111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007781980B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Bruwer
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,781,980 B2
`*Aug. 24, 2010
`
`(54)
`
`INTELLIGENT USER INTERFACE
`INCLUDING A TOUCH SENSOR DEVICE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Frederick J. 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 47 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 12/239,369
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Sep.26,2008
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2009/0015420Al
`
`Jan. 15,2009
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Continuation of application No. 11/961,723, filed on
`Dec. 20, 2007, now Pat. No. 7,443,101, which is a
`division of application No. 11/060,329, filed on Feb.
`17, 2005, now Pat. No. 7,336,037, which is a continu(cid:173)
`ation of application No. 10/690,423, filed on Oct. 21,
`2003, now Pat. No. 6,952,084, which is a continuation
`of application No. 10/365,042, filed on Feb. 12, 2003,
`now Pat. No. 6,650,066, which is a continuation of
`application No. 09/793,303, filed on Feb. 26, 2001,
`now Pat. No. 6,621,225, which is a continuation of
`application No. 09/169,395, filed on Oct. 9, 1998, now
`Pat. No. 6,249,089.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`HOSB 37100
`(2006.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............... 315/200 A; 315/129; 315/200 R;
`315/291
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................. 315/129,
`315/136, 200A, 200 R, 291,307,360, 362;
`307/87, 119, 126, 139; 362/202, 205
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2,338,078 A
`
`12/1943 Wood ...................... 240/10.66
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`
`3225557
`
`111984
`
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Schneiker, Henry; "Can You Patent an LED Flashlight?", 2 pages,
`Jan. 2003.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner-Douglas W Owens
`Assistant Examiner-Tung X Le
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-King & Spalding L.L.P.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`The present invention, according to a preferred embodiment,
`is directed to portable electronic devices which operate on
`exhaustible power sources, for example, batteries. The elec(cid:173)
`tronic devices of the present invention comprise at least one
`signal switch and a microchip in communication with the
`switch wherein the switch is only capable of transmitting a
`signal to the microchip that the switch has been activated or
`deactivated. The microchip is in communication with the
`exhaustible power source of the electronic device and con(cid:173)
`trols (i) the power on/off function of the device, (ii) at least
`one other function of the device in response to activation and
`deactivation signals from the switch, and (iii) an automatic
`shut off function in response to the receipt of an activation
`signal from the switch.
`
`37 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`-------
`
`v~our
`
`/<=>.5
`
`____ _j
`
`I
`
`/.0..3( -
`
`MICROSOFT EXHIBIT 1001
`
`

`

`US 7, 781,980 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2,630,517 A
`2,748,290 A
`2,784,290 A
`2,810,797 A
`3,259,713 A
`3,535,282 A
`3,646,302 A
`3,721,933 A
`3,890,555 A
`3,944,804 A
`4,001,803 A
`4,071,805 A
`4,074,252 A
`4,122,371 A
`4,123,668 A
`4,228,484 A
`4,237,421 A
`4,237,526 A
`4,282,681 A
`4,293,894 A
`4,306,277 A
`4,357,648 A
`4,360,737 A
`4,380,718 A
`4,385,258 A
`4,403,172 A
`4,408,182 A
`4,409,645 A
`4,414,611 A
`4,442,478 A
`4,467,263 A
`4,473,871 A
`4,483,605 A
`4,495,444 A
`4,497,881 A
`4,499,528 A
`4,611,264 A
`4,623,957 A
`4,638,174 A
`4,686,609 A
`4,716,902 A
`4,734,625 A
`4,739,224 A
`4,743,837 A
`4,764,708 A
`4,806,846 A
`4,807,096 A
`4,866,345 A
`4,870,326 A
`4,875,147 A
`4,876,632 A
`4,908,649 A
`4,959,679 A
`4,963,793 A *
`5,005,004 A
`5,027,037 A
`5,047,688 A
`5,055,268 A
`5,057,383 A
`5,061,879 A
`5,066,898 A
`5,097,284 A
`5,114,376 A
`5,130,901 A
`5,138,538 A *
`5,161,879 A *
`5,174,643 A
`5,187,655 A
`5,206,097 A
`5,206,562 A
`5,212,478 A
`
`311953 Hiscar ........................ 2191266
`511956 Reichertz ................... 250183.6
`311957 Ashton ....................... 2191220
`1011957 Gulnick .................... 200133 R
`7 I 1966 Herridge, Jr. eta!. ...... 200183 T
`1011970 Mallory ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 200160
`211972 Lehmann .................... 2001299
`311973 Peroy .......................... 337166
`611975 Nelson eta!. .................. 32012
`311976 Wisdom ..................... 3621280
`111977 Lombardo .............. 3401248 B
`111978 Brock ......................... 315184
`211978 Keller ........................ 3401321
`1011978 Talmage eta!. ............... 315184
`1011978 Pecota ......................... 315184
`1011980 Johnstone ................... 3621184
`1211980 Waldron ........................ 32815
`1211980 Wood ......................... 3621158
`811981 McCaslin ................... 4461484
`1011981 Blank ......................... 3621100
`1211981 Bodde ........................ 3621203
`1111982 Nelson ....................... 3621183
`1111982 Leopold ..................... 3071116
`411983 Miller ......................... 315193
`.. ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 315184
`511983 Voll
`911983 Sasaki et al ................... 315/77
`1011983 Hashimoto .................. 3401321
`1011983 Sloan ......................... 362/700
`1111983 Seltzer eta!. ............... 3621183
`411984 Stansbury ................... 3621489
`811984 Conforti eta!. ................ 32012
`911984 Fuchshuber ................. 3621276
`1111984 Krurmein eta!. ........... 3961159
`111985 Thomas ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 315182
`211985 Bertolino . ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 429191
`211985 Hawlitzki ................... 362127 5
`911986 Bradley ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 362195
`1111986 Moore eta!. ................ 3621200
`111987 Bier .......................... 307110.1
`811987 Dykstra et a!. .............. 3621490
`111988 Swartz ....................... 1281360
`311988 Geanous eta!. ............. 3151313
`411988 Geerlings .. ... ... ... ... ... .. . 315184
`511988 Herzog .................. 324160 CD
`811988 Roudeski ..................... 315151
`211989 Kerber .................. 324160 CD
`211989 Skogler eta!. .............. 3621142
`911989 Kataoka .. .. ... ... ... ... ... .. . 315184
`911989 Andresen eta!. ............ 3151200
`1011989 Auer .......................... 3621205
`1011989 Osterhout eta!. ........... 3621183
`311990 Matsui eta!. ............... 3541403
`911990 Yamamoto eta!. .......... 3541419
`1011990 DePauli ....................... 315/74
`411991 Udofot ....................... 3401600
`611991 Wei ........................ 3151200A
`911991 Alten .......................... 315184
`1011991 Martin ........................ 422184
`1011991 Sokira .. ... ... .. ... ... ... ... .. . 429192
`1011991 Munoz eta!. ................. 315165
`1111991 Milleretal. ................ 3151362
`311992 Taniguchi eta!. ........... 3541415
`511992 Copley eta!. ............... 4461369
`7 I 1992 Priesemuth ................. 3621464
`811992 Sperling ..................... 3621205
`1111992 McDermott ................. 3621206
`1211992 Priesemuth ................. 3621464
`211993 Post eta!. ..................... 700117
`411993 Burns eta!. ................... 429190
`411993 Matsuno eta!. ............... 315/77
`511993 Moseley ................ 3401825.72
`
`5,216,328 A
`5,226,711 A
`5,254,907 A
`5,304,896 A
`5,309,145 A
`5,317,362 A
`5,321,309 A
`5,349,540 A
`5,357,169 A
`5,357,408 A
`5,406,171 A
`5,418,433 A
`5,430,354 A
`5,448,331 A
`5,450,299 A
`5,453,644 A
`5,461,321 A
`5,469,346 A
`5,491,383 A
`5,504,415 A
`5,526,241 A
`5,583,382 A
`5,604,407 A
`5,604,999 A
`5,611,720 A
`5,645,341 A
`5,647,657 A
`5,661,393 A
`5,680,098 A
`5,691,619 A
`5,730,165 A
`5,736,696 A
`5,781,869 A
`5,790,961 A
`5,806,961 A
`5,808,294 A
`5,821,700 A
`5,831,389 A
`5,856,727 A
`5,892,334 A
`5,904,414 A *
`5,942,770 A
`5,969,437 A
`D417,019 S
`5,994,844 A
`6,000,807 A
`6,017,140 A
`6,027,234 A
`6,030,105 A
`6,040,660 A
`6,051,931 A
`6,056,423 A
`6,079,847 A
`6,095,661 A
`6,100,652 A
`6,129,446 A
`6,135,605 A
`6,136,605 A
`6,140,776 A
`6,152,590 A
`6,158,872 A
`6,164,806 A
`6,179,453 B1
`6,239,555 B1
`6,249,089 B1
`6,259,862 B1
`6,288,707 B1
`6,307,539 B2
`6,377,009 B1
`6,402,339 B1
`6,566,819 B2
`6,608,451 B2
`6,608,617 B2
`
`611993 Lu .............................. 315188
`711993 Matsuno eta!. ............. 3621488
`1011993 Matsuno et a!. ............... 315/77
`411994 Asada et al ................... 315184
`511994 Branch et al ................ 3401540
`511994 Takahashi ................... 3541418
`611994 Kolomyski
`................ 307110.8
`911994 Birkle eta!. .................. 703113
`1011994 Toyozumi eta!. ............. 315/77
`1011994 Lecznar et al ............... 3621490
`411995 Moody ........................ 315/77
`511995 Nilssen ....................... 3151175
`711995 Garbowicz et al ............. 315188
`911995 Hamada eta!. ............. 3541403
`911995 Lepre .......................... 621146
`911995 Yap et al ..................... 3071116
`1011995 Sanders eta!. .............. 3241678
`1111995 Haut eta!. .................. 3621205
`211996 Leiber et a!. .................. 315/77
`411996 Podrazhansky et al ........ 320118
`611996 Ferrell ........................ 3621490
`1211996 Wagner ..................... 307110.1
`211997 Andres et al .................. 315/77
`211997 Barker ......................... 361137
`311997 Vandermaas ................. 446147
`711997 Liao ........................... 3621183
`711997 Damasky et al ............. 3621555
`811997 Sengupta ....................... 32015
`1011997 Bejster eta!. ............... 3401458
`...................... 361186
`1111997 Vingsbo
`311998 Philipp .......................... 13711
`411998 Del Rosso
`.................. 2001512
`711998 Parlett, Jr. eta!. .............. 70111
`811998 Ingram et al ................ 4551574
`911998 Dalton eta!.
`............... 3621183
`911998 Neumann ............. 2501214 AL
`1011998 Malvaso ..................... 3151291
`1111998 Kawashima eta!. .......... 315/77
`111999 Schroeder eta!. ............. 315155
`411999 Utzman ................... 3151241 S
`511999 Monteleone eta!. ........ 3621205
`811999 Ishinaga eta!. ............... 257189
`1011999 Foerster ....................... 315186
`1111999 Rachwal et al ............... D26137
`1111999 Crawfordetal ............. 3151151
`1211999 Moreland .................... 362195
`1/2000 Chou ......................... 3621475
`212000 Austin ........................ 3621490
`212000 Thau et a!. .................. 3621488
`312000 Schmidt eta!. ... ... .. . 3151200 A
`412000 Take!
`... ... ... ... ... .. ... ... ... 315/79
`512000 Takano et al ................ 3621488
`612000 Nelson ....................... 3621205
`812000 Lebens et al ................ 3621184
`812000 Konopka .................... 3151291
`1012000 Hornung ..................... 3621394
`1012000 Hsu eta!.
`................... 3621102
`1012000 Fahl eta!. ................... 4351440
`1012000 Rachwal ................. 3151200 R
`1112000 Furst eta!. .................. 3621545
`1212000 Rodgers ..................... 3621276
`1212000 Schmick! eta!. ............ 3621547
`1/2001 McMahon .................. 3621490
`512001 Rachwal ................. 3151200 R
`612001 Bruwer . ... ... ... ... .. ... . 3151200 A
`712001 Marino et al ................ 3961106
`912001 Philipp ....................... 3451168
`1012001 Suzuki ....................... 3451167
`412002 Philipp ....................... 3181468
`612002 Mukogawa eta!. ......... 3621184
`512003 Wolff ......................... 3151149
`812003 Collins ....................... 3151276
`812003 Hoffknecht eta!. ......... 3451173
`
`

`

`US 7, 781,980 B2
`Page 3
`
`6,621,225 B2
`6,642,467 B2
`6,650,066 B2
`6,700,508 B1
`6,748,869 B1
`6,828,739 B2
`6,850,229 B2
`6,984,900 B1
`7,084,526 B2
`7,084,531 B2
`7,119,459 B2
`7,215,084 B1
`7,265,494 B2
`7,291,940 B2
`7,314,286 B2 *
`7,329,970 B2
`2007/0278962 A1
`2008/0048574 A1
`
`9/2003
`1112003
`1112003
`3/2004
`6/2004
`12/2004
`2/2005
`112006
`8/2006
`8/2006
`10/2006
`5/2007
`9/2007
`1112007
`112008
`2/2008
`12/2007
`2/2008
`
`Bruwer ........................ 315/86
`Farringdon ................. 200/511
`Bruwer ....................... 315/200
`Nomuraet a!.
`............... 341127
`Boyer et al. ................ 102/428
`Bruwer eta!.
`.............. 315/291
`Casebolt eta!. ............. 345/173
`Bruwer ........................ 307/87
`Bruwer ........................ 307/87
`Bruwer ....................... 307/140
`Bruwer eta!.
`.............. 307/140
`Sharrah et a!.
`................ 315/87
`Bruwer ....................... 315/129
`Bruwer ....................... 307/140
`Sharrah et a!.
`.............. 362/183
`Bruwer ....................... 307/140
`Bruwer ....................... 315/129
`Bruwer ................... 315/200 A
`
`EP
`EP
`FR
`FR
`GB
`GB
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`wo
`wo
`wo
`wo
`wo
`wo
`
`0 846 594 A3
`1 025 387 A2
`2376587
`2634339
`2243902 A
`2276713 A
`06202231
`8062681
`10338028
`11123985
`11255017
`11321455
`92122099
`97/00790 A1
`99/12781 A1
`99/20936 A2
`99/20936 A3
`9920085
`
`6/1998
`8/2000
`7/1978
`111990
`1111991
`10/1994
`7/1994
`3/1996
`12/1998
`5/1999
`9/1999
`1111999
`12/1992
`111997
`3/1999
`4/1999
`4/1999
`4/1999
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`
`3444178
`4014737
`9012641
`4 127 765
`29600938
`0323193
`0 440 897
`0 467 158
`0 515 921
`0 642 952
`0676311
`0 683 069
`0 719 673
`0 719 674
`0728617
`0 770 519
`0 846 594 A2
`
`6/1985
`1111990
`1111990
`2/1993
`4/1996
`12/1988
`8/1991
`111992
`12/1992
`3/1995
`10/1995
`1111995
`7/1996
`7/1996
`8/1996
`5/1997
`6/1998
`
`Technology Associates, Inc., eternaLight™ product related materi(cid:173)
`als., www.techass.com, pp. 1-3, © 1998, 1999, 2000.
`Kochan Consulting Group, Inc., PAL Survival Light product related
`materials., www.pocketgifts.com/pal.asp, p. 1, © 2002.
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`corn/contactdetailed.asp?id~143, p. 1, Printed Jul. 23, 2004.
`Operations and Maintenance Manual for Eternalight Marketed by
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`tative of Technology Associates Inc.
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`International Search Report from PCT/ZA99/00107.
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2010
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 7,781,980 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 24, 2010
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
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`Aug. 24, 2010
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`U.S. Patent
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 24, 2010
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`U.S. Patent
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`Aug. 24, 2010
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
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`US 7,781,980 B2
`
`1
`INTELLIGENT USER INTERFACE
`INCLUDING A TOUCH SENSOR DEVICE
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`2
`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
`5 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 mishandled,
`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
`15 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 material
`that is virtually unbreakable, the light bulb being mounted
`20 within a reflector at the front end of the casing and being
`covered by a lens from which a light beam is projected. A
`U-shaped handle is attached to the upper end of the casing,
`with mechanical on-off slide switch being mounted on the
`handle, so that a child grasping the handle can readily
`25 manipulate the slide actuator with his/her thumb.
`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 pulled
`30 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
`35 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 ofhis home for about
`30 seconds, to keep a push button depressed for this period. It
`is therefore more likely that the child will actuate the slide
`40 switch to its permanently-on position, for this requires only a
`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
`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 mechani(cid:173)
`cally compress the bellows which after a pre-determined
`50 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 net(cid:173)
`work which applies a bias to a solid-state transistor 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 previ-
`ously 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,
`60 147, 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 to a
`light bulb, and which maintains this connection for a pre-
`65 determined interval determined by the memory characteris(cid:173)
`tics of the suction cup, after which the connection is auto(cid:173)
`matically broken.
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 11/961,723 filed Dec. 20, 2007 now U.S. Pat.
`No. 7,443,101, which is a divisional of U.S. patent applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 11/060,329 filed Feb. 17, 2005, now U.S. Pat. 10
`No. 7,336,037, which is a continuation of U.S. patent appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 10/690,423 filed Oct. 21, 2003, now U.S. Pat.
`No. 6,952,084, which is a continuation of U.S. patent appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 10/365,042 filed on Feb. 12, 2003, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 6,650,066, which is a continuation of U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 09/793,303 filed on Feb. 26, 2001, now
`U.S. Pat. No. 6,621,225, which is a continuation of U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 09/169,395 filed on Oct. 9, 1998,
`now U.S. Pat. No. 6,249,089.
`This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 09/806,860 filed Jul. 2, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,984,
`900, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/430,376 filed
`May 7, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,828,739, and to U.S. patent
`applicationSer. No. 10/855,361 filed May 28,2004, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 7,084,526, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`10/873,190 filed Jun. 23, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,084,531,
`and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/873,617 filed Jun.
`23, 2004, now abandoned, and to U.S. patent application Ser.
`No. 10/875,618 filed Jun. 25,2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,291,
`940, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/961,373 filed
`Oct. 12,2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,265,494, and to U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 11/480,868 filed Jul. 6, 2006, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 7,329,970, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`111785,063 filed Apr. 13, 2007, which is pending, and to U.S.
`patent application Ser. No. 11/930,705 filed Oct. 31, 2007,
`which is pending, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`11/928,964 filed Oct. 30, 2007, which is pending.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to new intelligent electrical
`current switching devices and more particularly, to microchip
`controlled electrical current switching devices. The invention
`further relates, in one embodiment, to intelligent batteries
`having embedded therein a microchip for use with a variety of 45
`electrical devices to add heretofore unknown functionality to
`existing electrical devices. The invention also relates, accord(cid:173)
`ing to another embodiment, to intelligent hand-held elec(cid:173)
`tronic devices, and in a preferred embodiment to hand-held
`light sources, and more particularly, to flashlights. According
`to one embodiment of the present invention, the invention
`relates to intelligent hand-held flashlights having microchip
`controlled switches wherein said switches can be pro(cid:173)
`grammed to perform a variety of functions including, for
`example, turning the flashlight off after a pre-determined time 55
`interval, blinking, or dimming, etc. According to a still further
`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 mechanical
`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
`
`

`

`US 7,781,980 B2
`
`3
`U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,538 discloses a flashlight having the
`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 responsive to the
`timing means for cutting off the flow of current to the bulb,
`which further has a by-pass means, preferably child-proof, to
`direct electric current to the light bulb regardless of the state
`of the timing means. The patent also provides for the opera(cid:173)
`tion of the device may be further enhanced by making the
`by-pass means a mechanical switch connected so as to leave 10
`it in series with the mechanical on-off switch. Furthermore,
`the patent discloses a lock or other "child-proofing" mecha(cid:173)
`nism may be provided to ensure that the by-pass is disabled
`when the flashlight is switched off.
`Most conventional flashlights, like those described above, 15
`are actuated by mechanical push or slide button-type switches
`requiring, of course, mechanical implementation by an opera(cid:173)
`tor. 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 20
`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 cause said switches
`to deteriorate and to become non-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 functions
`in prior art flashlights. First, the mechanical switches act as
`actual conductors for completing power circuits and provid(cid:173)
`ing current during operation of the devices. Depending upon
`the type of bulb and wiring employed, the intensity of elec(cid:173)
`trical current which must be conducted by the switch is gen(cid:173)
`erally quite high leading to, after prolonged use, failure. Sec(cid:173)
`ond, these mechanical switches must function as an interface
`between the device and its operator, i.e. the man-machine(cid:173)
`("MMI") and necessarily
`requires
`repeated
`interface
`mechanical activations of the switch which over time
`mechanically deteriorate.
`Also, currently the electrical switches used in buildings/
`houses for control oflighting systems are of the conventional
`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 relatively 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 turn on point in time.
`There is a need for inexpensive, reliable, and simple intel(cid:173)
`ligent electronic devices which provide increased functional(cid:173)
`ity and energy conservation.
`
`45
`
`4
`vulnerable to the effects of corrosion and oxidation. More(cid:173)
`over, since the switch is a solid state component, it is, accord(cid:173)
`ing to the present invention, 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 lim(cid:173)
`ited to, delayed switching, dimming, automatic shut off, and
`intermittent activation may be inexpensively realized in an
`existing (nonintelligent) product, for example a prior art
`flashlight.
`According to a further embodiment, the invention provides
`a power saving microchip which, when operatively associ(cid:173)
`ated with an electronic device, will adjust the average electric
`current through a current switch, provide an on and off
`sequence which, for example, but not limited to, in the case of
`a flashlight, can be determined by an operator and may rep(cid:173)
`resent either a flash code sequence or a simple on/off oscilla(cid:173)
`tion, provide an indication ofbattery strength, and/or provide
`25 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 intelli(cid:173)
`gent flashlight, having a microchip controlled switch is pro(cid:173)
`vided comprising a microchip for controlling the on/off func-
`30 tion and at least one other function of the flashlight.
`According to a further embodiment of the invention, an intel(cid:173)
`ligent flashlight having a microchip controlled switch is pro(cid:173)
`vided comprising an input means for sending activating/de(cid:173)
`activating signals to the microchip, and a microchip for
`35 controlling the on/offfunction 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 con-
`40 trolling at least the on/off function and one other function of
`the flashlight, wherein the microchip control circuit may fur(cid:173)
`ther 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 compris(cid:173)
`ing 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 embed-
`50 ded in the battery wherein said microchip 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,
`55 there is provided an intelligent battery for use with an elec(cid:173)
`tronic device, the battery having positive and negative termi(cid:173)
`nal ends and comprising a microchip embedded in the battery,
`preferably in the positive terminal end, for controlling 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 con(cid:173)
`nection 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 acti(cid:173)
`vating and deactivating said power source, and said micro-
`chip comprising a means for controlling the on/off function
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`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 functions 60
`in an electronic device, such as a flashlight, on a low 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 membrane type switches. 65
`These low current signal switches of the present invention can
`be smaller, more reliable, less costly, easier to seal and less
`
`

`

`US 7,781,980 B2
`
`15
`
`20
`
`6
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a microchip for use in asso(cid:173)
`ciation with a touch pad or carbon coated membrane activa(cid:173)
`tion/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 membrane
`activation/deactivation switch according to one embodiment
`of the invention;
`FIG. 7 is a schematic of a battery having embedded therein
`10 a microchip according to a further embodiment of the inven(cid:173)
`tion;
`FIG. SA is a block diagram of a microchip for use in a
`battery according to one embodiment of the present inven(cid:173)
`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 inven(cid:173)
`tion;
`FIG. 10 is a schematic of a device having a microchip
`controlled switch according to one embodiment of the i