METHODS FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC DEVICE USING A CONTROL APPARATUS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for manipulating an electrical device comprising:
- sensing motion via a motion sensor;
producing an output signal corresponding to the sensed motion;
converting the output signal via a processing unit in communication with the motion sensor into a command function, where the command function is a scroll function or a simultaneous select and activate function, andcontrolling one object or a plurality of objects in electronic communication with the processing unit, where the processing unit includes an object list having an object identifier for each object and an object specific attribute list for each object having one adjustable attribute or a plurality of adjustable attributes, where each object specific attribute has an attribute identifier,where the simultaneous select and activate function comprises a select and scroll function or a select and attribute control function,where motion in a first direction causes the processing unit to issue a scroll function for scrolling through the object list and where a change in a direction of the motion corresponding to a second direction of motion, sufficiently different from the first direction of motion to allow motion discrimination by either the processing unit or motion sensor, which causes the processing unit to simultaneously select an object from the object list and activate the selected object, where the object is either an attribute list or an attribute and where the processing unit issues a corresponding scroll function or an attribute control function.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical switch apparatus including a movement sensitive form is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, a motion sensor and a processing unit, where motion on, near or about the motion sensor is translated into output commands adapted for list scrolling, where the list can be arranged in a hierarchy such as menus or for changing a value of an attribute of a electrical device under the control of the switch.
-
Citations
46 Claims
-
1. A method for manipulating an electrical device comprising:
-
sensing motion via a motion sensor; producing an output signal corresponding to the sensed motion; converting the output signal via a processing unit in communication with the motion sensor into a command function, where the command function is a scroll function or a simultaneous select and activate function, and controlling one object or a plurality of objects in electronic communication with the processing unit, where the processing unit includes an object list having an object identifier for each object and an object specific attribute list for each object having one adjustable attribute or a plurality of adjustable attributes, where each object specific attribute has an attribute identifier, where the simultaneous select and activate function comprises a select and scroll function or a select and attribute control function, where motion in a first direction causes the processing unit to issue a scroll function for scrolling through the object list and where a change in a direction of the motion corresponding to a second direction of motion, sufficiently different from the first direction of motion to allow motion discrimination by either the processing unit or motion sensor, which causes the processing unit to simultaneously select an object from the object list and activate the selected object, where the object is either an attribute list or an attribute and where the processing unit issues a corresponding scroll function or an attribute control function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
4. (canceled)
-
5. (canceled)
-
6. (canceled)
-
7. (canceled)
-
8. (canceled)
-
9. (canceled)
-
10. (canceled)
-
11. (canceled)
-
12. (canceled)
-
13. (canceled)
-
14. (canceled)
-
15. (canceled)
-
16. (canceled)
-
17. (canceled)
-
18. (canceled)
-
19. (canceled)
-
20. (canceled)
-
24. A method of manipulating an electrical switch apparatus comprising:
-
providing a switch including; a user interface having a motion sensor capable of producing an output signal, in response to;
(a) motion, in any direction, of the motion sensor, or a component of the motion sensor, or (b) motion, in any direction, of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, a body part of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, or an object under control of the human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, anda processing unit in electric communication with the motion sensor, which converts the output signal into a control function, where the sensor output is based solely on the sensed motion, and where the command function comprises a scroll function or a simultaneous select and activate function, and controlling one object or a plurality of objects in electrical communication with the processing unit, where the processing unit includes an object list having an object identifier for each object and an object specific attribute list for each object having a plurality of attributes, where each object specific attribute has an attribute identifier, where the simultaneous select and activate function comprises a select and scroll function or a select and attribute control function and sensing motion in a first direction causing the processing unit to issue a scroll function for scrolling through the object list and sensing a change in a direction of the motion corresponding to a second direction of motion, sufficiently different from the first direction of motion to allow motion discrimination by either the processing unit or motion sensor, causes the processing unit to simultaneously select an object from the object list and activate the selected object, where the object is either an attribute list or an attribute and where the processing unit issue a corresponding scroll function or an attribute control function. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A method for controlling an electrical device comprising:
-
providing a plurality of device switches, each of the switches including a user interface having a motion sensor capable of producing an output signal, in response to;
(a) motion, in any direction, of the motion sensor, or a component of the motion sensor, or (b) motion, in any direction, of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, a body part of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, or an object under control of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor,a processing unit in electric communication with the motion sensor, which converts the output signal into a control function, where the sensor output is based solely on the sensed motion, and where the command function comprises a scroll function or a simultaneous select and activate function and where the simultaneous select and activate function comprises a select and scroll function or a select and attribute control function, and each of the switches is in electrical communication with and controls a plurality of objects, where each of the objects includes at least one adjustable attribute, where the processing unit includes an object list having an object identifier for each object and an object specific attribute list for each object having a plurality of attributes, where each object specific attribute has an attribute identifier, where motion in a first direction causes the processing unit to issue a scroll function for scrolling through the object list and where a change in a direction of the motion corresponding to a second direction of motion, sufficiently different from the first direction of motion to allow motion discrimination by either the processing unit or motion sensor, causes the processing unit to simultaneously select an object from the object list and activate the selected object, where the object is either an attribute list or an attribute and where the processing unit issue a corresponding scroll function or an attribute control function. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
-
39. A method for controlling objects comprising
providing a user interface for communicating with a user, providing a motion sensor capable of producing an output signal, in response to: - (a) motion, in any direction, of the motion sensor or a component of the motion sensor, or (b) motion, in any direction, of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, a body part of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, or an object under control of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, and
providing a processing unit in electric communication with the motion sensor, which converts the output signal into a control function, where the sensor output is based solely on the sensed motion, where the command function comprises a scroll function or a simultaneous select and activate function, where the simultaneous select and activate function comprises a select and scroll function or a select and attribute control function, where the processing unit includes an object list having an object identifier for each controlled object and an object specific attribute list for each controlled object having a plurality of attributes, and where each object specific attribute has an attribute identifier, and controlling one object or a plurality of objects via the interface, sensing motion in a first direction via the motion sensor and causing the processing unit to issue a scroll function for scrolling through the object list, sensing a change in a direction of the motion corresponding to a second direction of motion, sufficiently different from the first direction of motion to allow motion discrimination by either the processing unit or motion sensor, causes the processing unit to simultaneously select an object from the object list and activate the selected object, where the object is either an attribute list or an attribute and where the processing unit issue a corresponding scroll function or an attribute control function. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
- (a) motion, in any direction, of the motion sensor or a component of the motion sensor, or (b) motion, in any direction, of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, a body part of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, or an object under control of a human within a motion sensing zone of the motion sensor, and
Specification