Patent ID: 8946944
Filing Date: 2015-02-03
Classification: G05F,H01H,H03K,H05B

Abstract:
1. A device for regulating an amount of electrical power provided to at least one electrical load, the device comprising: a housing configured to be installed within a wall box, the housing including a front housing portion coupled to a back housing portion, the front housing portion including a front surface having a control aperture disposed therein, the housing portion further including a plurality of wiring terminals at least partially disposed in the housing; a control circuit disposed in the housing, the control circuit further including a power control element disposed on a mounting surface, the power control element including a linear actuator configured to vary the amount of power provided to the at least one electrical load based on a linear position of the linear actuator, the linear actuator being substantially perpendicular to the front surface and disposed between the mounting surface and the front surface; and a user control assembly accessible to the user via the control aperture and coupled to the linear actuator via a linkage structure, an adjustable portion of the user control assembly being characterized by a rotational motion about a control axis, the linkage structure including a pin and channel arrangement configured to convert the rotational motion of the adjustable portion into a linear motion by the linear actuator, the linear actuator being linearly movable within a range of positions, the channel including parallel walls configured to accommodate the pin, the parallel walls being substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface at each position within the range of positions.