Method and apparatus for operating a touch input device, a lighting device, and a circuit

An apparatus, comprising:

• a touch input device;
• a lighting device;
• and
• a controller, comprising:
• a common signal path coupled with the touch input device and the lighting device;
• a signal combiner module connected to the common signal path and responsive to signals communicated via the common signal path;
• a touch core module connected to the signal combiner module and configured to interpret a state of the touch input device;
• and
• a light core module connected to the signal combiner module and to the touch core module, and configured to generate a lighting device state for the lighting device;
• wherein operations of the touch input device and the lighting device are controlled via the signal combiner module and the common signal path.

A method of operating a touch input device and a lighting device coupled with a common signal path of a circuit, the method comprising:

• generating, in a signal combiner, an operational signal configured to identify a touch input device state for the touch input device;
• interpreting, in a touch core module, the identified touch input device state for the touch input device;
• in response to the interpreting of the touch input device state, generating, in a light core module, a lighting device state for the lighting device;
• providing the operational signal and the lighting device state to the signal combiner;
• combining, in the signal combiner, the operational signal for operating the touch input device and the generated lighting device state into a common control signal at the common signal path;
• and
• controlling the touch input device and the lighting device via the signal combiner module and the common control signal at a common signal path.