A microcontroller based multifunctional electronic switch using a detection circuit design to convert external control signal into message carrying sensing signal readable to the microcontroller. Based on a time length of sensing signal and a format of the sensing signal received in a preset instant period of time the microcontroller through the operation of its software program codes is able to recognize working modes chosen by the external control signal generated by user, and thereby selecting appropriate loops of subroutine for execution. The system and method of the present invention may simultaneously be applicable to detection circuit design using infrared ray sensor, electrostatic induction sensor, conduction based touch sensor or push button sensor for performing multifunctions such as controlling on/off switch performance, diming or speed control and delay timer management within the capacity of a single lighting load or an electrical appliance.

A microcontroller based multifunctional electronic switch using a detection circuit design to convert external control signal into message carrying sensing signal readable to the microcontroller. Based on a time length of sensing signal and a format of the sensing signal received in a preset instant period of time the microcontroller through the operation of its software program codes is able to recognize working modes chosen by the external control signal generated by user, and thereby selecting appropriate loops of subroutine for execution. The system and method of the present invention may simultaneously be applicable to detection circuit design using infrared ray sensor, electrostatic induction sensor, conduction based touch sensor or push button sensor for performing multifunctions such as controlling on/off switch performance, diming or speed control and delay timer management within the capacity of a single lighting load or an electrical appliance.

A control device configured for use in a load control system to control an electrical load external to the control device may comprise an actuation member having a front surface defining a capacitive touch surface configured to detect a touch actuation along at least a portion of the front surface. The control device includes a main printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a control circuit, a tactile switch, a controllably conductive device, and a drive circuit operatively coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive or non-conductive to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The control device also includes a capacitive touch PCB that comprises a touch sensitive circuit comprising one or more receiving capacitive touch pads located on the capacitive touch PCB and arranged in a linear array adjacent to the capacitive touch surface.

A load control device may include a semiconductor switch, a control circuit, and first and second terminals adapted to be coupled to a remote device. The load control device may include a first switching circuit coupled to the second terminal, and a second switching circuit coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal. The control circuit may be configured to render the first switching circuit conductive to conduct a charging current from an AC power source to a power supply of the remote device during a first time period of a half-cycle of the AC power source, and further configured to render the first and second switching circuits conductive and non-conductive to communicate with the remote device via the second terminal during a second time period of the half-cycle of the AC power source.

A theory and a technical foundation for building a technical framework of a color temperature tuning technology are disclosed, composing a power allocation algorithm and a power allocation circuitry, wherein the power allocation algorithm is a software for designing a process of dividing and sharing a total electric power between at least a first LED load emitting light with a first color temperature CT1 and a second LED load emitting light with a second color temperature CT2 to generate at least one paired combination of a first electric power X allocated to the first LED load and a second electric power Y allocated to the second LED load to create at least one mingled light color temperature CTapp thru a light diffuser according to color temperature tuning formulas CTapp=CT1.Math.X/(X+Y)+CT2.Math.Y/(X+Y) and X+Y=constant; and the power allocation circuitry is a hardware designed for implementing the process.

A theory and a technical foundation for building a technical framework of a color temperature tuning technology are disclosed, composing a power allocation algorithm and a power allocation circuitry, wherein the power allocation algorithm is a software for designing a process of dividing and sharing a total electric power between at least a first LED load emitting light with a first color temperature CT1 and a second LED load emitting light with a second color temperature CT2 to generate at least one paired combination of a first electric power X allocated to the first LED load and a second electric power Y allocated to the second LED load to create at least one mingled light color temperature CTapp thru a light diffuser according to color temperature tuning formulas CTapp=CT1.Math.X/(X+Y)+CT2.Math.Y/(X+Y) and X+Y=constant; and the power allocation circuitry is a hardware designed for implementing the process.

A multiple location load control system comprises a main device and remote devices, which do not require neutral connections, but allow for visual and audible feedback at the main device and the remote devices. The main device and the remote devices are adapted to be coupled together via an accessory wiring. The main device can be wired on the line side and the load side of the load control system. The main device is configured to enable a charging path to allow the remote devices to charge power supplies through the accessory wiring during a first time period of a half cycle of the AC power source. The main device and the remote devices are configured to communicate with each other via the accessory wiring during a second time period of the half cycle, for example, by actively pulling-up and actively pulling-down the accessory wiring to communicate using tri-state logic.

A lighting device, such as a two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device and a control circuit. The controllably conductive device may supply an AC line voltage to a load in response to a dive signal such that the controllable conductive device is non-conductive for a first duration of time and conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The control circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device that represents a voltage developed across the controllable conductive device during the first duration of time. The control circuit may generate a sine-wave-shaped signal that complements the voltage developed across the controllably conductive device during the second duration of time. The control circuit may also filter the signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the sine-wave-shaped signal during the second duration of time.

A lighting device, such as a two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device and a control circuit. The controllably conductive device may supply an AC line voltage to a load in response to a dive signal such that the controllable conductive device is non-conductive for a first duration of time and conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The control circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device that represents a voltage developed across the controllable conductive device during the first duration of time. The control circuit may generate a sine-wave-shaped signal that complements the voltage developed across the controllably conductive device during the second duration of time. The control circuit may also filter the signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the sine-wave-shaped signal during the second duration of time.

A two-wire lighting control device, may include a controllably conductive device, a signal generation circuit, and a filter circuit. The controllably conductive device may apply an AC line voltage to a load, being conductive for a first duration of time and non-conductive for a second duration of time within a half-cycle of the AC line voltage. The signal generation circuit may generate a non-zero-magnitude signal. And, the filter circuit may receive a signal from the controllably conductive device during the first duration of time and the non-zero-magnitude signal from the signal generation circuit during the second duration of time. The non-zero-magnitude signal may, in effect, fill-in or complement the signal from the controllably conductive device, and any delay variation as a function of the firing angle of the controllably conductive device through the filter circuit may be mitigated by the presence of the non-zero-magnitude signal.