# US 6,961,630 B1 · Hybrid microcontroller system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,961,630 B1 - Document ID: US6961630B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 10/286,423 - Filed: 2002-11-01 - Granted: 2005-11-01 - Earliest claimed: 1997-05-16 - Assignees: Renau Corporation - Inventors: Karol Renau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6961630B1 ## CPC - G05B 9/02: electric - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract A hybrid microcontroller system for controlling a function of a device in an apparatus. The system controls the switching of the device so as to inhibit the formation of an abrupt transient spike between a pair of current switching contacts. Also, the system enables an operator from outside the system to enter a command relating to a function of the device, and for indicating to the operator outside the system the nature of the command thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for enabling control of a function of a device in an apparatus, by enabling the switching of the device responsive to entry of a command relating to the function of the device, wherein the system comprises a hybrid microcontroller, comprising: a switch, which includes a pair of contacts, adapted to be operable so as to close upon activation of the switch and open upon de-activation of the switch, subject to forming an abrupt transient spike between the pair of contacts upon operation of the switch, wherein the switch is connectable to the device upon activation thereof; a spike-inhibiting element for inhibiting the forming of an abrupt transient spike between the pair of contacts upon operation of the switch, connected to the switch, adapted to activate the switch responsive to activation of the spike-inhibiting element; and a processing element, connected to the spike-inhibiting element for enabling the processing of a device function-related command, and the activation of the spike-inhibiting element responsive to the processing of the device function-related command to close the connection of the switch to the device to enable the device to execute the device function-related command from the processing element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a sub-system for enabling an operator from outside the system to enter a command relating to a function of the device, and for indicating to the operator outside the system the nature of the command entered, without operator access to the inside of the system, comprising at least one entry element, mounted on the system and connected to the processing element, for enabling an operator from outside the system to enter a command relating to a function of the device, and at least one indicating element, mounted on the system and connected to the processing element, for indicating to the operator outside the system the nature of the command entered, adapted to interact with the entry element to respond to the actuation thereof, wherein the processing element is adapted to process the command entered in the system responsive to the actuation of the entry element, for generating the actuation of the indicating element responsive thereto for indicating the nature of the command entered, and for interacting with the system to enable the device to perform the function responsive to the entry and indicating of the command. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a mechanical switch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the spike-inhibiting element comprises an electronic switch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing wherein the switch, the spike-inhibiting element, and the processing element are enclosed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the entry element is adapted to be actuated in a preset actuation sequence, including at least one actuation thereof by the operator from outside the device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the indicating element is adapted to be actuated in a preset actuation sequence, including at least one actuation thereof responsive to actuation of the entry element, to indicate to the operator outside the device the nature of the command entered. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the processing element comprises a microprocessor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the entry element comprises a push button, connected to the processing element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the indicating element comprises a light emitting diode, connected to the processing element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the command adapted to be entered in the processing element through the entry element relates to accessing and modifying operational parameters of the device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the command indicated by the indicating element relates to the modifying of operational parameters of the device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the indicating element is located proximate the entry element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the processing element includes instructions programmed therein for enabling entry of the command therein upon actuation thereof. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the mechanical switch comprises a relay. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the electronic switch comprises a thyristor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the preset actuation sequence of the entry element comprises a sequence for modifying operational parameters of the device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the preset actuation sequence of the indicating element comprises a sequence for indicating the modifying of operational parameters of the device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the programmed instructions further enable actuation of the indicating element for indicating the modifying of operational parameters of the device responsive to the entry of the command therein. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the housing is sealed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the indicating by the indicating element of the preset actuation sequence of the indicating element comprises a preset series of pulses of light, and each such series of light pulses corresponds to the nature of an entered command. ### Claim 22 A method of enabling control of a function of a device in an apparatus, by enabling the switching of the device responsive to entry of a command relating to the function of the device, in a system which comprises a hybrid microcontroller, comprising a switch, which includes a pair of contacts, adapted to operable so as to close upon activation of the switch and open upon de-activation of the switch, subject to forming an abrupt transient spike between the pair of contacts upon operation of the switch, wherein the switch is connectable to the device upon activation thereof, a spike-inhibiting element for inhibiting the forming of an abrupt transient spike between the pair of contacts upon operation of the switch, connected to the switch, adapted to activate the switch responsive to activation of the spike-inhibiting element; and a processing element, connected to the spike-inhibiting element for enabling the processing of a device function-related command, and the activation of the spike-inhibiting element responsive to the processing of the device function-related command to close the connection of the switch to the device to enable the device to execute the device function-related command from the processing element, wherein the method comprises: activating the processing element so as to process a device function-related command, including activating the spike-inhibiting element responsive thereto; and activating the switch responsive to activation of the spike-inhibiting element, so as to inhibit the forming of an abrupt transient spike between the pair of contacts in the switch, and so as to close the connection of the switch to the device to enable the device to perform the device function-related command from the processing element. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising a sub-system for enabling an operator from outside the system to enter a command relating to a function of the device, and for indicating to the operator outside the system the nature of the command entered, without operator access to the inside of the system, comprising at least one entry element, mounted on the system and connected to the processing element, for enabling an operator from outside the system to enter a command relating to a function of the device, and at least one indicating element, mounted on the system and connected to the processing element, for indicating to the operator outside the system the nature of the command entered, adapted to interact with the entry element to respond to the actuation thereof, wherein the processing element is adapted to process the command entered in the system responsive to the actuation of the entry element, for generating the actuation of the indicating element responsive thereto for indicating the nature of the command entered, and for interacting with the system to enable the device to perform the function responsive to the entry and indicating of the command, and further comprising entering a command from outside the device relating to a function of the device through the entry element, processing the command in the processing element in the device responsive to entry of the command through the entry element, and indicating to the operator outside the device through the indicating element the nature of the command entered, responsive to processing thereof in the processing element. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the switch comprises a mechanical switch, and wherein activating the switch comprises activating the mechanical switch. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the spike-inhibiting element comprises an electronic switch, and wherein activating the spike-inhibiting element comprises activating the electronic switch. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising a housing wherein the switch, the spike-inhibiting element, and the processing element are enclosed, further comprising enclosing the switch, the spike-inhibiting element, and the processing element in the housing. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the entry element is adapted to be actuated in a preset actuation sequence, including at least one actuation thereof by the operator from outside the device, and wherein entering a command further comprises actuating the entry element in a preset actuation sequence. ### Claim 28 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the indicating element is adapted to be actuated in a preset actuation sequence, including at least one actuation thereof responsive to actuation of the entry element, to indicate to the operator outside the device the nature of the command entered, and wherein indicating the nature of the command entered further comprises actuating the indicating element in a preset actuation sequence. ### Claim 29 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the processing element comprises a microprocessor, and wherein activating the processing element comprises activating the microprocessor. ### Claim 30 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the entry element comprises a push button, connected to the processing element, and wherein entering a command comprises activating the push button from outside the device. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the indicating element comprises a light emitting diode, connected to the processing element, and wherein indicating the nature of the command entered comprises activating the light emitting diode to indicate to the operator outside the device. ### Claim 32 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the command adapted to be entered in the processing element through the entry element relates to accessing and modifying operational parameters of the device, and wherein entering a command comprises entering a command relating to assessing and modifying operational parameters of the device. ### Claim 33 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the command indicated by the indicating element relates to the modifying of operational parameters of the device, and wherein indicating the nature of the command entered comprises indicating the modifying of operational parameters of the device. ### Claim 34 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the indicating element is located proximate the entry element, and wherein indicating the nature of the command entered comprises indicating thereof proximate the entry element. ### Claim 35 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein the processing element includes instructions programmed therein for enabling entry of the command therein upon actuation thereof, and wherein processing the command comprises activating the instructions programmed in the processing element. ### Claim 36 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the mechanical switch comprises a relay, and wherein activating the mechanical switch comprises activating the relay. ### Claim 37 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the electronic switch comprises a thyristor, and wherein activating the electronic switch comprises activating the thyristor. ### Claim 38 (depends on 26) The method of claim 26, wherein the preset actuation sequence of the entry element comprises a sequence for modifying operational parameters of the device, and wherein entering the command further comprises actuating the entry element in a preset actuation sequence for modifying operational parameters of the device. ### Claim 39 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the preset actuation sequence of the indicating element comprises a sequence for indicating the modifying of operational parameters of the device, and wherein indicating the nature of the command entered comprises actuating the indicating element in a preset actuation sequence for indicating the modifying of operational parameters of the device. ### Claim 40 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein the programmed instructions further enable actuation of the indicating element for indicating the modifying of operational parameters of the device responsive to the entry of the command therein, and wherein actuating the programmed instructions comprises actuating the indicating element. ### Claim 41 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, wherein the housing is sealed, further comprising sealing the housing. ### Claim 42 (depends on 39) The method of claim 39, wherein the indicating by the indicating element of the preset actuation sequence of the indicating element comprises a preset series of pulses of light, and each such series of light pulses corresponds to the nature of an entered command, and wherein indicating the nature of the command entered further comprises actuating the indicating element in a preset actuation sequence comprising a series of light pulses.