User interface with proximity sensing

摘要

An electronic circuit including a microchip for use as an intelligent user interface also comprises touch sensor technology that differentiates between proximity and physical contact events to activate and control various loads including light bulbs, products with radio frequency circuitry or electric motors. An input to the microchip is connected to a switch or sensing structure that does not form a serial link between the power source and the load. The electronic circuit controls various functions in response to user actions including automatic delayed shut-off functions, find-in-the-dark indicator and power source level/product state indications. The microchip allows the user to select specific functions based on the time duration of activation signals, the time duration between activation signals and the number of activation signals at the input. The microchip is further configured to interpret and react to the signals received from a user in a way that enhances ease of use of the product and to use the indicators to provide information to the user that is influenced by the signals received as well as the state of the product.

主权项

1. A user interface unit integrated with an electronic device, the user interface comprising:
a touch sensor switch; and a microchip configured to activate different functions of the electronic device depending on a pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch, wherein the microchip is configured to activate a first pre-programmed function of the electronic device in response to the pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch being determined to correspond to a first predetermined pattern, and to activate a second pre-programmed function of the electronic device in response to the pattern of touch on the touch sensor switch being determined to correspond to a second predetermined pattern.