BACKGROUND

Electrical loads, such as lamps, ceiling lighting fixtures, thermostats, shades, etc., may be controlled using load control devices. A load control device may be configured for wireless communication. For instance, a dimmer switch may be configured as a radio-frequency (RF) dimmer switch. Such a load control device may be associated with one or more devices in a load control system, such as a lighting control system. A load control device that participates in a load control system may receive wirelessly communicated messages (e.g., including commands) from one or more other devices of the load control system. The messages may cause the load control device to adjust the amount of power delivered to one or more electrical loads that are connected to the load control device.

FIG. 1depicts an example prior art lighting control system10that includes a tabletop RF dimmer switch20and a lamp30that is plugged into the dimmer switch20, such that the dimmer switch20may be operated to control the amount of power delivered to the lamp30. The dimmer switch20may be electrically connected to an electrical circuit that includes an alternating-current (AC) power source40and an AC outlet42that is electrically connected to the AC power source40. The AC outlet42includes an upper switched receptacle41and a lower unswitched receptacle43. The electrical circuit further includes a wall-mounted light switch46that is mounted in an electrical wallbox and is coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source40and the upper switched receptacle41. The lamp30may be controlled by the wall-mounted switch46. The dimmer switch20includes a plug22that is plugged into the switched receptacle41. The lamp30includes a plug32that is plugged into the plug22of the dimmer switch20, such that the delivery of AC power to the lamp30may be controlled by operating a toggle actuator (not shown) of the wall-mounted switch46to open and close the switch.

The lighting control system10may further include one or more devices that are configured to wirelessly communicate with the dimmer switch20. As shown, the lighting control system10includes an occupancy and/or vacancy sensor50, a daylight sensor60, and a remote control device70, such as a remote keypad. One or more of the occupancy and/or vacancy sensor50, the daylight sensor60, and the remote control device70may wirelessly communicate with the dimmer switch20via RF signals90, for example to command the dimmer switch20to adjust the amount of AC power that is provided to the lamp30.

Control of the illustrated lighting control system10may be compromised when power is removed from the upper switched receptacle41of the outlet42. For instance, when the wall switch46is turned off, a wireless communication component of the dimmer switch20, such as a receiver, may be unpowered and thus unable to receive wirelessly communicated commands. This may undesirably render the dimmer switch20unresponsive to wirelessly communicated commands from the occupancy and/or vacancy sensor50, the daylight sensor60, and the remote control70, such as commands to turn on, turn off, or dim the lamp30.

Plugging the dimmer switch20into the lower unswitched receptacle43of the outlet42may ensure continuous power of the wireless communication component of the dimmer switch20, but would remove the ability to switch power to the lamp30using the wall-mounted switch46. This may be undesirable to a user of the lighting control system10. A user of the lighting control system10may prefer to be able to switch power to the lamp30via the wall-mounted switch46, while ensuring that the lamp30remains controllable by the dimmer switch20, for instance via one or more of the occupancy and/or vacancy sensor50, the daylight sensor60, and the remote control70.

Moreover, a user of the lighting control system10may be undesirably constrained from relocating the dimmer switch20and/or the lamp30. For example, if the user desires to move the dimmer switch20and the lamp30to a location wherefrom the electrical cord of the dimmer switch20will not reach the upper switched receptacle41of the outlet42, the user may be forced to plug the dimmer switch20into an unswitched outlet, such that the ability to switch the lamp30is lost, or may be forced to connect the dimmer switch20to the upper switched receptacle41using an extension cord, which may be impractical and/or aesthetically unpleasing.

SUMMARY

As described herein, a faceplate remote control device may be configured to be attached to a wall-mounted mechanical light switch that has a toggle actuator. The faceplate remote control device may include a housing that defines an opening that permits the toggle actuator of the light switch to protrude through the opening, such that the toggle actuator is operable when the faceplate remote control device is attached to the mechanical light switch.

The faceplate remote control device may be configured to detect operation of the toggle actuator of the mechanical switch, for example operation of the mechanical switch from a first position to a second position. The faceplate remote control device may include a toggle indicator that is configured to detect operation of the toggle actuator of the mechanical switch. The toggle indicator may cause the generation of an indication that operation of the toggle actuator is detected.

The toggle indicator may comprise a sliding member that is configured to move with the toggle actuator of the mechanical switch when the toggle actuator is operated. The sliding member may include an electrically-conductive wiper that is configured to abut a conductive pad when the toggle actuator is operated. Contact between the electrically-conductive wiper and the conductive pad may cause the conductive pad to generate an indication of operation of the toggle actuator.

The toggle indicator may comprise an obstruction detection device that includes an infrared (IR) transmitter and an IR receiver. The IR transmitter may generate an IR beam that is received at the IR receiver when the toggle actuator is in a first position. When the toggle actuator is operated, the IR beam may be obstructed, such that reception of the IR beam by the IR receiver is interrupted. The IR receiver may generate a control signal that is representative of whether the IR beam is received, and thus representative of the position of the toggle actuator. The control signal may comprise an indication of when the toggle actuator is operated.

The faceplate remote control device may include a control circuit and a wireless communication circuit. The control circuit may be configured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit one or more messages in response to detecting operation of the toggle actuator of the mechanical switch. The one or more messages may be transmitted to one or more devices, such as a load control device, that are associated with the faceplate remote control device in a lighting control system. The one or more messages may include a command, such as a command that causes a load control device that is associated with the faceplate remote control device to adjust the intensity of a lighting load that is controlled by the load control device. The one or more messages may include, for example, a change of state signal.

