Illuminating surface
First Claim
1. An illuminating surface that, when connected to a power source, emits light in the presence of an object touching or in close proximity to the surface, which surface comprises:
- an array of sensors for detecting the presence of the object;
an array of light sources, each sensor being associated with at least one light source such that, when one of said sensors detects the presence of the object, its associated light source is illuminated; and
a circuit for controlling the illumination of each light source such that it remains illuminated for a time after its associated sensor has ceased to detect the presence of the object;
wherein each of the sensors is connected with at least one adjacent light source that is illuminated when the sensor detects the presence of an object, thereby causing an area of the surface to emit light that corresponds to and is larger than the shape of the object.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides an illuminating surface, e.g. a floor or wall tile, that includes an array of identical circuits (G, K, H, L) that can each be connected to a power source /14). The surface emits light in the presence of an object touching or in close proximity to the surface. Each circuit includes a sensor (12), e.g. a pressure switch, for detecting the presence of the object; at least one light source (20) that is illuminated when the sensor of that circuit detects the presence of the object. The circuits control the illumination of the light sources (20) such that the light sources remains illuminated for a time after its associated sensor (12) has ceased to detect the presence of the object. Each of the circuits is connected with at least one adjacent circuit, and, when the sensor of the first-mentioned circuit detects the presence of an object, the light source(s) (20) of the adjacent circuits are illuminated, thereby causing an area of the surface to emit light that corresponds to and is larger than the shape of the object.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An illuminating surface that, when connected to a power source, emits light in the presence of an object touching or in close proximity to the surface, which surface comprises:
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an array of sensors for detecting the presence of the object;
an array of light sources, each sensor being associated with at least one light source such that, when one of said sensors detects the presence of the object, its associated light source is illuminated; and
a circuit for controlling the illumination of each light source such that it remains illuminated for a time after its associated sensor has ceased to detect the presence of the object;
wherein each of the sensors is connected with at least one adjacent light source that is illuminated when the sensor detects the presence of an object, thereby causing an area of the surface to emit light that corresponds to and is larger than the shape of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification