USER INTERFACE WITH PROXIMITY SENSING

• US 20110043481A1
• Filed: 08/03/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• 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 8,035,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• 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 user interface unit for use with a product comprising a power source or a connection to a power source, to control a selection of functions or modes, said user interface unit comprising:

(a) a switch being a capacitive touch sensor structure; and

(b) a microchip having at least a first input coupled to the touch sensor structure, and wherein the microchip is configured for controlling the display of information and/or providing information for selecting multiple modes or functions of the product or a load in response to proximity detection signals received through said first input;

wherein the microchip, in response to the signals received from the touch sensor, differentiates between proximity and physical contact events detected by the touch sensor to select or control different functions respectively.

2. The interface unit of claim 1 wherein the user interface comprise multiple switches and said microchip is further configured to implement at least an indication function in response to the detection of a proximity event without affecting the operation of the mode or function of the product and wherein the function is selected from the group consisting of:

(i) an operation of a visible indicator in response to the detection of a proximity event by a user interface switch structure wherein the visible indicator at least indicates a state of the product or a condition of the product;

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

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

3. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein the product comprise radio frequency circuitry and audio signal generating circuitry.

4. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein the interface unit, the power source, the load and the visible indicator or display are all attached to or enclosed in a housing.

5. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein the microchip is further configured to provide a delayed automatic switch off action of a function that was activated in response to an activation signal received from the user interface switch.

6. The interface unit of claim 2, configured to provide the functions in 2(b)(i).

7. The interface unit of claim 2, configured to provide the functions in 2(b) (ii).

8. The interface unit of claim 2, configured to provide the functions in 2(b) (iii).

9. The interface unit of claim 8, wherein the product comprise radio frequency circuitry and audio signal generating circuitry.

10. The interface unit of claim 9, wherein the interface unit, the power source, the load and the visible indicator are all attached to or enclosed in the product housing and wherein the touch sensor user interface forms an integral part of the product housing.

11. The interface unit of claim 1, wherein an indicator that indicates proximity detection also provides an indication of the state of the product that is associated with the interface unit.

12. The interface 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.

13. The interface unit of claim 10, 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.

14. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein the microchip also controls an automatic delayed switch-off of a function that was activated in response to an activation command and an advance auto-off warning signal to indicate the auto delayed switch off is imminent.

15. The interface unit of claim 14, wherein the microchip is further configured to accept a proximity detection signal to reset the auto-off timing sequence only after the advance auto off warning signal has been activated.

16. The interface unit of claim 2, further comprising multiple switches, wherein the microchip controls the indicator to show proximity and/or physical contact detection and also to provide information to the user about the switches that are near the point of proximity detection.

17. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein an 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.

18. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein the indicator provides information to the user that will assist in guiding further switch operation.

19. The interface unit of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises multiple switches and wherein upon detection of a proximity event, information is displayed about a switch approached to guide the user in the selection of the next switch to operate.

20. The interface unit of claim 19, wherein the product further comprises audio circuitry, radio frequency circuitry and a battery that are enclosed or attached to a single housing.

21. The interface unit of claim 1, wherein an audible indicator comprising sound generating circuitry or digitized speech, is activated in response to the detection of a proximity event.

22. The interface unit of claim 19, further configured to select and/or indicate the selection of a function in response to a physical contact of a switch.

23. The interface unit of claim 2, wherein the mode of operation that is selected by the microchip in response to touch events depends on a combination of at least two of the following parameters:

(a) the number of touch activations;

(b) the period of a touch activation; and

(c) the periods between touch activations.

24. A method of using a touch sensor circuit that forms a user interface switch as part of a product, wherein a microchip and a touch sensor switch structure are used in the implementation of the user interface switch, the method comprising the steps of (1) detecting a proximity event through an object approaching the touch sensor switch, and (2) displaying information regarding the modes and/or functions associated with the switch in response to the detection of the proximity event.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein multiple touch sensor switches are used and said method further comprises the step of operating a display in response to the detection of a proximity event by a user interface switch and 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 upon physical contact.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein multiple touch sensor switches are used and the step of operating a display in response to a proximity event further comprises displaying information on said display that guides the user towards a next likely switch selection to be made through physical contact.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising a step of automatically de-activating a function that was activated upon receiving a proximity detection signal from the user interface switch.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the method also comprises the conveyance of information to the user through the indication of the function(s) associated with the touch sensor switch that triggered the proximity detection.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein a touch sensor circuit sense plate is part of an electromechanical switch construction and the method further comprises a step of controlling an indication based on the specific proximity and/or physical touch detection without permanently selecting the function associated with the electromechanical switch.

30. The method according to claim 25 further comprising a step of selecting a mode of operation based on a touch event that depends on at least one of the following parameters:

(a) the number of physical contact activations;

(b) the period of a physical contact activation; and

(c) the periods between physical contact activations.

31. The method according to claim 25, further comprising a step of selecting a mode of operation that depends on the number of touch events and if the period of non-activation of the switch since a previous touch event exceeds a minimum period, the touch event will result in a switch off action.

32. The method according to claim 25, implemented in a product comprising radio frequency circuitry and audio signal generating circuitry.