Motion activated switch and method
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a switch, said switch controlling electrical power transmitted to a load and comprising a processor, timer, and three axial accelerometers, each measuring accelerations along an individual axis, the method comprising:
- a. setting at least one time interval condition and taking measurements of accelerations along at least one axis every time interval;
b. setting a number of measurements to be averaged into an average acceleration value;
c. repeating acceleration measurements at every time interval, and averaging only the most recent acceleration measurements to obtain new average acceleration values;
d. setting a first, moving average, threshold condition and a second, activation counter, threshold condition and comparing each average acceleration value to a first threshold condition;
e. if the second threshold condition is met by an average acceleration value, incrementing an activation counter and continually adding to the activation counter in the same manner for each subsequent average acceleration value that meets the second threshold condition;
f. if subsequent average accelerations do not meet the second threshold condition, then reducing the activation counter; and
g. only activating the switch if the first threshold condition is met and an activation counter threshold value is reached.
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Abstract
An algorithm analyzes the motion of an object to determine if a switch needs to be activated or deactivated. Accelerometers measure forces exerted upon an object to determine orientation in pitch, roll, and yaw axes, and to determine motion of the object. When threshold conditions for these orientations and movements are measured, the method combines taking moving averages of pitch, roll, and yaw, and additionally accumulating an integral of yaw to determine if an activation or deactivation condition is met. Should an integral condition not be constantly met while the moving average conditions are being determined, the yaw integral counter resets and the whole process must begin again. This method balances most unintentional activation conditions with activation latency. Another methodology tracks the motion of a wrist flick, similar to casting a fishing line, using acceleration and deceleration parameters.
15 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a switch, said switch controlling electrical power transmitted to a load and comprising a processor, timer, and three axial accelerometers, each measuring accelerations along an individual axis, the method comprising:
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a. setting at least one time interval condition and taking measurements of accelerations along at least one axis every time interval; b. setting a number of measurements to be averaged into an average acceleration value; c. repeating acceleration measurements at every time interval, and averaging only the most recent acceleration measurements to obtain new average acceleration values; d. setting a first, moving average, threshold condition and a second, activation counter, threshold condition and comparing each average acceleration value to a first threshold condition; e. if the second threshold condition is met by an average acceleration value, incrementing an activation counter and continually adding to the activation counter in the same manner for each subsequent average acceleration value that meets the second threshold condition; f. if subsequent average accelerations do not meet the second threshold condition, then reducing the activation counter; and g. only activating the switch if the first threshold condition is met and an activation counter threshold value is reached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification