USER INTERFACE WITH PROXIMITY SENSING

• US 20120056490A1
• Filed: 08/02/2011
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Touch Solutions LLC (Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Global Touch Solutions LLC (Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bruwer, Frederick Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 9,226,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• 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

An electronic circuit including a microchip for use as an intelligent user interface also comprises touch sensor technology that differentiates between proximity and physical contact events to activate and control various loads including light bulbs, products with radio frequency circuitry or electric motors. An input to the microchip is connected to a switch or sensing structure that does not form a serial link between the power source and the load. The electronic circuit controls various functions in response to user actions including automatic delayed shut-off functions, find-in-the-dark indicator and power source level/product state indications. The microchip allows the user to select specific functions based on the time duration of activation signals, the time duration between activation signals and the number of activation signals at the input. The microchip is further configured to interpret and react to the signals received from a user in a way that enhances ease of use of the product and to use the indicators to provide information to the user that is influenced by the signals received as well as the state of the product.

Claims

1. A user interface unit for use with a product comprising a power source or a connection to a power source, to control a selection of functions or modes, said user interface unit comprising:

a switch being a capacitive touch sensor structure; and

a microchip having at least a first input coupled to the touch sensor structure and wherein the microchip implements at least certain touch sensor functions, and is further configured for providing information or for controlling the display of information, in response to proximity detection signals received through said first input, wherein such information is useful to guide the user in terms of a logical next operation based on the state or condition of the product.

2. The interface unit of claim 1 wherein the user interface unit comprises multiple touch sensor and/or electromechanical switches and said microchip is further configured to implement at least an indication function affecting the operating mode or function of the product and wherein the indication function comprises an operation of a visible indicator in response to the detection of a proximity event by a touch sensor user interface switch structure wherein the visible indicator at least indicates a state of the product or a condition of the product

3. The interface unit of claim 1 wherein the user interface comprise multiple touch sensor and/or electromechanical switches and said microchip is further configured to implement at least an indication function in response to the detection of a proximity event without affecting the operation of the mode or function of the product and wherein the function comprise an operation of an indicator or display in a way to assist the user in locating a user interface switch.

4. The interface unit of claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises multiple touch sensor and/or electromechanical switches and said microchip is further configured to implement at least an indication function in response to the detection of a proximity event without changing the mode or function of the product and wherein the indication function is an operation of an indicator or display of information in response to the detection of a proximity event by a touch sensor user interface switch and wherein said display is used to provide the user with information about a specific touch sensor user interface switch reporting the proximity event or an electromechanical switch adjacent to the sensor reporting the proximity event;

5. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein the product comprises radio frequency circuitry and audio signal generating circuitry and wherein the interface unit, the power source, the load and the visible indicator or display are all attached to or enclosed in a single housing.

6. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein the microchip is further configured to provide a delayed automatic switch off action of the indication function that was activated in response to proximity detection event signal received from the touch sensor user interface switch.

7. The interface unit of claim 3, wherein the product comprises radio frequency circuitry and audio signal generating circuitry and wherein the interface unit, the power source, the load and the visible indicator or display are all attached to or enclosed in a single housing.

8. The interface unit of claim 4, wherein the interface unit, the power source, the load and the visible indicator are all attached to or enclosed in the product housing and wherein the touch sensor user interface forms an integral part of a single product housing.

9. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein an electrically conductive fluid and/or flexible tape comprising conductive material is used in the implementation of the touch sensor switch structure that is connected to the microchip.

10. The interface unit of claim 3, wherein an electrically conductive fluid and/or flexible tape comprising conductive material is used in the implementation of the touch sensor switch structure that is connected to the microchip.

11. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein the microchip also controls an automatic delayed switch-off of a function that was activated in response to an activation command and an advance auto-off warning signal to indicate the auto delayed switch off is imminent.

12. The interface unit of claim 11, wherein the microchip is further configured to accept a proximity detection signal to reset the auto-off timing sequence only after the advance auto off warning signal has been activated.

13. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein the microchip controls an indication to show proximity and/or physical contact detection and also to provide information to the user about a switch that is near the point of proximity detection.

14. The interface unit of claim 1, wherein an output of the user interface switch structure in response to a user activation depends at least on a ratio of resistances formed in the user interface switch structure that is connected to the microchip.

15. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein an output of the user interface switch structure in response to a user activation depends at least on a ratio of resistances formed in the user interface switch structure that is connected to the microchip.

16. The interface unit of claim 3, wherein an output of the user interface switch structure in response to a user activation depends at least on a ratio of resistances formed in the user interface switch structure that is connected to the microchip.

17. The interface unit of claim 4, wherein an output of the user interface switch structure in response to a user activation depends at least on a ratio of resistances formed in the user interface switch structure that is connected to the microchip.

18. The interface unit of claim 1, wherein an audible indicator comprising sound generating circuitry or digitized speech, is activated in response to the detection of a proximity event and wherein such audio signals assist the user in operating the user interface.

19. The interface unit of claim 1, further configured to select and/or indicate the selection of a function in response to respectively a proximity event, a physical contact event or a pressure event.

20. The interface unit of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation that is selected by the microchip in response to touch events depends on a combination of at least one of the following parameters:

(a) the period of a touch activation; and

(b) the periods between touch activations.

21. A method of using a touch sensor circuit that forms part of a product user interface comprising multiple touch sensor switches and/or electromechanical switches, wherein a microchip implements touch sensor functions and a touch sensor sense pad structure is used in the implementation, the method comprising the steps of (1) detecting an activation event through the touch sensor switch, and (2) providing information, based on the state or condition of the product and the touch sensor signals, to guide the user in selecting the next user interface related operation to perform.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the method includes the step of providing said information through operating a display, in response to the detection of an event by the touch sensor user interface, and wherein said display is operated in a way to assist in locating a user interface switch and wherein the user interface switch is used to select a further function upon a physical contact event between an object and the user interface.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the method includes the step of providing said information through operating a display, in response to the detection of a proximity event by the touch sensor user interface, and wherein said display is operated in a way to assist in locating a user interface switch and wherein the user interface switch is used to select a further function upon a physical contact event between an object and the user interface.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the user interface further comprises multiple touch sensor switches and/or electromechanical switches and the step of operating a display in response to a proximity event and wherein the displayed information also provides information to the user about the state or condition of the product.

25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising a step of automatically de-activating an indication and/or a display function a predetermined period after it was activated in response to receiving an activation signal from the user interface switch.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the method also comprises the conveyance of information to the user through the indication of the function(s) associated with physical contact events on the touch sensor switch or switches adjacent to the point of the proximity detection.

27. The method according to claim 21, wherein a touch sensor circuit sense plate is part of an electromechanical switch construction and the method further comprises a step of controlling an indication based on a respectively a proximity and a physical touch detection, with only permanently selecting the function associated with the electromechanical switch upon a minimum level pressure applied.

28. The method according to claim 22 further comprising a step of selecting a mode of operation based on a touch event that depends on at least one of the following parameters:

(a) the period of a physical contact activation; and

(b) the period between physical contact activations.

29. The method according to claim 22, further comprising a step of selecting a mode of operation that depends on the number of touch events and if the period of non-activation of the switch since a previous touch event exceeds a minimum period, the touch event will result in a switch off action.

30. The method according to claim 23, implemented in a product comprising radio frequency circuitry and audio signal generating circuitry and wherein the touch sensor user interface forms an integral part of the product casing.

31. The method according to claim 25 wherein the activation signal from the user interface switch is in response to a proximity event.