Wireless load control device
View Patent ↗A provided wireless wallbox dimmer may accommodate a plurality of button configurations. The dimmer may be configured to contain a variable number of controllably conductive devices. The dimmer may include a yoke that defines a first plane and an antenna that defines a second plane that is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first plane. The yoke may have a flange that is oriented angularly offset relative to the first plane and provides a plurality of mounting locations for controllably conductive devices. The antenna may provide the dimmer with a first wireless transmission range. The dimmer may include a faceplate that cooperates with the antenna to provide the dimmer with a second wireless transmission range that is broader than the first wireless transmission range. The dimmer may include a button assembly that is supported independently of the yoke.
1. A wallbox-mountable electric load control apparatus comprising:
a faceplate member having a front surface and a rear surface, the faceplate member couplable to an electrical wallbox;
radio frequency transmitter circuitry disposable within the electrical wallbox;
an antenna structure coupled to the RF transmitter circuitry, the first antenna structure having a transmission range, the first antenna structure disposed within the area of the faceplate; and
an electrically conductive element isolated from the RF transmitter circuitry, the electrically conductive element to cooperate with the antenna structure to provide a transmission range greater than the antenna structure transmission range, the electrically conductive element disposed within the area of the faceplate.
2. The wallbox-mountable electric load control apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a yoke structure couplable to the electrical wallbox.
3. The wallbox-mountable electric load control apparatus of claim 2 wherein the yoke structure further comprises:
a “C-shaped” yoke structure couplable to the electrical wallbox.
4. The wallbox-mountable electric load control apparatus of claim 2 wherein the “C-shaped” yoke structure further comprises:
an electrically conductive shorting member disposed across the open portion of the “C-shaped” yoke structure to form an electrically conductive loop structure.
5. The wallbox-mountable electric load control apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
an electrically conductive member conductively coupling the electrically conductive element to the yoke structure.
6. The wallbox-mountable electric load control apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive element is positionable proximate at least a portion of the rear surface of the faceplate member.
7. The wallbox-mountable electric load control apparatus of claim 1 wherein the antenna structure comprises a monopole antenna structure.
8. The wallbox mountable electric load control apparatus of claim 7 wherein the monopole antenna structure comprises an open outer loop that having a first end and an open inner loop that includes a second end, the open outer loop coplanar with and at least partially surrounding an open inner loop.
9. The wallbox-mountable electric load control apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controllably conductive device disposable in the electrical wallbox; and
control circuitry disposable in the electrical wallbox, the control circuitry to reversibly transition the controllably conductive device between a CONDUCTIVE state and a NON-CONDUCTIVE state to adjust power delivered to an operatively coupled electric load device.
10. The wallbox-mountable electric load control apparatus of claim 1 :
wherein the faceplate member comprises a planar faceplate member; and
wherein the electrically conductive element comprises a planar electrically conductive element.
11. The wallbox-mountable electric load control apparatus of claim 10 wherein the planar electrically conductive element includes at least one aperture.
12. The wallbox-mountable electric load control apparatus of claim 11 :
wherein the antenna structure comprises a planar structure defining a first plane;
wherein the faceplate member comprises a planar member defining a second plane, the second plane parallel to the first plane; and
wherein the electrically conductive element comprises a planar member defining a third plane, the third plane between the first plane and the second plane, the third plane parallel to the first plane and the second plane.
13. The wallbox-mountable electric load control apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising an adapter member;
wherein the adapter member comprises a non-electrically conductive member physically couplable to the yoke member;
wherein the faceplate member comprises a faceplate member physically couplable to the adapter member;
wherein the rear surface of the faceplate member comprises a non-electrically conductive material; and
wherein the electrically conductive element is disposed between the adapter member and the rear surface of the faceplate member.