Patent ID: 8212486

Claim:
A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising: a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for control of the amount of power delivered to the load; a controller coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device, the controller operable to selectively render the controllably conductive device conductive and non-conductive to control the amount of power delivered to the load; a communication circuit operable to receive digital messages on a communication link, the controller coupled to the communication circuit, such that the controller is operable to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load in response to the received digital messages; and a rotary actuator operable to rotate in a first direction and a second direction, the controller responsive to rotations of the rotary actuator to increase the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the first direction and to decrease the amount of power delivered to the load when the rotary actuator is rotated in the second direction; wherein the rotary actuator is continuously rotatable, such that the position of the rotary actuator is not representative of the amount of power presently being delivered to the load.