111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007265494B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Bruwer
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,265,494 B2
`Sep.4,2007
`
`(54)
`
`INTELLIGENT USER INTERFACE WITH
`TOUCH SENSOR TECHNOLOGY
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Frederick Johannes Bruwer, Paarl
`(ZA)
`
`(73) Assignee: Azoteq Pty Ltd., Paarl (ZA)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 200 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/961,373
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Oct. 12, 2004
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2005/0121980 Al
`
`Jun. 9, 2005
`
`(63)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`(58)
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`Continuation-in-part of application No. 09/806,860,
`filed as application No. PCT/ZA99/00107 on Oct. 8,
`1999, now Pat. No. 6,984,900, which is a continua(cid:173)
`tion-in-part of application No. 09/169,395, filed on
`Oct. 9, 1998, now Pat. No. 6,249,089.
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H01J 1160
`(2006.01)
`F21S 10100
`(2006.01)
`GOlD 13122
`U.S. Cl. ........................ 315/129; 116/202; 116/205
`Field of Classification Search ................ 315/120,
`315/129, 136, 291, 307, 360, 362; 307/139,
`307/141, 87; 362/202, 205; 116/202, 205
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,764,708 A * 8/1988 Roudeski ..................... 315/51
`
`5,212,478 A * 5/1993 Moseley ................ 340/825.72
`5,781,869 A * 7/1998 Parlett et a!. .................. 70111
`5,808,294 A * 9/1998 Neumann ............. 250/214 AL
`5,994,844 A * 1111999 Crawford et al . ........... 315/151
`6,055,079 A * 4/2000 Hagans eta!. .............. 398/111
`
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-Thuy V. Tran
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jones, Tullar & Cooper, P.C.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An electronic circuit including a microchip for use as an
`intelligent user interface also comprises touch sensor tech(cid:173)
`nology that differentiates between proximity and physical
`contact events to activate and control various loads includ(cid:173)
`ing 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(cid:173)
`dark indicator and a power source level/product state indi(cid:173)
`cations. 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.
`
`48 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
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`
`MICROSOFT EXHIBIT 1017
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.4,2007
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 7,265,494 B2
`
`112
`
`TIMER
`
`100
`
`FIG. 1
`
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`L-------------------------------J
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.4,2007
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 7,265,494 B2
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.4,2007
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 7,265,494 B2
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.4,2007
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 7,265,494 B2
`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.4,2007
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 7,265,494 B2
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 4, 2007
`Sep.4,2007
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 7,265,494 B2
`US 7,265,494 B2
`
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`
`

`

`US 7,265,494 B2
`
`1
`INTELLIGENT USER INTERFACE WITH
`TOUCH SENSOR TECHNOLOGY
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Appli(cid:173)
`cation No. 09/806,860, filed Jul. 2, 2001, which is now U.S.
`Pat. No. 6,984,900, which is a U.S. National Stage of
`International Application No. PCT/ZA99/00107, filed Oct.
`8, 1999, which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application
`Ser. No. 09/169,395, filed Oct. 9, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No.
`6,249,089.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to new intelligent electrical
`user interface structures that includes capacitive sensor
`technology. The invention further relates, in one embodi(cid:173)
`ment, to intelligent switches having embedded therein a
`microchip for use with a variety of electrical devices to add
`heretofore unknown functionality to existing electrical
`devices. The invention also relates, according to another
`embodiment, user interfaces with capacitive sensing tech(cid:173)
`nology that differentiates between proximity and physical
`contact events in order to achieve a higher level of inter(cid:173)
`pretation of the user actions by the switch and specifically to
`provide information to the user about the product, the state
`of the product or guidance towards possible (likely) next
`actions. In another embodiment, the invention relates to low
`current switches controlled by microchips of the present
`invention for use in building lighting systems.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`In conventional flashlights, manually-operated mechani(cid:173)
`cal switches function to tum the flashlight "on" and "off".
`When turned "on", battery power is applied through the
`closed switch to a light bulb; the amount of power then
`consumed depends on how long the switch is closed. In the
`typical flashlight, the effective life of the battery is only a
`few hours at most. Should the operator, after using the
`flashlight to find his/her way in the dark or for any other
`purpose, then fail to turn it off, the batteries will, in a very
`short time, become exhausted. Should the flashlight be left
`in a turned-on and exhausted condition for a prolonged
`period, the batteries may then leak and exude corrosive
`electrolyte that is damaging to the contact which engages the
`battery terminal as well as the casing of the flashlight.
`When the flashlight is designed for use by a young child
`the likelihood is greater that the flashlight will be mis(cid:173)
`handled, because a young child is prone to be careless and
`forgets to turn the flashlight "off" after it has served its
`purpose. Because of this, a flashlight may be left "on" for
`days, if not weeks, and as a result of internal corrosion may
`no longer be in working order when the exhausted batteries
`are replaced.
`Flashlights designed for young children are sometimes in
`a lantern format, with a casing made of strong plastic 60
`material that is virtually unbreakable, the light bulb being
`mounted within a reflector at the front end of the casing and
`being covered by a lens from which a light beam is pro(cid:173)
`jected. AU -shaped handle is attached to the upper end of the
`casing, with mechanical on-off slide switch being mounted 65
`on the handle, so that a child grasping the handle can readily
`manipulate the slide actuator with his/her thumb.
`
`2
`With a switch of this type on top of a flashlight handle,
`when the slide actuator is pushed forward by the thumb, the
`switch "mechanically" closes the circuit and the flashlight is
`turned "on" and remains "on" until the slide actuator is
`5 pulled back to the "off" position and the circuit is opened. It
`is this type of switch in the hands of a child that is most
`likely to be inadvertently left "on."
`To avoid this problem, many flashlights include, in addi(cid:173)
`tion to a slide switch, a push button switch which keeps the
`10 flashlight turned on only when finger pressure is applied to
`the push button. It is difficult for a young child who wishes,
`say to illuminate a dark corner in the basement of his home
`for about 30 seconds, to keep a push button depressed for
`this period. It is therefore more likely that the child will
`15 actuate the slide switch to its permanently-on position, for
`this requires only a momentary monetary finger motion.
`It is known to provide a flashlight with a delayed action
`switch which automatically turns off after a pre-determined
`interval. The Mallory U.S. Pat. No. 3,535,282 discloses a
`20 flashlight that is automatically turned off by a delayed action
`mechanical switch assembly that includes a compression
`spring housed in a bellows having a leaky valve, so that
`when a switch is turned on manually, this action serves to
`mechanically compress the bellows which after a pre-deter-
`25 mined interval acts to tum off the switch.
`A similar delayed action is obtained in a flashlight for
`children marketed by Playskool Company, this delayed
`action being realized by a resistance-capacitance timing
`network which applies a bias to a solid-state transistor
`30 switch after 30 seconds or so to cut off the transistor and shut
`off the flashlight. Also included in the prior art, is a flashlight
`previously sold by Fisher-Price using an electronic timing
`circuit to simply tum off the flashlight after about 20
`minutes.
`It is also known, e.g. as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
`4,875,147, to provide a mechanical switch assembly for a
`flashlight which includes a suction cup as a delayed action
`element whereby the flashlight, when momentarily actuated
`by an operator, functions to connect a battery power supply
`40 to a light bulb, and which maintains this connection for a
`pre-determined interval determined by the memory charac(cid:173)
`teristics of the suction cup, after which the connection is
`automatically broken.
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,538 discloses a flashlight having the
`45 usual components of a battery, and on-off mechanical
`switch, a bulb, and a hand-held housing, to which there is
`added a timing means and a circuit-breaking means respon(cid:173)
`sive to the timing means for cutting off the flow of current
`to the bulb, which further has a by-pass means, preferably
`50 child-proof, to direct electric current to the light bulb regard(cid:173)
`less of the state of the timing means. The patent also
`provides for the operation of the device may be further
`enhanced by making the by-pass means a mechanical switch
`connected so as to leave it in series with the mechanical
`55 on-off switch. Furthermore, the patent discloses a lock or
`other "child-proofing" mechanism may be provided to
`ensure that the by-pass is disabled when the flashlight is
`switched off.
`Most conventional flashlights, like those described above,
`are actuated by mechanical push or slide button-type
`switches requiring, of course, mechanical implementation
`by an operator. Over time, the switch suffers "wear and tear"
`which impairs operation of the flashlight as a result of, for
`example, repeated activations by the operator and/or due to
`the fact that the switch has been left "on" for a prolonged
`period of time. In addition, such mechanical switches are
`vulnerable to the effects of corrosion and oxidation and can
`
`35
`
`

`

`US 7,265,494 B2
`
`3
`cause said switches to deteriorate and to become non(cid:173)
`functioning. In addition, these prior art devices having these
`mechanical switches are generally "dumb", i.e. they do not
`provide the user with convenient, reliable, and affordable
`functionalities which today's consumers now demand and
`expect.
`The prior art switches typically provide two basic func(cid:173)
`tions in prior art flashlights. First, the mechanical switches
`act as actual conductors for completing power circuits and
`providing current during operation of the devices. Depend- 10
`ing upon the type of bulb and wiring employed, the intensity
`of electrical current which must be conducted by the switch
`is generally quite high leading to, after prolonged use,
`failure. Second, these mechanical switches must function as
`an interface between the device and its operator, i.e. the 15
`man-machine-interface ("MMI") and necessarily requires
`repeated mechanical activations of the switch which over
`time mechanically deteriorate.
`Also, currently the electrical switches used in buildings/
`houses for control of lighting systems are of the conven- 20
`tiona! type of switches which must conduct, i.e. close the
`circuit, upon command, thus also providing the MMI. These
`prior art switches suffer from the same disadvantages as the
`switches described above in relation to portable electronic
`devices, like flashlights. Moreover, the switches are rela- 25
`tively dumb in most cases and do not provide the user with
`a variety of functions, e.g. but not limited to timing means
`to enable a user, for example, a shop owner or home owner
`to designate a predetermined shut off or tum on point in
`time.
`There is a need for inexpensive, reliable, and simple
`intelligent electronic devices which provide increased func(cid:173)
`tionality and energy conservation.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`4
`off sequence which, for example, but not limited to, in the
`case of a flashlight, can be determined by an operator and
`may represent either a flash code sequence or a simple on/off
`oscillation, provide an indication of battery strength, and/or
`provide a gradual oscillating current flow to lengthen the life
`of the operating switch and the power source.
`According to one embodiment of the invention, an intel-
`ligent flashlight, having a microchip controlled switch is
`provided comprising a microchip for controlling the on/off
`function and at least one other function of the flashlight.
`According to a further embodiment of the invention, an
`intelligent flashlight having a microchip controlled switch is
`provided comprising an input means for sending activating/
`deactivating signals to the microchip, and a microchip for
`controlling the on/off function and at least one other function
`of the flashlight. According to a further embodiment of the
`invention, there is provided an intelligent flashlight having
`a microchip controlled switch comprising an input means for
`selecting one function of the flashlight, a microchip for
`controlling at least the on/off function and one other function
`of the flashlight, wherein the microchip control circuit may
`further comprise a control-reset means, a clock means, a
`current switch, and/or any one or combination of the same.
`According to another embodiment of the invention, there
`is provided a battery for use with an electrical device
`comprising a microchip embedded in the battery. According
`to still a further embodiment of the invention, a battery for
`use with an electronic device is provided comprising a
`microchip embedded in the battery wherein said microchip
`30 is adapted such that an input means external to the microchip
`can select the on/off function and at least one other function
`of the electronic device.
`According to one embodiment of the present invention,
`there is provided an intelligent battery for use with an
`35 electronic device, the battery having positive and negative
`terminal ends and comprising a microchip embedded in the
`battery, preferably in the positive terminal end, for control(cid:173)
`ling on/off functions and at least one other function of the
`electronic device.
`According to another embodiment of the invention, there
`is provided a portable microchip device for use in serial
`connection with a power source, e.g. an exhaustible power
`source, and an electronic device powered by said source
`wherein said electronic device has an input means for
`activating and deactivating said power source, and said
`microchip comprising a means for controlling the on/off
`function and at least one other function of the electronic
`device upon receipt of a signal from said input means
`through said power source.
`According to a still further embodiment of the invention,
`there is provided a microchip adapted to control lighting in
`buildings. According to this embodiment, the normal switch
`on the wall that currently functions as both a power-switch,
`55 i.e. conduction of electricity, and MMI can be eliminated,
`thus eliminating the normal high voltage and high current
`dangerous wiring to the switch and from the switch to the
`load or light. Utilizing the present invention, these switches
`can be replaced with connecting means suitable for low
`current DC requirements.
`According to another embodiment, the present invention
`is directed to a battery comprising an energy storage section,
`a processor, e.g. a microchip and first and second terminal
`ends. The first terminal end being connected to the energy
`storage section, the second terminal end being connected to
`the processor, and the processor being connected to the
`second terminal end and the energy storage section. The
`
`50
`
`45
`
`According to one embodiment of the present invention,
`there is provided a microchip controlled switch to manage
`both the current conducting functions and the MMI func(cid:173)
`tions in an electronic device, such as a flashlight, on a low 40
`current basis i.e. without the MMI device having to conduct
`or switch high current. According to one aspect of the
`invention, the MMI functions are controlled by very low
`current signals, using touch pads, or carbon coated mem(cid:173)
`brane type switches. These low current signal switches of
`the present invention can be smaller, more reliable, less
`costly, easier to seal and less vulnerable to the effects of
`corrosion and oxidation. Moreover, since the switch is a
`solid state component, it is, according to the present inven(cid:173)
`tion, possible to control the functions of the device in an
`intelligent manner by the same microchip which provides
`the MMI functions. Thus, by practicing the teachings of the
`present invention, more reliable, intelligent, and efficient
`electrical devices can be obtained which are cheaper and
`easier to manufacture than prior art devices.
`According to another embodiment of the invention, there
`is provided a microchip which can be embedded in a battery
`that will lend intelligence to the battery and thus, the device
`it is inserted into, so that many functions, including but not
`limited to, delayed switching, dimming, automatic shut off, 60
`and intermittent activation may be inexpensively realized in
`an existing (non intelligent) product, for example a prior art
`flashlight.
`According to a further embodiment, the invention pro(cid:173)
`vides a power saving microchip which, when operatively 65
`associated with an electronic device, will adjust the average
`electric current through a current switch, provide an on and
`
`

`

`US 7,265,494 B2
`
`6
`FIG. 10 is a schematic of a device having a microchip
`controlled switch according to one embodiment of the
`invention;
`FIG. 11 is a schematic of a device having a microchip
`controlled switch according to one embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 12 is a schematic of a flashlight having therein a
`microchip controlled switch according to one embodiment
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 13 illustrates a possible position, according to one
`embodiment of the present invention of a microchip in a
`battery;
`FIG. 14 is a schematic of one embodiment of the present
`invention of a low current switching device suitable for
`15 lighting systems in buildings;
`FIG. 15 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the
`present invention, i.e. microchip 1403 of FIG. 14;
`FIG. 16 is a flow diagram for a microchip as shown in
`FIGS. 4 and 5 for a delayed shut off function embodiment
`20 of one embodiment of the present invention; and
`FIG. 17 is a flow diagram for a microchip as shown in
`FIGS. 7 and Sa for a delayed shut off function embodiment
`of one embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`5
`processor controls the connection of the second terminal end
`to the energy storage section.
`According to another embodiment, the present invention
`provides an electronic apparatus which includes an electrical
`device, comprising a power supply, an activating/deactivat(cid:173)
`ing means, and a processor. The activating/deactivating
`means is connected to the processor and the processor is
`connected to the power supply. The processor controls the
`on/off function of the device and at least one other function
`of the device in response to signals received from the 10
`activation/deactivation means.
`The present invention, according to a still further embodi(cid:173)
`ment, provides a flashlight comprising a light source, an
`energy storage means, a switch means, and a processor
`means. The switch means being in communication with the
`processor means and the processor means being in commu(cid:173)
`nication with the energy storage means which is ultimately
`in communication with the light source. The processor
`controls the activation/deactivation of the light source and,
`in some embodiments, further functions of the flashlight, in
`response to signals received from the switch means.
`While the present invention is primarily described in this
`application with respect to either a flashlight or a battery
`therefore, the embodiments discussed herein should not be
`considered limitative of the invention, and many other 25
`variations of the use of the intelligent devices of the present
`invention will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic of a device having a microchip
`controlled push button or sliding type input activation/
`deactivation switch according to one embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a microchip for use in
`association with a push button or sliding input activation/
`deactivation switch according to one embodiment of the
`invention;
`FIG. 3 is a schematic of a second type of intelligent device
`having a microchip controlled push button or sliding type
`input activation/deactivation switch according to another
`embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 4 is a schematic of a device having a microchip
`controlled touch pad or carbon coated membrane activation/
`deactivation switch according to a still further embodiment
`of the invention;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a microchip for use in
`association with a touch pad or carbon coated membrane
`activation/deactivation switch according to one embodiment
`of the invention;
`FIG. 6 is a schematic of a second type of device having
`a microchip controlled touch pad or carbon coated mem(cid:173)
`brane activation/deactivation switch according
`to one
`embodiment of the invention;
`FIG. 7 is a schematic of a battery having embedded
`therein a microchip according to a further embodiment of
`the invention;
`FIG. SA is a block diagram of a microchip for use in a
`battery according to one embodiment of the present inven- 60
`tion;
`FIG. SB is a block diagram of a second type of microchip
`for use in a battery according to another embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a schematic of a device having a microchip
`controlled switch according to one embodiment of the
`invention;
`
`According to one embodiment or aspect of the present
`invention, and referring to FIG. 1, a schematic depiction of
`30 main circuit 100 of an electronic device, for example, a
`flashlight, is provided, wherein the device has a microchip
`103 and a microchip controlled input activator/deactivator
`102, for example, a push button or sliding switch. Main
`circuit 100 of the device is powered by a current supplied by
`35 power source 101. Power source 101 may be any power
`source, e.g. a DC battery, as is well known to those of
`ordinary skill in the art. While the following discussion is
`limited to specific electronic devices, that is flashlights, it is
`to be understood that the following description is equally
`40 applicable to other electronic devices including portable
`radios, toys, for example but not limited to battery operated
`cars, boats, planes, and/or other electrically powered toys.
`Referring to FIG. 1, when an operator activates input push
`button or sliding command switch 102 to the "on" position,
`45 the microchip 103 receives a signal. Switch 102 is a direct
`input to microchip 103. Microchip 103
`is
`electrical
`grounded by grounding means 104. Microchip 103 is in
`series between power source 101 and load 105. Microchip
`103 also transfers sufficient power through means of a
`50 current switch (not shown in FIG. 1) to load 105 which can
`be, for example, a resistor-type bulb in the case of a
`flashlight to provide illumination.
`The microchip 103, and other microchips of the present
`invention, can have its/their intelligence embedded in com-
`55 binational or sequential logic, a PLA or ROM type structure
`feeding into a state machine or a true microcontroller type
`structure. The memory for the above will normally be
`non-volatile, but should there be a need for selectable
`options, EE or flash memory structures may be used.
`The structure and operational parameters of such a micro-
`chip 103 are explained in greater detail below with respect
`to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 1, power is supplied to
`microchip 103 by power source 101. When an operator
`activates input switch 102 to the "on" position it represents
`65 a command which is communicated to microchip 103. Input
`means 102 requires very low current in preferred embodi(cid:173)
`ments. In one embodiment of the invention, microchip
`
`

`

`US 7,265,494 B2
`
`7
`control/reset means 201 simply allows the current switch
`202 to pass current provided from power source 101 to load
`105 in an unimpeded manner when the MMI switch 102 is
`activated, and, in the case of a flashlight, illumination is
`obtained. It is important to recognize, however, that it is
`control circuit 201 which activates current switch 202 upon
`acting on an input from MMI switch 102. Unlike heretofore
`known prior art devices, activating switch 102 does not
`conduct current to load 105, but is only a command input
`mechanism which can, according to the invention, operate 10
`on very low current. For example, according to the inven(cid:173)
`tion, touch sensor input or carbon coated membrane type
`switch devices are preferred.
`If, for example, an emergency notification function is
`desired, the flashlight may be designed to alternately flash on 15
`and off every second. First, the operator activates input 102
`into the appropriate position to indicate such a function is
`desired. During the "on" segment of the flashing routine,
`control/reset means 201 commands current switch 202 to
`close and let current flow through to load 105, thereby 20
`causing, in the case of a flashlight, the bulb to illuminate.
`Simultaneously, control/reset means 201 uses the timing
`means 203 as a clock for timing. After control/reset means
`201 determines one second has elapsed, control/reset means
`201 instructs current switch 202 to open and interrupt the 25
`current flow through to load 105, and bulb illumination is
`discontinued. It is important to note that both control/reset
`means 201 and current switch 202 are still active and fully
`powered; however, current delivery is now latent with
`respect to load 105. When another second has elapsed, a 30
`command is passed from control/reset means 201 which
`again allows current to be delivered through current switch
`202 to load 105, and in the case of a flashlight, bulb
`illumination is immediately resumed. The device continues
`an alternating current delivery routine until either the opera- 35
`tor switches the setting of the activating input switch 102 to
`the "off" position, or until the conditions pre-programmed
`into the microchip, e.g. into the control/reset means 201, are
`satisfied and current delivery is permanently discontinued.
`Similar operating routines can be employed to generate 40
`other conspicuous flashing functions such as the generation
`of the universal distress signal S.O.S. in Morse code. Again,
`such a function would require that the microchip, e.g.
`control/reset means 201, be pre-programmed with the appro(cid:173)
`priate code for creating such a signal, and to permit current 45
`transmission from switch 202 to load 105 in accordance with
`the code with the assistance of timing means 203. For
`example, it may be desirable to have an S.O.S. sequence
`wherein flashes representing each individual letter are sepa(cid:173)
`rated by time intervals ranging from one-half (Ih) second to
`one (1) full second, while the interval between each letter in
`the code comprises two (2) full seconds. After a certain
`number of repetitions of the routine, again determined by the
`operator or as pre-progrmed within the microchip, e.g.
`within the control/reset means 201, the signal is discontin(cid:173)
`ued.
`As shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to remove grounding
`means 104 from main circuit 100. However, it is then
`necessary to intermittently provide an alternative power
`source for microchip 103 and to create a virtual ground
`reference level. A suitable microchip 103 for this configu(cid:173)
`ration is described in greater detail below with respect to
`FIGS. SA and SB.
`Referring now to FIG. 4, utilizing the circuits in the
`microchip of some embodiments of the present invention,
`carbon coated membrane or touch pad type switches are
`preferred. Carbon coated membrane switches and touch pad
`
`8
`switches have many advantages over conventional high
`current switches, such as those currently used in flashlights.
`According to the present invention, carbon coated mem(cid:173)
`brane type switches, low current type switches, and touch
`pad type switches can be used which may be smaller, less
`costly, easier to seal, and less vulnerable to corrosion and
`oxidation than conventional switches which also transfer
`energy or current to the load. Moreover, according to one
`embodiment of the present invention, carbon coated mem(cid:173)
`brane type switches, touch pad switches, or low current type
`switches can be formed structurally integral with the prod-
`uct, for example, with the casing of a flashlight.
`A block diagram showing microchip 103 for use, in
`accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
`in association with a carbon coated membrane, a touch pad
`switch, or a low current type switch 106 is now explained in
`greater detail in respect to FIG. 5. According to this one
`embodiment of the present invention, current switch 202 is
`powered directly by grounded power source 101. However,
`output of current from current switch 202 to load 105 is
`dependent on control/reset means 201. When an operator
`depresses touch pad 106, carbon coated membrane switch
`106 or low current type switch 106, control/reset means 201
`allows current switch 202 to flow current through to load
`105. However, in more intelligent applications according to
`certain embodiments of the present invention, control/reset
`means 201 will coordinate, based on clock and/or timing
`means 203, to execute timing routines similar to those
`described above such as, but not limited to, intermittent
`flashing, the flashing of a conspicuous