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Force invariant touch sensitive actuator

  • US 8,098,029 B2
  • Filed: 10/04/2010
  • Issued: 01/17/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device comprising:

  • a 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 point actuation on the touch sensitive front surface, the point actuation characterized by a position and a force, the touch sensitive device comprising a resistive divider and an output operatively coupled to the controller for providing a control signal to the controller; and

    a capacitor coupled to the output of the touch sensitive device for stabilizing the control signal;

    wherein the capacitor is operable to charge and discharge through the resistive divider of the touch sensitive device, such that the control signal is representative of the position of the point actuation.

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