Electronic switch activated by current flow through the human body

• US 4,069,659 A
• Filed: 01/19/1976
• Issued: 01/24/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles W. Rutledge, Phillip A. Harris
• Original Assignee: Charles W. Rutledge, Phillip A. Harris
• Inventors: Rutledge, Charles W., Harris, Phillip A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackmon, E. S.
• Application Number:
  US05/650,310
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 58/23 R, 58/58 R, 58/152 R, 58/55, 128/2.05 DZ, 200/DIG. 2, 200/159 B, 235/145 R, 235/156, 307/116, 307/117, 340/279, 340/364 R, 340/364 C
• US Class Current: 708/111
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/007 combined with a calculator or computing means
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0082 by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements and by selecting desired characters out of a number of characters or by selecting indicating elements the positions of which represents the time, i.e. combinations of G04G9/02 and G04G9/08
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0216 Constructional details or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/967 having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard H03K17/969, H03K17/972, H03K17/98 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 200/02 Body attached switches

Abstract

An electronic circuit having two states, at least one of which is stable and which permits information to pass from one terminal to the other. The circuit can be activated by the flow of a minute electric current through the human body. The circuit is particularly suitable for any hand-held instrument such, for example, as an electronic calculator watch of the digital type and including electronic logic. It permits to activate certain functions or to carry out certain calculations by activating a conductive surface by means of a hand-held metallic pin or the like. This makes it possible to provide a large number of functions or operations and to display numbers say on the face of a watch and to activate each one by touching it with a pin held by the wearer of the watch or instrument.

Claims

1. An electronic circuit having two states, at least one of which is stable for permitting information to pass from one terminal to the other, said circuit comprising:

a. an electronic switch;

b. a voltage source having two terminals for energizing said switch;

c. said circuit having a data input terminal and a data output terminal;

d. said electronic switch having a conductive member adapted to be in contact with the body of a wearer;

e. said voltage source having one of its terminals connected to said conductive member;

f. said electronic circuit having a control contact for activating it and for switching said circuit from one of its states to the other, the other terminal of said voltage source being connected to said control contact through a first resistor of large resistance; and

g. an additional resistor connected between said control contact and an output terminal, a junction point being defined between said resistors and said control contact, whereby when the wearer of the electronic switch contacts said output terminal a very small current will flow through the wearer to activate said circuit and switch it from one state to the other.

2. A circuit as defined in claim 1 which consists of a C-MOS bilateral integrated structure.

3. A circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein the positive terminal of said voltage source is connected to said member.

4. A switch as claimed in claim 3 wherein said switch is normally open and is of the monostable type.

5. A circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein the negative terminal of said voltage source is connected to said member.

6. A circuit as defined in claim 5 wherein said switch is normally closed and is of the monostable type.

7. A circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein said first resitor consists of a back biased diode.

8. A circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein a pulldown resister is connected between one terminal of said voltage source and the data output terminal.

9. A circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein an inverter is provided between the junction point of said resistors and said control contact.

10. In a portable instrument capable of being in contact with the body of the wearer during operation, an electronic circuit, said electronic circuit comprising:

a. an electronic switch having two states, at least one of which is a stable state, said electronic circuit having at least one data input terminal and one data output terminal;

b. a source of voltage having two terminals;

c. said instrument having a conductive casing, one terminal of said voltage source being connected to said casing;

d. an insulating panel disposed in said casing and having apertures therethrough;

e. said circuit having one control terminal, said control terminal including a conductive portion recessed in an aperture of said insulating panel;

f. a resistor connected between the other terminal of said voltage source and said control terminal, whereby when the wearer contacts said control terminal, a current will flow through the body of the wearer to cause the voltage of said control terminal to approach that of the other terminal of said voltage source, thereby to trigger said circuit to its other state.

11. In combination with a digital watch capable of being in contact with the body of a wearer during operation;

a. said watch including a crystal-controlled oscillator;

b. a control logic coupled to said oscillator;

c. a multiplexed digital display;

d. a first digital calculator having control terminals for the digits from zero to 9, a plurality of predetermined mathematical functions and a plurality of additional operations including a memory storage, memory recall and the like;

e. each of said digits functions and operations being energizable by an electronic circuit having two states, at least one of which is a stable state;

f. each of said electronic circuits including a data input terminal and a data output terminal;

g. a voltage source having two terminals;

h. said watch and calculator having a common conductive casing, one terminal of said voltage source being connected to said casing, said circuit including a control terminal;

i. a resistor connected between the other terminal of said voltage source and said control terminal;

j. an additional resistor connected in series with said control terminals, whereby a current through the body of the wearer can be made to flow by contacting the control terminal;

k. a metallic element to switch said electronic switch into the other one of its states to permit data to pass therethrough; and

l. a second digital calculator coupled to said electronic circuits and having its output coupled to said didgital display for displaying the result of a calculation.

12. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein said digital watch is provided with a watch face having a plurality of openings corresponding in number to the numbers from zero to 9 and the desired functions and operations, whereby each number or function or operation can be activated by inserting a conductive element through said aperture to activate the associated electronic circuit.

13. The combination defined in claim 12 wherein said conductive element consists of a metallic pin capable of passing through said openings in said watch face.

14. In a digital watch of the type including a digital time calculator and a digital calculator:

a. a conductive casing for said watch;

b. a watch face of insulating material having a plurality of openings, each for activating a predetermined function or operation;

c. an insulating layer spaced from and disposed below said watch face; and

d. a plurality of conductive layers on said insulating layer, each being associated with one of said openings for energizing a circuit associated therewith by contacting said conductive layer through said one of said openings with a conductive element.

15. In a digital watch of the type including a digital time calculator and a digital calculator;

a. a conductive casing for said watch;

b. a watch face having a plurality of openings, each for activating a predetermined function or operation;

c. an insulating layer spaced from said watch face;

d. a plurality of conductive layers on said insulating layer, each being associated with one of said openings for energizing a circuit associated therewith by contacting said conductive layer with a conductive element;

e. a metallic pin; and

f. means for removably securing said pin to said casing, said pin being capable of contacting a selected conductive layer through its associated opening.