Patent ID: 7576448

Claim:
A switched outlet module which controls power to one or more electrically powered devices which are connected to the module and which are under the control of a wall switch comprising: a plurality of outlet jacks wherein a first pair of outlet jacks are switched outlet jacks and a second pair of outlet jacks are unswitched outlet jacks; a switching device coupled to the plurality of outlet jacks to control which of the plurality of outlet jacks are the switched outlet jacks; connectors coupled to the switched outlet jacks for connecting remote controlled devices that control electronic devices coupled to the switched outlet jacks; control circuitry coupled to the switching device to monitor and limit a current through the switched outlet jacks, to monitor and limit a current through the switching device, and to interpret signals from remote controlled devices coupled to the connectors; contacts coupled to the control circuitry to couple the module to a switched electrical receptacle; and a pair of touch switches coupled to the connectors wherein a first touch switch controls a first device connected to a first switch outlet jack and a second touch switch controls a second device connected to a second switch outlet jack, wherein the control circuitry also performs cross control of the first and second device so continuously pressing the first touch switch causes the first device to approach one of an approximately maximum brightness level or an off position, once one of the approximately maximum brightness level or the off position of the first device is obtained, continuously pressing the first touch switch causes the second device to approach one of an approximately maximum brightness level or an off position, and continuously pressing the second touch switch causes the second device to approach one of an approximately maximum brightness level or an off position, once one of the approximately maximum brightness level or the off position is obtained by the second device, continuously pressing the second touch switch causes the first device to approach one of the maximum brightness level or the off position.