Control features of imitation candle devices
Devices and methods for facilitating the operations and usage of electronic candle devices are disclosed. In one exemplary aspect, an imitation candle device is disclosed. The imitation candle device comprises a body; a flame element protruding from top of the body; one or more light sources positioned to illuminate the flame element to produce an appearance of a true fire flame; a plurality of touch sensitive segments positioned on, or embedded in, a peripheral section of the body, wherein each of the plurality of touch sensitive segments is operable to produce an electrical signal in response to sensing a touch; and an electronic control circuitry operable to receive the electrical signal produced in response to sensing the touch by one or more of the plurality of touch sensitive segments and to control at least an output of the one or more light sources based on the electrical signal.
1. An imitation candle device, comprising:
a body;
a flame element protruding from top of the body;
one or more light sources positioned to illuminate the flame element to produce an appearance of a true fire flame;
a plurality of touch sensitive segments in close proximity to each other positioned on, or embedded in, a peripheral section of the body, wherein each of the plurality of touch sensitive segments is operable to produce an electrical signal in response to sensing a touch; and
an electronic control circuitry operable to receive a plurality of electrical signals in response to sensing a sliding touch motion from the plurality of the segments and to control an operation of the imitation candle device based in-part on sensing a particular direction of the sliding touch motion.
2. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control circuitry is operable to control a brightness level of the one or more light sources based on the sliding touch motion.
3. The imitation candle device of claim 2 , wherein the electronic control circuitry is operable increase brightness of the one or more light sources in response to detection of a first direction of the sliding touch motion, and to decrease brightness of the one or more light sources in response to detection of a second direction of the sliding touch motion.
4. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , further including an additional touch sensitive segment that is positioned on, or embedded in, the body, the additional touch sensitive segment operable to produce an electrical signal in response to sensing a touch to enable a selection of a one or more functions of the imitation candle device.
5. The imitation candle device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more functions includes:
a brightness of the one or more light sources,
a flickering speed of the one or more light sources, or
a timer operation.
6. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control circuitry is operable increase a flickering speed of the one or more light sources in response to detection of a first direction of the sliding touch motion, and to decrease the flickering speed of the one or more light sources in response to detection of a second direction of the sliding touch motion.
7. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control circuitry is operable to turn the imitation candle device on or off in response to detection of an electrical signal indicative of sensing a touch from one of the plurality of touch sensitive segments.
8. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control circuitry is operable to set one or more timer values associated with the imitation candle device in response to detection of one or more touches from one of the plurality of touch sensitive segments.
9. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , further including an additional touch sensitive segment that is positioned on, or embedded in, the body, the additional touch sensitive segment operable to produce an electrical signal in response to sensing a touch to enable or disable a control functionality of the imitation candle device.
10. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral section of the body includes a top section of the body.
11. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control circuitry includes a wireless receiver to receive wireless signals.
12. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of touch sensitive segments is separated from another one of the touch sensitive segments.
13. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of touch sensitive segments is positioned directly adjacent to another one of the touch sensitive segments.
14. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of touch sensitive segments includes at least four touch sensitive segments.
15. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a semi-transparent or a translucent material.
16. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more light sources are positioned inside the body to illuminate the flame at an inclined angle.
17. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control circuitry is operable to change a color of light that illuminates the flame element in response to detection of one or more touches from one of the plurality of touch sensitive segments.
18. The imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the electronic control circuitry is operable to enable or disable a remote control functionality of the imitation candle device in response to detection of a touch from one of the plurality of touch sensitive segments.
19. The imitation candle device of claim 18 , wherein the remote control functionality is enable or disabled in response to detection of the touch for a predetermined interval of time.
20. The imitation candle device of claim 19 , wherein the predetermined interval of time is three seconds.