US 12,000,424 B2 · Motion activated switch and method

Abstract

An algorithm analyzes the motion of an object to determine if a switch needs to be activated or deactivated. Accelerometers measure forces exerted upon an object to determine orientation in pitch, roll, and yaw axes, and to determine motion of the object. When threshold conditions for these orientations and movements are measured, the method combines taking moving averages of pitch, roll, and yaw, and additionally accumulating an integral of yaw to determine if an activation or deactivation condition is met. Should an integral condition not be constantly met while the moving average conditions are being determined, the yaw integral counter resets and the whole process must begin again. This method balances most unintentional activation conditions with activation latency. Another methodology tracks the motion of a wrist flick, similar to casting a fishing line, using acceleration and deceleration parameters.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method for controlling a switch, said switch controlling electrical power transmitted to a load and comprising a processor, timer, and at least one axial accelerometer measuring accelerations along an individual axis, the method comprising:

a. setting at least one time interval condition and taking measurements of accelerations along at least one axis every time interval;
b. setting a number of measurements to be averaged into an average acceleration value;
c. repeating acceleration measurements at every time interval, and averaging only the most recent acceleration measurements to obtain new average acceleration values;
d. setting an activation counter threshold condition;
e. if the activation counter threshold condition is met by an average acceleration value, incrementing an activation counter and continually adding to the activation counter in the same manner for each subsequent average acceleration value that meets the activation counter threshold condition;
f. if subsequent average accelerations do not meet the activation counter threshold condition, then reducing the activation counter;
and
g. only activating the switch if an activation counter threshold value is reached.

5 more elements

A method for controlling a switch through a set deactivation condition, said switch controlling electrical power transmitted to a load and comprising a processor, timer, and at least one axial accelerometers measuring accelerations along an individual axis, the method comprising:

a. taking measurements of deactivation accelerations along at least one axis every time interval;
b. setting a number of measurements to be averaged into an average deactivation acceleration value;
c. repeating deactivation acceleration measurements at every time interval, and averaging only the most recent deactivation acceleration measurements to obtain new average deactivation acceleration values;
d. if a deactivation threshold condition is met by an average deactivation acceleration value, incrementing a deactivation counter and continually adding to the deactivation counter in the same manner for each subsequent average deactivation acceleration value that meets the deactivation threshold condition;
e. if subsequent average deactivation accelerations do not meet the deactivation threshold condition, then reducing the deactivation counter;
and
f. deactivating the switch if the deactivation counter reaches a deactivation counter threshold.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Motion activated switch and method

Life of this patent

Motion activated switch and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23