VARIABLE CONTROL FOR HANDHELD DEVICE

• US 20120280576A1
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Wood, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,072,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/125
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/227 for ears, i.e. otoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96066 Thumbwheel, potentiometer, scrollbar or slider simulation by touch switch

Abstract

A handheld device includes a capacitance sensing variable control that detects the presence of and movement of a user'"'"'s finger on an external surface of the device. The handheld device also includes a variable output power supply and an electronic device that is powered by the variable output power supply. Upon detection of the movement on the external surface of the device, the output of the variable output power supply is adjusted. The adjusted output changes the operation of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an instrument including an electronic device;

a variable output power supply electrically connected to the electronic device; and

a variable control that detects a capacitance of and movement of a user'"'"'s finger on an external surface of the device, the variable control comprising at least three spaced conductive strips separated from the exterior surface by an electrically insulating material, wherein the variable output power supply is adjusted upon detection of changes in capacitance at the spaced conductive strips indicating movement of the user'"'"'s finger across the external surface of the device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least three spaced conductive strips are each separately connected to a capacitance sensing circuit that detects capacitance changes.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least three spaced conductive strips comprise at least six spaced conductive strips, wherein a first and a fourth conductive strip are electrically connected to a first capacitance sensing circuit, a second and a fifth conductive strip are electrically connected to a second capacitance sensing circuit, and a third and a sixth conductive strip are electrically connected to a third capacitance sensing circuit.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the capacitance sensing variable control comprises a flexible circuit board wherein the at least three spaced conductive strips are formed on a first surface of the flexible circuit board.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the flexible circuit board includes a conductive layer formed on a second surface, the second surface opposing the first surface.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the flexible circuit board is bent to have a substantially circular cross sectional shape, and wherein ends of the flexible circuit board are joined together.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the variable control is enclosed within a housing.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the variable output power supply comprises a boost converter and a programmable controller, the programmable controller electrically coupled to the variable control and programmed to detect an input at the variable control, and the boost converter electrically coupled to the programmable controller to receive an signal from the programmable controller to adjust the output of the variable output power supply based on the input.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the instrument is an otoscope and wherein the electronic device is a variable intensity light generator.

10. A method of controlling a device, the method comprising:

detecting a presence of a finger at an external surface of the device by detecting a change of a capacitance with at least one of three conductive strips;

detecting movement of the finger in a direction along the external surface by sensing changes in capacitance at each of the three conductive strips; and

adjusting a variable output power supply based on the detected movement.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

detecting the direction of the movement;

setting the direction as an increase direction;

detecting further input in a second direction;

increasing the magnitude of the output of the variable output power supply if the second direction is the same as the increase direction; and

decreasing the magnitude of the output of the variable output power supply if the second direction is in a direction opposite the increase direction.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a speed of the movement;

detecting a speed of the second movement;

adjusting the output of the variable output power supply a larger magnitude for the second movement if the speed of the second movement is greater than the speed of the first movement; and

adjusting the output of the variable output power supply a lesser magnitude for the second movement if the speed of the second movement is less than the speed of the first movement.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting a presence of a finger at an external surface of the device involves detecting an increase of a capacitance at a first conductive strip.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting movement of the finger in a direction along the external surface comprises detecting an increase of a capacitance at a second conductive strip following the detection of an increase of a capacitance at the first conductive strip.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein adjusting a variable output power supply based on the detected movement comprises adjusting a magnitude of an output voltage.

16. A device comprising:

an otoscope including a variable intensity light generator, wherein the intensity of light generated by the light generator is modified by changing a magnitude of power supplied to the light generator; and

a power handle coupled to the otoscope, the power handle comprising;

a housing including an external surface;

a capacitance sensing variable control sealed within the housing and separated from the external surface by an insulating material, the capacitance sensing variable control including at least three spaced conductive strips arranged and configured to detect changes in capacitance at the conductive strips indicative of a sliding movement of a finger along the external surface;

a power source within the housing; and

a variable power supply within the housing and electrically coupled to supply power to the light generator, wherein the variable power supply receives an input with the capacitive sensor and adjusts the power supplied to the light generator based on the input.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the spaced constructive strips are spaced about a perimeter of the housing, and wherein every third conductive strip is electrically connected to a common capacitance sensor.

18. The device of claim 16, further comprising a flexible circuit board having the conductive strips arranged on the flexible circuit board, and an insulating material arranged adjacent the conductive strips and forming at least a portion of the housing and the external surface.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the power source is at least one capacitor providing the primary energy storage for the device.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the otoscope and the power handle are separable at an interface.