Lighting Wall Controller Touch Rejection and Proximity Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems face issues with erroneous or unrecognized user inputs due to the lack of effective touch rejection and proximity detection capabilities in their controllers, leading to potential misinterpretation of cleaning processes or unintended activation of lighting functions.
Innovation Solution
A lighting wall controller equipped with sensing electrodes, a processor, and a data communication interface that can differentiate between valid user inputs and invalid ones, entering a locked mode when invalid inputs exceed a threshold, and detect proximity to initiate lighting functions based on predefined conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch sensing electrodes are used to detect user inputs, then user interaction capability is improved, but erroneous inputs during cleaning or unintended activation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its sensitivity and input recognition behavior based on the detected state. When cleaning is detected through continuous monitoring of electrode signals, the system transitions to a less sensitive mode that ignores touch inputs, thereby preventing erroneous activations during cleaning while maintaining normal operation during regular use
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the electrical signals from sensing electrodes and uses this feedback to determine whether a cleaning operation is occurring. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts its input acceptance criteria, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to the current operational context and prevents misinterpretation of cleaning motions as user inputs
2Ease of manufacture
If the controller surface is made accessible for cleaning, then maintenance capability is improved, but unintended activation of lighting functions occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of cleaning conditions by continuously monitoring electrode signals before processing any touch inputs. When cleaning is detected, the system proactively enters a protected state that prevents unintended activation, thereby allowing the surface to remain accessible for cleaning without causing harmful unintended activations
3Ease of operation
If proximity detection is added to detect user presence, then user convenience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The existing sensing electrodes on the controller surface serve dual purposes: they function as touch sensors for direct user interaction and simultaneously act as proximity sensors to detect when a user is approaching. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide proximity-based convenience features without adding separate proximity sensing hardware, thereby improving user convenience while minimizing the increase in 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
The solution effectively rejects invalid touch inputs during cleaning processes and accurately detects user proximity to prevent erroneous lighting control, enhancing the reliability and usability of lighting systems by ensuring only intended inputs activate lighting functions.
Implementation Method 1
A wall controller (101) includes a plurality of gesture and touch sensing electrodes (104) arranged on a surface
Implementation Method 2
detecting a user within a predefined distance to the lighting wall controller
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting wall controller having a capability to reject user inputs at a surface of the wall controller and/or proximity detection in accordance with sensing signals received at locations on and near the wall controller. Programming configures a processor for proximity detection to detect a presence of a conductive object within a predetermined distance to the wall controller. The processor further determines whether user inputs correspond to touches at locations on the wall controller or user gestures near the wall controller to perform one of a plurality of defined lighting functions for a lighting system. When user inputs do not correspond to defined lighting functions, a number of the non-defined inputs is counted to provide an indicator of activity on the surface of the wall controller to activate a locked mode for a duration of the non-defined inputs.