Apparatus and method for a proximity and touch dependent user interface

• US RE43,606 E1
• Filed: 03/11/2011
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Global Touch Solutions LLC (Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Azoteq Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Bruwer, Frederick Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US13/046,646
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 307/140
• US Class Current: 307/140
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/42 based on timing means or schedule

Abstract

An electronic switching unit for use with a product comprising and/or connected to a power source and at least one energy consuming load comprises a microchip, connected to a user interface switch structure. The microchip is configured to implement at least one function selected from the group consisting of an automatic delayed deactivation of a function a predetermined period after the function was activated in response to an activation signal from the switch structure; a visible indicator, and a mode selection function. The switch structure comprises a body at least a part of which is constructed from a compressible material which is deformed under pressure, so that it becomes thinner in a direction in which the pressure is exerted and in becoming thinner affects the operation of the switch structure.

Claims

1. An electronic switching unit for use with a product comprising and/or connected to a power source and at least one energy consuming load, said unit comprising:

(a) a microchip, connected to a user interface switch structure, said microchip at least partially implementing the user interface;

(b) said microchip further configured to implement at least one function selected from the group consisting of;

(i) an automatic delayed deactivation of a function a predetermined period after the function was activated in response to an activation signal from the switch structure;

(ii) a visible indicator, said indicator at least activated to indicate an activation of the switch structure, said indicator active when the load has not been activated by the user; and

(iii) a mode selection function whereby the selection of a deactivation function by a user, is at least influenced by the time period between successive operations of the switch structure exceeding a predetermined minimum period of time; and

(c) wherein the switch structure comprises a body at least a part of which is constructed from a compressible material which is deformed under pressure, so that it becomes thinner in a direction in which the pressure is exerted and in becoming thinner affects the operation of the switch structure.

2. A switching unit of claim 1, configured to provide at least two of the functions in 1(b).

3. A switching unit of claim 2, wherein the switch structure comprises at least a capacitive sensing touch sensor.

4. A switching unit of claim 3, wherein the microchip controls the flow of power, in response to signals from a user interface switch, such that a change in power to the product is gradual.

5. A switching unit of claim 4, wherein the output of the switch structure in response to a user activation depends at least on a ratio of resistances formed in the switch structure that is connected to the microchip.

6. A switching unit of claim 5, wherein an electrically conductive fluid and/or flexible tape comprising conductive material is used in the implementation of the switch structure that is connected to the microchip.

7. A switching unit of claim 2, wherein an electrically conductive fluid and/or flexible tape comprising conductive material is used in the implementation of the switch structure that is connected to the microchip.

8. A switching unit of claim 1, configured to provide at least the function in 1(b) (ii) and wherein the switch structure comprises at least a capacitive sensing touch sensor.

9. A switching unit of claim 8, wherein a sense pad of the touch sensor is integral with a housing of the product.

10. A switching unit of claim 8, wherein the power source is non-mains and a visible indicator is configured to convey information about a level of the power source to a user.

11. A switching unit of claim 1, wherein the switch structure comprises at least a capacitive sensing touch sensor.

12. A switching unit of claim 11, wherein the touch sensor provides information to the microchip about proximity events near, as well as physical touch events on, a surface that is adjacent a sense pad connected to the touch sensor switch structure.

13. A switching unit of claim 12, wherein the body of the switch structure is deformable to the extent that at least one of the following occurs:

(a) some parts that do not make contact when not under pressure make contact when under pressure;

(b) some parts that make contact when not under pressure, are forced to break contact when the body comes under pressure.

14. A switching unit of claim 12, wherein a visible indicator is activated in response to a proximity event detected by the touch sensor and a different function is activated in response to a physical touch event.

15. A switching unit of claim 12, which comprises multiple switches including at least touch sensor type switches and contact type switches and the touch sensor type switches control the selection of at least a first function and the contact type switches control the selection of at least a second function.

16. A switching unit of claim 11, wherein output of the switch structure in response to a user activation depends at least on a ratio of resistances formed in the switch structure that is connected to the microchip.

17. A switching unit of claim 16, which is configured to transmit commands to and/or receive commands from a central controller, wherein the commands comprise at least an address field.

18. A switching unit of claim 11, wherein a visible indicator is activated in response to a proximity event detected by the touch sensor and a different function is activated in response to a physical touch event.

19. A switching unit of claim 11, wherein the compressible material is part of a functional part being a compressible stop and/or a compressible seal.

20. A switching unit of claim 11, wherein the microchip is configured to monitor current from the load and to shut down the current if predetermined parameters indicating a short circuit are met.

21. A switching unit of claim 1, wherein the body of the switch structure is deformable to the extent that at least one of the following occurs:

(a) some parts that do not make contact when not under pressure make contact when under pressure;

(b) some parts that make contact when not under pressure, are forced to break contact when the body comes under pressure.

22. A switching unit of claim 1, which comprises multiple switches including at least touch sensor type switches and contact type switches and the touch sensor type switches control the selection of at least a first function and the contact type switches control the selection of at least a second function.

23. A switching unit of claim 1, which is configured to transmit commands to and/or receive commands from a central controller, wherein the commands comprise at least an address field.

24. A switching unit of claim 1, which includes an indicator which, in response to the microchip receiving a user interface switch signal, is activated to indicate at least one condition of the product.

25. A switching unit of claim 1, wherein the switch structure provides information to adjust a mix of warm and cold water in a water faucet included in the product.

26. An electronic switching unit for use with a product comprising a power source or a connection for a power source, said electronic switching unit comprising:

(a) a user interface switch structure, said user interface switch structure comprising a capacitive measurement sensor and a resiliently deformable material layer that deflects in the direction of pressure induced by physical contact, wherein the deflecting affects the capacitance measured by the capacitive measurement sensor, resulting in the detection of a physical contact event that induced the pressure; and

(b) a microchip that is connected to and at least partially implements said user interface switch structure, said microchip being configured at least to implement a detection of a proximity event using said capacitive measurement sensor.

27. The switching unit of claim 26, wherein said microchip is configured to select and perform a function selected from the following group in response to the detection of the proximity event:

(i) an operation of a visible indication generating unit in response to the detection of a proximity event by the user interface switch structure;

(ii) an operation of a display in response to the detection of a proximity event by the user interface switch and wherein said display is used to provide the user with information about a state or a condition of the product; and

(iii) an operation of a display in response to the detection of a proximity event by the user interface switch and wherein said display is operated in a way to assist in the location of the user interface switch.

28. The switching unit of claim 27, configured to provide the functions in (i).

29. The switching unit of claim 27, configured to provide the functions in (ii).

30. The switching unit of claim 27, configured to provide the functions in (iii).

31. The switching unit of claim 30, used in a product comprising radio frequency circuitry and audio signal generation circuitry, and wherein the power source and the switching unit are all enclosed and/or attached to a housing of the product.

32. The switching unit of claim 27, wherein an electrically conductive fluid and/or flexible tape comprising conductive material is used in the implementation of the user interface switch structure that is connected to the microchip.

33. The switching unit of claim 27, wherein the power source is non-mains and the indication function conveys information to a user about the power source condition.

34. The switching unit of claim 27, wherein a visible indication is activated in response to a proximity event detected by the capacitive measurement sensor and a different function is activated in response to a physical touch event.

35. The switching unit of claim 27, wherein said visible indication generating structure comprises an LED that is de-activated in response to an activation signal received from the user interface switch structure.

36. The switching unit of claim 27, wherein said visible indication generating structure comprises an LED that is activated in response to an activation signal received from the user interface switch structure.

37. The switching unit of claim 26, wherein the microchip is configured to operate a display in response to the detection of a proximity event by the user interface switch and to select further functions or modes based on more signals received from the user interface switch.

38. The switching unit of claim 37, wherein the product comprises radio frequency circuitry and audio signal generating circuitry.

39. The switching unit of claim 38, wherein the switching unit, the power source, and a load are all enclosed and/or attached to a single product housing and wherein the user interface switch forms an integral part of the product housing.

40. The switching unit of claim 39, wherein the microchip is configured to control the automatic delayed deactivation of a function that was activated in response to a proximity event detected by the user interface switch structure.

41. The switching unit of claim 26, wherein the switching unit, the power source and a load are all enclosed and/or attached to a single product housing and wherein the user interface switch forms an integral part of the product housing.

42. The switching unit of claim 26, wherein an electrically conductive fluid and/or flexible tape comprising conductive material is used in the implementation of the user interface switch structure that is connected to the microchip.

43. The switching unit of claim 42, wherein the product comprises a load that is a light source and the microchip is further configured to adjust the power to the light source in response to signals received from the user interface switch structure.

44. The switching unit of claim 43, wherein the microchip is configured to monitor a load that is controlled by the microchip and to reduce power if a predetermined condition unrelated to the activation/deactivation user interface is detected.

45. The switching unit of claim 26, wherein an output of the user interface switch structure in response to a user activation depends at least on a ratio of resistances formed in the user interface switch structure that is connected to the microship.

46. The switching unit of claim 26, wherein said capacitive measurement sensor includes a plurality of contacts which form at least first and second capacitor plates of the capacitive measurement sensor such that the capacitance is changed as the contacts move closer to each other when the resiliently deformable material of said user interface switch structure deflects under pressure.

47. The switching unit of claim 26, further including an audible indicator comprising sound generating circuitry or digitized speech, which is activated in response to the detection of a proximity event.

48. The switching unit of claim 26, wherein the user interface switch structure provides information to adjust a mix warm and cold water.

49. The switching unit of claim 26, wherein the product comprises a load that is a light source and the microchip is further configured to adjust the power to the load in response to signals received from the user interface switch structure.

50. The switching unit of claim 26, wherein the microchip is configured to monitor a load that is controlled by the microchip and to reduce power if a predetermined condition unrelated to the user activation/deactivation is detected.

51. A method of using an electronic switching unit that forms part of a product that comprises a power source or a connection to a power source and wherein said electronic switching unit comprises a user interface switch structure and a microchip that is connected to and at least partially implements said user interface switch structure, said user interface switch structure comprising a capacitive measurement sensor including a resiliently deformable material layer that deflects in the direction of pressure induced by physical contact and a plurality of contacts which form at least first and second capacitor plates that move closer to each other when the resiliently deformable material deflects under pressure, wherein the deflecting affects the capacitance measured by the capacitive measurement sensor, said method including the steps of:

detecting a proximity event resulting from deflection of said resilient material and changing of the capacitance measured by said capacitance measurement sensor; and

generating an indication of the detection of said proximity event, without changing the operation or mode of the product, said indication being selected from the following group of steps;

(i) activating a visible indication in response to the detection of said proximity event;

(ii) operating a display in response to the detection of said proximity event, wherein said display is used to provide the user with information about a state or a condition of the product; and

(iii) operating a display in response to the detection of said proximity event, wherein said display is operated in a way to assist in the location of the user interface switch and wherein the user interface switch is used to select a further function.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the step in (i) includes the indication of the operational state of the user interface switch.

53. An electronic switching unit for use with a product comprising a power source or a connection for a power source, said electronic switching unit comprising:

(a) a microchip that is connected to a user interface switch structure, said user interface switch structure comprising a capacitive measurement sensor and said microchip at least partially implementing the user interface switch structure;

(b) said microchip further configured to recognize a physical contact event and wherein the user interface switch comprises a resiliently deformable material which deflects in the direction of pressure induced by physical contact and wherein the deflecting affects the capacitance measured by the capacitive measurement sensor, resulting in the detection and reporting of the physical contact event that induced the pressure; and

(c) said microchip further configured to control a visible indication in response to a signal received from the user interface switch to;

i. assist in locating the user interface switch;

or

ii. display information about a condition or state of the product or user interface switch.

54. The switching unit of claim 53, wherein said capacitive measurement sensor includes a plurality of contacts which form at least first and second capacitor plates and the capacitance of the capacitive measurement sensor is changed as the contacts move closer to each other when the resiliently deformable material of said switch structure deflects under pressure.