LIGHTING CONTROL HAVING A CAPTURED OFFSET LINEAR GUIDE SYSTEM

COMMANDE D'ECLAIRAGE PRESENTANT UN SYSTEME DE GUIDE LINEAIRE A DECALAGE INTEGRE

English Abstract

A captured offset linear guide system for a lighting control device includes a
faceplate having an elongated slot, a knob, an offset member, and a linear
potentiometer. The offset member allows the linear potentiometer to be offset
from the elongated slot of the faceplate to prevent dirt and dust from
collecting on the potentiometer. Also, utilization of the offset member
eliminates safety concerns of a tool being inserted into the internal
structure of the lighting control device where it might come into contact with
energized electrical components. The faceplate includes two guide rails, which
hold the offset member close to the faceplate and allow for easy assembly of
the faceplate to the lighting control device. Further, the faceplate includes
an alignment rail, which keeps the offset member straight when moving within
the slot.

French Abstract

La présente invention concerne un système de guide linéaire à décalage intégré pour un dispositif de commande d'éclairage, comprenant une platine qui présente une fente allongée, un bouton, un élément de décalage et un potentiomètre linéaire. L'élément de décalage permet au potentiomètre linéaire d'être décalé de la fente allongée de la platine, afin d'empêcher la saleté et la poussière de s'accumuler sur le potentiomètre. L'utilisation de l'élément de décalage permet de supprimer les problèmes de sécurité liés à l'insertion d'un outil dans la structure interne du dispositif de commande d'éclairage où il peut venir en contact avec des composants électriques sous tension. La platine comprend deux rails de guidage qui maintiennent l'élément de décalage à proximité de la platine et permettent un montage facile de la platine sur le dispositif de commande d'éclairage. La platine présente également un rail d'alignement qui maintient l'élément de décalage droit pendant son déplacement à l'intérieur de la fente.

Claims

7
CLAIMS
1. An offset linear guide system for a lighting control device, comprising:
a faceplate having an elongated slot extending in a longitudinal direction;
a knob having a post that extends through the elongated slot of the faceplate,
the post
being operable to move along the elongated slot;
a potentiometer having an adjustment member and being positioned along a first
axis
parallel to and offset in a lateral direction from the elongated slot; and
an offset member coupled between the post of the knob and the adjustment
member of
the potentiometer, the offset member having a length in the longitudinal
direction, the length of
the offset member being substantially less than the length of the elongated
slot;
wherein the adjustment member of the potentiometer moves in response to a
movement
of the knob.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the faceplate comprises a front surface and
a rear
surface, and the system further comprises:
a first guide rail and a second guide rail, the first and second guide rails
being positioned
on the rear surface of the faceplate along a second axis and a third axis,
respectively, the second
axis and the third axis each being parallel to and offset in a lateral
direction from the elongated
slot;
wherein the offset member is captured by the first and second guide rails such
that the
offset member is operable to move along substantially the first axis.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:
an alignment member positioned on the rear surface of the faceplate,
substantially along
the first axis;
wherein the offset member further comprises a groove operable to receive the
alignment
member such that the offset member is prevented from rotating.
4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a bezel having a second slot and being operable to be positioned between the
faceplate

8
and the potentiometer such that the second slot is substantially positioned
along the first axis, the
bezel being located immediately behind the elongated slot such that there is
no direct path from
the elongated slot to the potentiometer.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein the bezel defines a fixed barrier between
the slot
and the potentiometer.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein a resistance of the potentiometer changes in
response to a movement of the knob.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the offset member comprises a post operable
to be
coupled to an adjustment member of a potentiometer of the lighting control
device.
8. A faceplate assembly for a lighting control device, comprising:
a faceplate having a front surface, a rear surface, and an elongated slot
providing an
opening through the faceplate from the front surface to the rear surface;
a knob having a post that extends through the elongated slot of the faceplate,
the post
being operable to move along the elongated slot;
a first guide rail and a second guide rail, the first and second guide rails
being positioned
on the rear surface of the faceplate along a first axis and a second axis,
respectively, the first axis
and the second axis each being parallel to and offset in a lateral direction
from the elongated slot;
and
an offset member coupled to the post of the knob and captured by the first and
second
guide rails such that the offset member is operable to move along
substantially a third axis
parallel to and offset in a lateral direction from the elongated slot.
9. The faceplate assembly of claim 8, further comprising:
an alignment member positioned on the rear surface of the faceplate,
substantially along
the third axis;
wherein the offset member further comprises a groove operable to receive the
alignment member such that the offset member is prevented from rotating.

9
10. The faceplate assembly of claim 8, wherein the offset member comprises a
post
operable to be coupled to an adjustment member of a potentiometer of the
lighting control
device.
11. A lighting control device operable to control the intensity of a lighting
load, the
lighting control device comprising:
a faceplate having an elongated slot extending in a longitudinal direction;
a knob having a post that extends through the elongated slot of the faceplate,
the post
being operable to move along the elongated slot;
a potentiometer having an adjustment member and being positioned along a first
axis
parallel to and offset in a lateral direction from the elongated slot; and
an offset member coupled between the post of the knob and the adjustment
member of
the potentiometer, the offset member having a length in the longitudinal
direction, the length of
the offset member being substantially less than the length of the elongated
slot;
wherein the adjustment member of the potentiometer moves in response to a
movement
of the knob.
12. The lighting control device of claim 11, wherein the faceplate comprises a
front
surface and a rear surface, and the lighting control device further comprises:
a first guide rail and a second guide rail, the first and second guide rails
being positioned
on the rear surface of the faceplate along a second axis and a third axis,
respectively, the second
axis and the third axis each being parallel to and offset in a lateral
direction from the elongated
slot;
wherein the offset member is captured by the first and second guide rails such
that
the offset member is operable to move along substantially the first axis.
13. The lighting control device of claim 12, further comprising:
an alignment member positioned on the rear surface of the faceplate,
substantially
along the first axis;
wherein the offset member further comprises a groove operable to receive the
alignment member such that the offset member is prevented from rotating.

14. The lighting control device of claim 12, further comprising:
a bezel having a second slot and being operable to be positioned between the
faceplate
and the potentiometer such that the second slot is substantially positioned
along the first axis, the
bezel being located immediately behind the elongated slot such that there is
no direct path from
the elongated slot to the potentiometer.
15. The lighting control device of claim 14, wherein the bezel defines a fixed
barrier
between the slot and the potentiometer.
16. The lighting control device of claim 11, wherein a resistance of the
potentiometer
changes in response to a movement of the knob.
17. The lighting control device of claim 11, wherein the intensity of the
lighting load
is controlled in response to a movement of the knob.
18. The lighting control device of claim 12, wherein the faceplate comprises a
second
elongated slot parallel to the first elongated slot and extending in the
longitudinal direction, and
the lighting control device further comprises:
a second knob having a post that extends through the second elongated slot of
the
faceplate, the post being operable to move along the second elongated slot;
a second potentiometer having an adjustment member and being positioned along
a
fourth axis parallel to and offset in a lateral direction from the second
elongated slot;
a second offset member coupled between the post of the second knob and the
adjustment
member of the second potentiometer such that the adjustment member of the
second
potentiometer moves in response to a movement of the second knob, the second
offset member
having a length in the longitudinal direction, the length of the second offset
member being
substantially less than the length of the second elongated slot; and
a third guide rail and a fourth guide rail, the third and fourth guide rails
being positioned
on the rear surface of the faceplate along a fifth axis and a sixth axis,
respectively, the fifth axis
and the sixth axis each being parallel to and offset in a lateral direction
from the second
elongated slot;

11
wherein the second offset member is captured by the third and fourth guide
rails such that
the offset member is operable to move along substantially the fourth axis.

Description

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LIGHTING CONTROL HAVING A CAPTURED OFFSET LINEAR GUIDE SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
(0001] The present invention relates to lighting control devices, specifically
lighting control
devices having linear sliders.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Many control devices incorporate linear slide mechanisms on a user
interface to allow
a continuous range of adjustment of a characteristic of the device being
controlled. For example,
many residential dimmers include linear sliders for continuous control of the
intensity of a connected
lamp from a minimum to a maximum value. Also, theatrical stage-boards include
many sliders for
inodification of the intensities, colors, and other characteristics of the
theatrical lights during a
performance. Finally; many audio electronic devices include linear slides for
tuning of the volume
of the audio output of the device.
[0003] Most prior art slider controls consist of a linear slide potentiometer,
a faceplate
inounted over the potentiometer, and an actuation member coupled to the
potentiometer through a
slot in the faceplate for adjusting the linear potentiometer. Typically, the
po'tentiometer is part of a
resistive divider and adjustment of the potentiometer will change the output
voltage of the resistive
divider. The output voltage is provided to a control circuit that will change
the characteristic of the
controlled device in response to changes in the output voltage of the
resistive divider.
[0004] Because the location of the slot of prior art slider controls is
positioned immediately
above the potentiometer, it is common for dirt and dust to build up on the
potentiometer. This can
cause intermittent behavior of the potentiometer, require periodic cleaning of
the slider control, and
decrease the lifetime of the potentiometer. Also, since dimmers are connected
to line-voltage
potentials, the elongated slot in the faceplate can pose a safety issue if a
conductive tool, such as a

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screwdriver, is inserted into the slot and makes contact with the
potentiometer and other electrical
components of the dimmer.
[0005] Thus, there exists a need for a slider control, in which the
potentiometer is protected
from foreign materials entering the device from the outside. More
specifically, there exists a need
for a slider control in which the potentiometer is protected from dirt and
dust build-up and from tools
making contact with the internal electrical components from the outside of the
device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
100061 According to the present invention, a captured offset linear guide
system for a
lighting control device includes a faceplate, a knob, an offset member, and a
linear potentiometer.
The faceplate includes an elongated slot that is positioned along a
longitudinal axis. The linear
potentiometer is positioned along an axis that is parallel to and offset in a
lateral direction from the
elongated slot. The knob is positioned to the front of the faceplate and
extends through the
elongated slot to couple to the offset member, which couples to the linear
potentiometer.
[0007] Further, the knob has a narrow portion that extends along an axis
substantially
perpendicular to the plane of the front surface of the faceplate through the
elongated slot to make
connection with the offset member. The offset member includes a post that
extends along an axis
substantially perpendicular to the plane of the front surface of the
faceplate. The post of the offset
member contacts an adjustment member of the linear potentiometer. The axis of
the post of the
offset member is parallel to the axis of the narrow portion of the knob, yet
offset in a lateral direction
such that the axis of the post does not intersect with the elongated slot.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the faceplate
further comprises
two guide rails and an alignment rail all parallel to the longitudinal axis of
the elongated slot. The
offset rnember is held close to the faceplate by the guide rails and is
operable to move along the
longitudinal axis from one end of the elongated slot to the other end. The
offset member includes a
notch for coupling to the alignment rail so that the offset member does not
become misaligned when
moving along the longitudinal axis.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE' DRAWINGS
[0009] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lighting control device according to
the present
invention;
[0010] Fig. 2 is a front view of the lighting control device of Fig. 1;
j0011] Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 2;
[0012] Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 2;
[0013] Fig. 5A is a front view of the faceplate of the lighting control device
of Fig. 1;
[0014] Fig. 5B is a sectional view taken along line X-X in Fig. 5A; and
[0015] Fig. 6 is a rear perspective view of the faceplate assembly of the
lighting control
device of Fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of
the preferred
embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended
drawings. For the
purposes of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings an
embodiment that is presently
preferred, in which like numerals represent similar parts throughout the
several views of the
drawings, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to
the specific methods and
instrumentalities disclosed.
[0017] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a lighting control device 10
according to the
present invention. A faceplate 12 of the lighting control device 10 is
provided surrounded by an
adapter 14. The faceptate 12 includes an elongated slot 16. A knob 18 is
provided for a user
interface for the lighting control device. The lighting control device 10 may
be a dimmer which is
connected in series between an alternating-current (AC) power source and a
lighting load and
includes a semiconductor switch for controlling the intensity of the lighting
load. Also, the lighting
control device 10 may be a low-voltage device that connects to a control link
and communicates
digital signals to a central processor, which is connected to a remote dimming
module. In both

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systems, moving the knob 18 to the top of the elongated slot 16 will increase
the intensity of the
controlled lighting loads and moving the knob 18 to the bottom of the
elongated slot 16 will decrease
the intensity of the controlled lighting loads.
[0018] Fig. 2 shows a front view of the lighting control device 10 of Fig. 1.
A sectional view
taken along line A-A in Fig. 2 is shown in Fig. 3. A back cover 20 and a
beze122 together form the
outer enclosure of the lighting control device 10. The faceplate 12 and the
adapter 14 connect to the
bezel 22. A printed circuit board (PCB) 24, which includes the electrical
components of the lighting
control device, is housed inside and is supported by the back cover 20 and the
bezel 22. A linear
potentiometer 26 is mounted on the PCB 24 with ele,ctrical connections made
through leads 28.
Movement of an adjustment member 30 of the linear potentiometer 26 will cause
the resistance
between two of the leads 28 to change.
[0019] The knob 18 has a narrow portion 32 that extends through the elongated
slot 16 of the
faceplate 12 and attaches to an offset member 34. The offset member 34
includes a post 36 that
makes contact with the adjustment member 30 of the linear potentiometer 26
through a slot 38 in the
bezei 22. The offset member 34 allows a movement of the knob 18 to change the
position of the
adjustment member 30 and thus change the resistance between the leads 28 of
the potentiometer 26.
[0020] The offset member 34 is held in close proximity with the faceplate 12
by two guide
rails 40, i.e. the offset member is "captured" by the guide rails. The guide
rails 40 allow the offset
member 34 (and the knob 18) to move freely along an axis perpendicular to the
plane of the drawing
of Fig. 3 (i.e., parallel to the x-axis of Fig. 2), but not in directions
parallel to the y-axis or the z-axis.
An alignment rail 42 extending parallel to the slot 16 is provided on the back
surface of the
faceplate 12 along the x-axis. The alignment rai142 couples with a notch in
the offset member 34 to
prevent misalignment or rotation of the offset member while the offset member
is moving along the
x-axis (i.e. along the length of the elongated slot 16).
[00211 Referring to Fig. 4, a sectional view taken along line B-B in Fig. 2 is
shown. As
shown, the body of the potentiometer 26 extends for the length of the PCB 24.
The offset member
34 is located between the faceplate 12 and the bezel 22. The post 36 of the
offset member 34 fits
into a notch in the adjustment member 30 of the potentiometer 26. The knob 18
is able to move over
the length of the elongated slot 16. The knob 18 is connected to the offset
member 34 by two posts

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44 through a heat-staking process. The heat-staking process involves melting
the ends of the posts
44 and then cooling the posts such that the ends take a different shape and
the posts remain in
connection with the offset member 32.
{0022] Because the narrow portion 32 of the knob 18 and the post 36 of the
offset member
34 are not aligned, the bezel 22 is located immediately behind the elongated
slot 16. This permits
only an indirect, circuitous spatial path from the elongated slot 16 to the
PCB 24 and the linear
potentiometer 26 inside the lighting control device 10. There is no direct
path from the slot 16 to the
PCB 24 and the potentiometer 26. The offset nature of the guide system allows
for some advantages
over the prior art. First, with the offset design of the present invention, it
is much more difficult for
dust and dirt to get inside of the lighting control device 10 and onto the
linear potentiometer 26.
Thus, minimal cleaning is needed and the potentiometer 26 will have a longer
lifetime. Next, the
since there is not a straight path from the elongated slot 16 to the
potentiometer 26 and other internal
electrical components on the PCB 24, it is not possible to insert a tool into
the lighting control-device
to cause an unsafe condition. Finally, since the beze122 is positioned between
the elongated slot
16 and the PCB 24 and the internal structure of the lighting control device 10
cannot be seen by a
user, the lighting control device 10 provides an improved aesthetic over prior
art slider controls.
[0023] A front view of the faceplate 12 detached from the lighting control
device 10 is
shown in Fig. 5A. A sectional view taken along line X-X in Fig. 5A is shown in
Fig. 5B. The guide
rails 40 and the alignment rail 42 can be seen.
[0024] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the faceplate assembly 46 consisting of
the faceplate
12, the offset member 34, and the knob 18, viewed from the rear, bottom, and
right sides of the
faceplate. The posts 44 of the lalob 18 extend through the offset member 34 to
connect the offset
member to the knob. The offset member 34 is held close to the faceplate 12 by
the guide rails 40.
The guide rails 40 and the alignment rail 42 are slightly longer in length
than the elongated slot 16,
such that the knob 18 is able to move from one end of the slot to the other.
[0025] Because of the guide rails 40 and the connectioil between the offset
member 32 and
the knob 18, the faceplate assembly 46 remains assembled when removed from
the' lighting control
device 10. This allows for easy connection of the faceplate assembly 46 to the
lighting control

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device 10 during the manufacturing process and after installation of the
lighting control. Also, the
faceplate assembly 46 permits a simple means for shipping replacement
faceplates to the field.
[0026] An additional unexpected benefit of the present design is that the
movement of the
knob along the elongated slot has an exceptional feel. The alignment rail 42
prevents the offset
member 34 from rotating during movement along the slot, which eliminates
unnecessary friction of
the offset member 34 with the guide rails 40. Further, the guide rails 40
provide a smooth surface
for the offset member 34 to move across during travel.
[0027] Although the present invention has been described in relation to
particular
embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses
will become apparent
to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present
invention be limited not by the
specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

Representative Drawing