# US 7,466,040 B2 · Touch sensor controlled switch with intelligent user interface > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,466,040 B2 - Document ID: US7466040B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/406,491 - Filed: 2006-04-19 - Published: 2006-12-14 - Granted: 2008-12-16 - Earliest claimed: 2005-04-19 - Inventors: Frederick Johannes Bruwer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7466040B2 ## CPC - H05B 47/16: by timing means - H05B 47/14: by determining electrical parameters of the light source - Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS ## Abstract A module for controlling power supply to a load in a product which includes a microchip, and an electromechanical switch and a proximity/touch sensor connected to the microchip, preferably to the same input. The switch is primarily used to activate or deactivate the load and the proximity/touch sensor to vary the effect of operating the switch, or to control additional functions such as the activation of a signal, typically a light signal, which helps to locate the product, particularly in the dark, and to vary the duration of an automatic time-out period at the end of which the load is deactivated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic switch module for use with a product comprising a connection for a power source and an energy consuming load, said module comprising: a microchip; at least one capacitive sensing proximity/touch sensor switch; said at least one switch functioning as a user interface for the selection of multiple functions controlled by said microchip; said microchip configured to control the activation and deactivation of the load as well as at least one function; said module configured to receive an input signal from the proximity/touch sensor interface; wherein said microchip is further configured to function according to at least one configuration selected from the following group: a) wherein upon activation of the load, the proximity/touch sensor interface establishes a touch condition reference level which is used to determine when a no-touch condition occurs and wherein adjustment of the touch condition reference level is frozen while the no-touch condition is maintained; and b) wherein said at least one switch is used to activate the load in a mode that provides an automatic time-out to deactivate the load, in which the microchip controls an indication before the deactivation occurs and in which an input signal from the proximity/touch switch sensor showing proximity resets the time-out and (i) continues activation of the load only in a predetermined period after the indication has been given, or (ii) reactivates the load only in a predetermined period after deactivation has occurred. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An electronic switch module according to claim 1 wherein at least an electromechanical switch and the at least one proximity/touch sensor switch forming the user interface are connected to the microchip. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An electronic switch module according to claim 1, configured to conform at least to 1 (a) and wherein the power source is a mains supply. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) An electronic switch module according to claim 3, which includes a timer which is activated when a no-touch condition is sensed by the proximity/touch sensor switch causing the load to be de-activated and wherein after a predetermined time in this no-touch condition, activation of the load, on a touch-condition sensed by the proximity/touch sensor switch, is disabled. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An electronic switch module according to claim 1, configured to conform at least to 1 (a) and 1 (b). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An electronic switch module according to claim 1, configured to conform at least to 1 (b) and wherein the power source is a mains supply. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An electronic switch module according to claim 1, configured to conform at least to 1 (b) and wherein the product comprises a DC power source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An electronic switch module according to claim 1, configured to conform at least to 1 (b) and wherein the product comprises a DC power source, RF circuitry and audio sound signal generating electronics. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An electronic switch module according to claim 1, configured to conform at least to 1 (a) and wherein the power source is a mains supply 1. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An electronic switch module according to claim 1, wherein said proximity/touch sensor provide outputs that differentiate between proximity events and physical contact events. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An electronic switch module according to claim 10, wherein said circuit further comprise electromechanical switches that are configured for selecting a command/function. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An electronic switch module according to claim 11, wherein the visible indication displays information related to the command/function that will be selected when the electromechanical switch associated with the proximity/touch sensor giving the proximity/touch event indication is actuated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) An electronic switch module according to claim 12, wherein the microchip controls a function activated upon receipt of a signal from the proximity/touch sensor indicating a proximity event, to automatically switch off after a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) An electronic switch module according to claim 12, wherein the product comprises RF circuitry and audio sound signal generating circuitry. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) An electronic switch module according to claim 14, wherein the product comprises an LCD display that is used in providing the visible indication. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) An electronic switch module according to claim 10, wherein the product comprises an electrical motor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) An electronic switch module according to claim 10, wherein the product comprises an LCD display. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An electronic switch module according to claim 1, wherein an audible signal is triggered by a proximity event detected by the proximity/touch sensor switch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An electronic switch module according to claim 1, wherein an intensity of the visible indicator is related to a proximity distance measured by the proximity/touch sensor switch. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An electronic switch module according to claim 1, wherein the load is de-activated upon detecting a no-touch condition and activated again if a proximity/touch condition is detected again. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) An electronic switch module according to claim 20, wherein the load is only activated again if the proximity/touch condition occurs within a predetermined time from the de-activation operation caused by the detection of the no-touch condition.