Intelligent electrical switching devices
DCFirst Claim
1. An electronic system for use with an exhaustible power source, a power switch, and an energy consuming load, said system comprising:
- (a) a microchip having at least a first input, said first input transmits a signal to said microchip when said load has been activated or deactivated and, when in use with said power source and said load, not forming a serial link in a transfer circuit between the power source and the load;
(b) said power switch configured to be connected to said power source and to said load, the power switch configured to control the on/off switching through the control of the energy flow from said power source to said load; and
(c) said microchip further configured to control at least two functions selected from the group consisting of;
a flashing find-in-the-dark location indicator that is active when the load is not energized and when the power source is or is not being charged;
a power source level indicator that is active when the load is or is not energized;
an automatic delayed shut-off function with said first input acting as an activation/deactivation interface and said microchip controlling the said power switch to shut off after a predetermined period of time in response to the receipt of an activation signal received through said first input; and
recharging of the power source.
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Abstract
The present invention, according to a preferred embodiment, is directed to portable electronic devices which operate on exhaustible power sources, for example, batteries. The electronic devices of the present invention comprise at least one signal switch and a microchip in communication with the switch wherein the switch is only capable of transmitting a signal to the microchip that the switch has been activated or deactivated. The microchip is in communication with the exhaustible power source of the electronic device and controls (i) the power on/off function of the device, (ii) at least one other function of the device in response to activation and deactivation signals from the switch, and (iii) an automatic shut off function in response to the receipt of an activation signal from the switch. The present invention, according to other embodiments, is also directed to (i) intelligent batteries with microchips embedded therein, and (ii) portable microchip devices for insertion into electronic devices to provide additional features and functions to the nonintelligent electronic devices.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. An electronic system for use with an exhaustible power source, a power switch, and an energy consuming load, said system comprising:
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(a) a microchip having at least a first input, said first input transmits a signal to said microchip when said load has been activated or deactivated and, when in use with said power source and said load, not forming a serial link in a transfer circuit between the power source and the load;
(b) said power switch configured to be connected to said power source and to said load, the power switch configured to control the on/off switching through the control of the energy flow from said power source to said load; and
(c) said microchip further configured to control at least two functions selected from the group consisting of;
a flashing find-in-the-dark location indicator that is active when the load is not energized and when the power source is or is not being charged;
a power source level indicator that is active when the load is or is not energized;
an automatic delayed shut-off function with said first input acting as an activation/deactivation interface and said microchip controlling the said power switch to shut off after a predetermined period of time in response to the receipt of an activation signal received through said first input; and
recharging of the power source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An electronic switching system to be used with an exhaustible power source and an energy consuming load, said system comprising:
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(a) a power switch, said power switch configured to be connected between said power source and said load;
(b) a microchip, said microchip configured to control said power switch, wherein said microchip has at least one input, said at least one input transmits a signal to said microchip when a switch connected to said input has been activated or deactivated, said at least one input and switch connected thereto being an activation/deactivation interface, said microchip and said power switch control energy flow from said power source to said load in response to activation and deactivation signals received through said input; and
(c) an energy storage device, said device configured to be connected to the microchip, said microchip powered by energy from said storage device when the power switch is conducting energy from the power source to the load. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A switching system for use with an exhaustible power source, a power switch, and an energy consuming load, said system comprising:
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(a) a microchip having at least one input, said input transmits a signal to said microchip when a switch connected to said input has been activated or deactivated, said input and switch connected thereto being an activation/deactivation interface and, when in use with said power source and said load, not forming a serial link in a transfer circuit between the power source and the load;
(b) said microchip configured to be connected to a power switch, said power switch configured to be connected to said power source and to said load, the microchip and the power switch configured to control the on/off switching through the control of the energy flow from said power source to said load in response to activation and deactivation signals received through said input;
(c) said microchip configured to control at least one function selected from the group of functions consisting of an automatic delayed load shut-off function in response to the receipt of an input signal, and an average load power reduction function; and
(d) said microchip further configured to accept commands from a controller. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A switching system for use in a vehicle with an exhaustible power source, a power switch, and a light generating load, said system comprising
(a) a microchip having at least one input, said input transmits a signal to said microchip when a switch connected to said input has been activated or deactivated, said input and switch connected thereto being an activation/deactivation interface and, when in use with said power source and said load, not forming a serial link in a transfer circuit between the power source and the load; -
(b) said microchip configured to be connected to a power switch, said power switch configured to be connected to said power source and to said load, the microchip and the power switch configured to control the on/off switching through the control of the energy flow from said power source to said load in response to activation and deactivation signals received through said input; and
(c) said microchip configured to control at least two functions selected from the group consisting of a flashing find-in-the dark location indicator when the load is not being supplied with energy and regardless of whether the power source is being charged or not to assist in locating the input switch and/or the system, a delayed shut-off function in response to an activation signal, and a reduced power to the load function. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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43. A switching system for use in a vehicle with an exhaustible power source, a power switch, and an energy consuming load, said system comprising:
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(a) a microchip having at least one input, said input transmits a signal to said microchip when a switch connected to said input has been activated or deactivated, said input and switch connected thereto being an activation/deactivation interface and, when in use with said power source and said load, not forming a serial link in a transfer circuit between the power source and the load;
(b) said microchip configured to be connected to a power switch, said power switch configured to be connected to said power source and to said load, the microchip and the power switch configured to control the on/off switching through the control of the energy flow from said power source to said load in response to activation and deactivation signals received through said input; and
(c) said microchip configured to control an automatic delayed load shut-off function in response to the receipt of an activation signal through said input. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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46. A switching system with an exhaustible power source, a power switch, and a light generating load, said system comprising:
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(a) a microchip having at least one input, said input transmits a signal to said microchip when a switch connected to said input has been activated or deactivated, said input and switch connected thereto being an activation/deactivation interface and, when in use with said power source and said load, not forming a serial link in a transfer circuit between the power source and the load;
(b) said microchip configured to be connected to a power switch, said power switch configured to be connected to said power source and to said load, the microchip and the power switch configured to control the on/off switching through the control of the energy flow from said power source to said load in response to activation and deactivation signals received through said input; and
(c) said microchip configured to control an average load power reduction function.
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47. A switching system for use in a vehicle with an exhaustible power source, a power switch, and a light generating load, said system comprising:
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(a) a microchip having at least one input, said input transmits a signal to said microchip when a switch connected to said input has been activated or deactivated, said input and switch connected thereto being an activation/deactivation interface and, when in use with said power source and said load, not forming a serial link in a transfer circuit between the power source and the load;
(b) said microchip configured to be connected to a power switch, said power switch configured to be connected to said power source and to said load, the microchip and the power switch configured to control the on/off switching through the control of the energy flow from said power source to said load in response to activation and deactivation signals received through said input; and
(c) said microchip configured to control multiple functions comprising at least two functions selected from the group consisting of a gradual switch “
on”
function, a gradual switch “
off”
function, a power reduction to the load function, and an automatic delayed shut-off function in response to an activation signal.- View Dependent Claims (48, 49)
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50. A switching system for use in a vehicle with an exhaustible power source, a power switch and a light generating load, said system comprising:
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(a) a microchip having at least one input, said input transmits a signal to said microchip when a switch connected to said input has been activated or deactivated, said input and switch connected thereto being an activation/deactivation interface and, when in use with said power source and said load, not forming a serial link in a transfer circuit between the power source and the load;
(b) said microchip configured to be connected to a power switch, said power switch configured to be connected to said power source and to said load, the microchip and the power switch configured to control the on/off switching through the control of the energy flow from said power source to said load in response to activation and deactivation signals received through said input; and
(c) said microchip configured to control multiple functions comprising at least two functions selected from the group consisting of a gradual switching “
on”
function, an average power reduction to the load function, and an automatic delayed shut-off function in response to an input signal.- View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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Specification