Touchless switch which discriminates between motion intended to toggle the switch and other forms of motion
First Claim
1. An object sensing toggle switch, comprising:
- a housing assembly having an outer wall transparent to radiant energy;
a barrier;
the outer wall further having a groove in the inside surface and sized such that the edge of the barrier can fit within the groove;
an emitter;
a detector for determining the ambient energy level by detecting background energy when the emitter is not activated and for determining the reflected energy level when the emitter is activated;
the barrier positioned between the emitter and the detector such that energy is substantially prevented from being directly transmitted from the emitter to the detector;
the groove having a sufficient depth and the edge of the barrier located a sufficient depth within the groove such that energy transmitted from the emitter is substantially prevented from being reflected by the outer wall back to the detector;
a processor, the processor further comprising;
an input to accept the output of the detector;
means to determine a value representative of the ambient energy level;
means to determine a value representative of the reflected energy level when the emitter is activated;
comparison means to generate a difference value representing the difference between the value representing the ambient energy level and the reflected energy level;
means to selectably activate the emitter and to selectably monitor the detector; and
means to toggle the switch when the difference value exceeds a predetermined amount.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A touchless switch using a single detector to measure ambient energy and reflected energy. The detector can detect objects in both the normal unsaturated ambient energy state or when ambient energy is saturating the detector. Discrimination between toggle motion and motion which is not intended to indicate a switch toggle operation is also provided. The detector and the emitter are mounted to a circuit board which is then mounted within a housing which has a window that allows passage of ambient energy and reflected energy. A barrier between the detector and the emitter blocks energy from being directly transmitted from the emitter to the detector. The barrier may be inserted into a groove in the window to prevent energy from the emitter from being reflected off of the inner surface of the window to the detector. Accidental triggering by ambient energy is prevented by requiring that the reflected energy be detected for a minimum amount of time. Accidental triggering by objects not intended to toggle the switch is avoided by requiring that toggling be initiated by a moving object which reflects energy within a preselected time window. Alternate embodiments are shown which replaces standard wall switches and provides automatic illumination of locks at night.
61 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An object sensing toggle switch, comprising:
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a housing assembly having an outer wall transparent to radiant energy; a barrier; the outer wall further having a groove in the inside surface and sized such that the edge of the barrier can fit within the groove; an emitter; a detector for determining the ambient energy level by detecting background energy when the emitter is not activated and for determining the reflected energy level when the emitter is activated; the barrier positioned between the emitter and the detector such that energy is substantially prevented from being directly transmitted from the emitter to the detector; the groove having a sufficient depth and the edge of the barrier located a sufficient depth within the groove such that energy transmitted from the emitter is substantially prevented from being reflected by the outer wall back to the detector; a processor, the processor further comprising; an input to accept the output of the detector; means to determine a value representative of the ambient energy level; means to determine a value representative of the reflected energy level when the emitter is activated; comparison means to generate a difference value representing the difference between the value representing the ambient energy level and the reflected energy level; means to selectably activate the emitter and to selectably monitor the detector; and means to toggle the switch when the difference value exceeds a predetermined amount. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification