Capacitive Touch Dimmer Switch with PFC Power Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dimmer switches lack a full power factor correction (PFC)-regulated DC power supply within a single gangbox and rely on mechanical components for control, limiting their functionality and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A touch sensor device with a PFC-correcting power supply and a capacitive touch sensor interface that integrates all control functions, including dimming, within a single gangbox, utilizing a backlight for feedback and a microprocessor for intelligent control, allowing for tap-on/tap-off and dimming operations without mechanical sliders or pushbuttons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional dimmer switches use mechanical potentiometer slide switches and mechanical press-on/off switches, then full light control is achieved, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical potentiometer slide switches and mechanical press-on/off switches with a capacitive touch sensor interface and electronic control circuitry. The touch sensor detects user input through capacitive coupling, eliminating the need for mechanical moving parts. The electronic dimming control replaces the mechanical potentiometer, providing the same functionality without mechanical wear and tear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates multiple functions (on/off switching and dimming control) into a single touch sensor interface. The same capacitive touch interface that detects tap gestures for on/off switching also detects slide gestures for dimming control, eliminating the need for separate mechanical switches and potentiometers.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional dimmer switches integrate all control functions in a single gangbox with PFC-regulated DC power supply, then ease of installation is improved, but such integration does not yet exist in the prior art
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the PFC-regulated DC power supply, touch sensor interface, dimming control circuitry, and backlight control into a single integrated gangbox unit. All control functions (on/off switching, dimming, backlight control) are merged into one device, simplifying installation and manufacturing while reducing the need for multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the device into functional modules (power supply module, touch sensor module, dimming control module, backlight module) that are all contained within a single gangbox. This modular segmentation within integration allows for easier manufacturing and assembly while maintaining the benefits of a unified device.
3Ease of operation
If a backlight illuminates all portions of the touch sensor interface, then ease of operation is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective backlight illumination where only specific portions of the touch sensor interface are illuminated based on user interaction. When a user taps or slides on a particular area, the backlight illuminates that specific region rather than the entire interface, providing necessary visibility while minimizing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The backlight operates in a periodic manner, activating only when needed (during user interaction) and remaining off during idle periods. The backlight can also pulse or dim in synchronization with the touch detection events, providing illumination only during the brief periods when user input is detected.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables seamless control of lighting intensity with a single touch interface, provides instant feedback through adjustable backlighting, eliminates mechanical failures, and simplifies installation and manufacturing by integrating all circuitry on a single printed circuit board.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitive touch sensor interface that integrates all control functions
Implementation Method 2
a backlight behind the touch sensor interface, and including a plurality of light sources for illuminating different portions of the touch sensor interface
Data Source
AI summary
A touch sensor for controlling intensity of lighting electrically connected thereto, the touch sensor including a touch sensor interface for detecting a touch of a user, a power supply connected to the touch sensor for controlling the intensity of the lighting, and a backlight behind the touch sensor interface, and including a plurality of light sources for illuminating different portions of the touch sensor interface.