Touch-sensitive illumination

1. An apparatus for providing illumination, comprising:

a substrate;

a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor supported by said substrate;

a pressure-sensitive element connected across said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor;

a light-emitting device connected between said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor; and

a control circuit configured to alternate between:

energizing said pressure-sensitive element by applying electricity to said pressure-sensitive element of a first polarity; and thereafter

driving said light-emitting device by applying electricity to said light-emitting device of a second-polarity, wherein said second polarity is opposite to said first polarity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

said pressure-sensitive element is a variable resistive element; and

said pressure-sensitive element is substantially non-conductive without an application of pressure.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

said pressure-sensitive element presents a conductive resistance when pressure is applied;

said control circuit identifies said conductive resistance to identify a touch when energizing the pressure sensitive element; and

said light-emitting device presents a resistance substantially lower than said conductive resistance when being driven by said control circuit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said light-emitting device is a light-emitting diode.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , including additional electrical conductors for supplying additional driving electricity to a multi-colored light-emitting device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

said pressure-sensitive element is connected in series with a diode; and

said diode prevents current-flow through said pressure-sensitive element when the control circuit drives said light-emitting device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said control circuit is configured to drive said light-emitting device for a duration that is substantially longer than that during which said control circuit energizes said pressure sensitive-element.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said control circuit energizes said pressure-sensitive element for less than two per cent (2%) of an operational period.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein said pressure-sensitive element is energized a plurality of times during a one-second interval.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein said pressure-sensitive element is energized between eight and twelve times per second.

11. A method of combining an illumination functionality with a touch-sensing functionality, comprising the steps of:

establishing a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor on a substrate;

connecting a pressure-sensitive element across said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor;

connecting a light-emitting device between said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor; and

alternating, by means of a control-circuit, between:

energizing said pressure-sensitive element with current flowing in a first direction; and

driving said light-emitting device with current flowing in a direction opposite to said first direction.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said driving step is performed in response to detecting pressure applied to said pressure-sensitive element.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein a driving current is adjusted to increase an illumination level in response to additional pressure detection.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said driving current is modified by a process of pulse width modulation.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein said driving current is adjusted to reduce said illumination level in response to additional pressure detection, after said illumination level has reached a maximum intensity.