Method of disabling the keyboard keys of a command-emitting device

• US 20050237230A1
• Filed: 08/27/2003
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Bejean, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 7,256,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/24
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/022 Part of keyboard not operable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/03 Avoiding erroneous switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/022 Application wake up; switches or contacts specially provided for the wake up or standby shift of a circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of disabling the keyboard keys of a command-emitting device. The inventive method is characterised in that it comprises repeated iterations of the following steps: the automatic disabling of at least some keys on the command-emitting device once a command has been sent and the cancellation of said key-disabling operation by means of a specific action on the command-emitting device. One such method can be used to disable the keyboard keys of a command-emitting device when said device is being placed in a pocket or bag.

Claims

1. A method of disabling tbe buttons (14, 15, 16) of the keypad of a command transmitter (10) intended to control an appliance, which comprises repetitions of the following steps:

automatic disabling of at least certain buttons (14, 16) of the command transmitter (10) after a command is sent,

cancellation of the disabling of the buttons (14, 16) through a specific action on the command transmitter (10).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disabling is done immediately after a command is sent by the command transmitter (10).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disabling is done on completion of a timeout triggered after a command is sent by the command transmitter (10).

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disabling is brought about by the disappearance of a signal transmitted by a sensor for detecting grasping in the hand (18).

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cancellation of the disabling is brought about by a specific manipulation of one or more buttons (15).

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cancellation of the disabling is brought about by an action on a mechanical locking means (19).

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cancellation of the disabling is brought about by a signal transmitted by a sensor for detecting grasping in the hand (18).

10. The command transmitter (10) as claimed in claim 8 and intended to implement the method as claimed in claim 7, which comprises a sensor of grasping in the hand (18).

8. A command transmitter (10) comprising a microcontroller (13) connected to buttons (14, 15, 16) and to means for transmitting commands (11, 12), which comprises programs allowing the implementation of the method according to claim.

9. The command transmitter (10) as claimed in claim 8 and intended to implement the method as claimed in claim, which comprises a sensor of grasping in the hand (18).