Digital, touchless electrical switch
AssigneeDesign Engine
InventorsRobin Peng, Kent Mabey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A touchless, digital electrical switch includes at least one sensor that is oriented or associated with other elements in such a way as to detect substantially vertical sweeping, or switching, motions. When an intended switching motion is sensed by the optical sensors within a predetermined period of time, loads are switched and the status of a switch is communicated to other switches, if any, along the same circuit (i.e., the “position” of the switch is changed). An indication of the “position” of the switch may be provided by way of a visual indicator. An acceptable switching motion may also result in an audible “click” or other signal.
Claims20
A hands-free electrical switch, comprising:
- an electronic switching element;
- and
- a motion detection element configured to sense an intended, substantially linear switching motion and, upon sensing an appropriate switching motion, to cause the electronic switching element to switch between a first state and a second state.
A hands-free electrical switch, comprising:
- at least one processor;
- an electronic switching element in communication with the at least one processor;
- a pair of substantially aligned emitters configured to emit electromagnetic radiation, each emitter of the pair in communication with and under control of the at least one processor;
- at least one detector positioned between the emitters of the pair and in substantial alignment therewith, the at least one detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation of at least one wavelength emitted by the emitters, the at least one detector in communication with the at least one processor so as to change a state of the electronic switching element upon detection of an appropriate switching motion by the at least one detector.
A method for switching a state of an electrical circuit, comprising:
- effecting a switching motion in front of a hands-free electrical switch;
- detecting the switching motion;
- timing the switching motion;
- determining whether the timing of the switching motion occurs within a predetermined time range;
- determining whether the switching motion is effected in a direction which corresponds to a change in the state of the electrical circuit;
- and
- switching the state of the electrical circuit when the switching motion occurs within the predetermined time range and is effected in a direction that corresponds to a change in the state of the electrical circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.