Load control device responsive to non-contact actuations

A method for controlling one or more lighting loads using a control device, the method comprising:

• detecting a change in a characteristic of one or more touch sensitive pads that are located behind an actuation member of the control device;
• and
• starting a non-contact actuation blanking period in response to detecting the change in the characteristic that exceeds a touch-in threshold, and ignoring inputs received from the touch sensitive pads in response to non-contact actuations during the non-contact actuation blanking period;
• or
• starting an active touch mode blanking period in response to a tactile actuation of the actuation member to turn on or off the lighting load, and ignoring inputs received from the touch sensitive pads in response to touch actuations and non-contact actuations during the active touch mode blanking period.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a control circuit of a control device, cause the control circuit to:

• detect a change in a characteristic of one or more touch sensitive pads that are located behind an actuation member of the control device;
• and
• start a non-contact actuation blanking period in response to detecting the change in the characteristic that exceeds a touch-in threshold, and ignore inputs received from the touch sensitive pads in response to non-contact actuations during the non-contact actuation blanking period;
• or
• start an active touch mode blanking period in response to a tactile actuation of the actuation member to turn on or off a lighting load, and ignore inputs received from the touch sensitive pads in response to touch actuations and non-contact actuations during the active touch mode blanking period.