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 method of using capacitive touch sensor circuitry that forms part of a user interface of a product comprising a plurality of touch sensor switches and a microchip of the product implements touch sensor functions and touch sensor sense pad structures are used in the implementation, the method comprising:
detecting an activation event by a touch sensor switch among the plurality of touch sensor switches; providing information, based on a state or condition of the product and a touch sensor signal generated from the detecting the activation event by the touch sensor switch, without accepting a selection of a function of the product, to guide a user to select a next touch sensor switch through an action comprising at least a physical contact event, in order to perform the selection of the function of the product.