User interface with proximity sensing

• US 9,226,376 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2011
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Global Touch Solutions LLC (Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Global Touch Solutions LLC (Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bruwer, Frederick Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US13/195,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20120056490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173, 307/119, 307/125, 307/126, 307/139, 307/140, 307/141, 315/129, 315/136, 116/200, 116/205
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/041 the light-intensity of the source H05B39/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/044 continuously H05B39/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/085 by touch control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An electronic circuit including a microchip for use as an intelligent user interface also comprises touch sensor technology that differentiates between proximity and physical contact events to activate and control various loads including light bulbs, products with radio frequency circuitry or electric motors. An input to the microchip is connected to a switch or sensing structure that does not form a serial link between the power source and the load. The electronic circuit controls various functions in response to user actions including automatic delayed shut-off functions, find-in-the-dark indicator and power source level/product state indications. The microchip allows the user to select specific functions based on the time duration of activation signals, the time duration between activation signals and the number of activation signals at the input. The microchip is further configured to interpret and react to the signals received from a user in a way that enhances ease of use of the product and to use the indicators to provide information to the user that is influenced by the signals received as well as the state of the product.

Claims

1. A method of using capacitive touch sensor circuitry that forms part of a user interface of a product comprising a plurality of touch sensor switches and a microchip of the product implements touch sensor functions and touch sensor sense pad structures are used in the implementation, the method comprising:

detecting an activation event by a touch sensor switch among the plurality of touch sensor switches;

providing information, based on a state or condition of the product and a touch sensor signal generated from the detecting the activation event by the touch sensor switch, without accepting a selection of a function of the product, to guide a user to select a next touch sensor switch through an action comprising at least a physical contact event, in order to perform the selection of the function of the product.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is provided in response to the detecting the activation event by the touch sensor switch in a way to assist in locating or identifying the next touch sensor switch, and

wherein the next touch sensor switch is used to select another function of the product based on another physical contact event.

3. The method according to claim 2, the provided information comprises information guiding the user toward a likely or logical next user interface operation for selecting the function, a character or a mode of operation of the product.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting the activation event by the touch sensor switch comprises detecting a proximity event by the touch sensor switch, and

wherein the next touch sensor switch is used to select the function of the product upon the physical contact event between an object and the product user interface.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the capacitive touch sensor circuitry includes a combination of a capacitive sensor switch structure and an electromechanical switch, and

wherein the method further comprises activating an indication in response to proximity or physical contact detection by the touch sensor switch, and selecting the function of the product in response to activating the electromechanical switch.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the activating the indication is performed in response to the detecting the proximity event,

wherein the indication is based on a location where the proximity event is detected and the state or condition of the product, and

wherein the information is provided in a way to guide the user toward the action that requires the physical contact event.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises providing information to the user through indication of a function associated with a physical contact event on the touch sensor switch or switches disposed adjacent to a location where the proximity event is detected.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the product comprises a radio frequency circuitry and audio signal generating circuitry, and

wherein the product user interface forms an integral part of a housing of the product.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting the activation event by the touch sensor switch comprises detecting a proximity event by the touch sensor switch, and

wherein the provided information comprises information about the touch sensor switch or switches disposed adjacent to a location where the proximity event is detected.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the product user interface further comprises at least one electromechanical switch,

wherein a touch sensor circuit sense plate is part of the electromechanical switch, and

wherein the method further comprises controlling an indication based on, respectively, proximity and physical contact detection, with selecting a function associated with the electromechanical switch in response to a minimum level of pressure is applied to the touch sensor switch.

11. A user interface unit comprising:

a capacitive touch sensor circuitry that forms part of a product user interface comprising a plurality of touch sensor switches; and

a microchip implementing touch sensor functions; and

touch sensor sense pad structures being used in the implementing the touch sensor functions,

wherein a touch sensor switch among the plurality of touch sensor switches is configured to detect an activation event, and

wherein the microchip is configured to provide information, based on a state or condition of the product and a touch sensor signal generated from the detecting the activation event by the touch sensor switch, without accepting a selection of a function of the product, to guide a user to select a next touch sensor switch through an action comprising at least a physical contact event, in order to perform the selection of the function of the product.

12. The user interface unit of claim 11, wherein the microchip is configured to provide the information in response to the detecting the activation event by the touch sensor switch in a way to assist in locating or identifying the next touch sensor switch, and

wherein the next touch sensor switch is used to select another function of the product based on another physical contact event.

13. The user interface unit of claim 12, wherein the provided information comprises information guiding the user toward a likely or logical next user interface operation for selecting the function, a character or a mode of operation of the product.

14. The user interface unit of claim 11, wherein the microchip is configured to provide the information in response to detecting a proximity event by the touch sensor switch, and

wherein the next touch sensor switch is used to select the function of the product upon the physical contact event between an object and the product user interface.

15. The user interface unit of claim 14, wherein the capacitive touch sensor circuitry further comprises:

a combination of a capacitive sensor switch structure and an electromechanical switch,

wherein the microchip is configured to activate an indication in response to proximity or physical contact detection by the touch sensor switch, and select the function of the product in response to activating the electromechanical switch.

16. The user interface unit of claim 15 wherein the activating the indication is performed in response to the detecting the proximity event,

wherein the indication is based on a location where the proximity event is detected and the state or condition of the product, and

wherein the microchip is configured to provide the information in a way to guide the user toward the action that requires the physical contact event.

17. The user interface unit of claim 14, wherein the microchip is configured to provide information to the user through indication of a function associated with a physical contact event on the touch sensor switch or switches disposed adjacent to a location where the proximity event is detected.

18. The user interface unit of claim 14, wherein the product comprises a radio frequency circuitry and audio signal generating circuitry, and

wherein the product user interface forms an integral part of a housing of the product.

19. The user interface unit of claim 11, wherein the microchip is configured to provide the information in response to detecting a proximity event, and

wherein the provided information comprises information about the touch sensor switch or switches disposed adjacent to a location where the proximity event is detected.

20. The user interface unit of claim 11, wherein the product user interface further comprises at least one electromechanical switch,

wherein a touch sensor circuit sense plate is part of the electromechanical switch, and

wherein the microchip is configured to control an indication based on, respectively, proximity and physical contact detection, with selecting a function associated with the electromechanical switch in response to a minimum level of pressure is applied to the touch sensor switch.

21. A user interface device for a product comprising:

a capacitive touch sensor switch; and

a microchip configured to implement touch sensor functions using touch sensor sense pad structures,

wherein the capacitive touch sensor switch is configured to detect an activation event without accepting a selection of a function of the product, and

wherein the microchip is further configured to provide information to a user based on a touch sensor signal generated by the detecting the activation event, and

wherein the information is configured to guide the user in selecting a next user interface button, and the next user interface button is configured to be activated by a physical contact event by the user.