초록 ▼

The present invention provides a very low actuation force touch control switch for use in brightness control of illumination devices. The control switch comprises a flexible membrane having a plurality of conductors disposed on one surface and secured to a rigid support surface. The conductors are i

The present invention provides a very low actuation force touch control switch for use in brightness control of illumination devices. The control switch comprises a flexible membrane having a plurality of conductors disposed on one surface and secured to a rigid support surface. The conductors are interwoven in a present pattern with portions of the conductors being exposed. A conductive surface is formed in an area under the exposed conductors. The membrane is fastened to the rigid support surface so that a very small spacing is maintained between the exposed conductors and the fixed conductive surface, allowing a very light touch to cause one or more exposed conductors to be shorted to the conductive surface. A microprocessor periodically polls the leads of the membrane to determine which are shorted together and causes an output power level to be adjusted accordingly. The touch control system employs a Delayed-Off feature in which the microprocessor causes a discernible dimming to occur when a DELAYED-OFF selection are on the memberane is pressed but which delays the turning off of the illumination device until a preselected amount of time has passed, thereby allowing a switch operator to leave an area before becoming dark. In addition, Soft-On and Soft-Off processing is employed so that on and off transitions are more gradual and aesthetically pleasing and to provide a period in which to select an alternate brightness level.

대표청구항 ▼

A system adapted for coupling between an electrical appliance and an electrical power source for controlling the level of power applied to said appliance, comprising: switch means, responsive to a user input indicative of a user requested level of operation of said appliance, for providing a corresp

A system adapted for coupling between an electrical appliance and an electrical power source for controlling the level of power applied to said appliance, comprising: switch means, responsive to a user input indicative of a user requested level of operation of said appliance, for providing a corresponding switch signal, said switch means comprising: a flexible membrane; a plurality of spaced apart electrical pattern conductors disposed in a continuous single column array upon a first surface of said membrane; a plurality of electrically conductive level leads disposed upon said membrane, each level lead coupled to a respective other one of said conductors in each respective region of said conductor array; a rigid member having a flat surface, a recessed portion of said rigid member surface aligned and facing said conductor array; and a fixed conductor formed in said recessed portion, said membrane being attached to said rigid member with said conductor array suspended over said recessed portion so that certain ones of said pattern conductors come in contact with said fixed conductor when pressure is applied to a second surface of said member above said recessed portion; control means for receiving said switch signal and responsive thereto for generating a control signal during each of a continuous sequence of equal time intervals, said control signal in each time interval of a duration corresponding to said user requested level of operation of said appliance; power conditioning means for receiving electrical power from said power source and for receiving said control signal, said power conditioning means responsive to said control signal for coupling electrical power to said appliance; and said switch means further responsive to a user request for delayed turn-off of said appliance for providing a corresponding delayed-off signal, said control means responsive to said delayed-off signal for generating said control signal of a reduced duration, relative to a current control signal duration, during each time interval for a predetermined time period after which said control means inhibits generation of said control signal.