TOUCH SCREEN WITH SENSORY FEEDBACK
First Claim
1. A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:
- a bidirectional semiconductor switch operable to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load, the semiconductor switch having a control input for controlling the semiconductor switch between a non-conductive state and a conductive state;
a controller operatively coupled to the control input of the semiconductor switch for controlling the semiconductor switch between the non-conductive state and the conductive state;
a touch sensitive front surface adapted to be pressed;
a touch sensitive device responsive to the touch sensitive front surface being pressed, the touch sensitive device having an output operatively coupled to the controller for providing a control signal representative of a position at which the touch sensitive front surface is pressed; and
an audible sound generator responsive to the controller;
wherein the controller is operable to cause the visual display to illuminate and the audible sound generator to generate a first audible sound in response to the control signal of the touch sensitive device when the touch sensitive front surface is pressed, and to generate a second audible sound in response to the control signal when the touch sensitive front surface is released.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source provides improved sensory feedback to a user of the load control device. The load control device comprises a touch screen actuator having a touch sensitive front surface responsive to a plurality of point actuations, each characterized by a position and a force. The touch screen actuator has an output operatively coupled to a controller for providing a control signal representative of the position of the point actuation. The load control device further comprises a visual display and an audible sound generator, both responsive to the controller. The controller is operable to cause the visual display to illuminate and the audible sound generator to generate an audible sound in response to the control signal of the touch screen actuator.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:
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a bidirectional semiconductor switch operable to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load, the semiconductor switch having a control input for controlling the semiconductor switch between a non-conductive state and a conductive state; a controller operatively coupled to the control input of the semiconductor switch for controlling the semiconductor switch between the non-conductive state and the conductive state; a touch sensitive front surface adapted to be pressed; a touch sensitive device responsive to the touch sensitive front surface being pressed, the touch sensitive device having an output operatively coupled to the controller for providing a control signal representative of a position at which the touch sensitive front surface is pressed; and an audible sound generator responsive to the controller; wherein the controller is operable to cause the visual display to illuminate and the audible sound generator to generate a first audible sound in response to the control signal of the touch sensitive device when the touch sensitive front surface is pressed, and to generate a second audible sound in response to the control signal when the touch sensitive front surface is released. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A user interface for a lighting control, the user interface comprising:
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a touch sensitive front surface adapted to have an operating pressure applied thereto; a touch sensitive device responsive to the touch sensitive front surface being pressed, the touch sensitive device having an output operatively coupled to the controller for providing a control signal representative of a position at which the touch sensitive front surface is pressed; and an audible sound generator operable to generate a first audible sound in response to the control signal of the touch sensitive device when the touch sensitive front surface is pressed, and to generate a second audible sound in response to the control signal when the touch sensitive front surface is released. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:
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a bidirectional semiconductor switch operable to be coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the load, the semiconductor switch having a control input for controlling the semiconductor switch between a non-conductive state and a conductive state; a controller operatively coupled to the control input of the semiconductor switch for controlling the semiconductor switch between the non-conductive state and the conductive state; a touch sensitive front surface; a touch sensitive device responsive to a plurality of point actuations at the touch sensitive front surface, each of the point actuations characterized by a position and a force, the touch sensitive device having an output operatively coupled to the controller for providing a first control signal in response to a first point actuation and a second control signal in response to a second point actuation; and an audible sound generator responsive to the controller; wherein the controller is operable to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load to a first amount of power and to cause the audible sound generator to generate a first audible sound in response to the first control signal, the controller further operable to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load to a second amount of power and cause the audible sound generate to generate a second audible sound different than the first sound in response to the second control signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A user interface for a lighting control, the user interface comprising:
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a touch sensitive front surface; a touch sensitive device responsive to a plurality of point actuations at the touch sensitive front surface, each of the point actuations characterized by a position and a force, the touch sensitive device operable to begin providing a control signal when the magnitude of the force of each of the point actuations exceeds a minimum magnitude and to cease providing the control signal when the magnitude of the force subsequently decreases below the minimum magnitude; and an audible sound generator operable to generate a first audible sound in response to the control signal when the magnitude of the force of each of the point actuations exceeds the minimum magnitude, and to generate a second audible sound in response to the control signal when the magnitude of the force subsequently decreases below the minimum magnitude. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of providing audible feedback in a load control device, the method comprising the steps of:
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applying an operating pressure to a touch sensitive front surface of the load control device; transmitting the operating pressure to a touch sensitive device of the load control device; generating a control signal representative of a position of the operating pressure on the touch sensitive front surface; generating a first audible sound in response to the step of applying an operating pressure; ceasing to apply the operating pressure to the touch sensitive front surface; and generating a second audible sound in response to the step of ceasing to apply the operating pressure. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification