Control switch apparatus operable by an object placed adjacent thereto and spaced therefrom
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Control switch apparatus operable by a hand or other light reflective object placed adjacent thereto and spaced therefrom for controlling the flow of electricity through an electrical circuit, said control switch apparatus comprising, in combination:
- light source means for emitting light and for directing said light externally of said control switch;
light receiving means adjacent to said light source means;
switch means alternately having either an open condition wherein said switch means is open or a closed condition wherein said switch means is closed;
switch actuator means responsive to reflection of light emitted by said light source means by an object placed adjacent to said control switch apparatus and spaced therefrom to said light receiving means to actuate said switch means to change an initial condition of said switch means by either opening said switch means whereby said switch means assumes said open condition or closing said switch means whereby said switch means assumes said closed condition; and
means for maintaining said switch means in the open or closed condition caused by placement of said object adjacent to said control switch apparatus after said object has been moved away from said control switch apparatus until the same or another object is placed adjacent to said control switch apparatus to reflect light from said light source means to said light receiving means and said switch means is returned to said initial condition by said switch actuator means in response thereto.
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Abstract
A "no touch", two state switch is controlled by light emitted thereby which is reflected back to the switch to actuate or deactuate the switch when reflected by a hand or other object spaced from but adjacent to the switch.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. Control switch apparatus operable by a hand or other light reflective object placed adjacent thereto and spaced therefrom for controlling the flow of electricity through an electrical circuit, said control switch apparatus comprising, in combination:
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light source means for emitting light and for directing said light externally of said control switch; light receiving means adjacent to said light source means; switch means alternately having either an open condition wherein said switch means is open or a closed condition wherein said switch means is closed; switch actuator means responsive to reflection of light emitted by said light source means by an object placed adjacent to said control switch apparatus and spaced therefrom to said light receiving means to actuate said switch means to change an initial condition of said switch means by either opening said switch means whereby said switch means assumes said open condition or closing said switch means whereby said switch means assumes said closed condition; and means for maintaining said switch means in the open or closed condition caused by placement of said object adjacent to said control switch apparatus after said object has been moved away from said control switch apparatus until the same or another object is placed adjacent to said control switch apparatus to reflect light from said light source means to said light receiving means and said switch means is returned to said initial condition by said switch actuator means in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Control switch apparatus operable by an object placed adjacent thereto and spaced therefrom, said control switch apparatus comprising, in combination:
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light source means for emitting light and for directing said light externally of said control switch; light receiving means adjacent to said light source means; switch means; means responsive to reflection of light emitted by said light source means by an object placed adjacent to said control switch apparatus and spaced therefrom to said light receiving means to either open said switch means or close said switch means; and reset circuit means for opening said switch means responsive to energization of said control switch apparatus by a source of electricity operatively associated with said control switch apparatus, said reset circuit means including timer means for delaying opening of said switch means for a predetermined period of time after energization of said control switch apparatus by said source of electricity.
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16. Control switch apparatus operable by an object placed adjacent thereto and spaced therefrom, said control switch apparatus comprising, in combination:
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light source means for emitting light and for directing said light externally of said control switch; light receiving means adjacent to said light source means; switch means; means responsive to reflection of light emitted by said light source means by an object placed adjacent to said control switch apparatus and spaced therefrom to said light receiving means to either open said switch means or close said switch means; carrier wave generator means for generating a carrier wave of a modulated predetermined frequency accompanying light emitted by said light source means; and means for varying the frequency of said carrier wave.
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Specification