111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US008288952B2
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Bruwer
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,288,952 B2
`*Oct. 16, 2012
`
`(54)
`
`INTELLIGENT USER INTERFACE
`INCLUDING A TOUCH SENSOR DEVICE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Frederick J. Bruwer, Paarl (ZA)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. ..................... 315/200A; 315/129; 315/291
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................. 315/129,
`315/136, 200A, 200 R, 291,307,360,362
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(73) Assignee: Azoteq Pty Ltd., Paarl (ZA)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`This patent is subject to a terminal dis(cid:173)
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 13/189,865
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jul. 25, 2011
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2011/0279046 AI
`
`Nov. 17, 2011
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Continuation of application No. 12/855,006, filed on
`Aug. 12, 2010, now Pat. No. 7,994,726, which is a
`continuation of application No. 12/239,369, filed on
`Sep. 26, 2008, now Pat. No. 7,781,980, which is a
`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
`continuation 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)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2,338,078 A
`12/1943 Wood ......................... 240/10.66
`(Continued)
`
`DE
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3225557
`111984
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Technology Associates, Inc., eternaLight™ product related materi(cid:173)
`als., www.techass.com, pp. 1-3, © 1998, 1999, 2000.
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner- Tung X Le
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm- King & Spalding L.L.P.
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`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.
`
`40 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`___.r-:
`fO/ ~
`
`//04
`
`MICROSOFT EXHIBIT 1001
`
`

`
`US 8,288,952 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`200/33 R
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`.................. 315/84
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`4,282,681 A
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`4,293,894 A
`4,306,277 A
`12/1981 Bodde ........................... 362/203
`4,357,648 A
`1111982 Nelson .......................... 362/183
`4,360,737 A
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`.......................... 315/93
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`................................ 315/84
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`4,409,645 A
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`4,414,611 A
`4,442,478 A
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`4,467,263 A
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`4,473,871 A
`9/1984 Fuchshuber .................. 362/276
`4,483,605 A
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`4,495,444 A
`111985 Thomas .......................... 315/82
`4,497,881 A
`2/1985 Bertolino ........................ 429/91
`4,499,528 A
`2/1985 Hawlitzki ..................... 362/275
`4,611,264 A
`9/1986 Bradley .......................... 362/95
`1111986 Moore eta!. .................. 362/200
`4,623,957 A
`111987 Bier ............................. 307/10.1
`4,638,174 A
`4,651,061 A
`3/1987 Spissinger .......................... 39/2
`8/1987 Dykstra et a!. ................ 362/490
`4,686,609 A
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`4,716,902 A
`3/1988 Geanous et a!.
`.............. 315/313
`4,734,625 A
`4,739,224 A
`4/1988 Geerlings ....................... 315/84
`324/60 CD
`4,743,837 A
`5/1988 Herzog
`4,764,708 A
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`324/60 CD
`4,806,846 A
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`2/1989 Skogler et a!
`................ 362/142
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`.................... 315/84
`4,866,345 A
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`4,870,326 A
`4,875,147 A
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`............ 362/183
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`4,876,632 A
`3/1990 Matsui eta!. ................. 354/403
`4,908,649 A
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`4,959,679 A
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`5,005,004 A
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`6/1991 Wei.
`315/200 A
`5,047,688 A
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`5,055,268 A
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`5,057,383 A
`10/1991 Sokira ............................. 429/92
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`5,061,879 A
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`............ 354/415
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`5,097,284 A
`5/1992 Copley eta!
`.............. 446/369
`5,114,376 A
`5,130,901 A
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`5,174,643 A
`5,187,655 A
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`5,206,097 A
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`5,206,562 A
`4/1993 Matsuno et a!.
`................ 315/77
`5,212,478 A
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`.......................... 315/88
`6/1993 Lu.
`5,216,328 A
`7/1993 Matsuno et a!.
`.............. 362/488
`5,226,711 A
`10/1993 Matsuno et a!.
`5,254,907 A
`................ 315/77
`4/1994 Asada eta!. .................... 315/84
`5,304,896 A
`5,309,145 A
`5/1994 Branch eta!. ................. 340/540
`5,317,362 A
`5/1994 Takahashi ..................... 354/418
`5,321,309 A
`6/1994 Kolomyski .................. 307/10.8
`
`9/1994 Birkle eta!. .................... 703/13
`5,349,540 A
`10/1994 Toyozumi eta!
`.............. 315/77
`5,357,169 A
`10/1994 Lecznar et al.
`.............. 362/490
`5,357,408 A
`4/1995 Moody ........................... 315/77
`5,406,171 A
`5,418,433 A * 5/1995 Nils sen ......................... 315/175
`5,430,354 A
`7/1995 Garbowicz et al. ............. 315/88
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`5,448,331 A
`5,450,299 A
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`5,453,644 A
`9/1995 Yap et al. ...................... 307/116
`10/1995 Sanders et a!. ................ 324/678
`5,461,321 A
`5,469,346 A
`1111995 Haut eta!. .................... 362/205
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`5,491,383 A
`4/1996 Podrazhansky et al. ........ 320/18
`5,504,415 A
`5,526,241 A
`6/1996 Ferrell .......................... 362/490
`5,583,382 A
`12/1996 Wagner ........................ 307/10.1
`5,585,698 A * 12/1996 Langhans et a!
`315/200 A
`5,604,407 A
`2/1997 Andres et al.
`................. 315/77
`5,604,999 A
`2/1997 Barker ............................ 36/137
`5,611,720 A
`3/1997 Vandermaas ................... 446/47
`5,645,341 A
`7/1997 Liao .............................. 362/183
`............. 362/555
`7/1997 Damasky et al
`5,647,657 A
`5,661,393 A
`8/1997 Sengupta
`................... 320/5
`5,680,098 A
`10/1997 Bej ster et a!
`................. 340/458
`1111997 Vingsbo .
`..................... 361186
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`3/1998 Philipp
`137/1
`5,730,165 A
`.................... 200/512
`5,736,696 A
`4/1998 Del Rosso
`7/1998 Parlett, Jr. eta!. ................ 70111
`5,781,869 A
`5,790,961 A
`8/1998 Ingram et al. ................. 455/574
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`5,806,961 A
`5,808,294 A
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`5,821,700 A
`10/1998 Malvaso ....................... 315/291
`1111998 Kawashima et a!.
`........... 315/77
`5,831,389 A
`5,856,727 A
`111999 Schroeder et a!. .............. 315/55
`4/1999 Utzman ..................... 315/241 s
`5,892,334 A
`......... 362/205
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`5,904,414 A
`................. 257/89
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`5,942,770 A
`5,969,437 A
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`................... 315/86
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`5,994,844 A
`6,000,807 A
`12/1999 Moreland ....................... 362/95
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`212000 Austin .......................... 362/490
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`6,030,105 A
`212000 Thau eta!. .................... 362/488
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`315/200 A
`6,051,931 A * 4/2000 Takei .............................. 315/79
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`5/2000 Takano et al. ................. 362/488
`6,079,847 A
`6/2000 Nelson .......................... 362/205
`8/2000 Lebens et al. ................. 362/184
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`6,100,652 A
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`10/2000 Hornung ....................... 362/394
`10/2000 Hsu eta!. ...................... 362/102
`6,135,605 A
`6,136,605 A
`10/2000 Fahl eta!. ..................... 435/440
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`315/200 R
`6,140,776 A
`1112000 Furst eta!. .................... 362/545
`6,152,590 A
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`12/2000 Schmick! et a!.
`............. 362/547
`6,164,806 A
`6,179,453 B1
`1/2001 McMahon .................... 362/490
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`5/2001 Rachwal
`315/200 R
`6,249,089 B1
`6/2001 Bruwer .
`315/200 A
`6,259,862 B1
`7/2001 Marino et al.
`................ 396/106
`6,288,707 B1
`9/2001 Philipp ......................... 345/168
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`6,377,009 B1
`4/2002 Philipp ......................... 318/468
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`6/2002 Mukogawa et a!.
`.......... 362/184
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`6,608,451 B2
`8/2003 Collins ......................... 315/276
`8/2003 Hoffknecht eta!. .......... 345/173
`6,608,617 B2
`9/2003 Bruwer ........................... 315/86
`6,621,225 B2
`1112003 Farringdon ................... 200/511
`6,642,467 B2
`6,650,066 B2
`1112003 Bruwer ......................... 315/200
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`102/428
`6,828,739 B2
`12/2004 Bruwer eta!. ................ 315/291
`2/2005 Casebolt et a!.
`.............. 345/173
`6,850,229 B2
`6,984,900 B1
`112006 Bruwer ........................... 307/87
`8/2006 Bruwer ........................... 307/87
`7,084,526 B2
`7,084,531 B2
`8/2006 Bruwer ......................... 307/140
`10/2006 Bruwer eta!. ................ 307/140
`7,119,459 B2
`7,215,084 B1
`5/2007 Sharrah et a!. .................. 315/87
`
`

`
`US 8,288,952 B2
`Page 3
`
`7,265,494 B2
`7,291,940 B2
`7,314,286 B2
`7,329,970 B2
`7,498,749 B2
`7,528,508 B2
`7,772,781 B2
`2007/0278962 A1
`2008/0048574 A1
`
`9/2007
`1112007
`112008
`2/2008
`3/2009
`5/2009
`8/2010
`12/2007
`2/2008
`
`......................... 315/129
`Bruwer
`......................... 307/140
`Bruwer
`Sharrah et a!. ................ 362/183
`Bruwer ......................... 307/140
`Bruwer ......................... 315/200
`Bruwer ......................... 307/140
`Bruwer ......................... 315/129
`Bruwer ......................... 315/129
`315/200 A
`Bruwer
`
`DE
`DE
`DE
`DE
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`EP
`FR
`FR
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3444178
`6/1985
`4014737
`1111990
`9012641
`1111990
`29600938
`4/1996
`0323193
`12/1988
`0 440 897
`8/1991
`0467158
`111992
`0515921
`12/1992
`0642952
`3/1995
`0676311
`10/1995
`0683069
`1111995
`0719673
`7/1996
`0719674
`7/1996
`0728617
`8/1996
`0770519
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`0 846 594 A2
`6/1998
`0 846 594 A3
`6/1998
`1 025 387 A2
`8/2000
`7/1978
`2376587
`111990
`2634339
`
`GB
`GB
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`wo
`wo
`wo
`wo
`wo
`wo
`
`2243902
`2276713
`4127765
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`99/20936 A3
`
`1111991
`10/1994
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`Modern Dictionary of Electronics, Newnes, 7th Ed., p. 431, 1999.
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 8,288,952 B2
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`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2012
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
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`US 8,288,952 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2012
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2012
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`U.S. Patent
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`Oct. 16, 2012
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 16, 2012
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 8,288,952 B2
`
`

`
`US 8,288,952 B2
`
`1
`INTELLIGENT USER INTERFACE
`INCLUDING A TOUCH SENSOR DEVICE
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`2
`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
`5 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
`10 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,
`15 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 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 projected. A
`25 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
`manipulate the slide actuator with his/her thumb.
`With a switch of this type on top of a flashlight handle,
`30 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
`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
`35 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
`flashlight turned on only when finger pressure is applied to the
`push button. It is difficult for a young child who wishes, say to
`40 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
`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
`50 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
`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,
`147, to provide a mechanical switch assembly for a flashlight
`which includes a suction cup as a delayed action element
`65 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-
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. patent applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 12/855,006 filed Aug. 12, 2010 now U.S. Pat.
`No. 7,994,726, which is a continuation of U.S. patent appli(cid:173)
`cation Ser. No. 12/239,369 filed Sep. 26, 2008, now U.S. Pat.
`No. 7,781,980, which is a continuation of U.S. patent appli(cid:173)
`cation 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.
`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. 20
`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, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,772,781
`and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/930,705 filed Oct.
`31, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,528,508 and to U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 11/928,964 filed Oct. 30, 2007, now U.S.
`Pat. No. 7,498,749.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to new intelligent electrical
`current switching devices and more particularly, to microchip 45
`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
`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 55
`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
`interval, blinking, or dimming, etc. According to a still further
`embodiment, the invention relates to low current switches 60
`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
`
`

`
`3
`determined interval determined by the memory characteris(cid:173)
`tics of the suction cup, after which the connection is auto(cid:173)
`matically broken.
`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 10
`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
`it in series with the mechanical on-off switch. Furthermore,
`the patent discloses a lock or other "child-proofing" mecha- 15
`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,
`are actuated by mechanical push or slide button-type switches
`requiring, of course, mechanical implementation by an opera- 20
`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
`the switch has been left "on" for a prolonged period of time.
`In addition, such mechanical switches are vulnerable to the 25
`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 30
`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 35
`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- 40
`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 oflighting systems are of the conventional 45
`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 50
`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-
`ity and energy conservation.
`
`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
`in an electronic device, such as a flashlight, on a low current
`basis i.e. without the MMI device having to conduct or switch 65
`high current. According to one aspect of the invention, the
`MMI functions are controlled by very low current signals,
`
`US 8,288,952 B2
`
`4
`using touch pads, or carbon coated membrane 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. 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 marmer 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
`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(cid:173)
`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
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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
`55 device.
`According to one embodiment of the present invention,
`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,
`60 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-
`
`

`
`US 8,288,952 B2
`
`15
`
`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