Touch switch with integral control circuit
First Claim
1. A touch switch apparatus for generating a control signal on an output line, the apparatus comprising:
- a touch pad;
a control circuit in close proximity to said touch pad;
said control circuit being electrically coupled to said touch pad;
said control circuit having an input node for receiving an input signal from a remote signal source;
said touch pad being configured to receive a field generation signal;
wherein said field generation signal causes an electric field to be generated about said touch pad;
said control circuit being responsive to a stimulus affecting said electric field;
said control circuit being configured to selectively generate a control signal in response to said stimulus affecting said electric field; and
said control circuit having an output node for transmitting said control signal on said output line to a remote device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touch switch apparatus for detecting the presence of an object such as a human appendage, the apparatus having a touch pad and a local control circuit connected to the touch pad and to a controlled device. The touch pad preferable includes a first electrode and a second electrode spaced from and surrounding the first electrode. The control circuit is preferably in integrated circuit form. A signal is provided to the touch pad to generate an electric field thereabout. Introduction of a stimulus near the touch pad disturbs the electric field. The control circuit detects the electric field disturbance in and generates a control signal in response.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A touch switch apparatus for generating a control signal on an output line, the apparatus comprising:
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a touch pad;
a control circuit in close proximity to said touch pad;
said control circuit being electrically coupled to said touch pad;
said control circuit having an input node for receiving an input signal from a remote signal source;
said touch pad being configured to receive a field generation signal;
wherein said field generation signal causes an electric field to be generated about said touch pad;
said control circuit being responsive to a stimulus affecting said electric field;
said control circuit being configured to selectively generate a control signal in response to said stimulus affecting said electric field; and
said control circuit having an output node for transmitting said control signal on said output line to a remote device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A touch switch apparatus, comprising:
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a touch pad;
a control circuit in close proximity to said touch pad;
said control circuit being electrically coupled to said touch pad;
said control circuit having an input node for receiving an input signal from a remote signal source;
said control circuit having a signal generator for generating a field generation signal and outputting said field generation signal to said touch pad;
wherein said field generation signal causes an electric field to be generated proximate said touch pad; and
said control circuit being responsive to a stimulus proximate said electric field;
wherein said control circuit selectively generates an output signal in response to said stimulus proximate said electric field.
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29. A touch switch apparatus comprising:
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a touch pad;
a control circuit in close proximity to said touch pad;
wherein said control circuit is in the form of at least one integrated circuit;
said control circuit having an input node for receiving an input signal from a remote signal source;
said touch pad being configured for receiving a field generation signal;
wherein said field generation signal causes an electric field to be generated proximate said touch pad; and
said control circuit being responsive to a stimulus proximate said electric field;
wherein said control circuit selectively generates an output signal in response to said stimulus proximate said electric field.
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30. A touch switch apparatus comprising:
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a touch pad;
an control circuit in close proximity with said touch pad;
said control circuit having an input node for receiving an input signal from a remote device;
said touch pad being configured to receive a field generation signal;
wherein said field signal causes an electric field to be generated proximate said touch pad;
said control circuit being responsive to a stimulus proximate said electric field;
wherein said control circuit selectively generates a control signal in response to said stimulus proximate said electric field; and
a resettable latch for selectively outputting a control signal, wherein said resettable electrical latch permits said control circuit to selectively output a continuous signal following the removal of said stimulus proximate said electric field.
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Specification