Touch-operated power control

• US 5,196,782 A
• Filed: 10/04/1991
• Issued: 03/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Kwiatkowski, Richard J., Rowen, Michael J., D'Aleo, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel T.
• Application Number:
  US07/772,627
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 323/299, 323/300, 323/320, 323/904, 323/905, 315/194, 315/223, 315/291, 315/DIG. 4, 315/DIG. 7, 307/116, D13/32
• US Class Current: 323/320
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/022 Plug
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/058 flush mounted
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/016 Control panel; Graphic display; Programme control
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/052 Selectors, e.g. dimmers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/012 Decoding impedances
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/257 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/04 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/07 Starting and control circuits for gas discharge lamp using transistors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/904 Touch systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/905 Lamp dimmer structure

Abstract

A system to control power from a source to a load consists of a cover plate, a touch-operable device that is mounted behind a flexible area on the cover plate, and a power control circuit that responds in accordance with a signal generated by the touch-operable device. The system is operated by touching a point within the flexible area of the cover plate to activate the device. In a preferred embodiment, the system provides power over a continuous range of values, depending on the particular point at which the device is activated. Alternatively, the system operates as a switch, alternately turning power on or off when any point on the flexible area is touched. The control circuit preferably includes an electronically adjustable voltage divider. The system is well-adapted to permit control of power to a load from multiple locations. The appearance of the front surface of the cover plate can be dictated entirely by aesthetic considerations and can, if desired, be entirely featureless.

Claims

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

(a) a cover plate that has a front surface, an area of which is flexible,

(b) touch-operable means behind said flexible area having a continuous surface for providing a signal in response to pressure applied anywhere along said flexible area, the signal having at least one characteristic which is a function of the actual location on the flexible area to which said pressure is applied, said touch-operable means comprising first and second electrically conductive elements juxtaposed substantially coexistensively between substrates, at least one of which is flexible, and separated by a small gap, wherein said first electrically conductive element is operable to provide a voltage gradient along its surface, a point along which is electrically connectable to a corresponding point along said second electrically conductive element to selectively provide a voltage to a terminal thereof, and

(c) circuit means to determine the power provided from said source to said load in accordance with said signal.

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

(a) a cover plate that has a front surface, an area of which is flexible,

(b) touch-operable means behind said flexible area having a continuous surface for providing a signal in response to pressure applied anywhere along said flexible area, the signal having at least one characteristic which is a function of the actual location on the flexible area to which said pressure is applied, and

(c) circuit means to determine the power provided from said source to said load in accordance with said signal, wherein said circuit means comprises an electronically adjustable voltage dividing means.

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

(a) flexible means having a continuous surface for providing a momentary voltage selectable from a continuous range of voltages developed in response to pressure applied anywhere along said flexible area,

(b) electronically adjustable voltage dividing means for providing a continuous output voltage selectable from a range of voltages,

(c) comparator means to compare said momentary and continuous voltages and generating from the comparison an up-down signal having a voltage value dependent on the relative magnitudes of said momentary and continuous voltages, and operably connected to the electronically adjustable voltage dividing means for adjusting said electronically adjustable voltage dividing means,

(d) the electronically adjustable voltage dividing means further including a first input terminal for accepting electronic pulses, and a second input terminal for accepting the up-down signal, whereby the output voltage is incrementally increased upon each pulse entered into the first input terminal when the up-down signal is within a first preselected range of voltages, and whereby the output voltage is incrementally decreased with each pulse input to the first input terminal when the up-down signal is within a second preselected range of voltages, and

(e) circuit means to determines the power provided from said source to said load in accordance with said continuous voltage.

4. The control system of claim 3 wherein said means for providing a momentary voltage further includes touch-operable means having first and second electrically conductive elements juxtaposed substantially coextensively and having a space therebetween, said elements being disposed between substrates, at least one of said substrates being flexible.

5. The control system of claim 3 further comprising pulsing means, operably connected to the first input terminal of said electronically adjustable voltage dividing means, to provide pulses thereto.

6. The control system of claim 5 further comprising sensing means responsive to said momentary voltage to activate said pulses means.

7. The control system of claim 3 wherein said electronically adjustable voltage dividing means further includes means, requiring no power, for storing the value of the continuous voltage upon a cutoff in power to the system.

8. The control system of claim 3 wherein said circuit means comprises a phase-control circuit for controlling the power provided from said source to said load.

9. The control system of claim 3 wherein said circuit means is operable, in accordance with said continuous voltage, to provide a level of power selectable from a substantially continuous range of levels, from said source to said load.

10. The control system of claim 3 further comprising additional touch-operable means, operable to adjust the power provided to said load.

11. The control system of claim 3 further comprising visible means for indicating the level of power provided to said load.

20. The control system of claim 3, wherein said means for providing a momentary voltage includes touch-operable means including a cover plate having a flexible area, the flexible area comprising a thin web of material having a front surface that is substantially continuous with the remainder of said front surface of said cover plate and a back surface that is recessed from a back surface of said cover plate.

21. The control system of claim 20 wherein said front surfaces of said flexible area and said cover plate are substantially planar.

22. The control system of claim 21 wherein said cover plate front surface is marked to define the location of said flexible area.

23. The control system of claim 4 wherein said first electrically conductive element is operable to provide a voltage gradient along its surface, points along which are electrically connectable to corresponding points along said second electrically conductive element to selectively provide a voltage to a terminal thereof.

24. The control system of claim 20 wherein said touch-operable means and said circuit means are connectable via a removably-attachable plug and socket means.

25. The control system of claim 4 wherein said touch-operable means is substantially elongated in shape.

26. The control system of claim 4 wherein said touch-operable means is supported behind said flexible area by a substantially rigid plate which is attached to the back of said cover plate.

27. The control system of claim 26 wherein said substantially rigid plate provides a water-tight seal with the back of said cover plate.

28. The control system of claim 4 wherein said circuit means is operable to turn power to said load on and off in response to pressure applied to said touch operable means.

29. The control system of claim 3 wherein said circuit means is operable to provide a level of power, selectable from a substantially continuous range of levels, from said source to said load.

30. The control system of claim 3 further comprising an additional means for providing a momentary voltage, operable to adjust the power provided to said load.

31. The control system of claim 3 further comprising visible means for indicating the level of power provided to said load.

32. The control system of claim 31 wherein said cover plate further comprises a light transmissive area through which said indicating means is visible.

12. A multi-location system for controlling power from a source to a load, comprising, in combination:

(a) a plurality of touch operable means positionable at a plurality of locations with each touch operable means having flexible means, each of said flexible means having a continuous surface for providing a signal in response to pressure applied anywhere along said continuous surface, said signal of said touch operable means being a momentary voltage selectable from a range of voltages,

(b) means for storing information representative of the most recent momentary voltage from one of the touch operable means and for providing a continuous output voltage corresponding to said most recent momentary voltage, said means including a first input terminal for accepting electronic pulses, and a second input terminal for accepting an up-down signal, whereby the output voltage is incrementally increased upon each pulse entered into the first input terminal when the input to the second input terminal is within a first preselected range of values and whereby the output voltage is incrementally decreased with each pulse entered into the first input terminal when the input to the second input terminal is within a second preselected range of values, and

(c) circuit means to determine the power delivered from said source to said load in accordance with said continuous voltage, said circuit means including comparator means for comparing said momentary and continuous voltages, thereby creating an up-down signal having a voltage value dependent on the relative magnitudes of said momentary and continuous voltages, and operably connected to the second input terminal of the means for storing information representative of said momentary voltage.

13. The control system of claim 12 wherein said means to provide a momentary voltage comprises first and second electrically conductive elements juxtaposed substantially coextensively between substrates, at least one of said substrates being flexible, and said first and second elements being separated by a small gap.

14. The control system of claim 13 wherein said first electrically conductive element is operable to provide a voltage gradient along its surface, a point along which is electrically connectable to a corresponding point along said second electrically conductive element to selectively provide a voltage to a terminal thereof.

15. The control system of claim 12 wherein said storage means comprises an electrically adjustable voltage dividing means.

16. The control system of claim 15 wherein said electronically adjustable voltage dividing means stores without requiring power the most recent value of the continuous voltage.

17. The control system of claim 12 wherein said circuit means comprises a phase-control circuit for controlling the power provided from said source to said load.

18. The control system of claim 12 wherein said circuit means is operable to alternately turn power to said load on and off in response to said momentary voltage.

19. The control system of claim 12 further comprising visible means for indicating the level of power provided to said load.

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

(a) touch-operable means including a flexible area having a continuous surface for providing a signal in response to an applied pressure anywhere along the flexible area, the signal having at least one characteristic which is a function of the actual location on the flexible area to which said pressure is applied, said touch-operable means comprising first and second electrically conductive elements juxtaposed substantially coextensively between substrates, at least one of which is flexible, and separated by a small gap, wherein said first electrically conductive element is operable to provide a voltage gradient along its surface, a point along which is electrically connectable to a corresponding point along said second electrically conductive element to selectively provide a voltage to a terminal thereof,

(b) means, requiring no power, for storing information representative of said signal, and

(c) circuit means to determine the power provided from said source to said load in accordance with said signal.

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

(a) touch operable means including a flexible area having a continuous surface for providing a signal in response to an applied pressure anywhere along the flexible area, the signal having at least one characteristic which is a function of the actual location on the flexible area to which said pressure is applied,

(b) means, requiring no power, for storing information representative of said signal, wherein said storage means comprises an electronically adjustable voltage dividing means, and

(c) circuit means to determine the power provided from said source to said load in accordance with said signal.