US4668877A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Touch controlled switch for a lamp or the like
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1985-07-12
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Granted: 1987-05-26
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Expires: 2005-07-12
Abstract
Abstract A small electronic module to regulate the power delivered to a lamp or similar appliance is plugged into the household electrical outlet and the lamp to be controlled is, in turn, plugged into the module. Each time the lamp is touched the power to the bulb increases by one step, typically in the sequence OFF, DIM, INTERMEDIATE, FULL, OFF. The module device operates by sensing the capacitance change when the lamp is touched and communication between the lamp and the device occurs through the lamp cord.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott M. Kunen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:45
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M5/00; H02M5/02; H02M5/04; H02M5/22; H02M5/25; H02M5/257; H02M5/2573; H02M5/2576; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/96; H03K17/962; H05; H05B; H05B39/00; H05B39/04; H05B39/041; H05B39/08; H05B39/083; H05B39/085; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B20/00; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/04; Y10S323/00; Y10S323/904; Y10S323/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
An electronic control module to control the power to a lamp from an AC power source, the control module having a means to control the power to the lamp, said lamp having an external conductive surface and a two-conductor power cord within the lamp, said power to be controlled by touching said external conductive surface; characterized in that said control module removably plugs into said power source and the control module is not physically connected to the lamp except by the power cord, said power cord is removably insertable into the control module so that any lamp with a conductive external surface may be thus controlled, wherein the only connection between the lamp and control module is the said power cord and the only communication path between the lamp structure and the said power cord is the distributed capacitance existing between them; said control module including a high-frequency oscillator having an operating frequency above the commercial AM broadcast band and inductor means to electrically decouple the lamp power cord from the power source at said oscillator frequency, the said oscillator responding to touch to the lamp external conductive surface, such touching of said external conductive surface increasing the lamp capacitance, which change of capacitance is communicated to the oscillator through the power cord, and the oscillator being controlled by the combined capacitance of the lamp and power cord.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
An electronic control module to control the power to a lamp from an AC power source, the control module having a means to control the power to the lamp, said lamp having an external conductive surface and a two-conductor power cord within the lamp, said power to be controlled by touching said external conductive surface; characterized in that said control module removably plugs into said power source and the control module is not physically connected to the lamp except by the power cord, said power cord is removably insertable into the control module so that any lamp with a conductive external surface may be thus controlled, wherein the only connection between the lamp and control module is the said power cord and the only communication path between the lamp structure and the said power cord is the distributed capacitance existing between them; said control module including a high-frequency oscillator having an operating frequency above the commercial AM broadcast band and inductor means to electrically decouple the lamp power cord from the power source at said oscillator frequency, the said oscillator responding to touch to the lamp external conductive surface, such touching of said external conductive surface increasing the lamp capacitance, which change of capacitance is communicated to the oscillator through the power cord, and the oscillator being controlled by the combined capacitance of the lamp and power cord.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic control module as in claim 1 further including in said semiconductor means a triac phase control circuitry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic control module as in claim 1 further including a frequency selective filter to discriminate between valid touch information and random disturbances.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
An electronic control module as in claim 1 wherein said module includes a microprocessor controller executing a fixed supervisor routine, said routine including sampling of the oscillator frequency, integration of the sampled frequencies to produce an integrated digital quantity and comparison of the integrated quantity with a predetermined threshold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic control module as in claim 1 and employing means to sense interruptions in power line voltage and inhibiting false actuation by said interruptions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electronic control module as in claim 1 further including means to sense ambient electromagnetic fields intense enough to interfere with oscillator operation and inhibiting false actuation by said ambient electromagnetic fields.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electronic module as in claim 1 wherein said inductor means includes inductors in series with each side of the power line to isolate said lamp cord from the power line at oscillator operating frequency.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electronic control module as in claim 1 wherein said oscillator includes an astable multivibrator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic control module as in claim 1 further including a frequency divider and an demodulator to convert the frequency deviation of said oscillator to corresponding voltage variations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic control module as in claim 1 further including in said power control means a phase controlled triac.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
An electronic control module as in claim 1 wherein said module includes a microprocessor executing a fixed algorithm, said algorithm including periodic sampling of the oscillator frequency, time averaging of said sampled frequencies to produce an integrated digital quantity and comparison of said integrated quantity to the instantaneous oscillator frequency.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
An electronic control module as in claim 1, said module further including: means, including level comparators, frequency selective filters and timing circuitry to assess the magnitude of said oscillator responses to distinguish between valid touch control input and disturbances caused by external electromagnetic fields.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic module as in claim 1 wherein said oscillator has an operating frequency greater than 2 MHz.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic module as in claim 1, further including means to detect ambient electromagnetic fields of sufficient intensity to interfere with said touch sense oscillator operation such that false actuation can be inhibited.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic control module as in claim 1 and employing means to sense interruptions in power line voltage and inhibiting false actuation therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electronic control module as in claim 1 wherein said oscillator includes a high frequency current source to force charge into said combined capacitance of the lamp and power cord.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-25 | 1990-11-24 | 1991-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-25 | 1994-11-24 | 1995-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-25 | 1998-11-24 | 1999-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |