Touch sensor controlled switch with intelligent user interface

• US 7,466,040 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Global Touch Solutions LLC (Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Frederick Johannes Bruwer
• Inventors: Bruwer, Frederick Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry, Michael J
• Assistant Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/406,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20060279896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 972 Days
• Field of Search: 307/116, 307/117, 307/132.EA
• US Class Current: 307/116
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/14 by determining electrical parameters of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A module for controlling power supply to a load in a product which includes a microchip, and an electromechanical switch and a proximity/touch sensor connected to the microchip, preferably to the same input. The switch is primarily used to activate or deactivate the load and the proximity/touch sensor to vary the effect of operating the switch, or to control additional functions such as the activation of a signal, typically a light signal, which helps to locate the product, particularly in the dark, and to vary the duration of an automatic time-out period at the end of which the load is deactivated.

Claims

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

a microchip;

at least one capacitive sensing proximity/touch sensor switch;

said at least one switch functioning as a user interface for the selection of multiple functions controlled by said microchip;

said microchip configured to control the activation and deactivation of the load as well as at least one function;

said module configured to receive an input signal from the proximity/touch sensor interface;

wherein said microchip is further configured to function according to at least one configuration selected from the following group;

a)

wherein upon activation of the load, the proximity/touch sensor interface establishes a touch condition reference level which is used to determine when a no-touch condition occurs and wherein adjustment of the touch condition reference level is frozen while the no-touch condition is maintained; and

b) wherein said at least one switch is used to activate the load in a mode that provides an automatic time-out to deactivate the load, in which the microchip controls an indication before the deactivation occurs and in which an input signal from the proximity/touch switch sensor showing proximity resets the time-out and (i) continues activation of the load only in a predetermined period after the indication has been given, or (ii) reactivates the load only in a predetermined period after deactivation has occurred.

2. An electronic switch module according to claim 1 wherein at least an electromechanical switch and the at least one proximity/touch sensor switch forming the user interface are connected to the microchip.

3. An electronic switch module according to claim 1, configured to conform at least to 1 (a) and wherein the power source is a mains supply.

4. An electronic switch module according to claim 3, which includes a timer which is activated when a no-touch condition is sensed by the proximity/touch sensor switch causing the load to be de-activated and wherein after a predetermined time in this no-touch condition, activation of the load, on a touch-condition sensed by the proximity/touch sensor switch, is disabled.

5. An electronic switch module according to claim 1, configured to conform at least to 1 (a) and 1 (b).

6. An electronic switch module according to claim 1, configured to conform at least to 1 (b) and wherein the power source is a mains supply.

7. An electronic switch module according to claim 1, configured to conform at least to 1 (b) and wherein the product comprises a DC power source.

8. An electronic switch module according to claim 1, configured to conform at least to 1 (b) and wherein the product comprises a DC power source, RF circuitry and audio sound signal generating electronics.

9. An electronic switch module according to claim 1, configured to conform at least to 1 (a) and wherein the power source is a mains supply 1.

10. An electronic switch module according to claim 1, wherein said proximity/touch sensor provide outputs that differentiate between proximity events and physical contact events.

11. An electronic switch module according to claim 10, wherein said circuit further comprise electromechanical switches that are configured for selecting a command/function.

12. An electronic switch module according to claim 11, wherein the visible indication displays information related to the command/function that will be selected when the electromechanical switch associated with the proximity/touch sensor giving the proximity/touch event indication is actuated.

13. An electronic switch module according to claim 12, wherein the microchip controls a function activated upon receipt of a signal from the proximity/touch sensor indicating a proximity event, to automatically switch off after a predetermined period of time.

14. An electronic switch module according to claim 12, wherein the product comprises RF circuitry and audio sound signal generating circuitry.

15. An electronic switch module according to claim 14, wherein the product comprises an LCD display that is used in providing the visible indication.

16. An electronic switch module according to claim 10, wherein the product comprises an electrical motor.

17. An electronic switch module according to claim 10, wherein the product comprises an LCD display.

18. An electronic switch module according to claim 1, wherein an audible signal is triggered by a proximity event detected by the proximity/touch sensor switch.

19. An electronic switch module according to claim 1, wherein an intensity of the visible indicator is related to a proximity distance measured by the proximity/touch sensor switch.

20. An electronic switch module according to claim 1, wherein the load is de-activated upon detecting a no-touch condition and activated again if a proximity/touch condition is detected again.

21. An electronic switch module according to claim 20, wherein the load is only activated again if the proximity/touch condition occurs within a predetermined time from the de-activation operation caused by the detection of the no-touch condition.