Touch screen assembly for a lighting control

• US 20070291010A1
• Filed: 06/20/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Altonen, Gregory, Nearhoof, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 7,791,595 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/085 by touch control

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A control structure for an electrical control system for producing a variable output electrical signal to an electrical load for controllably varying are output of said load, said control structure comprising:

(a) an enclosed volume which contains control electronics;

(b) a cover plate on one surface of said enclosed volume having a planar front surface and having a rectangular opening therein;

(c) an elongated touch pad disposed in said rectangular opening and coupled to said control electronics and adapted to produce an output signal which is related to the position within the length of said touch pad at which said touch pad is touched by an operator; and

(d) said touch pad having a length in excess of about 2.5 inch, a width less than about 3/16 inch and a height above the surface of said cover plate less than 3/32 inch.

2. The control structure of claim 1, wherein said touch pad has a length of about 2⅝

inch to about 4 inch, a width of about ⅛

to about ¼

inch and a height of about 1/32 inch to about 3/32 inch.

3. The control structure of claim 2, wherein said length is about 3⅝

inch, said width is about 3/16 inch and said height is about 1/16 inch.

4. The control structure of claim 1, wherein said touch pad is a resistive pad.

5. The control structure of claim 1, wherein said touch pad is a capacitive pad.

6. The control structure of claim 1, wherein said elongated touch pad is straight, and is parallel to the sides of said cover plate.

7. The control structure of claim 1, wherein said elongated touch pad is in the center of the width of said cover plate.

8. A system for controlling power from a source to a load, comprising, in combination:

(a) a cover plate that has a front surface with a rectangular opening;

(b) a touch pad behind said rectangular opening having an accessible continuous surface area for providing a signal in response to pressure applied anywhere along the length of said area, the signal having at least one characteristic which is a function of the actual location on the area to which said pressure is applied;

(c) circuit means to adjust the power provided from said source to said load in accordance with said signal; and

(d) said touch pad having a length in excess of about 3.5 inch, a width of about 0.186 inch and a height above the surface of said cover plate of about 0.0625 inch.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said elongated touch pad is straight, and is parallel to the sides of said cover plate and is in the center of the width of said cover plate.

10. A control structure for an electrical control system for producing a variable output electrical signal to an electrical load for controllably varying the output of said load, said control structure comprising:

(a) an enclosed volume which contains control electronics;

(b) a faceplate having a narrow elongated slot therein;

(c) an elongated touch screen which is at least partially coextensive with said narrow elongated slot and wider than said slot and supported behind and spaced from the rear surface of said faceplate;

(d) a thin status indicator support board mounted atop said elongated touch screen and coextensive therewith;

(e) a plurality of status indicators mounted on said thin status indicator support board along a line which is centered on the projected center of said narrow elongated slot;

(f) a flexible actuator member comprising an extending thin flange having a central extension extending from one surface thereof, said flange positioned above said status indicator support board and said central extension extending through said elongated slot and above the front surface of said faceplate, said central extension having clearance in its bottom surface at the location of each of said status indicators, whereby said flexible actuator can be depressed at any location along its length to apply pressure to said touch screen at a related location on said touch screen;

(g) a plurality of light pipes extending perpendicularly through said central extension and having a bottom surfaces adjacent to and spaced from the top surface of respective ones of said status indicator and having a top end at the outer surface of said central extension; and

(h) circuit means coupling said touch screen to said status indicators to illuminate a respective ones of said status indicators responsive to the application of pressure to the touch screen at locations adjacent thereto.

11. The control structure of claim 10, wherein said flange and central extension are integrally formed in a thin flexible material.

12. The control structure of claim 10, wherein the top surface of said central extension is cylindrical.

13. The control structure of claim 10, wherein said bottom end of said central extension has protruding pressure points for applying local pressure to said touch screen in response to pressure at the corresponding top location of said central extension.

14. The control structure of claim 12, wherein said bottom end of said central extension has protruding pressure points for applying local pressure to said touch screen in response to pressure at the corresponding top location of said central extension.

15. The control structure of claim 10, wherein each of said status indicators produce cones of light in response to their excitation which have an axis perpendicular to the surface of said status indicators;

said spacing between said status indicator surfaces and the bottom surfaces of said light pipes being selected so that the full surface of said bottoms of said light pipes intercepts the full area of said cones of light at the section of said cones which receives said bottom surfaces of said light pipes.

16. The control structure of claim 10, wherein said central extension extends above the front of said faceplate by about 0.060 inch.

17. The control structure of claim 12, wherein said central extension extends above the front of said faceplate by about 0.060 inch.

18. The device of claim 10, wherein said status indicators are blue LEDs.

19. In combination, a status indicator and a light pipe for conducting the light of said status indicator to a remote location;

said status indicator producing a cone of light having an axis perpendicular to its output surface in response to its energization;

said light pipe having an input end surface which is parallel to and spaced from said status indicator output surface;

said end surface intersecting said cone of light at an axial location such that the full area of the intersection of said cone of light at an axial location is such that the full area of the intersected cone is aligned with the full area of said input end surface of said light pipe.