Touch sensor and location indicator circuits

• US 20060250028A1
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Touch Solutions LLC (Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Frederick Johannes Bruwer
• Inventors: Bruwer, Frederick Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 7,329,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/140
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/54 Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere
• 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 for use with an exhaustible power source and load such as a light bulb, a radio or motor, includes a microchip with an input that transmits a signal to the microchip when the load is activated or deactivated. The input does not form a serial link between the power source and the load. The power switch, by on/off switching, controls energy flow from the power source to the load. The electronic circuit has an automatic delayed shut-off function for the load and, a find-in-the-dark indicator and a power source level indicator which are active when the load is not energized and the power source is not being charged. The input to the microchip acts as an activation/deactivation user interface. 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.

Claims

1. An electronic module for use with a product comprising an energy consuming load and a power source or a connection to a power source, said module comprising a microchip, and a switch;

said switch being a user interface and not forming a serial link in a circuit that transfers power from the power source to the load, and said microchip controlling a luminous visible location indicator according to at least one configuration selected from the following group;

a) wherein the location indicator at least indicates a condition of the product;

b) wherein the location indicator is activated at least to indicate an activation signal from the switch; and

c) wherein the location indicator is also used to indicate a power level of the power source when the product is switched off and the product is not connected to a mains supply.

2. An electronic module of claim 1 wherein the configuration selected is (a).

3. An electronic module of claim 1 wherein the configuration selected is (b)

4. An electronic module of claim 1 wherein the configuration selected is (c), the power source is a direct current source, and the switch is a touch sensor switch that also controls upon a switch activation signal at least the activation of a function that automatically shuts off the product a predetermined period after such activation.

5. An electronic module of claim 1 wherein the microchip controls the location indicator according to configuration (a) and configuration (b).

6. An electronic module of claim 2 wherein the location indicator is activated when the product is in an “

off”

condition and the load is not activated.

7. An electronic module of claim 3 wherein the location indicator is activated when the product is in an “

off”

condition and the load is not activated.

8. An electronic module of claim 5 wherein the location indicator is activated when the product is in an “

off”

condition and the load is not activated.

9. An electronic module of claim 7 wherein the location indicator is activated when the product is in an “

off”

condition and the load is not activated, and when the product is not connected to a mains supply.

10. An electronic module of claim 8 wherein the location indicator is activated when the product is in an “

off”

condition and the load is not activated, and when the product is not connected to a mains supply.

11. An electronic module of claim 3 wherein the switch is a touch sensor switch.

12. An electronic module of claim 7 wherein the switch is a touch sensor switch.

13. An electronic module of claim 8 wherein the switch is a touch sensor switch.

14. An electronic module of claim 11 wherein the power source is a direct current source.

15. An electronic module of claim 14 wherein a function selected by a user interface activation signal is automatically shut off after a predetermined period of time.

16. An electronic module of claim 15 wherein the touch sensor switch functions as a user interface to adjust the power level of the load.

17. An electronic module of claim 11 wherein the power source is a mains supply and the touch sensor switch functions as a user interface to adjust the power level of the load and triggers an activation of the location indicator.

18. An electronic module of claim 17 wherein the product comprises an electric motor.

19. An electronic module of claim 15 wherein the location indicator is activated when the product is switched off by a user and wherein the load comprises radio frequency (RF) circuitry.

20. An electronic module of claim 5 wherein the switch is a touch sensor switch.

21. An electronic module of claim 20 wherein the power source is a direct current source.

22. An electronic module of claim 20 wherein the product comprises radio frequency (RF) circuitry.

23. An electronic module of claim 21 wherein the switch functions as a user interface to adjust the power level of the load.

24. An electronic module of claim 20 wherein the power source is a mains supply.

25. An electronic module of claim 24 wherein the load is a fan and the touch sensor switch functions as an activation / deactivation user interface.

26. An electronic module of claim 24 wherein the product comprises an electric motor.

27. An electronic module of claim 25 wherein the touch sensor switch also functions as a user interface to select the power level of the load.

28. An electronic module of claim 3 wherein the switch functions as a user interface to adjust the power level of the load.

29. An electronic module of claim 3 wherein the power source is a mains supply.

30. An electronic module of claim 3 wherein the power source is a direct current source.

31. An electronic module of claim 29 wherein the switch is a touch sensor switch.

32. An electronic module of claim 30 wherein the switch is a touch sensor switch.

33. An electronic module of claim 31 wherein the user interface is implemented using conductive paint or conductive flexible tape.

34. An electronic module of claim 33 wherein the product comprises an electric motor.

35. An electronic module of claim 32 wherein the user interface is implemented using conductive paint or conductive flexible tape.

36. An electronic module of claim 31 wherein the touch sensor switch is used to adjust the power level of the load.

37. An electronic module of claim 32 wherein the touch sensor switch is used to adjust the power level of the load.

38. An electronic module of claim 33 wherein the touch sensor switch is used to adjust the power level of the load.

39. An electronic module of claim 34 wherein the touch sensor switch is used to adjust the power level of the load.

40. An electronic module of claim 36 wherein the location indicator is also used to indicate a condition of the product.

41. An electronic module of claim 37 wherein the location indicator is also used to indicate a condition of the product.

42. An electronic module of claim 39 wherein the location indicator is also used to indicate a condition of the product.

43. An electronic module of claim 42 wherein the load is a fan.

44. An electronic module of claim 15 wherein the location indicator is implemented using LED technology.

45. An electronic module of claim 44 wherein the location indicator is also activated when the product is switched off.

46. An electronic module of claim 45 wherein the location indicator is activated by an activation of the touch sensor switch.

47. An electronic module of claim 44 wherein the location indicator also indicates a condition of the product.

48. An electronic module of claim 46 wherein the location indicator also indicates a condition of the product.

49. An electronic module of claim 48 wherein the location indicator also gives a power level indication of the direct current source.

50. An electronic module of claim 47 wherein the product comprises radio frequency circuitry (RF).

51. An electronic module of claim 48 wherein the product comprises radio frequency circuitry (RF).

52. A method of operating a product which includes a visible luminous indicator, an energy consuming load and a power source for powering the load, the method including the steps of operating a user interface switch which is not serially connected between the load and the power source to control the operation of a microchip, using the microchip to control the connection of the power source to the load and the activation of the indicator, and using the indicator to indicate the location of the product and at least one of the following:

a condition of the product, an activation of the switch, and a power level of the power source when the load is not connected to the power source.