Cadence controlled actuator

• US 7,760,192 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berstis, Viktors
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chanh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yang; Kwang-Su
• Application Number:
  US11/266,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: 345/39, 345/82, 345/691, 345/173, 345/174, 375/239, 307/141.4, 178/18.01, 178/18.04, 178/18.06, 362/205
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/94 characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9505 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/94052 with evaluation of actuation pattern or sequence, e.g. tapping

Abstract

Signals in a proper cadence are recognized as meeting criteria. Such signals are received from a touch plate coupled to a touch circuit. A controller discriminates against spurious signals if such signals are outside an initial tolerance, that is, are faster or slower than a device operator would enter such signals. Providing the criteria for an initial tolerance and a match tolerance are met, the controller actuates a device, such as a light emitting diode.

Claims

1. A method for actuating a mobile device having a touch plate comprising:

receiving, by a controller unit operatively coupled with the touch plate, a signal from the touch plate including a first edge, a second edge and a third edge, wherein the first edge is a transition beyond a threshold;

receiving the second edge of the signal after receiving the first edge of the signal, wherein the second edge is a transition beyond the threshold;

responsive to receiving the second edge of the signal, determining whether the second edge was received within an initial tolerance associated with the receipt of the first edge;

responsive to determining that the second edge was not received within the initial tolerance, restarting the method with the second edge as a new first edge of the signal received and waiting to receive a new second edge of the signal received;

responsive to determining that the second edge was received within the initial tolerance, receiving the third edge within a match tolerance, wherein the third edge is a transition beyond the threshold; and

actuating a controlled device, responsive to receiving the second edge within the initial tolerance and responsive to receiving the third edge within the match tolerance.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing a time scale for additional signals, responsive to determining that the second edge was received within the initial tolerance wherein the match tolerance is based on the time scale.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the match tolerance comprises at least one limit, and establishing the time scale comprises:

multiplying a base limit by the time scale to form the at least one limit.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the match tolerance is a first match tolerance, further comprising:

receiving a fourth edge, wherein the fourth edge is a transition beyond the threshold; and

determining whether the fourth edge was received within a second match tolerance.

5. the method of claim 4, wherein the controlled device is an access controlled device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein actuating comprises:

transmitting an actuate signal.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein actuating comprises:

switching the controlled device.

8. A circuit for actuating a mobile device having a touch plate comprising:

a controller unit for receiving a signal from the touch plate including a first edge, a second edge and a third edge, the controller unit receiving the second edge after receiving the first edge, determining whether the second edge was received within an initial tolerance associated with receipt of the first edge responsive to receiving the second edge, restarting receipt of edges with the second edge as a new first edge of the signal received and waiting to receive a new second edge of the signal received responsive to determining that the second edge was not received within the initial tolerance, and receiving the third edge within a match tolerance responsive to determining that the second edge was received with the initial tolerance; and

an actuator for actuating a controlled device, responsive the second edge within the initial tolerance and responsive to receiving the third edge within the match tolerance.

9. The circuit of claim 8 further comprising:

establishing a time scale for additional signals, responsive to determining that the second edge was received within the initial tolerance, wherein the match tolerance is based on the time scale.

10. The circuit of claim 9, wherein the match tolerance comprises at least one limit and establishing the time scale comprises:

a multiplier circuit for multiplying a base limit by the time scale to form the at least one limit.

11. The circuit of claim 9, wherein actuating comprises:

a transmitter for switching the controlled device.

12. The circuit of claim 11, wherein the controlled device is an access controlled device.

13. The circuit of claim 9 further comprising:

a touch circuit for producing edges near synchronously with human inputs, wherein touch circuit is operatively coupled with the controller unit.

14. A circuit for actuating comprising:

a touch plate;

a touch circuit for detecting a presence of a conductor extremely proximal to the touch plate, generating and transmitting edges of a signal; and

a controller unit, wherein the controller unit receives edges of the signal and transmits an actuate signal based on receiving a first edge, receiving a second edge after receiving the first edge, determining whether the second edge was received within a first interval associated with receipt of the first edge responsive to receiving the second edge, restarting receipt of edges with the second edge as a new first edge of the signal received and waiting to receive a new second edge of the signal received responsive to determining that the second edge was not received within the initial tolerance, and receiving a third edge within a second interval responsive to determining that the second edge was received within the initial tolerance.

15. The circuit for actuating of claim 14 further comprising:

an emitter.

16. The circuit for actuating of claim 15, wherein the emitter is a transmitter.

17. The circuit for actuating of claim 16, wherein the second interval is within a tolerance based on the first interval.

18. The circuit for actuating of claim 15, wherein the second interval comprises a third interval.

19. The circuit for actuating of claim 15, wherein the touch circuit further comprises a debounce circuit.

20. The circuit for actuating of claim 14 wherein the touch plate comprises:

a metal sheet electrically connected to the touch circuit.