An electronic circuit including a microchip for use as an intelligent user interface also comprises touch sensor technology that differentiates between proximity and physical contact events to activate and control various loads including light bulbs, products with radio frequency circuitry or electr
An electronic circuit including a microchip for use as an intelligent user interface also comprises touch sensor technology that differentiates between proximity and physical contact events to activate and control various loads including light bulbs, products with radio frequency circuitry or electric motors. An input to the microchip is connected to a switch or sensing structure that does not form a serial link between the power source and the load. The electronic circuit controls various functions in response to user actions including automatic delayed shut-off functions, find-in-the-dark indicator and power source level/product state indications. 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. The microchip is further configured to interpret and react to the signals received from a user in a way that enhances ease of use of the product and to use the indicators to provide information to the user that is influenced by the signals received as well as the state of the product.
대표청구항▼
1. A user interface unit integrated with an electronic device, the user interface comprising: a touch sensor switch; anda microchip configured to activate different functions of the electronic device depending on a pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch,wherein the microchip is configured to ac
1. A user interface unit integrated with an electronic device, the user interface comprising: a touch sensor switch; anda microchip configured to activate different functions of the electronic device depending on a pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch,wherein the microchip is configured to activate a first pre-programmed function of the electronic device in response to the pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch being determined to correspond to a first predetermined pattern, and to activate a second pre-programmed function of the electronic device in response to the pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch being determined to correspond to a second predetermined pattern. 2. The user interface unit of claim 1, wherein the microchip is further configured to completely turn off the electronic device in response to the pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch being determined to correspond to a third predetermined pattern. 3. The user interface unit of claim 1, wherein the pattern comprises a time duration of the touch on the touch sensor switch. 4. The user interface unit of claim 3, wherein the microchip is further configured to completely turn off the electronic device in response to one touch which lasts more than a predetermined amount of time duration. 5. The user interface unit of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined pattern comprises a single touch on the touch sensor switch and the second predetermined pattern comprises a plurality of successive touches on the touch sensor switch. 6. The user interface unit of claim 1, wherein the microchip is configured to provide indication information about the electronic device in response to touch by an object on the touch sensor switch or capacitance change by the object with respect to the touch sensor switch, wherein the microchip is configured to deactivate the indication of the information about the electronic device after a predetermined time, andwherein the microchip is configured to maintain an activation state of a load of the electronic device while the provision of the indication information about the electronic device is deactivated. 7. The user interface of claim 6, wherein the microchip is configured to open the touch sensor switch to deactivate the provision of the indication information about the electronic device. 8. The user interface unit of claim 6, wherein the microchip is configured to activate another load of the electronic device in response to touch on the touch sensor switch while the provision of the indication information about the electronic device is deactivated. 9. The user interface unit of claim 6, wherein the microchip controls a switch configured to provide power to the electronic device to maintain the activation state of the load of the electronic device by using capacitance charged during activation of the touch sensor switch. 10. The user interface of claim 9, wherein the capacitance change is generated by proximity of the object to the touch sensor switch. 11. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the microchip is configured to provide indication information about the electronic device in response to capacitance change by an object with respect to the touch sensor switch, wherein the microchip is configured to deactivate the indication of the information about the electronic device after a predetermined time, andwherein the microchip is configured to maintain an activation state of a load of the electronic device while the provision of the indication information about the electronic device is deactivated. 12. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising: first and second user input switches different from the touch sensor switch,wherein the microchip is configured to perform a third pre-programmed function in response to a singular user input to the first user input switch, to perform a fourth pre-programmed function in response to a singular user input to the second user input switch, and to perform a fifth pre-programmed function in response to combined user inputs to the first and second user input switches. 13. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined pattern has a first predetermined time sequence of touch input and the second predetermined pattern has a second predetermined time sequence, different from the first predetermined time sequence, of touch input. 14. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the microchip is configured to control supply of power from a power source to a load of the electronic device. 15. A method of controlling a user interface unit integrated with an electronic device, the user interface unit comprising at least one touch sensor switch and a microchip configured to control functions of the electronic device in association with the touch sensor switch, the method comprising: controlling the microchip to receive at least one touch on a touch sensor switch among the at least one touch sensor switch; andactivating different functions of the electronic device depending on a pattern of the at least one touch on the touch sensor switch,wherein the activating different functions comprises activating a first pre-programmed function of the electronic device in response to the pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch being determined to correspond to a first predetermined pattern, and activating a second pre-programmed function of the electronic device in response to the pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch being determined to correspond to a second predetermined pattern. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling the microchip to completely turn off the electronic device in response to the pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch being determined to correspond to a third predetermined pattern. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the pattern comprises a time duration of the touch on the touch sensor switch. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising controlling the microchip to completely turn off the electronic device in response to one touch which lasts more than a predetermined amount of time duration. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first predetermined pattern comprises a single touch on the touch sensor switch and the second predetermined pattern comprises a plurality of successive touches on the touch sensor switch. 20. The method of claim 15, further comprising: controlling the microchip to provide indication information about the electronic device in response to touch by an object on the touch sensor switch or capacitance change by the object with respect to the touch sensor switch;controlling the microchip to deactivate the indication of the information about the electronic device after a predetermined time; andcontrolling the microchip to maintain an activation state of a load of the electronic device while the providing the indication information about the electronic device is deactivated. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the deactivating the indication of the information about the electronic device is performed by controlling the microchip to open the touch sensor switch. 22. The method of claim 20, further comprising controlling the microchip to activate another load of the electronic device in response to touch on the touch sensor switch while the providing the indication information about the electronic device is deactivated. 23. The method of claim 20, further comprising controlling the microchip such that a switch included in the microchip is turned on to provide power to the electronic device to maintain the activation state of the load of the electronic device by using capacitance charged during activation of the touch sensor switch. 24. The method of claim 15, further comprising: controlling the microchip to provide indication information about the electronic device in response to capacitance change by an object with respect to the touch sensor switch;controlling the microchip to deactivate the indication of the information about the electronic device after a predetermined time; andcontrolling the microchip to maintain an activation state of a load of the electronic device while the providing the indication information about the electronic device is deactivated. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the capacitance change is generated by proximity of the object to the touch sensor switch. 26. An electronic device comprising: a power source;a load; anda user interface comprising: a touch sensor switch, anda microchip configured to control supply of power from the power source to the load, and to activate different functions of the electronic device depending on a pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch,wherein the microchip is configured to activate a first pre-programmed function of the electronic device in response to the pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch being determined to correspond to a first predetermined pattern, and to activate a second pre-programmed function of the electronic device in response to the pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch being determined to correspond to a second predetermined pattern. 27. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the user interface further comprises: first and second user input switches different from the touch sensor switch,wherein the microchip is configured to perform a third pre-programmed function in response to a singular user input to the first user input switch, to perform a fourth pre-programmed function in response to a singular user input to the second user input switch, and to perform a fifth pre-programmed function in response to combined user inputs to the first and second user input switches. 28. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the first predetermined pattern has a first predetermined time sequence of touch input and the second predetermined pattern has a second predetermined time sequence, different from the first predetermined time sequence, of touch input. 29. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the microchip is configured to activate a visible indicator in response to an input to the touch sensor switch. 30. The electronic device of claim 26, wherein the microchip is configured to activate a power saving function to lengthen a life span of the power source, in response to an input to the user input.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (107)
Shahoian Erik J. ; Hasser Christopher J. ; Schena Bruce M., Absolute position sensing by phase shift detection using a variable capacitor.
Jahagirdar Ketan R. ; Alberth ; Jr. William P. ; Hackbart Rolland R. ; Osmani Rashid M. ; Cahill Stephen V., Communication device having multiple displays and method of operating the same.
Scott L. Vance ; Charles Rudisill, Electronic devices including keypads that illuminate in response to proximity of a user and methods of operating such electronic devices.
Bloom Jonathan J. (Burlington MA) Marino Michael J. (Lynn MA) Pepper ; Jr. Edward L. (Medford MA), Method and apparatus for improved electronic touch mapping.
Boies Stephen J. (Mahopac NY) Comerford Liam D. (Carmel NY) Gould John D. (Yorktown Heights NY) Spraragen Susan L. (Ossining NY) Ukelson Jacob P. (Bronx NY), Method and apparatus for user control by deriving next states of a process from a current state and by providing a visua.
Hinckley,Kenneth P.; Sinclair,Michael J.; Pierce,Jeffrey Scott; Horvitz,Eric J., Method and apparatus using multiple sensors in a device with a display.
Gong,Andrew; Huppi,Brian Q.; Krah,Christopher H.; Cappels,Richard D.; Kerr,Duncan R.; Culbert,Michael, Methods and apparatuses using control indicators for data processing systems.
Watson Douglas R. (105 Middle Ridge Sanford CT 06903) Bogorad Lev (540 Main St. Roosevelt Island NY 10044) Lombardi Albert (1 Ziegler Rd. LaGrangeville NY 12540) Neiger Benjamin (270-27T Grand Centra, Microprocessor based touch dimmer system to control the brightness of one or more electric lamps using single or multi-k.
Miller Robert J. (Fremont CA) Bisset Stephen (Palo Alto CA) Allen Timothy P. (Los Gatos CA) Steinbach Gnter (Palo Alto CA), Object position and proximity detector.
Danielson Arvin D. ; Schultz Darald R. ; Silva Dennis ; Boatwright Darrell L. ; Austin Rickey G. ; Alt Daniel E. ; Friend Steve Darren ; Beard Paul, Portable work station-type data collection system.
Hotelling, Steve P.; Kerr, Duncan Robert; Ording, Bas; Ive, Jonathan P.; Kennedy, Peter J.; Fadell, Anthony M.; Robbin, Jeffrey L., Proximity detector in handheld device.
Pepper ; Jr. William (Bethesda MD), System for producing electric field with predetermined characteristics and edge terminations for resistance planes there.
Watson Douglas R. (Sanford CT) Bogorad Lev (Roosevelt Island NY) Lombardi Albert (LaGrangeville NY) Neiger Benjamin (Floral Pk. NY) Rivera Lester (Glendale NY) Justiniano Joseph G. (Bethpage NY) Alum, Touch dimmer system.
Anderson, Thomas N.; Higinbotham, John D.; Miller, David A.; Schwartz, Mark; Thompson, C. Denise, User navigation and guidance during configuration and storage of parameters for medical device.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.