Patent Description:
Home automation systems, which have become increasing popular, may be used by homeowners to integrate and control multiple electrical and/or electronic devices in their house. For example, a homeowner may connect appliances, lights, blinds, thermostats, cable or satellite boxes, security systems, telecommunication systems, and the like to each other via a wireless network. The homeowner may control these devices using a controller, a remote control device (such as a wall-mounted keypad), or user interface provided via a phone, a tablet, a computer, and the like directly connected to the network or remotely connected via the Internet. These devices may communicate with each other and the controller to, for example, improve their efficiency, their convenience, and/or their usability. The control devices may be configured to provide feedback, for example, by illuminating one or more visual indicators, to indicate a state and/or present level of the system, the control device, and/or one or more of the electrical loads.

<CIT> , <CIT> and <CIT> are relevant prior art.

The invention is defined in the independent claim.

As described herein, a control device for controlling power delivered to an electrical load may illuminate an area around a button of the control device. For example, the control device may illuminate a gap formed between the button and an opening of a faceplate of the control device when the button is received in the opening of the faceplate. The control device may include a light source that may be located inside of the control device and may illuminate the gap between the button and the opening of the faceplate. The control device may also include a control circuit that may be configured to cause the power delivered to the electrical load to be adjusted in response to an actuation of the button.

The control circuit may be configured to control the light source to illuminate the gap between the button and the opening of the faceplate. For example, the control circuit may illuminate the gap to a dim level to provide a nightlight feature. The control circuit may illuminate the gap in response to an actuation of the button. The control circuit may illuminate the gap to provide an indication of a status of the electrical load. The control device may comprise comprises a plurality of buttons received in respective openings of the faceplate, and the control circuit may illuminate a gap around one of the buttons to indicate a selected preset.

The control device may include a control module for housing the light source and a mechanical switch configured to be actuated by the button. The faceplate may be attached to the control module. The button of the control device may have a cap portion that may be actuated by the user and a diffuser portion that may contact a rear surface of the cap portion and may conduct light emitted by the light source to illuminate the gap around the button. The opening in the faceplate may have a beveled edge that extends from an outer periphery at a front surface of the faceplate to an inner periphery that is characterized by a smaller diameter than the outer periphery. The gap may be formed between the button and the inner periphery of the opening. The rear surface of the cap portion is positioned to the front of a plane of the inner periphery when the button is received in the opening of the faceplate. In addition, the diffuser portion may extend beyond a plane of the front surface of the faceplate.

<FIG> is a perspective view and <FIG> is a front view of an example control device (e.g., a wall-mounted keypad <NUM>) for controlling the amount of power delivered to one or more electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads), for example, as part of a load control system. The keypad <NUM> may comprise a faceplate <NUM> and one or more buttons <NUM> (e.g., four circular buttons as shown in <FIG>) received through respective openings <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM>. The faceplate <NUM> and the buttons <NUM> may have metallic surfaces. The openings <NUM> in the faceplate <NUM> may each have respective beveled surfaces <NUM> that slope from an outer periphery <NUM> (e.g., an outer circular periphery) at a front surface <NUM> of the faceplate to an inner periphery <NUM> (e.g., an inner circular periphery). The inner periphery <NUM> of each opening <NUM> may be characterized by a smaller diameter than the outer periphery <NUM>. The inner periphery <NUM> of each opening <NUM> may be spaced apart from the respective button <NUM> to form gaps <NUM> around the buttons.

In response to an actuation of one or more of the buttons <NUM>, the keypad <NUM> may be configured to cause the electrical loads to be controlled, for example, to turn the electrical loads on and off and/or the adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical loads (e.g., dimming control). For example, the keypad <NUM> may transmit a digital message to one or more external load control devices (e.g., dimmers, light-emitting diode drivers, motorized window treatments, thermostats, system controllers, etc.) via a communication link for controlling respective electrical loads in response to an actuation of one of the buttons <NUM>. The communication link may comprise a wired communication link or a wireless communication link, such as a radio-frequency (RF) communication link. Alternatively or additionally, the keypad <NUM> may comprise an internal load control circuit for controlling the power delivered to one or more electrical loads (e.g., electrically coupled to the keypad), and may be configured to control the internal load control circuit in response to an actuation of one of the buttons. Examples of load control systems having remote control devices, such as the keypad <NUM>, are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned <CIT>, entitled SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF DEVICES, and <CIT>, entitled LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM HAVING INDEPENDENTLY-CONTROLLED UNITS RESPONSIVE TO A BROADCAST CONTROLLER.

Actuations of the buttons <NUM> may cause the keypad <NUM> to control the electrical load according to respective commands (e.g., predetermined and/or preprogrammed commands). For example, the buttons <NUM> of the keypad <NUM> may comprise an on button for turning on the electrical load, an off button for turning off the electrical load, a raise button for increasing the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, and/or a lower button for decreasing the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. Additionally or alternatively, actuations of the one or more of the buttons <NUM> may recall respective presets (e.g., predetermined and/or preprogrammed presets or scenes), which may cause one or more electrical loads to be controlled to different power levels as set by the presets. The buttons <NUM> may each comprise indicia (not shown), such as text or icons, for indicating the command and/or preset that may be selected in response to an actuation of the respective button. Additionally or alternatively, the faceplate <NUM> may have indicia on the front surface <NUM> of the faceplate adjacent to each of the buttons <NUM> for indicating the command and/or preset that may be selected in response to an actuation of the respective button.

The keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate an area around each of the buttons <NUM>, for example, by illuminating the gap <NUM> around each of the buttons <NUM>. For example, the keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gaps <NUM> to provide feedback to a user. The keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gap <NUM> around one of the buttons <NUM> (e.g., by blinking and/or strobing the illumination) when that button is actuated (e.g., to indicate that the command has been received and/or the keypad <NUM> is transmitting a message to external load control devices). The keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gap <NUM> around one of the buttons <NUM> to indicate the status of one or more associated electrical loads (e.g., status information regarding whether the electrical loads are on or off). The keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gap <NUM> around one of the buttons <NUM> to indicate the selection of a respective preset associated with the button. For example, the keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gap <NUM> around the button <NUM> of the selected preset to a first intensity level and to illuminate the gaps <NUM> around each of the other buttons to a second intensity level that may be less than the first intensity level. The keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gaps <NUM> around one or more of the buttons <NUM> (e.g., solidly illuminate, blink, or strobe) for an amount of time after an actuation of the button and then turn off the illumination. In addition, the keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gaps <NUM> (e.g., to a dim level) to provide a nightlight feature, so that the keypad may be located in a dark environment.

<FIG> is an example front exploded view and <FIG> is an example rear exploded view of the keypad <NUM>. The keypad <NUM> may comprise a control module <NUM>, which may include the electrical circuitry of the keypad (e.g., as will be described with reference to <FIG>). The control module <NUM> may comprise an enclosure having a front enclosure portion <NUM>, a rear enclosure portion <NUM>, and a carrier <NUM> (e.g., a button support structure). The control module <NUM> may comprise a connector <NUM> that may allow the control module to be electrically connected to a power source and/or a wired communication link (e.g., digital communication link and/or an analog control link).

The buttons <NUM> may each comprise a cap portion <NUM>, a diffuser portion <NUM>, and an elongated portion <NUM>. The cap portion <NUM> of each button <NUM> may be opaque. For example, each cap portion <NUM> may be made of metal. Alternatively, each cap portion <NUM> may be covered with an opaque material, such as a metallic sheet and/or paint. The cap portion <NUM> of each button <NUM> may comprise a sidewall <NUM> and be received in the respective opening <NUM> in the faceplate <NUM>. Each cap portion <NUM> may have a front surface <NUM> that may be actuated (e.g., pressed in towards the control module <NUM>) by a user when the cap portion <NUM> is received in the respective opening <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the inner periphery <NUM> of each opening <NUM> may be located in a plane parallel to a plane of the front surface <NUM> of the faceplate and located between the front surface <NUM> and a rear surface <NUM> of the faceplate. The openings <NUM> may also comprise sidewalls <NUM> that that extend between the inner periphery <NUM> and the rear surface <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM>. The sidewalls <NUM> of the openings <NUM> may be substantially parallel to the sidewalls <NUM> of the cap portions <NUM> of the respective buttons <NUM> when the cap portions <NUM> are received in the openings <NUM>.

The diffuser portion <NUM> may have a larger periphery than the inner periphery <NUM> of the respective opening <NUM> (e.g., when the button <NUM> is received in the opening). The diffuser portion <NUM> may be positioned behind and overlap the gap <NUM> of the respective opening <NUM> when the cap portion <NUM> is received in the opening <NUM>. The diffuser portion <NUM> may conduct light emitted from light source(s) inside the control module <NUM> (e.g., light-emitting diodes <NUM> shown in <FIG>) to illuminate the gap <NUM> around the respective button <NUM>.

The elongated portion <NUM> of each button <NUM> may be received in respective openings <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> of the control module <NUM> and may actuate a respective mechanical switch, for example, inside of the control module <NUM>. The cap portion <NUM> of each button <NUM> may be received in the respective openings <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM>. The faceplate <NUM> may comprise posts <NUM> that extend from the rear surface <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM>, and may be received in openings <NUM> in the front enclosure portion <NUM> of the control module <NUM>. The faceplate <NUM> may be attached to the control module <NUM> via attachment screws <NUM> received through openings <NUM> in the rear enclosure portion <NUM> and openings <NUM> (e.g., threaded openings) in the posts <NUM> of the faceplate when the posts are located in the openings <NUM> of the front enclosure portion <NUM>. When the faceplate <NUM> is attached to the control module <NUM>, the buttons <NUM> may be captured between the faceplate and the control module.

<FIG> is an example front exploded view and <FIG> is an example rear exploded view of one of the buttons <NUM> of the keypad <NUM>. The elongated portion <NUM> may comprise a base <NUM> (e.g., a cylindrical base) having ribs <NUM>. The ribs <NUM> may be received in corresponding grooves <NUM> of the openings <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> to prevent rotation of the buttons <NUM> when the elongated portions are inserted in the openings <NUM>. The elongated portion <NUM> may comprise a recess <NUM> for interacting with the respective internal mechanical switch (e.g., as will be described in greater detail below with reference to <FIG>). The elongated portion <NUM> may also comprise an end portion <NUM> (e.g., a cylindrical end portion) configured to be received in an opening <NUM> (e.g., a cylindrical opening) of the diffuser portion <NUM>. The diffuser portion <NUM> may comprise a projection <NUM> (e.g., a cylindrical drum) configured to be received in a recess <NUM> in a rear surface <NUM> of the cap portion <NUM>. The diffuser portion <NUM> may also comprise a flange <NUM> that may surround the projection <NUM>. The flange <NUM> may contact the rear surface <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM> when the faceplate is connected to the control module <NUM>, e.g., to capture the button <NUM> between the faceplate and the control module.

<FIG> is a bottom cross-sectional view of the keypad <NUM> taken through the center of one of the buttons <NUM>, for example, the bottom button as shown in <FIG>. The control module <NUM> may comprise a printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> mounted between the front enclosure portion <NUM> and the rear enclosure portion <NUM>. The control module <NUM> may include one or more mechanical switches that each comprise a deflectable dome <NUM> (e.g., a conductive dome) that may be received in the recess <NUM> of the elongated portion <NUM> of the respective button <NUM>. When the button <NUM> is pushed in towards the control module <NUM>, the dome <NUM> may be configured to flex and contact the printed circuit board <NUM>, which may short out electrical traces on the printed circuit board <NUM> and indicate the actuation of the button to a control circuit (not shown) of the keypad <NUM>. Examples of keypads having mechanical switches that include deflectable domes are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned <CIT>, entitled CONTROL DEVICES HAVING INDEPENDENTLY SUSPENDED BUTTONS FOR CONTROLLED ACTUATION. Additionally or alternatively, the mechanical switches of the control module <NUM> may comprise mechanical tactile switch packages mounted to the printed circuit board <NUM> and/or another type of switching mechanism and/or circuit.

The control module <NUM> may further comprise one or more light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) <NUM>, mounted to the printed circuit board <NUM>. For example, the control module <NUM> may comprise two LEDs <NUM> mounted behind each of the buttons <NUM>, for example, on both sides of each of the dome <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The carrier <NUM> of the control module <NUM> may be made of a transparent or translucent material to allow light emitted by the LEDs <NUM> to be conducted through the carrier towards the faceplate <NUM>. The diffuser portion <NUM> of each of the buttons <NUM> may operate to conduct the light emitted by the LEDs <NUM> to the gaps <NUM> surrounding each of the buttons <NUM>.

<FIG> is an enlarged partial bottom cross-sectional view showing the structure of the keypad <NUM> around the gaps <NUM> between one of the buttons <NUM> and the faceplate <NUM> in greater detail. The sidewall <NUM> of the cap portion <NUM> of each button <NUM> may be spaced apart from the sidewall <NUM> of the respective opening <NUM> by a distance D1 (e.g., approximately <NUM>") in a lateral direction A of the keypad <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The rear surface <NUM> of the cap portion <NUM> of each button <NUM> may contact a support surface <NUM> of the diffuser portion <NUM>. The diffuser portion <NUM> may have a sidewall <NUM> and a rear surface <NUM> that may be opposite the support surface <NUM>. The diffuser portion <NUM> may be characterized by a radius at the sidewall <NUM> that is slightly bigger than a radius of the cap portion <NUM>. The sidewall <NUM> of the diffuser portion <NUM> may be spaced apart from the sidewall <NUM> of the respective opening <NUM> by a distance D2 (e.g., approximately <NUM>") in the lateral direction A. For example, the radius of the diffuser portion <NUM> at the sidewall <NUM> may be approximately <NUM>" larger than the radius of the cap portion <NUM>.

The rear surface <NUM> of the cap portion <NUM> may be spaced to the front of the plane of the inner periphery <NUM> of the opening <NUM> by a distance D3 (e.g., approximately <NUM>") in a transverse direction T of the keypad <NUM>, which may allow more exposure of the diffuser portion <NUM> to the view of a user of the keypad. The diffuser portion <NUM> may comprise a light-emitting surface <NUM> between the support surface <NUM> and the sidewall <NUM>. The diffuser portion <NUM> may conduct light emitted by the LEDs <NUM> received by the rear surface <NUM> of the diffuser portion to the light-emitting surface <NUM>. The light-emitting surface <NUM> may be configured to emit light through the gap <NUM> around the respective button <NUM>. The light-emitting surface <NUM> may be oriented at an angle with respect to the support surface <NUM> and the sidewall <NUM>.

While the diffuser portion <NUM> is shown connected to the cap portion <NUM> and the elongated portion <NUM> of the button in <FIG>, the diffuser portion <NUM> may alternatively be coupled to the sidewall <NUM> of the opening and/or the rear surface <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM>. The cap portion <NUM> may be connected to the elongated portion <NUM> (e.g., directly connected to only the elongated portion) and may move through an opening in the diffuser portion to actuate the mechanical switch in response to an actuation of the cap portion <NUM>.

While the keypad <NUM> shown in <FIG> and described herein has circular buttons <NUM> and circular openings <NUM> in the faceplate <NUM>, the buttons and the openings may have different shapes, sizes, and depths. In addition, the faceplate <NUM> may have a different shape, size, and/or thickness. <FIG> is a perspective view of another example keypad <NUM>' having square buttons <NUM>' received in square openings <NUM>' of a square faceplate <NUM>' to form a square gap <NUM>'. The buttons <NUM>, <NUM>', the openings <NUM>, <NUM>', the faceplates <NUM>, <NUM>', and the gaps <NUM>, <NUM>' may also have other shapes, such as rectangle, triangle, oval, and/or ellipse shapes.

<FIG> illustrate another example control device (e.g., a wall-mounted keypad <NUM>) for controlling the amount of power delivered to one or more electrical loads (e.g., lighting loads). The keypad <NUM> may have many of the same elements and features as the keypad <NUM> shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view and <FIG> is a front view of the keypad <NUM>. The keypad <NUM> may comprise a faceplate <NUM> and one or more buttons <NUM> (e.g., two circular buttons as shown in <FIG>) received through respective openings <NUM> in a front surface <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM>. <FIG> is an enlarged side view of one of the buttons <NUM> of the keypad <NUM>. The faceplate <NUM> and the buttons <NUM> may have metallic surfaces. The openings <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM> may not have beveled edges (e.g., as the openings <NUM> shown in <FIG>). Each opening <NUM> may be spaced apart from the respective button <NUM> to form gaps <NUM> around the buttons.

The keypad <NUM> may be configured to cause the electrical loads to be controlled (e.g., to turn the electrical loads on and off and/or the adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical loads) in response to an actuation of one or more of the buttons <NUM>. For example, the keypad <NUM> may transmit a digital message to one or more external load control devices via a communication link (e.g., a wired or wireless communication link) for controlling respective electrical loads in response to an actuation of one of the buttons <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, the keypad <NUM> may comprise an internal load control circuit for controlling the power delivered to one or more electrical loads (e.g., electrically coupled to the keypad), and may be configured to control the internal load control circuit in response to an actuation of one of the buttons <NUM>. Actuations of the buttons <NUM> may cause the keypad <NUM> to control the electrical load according to respective commands (e.g., predetermined and/or preprogrammed commands). For example, actuations of the buttons <NUM> of the keypad <NUM> may cause the one or more electrical loads to be controlled according to predetermined and/or preprogrammed commands (e.g., to turn on or off, and/or to adjust the amount of power delivered to the electrical load) and/or according to predetermined and/or preprogrammed presets (e.g., predetermined and/or preprogrammed scenes).

The keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate an area around each of the buttons <NUM>, for example, by illuminating the gap <NUM> around each of the buttons <NUM>. For example, the keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gaps <NUM> to provide feedback to a user. The keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gap <NUM> around one of the buttons <NUM> (e.g., by blinking and/or strobing the illumination) when that button is actuated (e.g., to indicate that the command has been received and/or the keypad <NUM> is transmitting a message to external load control devices). The keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gap <NUM> around one of the buttons <NUM> to indicate the status of one or more associated electrical loads and/or to indicate the selection of a respective preset associated with the button. For example, the keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gap <NUM> around the button <NUM> of the selected preset to a first intensity level and to illuminate the gaps <NUM> around each of the other buttons to a second intensity level that may be less than the first intensity level. The keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gaps <NUM> around one or more of the buttons <NUM> (e.g., solidly illuminate, blink, or strobe) for an amount of time after an actuation of the button and then turn off the illumination. In addition, the keypad <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gaps <NUM> (e.g., to a dim level) to provide a nightlight feature, so that the keypad may be located in a dark environment.

<FIG> is an example front exploded view and <FIG> is an example rear exploded view of the keypad <NUM>. The keypad <NUM> may comprise a control module <NUM>, which may include the electrical circuitry of the keypad (e.g., as will be described with reference to <FIG>) and may be connected (e.g., directly connected) to a rear surface <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM>. The control module <NUM> may comprise an enclosure having a front enclosure portion <NUM>, a rear enclosure portion <NUM>, and a carrier <NUM> (e.g., a button support structure). The control module <NUM> may comprise a connector <NUM> that may allow the control module to be electrically connected to a power source and/or a wired communication link (e.g., digital communication link and/or an analog control link).

The buttons <NUM> may each comprise a cap portion <NUM>, a diffuser portion <NUM>, and an elongated portion <NUM>. The cap portion <NUM> of each button <NUM> may be received in the respective openings <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM>. The cap portion <NUM> of each button <NUM> may be opaque (e.g., made of metal) and/or may be covered with an opaque material (e.g., such as a metallic sheet and/or paint). Each cap portion <NUM> may have a front surface <NUM> that may be actuated (e.g., pressed in towards the control module <NUM>) by a user when the cap portion <NUM> is received in the respective opening <NUM>. When the buttons <NUM> are received in the openings <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM>, the diffuser portion <NUM> may extend beyond a plane of a front surface of the faceplate <NUM>, such that the diffuser portion <NUM> can be seen from the sides of the keypad <NUM> (e.g., as shown in <FIG>). The diffuser portion <NUM> may also comprise a flange <NUM>, such that the diffuser portion <NUM> may have a larger periphery than the respective opening <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM> (e.g., when the button <NUM> is received in the opening). The flange <NUM> may contact the rear surface <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM> when the faceplate is connected to the control module <NUM>, e.g., to capture the button <NUM> between the faceplate and the control module. The diffuser portion <NUM> may conduct light emitted from light source(s) inside the control module <NUM> (e.g., light-emitting diodes <NUM> shown in <FIG>) to illuminate the gap <NUM> around the respective button <NUM>.

The elongated portion <NUM> of each button <NUM> may be received in respective openings <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> of the control module <NUM> (e.g., two of the plurality of openings <NUM> shown in <FIG>). The elongated portion <NUM> may comprise a base <NUM> having ribs <NUM> that may be received in corresponding grooves <NUM> of the openings <NUM> of the carrier <NUM> (e.g., to prevent rotation of the buttons <NUM> when the elongated portions <NUM> are inserted in the openings <NUM>). Each button <NUM> may have a return spring <NUM> surrounding the elongated portion <NUM>. The return springs <NUM> may contact the carrier <NUM> and may bias each of the buttons <NUM> towards the faceplate <NUM>, such that the flange <NUM> of the reflector portion <NUM> contacts the rear surface <NUM> of the faceplate.

The faceplate <NUM> may comprise posts <NUM> that extend from the rear surface <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM>, and may be received in openings <NUM> in the front enclosure portion <NUM> of the control module <NUM>. The faceplate <NUM> may be attached to the control module <NUM> via attachment screws <NUM> received through openings <NUM> in the rear enclosure portion <NUM> and openings <NUM> (e.g., threaded openings) in the posts <NUM> of the faceplate when the posts are located in the openings <NUM> of the front enclosure portion <NUM>. When the faceplate <NUM> is attached to the control module <NUM>, the buttons <NUM> may be captured between the faceplate and the control module.

<FIG> is a bottom cross-sectional view of the keypad <NUM> taken through the center of one of the buttons <NUM>, for example, the top button as shown in <FIG>. The control module <NUM> may comprise a printed circuit board (PCB) <NUM> mounted between the front enclosure portion <NUM> and the rear enclosure portion <NUM>. The elongated portion <NUM> of each button <NUM> may be configured to actuate a respective mechanical switch <NUM> (e.g., a mechanical tactile switch) mounted to the printed circuit board <NUM> inside of the control module <NUM>. In response to an actuation of one of the buttons <NUM>, the return springs <NUM> of the button may compress to allow the elongated portion <NUM> to travel through the respective opening <NUM> and actuate in the respective mechanical switch <NUM>. The control module <NUM> may further comprise one or more light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) <NUM>, mounted to the printed circuit board <NUM> (e.g., two LEDs mounted behind each of the buttons <NUM> on both sides of each of the mechanical switch <NUM>). The carrier <NUM> of the control module <NUM> may be made of a transparent or translucent material to allow light emitted by the LEDs <NUM> to be conducted through the carrier towards the faceplate <NUM>. The diffuser portion <NUM> of each of the buttons <NUM> may operate to conduct the light emitted by the LEDs <NUM> to the gaps <NUM> surrounding each of the buttons <NUM>.

<FIG> is an example enlarged portion of the bottom cross-sectional view of <FIG>. As previously mentioned, the diffuser portion <NUM> may extend beyond a plane of a front surface of the faceplate <NUM> when each button <NUM> is received in the respective opening <NUM> of the faceplate <NUM>, such that the diffuser portion can be seen from the sides of the keypad <NUM>. The diffuser portion <NUM> may be positioned behind and overlap the gap <NUM> of the respective opening <NUM> when the cap portion <NUM> is received in the opening <NUM>. A rear surface <NUM> of the cap portion <NUM> of each button <NUM> may contact a support surface <NUM> of the diffuser portion <NUM>. The diffuser portion <NUM> may have a sidewall <NUM> and a rear surface <NUM> that may be opposite the support surface <NUM>. The diffuser portion <NUM> may comprise a light-emitting surface <NUM> between the support surface <NUM> and the sidewall <NUM>. The diffuser portion <NUM> may conduct light emitted by internal LEDs <NUM> and received by the rear surface <NUM> of the diffuser portion to the light-emitting surface <NUM>. The light-emitting surface <NUM> may be configured to emit light through the gap <NUM> around the respective button <NUM>. The light-emitting surface <NUM> may be oriented at an angle with respect to the support surface <NUM> and the sidewall <NUM>.

<FIG> is a simplified block diagram of an example control device <NUM> that may be deployed as, for example, the keypad <NUM> shown in <FIG>, the keypad <NUM>' shown in <FIG>, or the keypad <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The control device <NUM> may comprise a control circuit <NUM>, which may include one or more of a processor (e.g., a microprocessor), a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or any suitable processing device. The control device <NUM> may comprise one or more actuators <NUM> (e.g., the mechanical switches of the keypad <NUM> and/or the mechanical switches <NUM> of the keypad <NUM>), which may be actuated in response to actuations of one or more buttons (e.g., the buttons <NUM> of the keypad <NUM>, the buttons <NUM>' of the keypad <NUM>', and/or the buttons <NUM> of the keypad <NUM>). The control circuit <NUM> may be coupled to the actuators <NUM> for receiving user inputs.

The control device <NUM> may further comprise a communication circuit <NUM>, such as, a wired communication circuit or a wireless communication circuit (e.g., an RF transmitter coupled to an antenna for transmitting RF signals). The control circuit <NUM> may be coupled to the communication circuit <NUM> for transmitting messages (e.g., digital messages) in response actuations of the actuators. For example, the control circuit may be configured to transmit a message for controlling the electrical load (e.g., including a command for controlling the electrical load) via the communication circuit <NUM> in response to an actuation of one of the buttons. Additionally or alternatively, the communication circuit <NUM> may include an RF receiver for receiving RF signals, an RF transceiver for transmitting and receiving RF signals, or an infrared (IR) transmitter for transmitter IR signals. In addition, the control circuit <NUM> may be configured to receive a digital message including, for example, a selected preset and/or the status of an electrical load controlled by an external load control device.

The control device <NUM> may also include a memory <NUM> communicatively coupled to the control circuit <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> may be configured to use the memory <NUM> for the storage and/or retrieval of, for example, commands and/or preset information to transmit in response to actuations of the buttons. The memory <NUM> may be implemented as an external integrated circuit (IC) or as an internal circuit of the control circuit <NUM>.

The control device <NUM> may also comprise a power supply <NUM> for generating a direct-current (DC) supply voltage VCC for powering the control circuit <NUM>, the communication circuit <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, and the other low-voltage circuitry of the control device. The power supply <NUM> may be coupled to an alternating-current (AC) power source or an external DC power source via electrical connections <NUM>. Alternatively, the control device <NUM> may comprise an internal power source (e.g., one or more batteries) in place of, or for supplying power to, the power supply <NUM>.

The control device <NUM> may further comprise an illumination circuit <NUM> for illuminating gaps around the buttons (e.g., the gaps <NUM> around the buttons <NUM> of the keypad <NUM>). For example, the illumination circuit <NUM> may comprise one or more LEDs <NUM> (e.g., the LEDs <NUM>, <NUM>), such as four LEDs as shown in <FIG>, which may be coupled to respective ports on the control circuit <NUM> via respective resistors <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> may be configured to individually turn each LED <NUM> on by pulling the respective port low towards circuit common, such that the LED is coupled between the supply voltage VCC and circuit common through the respective resistor <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> may be configured to dim the illumination of each LED <NUM>, e.g., by pulse-width modulating an LED current conducted through each LED and adjusting a duty cycle of the respective pulse-width modulated LED current. While the control device <NUM> shown in <FIG> has one LED <NUM> for illuminating each of the buttons, each LED illustrated in <FIG> may comprise one or more LEDs coupled in series or parallel. For example, each LED <NUM> in <FIG> may comprise two LEDs coupled in series (e.g., the two LEDs <NUM>, <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>).

The control circuit <NUM> may be configured to control the illumination circuit <NUM> to provide feedback to a user of the control device <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gap around one of the buttons (e.g., by blinking and/or strobing the illumination) when that button is actuated (e.g., to indicate that the control circuit <NUM> has received the command and/or the communication circuit <NUM> is transmitting a message to external load control devices). The control circuit <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gap around one of the buttons to indicate the status of one or more associated electrical loads (e.g., status information regarding whether the electrical loads are on or off). The control circuit <NUM> may be configured to illuminate the gap around one of the buttons to indicate the selection of a respective preset associated with the button. For example, the control circuit <NUM> may control the illumination circuit <NUM> to illuminate the gap around the button of the selected preset to a first intensity level and to illuminate the gaps around each of the other buttons to a second intensity level that may be less than the first intensity level. In addition, the control circuit <NUM> may be configured to control the illumination circuit <NUM> to illuminate the gaps around the buttons (e.g., to a dim level) to provide a nightlight feature.

The control device <NUM> may further comprise an ambient light detector <NUM> (e.g., an ambient light detection circuit) for measuring an ambient light level LAMB in the room in which the control device <NUM> is installed. The ambient light detector <NUM> may generate an ambient light detect signal VAMB, which may indicate the ambient light level LAMB and may be received by the control circuit <NUM>. The control circuit <NUM> may be configured to adjust duty cycles of the LED currents conducted through the LEDs <NUM> to adjust the intensities of LEDs in response to the measured ambient light level LAMB as determined from ambient light detect signal VAMB. For example, the control circuit <NUM> may be configured to increase the intensities of the LEDs <NUM> when the ambient light level increases, and decrease the intensities of the LEDs <NUM> when the ambient light level decreases. Examples of keypads that control the intensities of LEDs in response to ambient light detectors are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned <CIT>, entitled CONTROL DEVICE HAVING BUTTONS WITH MULTIPLE-LEVEL BACKLIGHTING, and <CIT>, entitled CONTROL DEVICE HAVING BUTTONS WITH AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE BACKLIGHTING.

Claim 1:
A control device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for controlling power delivered to an electrical load, the control device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a faceplate (<NUM>, <NUM>) having an opening (<NUM>, <NUM>) defined between sidewalls (<NUM>) of the faceplate (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a button (<NUM>, <NUM>) received in the opening (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the faceplate (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein a gap is formed between the button (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the opening (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the faceplate (<NUM>, <NUM>), the button (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a cap portion (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a diffuser portion (<NUM>, <NUM>), wherein the diffuser portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) is arranged in the opening (<NUM>, <NUM>) and extends laterally beyond the cap portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) within the opening (<NUM>, <NUM>);
at least one light source located inside of the control device (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and configured to provide light to the diffuser portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the button (<NUM>, <NUM>) to illuminate the gap between the button (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the opening (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the faceplate (<NUM>, <NUM>); and
a control circuit (<NUM>) configured to cause the power delivered to the electrical load to be adjusted in response to an actuation of the button (<NUM>, <NUM>).