representative embodiments provide for a controller for use with a capacitive mat , the controller configured to selectively electrically energize a first node of the capacitive mat in response to an input . the controller is further configured to wait for a first predetermined period of time , and to electrically energize a second node of the capacitive mat after the first predetermined period time . a method of the present invention provides for controlling a capacitive mat , the method including receiving an input , this repeats the scenario stated in lines 5 – 7 . the abstract only mentions one of the three methods .