Intelligent electrical switching device including a touch sensor user interface switch
DC- US 7,498,749 B2
- Filed: 10/30/2007
- Issued: 03/03/2009
- Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
- Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An electronic unit for use with a product comprising connections for a power source and at least one energy consuming load, said unit comprising:
- (a) a microchip connected to a user interface switch structure, said structure comprising at least one switch, being a touch sensor type switch that includes a sense pad;
(b) a visible indicator controlled by the microchip to provide at least an indicator activation function when a signal is received through said user interface switch, wherein the indicator is active when the load is not activated by the user;
(c) wherein the microchip at least partially implements the touch sensor switch and the user interface has at least one of;
(i) an automatic delayed deactivation of a function a predetermined period after the function was activated with an activation command received from the touch sensor switch;
(ii) the indicator, in response to the microchip receiving a user interface switch signal, activated to indicate conditions of the product; and
(iii) a touch sensor switch sense pad being integral with a housing of the product.
2 Assignments
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3 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention, according to a preferred embodiment, is directed to portable electronic devices which operate on exhaustible power sources, for example, batteries. The electronic devices of the present invention comprise at least one signal switch and a microchip in communication with the switch wherein the switch is only capable of transmitting a signal to the microchip that the switch has been activated or deactivated. The microchip is in communication with the exhaustible power source of the electronic device and controls (i) the power on/off function of the device, (ii) at least one other function of the device in response to activation and deactivation signals from the switch, and (iii) an automatic shut off function in response to the receipt of an activation signal from the switch.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An electronic unit for use with a product comprising connections for a power source and at least one energy consuming load, said unit comprising:
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(a) a microchip connected to a user interface switch structure, said structure comprising at least one switch, being a touch sensor type switch that includes a sense pad; (b) a visible indicator controlled by the microchip to provide at least an indicator activation function when a signal is received through said user interface switch, wherein the indicator is active when the load is not activated by the user; (c) wherein the microchip at least partially implements the touch sensor switch and the user interface has at least one of; (i) an automatic delayed deactivation of a function a predetermined period after the function was activated with an activation command received from the touch sensor switch; (ii) the indicator, in response to the microchip receiving a user interface switch signal, activated to indicate conditions of the product; and (iii) a touch sensor switch sense pad being integral with a housing of the product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of implementing a user interface for a product comprising connections for a power supply and at least one energy consuming load, using at least a touch sensor user interface switch and a visible indicator, wherein the method includes the steps of:
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(a) activating the indicator in response to a user interface switch activation signal; (b) activating the indicator when the load is not activated by the user; (c) performing an automatic delayed deactivation of a function that was activated in response to an activation signal received via the user interface switch. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeGlobal Touch Solutions LLC (Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.)
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Original AssigneeAzoteq Pty Ltd.
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InventorsBruwer, Frederick J.
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Primary Examiner(s)Vu, David Hung
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Assistant Examiner(s)Le, Tung X
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Application NumberUS11/928,964
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Publication Number
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Time in Patent Office490 Days
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Field of Search315/129, 315/136, 315/200.A, 315/200.R, 315/291, 315/307, 315/360, 315/362, 307/87, 307/119, 307/126, 307/139, 116/202, 116/205, 362/202, 362/205, 345/173, 345/175
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US Class Current315/200.00A
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CPC Class CodesH05B 39/041 the light-intensity of the ...H05B 39/044 continuously H05B39/042 tak...H05B 39/085 by touch controlH05B 39/09 in which the lamp is fed by...H05B 47/10 Controlling the light sourceH05B 47/16 by timing meansH05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned pr...H05B 47/175 by remote controlH05B 47/185 via power line carrier tran...H05B 47/1975 Gesture controlY02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting t...Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providin...
