US 12,754,614 B2Granted

Motion activated switch and method

AssigneeAutolaser Inc.

InventorsMatthew C. Prestwich, Benjamin N. DeMann

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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.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method for controlling a switch, said switch controlling electrical power transmitted to a load and comprising a processor and at least one motion measuring device, the method comprising:

providing a multi-condition activation mechanism that activates the switch upon satisfaction of both:
a) a first activation criterion that triggers an activation counter to begin incrementing in response to detecting a qualifying set of motion values that satisfy at least one counter activation condition;
and b) a second activation criterion that determines if the activation counter reaches an activation counter threshold value after the first activation criterion is determined to be satisfied;
setting the at least one counter activation condition that causes the activation counter to begin increasing in response to detecting the qualifying set of motion values, wherein a value stored by the activation counter starts to increase when the at least one counter activation condition is satisfied;
setting at least one counter reduction condition that reduces the value of the activation counter when the at least one counter reduction condition is satisfied;
determining if the first activation criterion is satisfied, at least in part, by:
determining, using the at least one motion measuring device, motion values corresponding to movements of an object;
and
in response to determining that the motion values correspond to the qualifying set of motion values associated with the at least one counter activation condition, increasing the value stored by the activation counter;
after the at least one counter activation condition is determined to be satisfied and the activation counter is triggered, determining if the second activation criterion is satisfied, at least in part, by:
determining, using the at least one motion measuring device, additional motion values corresponding to movements of the object;
continuing to increase the activation counter while the at least one counter reduction condition is not satisfied;
in response to determining that the additional motion values satisfy the at least one counter reduction condition, reducing the value stored by the activation counter;
and
determining if the value stored by the activation counter satisfies the activation counter threshold value as the value stored by the activation counter changes;
and
activating the switch after both the first activation criterion and the second activation criterion have been satisfied, and the activation counter threshold value is reached.

14 more elements

A system for controlling a switch comprising:

a switch for controlling electrical power transmitted to a load;
at least one motion measuring device;
and
a processor configured to:
provide a multi-condition activation mechanism that activates the switch upon satisfaction of both:
a) a first activation criterion that triggers an activation counter to begin incrementing in response to detecting a qualifying set of motion values that satisfy at least one counter activation condition;
and b) a second activation criterion that determines if the activation counter reaches an activation counter threshold value after the first activation criterion is determined to be satisfied;
set the at least one counter activation condition that causes the activation counter to begin increasing in response to detecting the qualifying set of motion values, wherein a value stored by the activation counter starts to increase when the at least one counter activation condition is satisfied;
set at least one counter reduction condition that reduces the value of the activation counter when the at least one counter reduction condition is satisfied;
determine if the first activation criterion is satisfied, at least in part, by:
determining, using the at least one motion measuring device, motion values corresponding to movements of an object;
and
in response to determining that the motion values correspond to the qualifying set of motion values associated with the at least one counter activation condition, increasing the value stored by the activation counter;
after the at least one counter activation condition is determined to be satisfied and the activation counter is triggered, determine if the second activation criterion is satisfied, at least in part, by:
determining, using the at least one motion measuring device, additional motion values corresponding to movements of the object;
continuing to increase the activation counter while the at least one counter reduction condition is not satisfied;
in response to determining that the additional motion values satisfy the at least one counter reduction condition, reducing the value stored by the activation counter;
and
determining if the value stored by the activation counter satisfies the activation counter threshold value as the value stored by the activation counter changes;
and
activate the switch after both the first activation criterion and the second activation criterion have been satisfied, and the activation counter threshold value is reached.

18 more elements

A method for controlling a switch, said switch controlling electrical power transmitted to a load and comprising a processor and at least one motion measuring device, the method comprising:

providing a multi-condition deactivation mechanism that deactivates the switch upon satisfaction of both:
(a) a first deactivation criterion that triggers a value stored by a deactivation counter to begin incrementing in response to detecting a qualifying set of motion values that satisfy at least one counter activation condition;
and (b) a second deactivation criterion that determines if the deactivation counter reaches a deactivation counter threshold value after the first deactivation criterion is determined to be satisfied;
setting the at least one counter activation condition that causes the deactivation counter to begin increasing in response to detecting the qualifying set of motion values, wherein the value stored by the deactivation counter starts to increase when the at least one counter activation condition is satisfied;
setting at least one counter reduction condition that reduces the value of the deactivation counter when the at least one counter reduction condition is satisfied;
determining if the first deactivation criterion is satisfied, at least in part, by:
determining, using the at least one motion measuring device, motion values corresponding to movements of an object;
and
in response to determining that the motion values correspond to the qualifying set of motion values associated with the at least one counter activation condition, increasing the value stored by the deactivation counter;
after the at least one counter activation condition is determined to be satisfied and the deactivation counter is triggered, determining if the second deactivation criterion is satisfied, at least in part, by:
determining, using the at least one motion measuring device, additional motion values corresponding to movements of the object;
continuing to increase the deactivation counter while the at least one counter reduction condition is not satisfied;
in response to determining that the additional motion values satisfy the at least one counter reduction condition, reducing the value stored by the deactivation counter;
and
determining if the value stored by the deactivation counter satisfies the deactivation counter threshold value as the value stored by the deactivation counter changes;
and
deactivating the switch after both the first deactivation criterion and the second deactivation criterion have been satisfied, and the deactivation counter threshold value is reached.

14 more elements

A system for controlling a switch comprising:

a switch for controlling electrical power transmitted to a load;
at least one motion measuring device;
and
a processor configured to:
provide a multi-condition deactivation mechanism that deactivates the switch upon satisfaction of both:
(a) a first deactivation criterion that triggers a value stored by a deactivation counter to begin incrementing in response to detecting a qualifying set of motion values that satisfy at least one counter activation condition;
and (b) a second deactivation criterion that determines if the deactivation counter reaches a deactivation counter threshold value after the first deactivation criterion is determined to be satisfied;
set the at least one counter activation condition that causes the deactivation counter to begin increasing in response to detecting the qualifying set of motion values, wherein the value stored by the deactivation counter starts to increase when the at least one counter increase condition is satisfied;
set at least one counter reduction condition that reduces the value of the deactivation counter when the at least one counter reduction condition is satisfied;
determine if the first deactivation criterion is satisfied, at least in part, by:
determining, using the at least one motion measuring device, motion values corresponding to movements of an object;
and
in response to determining that the motion values correspond to the qualifying set of motion values associated with the at least one counter activation condition, increasing the value stored by the deactivation counter;
after the at least one counter activation condition is determined to be satisfied and the deactivation counter is triggered, determine if the second deactivation criterion is satisfied, at least in part, by:
determining, using the at least one motion measuring device, additional motion values corresponding to movements of the object;
continuing to increase the deactivation counter while the at least one counter reduction condition is not satisfied;
in response to determining that the additional motion values satisfy the at least one counter reduction condition, reducing the value stored by the deactivation counter;
and
determining if the value stored by the deactivation counter satisfies the deactivation counter threshold value as the value stored by the deactivation counter changes;
and
deactivate the switch after both the first deactivation criterion and the second deactivation criterion have been satisfied, and the deactivation counter threshold value is reached.

18 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/661,692Filed 12 May 2024 · continuation
Priority: 18 Jun 2015
Published: US 2024/0427424 A126 Dec 2024
Granted: 6 Oct 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G06F 3/017
Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer: gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a…
F16B 5/0258
By means of fastening members using screw-thread: using resiliently deformable sleeves, grommets or inserts
F16B 37/068
By means of riveting: by deforming the material of the support, e.g. the sheet or plate
F41G 1/35
Combined with light source, e.g. spot light: for illuminating the target

Family

Application62/181,343Us provisional application · filed 18 Jun 2015
Application15/187,621Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Jun 2016
Application16/435,037Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Jun 2019
US 10,316,884 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 11 Jun 2019
US 2024/0427424 A1Pre-grant publication · published 26 Dec 2024
US 12,000,424 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2017/0025233 A1Published application
US 2019/0323545 A1Published application
US 12,754,614 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.