Method of disabling the keyboard keys of a command-emitting device

• US 7,256,726 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2003
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Original Assignee: Somfy Sas (Somfy SA)
• Inventors: Bejean, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US10/525,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20050237230A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 341/173, 341/176, 701/36, 455/565, 340/825.36, 340/506, 340/539.11, 340/568.1, 340/3.1
• US Class Current: 341/176
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/022 Part of keyboard not operable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/03 Avoiding erroneous switching
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/022 Application wake up; switches or contacts specially provided for the wake up or standby shift of a circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of disabling the keyboard keys of a command-emitting device. The inventive method is characterised in that it comprises repeated iterations of the following steps: the automatic disabling of at least some keys on the command-emitting device once a command has been sent and the cancellation of said key-disabling operation by means of a specific action on the command-emitting device. One such method can be used to disable the keyboard keys of a command-emitting device when said device is being placed in a pocket or bag.

Claims

1. A method of disabling the buttons of the keypad of a command transmitter intended to control an appliance for security and/or access control in a building, which comprises repetitions of the following steps:

automatic disabling of at least certain buttons of the command transmitter after a command is sent, while specific buttons remain active to send at least a safety command; and

cancellation of the disabling of the buttons through a specific action on the command transmitter.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disabling is done immediately after a command is sent by the command transmitter.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disabling is done on completion of a timeout triggered after a command is sent by the command transmitter.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the disabling is brought about when a signal from a sensor for detecting grasping of the command transmitter in the hand is not transmitted.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cancellation of the disabling is brought about by a specific manipulation of one or more specific buttons.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cancellation of the disabling is brought about by an action on a mechanical locking means.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cancellation of the disabling is brought about by a signal transmitted by a sensor for detecting grasping of the command transmitter in the hand.

8. A command transmitter comprising:

a microcontroller connected to buttons and to means for transmitting commands to control an appliance for security and/or access control in a building, the microcontroller comprising a program allowing the implementation of the method according to claim 1.

9. The command transmitter as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a sensor for detecting grasping of the command transmitter in the hand.

10. A command transmitter comprising:

a microcontroller connected to buttons for transmitting radiofrequency commands to control an appliance for security and/or access control in a building,

wherein specific buttons remain active in a partially inhibited mode, at least some of them remaining active to send safety commands, the non-specific buttons having no effect in this partially inhibited mode.

11. The command transmitter of claim 10, in which the partially inhibited mode can be cancelled by a specific sequence on the specific buttons.