Lighting control device having improved long fade off
View Patent ↗A lighting control device for controlling the light intensity level of at least one lamp is disclosed. The lighting control device includes an actuator and a controller operable to cause the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a first fade rate that is based on the initial light intensity level of the at least one lamp upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated, to fade to off at a second fade rate upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated for only a single transitory duration, to fade from the initial intensity level to a preset desired intensity level at a third fade rate upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated for two successive transitory durations, and to fade to off in a predefined fade rate sequence upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated for more than a transitory duration. The first fade rate is based on a predefined fade-off time. The fade-off time represents a time duration allotted for fading the light intensity level of the at least one lamp from the initial light intensity level to off.
1. A lighting control device for controlling a light intensity level of at least one lamp, the at least one lamp having an initial light intensity level, the lighting control device comprising:
an actuator; and
a controller operable to cause the light intensity level of the at least one lamp
to fade at a first fade rate that is based on the initial light intensity level of the at least one lamp upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated,
to fade to off at a second fade rate upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated for only a single transitory duration,
to fade from the initial intensity level to a preset desired intensity level at a third fade rate upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated for two successive transitory durations, and
to fade to off in a predefined fade rate sequence upon a determination that the actuator has been actuated for more than a transitory duration,
wherein the first fade rate is based on a predefined fade-off time, the fade-off time representing a time duration allotted for fading the light intensity level of the at least one lamp from the initial light intensity level to off.
2. The lighting control device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to cause the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade at a fourth fade rate for a predefined long fade time upon the determination that the actuator has been actuated for more than a transitory duration.
3. The lighting control device of claim 2 , wherein the controller is operable to cause the light intensity level of the at least one lamp to fade to off at a fifth fade rate after the long fade time elapses.
4. The lighting control device of claim 3 , wherein the fifth fade rate is a predefined rate at which the controller is operable to cause the light intensity level to fade from 100% to off over a predefined amount of time.