Power saving apparatus circuit and method
First Claim
1. Apparatus for determining whether an electrically powered device is to be in a normal operational mode or a reduced power operational mode, the apparatus including detection means for detecting the presence or otherwise of a virtual capacitance represented by a part of a human body, and switching means to switch the device between modes depending on the result of the detection means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for determining whether or not an electrically powered device is to be in a normal operational mode or a reduced power operational mode, the apparatus including detection means for detecting the presence or otherwise of a virtual capacitance represented by a part of a human body, and switching means to switch the device between modes depending on the result of the detection means. The detection means includes at least one electrically conductive region and at least one detection terminal, the detection terminal being part of a detection circuit. There is one detection terminal for each electrically conductive region. The detection circuit includes a first transistor for receiving an oscillation pulse, a second transistor also for receiving the oscillation pulse and being controlled by the first transistor, the first transistor having an output that is above a threshold voltage in the absence of the virtual capacitance and that is below the threshold voltage in the presence of the virtual capacitance, the second transistor having an oscillation output as an input to the switching means. A plurality of resistors determines the threshold voltage. The device requires the presence of at least one part of the human body for at lest one operational function of the device.
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Citations
28 Claims
- 1. Apparatus for determining whether an electrically powered device is to be in a normal operational mode or a reduced power operational mode, the apparatus including detection means for detecting the presence or otherwise of a virtual capacitance represented by a part of a human body, and switching means to switch the device between modes depending on the result of the detection means.
- 10. A detection circuit for detecting the presence or otherwise of a virtual capacitance, the detection circuit including a first transistor for receiving an oscillation pulse, a second transistor also for receiving the oscillation pulse and being controlled by the first transistor, the first transistor having an output that is above a threshold voltage in the absence of the virtual capacitance and that is below the threshold voltage in the presence of the virtual capacitance, the second transistor having an oscillation output as an input to the switching means.
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14. A method for switching a device between a normal operation mode and a power reduction mode, the method including the steps of:
- detecting the presence or otherwise of a virtual capacitance represented by a part of a human body, and switching the device between modes depending on the result of the detection.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
Specification