INTELLIGENT USER INTERFACE INCLUDING A TOUCH SENSOR DEVICE

US 20110279046A1
Filed: 07/25/2011
Published: 11/17/2011
Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1998
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A method for implementing a user interface of a product, the product comprising a power source, or a connection for a power source and at least one energy consuming load, said method including the step of using an electronic module comprising an electronic circuit including a microchip and a touch sensor forming part of the user interface, said microchip at least partially implementing the touch sensor functions and said method including the step of activating a visible indication in response to an activation signal received from the user interface, wherein the visible indication provides information to a user on at least one item from the following group:

a state or condition of the product,location of the user interface,a battery power level indication.

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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.

4 Citations

40 Claims

1. A method for implementing a user interface of a product, the product comprising a power source, or a connection for a power source and at least one energy consuming load, said method including the step of using an electronic module comprising an electronic circuit including a microchip and a touch sensor forming part of the user interface, said microchip at least partially implementing the touch sensor functions and said method including the step of activating a visible indication in response to an activation signal received from the user interface, wherein the visible indication provides information to a user on at least one item from the following group:
- a state or condition of the product,location of the user interface,a battery power level indication.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- - 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said method includes the selection and activation of a function or mode of the product in response to a further activation signal(s) received from the user interface.
  - 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the method also includes the step of activating or deactivating product functions in response to signals received from the user interface.
  - 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method also includes the step of automatically deactivating the visible indication a predetermined period of time after it was activated.
  - 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the method also includes the step of automatically deactivating a function that was activated in response to an activation signal received from said user interface, a predetermined period of time after it was activated.
  - 6. The method of claim 2 wherein the method also includes the step of automatically deactivating a function that was activated in response to an activation signal received from said user interface, a predetermined period of time after it was activated.
  - 7. The method of claim 2 wherein the method is also used in a product comprising audio signal generating circuitry and radio frequency circuitry.
  - 8. The method of claim 6 wherein the method is also used in a product comprising audio signal generating circuitry and radio frequency circuitry.
  - 9. The method of claim 2 wherein the method also includes the step of selecting or activating/deactivating a function based on at least one parameter in signals received from the user interface, the parameter selected from the following group:
    - a. the time period of an activation signal;
      
      b. the time period between successive switch activations.
  - 10. The method of claim 6 wherein the method also includes the step of selecting or activating/deactivating a function based on at least one parameter in signals received from the user interface, the parameter selected from the following group:
    - a. the time period of an activation signal;
      
      b. the time period between successive switch activations.
  - 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the method is also used in a product comprising audio signal generating circuitry and radio frequency circuitry.
  - 12. The method of claim 2 wherein the method is applied to a product comprising the electronic user interface module, the power source and the load, with all enclosed or attached to a single product casing.
  - 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the method is applied to a product comprising the electronic user interface module, the power source and the load, with all enclosed or attached to a single product casing.
  - 14. The method of claim 2 wherein the method includes the step wherein the visible indication provides information to a user on a state or condition of the product.
  - 15. The method of claim 2 wherein the power source is a battery and wherein the power source is enclosed in the product housing, and wherein the visible indication provides information to a user on the battery power level.
  - 16. The method of claim 2 wherein the method includes the step wherein the visible indication provides information to a user on the location of the user interface.
  - 17. The method of claim 13 wherein the method includes the step wherein the information provided by the visible indication to the user is on the state or condition of the product.
  - 18. The method of claim 13 wherein the power source is a battery and wherein the power source is enclosed in the product housing, and wherein the method includes the step wherein the information provided by the visible indication to the user is on the battery power level.
  - 19. The method of claim 13 wherein the method includes the step wherein the information provided by the visible indication is on the location of the user interface.
  - 20. The method of claim 17 wherein the method also includes the step of activating the visible indicator when the operation of the product is not altered.
  - 21. The method of claim 18 wherein the method also includes the step of activating the visible indicator when the operation of the product is not altered.
  - 22. The method of claim 19 wherein the method also includes the step of activating the visible indicator when the operation of the product is not altered.
  - 23. The method of claim 2 wherein the method also includes the step of selecting a function based on a ratio of resistances formed in the user interface.
  - 24. The method of claim 14 wherein the method also includes the step of selecting a function based on a ratio of resistances formed in the user interface.
  - 25. The method of claim 1 wherein the method also includes the step of controlling the brightness of the visible indicator in response to the signal received from the user interface.

26. An electronic module for use with a product, the product comprising a power source or a connection for a power source, and at least one energy consuming load, said module comprising an electronic circuit comprising a microchip and a touch sensor wherein said touch sensor form part of the product user interface, said microchip at least partially implementing the touch sensing functions and configured to activate a visible indication in response to an activation signal received from the user interface, wherein the visible indication provides information to a user on at least one item from the following group:
- a state or condition of the product,a location of the user interface,a battery power level indication.
- View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
- - 27. The electronic module of claim 26 wherein said microchip is further adapted to provide information or to control the selection and activation of a function or operation of the product in response to activation signal(s) received from the user interface.
  - 28. The electronic module of claim 27 configured to automatically deactivate a function or indication that was activated in response to an activation signal received from said touch sensor user interface, a predetermined period of time after it was activated.
  - 29. The electronic module of claim 28 configured for use in a product comprising audio signal generating circuitry and radio frequency circuitry.
  - 30. The electronic module of claim 28 wherein the module is configured for affecting the selection or activation of a function based on at least one parameter in signals received from the user interface, the parameter selected from the following group:
    - a. the time period of an activation signal;
      
      b. the time period between successive switch activations.
  - 31. The electronic module of claim 29 wherein the module is configured for affecting the selection or activation of a function based on at least two parameters in signals received from the user interface, the parameters selected from the following group:
    - a. the time period of an activation signal;
      
      b. the time period between successive switch activations.
  - 32. The electronic module of claim 28 configured for use with a product comprising the electronic touch sensor user interface module, the power source and the load are all enclosed or attached to a single product casing, and wherein the touch sensor interface is a structurally integral part of the casing.
  - 33. The electronic module of claim 31 configured for use with a product comprising the electronic touch sensor user interface module, the power source and the load are all enclosed or attached to a single product casing.
  - 34. The electronic module of claim 26 wherein the visible indication provides information to the user concerning the state or condition of the product.
  - 35. The electronic module of claim 26 wherein the visible indication provides information to the user concerning the location of the user interface.
  - 36. The electronic module of claim 26 wherein the power source is a battery and the visible indication provides information to the user concerning the battery power level.
  - 37. The electronic module of claim 31 wherein the visible indication provides information to the user concerning the state or condition of the product.
  - 38. The electronic module of claim 31 wherein the visible indication provides information to the user concerning the location of the user interface.
  - 39. The electronic module of claim 31 wherein the power source is a battery and the visible indication provides information to the user concerning the battery power level.
  - 40. The electronic module of claim 27 wherein the information from the user interface is influenced by a ratio of resistances formed in the user interface.

Specification

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

Granted Patent

US 8,288,952 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

315/200.A
CPC Class Codes

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

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

H05B 39/085   by touch control

H05B 39/09   in which the lamp is fed by...

H05B 47/10   Controlling the light source

H05B 47/16   by timing means

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

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 USER INTERFACE INCLUDING A TOUCH SENSOR DEVICE

First Claim

2 Assignments

0 Petitions

Accused Products

Abstract

4 Citations

40 Claims

Specification

Solutions

Use Cases

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INTELLIGENT USER INTERFACE INCLUDING A TOUCH SENSOR DEVICE

First Claim

2 Assignments

Subscription Required

Subscription Required

0 Petitions

Subscription Required

Accused Products

Subscription Required

Abstract

4 Citations

40 Claims

Specification

Subscription Required

Solutions

Use Cases

Quick Links