Touch operated control system for electrical devices

• US 20010045897A1
• Filed: 04/02/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory A. Wolff
• Original Assignee: Gregory A. Wolff
• Inventors: Wolff, Gregory A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,566,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/815.73
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/085 by touch control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/904 Touch systems

Abstract

A touch operated control system is provided that advantageously provides enhanced functionality, including a programmable timer that sets a light coupled to the dimmer to OFF after a predetermined period of time. The control system generally includes a conductive housing provided with a power receptacle, a power switch, a fuse, and a printed circuit board mounted within the housing. The printed circuit board includes switching circuitry by means of a programmed integrated circuit operationally connected to the housing, and a timer is operationally connected to the switching circuitry. By touching the housing, the switching circuitry is activated to automatically connect or remove power to or from the power receptacle. The sequence and duration of the touch activation function varies the system response to provide enhanced control, functionality and flexibility. The disclosed control systems continuously monitor the status of the connected electrical device, providing a visual indication of the device'"'"'s operative condition.

Claims

1. A control system for use with an electrical device adapted to operate at variable intensity, comprising:

a. a housing that defines an enclosure;

b. circuitry mounted within said enclosure and including switching functionality adapted to control power supply to said electrical device;

c. a touch activated surface associated with said housing and in communication with said circuitry;

wherein a first mode of contact with respect to said touch activated surface causes said circuitry to control whether said electrical device is on; and

wherein a second mode of contact with respect to said touch activated surface causes said circuitry to control said variable intensity of said electrical device; and

wherein said first mode of contact is different than said second mode of contact.

2. A control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said first mode of contact is a short duration contact with said touch activated surface and said second mode of contact is a contact with said touch activated surface of greater duration than said short duration contact.

3. A control system according to

claim 2

, wherein said short duration contact is less than or equal to 0.5 seconds, and said greater duration contact is equal to or greater than 1.0 seconds.

4. A control system according to

claim 2

, wherein said short duration contact sequentially causes said electrical device to be turned on and to be turned off.

5. A control system according to

claim 2

, wherein said long duration contact causes said variable intensity of said electrical device to gradually increase, and wherein discontinuation of said long duration contact sets said variable intensity of said electrical device.

6. A control system according to

claim 5

, wherein resumption of said long duration contact after said discontinuation causes said variable intensity of said electrical device to gradually decrease, and wherein a second discontinuation of said long duration contact resets said variable intensity of said electrical device.

7. A control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said electrical device is a lamp.

8. A control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said control system is integral with said electrical device.

9. A control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said control system is remotely located relative to said electrical device.

10. A control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said touch activated surface is defined by at least a portion of said housing.

11. A control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said touch activated surface is fabricated from a conductive material selected from the group consisting of metal, metalized plastic and combinations thereof.

12. A control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said housing is adapted to communicate with a source of voltage, and wherein said circuitry includes electrical componentry adapted to automatically operate with voltage sources at 50 Hz and 60 Hz.

13. A control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said circuitry further includes timer functionality.

14. A control system according to

claim 13

, wherein said timer functionality includes a plurality of predetermined timer settings.

15. A control system according to

claim 13

, wherein said housing includes a plurality of visibly discernible indicators that provide visibly discernible indications based on said timer functionality.

16. A control system according to

claim 15

, wherein said visually discernible indicators comprise a plurality of LEDs.

17. A control system according to

claim 13

, wherein said circuitry activates a visually discernible signal when said timer functionality reaches a predetermined countdown point.

18. A control system according to

claim 13

, wherein a third mode of contact with respect to said touch activated surface causes said circuitry to operate said timer functionality.

19. A control system according to

claim 18

, wherein said third mode of contact comprises longer duration contact with said touch activated surface than the longer of said first and second modes of contact.

20. A control system according to

claim 19

, wherein said first, second and third modes of contact are differentiated from each other based on duration of contact with said touch activated surface.

21. A control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said circuitry supplies a predetermined minimum level of power to said electrical device whenever said circuitry is receiving power from a voltage source, said predetermined minimum level of power being insufficient to operate said electrical device.

22. A control system according to

claim 21

, wherein said circuitry includes phase sensing functionality that is adapted to sense an open circuit between said electrical device and said circuitry.

23. A control system according to

claim 22

, wherein a visually discernible signal is provided by said circuitry upon sensing of an open circuit by said phase sensing functionality.

24. A control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said first mode of contact causes said circuitry to turn on said electrical device over a predetermined period of time.

25. A control system according to

claim 24

, wherein, subsequent to turning on said electrical device, said first mode of contact causes said circuitry to turn off said electrical device over a predetermined period of time.

26. A control system for use with an electrical device adapted to operate at variable intensity, comprising:

a. a housing defining an enclosure;

b. circuitry mounted within said enclosure, said circuitry including switching functionality adapted to control power supply to said electrical device and timer functionality;

c. a touch activated surface associated with said housing and in communication with said circuitry;

wherein said switching functionality and said timer functionality are controlled solely through interaction with said touch activated surface.

27. A control system according to

claim 26

, wherein said switching functionality, said timer functionality, and said variable intensity of said electrical device are controlled solely through contacts with said touch activated surface of varying duration and sequence.

28. A control system according to

claim 26

, wherein said switching functionality is adapted to control:

(i) on/off functionality of said electrical device, and (ii) said variable intensity of said electrical device.

29. A control system according to

claim 28

, wherein said switching functionality controls said on/off functionality of said electrical device to turn on said electrical device over a predetermined period of time.

30. A control system according to

claim 29

, wherein, subsequent to turning on said electrical device, said switching functionality controls said on/off functionality of said electrical device to turn off said electrical device over a predetermined period of time.

31. A control system according to

claim 28

, wherein said on/off functionality is controlled solely through short duration contact with said touch activated surface, and wherein said variable intensity is controlled solely through contact with said touch activated surface of longer duration than said short duration contact.

32. A control system according to

claim 26

, wherein sequential contact with said touch activated surface causes said switching functionality to alternately increase and decrease power supply to said electrical device.

33. A control system according to

claim 26

, wherein said timer functionality is controlled by maintaining contact with said touch activated surface for a duration longer than that required to achieve maximum intensity for said electrical device.

34. A control system for use with an electrical device adapted to operate at variable intensity, comprising:

a. a housing that defines an enclosure;

b. circuitry mounted within said enclosure and including switching functionality adapted to control power supply to said electrical device, said circuitry being in communication with a source of voltage;

c. a touch activated surface associated with said housing and in communication with said circuitry;

wherein a first mode of contact with respect to said touch activated surface causes said circuitry to control whether said electrical device is on;

wherein a second mode of contact with respect to said touch activated surface causes said circuitry to control said variable intensity of said electrical device; and

wherein said circuitry is responsive to said electrical device being inoperative at said electrical device, said circuitry adopting a first condition in response to said electrical device being inoperative at said electrical device, and said circuitry adopting a second condition in response to said electrical device being fully operative at said electrical device.

35. A control system according to

claim 34

, wherein said electrical device is a lamp and said inoperative condition is selected from the group consisting of an inoperative light bulb at said lamp and a switch associated with said lamp being in an off position.

36. A control system according to

claim 34

, wherein said first condition adopted by said circuitry includes providing an illuminated visually discernible signal reflecting said inoperative electrical device.

37. A control system according to

claim 36

, wherein said second condition adopted by said circuitry includes providing a second visually discernible signal reflecting said operative electrical device.

38. A control system according to

claim 34

, wherein said circuitry includes electrical componentry adapted to automatically operate with voltage sources at 50 Hz and 60 Hz.