Touch Screen Actuator Assembly for Lighting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional touch dimmers lack a uniform and intuitive user interface for controlling lighting intensity, often requiring precise actuation force and position, which can lead to inconsistent operation and potential inadvertent actuations due to varying force profiles across the touch surface.
Innovation Solution
A touch dimmer design featuring a bezel with a planar touch-sensitive front surface and a resistive touch-sensitive device, where the touch pad is elongated and has a consistent minimum actuation force across its surface, combined with a flexible actuator and light pipes for visual feedback, allowing for intuitive control of lighting intensity and preventing inadvertent actuations through a keepout region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional touch dimmer uses a small or non-uniform touch surface, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring precise actuation force and position
Solution Approach 1:
The touch-sensitive surface is extended from a conventional small circular or square area to a full rectangular faceplate surface, utilizing the two-dimensional plane of the entire front panel. This dimensional expansion allows users to actuate the dimmer from any location on the faceplate, eliminating the need for precise positioning while maintaining simple internal circuitry through the use of a single large capacitive sensor electrode.
2Reliability
If a conventional touch dimmer uses a small touch surface, then the manufacturing precision requirements are reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to varying force profiles and potential inadvertent actuations
Solution Approach 1:
The entire front faceplate surface is made uniformly sensitive to touch through a single large capacitive electrode, creating homogeneous touch response characteristics across the surface. This eliminates variations in actuation force requirements at different locations and prevents inadvertent actuations, as the uniform capacitive field provides consistent sensing thresholds throughout the faceplate area.
3Ease of operation
If a conventional touch dimmer uses a small touch surface, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring precise actuation position
Solution Approach 1:
The entire faceplate surface serves as the touch-sensitive actuator, making every point on the surface functional for the same purpose. This universal touch surface allows users to operate the dimmer from any convenient location on the faceplate, whether by finger, fingernail, or other body part, without requiring precise positioning, while the underlying capacitive sensing circuitry remains relatively simple.
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
The design provides a consistent and intuitive user interface with uniform actuation force requirements across the touch surface, enhancing operational reliability and user experience by ensuring accurate control of lighting intensity while preventing accidental activations.
Implementation Method 1
a resistive touch-sensitive device, where the touch pad is elongated and has a consistent minimum actuation force across its surface
Implementation Method 2
A touch dimmer design featuring a bezel with a planar touch-sensitive front surface and a resistive touch-sensitive device, where the touch pad is elongated and has a consistent minimum actuation force across its surface, combined with a flexible actuator
Implementation Method 3
combined with a flexible actuator and light pipes for visual feedback
Data Source
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AI summary
A user interface for a load control device comprises a bezel, a touch sensitive device, and a touch sensitive actuator. The touch sensitive actuator is received in an opening of the bezel and comprises a plurality of force concentrator for actuating the touch sensitive device. A front surface of the touch sensitive actuator is operable to be actuated by a user of the load control device such that the touch sensitive actuator transmits the force from the front surface of the touch sensitive actuator to the touch sensitive device. Preferably, the touch sensitive actuator is provided in an opening of a faceplate of the load control device along a linear axis. The load control device is operable to control a connected electrical load in response to an actuation of the touch sensitive actuator. The load control device further comprises a plurality of status indicators mounted immediately behind the touch sensitive actuator and above the touch sensitive device.