Capacitive Touch Load Control with Gesture Feedback for Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional load control devices are limited in their ability to control advanced electrical loads due to their simple actuation mechanisms and lack of visual feedback, making it difficult for users to manage multiple parameters or control multiple loads through a single device.
Innovation Solution
A control device with a capacitive touch-sensitive surface and a control circuit that detects touch and non-contact actuations, allowing for advanced control of lighting loads, including intensity and color adjustments, through a user-friendly interface that provides visual feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mechanical toggle switch is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but control functionality and user interaction capability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical toggle switches with capacitive touch-sensitive surfaces that detect changes in electrical characteristics (capacitance, voltage) when a finger approaches or touches the surface. This substitution enables gesture-based control (tap, swipe, hover) without mechanical moving parts, significantly expanding control functionality while maintaining a sleek, simple device form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device integrates multiple control capabilities into a single device: it can detect different gesture types (tap, swipe, hover) at multiple locations on the touch-sensitive surface, provide visual feedback through LEDs, and control various electrical loads (lights, HVAC, audio). This multi-functionality allows one device to replace multiple traditional controls while managing complexity through integrated circuit design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If advanced control features are added to manage multiple parameters, then control capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive surface is divided into multiple independent sensing zones or locations, each capable of detecting gestures independently. This segmentation allows users to control different functions or parameters by interacting with specific zones, making the interface intuitive and easy to learn while providing access to advanced control capabilities through simple localized gestures.
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates visual feedback mechanisms (LED indicators) that respond to user gestures and display the current state of controlled loads. This immediate feedback helps users understand the results of their actions, navigate through control options, and confirm parameter changes, thereby simplifying operation of advanced features through intuitive cause-effect interaction.
3Loss of information
If visual feedback is provided to inform user about device state, then user experience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the visual feedback function with the existing control device structure by integrating LED indicators directly into or near the touch-sensitive surface. This merging approach provides necessary visual feedback about device state and gesture recognition without adding separate, complex feedback systems, thereby improving user experience while minimizing increases in overall device complexity.
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 users to seamlessly control lighting loads with enhanced usability and aesthetic appeal by translating gestures into control signals, offering advanced features like intensity and color control, and providing visual feedback for better user experience.
Implementation Method 1
The touch sensitive device may comprise one or more capacitive touch pads located behind the actuation member and arranged adjacent to the touch sensitive surface
Implementation Method 2
The control circuit may be configured to detect a change in a characteristic of one or more of the touch sensitive pads (e.g., a voltage, a voltage change, and/or a number of times that a change in a count for one or more of the capacitive touch pads has exceeded a capacitance-change threshold)
Data Source
AI summary
A control device configured for use in a load control system to control an electrical load external to the control device may comprise an actuation member having a front surface defining a capacitive touch surface configured to detect a touch actuation along at least a portion of the front surface. The control device includes a main printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a control circuit, a tactile switch, a controllably conductive device, and a drive circuit operatively coupled to a control input of the controllably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive or non-conductive to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The control device also includes a capacitive touch PCB that comprises a touch sensitive circuit comprising one or more receiving capacitive touch pads located on the capacitive touch PCB and arranged in a linear array adjacent to the capacitive touch surface.