Smart illuminated electrical switch with touch control

A building-based electrical switch with illuminated touch sensitive controls, the electrical switch comprising:

• a) a housing sized to fit at least partially inside an electrical junction box,
• b) a switch cover comprising a touch sensitive surface,
• c) a plurality of direct user input sensors disposed behind the touch sensitive surface, for sensing direct user interaction with the touch sensitive surface,
• d) a segmented backlight comprising:
• a light guide comprising a plurality of segments,
• wherein each segment of the plurality of segments has a forward facing surface that is substantially parallel to the touch sensitive surface,
• wherein each segment in the plurality of segments contains at least one surface designed to scatter light through the forward facing surface of the segment,
• one or more separators for attenuating light transmitted between segments in the plurality of segments,
• wherein each segment in the plurality of segments is at least partially separated from another segment in the plurality of segments by a separator,
• a plurality of light generation components, wherein each light generation component in the plurality of light generation components is for transmitting light preferentially into one segment in the plurality of segments, and
• a first segment from the plurality of segments that transmits from the forward facing surface substantially uniform intensity indirect light with a first light intensity, wherein the first intensity is greater than the light intensity transmitted by at least one other segment of the plurality of segments,
• e) a plurality of touch regions on the touch sensitive surface, wherein each touch region of the plurality of touch regions defines the perimeter of a set of locations on the touch sensitive surface in which direct user interaction causes a common subset of segments from the plurality of segments to illuminate, and
• f) a translucent layer, positioned behind the touch sensitive surface, comprising an illuminated region,
• wherein the illuminated region is generated at least in part by indirect light from the first segment, wherein the illuminated region has a substantially uniform illumination intensity across the area of the illuminated region and has at least one well-defined edge,
• wherein the perimeter of the illuminated region encompasses a first touch region from the plurality of touch regions and wherein direct user interaction within the first touch region generates the illuminated region.

A building-based electrical switch with illuminated touch sensitive controls comprising:

• a front cover comprising a touch sensitive surface,
• a plurality of direct user input sensors for sensing direct user interaction with the touch sensitive surface, wherein the plurality of direct user input sensors are disposed behind the touch sensitive surface, and
• a plurality of segments disposed behind the touch sensitive surface and within a common plain,
• wherein each segment in the plurality of segments is closely spaced in a first direction such that each segment in the plurality of segments is located within 5 millimeters of a neighboring segment in the plurality of segments in at least one location,
• wherein each segment in the plurality of segments is elongated in a second direction and extends at least 10 millimeters in the second direction,
• wherein each segment in the plurality of segments contains a forward facing surface, and
• wherein each segment in the plurality of segments is operable to transmit light preferentially through the forward facing surface,
• one or more separators disposed between the segments in the plurality of segments, wherein adjacent segments in the plurality of segments are separated by at least one separator,
• a plurality of light generation components, wherein each light generation component in the plurality of light generation components is operable to transmit light into one of the segments in the plurality of segments,
• wherein upon direct user interaction with a location on the touch sensitive surface, one or more segments
• from the plurality of segments transmit substantially uniform intensity indirect light
• from their forward facing surface and thereby generate an elongated illuminated region on the touch sensitive surface,
• wherein the elongated illuminated region is more indirectly illuminated by the one or more segments from the plurality of segments than directly illuminated by the plurality of light generation components, and
• wherein the elongated illuminated region encompasses the location of direct user interaction on the touch sensitive surface.

A method for providing indirectly illuminated shapes indicating the operating state of a building-based electrical switch, the method comprising:

• generating light with a light generation component,
• transmitting light from the light generation component into a first segment of a segmented backlight, the segmented backlight containing a plurality of segments,
• wherein each segment in the plurality of segments is closely spaced in a first direction such that a separation of less than 4 mm exists in at least one location between neighboring segments,
• wherein each segment in the plurality of segments is elongated in a second direction such that the length in the second direction is at least 10 millimeters, and
• wherein each segment in the plurality of segments is at least partially optically isolated from another segment in the plurality of segments by a separator,
• generating with the first segment substantially uniform intensity indirect light with a first intensity,
• generating with the indirect light from the first segment an elongated illuminated region with a well-defined perimeter on a touch sensitive surface,
• indicating with an aspect of the illuminated region an available first power output state of the electrical switch, and
• defining with the perimeter of the illuminated region the perimeter of a touch region on the touch sensitive surface in which direct user interaction causes the electrical switch to operate in the first power output state.