Touch sensor controlled switch with intelligent user interface
View Patent ↗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.
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.