Importance

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Abstract

A lighting control device for controlling the light intensity level of at least one lamp is disclosed. The lighting control device includes an actuator and a controller, such as a microcontroller, for example. The controller is operable to cause the light intensity level of the lamp to fade at a first fade rate when the actuator is actuated. If the controller determines that the actuator has been actuated for at least a predefined hold time, the controller causes the light intensity level of the lamp to fade at a second fade rate for a predefined long fade time. After the long fade time elapses, the controller causes the light intensity level of the lamp to fade to off at a third fade. The first fade rate is based on a predefined fade-off time that represents a time allotted for fading the light intensity level of the lamp from its initial light intensity level to off. To prevent the light intensity level from fading to off before the hold time elapses, the fade off time may be defined to be longer than the hold time. The second fade rate may be slower than the first fade rate and have an exponential fade profile. The third fade rate may be a predefined rate at which the controller is operable to cause the light intensity level to fade from full on to full off. The third fade rate may be faster than the second fade rate.

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First Claim