Patents Assigned to Invensys Appliance Controls Company
  • Patent number: 6657616
    Abstract: A touch sensor is provided which detects manual contact by a user to actuate a controlled device. The touch sensor includes a substrate, an RF signal transmitter including a plurality of first conductors, and an RF signal receiver including a plurality of second conductors. The first and second conductors are located in spaced, interdigitated alignment with one another on the substrate, to form a key having a geometry which affords substantial coverage thereof by a human appendage. The RF signal receiver includes an RF signal amplifier electrically coupled to the second conductors. A processor is electrically coupled to the RF signal receiver to detect variations in signal strength corresponding to coverage of the key by a human appendage to selectively actuate the controlled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Invensys Appliance Controls Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Sims