Intelligent electrical switching devices.

• US 20020047595A1
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Published: 04/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Touch Solutions LLC (Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Azoteq Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Bruwer, Frederick J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,621,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/200A
• 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 39/09 in which the lamp is fed by pulses automatic circuit devices built into or on the incandescent lamp H01K1/625; vehicle winking devices B60Q1/38
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• 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 47/175 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

The present invention provides for a unique microchip or circuit which can, inter alia, handle both current conducting functions and man-machine-interface functions in an electrical device, for example, such as a flashlight. The man-machine-interface functions, according to the present invention, may be controlled by very low current signals, touch pads, carbon coated membrane type switches, or other low current type switches. These low current switches are smaller, more reliable, less costly, easier to seal, and less vulnerable to corrosion and oxidation than prior art switches. Moreover, since according to the present invention, the current conducting switch is controlled in an intelligent manner by the same microchip which provides the man-machine-interface functioning, significant costs savings and reliability are achieved by the invention.

The present invention, according to one embodiment, also provides a microchip or circuit which may be embedded into a power source, for example, a battery, that supplies intelligence to the same. As a result, and according to the invention, functions such as delayed switching, dimming, delayed automatic shut off and an intermittent activation may be realized in less intelligent prior art electrical devices. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the inventive microchips or circuits of the present invention can, inter alia, adjust the average electrical current through a current switch, provide an “on” and “off” sequence which, in the case of a flashlight, can be determined by an operator and may represent either a flash code sequence or a simple on-off oscillation, delayed shut off function, dimming function, provide indication of power strength, and provide gradual oscillating current flow to lengthen the life of the operating switch and the battery, etc.

Claims

1. An intelligent flashlight having an exhaustible power source, said flashlight comprising:

at least one non-energy transferring MMI signal switch and a microchip in communication with said switch,

the switch being capable of only transmitting a signal to said microchip that the switch has been activated or deactivated by a user, and

the microchip being in communication with the power source and controlling the on/off functions and at least one other function of the device in response to the receipt of activation and deactivation signals from the switch.

2. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the switch is structurally integral with the microchip and adapted for single wire input operation.

3. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a carbon coated membrane interface.

4. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a touch pad interface.

5. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the microchip comprises a control/reset means.

6. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the microchip comprises a timing means.

7. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is a delayed shut off function.

8. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is an average current adjustment function.

9. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is a power reduction function.

10. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is an oscillating power function.

11. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is an intermittent code sequence function.

12. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is a determination of the charge remaining in the power source function.

13. The intelligent flashlight of claim 12, wherein the microchip is in communication with a means for indicating to an operator the charge remaining in the power source.

14. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the microchip recognizes that a number of successive activations/deactivations signals received from the signal switch corresponds to a particular specific at least one other function.

15. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the microchip recognizes that the receipt of different voltages from the signal switch corresponds to different command functions.

16. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein said switch comprises more than one switch with each switch indicating a different command function recognizable by the microchip.

17. The intelligent flashlight of claim 1, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is selected from the group consisting of delayed shut off, oscillating power, dimming, intermittent code sequence, average current adjustment, and battery remaining charge functions.

19. The intelligent battery of claim 18, wherein the microchip comprises a control/reset means.

20. The intelligent battery of claim 18, wherein the microchip comprises a timing means.

21. The intelligent battery of claim 18, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is a delayed shut off function.

22. The intelligent battery of claim 18, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is an average current passed from the battery adjustment function.

23. The intelligent battery of claim 18, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is a power reduction function.

24. The intelligent battery of claim 18, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is an oscillating power function.

25. The intelligent battery of claim 18, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is an intermittent code sequence function.

26. The intelligent battery of claim 18, wherein the at least one other function controlled by the microchip is a determination of the charge remaining in the battery function.

27. The intelligent battery of claim 26, wherein the microchip is in communication with a means for indicating to an operator the amount of charge remaining in the battery.

29. The microchip device of claim 28, wherein the at least one other function is a power reduction function.

30. The microchip device of claim 28, wherein the at least one other function is an oscillating power function.

31. The microchip device of claim 28, wherein the at least one other function is a delayed power off function.

32. The microchip device of claim 28, wherein the at least one other function is a power adjusting function.

33. The microchip device of claim 28, wherein the at least one other function is an intermittent power function.

34. The microchip device of claim 28, wherein the microchip device is disc-shaped.

35. The microchip device of claim 28, wherein the at least one other function is selected from the group consisting of delayed power off, oscillating power, average current adjustment, intermittent power, dimming, and battery charge remaining functions.

37. The electrical device of claim 36, wherein the other function is selected from the group consisting of delay power off, oscillating power, dimming, intermittent code sequence, average current adjustment, and battery remaining charge functions.

18. An intelligent battery for use with an electrical device, the battery having positive and negative terminal ends and comprising:

a microchip embedded in the battery for controlling an on/off function and at least one other function of an electrical device.

28. A portable microchip device for use in serial connection with power source and an electrical device powered by said source, said electrical device having an input means for activating and deactivating said power source, said microchip comprising:

means for controlling the on/off function and at least one other function of the device upon receipt of a signal from said input means upon activation and deactivation of said input means.

36. An intelligent portable electrical device comprising:

a non-energy transferring MMI signal switch,

a microchip, and

a switch, the switch being in communication with the microchip and capable of transmitting a signal to the microchip that the switch has been activated or deactivated, wherein the microchip controls the on/off function and at least one other function of the device in response to the activation and deactivation signals received from the switch.

38. A battery comprising:

an energy storage section, a processor, and first and second terminal ends,

wherein the first terminal end is connected to said energy storage section,

the second terminal end is connected to the processor, and

the processor controls the connection of the second terminal end to the energy storage section.

39. An electrical device comprising:

a power supply, an activating/deactivating means, and a processor,

wherein the processor controls at least one function of the device in response to a signal received from the activating/deactivating means.

40. A flashlight comprising:

a light source, an energy storage means in communication with the light source, a switch means, and a processor means wherein said processor means controls the activation of the light source in response to signals received from the switch means.