Importance

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Abstract

A control panel for controlling a device in response to user indications, the control panel comprising, a position sensing element (60) having a sensing surface, and a position interface circuit (76). The position interface circuit (76) is operable to determine a position of an object (100) on the sensing surface, when the object (100) is applied to the sensing surface of the position sensing element (60). At least one pressure sensing device (54, 66) and the sensing surface of the position sensing element (60) are arranged with the effect that a displacement of the sensing surface with respect to the pressure sensing device in response to the pressure applied by the object is detectable by the pressure sensing device. As such, in one example, the position interface circuit (76) is operable to identify one or more of a plurality of user indicated signals by correlating the position of the object on the sensing surface with a pressure detected by the pressure sensing device. The sensing surface may include pre-designated and pre-determined locations representing virtual buttons so that by determining whether the object is at one of a plurality of pre-determined locations on the sensing surface of the position sensing element, the position interface circuit (76) can identify the user indicated signal by correlating the position of the object at one of the predetermined locations with the detected pressure, each of the pre-determined location corresponding to one of the plurality of user indicated signals.

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First Claim