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Intelligent electrical switching device

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

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