USER INTERFACE FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20080129529A1
• Filed: 11/21/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 9609385 Canada Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stephane Gascon, Timothy D.F. Ford
• Inventors: Ford, Timothy D.F., Gascon, Stephane
• Granted Patent: US 7,639,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/02 characterised by the provision of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/0885 for portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0414 specially adapted to be used with portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/17 forming a single encapsulated light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/11 with indexing means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/585 provided with printed circuit contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/006 comprising a plurality of reed switches, e.g. selectors or joystick-operated
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/2856 against internal abnormal circuit conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/32 Pulse-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

A user interface for an electronic device, the interface comprising first and second parts arranged for relative displacement, said first part comprising a magnet and said second part comprising a first hall effect sensor for sensing a displacement of said magnet along a first axis and a second hall effect sensor for sensing a displacement of said magnet along a second axis, wherein said magnet moves relative to said first and second hall effect sensors in response to movement of said second part relative to said first part; a plurality of switch settings, each of said switch settings comprised of a unique combination of a magnet position along said first axis and a magnet position along said second axis; and control electronics coupled to said first and second hall effect sensors for converting the combination of a current position of said magnet along said first axis and a current position of said magnet along said second axis into a selected one of said plurality of switch settings.

Claims

1. A user interface for an electronic device, the interface comprising:

first and second parts arranged for relative displacement, said first part comprising a magnet and said second part comprising a first hall effect sensor for sensing a displacement of said magnet along a first axis and a second hall effect sensor for sensing a displacement of said magnet along a second axis, wherein said magnet moves relative to said first and second hall effect sensors in response to movement of said second part relative to said first part;

a plurality of switch settings, each of said switch settings comprised of a unique combination of a magnet position along said first axis and a magnet position along said second axis; and

control electronics coupled to said first and second hall effect sensors for converting the combination of a current position of said magnet along said first axis and a current position of said magnet along said second axis into a selected one of said plurality of switch settings.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein said magnet is limited to movement along a circle centred on said third axis.

3. The interface of claim 1, wherein said first axis is perpendicular to said second axis.

4. The interface of claim 1, wherein said first and second hall effect sensors are oriented hall effect sensors.

5. The interface of claim 4, wherein said first and second hall effect sensors are positioned at said third axis.

6. The interface of claim 1, wherein said first part is limited to rotation relative to said second part about said third axis.

7. The interface of claim 1, wherein movement of said first part relative to said second part is limited using tactile feed back.