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US 7,408,134 B1Granted
Programmable switch
AssigneeIndex Industries, Inc.
InventorsJoel Shaw, Clifford Slaughterbeck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor circuit provides a signal to a microcontroller to indicate parameters of an environmental condition to which the sensor circuit is exposed, such as temperature. The sensor circuit and microcontroller are mounted in a common housing, with an output lead indicating an on/off output based on predetermined parameters of the environmental condition. By access through the output lead, the microcontroller can be reprogrammed to change the predetermined parameters controlling the output state of the switch.
Claims8
An electronic switch comprising:
- a housing;
- a sensor circuit mounted in the housing, said sensor circuit providing a variable signal based on an environmental condition to which the sensor circuit is exposed;
- and
- a microcontroller mounted in the housing and receiving the variable signal from the sensor circuit, the microcontroller having:
- a power input port for selectively receiving electrical power to power the microcontroller;
- a ground port for connection to ground;
- and
- at least one output port for indicating an on state or an off state to indicate the condition of the switch;
- the microcontroller being programmed to operate in at least two modes including:
- a switch mode in which the microcontroller provides an on/off output at the output port based on predetermined parameters of the signal from the sensor circuit;
- and
- a communications mode in which the predetermined parameters can be changed by an external communication signal supplied to the output port during a predetermined period following power being supplied to the input power port.
9 more elements
An adjustable electronic temperature switch comprising:
- a power port for receiving electrical power;
- a ground port for connection to ground;
- an output port for indicating an on/off state;
- a microprocessor connected to each of the ports, for receiving power by way of the power port, for connection to ground by way of the ground port, and for supplying a binary signal at the output port to indicate the on/off state;
- a sensor circuit connected to the microprocessor and providing a variable signal thereto based on a temperature to which the sensor circuit is exposed, the microprocessor being programmed to operate in at least two modes, including:
- a switch mode in which the microcontroller provides the binary signal at the output port based on predetermined parameters of the signal from the sensor circuit including SET and RESET temperatures stored in the microprocessor;
- and
- a communications mode in which the predetermined SET and RESET temperatures can be changed by an external communications signal supplied to the output port.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.