Intelligent electrical switching device

• US 20050140310A1
• Filed: 02/17/2005
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Touch Solutions LLC (Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Azoteq Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Bruwer, Frederick J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,336,037 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/200.A
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/041 the light-intensity of the source H05B39/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/044 continuously H05B39/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/085 by touch control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/09 in which the lamp is fed by pulses automatic circuit devices built into or on the incandescent lamp H01K1/625; vehicle winking devices B60Q1/38
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The present invention, according to a preferred embodiment, is directed to portable electronic devices which operate on exhaustible power sources, for example, batteries. The electronic devices of the present invention comprise at least one signal switch and a microchip in communication with the switch wherein the switch is only capable of transmitting a signal to the microchip that the switch has been activated or deactivated. The microchip is in communication with the exhaustible power source of the electronic device and controls (i) the power on/off function of the device, (ii) at least one other function of the device in response to activation and deactivation signals from the switch, and (iii) an automatic shut off function in response to the receipt of an activation signal from the switch.

Claims

1. A switching system for use with a power source and a light source, said system comprising:

a microchip, and

an MMI activation/deactivation interface to select at least one function from multiple functions to be controlled by the microchip, the interface comprising at least one switch connected to at least one input to the microchip, the input transmits control signals to the microchip indicating switch operations, said input and switch not forming a serial link in the circuit that transfers energy between the power source and the light source, wherein

(a) the switching system is configured such that the microchip is powered irrespective of the switch position and/or light source activation status;

(b) a switch, an input and/or the microchip comprise a touch sensor or touch pad structure; and

(c) the switching system conforms to one of the following configurations;

(i) the microchip is configured such that the switch functions initially as an on-switch when the switch is activated, and the microchip then controls a gradual and smooth adjustment of the power supplied to the light source, based on the time period of switch actuation;

(ii) the microchip is configured to select a switching off function upon switch deactivation if the preceding time period of switch activation was longer than a predefined period;

(iii) the microchip is configured such that the switch functions initially as an on-switch when the switch is activated, and the microchip then selects a function upon a next operation of the switch based on the time period of switch activation, the time period of switch deactivation and the number of switch activations signals, received through the MMI interface; and

(iv) the microchip is configured to control a find-in-the-dark function by controlling a visible indicator when the light source is not switched on by the user, said indicator at least gives an indication of a switch operation.

3. A switching system according to claim 1, configured to conform to at least C (ii).

4. A switching system according to claim 1 configured to conform to at least C (iii).

6. A switching system according to claim 3, wherein the microchip is further configured to control a gradual and smooth adjustment of power based on the time duration of a switch activation.

7. A switching system according to claim 4, wherein the microchip is further configured to control a gradual and smooth adjustment of power based on the time duration of a switch activation.

9. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein the microchip is configured to provide an automatic switch off action of a function, a predetermined period after the function was activated upon the receipt of an activation signal through the MMI interface.

11. A switching system according to claim 3, wherein the microchip is configured to provide an automatic switch off action of a function, a predetermined period after the function was activated upon the receipt of an activation signal through the MMI interface.

12. A switching system according to claim 4, wherein the microchip is configured to provide an automatic switch off action of a function, a predetermined period after the function was activated upon the receipt of an activation signal through the MMI interface.

14. A switching system according to claim 6 wherein the microchip is configured to provide an automatic switch off action of a function, a predetermined period after the function was activated upon the receipt of an activation signal through the MMI interface.

15. A switching system according to claim 7, wherein the microchip is configured to provide an automatic switch off action of a function, a predetermined period after the function was activated upon the receipt of an activation signal through the MMI interface.

17. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein the MMI comprises multiple switches, and at least one switch is selected from the following group:

carbon coated membrane type switches and push button switches.

21. A switching system according to claim 9, wherein the MMI comprises multiple switches, and at least one switch is selected from the following group:

carbon coated membrane type switches and push button switches.

24. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein the power source is mains, or is derived from mains and coupled to mains.

28. A switching system according to claim 9, wherein the power source is mains, or is derived from mains and coupled to mains.

31. A switching system according claim 17, wherein the power source is mains, or is derived from mains and coupled to mains.

32. A switching system according of claim 1, wherein the microchip is configured to have an address and to transmit and/or receive commands comprising at least an address, to and/or from a controller.

33. A switching system according to claim 9, wherein the microchip is configured to have an address and to transmit and/or receive commands comprising at least an address, to and/or from a controller.

35. A switching system according to claim 24, wherein the microchip is configured to have an address and to transmit and/or receive commands comprising at least an address, to and/or from a controller.

36. A switching system according to claim 32, wherein the commands are transferred via a power line.

38. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein conductive paint, conductive fluid and/or flexible tape that includes conductive material is electrically connected to at least one switch, input and/or the microchip.

42. A switching system according to claim 9, wherein conductive paint, conductive fluid and/or flexible tape that includes conductive material is electrically connected to at least one switch, input and/or the microchip.

44. A switching system according to claim 24, wherein conductive paint, conductive fluid and/or flexible tape that includes conductive material is electrically connected to at least one switch, input and/or the microchip.

49. A switching system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply is an exhaustible power supply that can be recharged, also comprising a housing and wherein the MMI switch, the microchip, the power switch and the light source are all coupled to and/or enclosed in the casing.

2. A switching system for use with a power source and a light source, the system comprising

a microchip, and

an MMI activation/deactivation interface to select at least one function from multiple functions to be controlled by the microchip, the interface comprising at least one switch connected to at least one input to the microchip, the input transmits respective control signals to the microchip indicating switch operations, said input and switch not forming a serial link in a circuit that transfers energy between the power source and the light source, wherein

(a) the switching system is configured such that a switch, an input and/or the microchip comprise a touch sensor or touch pad structure;

and

(b) the microchip is configured such that the switch functions initially as an on-switch when the switch is activated, and the microchip also controls a gradual and smooth adjustment of the power supplied to the light source, based on the time period of switch actuation.

10. A switching system according to claim 2, wherein the microchip is configured to provide an automatic switch off action of a function, a predetermined period after the function was activated upon the receipt of an activation signal through the MMI interface.

18. A switching system according to claim 2, wherein the MMI comprises multiple switches, and at least one switch is selected from the following group:

carbon coated membrane type switches and push button switches.

22. A switching system according to claim 10, wherein the MMI comprises multiple switches, and at least one switch is selected from the following group:

carbon coated membrane type switches and push button switches.

25. A switching system according to claim 2, wherein the power source is mains, or is derived from mains and coupled to mains.

39. A switching system according to claim 2, wherein conductive paint, conductive fluid and/or flexible tape that includes conductive material is electrically connected to at least one switch, input and/or the microchip.

45. A switching system according to claim 25, wherein conductive paint, conductive fluid and/or flexible tape that includes conductive material is electrically connected to at least one switch, input and/or the microchip.

5. A switching system for use with a power source and a light source, the system comprising:

a microchip, and

an MMI activation/deactivation interface to select at least one function from multiple functions to be controlled by the microchip, the interface comprising at least one switch connected to at least one input to the microchip, the input transmits respective control signals to the microchip indicating switch operations, said input and switch not forming a serial link in a circuit that transfers energy between the power source and the light source, wherein

(a) the switching system is configured such that a switch, an input and/or the microchip comprise a touch sensor or touch pad structure; and

(b) the microchip is configured to control a find-in-the-dark function by controlling a visible indicator, said indicator at least gives an indication of a switch operation.

8. A switching system according to claim 5, wherein the microchip is further configured to control a gradual and smooth adjustment of power based on the time duration of a switch activation.

13. A switching system according to claim 5, wherein the microchip is configured to provide an automatic switch off action of a function, a predetermined period after the function was activated upon the receipt of an activation signal through the MMI interface.

16. A switching system according to claim 8, wherein the microchip is configured to provide an automatic switch off action of a function, a predetermined period after the function was activated upon the receipt of an activation signal through the MMI interface.

19. A switching system according to claim 5, wherein the MMI comprises multiple switches, and at least one switch is selected from the following group:

carbon coated membrane type switches and push button switches.

20. A switching system according to claim 8, wherein the MMI comprises multiple switches, and at least one switch is selected from the following group:

carbon coated membrane type switches and push button switches.

23. A switching system according to claim 13, wherein the MMI comprises multiple switches, and at least one switch is selected from the following group:

carbon coated membrane type switches and push button switches.

26. A switching system according to claim 5, wherein the power source is mains, or is derived from mains and coupled to mains.

27. A switching system according to claim 8, wherein the power source is mains, or is derived from mains and coupled to mains.

29. A switching system according to claim 13, wherein the power source is mains, or is derived from mains and coupled to mains.

30. A switching system according claim 16, wherein the power source is mains, or is derived from mains and coupled to mains.

34. A switching system according to claim 16, wherein the microchip is configured to have an address and to transmit and/or receive commands comprising at least an address, to and/or from a controller.

37. A switching system according to claim 34, wherein the commands are transferred via a power line.

40. A switching system according to claim 5, wherein conductive paint, conductive fluid and/or flexible tape that includes conductive material is electrically connected to at least one switch, input and/or the microchip.

41. A switching system according to claim 8, wherein conductive paint, conductive fluid and/or flexible tape that includes conductive material is electrically connected to at least one switch, input and/or the microchip.

43. A switching system according to claim 16, wherein conductive paint, conductive fluid and/or flexible tape that includes conductive material is electrically connected to at least one switch, input and/or the microchip.

46. A switching system according to claim 26, wherein conductive paint, conductive fluid and/or flexible tape that includes conductive material is electrically connected to at least one switch, input and/or the microchip.

47. A switching system according to claim 27, wherein conductive paint, conductive fluid and/or flexible tape that includes conductive material is electrically connected to at least one switch, input and/or the microchip.

48. A switching system according to claim 30, wherein conductive paint, conductive fluid and/or flexible tape that includes conductive material is electrically connected to at least one switch, input and/or the microchip.

50. A switching system according to claim 8, wherein the power supply is an exhaustible power supply that can be recharged, also comprising a housing and wherein the MMI switch, the microchip, the power switch and the light source are all coupled to and/or enclosed in the casing.

51. A switching system according to claim 16, wherein the power supply is an exhaustible power supply that can be recharged, also comprising a housing and wherein the MMI switch, the microchip, the power switch and the light source are all coupled to and/or enclosed in the casing.