US 12,438,543 B2
Load control device having a capacitive touch surface
Quinn Brogan, Hellertown, PA (US); Graham L. Christensen, Blue Bell, PA (US); Chris Dimberg, Easton, PA (US); Jonathan H. Ference, Fleetwood, PA (US); Matthew V. Harte, Stewartsville, NJ (US); Matthew Philip McDonald, Phoenixville, PA (US); Dinesh Sundara Moorthy, Allentown, PA (US); Matthew W. Nuhfer, Bethlehem, PA (US); Michael W. Pessina, Allentown, PA (US); James P. Steiner, Royersford, PA (US); and Daniel L. Twaddell, Bethlehem, PA (US)
Assigned to Lutron Technology Company LLC, Coopersburg, PA (US)
Filed by Lutron Technology Company LLC, Coopersburg, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 27, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/089,364.
Application 18/089,364 is a continuation of application No. 16/888,510, filed on May 29, 2020, granted, now 11,569,818.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/968,421, filed on Jan. 31, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/929,742, filed on Nov. 1, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/910,932, filed on Oct. 4, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/885,062, filed on Aug. 9, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/855,463, filed on May 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0133984 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. H03K 17/96 (2006.01); G06F 3/044 (2006.01); H03K 17/95 (2006.01); H05B 39/08 (2006.01)
CPC H03K 17/962 (2013.01) [G06F 3/044 (2013.01); H03K 17/951 (2013.01); H05B 39/085 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control device configured to control an electrical load, the control device comprising:
an actuation member having a front surface defining a touch sensitive surface along at least a portion of the front surface, the actuation member configured to move in response to a tactile actuation of the actuation member;
a touch sensitive device configured to detect a touch actuation along the touch sensitive surface; and
a control circuit configured to determine a position of the touch actuation along the length of the touch sensitive surface in response to the touch actuation along the touch sensitive surface, the control circuit configured to prioritize inputs received in response to tactile actuations of the actuation member over the inputs received from the touch sensitive device in response to touch actuations of the touch sensitive surface;
wherein an amount of power delivered to the electrical load is controlled in response to the position of the touch actuation along the length of the touch sensitive surface.