which allows setting a maximum amount of power delivered to the electrical load, a boost mode for driving an electrical load at a stored power level with overcoming an initial energy barrier for turning on said electrical load, or in other words for driving the electrical load at a stored power level in case the electrical load requires a high level of initial energy in order to start properly.
The system furthermore may comprise a memory for storing a correlation between a customizable operating characteristic and a sequence of rotation and pressing actions required for selecting and adjusting the customizable operating characteristic.
The system further may comprise at least one semiconductor bidirectional switch. The at least one semiconductor bidirectional switch may be operable to switch a voltage signal of the AC power source as a function of its phase angle.
The pressing actions on the dimmer control button are timed.
The timed pressing actions on the dimmer control button are differentiated into short, long, and very long.
The dimmer device may be adapted for switching between a plurality of customizable operating characteristics.
The at least one customizable operating characteristic is selectable by a predetermined pressing action on said dimmer control button, followed by a rotation of said dimmer control button to a rotation angle within a predetermined range thereof.
One or more customizable operating characteristic of the dimmer device may be selected by a first timed pressing action on the dimmer control button and the customizable operating characteristic or a value of the corresponding dim variable is adjusted by a rotation action on the dimmer control button and stored in the memory after a second timed pressing action on the dimmer control button.
In particular, the customizable operating characteristics comprise one or more of a minimum dim level mode, maximum dim level mode, a boost mode for driving an electrical load at a stored power level with overcoming an initial energy barrier for turning on said electrical load. Such settings can be referred to as installation or configuration settings and correspond with settings which typically are set at the moment the electrical load is installed or configured, since such settings are dependent on the particular electrical load applied.
The dimmer device may be programmed for providing visual feedback regarding the customizable operating characteristic of the dimmer device to the user. The visual feedback may comprise a visual feedback induced by the electrical load controlled by the dimmer device.
The present invention also relates to a method for controlling dimming using a dimmer device, the dimmer device comprising a dimmer control button for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load by an AC power source coupled to the dimmer device, the method comprising, in a configuration mode, selecting and adjusting at least one customizable operating characteristic of the dimmer device, optionally an adjustable dim variable linked thereto by executing a sequence of rotation and pressing actions on a dimmer control button of the dimmer device, and storing the adjusted customizable operating characteristic or a value of the adjustable dim variable linked thereto.
In particular, the customizable operating characteristics comprise one or more of a minimum dim level mode which allows setting a minimum amount of power delivered to the electrical load, maximum dim level mode which allows setting a maximum amount of power delivered to the electrical load, a boost mode for driving the electrical load at a stored power level in case the electrical load requires a high level of initial energy in order to start properly.
The pressing actions on the dimmer control button are timed.
The timed pressing actions on the dimmer control button are differentiated into short, long, and very long.
At least one customizable operating characteristic of the dimmer device may be selected by a first timed pressing action on the dimmer control button, wherein the customizable operating characteristic or the linked adjustable dim variable is adjusted by a rotation action on the dimmer control button and wherein the adjusted value is stored in the memory after a second timed pressing action on the dimmer control button.
The method may comprise providing visual feedback to the user.
The electrical load may be a lighting device.
The at least one customizable operating characteristic may comprise one or more of a minimum dim level mode, maximum dim level mode, mode memorizing of the last set dim level, boost mode.
Particular and preferred aspects of the invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims.
The above and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates schematically the rotation action of a dimmer control button by the user's hand.
Fig. 2 illustrates schematically the pressing action of a dimmer control button by the user's finger.
Fig. 3 presents a flowchart of a method for selecting modes and adjusting related configuration settings by a sequence of rotation and pressing actions of a dimmer control button by the user.

The drawings are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not necessarily correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.
Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope.

Detailed description of illustrative embodiments

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims.
It is to be noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. The term "comprising" therefore covers the situation where only the stated features are present and the situation where these features and one or more other features are present. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be interpreted as being limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.
It should be noted that the use of particular terminology when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being re-defined herein to be restricted to include any specific characteristics of the features or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated.
Well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.
Where in embodiments of the present invention reference is made to a dimmer device, reference may be made to a rotary dimmer device comprising a physical rotary dimmer control button, but alternatively also may be a dimmer device comprising an IR sensor or a touch-sensitive sensor such as for example a capacitive sensor, transducing e.g. a user's finger into an electrical signal that triggers a specific dimmer device response. Consequently, where reference is made to rotation and pressing actions on said dimmer control button, this may be a rotation and pressing action directly on the dimmer control button or may be a rotation and pressing action of a user transduced towards the dimmer control button. In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention relate to a dimmer device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load by an AC power source coupled to the dimmer device. The dimmer device comprises a dimmer control button for performing a conventional dimming function. The dimmer device furthermore is adapted for operating according to at least one customizable operating characteristic and comprises a memory for storing and retrieving selected values for the customizable operating characteristic or for an adjustable dim variable linked thereto.
The dimmer control button is furthermore operable to control the selection and adjusting of the at least one customizable operating characteristic of the dimmer device, different from the conventional dimming function, by executing a sequence of rotation and pressing actions on said dimmer control button such that no additional components other than said dimmer control button are required for controlling said one or more customizable operating characteristics.
In particular, the customizable operating characteristics comprise one or more of a minimum dim level mode, maximum dim level mode, a boost mode for driving an electrical load at a stored power level with overcoming an initial energy barrier for turning on said electrical load. As indicated, these settings typically are settings done at installation or configuration of an electrical load, e.g. upon first installation of the system or when replacing the electrical load. Such installation or configuration settings in the past typically were done by an installer, but, since no demounting of the dimmer is required, can now be performed by the user. Especially when replacing the electrical load, this may be advantageous.
A customizable operating characteristic (e.g. a mode) can be selected by first performing a pressing action on the dimmer control button (e.g. pressing for a predetermined amount of time, or performing a predetermined sequence of pressings, etc.), which is detected by the dimmer control button that a mode will be selected, followed by a rotation of the dimmer control button. The rotation angle is detected by the dimmer control button, then compared to the ranges of angles stored in memory and linked to the at least one customizable operating characteristic, so the said customizable operating characteristic corresponding to the chosen range is selected.
Further standard and optional features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the description below, with reference to the drawings.
The dimmer device may be used to efficiently control electrical loads, for instance in a 50 Hz, 230 Vac electrical supply network, consuming powers ranging from 1 W to 500 W, e.g. from 5 W to 325 W, by phase control or inverse phase control. For instance the dimmer device may be configured in a way such that it uses phase control for inductive loads and inverse phase control for resistive or capacitive loads. For such cases, electrical loads may include one or more lighting devices, e.g. a dimmable LED, an energy-saving lamp, a halogen lamp or a light bulb. It is further possible to connect the dimmer device electrically to one or more remotely installed electrical switches, e.g. light switches, push-buttons, or dimmer extensions, in such a way that the electrical load may be controlled from a plurality of different access points.
In an embodiment of the invention according to Fig. 1 the dimmer control button may be mounted in a rotatable way on the base underneath it (not shown), e.g. by attaching it to a shaft of a potentiometer comprised in the base, such that rotating it around its center axis in clockwise or anti-clockwise direction influences the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, e.g. increases or decreases the amount of electrical power delivered to the electrical load, respectively, e.g. increases or decreases the brightness of a light source. Moreover such an embodiment may provide a rotary control button that is influenced by a pressing action of the user as illustrated schematically in Fig. 2. An actuator which may be incorporated into the dimmer control button, e.g. an IR sensor or a touch-sensitive sensor, e.g. a capacitive sensor, or may be in mechanical contact with it, e.g. a push-button, transduces the pressing action of the user's finger into an electrical signal that triggers a specific dimmer device response, e.g. switching the electrical load on or off. The dimmer control button itself or the base of the dimmer in a wall-mounted configuration may form a smart device, e.g. a device comprising an electronic control circuit, e.g. a microcontroller, which reads the electrical signals as provided by the actuator outputs and determines the amount of power delivered to the electrical load accordingly, e.g. the control circuit may adjust the phase angle that is an input to the toggling events of a bidirectional semiconductor switch coupled in series with the electrical supply network. Non-claimed embodiments may provide additional electronic circuitry that extend the functionality of the dimmer device accessible via the dimmer control button, e.g. timing circuits, electronic counters, memory cells, etc. For such non-claimed embodiments it may be possible to derive a variable related to the speed of rotation of the dimmer control button operated by the user, e.g. fast or slow, and decrease or increase the amount of power delivered to the electrical load rapidly in coarse steps or slowly in fine steps accordingly.
In particular embodiments it is thus possible to time the pressing action of the user and distinguish between a very long, a long, and a short pressing action, or detect a sequence of quick pressing actions falling within a defined time interval. As an example, depending on the pre-settings of the dimmer device during manufacturing, a very long pressing action may take equal to or longer than 5 s, a long pressing action may take between 400 ms and 4s and a short pressing action may take between 30ms and 300 ms. For instance, a short pressing action may typically have the technical effect of turning the electrical load on or off, and a long pressing action may typically toggle the dimmer in its memory mode in which the user is invited to save a preferred setting of the controlled electrical load that is retrieved at a later point in time, e.g. an optimal amount of power delivered to the electrical load for recurrent situation, e.g. an optimal brightness of a lighting device for reading or an ideal brightness for a night light in a children's bedroom. Alternatively, the memory mode may be accessed by a quick double pressing action or a second memory mode may be accessible which permanently stores the last dimming level set by the user before switching off the electrical load and which is used as a new default value of the dimming level whenever the controlled electrical load is switched back on.
Further operating modes of the controlled electrical load associated to a memory may be provided for in such particular embodiments of the invention, for instance modes that memorize a maximum or minimum setting of the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. There may also exist a boost mode that accounts for a class of loads that require a high level of initial energy in order to start properly. Some LED lamps for instance require a high initial voltage to put them on. The boost mode hence implements a hysteresis loop which first overcomes the initial energy barrier and then returns to a lower power level of the electrical load. In particular embodiments of the invention, this power level may be the default value as stored in and retrieved from the memory. Again, all the configuration modes described above, and others, may be selected as a result of a long pressing action on the dimmer control button by the user.
If a lot of configuration modes or advanced features for operating the controlled electrical load are made available to the user, it may become increasingly complex for the user to select between all these modes merely by a specific sequence of pressing actions. In those cases it may be advantageous to provide an alternative method for selecting or switching between modes which comprises a combination of pressing actions and rotation actions of the dimmer control button as illustrated in the flowchart of Fig. 3 to which reference will be made in the following. In general, an action 302 is performed on the dimmer control button which is in its on-state 301, which may be a rotation action or a pressing action. When a rotation action is detected, the power to the load may be adjusted 304. For example, a light source may be more or less dimmed. When a pressing action is detected, then a user enters a configurable mode of the dimmer device, where, depending on the required pre-setting, distinction can be made between a short pressing action 305, long pressing action 306 or very long pressing action 307, each leading to a different further action and to a different mode-specific setting of the dimmer device.
For instance, a user wants to set a maximum amount of power delivered to the electrical load that may not be exceeded 316, even under further rotation action of the dimmer control button. Therefore, the user may act on the dimmer control button by a very long push 307. According to embodiments of the invention, at that time a visual or audible feedback may be given to indicate that the dimmer device is in selection mode, e.g. by means of a flickering light or a beep. The user then starts to change the dim level so as to steer it into an upper 310 range 309 of available output power delivered to the electrical load, e.g. in a range 309 between 90% and 100 % of the available output power. The dimmer control button's control loop is waiting for a pressing action 318 by the user at the end of a change in the setting of the dim level representative of the maximum amount of power delivered to the electrical load. Hence, next the desired maximum amount of power delivered to the electrical load is eventually confirmed by the user through a short or a long push 318 on the dimmer control button, whereby the duration of the push 318 depends on the pre-settings of the dimmer device during manufacturing. A visual feedback 319 may also be given in this case, thereby confirming the user's selection and adjustments of the maximum mode 316. An exemplary visual feedback 319 provided by the controlled load itself may be a lighting device flickering twice.
Similarly, a user may also want to set a minimum amount of power delivered to the electrical load, even under further rotation action of the dimmer control button, i.e. switching into and adjusting the settings of a minimum mode 313, e.g. for the purpose of avoiding a too dark source of light insufficiently illuminating a room or even not starting emission of light. Therefore, the user may act 302 on the dimmer control button by a pressing action 303 with a long duration 306.. Again, at that time a visual or audible feedback may be given to indicate that the dimmer device is in selection mode, e.g. by means of a flickering light or a beep. The user then changes the dim level so as to steer it into a lower 312 range 309 of available output power delivered to the electrical load, e.g. in a range 309 below 20% of the available output power. The dimmer control button's control loop is waiting for a pressing action 317 operated by the user at the end of a change in the setting of the dim level representative of a minimum amount of power delivered to the electrical load. Hence, next the desired minimum amount of power delivered to the electrical load is eventually confirmed by the user through a short or a long push on the dimmer control button 317. Also, according to embodiments of the invention, a visual feedback 319 may be given in this case, thereby confirming the user's selection and adjustments of the minimum mode 313. An exemplary visual feedback 319 provided by the controlled load itself may be a lighting device flickering once.
Further, a boost function 314 for a class of loads may also be enabled by first acting on the dimmer control button 302 in its on-state 301 by a pressing action 303. More particularly, the user may act 302 on the dimmer control button by a long push 306. Again, according to embodiments of the invention, at that time a visual or audible feedback can be given to indicate that the dimmer device is in selection mode, e.g. by means of a flickering light or a beep. The user then changes the dim level so as to steer it into the middle 311 range 309 of available output power delivered to the electrical load, e.g. in a range 309 between 30 % and 70 % of the available output power, e.g. in a range between 40 % and 60 % of the available output power. The dimmer control button's control loop is waiting for a pressing action 317 operated by the user at the end of a change in the setting of the dim level representative of a boost threshold power value initially delivered to the electrical load. Next the desired amount of power initially delivered to the electrical load is eventually confirmed by the user through a long or short push (depending on the initial pre-settings of the dimmer device during manufacturing) on the dimmer control button 317. The dimmer control button is preparing a visual feedback 319 in this case, thereby confirming the user's selection and adjustments of the boost mode 314. An exemplary visual feedback 319 provided by the controlled load itself may be a lighting device flickering twice.
Furthermore it may be case that a last dim level is set by the user and stored in memory, i.e. the user is switching into and adjusting the settings of a memory mode 315, such that the controlled electrical load is brought to this same last dim level upon switching the load on, provided this memory function 315 is enabled. Such a setting may be settable in addition to other settings which relate to installation or configuration settings, depending on the electrical load applied. These installation or configuration settings may be one or more of a minimum dim level mode 313, maximum dim level mode 316, a boost mode 314 for driving an electrical load at a stored power level with overcoming an initial energy barrier for turning on said electrical load.
In an embodiment of the invention, the user may toggle between the activated or deactivated state of this memory function 315 by first acting on the dimmer control button 302 in its on-state 301 by a long pressing action 306. Similar as for the above mode settings, at that time a visual or audible feedback may be given to indicate that the dimmer device is in selection mode, e.g. by means of a flickering light or a beep. The user then changes the dim level so as to steer it into an upper 310 range 309 of available output power delivered to the electrical load, e.g. in a range 309 between 90 % and 100 % of the available output power. The dimmer control button's control loop is waiting for a pressing action 317 operated by the user at the end of a change in the setting of the dim level. The last setting of the dim level before the change thereof is now stored in a memory of the dimmer device and is set as default dim level at the next start-up event of the electrical load and the dimmer device into its on-state 301.
In embodiments of the invention described before, operational modes or settings of the dimmer device that are configurable by the user and that require a second pressing action for a successful termination of the respective mode settings may be using substantially identically timed first 303 and second 317, 318 pressing actions. This is a convenient measure for the user as those substantially identically timed pressing actions are easier to memorize because of their consistent repetition, although differently timed first 303 and second 317, 318 pressing action may be implemented equally well. Depending on the pre-settings of the dimmer device during manufacturing, the second pressing actions 317, 318 may be short or long pressing actions.
In non-claimed embodiments of the invention, the dimmer control button and the whole dimmer device is typically toggled from its on-state 301 into its off-state 308 whenever a pressing action 303 is detected to be of short duration 305.
In non-claimed embodiments of the invention, the dimmer control button typically executes a conventional adjustment of the dim level 304 whenever the first action 302 is a rotating action, or in other words, whenever a rotating action is detected first, i.e. when the rotating action does not follow a pressing action.
Whenever, after the first pressing action 303 followed or not by a rotating action, nothing is done for a predefined time period, set during manufacturing of the dimmer device, the dimmer device goes back to the on-state 301, i.e. the setting mode is terminated. If a user still wishes to configure further settings, he or she should again start with pressing action 303.
Many more configurable or settable modes may be implemented in an analogous way, yet keeping an appropriate balance between customized features and user-friendly automation running in the background. For instance it may be of advantage to a manufacturer to produce and sell dimmer devices comprising a dimmer control button that is compatible with a large variety of lighting devices, e.g. different families of LED lamps, and that allows the manufacturer to store therein a plurality of configuration protocols that optimally drive these different LED lamps. Optimal driving could for example avoid, filter, or reduce undesirable effects, such as flickering of LED lamps during an initial phase or the interfering effects of parasitic capacitances that constitute unwanted current sources and sinks coupled to the lighting devices. The user would then select a specific driving protocol among a predefined list of available lamp types in accordance with the electrical load at hand by carrying out the necessary sequence of rotation and pressing actions.
In embodiments of the invention, the user may be provided with visual or audible feedback that supports the confirmation of his configuration settings or mode selection choices. For instance may the confirmation of a successful minimum dim level setting be accompanied by a single flicker of the controlled lighting device, and may the confirmation of a successful maximum dim level setting be accompanied by a double flicker of the controlled lighting device. Similarly, enabling the boost function may be terminated by confirming by a short or a long push 317 on the dimmer control button, which is then confirmed by e.g. two successive flickers of the controlled lighting device. Visual feedback from the memory function may be in form of a subsequent drop of the light intensity as the lighting device settles in agreement with a dim level that is substantially lower than the near maximum range of available output power delivered to the electrical load for which this function is enabled. Alternatively a series of status lamps, e.g. LEDs, may be connected to the dimmer control button or to the dimmer base that are switched on or off depending on the selected mode, or may blink in response to a successful change in one of the settings. A bar of LED lamps or a varying luminosity of one or more LEDs may further reflect selected dim levels. Additionally a sound generator, e.g. a controlled speaker, may be coupled to the dimmer control button or the dimmer base so as to provide for audio feedback as well.
It is an advantage of embodiments of the invention that the different configuration modes are all accessible and can be set by a combination of a pressing and a rotating action on the dimmer control button, as this saves the costs related to the components that would otherwise be necessary to provide the very same configuration interfaces, e.g. the setscrews, push-buttons, dip switches, etc. Manufacturing costs are also reduced as a consequence of the less stringent space requirements, i.e. the space originally intended for the collection of configuration interfaces is cleared and the dimmer device as a whole yields an increased compactness. An additional benefit according to non-claimed embodiments of the invention is given by the fact that no plastic or other covering parts need to be removed to gain access to the various configuration modes, which means that a user is more likely to actually make use of all the advanced features of the load control system, e.g. the dimmer device, thereby achieving a higher degree of satisfaction with the purchased article.
In a non-claimed embodiment of the invention, the dimmer control button and its mounting to the base may be light weighted, e.g. less than 100 g, e.g. less than 70 g, and comprises protective plastic covering parts. The dimmer control button and its mounting to the base alone may consume only little power, e.g. less than 0.5 W, e.g. less than 0.1 W, which makes the whole dimmer device energetically more economic. Moreover the whole dimmer device may be designed such that it is as silent as possible and may have various other advantages, e.g. short-circuit protection through fuses, thermal overload protection with automatic reset, means for electromagnetic noise suppression and suppression of higher harmonics in accordance to common standards etc.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The foregoing description details certain embodiments of the invention. Any required setting of the dimmer device may be made possible with a dimmer device and method according to embodiments of the invention, as long as it can be set by a combination of a pressing action and a rotating action.

Claims

A dimmer device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load by an AC power source the dimmer device is configured to be coupled to, the dimmer device comprising a dimmer control button for performing a conventional dimming function,
the dimmer device furthermore being adapted for operating according to at least one customizable operating characteristic and comprising a memory for storing and retrieving selected values for the customizable operating characteristic or for an adjustable dim variable linked thereto,

wherein the dimmer control button is furthermore adapted to, in a configuration mode, control the selection and adjusting of the at least one customizable operating characteristic of the dimmer device, different from the conventional dimming function, as a result of the execution of a sequence of pressing and rotation actions on said dimmer control button by a user, such that no additional components other than said dimmer control button are required for controlling said one or more customizable operating characteristics,

wherein said customizable operating characteristics comprise one or more of a minimum dim level mode (313) for setting a minimum amount of power delivered to the electrical load, maximum dim level mode for setting a maximum amount of power delivered to the electrical load that may not be exceeded, a boost mode (314) for driving the electrical load at a stored power level in case the electrical load requires a high level of initial energy in order to start properly,

wherein the pressing actions of the dimmer control by the user are timed, wherein the dimmer device is adapted to distinguish among different timings of the timed pressing actions of the dimmer control button by the user, wherein the timed pressing actions are selectable among short (305), long (306) and very long (307) timings, and

the at least one customizable operating characteristic of the dimmer device is selectable by a first timed pressing action (303) on the dimmer control button and the customizable operating characteristic is adjusted by a rotation action on the dimmer control button after the first timed pressing,

characterized in that the rotation action being within a range of angles stored in the memory and linked to the at least one customizable operating characteristic, and that the dimmer device is configured to store a customizable operating characteristic or a value of the corresponding dim variable in the memory after a second timed pressing action (317, 318) on the dimmer control button.
The dimmer device according to claim 1, wherein the memory is adapted to store a correlation between the at least one customizable operating characteristic and the sequence of first timed pressing and rotation actions required for selecting and adjusting the customizable operating characteristic.
The dimmer device according to any of the previous claims, further comprising at least one semiconductor bidirectional switch.
The dimmer device according to claim 3, in which the at least one semiconductor bidirectional switch is adapted to switch a voltage signal of the AC power source as a function of its phase angle.
The dimmer device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the dimmer device is adapted for switching between a plurality of customizable operating characteristics.
The dimmer device according to any of the previous claims, the dimmer device being configured for providing visual or audible feedback (319) regarding the at least one customizable operating characteristic of the dimmer device to the user.
A method for controlling dimming using a dimmer device, the dimmer device comprising a dimmer control button for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load by an AC power source coupled to the dimmer device,
the method comprising, in a configuration mode, selecting and adjusting at least one customizable operating characteristic of the dimmer device or an adjustable dim variable linked thereto by executing a sequence of rotation and pressing actions on a dimmer control button of the dimmer device by a user, and storing the adjusted customizable operating characteristic or a value of the adjustable dim variable linked thereto, wherein said customizable operating characteristics comprise one or more of a minimum dim level mode (313) for setting a minimum amount of power delivered to the electrical load, or maximum dim level mode for setting a maximum amount of power delivered to the electrical load that may not be exceeded, a boost mode (314) for driving the electrical load at a stored power level in case the electrical load requires a high level of initial energy in order to start properly,

wherein the pressing actions of the dimmer control button by the user are timed, the method further comprising distinguishing among different timings of the timed pressing actions of the dimmer control button by the user, wherein the timed pressing actions are selectable among short (305), long (306) and very long (307) timings, and

selecting the at least one customizable operating characteristic of the dimmer device by a first timed pressing action (303) on the dimmer control button and adjusting the customizable operating characteristic by a rotation action on the dimmer control button after the first timed pressing,

characterized by the rotation action being within a range of angles stored in the memory and linked to the at least one customizable operating characteristic, and by further comprising storing the at least one customizable operating characteristic or a value of the corresponding dim variable in the memory after a second timed pressing action (317, 318) on the dimmer control button .
The method for controlling dimming according to any of the claims 7, wherein the at least one customizable operating characteristic further comprises a memory mode (315), memorizing a last dim level set by the user before switching off the electrical load, the last dim level for being used as a new default value upon switching the electric load back on.