Lighting control interface

• US 6,608,617 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marc O. Hoffknecht, Mark A. Muzzin
• Original Assignee: Marc O. Hoffknecht, Mark A. Muzzin
• Inventors: Hoffknecht, Marc O., Muzzin, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Wilson
• Application Number:
  US09/849,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291-295, 345/8, 345/44, 345/173-179
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/085 by touch control

Abstract

A lighting control interface consisting of a touch pad matrix, a housing, different faceplates having unique graphical designs, and a control circuit. The touch pad matrix has a plurality of conductive touch pads. The faceplate has a plurality of faceplate areas which are used to designate various lighting commands and each faceplate can represent a unique collection of lighting control functions. The control circuit is electrically coupled to the touch pad matrix and is programmed to support the functionality represented by a particular faceplate design by ascribing the appropriate lighting control functions to the individual touch pads. The control circuit includes an oscillator which is coupled to each touch pad in turn and a microcontroller which monitors the frequency of the oscillating circuit when connected to the various touch pads. When a user places a finger on a touch pad, the frequency of the associated oscillations decreases and this decrease in frequency is detected by the microcontroller. Upon detecting the activation of a touch pad, the microcontroller determines which faceplate area has been selected by the user by mapping the touch pad location to the associated faceplate. The microcontroller also detects slow, long and double activations of the faceplate where necessary. A corresponding lighting signal is generated by microcontroller and provided by the lighting control interface either for local dimming purposes of for use within a larger networked lighting environment.

Claims

1. A lighting control interface comprising:

(a) a touch pad matrix containing a plurality of touch pads;

(b) a programmable device coupled to said touch pad matrix such that said programmable device can be programmed to ascribe a first set and a second set of functions to said touch pads, said first and second sets of functions being different from each other; and

(c) said touch pad matrix being capable of receiving at least two different faceplates, one of said faceplates containing a first unique arrangement of graphics that correspond to said first set of functions and another of said faceplates containing a second unique arrangement of graphics that correspond to said second set of functions.

2. The lighting control interface of claim 1 wherein said programming device comprises a microcontroller.

3. The lighting control interface of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of LEDs mounted adjacent to said touch pad matrix, said plurality of LEDs being adapted to visually signal the operational status of at least said first set of functions and said second set of functions.

4. The lighting control interface of claim 1 wherein each of said at least two faceplates include:

(a) a flexible sheet;

(b) a conductive layer formed on the underside of said flexible sheet; and

(c) a dielectric layer formed on top of said conductive layer, such that the underside of said faceplate is adapted to physically interface with said touch pad matrix to form capacitive switches.

5. The lighting control interface of claim 4 wherein said dielectric layer is formed of distinct dots of dielectric material.

6. The lighting control interface of claim 4 wherein said flexible sheet is transparent and wherein said conductive layer contains openings so that each of said at least two faceplates contain regions which are transparent.

7. The lighting control interface of claim 1 wherein said touch pad matrix and the programmable device are adapted to fit within a housing, said housing being sized to fit within the space of a conventional light switch mounting box.

8. A method of configuring a lighting control interface having a plurality of touch pads coupled to a programmable device, said programmable device being capable of being programmed to ascribe a first set and a second set of functions to said touch pads, said first set and second set of functions being different from each other, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) programming the programmable device to ascribe one of said first set and second set of functions to said touch pads;

(b) creating a first faceplate with a first unique arrangement of graphics corresponding to said one set of functions; and

(c) attaching said faceplate over said plurality of touch pads.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein step (b) includes the steps of:

(a) providing a flexible sheet;

(b) forming a conductive layer on the underside of said flexible sheet; and

(c) forming a dielectric layer on top of said conductive layer, such that the underside of said faceplate is adapted to physically interface with said touch pad matrix to form capacitive switches.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:

(d) creating a second faceplate having a second unique arrangement of graphics corresponding to said other set of functions, said first and said second unique arrangement of graphics being different from each other; and

(e) reprogramming the programmable device to ascribe the other of said first set and second set of functions to said touch pads.