Intelligent electrical devices

US 20050121980A1
Filed: 10/12/2004
Published: 06/09/2005
Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A lighting unit for use with a power source, comprising:

(a) an energy consuming load being a light source;

(b) a first circuit for conducting power from said power source to activate the light source;

(c) a switch, wherein the switch is not a serial element of the first circuit, and wherein the switch is a user interface;

(d) a touch sensor;

(e) a microchip having a first input coupled to the switch and at least a second input coupled to the touch sensor;

(f) wherein the microchip is capable of controlling the activation and the deactivation of the light source in response to a first signal from the switch received through said first input; and

(g) wherein the microchip, in response to at least a signal from second input, is capable of causing the light source to perform a function.

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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.

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48 Claims

1. A lighting unit for use with a power source, comprising:
- (a) an energy consuming load being a light source;
  
  (b) a first circuit for conducting power from said power source to activate the light source;
  
  (c) a switch, wherein the switch is not a serial element of the first circuit, and wherein the switch is a user interface;
  
  (d) a touch sensor;
  
  (e) a microchip having a first input coupled to the switch and at least a second input coupled to the touch sensor;
  
  (f) wherein the microchip is capable of controlling the activation and the deactivation of the light source in response to a first signal from the switch received through said first input; and
  
  (g) wherein the microchip, in response to at least a signal from second input, is capable of causing the light source to perform a function.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- - 2. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the power source is an exhaustible power source.
  - 3. The lighting unit of claim 2, wherein the microchip controls the light source to perform an automatic delayed switch off function in response to an activation command received through at least one of said inputs.
  - 4. The lighting unit of claim 2, wherein the switch is a non-latching push button switch.
  - 5. The lighting unit of claim 4, further comprising a casing and wherein the microchip, the switch, the touch sensor and the light source are each attached to and/or enclosed in the casing.
  - 6. The lighting unit of claim 5, wherein the microchip is capable of controlling the flow of power to the light source to gradually vary the brightness thereof, such that the gradual change in brightness is not easily visible to the user.
  - 7. The lighting unit of claim 5, further comprising a find-in-the-dark indicator and wherein the microchip activates the find-in-the-dark indicator in response to a signal received from the touch sensor.
  - 8. The lighting unit of claim 3, wherein the microchip also controls an advance auto off warning signal.
  - 9. The lighting unit of claim 8, wherein the microchip is further configured to accept a signal from the touch sensor to reset an auto off timing sequence after the advance auto off warning signal was activated.
  - 10. The lighting unit of claim 7, wherein the microchip also controls an automatic delayed switch off function and an advance auto off warning signal to indicate the auto switch off is imminent.
  - 11. The lighting unit of claim 10, wherein the microchip is further configured to accept a signal from the touch sensor to reset the auto off timing sequence only after the advance auto off warning signal has been activated.
  - 12. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the microchip is further capable of allowing a user to gradually vary the power to the light source in response to at least a signal received through the first input.
  - 13. The lighting unit of claim 5, wherein the microchip is further capable of allowing a user to gradually vary the power to the light source in response to at least a signal received through the first input.
  - 14. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the microchip is further configured to control a find-in-the-dark indication in response to a proximity detection by the touch sensor.
  - 15. The lighting unit of claim 4, wherein the lighting unit has an off mode, and wherein the microchip is further capable of causing the light source to change from an operating mode to the off mode if the time period between a switch operation when selecting the operating mode and a subsequent activation of the switch, is more than a predetermined period of time.

16. A method of controlling a lighting unit for use with an exhaustible power source comprising a light source, a push button switch that serves as a user interface but does not form a part of a path for supplying power from the power source to operate the light source and a touch sensor that serves as a user interface for contact and/or proximity detection, the method comprising:
- receiving a signal from the switch on a first input of a microchip, wherein the microchip is capable of activating and deactivating the light source in response to at least a first signal received through said first input;
  
  causing, under control of the microchip, the flow of power to the light source to be varied in response to at least a signal received on the first input; and
  
  causing, under control of the microchip and in response to a signal through the second input, coupled to the touch sensor, the lighting unit to perform a function.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
- - 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
    - causing, under control of the microchip, the light source to gradually vary in brightness in response to a user action.
  - 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the lighting unit has an off mode, and the method further comprising:
    - causing, under control of the microchip, the light source to change from an operating mode either to the off mode or to another operating mode in response to a switch actuation, based on the time period elapsed since the selection of a currently active operating mode.
  - 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:
    - causing, under control of the microchip, the find-in-the-dark indicator to be activated in response to a signal received from the touch sensor.

20. A lighting unit for use with an exhaustible power supply, comprising:
- (a) a light source;
  
  (b) a first circuit for conducting power from said power source to activate the light source;
  
  (c) a switch, wherein the switch is not a serial element of the first circuit, and wherein the switch is a user interface;
  
  (d) a touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor is a proximity and/or contact user interface;
  
  (e) a microchip having a first input coupled to the switch and at least a second input coupled to the touch sensor, and wherein the microchip is capable of controlling the activation, deactivation and at least one other function of the light source in response to at least a signal received through said first input; and
  
  (f) wherein the microchip is further configured to provide a find-in-the-dark function by activating an indicator that is active when the light source has not been activated by the user, said indicator also being controlled to give an indication of the switch operation and/or an indication of signals received from said touch sensor.
- View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- - 21. The lighting unit of claim 20, further comprising a casing, wherein the light source, the switch, the touch sensor, the indicator and the microchip are each coupled to the casing and/or enclosed in the casing.
  - 22. The lighting unit of claim 20, wherein the microchip is further capable of causing the light source to change from one operating mode either to another operating mode or to an off mode, in response to the passage of time between the activation of an operating mode in response to at least one signal received through at least one input and a subsequent signal received from the switch and/or touch sensor.
  - 23. The lighting unit of claim 20, wherein the microchip is further configured to select an off mode if the time period between an operation of the switch when selecting a mode and a next operation of the switch is more than a predetermined period of time.
  - 24. The lighting unit of claim 20, wherein the microchip is further configured to provide an automatic delayed shut-off function in response to an activation command from said switch and/or the touch sensor.
  - 25. The lighting unit of claim 20, wherein the microchip is further configured to allow a user to gradually vary the power supplied to the light source.
  - 26. The lighting unit of claim 23, wherein the microchip is further configured to provide an automatic delayed shut-off function in response to an activation command received through said first input from said switch.

27. A lighting unit for use with an exhaustible power supply, comprising:
- (a) a light source;
  
  (b) a first circuit for conducting power from said power source to activate the light source;
  
  (c) a switch, wherein the switch is not a serial element of the first circuit, and wherein the switch is a user interface;
  
  (d) a touch sensor that serves as a user interface for contact and/or proximity detection;
  
  (e) a microchip having a first input coupled to the switch and at least a second input coupled to the touch sensor, wherein the microchip is capable of controlling the activation and deactivation of the light source in response to at least a signal received through said first input;
  
  (f) wherein the light source has a plurality of operating modes including at least a first operating mode and a second operating mode with an adjusted power level supplied to the light source, and wherein the user selects an operating mode from said plurality of modes through the said switch connected to said first input, and wherein the second operating mode provides a different level of illumination when compared with the first operating mode;
  
  (g) wherein the microchip is further configured to gradually vary the power to the light source based on the time period of switch actuation, such that the gradual change in power is not easily visible to the user; and
  
  (h) wherein the microchip also accept commands from the touch sensor to perform functions.
- View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
- - 28. The lighting unit of claim 27 configured to have a casing and wherein the microchip, the switch, the touch sensor and the light source are each attached to and/or enclosed in the casing.
  - 29. The lighting unit of claim 28 wherein the microchip is further configured to activate a find-in-the-dark indicator in response to at least a proximity indication signal from the touch sensor.
  - 30. The lighting unit of claim 28, wherein the microchip is further capable of causing the light source to change from one operating mode either to another one of the plurality of operating modes or to an off mode, in response to the passage of time between the activation of an operating mode by operating the switch and a subsequent operation of the switch.
  - 31. The lighting unit of claim 27, wherein the microchip is further configured to be capable of selecting an off mode if the time period between a signal received when selecting an operating mode, and a next signal from the switch and/or touch sensor, is more than a predetermined period of time.
  - 32. The lighting unit of claim 27, wherein the microchip is further configured to provide an automatic delayed shut-off function in response to an activation command.
  - 33. The lighting unit of claim 27, wherein the microchip is further configured to have an address and to receive at least one command from a controller that contains at least an address.
  - 34. The lighting unit of claim 30, wherein the microchip is further configured to have an address and to receive at least one command from a controller that contains at least an address.
  - 35. The lighting unit of claim 29, wherein the microchip is further configured to provide an automatic delayed shut-off function in response to an activation command.

36. A lighting unit for use with an exhaustible power supply, comprising:
- (a) a light source;
  
  (b) a first circuit for conducting power from said power source to operate the light source;
  
  (c) a switch, wherein the switch is a serial element of said first circuit, and wherein the switch is a user interface;
  
  (d) a touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor serves as a user interface for contact and/or proximity detection;
  
  (e) a microchip having a first input coupled to the switch and at least a second input coupled to the touch sensor, and wherein the microchip is capable of controlling the activation and deactivation of the light source;
  
  (f) wherein the light source has a plurality of modes including at least an off mode; and
  
  (g) wherein the microchip is further configured to provide a shut off function if the time period of switch actuation was longer than a certain predefined period of time and to provide another of the plurality of modes if the time period of switch actuation was less than a certain predefined period of time.
- View Dependent Claims (37)
- - 37. The lighting unit of claim 36, wherein the microchip is further configured to provide an automatic delayed shut-off function in response to an activation command.

38. A lighting unit for use with an exhaustible power source, comprising:
- (a) a light source;
  
  (b) a first circuit for conducting power from said power source to operate the light source;
  
  (c) a switch, wherein the switch is not a serial element of said first circuit, and wherein the switch is a user interface;
  
  (d) a touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor serves as a user interface for contact and/or proximity detection;
  
  (e) a microchip having a first input connected to the switch, wherein the microchip is capable of controlling the activation and deactivation of the light source in response to a signal received from said switch through said input;
  
  (f) wherein the light source has a plurality of user-selectable operating modes controlled by said microchip, said operating modes being selected by signals received at least from said switch through said first input;
  
  (g) wherein the microchip is further capable of causing the light source to change from an active operating mode, that is one of the plurality of operating modes, to an off mode, if the time period between a switch operation during the selection of the active operating mode and the next activation of the switch is longer than a predetermined period of time;
  
  (h) wherein the microchip is further capable of causing the light source to change from an active operating mode, that is one of the plurality of operating modes, to another one of the plurality of operating modes, if the time period between a switch operation during the selection of the active operating mode and the next activation of the switch is not longer than a predetermined period of time;
  
  (i) wherein the light source has an operating mode in which the microchip causes an adjustment of the average current supplied to the light source by means of an intermittent power delivery sequence from said power source, such that any dead period of power when the power source is disconnected from said light source, is not easily visible to the human eye; and
  
  (j) wherein the microchip is further configured to perform certain functions in response to a signal received from the touch sensor.
- View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
- - 39. The lighting unit of claim 38 configured to be a lighting unit, wherein the microchip is configured to control a find-in-the-dark indicator that is active when the light source is not activated by the user.
  - 40. The lighting unit of claim 39 wherein the microchip is further capable of causing the find-in-the-dark indicator to be activated in response to a signal from the touch sensor.
  - 41. The lighting unit of claim 39, wherein the microchip is further configured to enable a user to gradually vary the power supplied to the light source such that the gradual change in brightness is not easily visible and whereby the operating mode selected is based on the time of switch actuation.
  - 42. The lighting unit of claim 38, wherein the microchip is further configured to have an address and to receive at least one command that contains at least an address from a controller.
  - 43. The lighting unit of claim 38, wherein the microchip is further configured to provide an automatic delayed shut-off function in response to an activation command.
  - 44. The lighting unit of claim 41, wherein the microchip is further configured to provide an automatic delayed shut-off function in response to an activation command.
  - 45. The lighting unit of claim 41, wherein the microchip is further configured to have an address and to receive at least one command that contains at least an address from a controller.
  - 46. The lighting unit of claim 44, wherein the microchip is further configured to have an address and to receive at least one command that contains at least an address from a controller.
  - 47. The lighting unit of claim 38, further comprising a casing, wherein the light source, switch, the touch sensor and microchip are each coupled to the casing and/or enclosed in the casing.

48. A switching unit for use with a power source and an energy consuming load comprising;
- (a) a first circuit for conducting power from said power source to activate the load;
  
  (b) a switch, wherein the switch is not a serial element of the first circuit, and wherein the switch is a user interface;
  
  (c) a touch sensor, wherein the touch sensor is a contact and/or proximity user interface;
  
  (d) a microchip having a first input coupled to the switch and at least a second input coupled to the touch sensor;
  
  (e) wherein the microchip is capable of controlling the activation and the deactivation of the load in response to a first signal from the switch received through said first input; and
  
  (f) an indicator selected from the following;
  
  (f1) a find-in-the-dark indicator, wherein the find-in-the-dark indicator is activated under control of the microchip in response to a proximity detection signal from the touch sensor;
  
  wherein the find-in-the-dark indicator specifically illuminates a switch user actuation contact surface; and
  
  (f2) a second indicator under control of the microchip wherein the second indicator is used to give the user information about a switch near the proximity detection sensor.

Specification

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Current Assignee
Global Touch Solutions LLC (Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.)
Original Assignee
Azoteq Pty Ltd.
Inventors
Bruwer, Frederick Johannes

Granted Patent

US 7,265,494 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

307/87
CPC Class Codes

G06F 2203/04101   2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digiti...

G06F 3/044   by capacitive means

H05B 39/041   the light-intensity of the ...

H05B 39/044   continuously H05B39/042 tak...

H05B 39/085   by touch control

H05B 47/16   by timing means

H05B 47/165   following a pre-assigned pr...

H05B 47/17   Operational modes, e.g. swi...

H05B 47/175   by remote control

H05B 47/185   via power line carrier tran...

Y02B 20/00   Energy efficient lighting t...

Y02B 20/40   Control techniques providin...

Intelligent electrical devices

First Claim

2 Assignments

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Abstract

50 Citations

48 Claims

Specification

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Intelligent electrical devices

First Claim

2 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

50 Citations

48 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links