WO2007066195A2 - Device and method for switching and controlling electrical equipment comprising a proximity sensor - Google Patents
Device and method for switching and controlling electrical equipment comprising a proximity sensor Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2007066195A2 WO2007066195A2 PCT/IB2006/003466 IB2006003466W WO2007066195A2 WO 2007066195 A2 WO2007066195 A2 WO 2007066195A2 IB 2006003466 W IB2006003466 W IB 2006003466W WO 2007066195 A2 WO2007066195 A2 WO 2007066195A2
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- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- proximity sensor
- input terminal
- output
- metal
- oxide
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
- H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
- H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
- H03K17/96—Touch switches
- H03K17/962—Capacitive touch switches
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03J—TUNING RESONANT CIRCUITS; SELECTING RESONANT CIRCUITS
- H03J9/00—Remote-control of tuned circuits; Combined remote-control of tuning and other functions, e.g. brightness, amplification
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
- H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
- H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
- H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
- H03K2217/96—Touch switches
- H03K2217/9607—Capacitive touch switches
- H03K2217/96071—Capacitive touch switches characterised by the detection principle
- H03K2217/960715—Rc-timing; e.g. measurement of variation of charge time or discharge time of the sensor
Definitions
- the present invention relates to the field of controlling devices equipped with remote control and, more particularly, to the field of devices fitted with proximity sensors, for controlling electrical equipment.
- controlling devices equipped with remote control There are devices designed to control certain apparatus from a distance, such as television remote controls, as well as devices designed to avoid the use of manual switches or regulators which may be difficult to reach or use, may be subject to wear and tear, or may not be aesthetically suited to the environment in which they operate and so forth.
- Proximity sensors generally of the capacitive kind, are such as to sense the approach of a body, the user's hand for instance, and consequently trigger an electronic switch or control, a dimmer etc.
- Today controls of this kind are widely used in the home, for example, replacing switches and control knobs, and are nowadays considered objects of design in their own right, in that they can guarantee perfect integrability within different environments and objects.
- the said proximity sensors and the controls or switches that contain them have, therefore, a constant need for miniaturization, optimisation, cost reduction and general improvement, due to their ever-growing use.
- the present invention concerns a proximity sensor and a device for switching on, switching off and controlling electrical devices, characterised by a topology capable of considerably reducing the number of electronic components in use, and therefore capable of greatly reducing their dimensions and cost, thus increasing their scope of application and paving the way. for their introduction into devices, applications and markets where they were hitherto difficult to find.
- the subject matter of this invention is a controller device for electrical equipment, comprising of at least one proximity sensor which has Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor junction devices, and related methods for controlling the said electrical devices as described in the claims which form an integral part of the present description.
- FIG. 1 Schematic block diagram of a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention.
- FIG. 2 Schematic block diagram of a second preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention.
- FIG. 3 Simplified circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of the input stage of the device according to the present invention.
- FIG. 4 Flow chart of an example of the method carried out by the processing unit contained in the second preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention.
- the subject matter of this invention concerns a controller device for electrical equipment, comprising of a proximity sensor based on Metal-Oxide- Semiconductor junction devices such as MOSFET, JFET, MESFET and all of their derivations.
- a proximity sensor based on Metal-Oxide- Semiconductor junction devices such as MOSFET, JFET, MESFET and all of their derivations.
- the said proximity sensor makes use of parasite behaviour common to all devices based on a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor junction, actually allowing for interaction with the electrical behaviour of the said devices by simply disturbing the space in their immediate vicinity.
- FIG. 1 we see a first preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the present invention:
- the input stage is made up of a proximity sensor 11 comprising of electronic components equipped with a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor junction for example
- the said stage may, for example, comprise of a single gate of an inverting Schmitt trigger but, more generally, all devices are suitable, comprising of one or more components which are made in Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor technology and capable of generating an electrical oscillation, which is able to operate output commutation in response to changes in an input control signal.
- a floating terminal 10 is always present, which in the case in hand acts as a sort of antenna, directly connected to the gate of a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor device.
- the said floating terminal 10 may be constituted by a wire or a metal plate, by an LC tuned circuit or by an active electronic device, for the transfer and amplification of a capacity or of a signal introduced by the disturbing body.
- a simple antenna constituted by a wire or a plate these may have various shapes and sizes in accordance with the desired result.
- a wire or a metal plate may be used with dimensions depending on the sensitivity required by the system, that is on the desired ratio between the distance of the disturbing body and the corresponding change of the oscillation frequency of the circuit.
- the said proximity sensor 11 produces an output voltage waveform having a frequency that changes in proportion to the approach of a disturbing body to the said floating terminal 10 and this frequency change is the parameter on which the adjustment carried out by the device according to the present invention is based.
- the device according to the present invention can function even as a contact switch insofar as the drastic drop of the oscillation frequency emitted by the proximity sensor 11 when the said disturbing body comes into contact with the said floating terminal, may easily be perceived as an On/Off signal for the user equipment.
- a non-limiting embodiment example of the said proximity sensor 11 is represented in Fig. 3. In this case a logical inverter component is used, also indicated as "NOT", for example, the component commercially known by the number CD40106.
- This component made in MOS (Metal - Oxide - Semiconductor) technology, is configured as a "Schmitt trigger" oscillator, connecting the input terminal to the output terminal by means of an impedance, and connecting a capacitor between the said input terminal and earth. Furthermore, the same input terminal is connected to the said floating terminal 10 so that, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the approach of a disturbing body 30 to the said floating terminal 10 causes a change in the oscillation frequency present in the output terminal of the logical inverter, a change that is in proportion to the distance of the said disturbing body 30 from the said floating terminal 10.
- any other component made with Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor technology may be used instead of that marked by the number CD40106 seen in Fig. 3, which is capable of generating an electric oscillation, that is, able to operate output commutation in response to changes in an input control signal.
- the output oscillation from the said proximity sensor 11 is sent to a divider 12 whose function is to modify the duty cycle and the oscillation frequency of the electrical signal generated by the proximity sensor 11 so as to render it compatible with the type of signal processing carried out by subsequent stages.
- Module 13 comprises of a frequency/voltage converter which translates the electrical oscillation and its frequency changes into a proportionate voltage level, easier to process using analogue electronic circuits.
- the said voltage level is subsequently sent to an appropriate actuator 14 capable of transforming the said control signal into another electrical signal to control the user device 15 which, depending on requirements, may be any. electrical device, such as a motor, a dimmer, an audio amplifier, a data processing apparatus etc. etc.
- the said proximity sensor 11 comprising of components equipped with Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor junction, the said floating terminal 10 directly connected to the gate of at least one of the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor devices comprised in the said proximity sensor 11 , the said divider 12, the said actuator 14 and the said user device 15.
- the output signal from the divider 12 is transferred to a digital processing unit 20, positioned downstream of the said divider 12 and upstream of the said actuator 14 and comprising of a counter 21 , a memory 22, a digital comparator 23, a CPU 24, and an output module 25.
- the said processing unit may, for example, be constituted by a microprocessor.
- the CPU 24 houses an appropriate firmware which ensures that the said processing unit 20 operates as described below:
- the said counter 21 determines, at set time intervals, the number of pulses emitted by the sensor, obtaining a datum which is stored in the memory 22 and made available for subsequent modifications and updates carried out by the CPU 24 based on the instructions contained in the said firmware.
- the output module 25 may be embodied in several ways, based on the following units. It may, for example, comprise of a PWM signal generator through which it is possible to modulate the operation of all the user devices of a switching kind. Alternatively the said output module 25 may comprise of a simple Digital-Analogue converter which produces an analogue control signal.
- the signal is sent to a appropriate actuator 14 capable of transforming the said control signal into another electrical signal to control the user device 15 which, depending on requirements, may be any electrical device. More particularly, a non-limiting example of the said electrical devices may include the following:
- a motor for controlling the rotation speed of the blades of a fan, or traction motors
- a road signalling apparatus (possibly located on the road surface) to mark off shoulders of the carriageway and to collect and process data relating to traffic etc. etc.
- the resulting sequence of operations may comprise of the following steps: a) the said counter 21 carries out 50 a count of the pulses coming from divider 12 b) the digital comparator 23 carries out 51 a comparison between the previous count value and the count value just carried out in the previous step
- the CPU 24 carries out a second control 53 to establish if the adjustment by the user has come to an end.
- the output module 25 generates 55 a control signal relating to the new adjustment, and to its dispatch to the actuator 14 which carries out the said adjustment by appropriately controlling the user device 15.
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- Switches That Are Operated By Magnetic Or Electric Fields (AREA)
- Electronic Switches (AREA)
Abstract
Device for switching and controlling electrical equipment, having at least one proximity sensor comprising of Metal-Oxide- semiconductor junction devices.
Description
DEVICE FOR SWITCHING AND CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT,
COMPRISING OF A PROXIMITY SENSOR, AND RELATED METHODS OF
SUCH A DEVICE
Field of invention
The present invention relates to the field of controlling devices equipped with remote control and, more particularly, to the field of devices fitted with proximity sensors, for controlling electrical equipment.
State of the art
Different types of remote control, for controller devices of electrical apparatus, are widely used nowadays thanks to their convenience and practicality.
Numerous types of controlling devices equipped with remote control are available. There are devices designed to control certain apparatus from a distance, such as television remote controls, as well as devices designed to avoid the use of manual switches or regulators which may be difficult to reach or use, may be subject to wear and tear, or may not be aesthetically suited to the environment in which they operate and so forth.
Devices containing acoustic sensors, motion detectors and proximity sensors belong to this second category. Proximity sensors, generally of the capacitive kind, are such as to sense the approach of a body, the user's hand for instance, and consequently trigger an electronic switch or control, a dimmer etc. Today controls of this kind are widely used in the home, for example, replacing switches and control knobs, and are nowadays considered objects of design in their own right, in that they can guarantee perfect integrability within different environments and objects.
The said proximity sensors and the controls or switches that contain them have, therefore, a constant need for miniaturization, optimisation, cost reduction and general improvement, due to their ever-growing use.
The present invention, therefore, concerns a proximity sensor and a device for switching on, switching off and controlling electrical devices, characterised by a topology capable of considerably reducing the number of electronic components in use, and therefore capable of greatly reducing their dimensions and cost, thus
increasing their scope of application and paving the way. for their introduction into devices, applications and markets where they were hitherto difficult to find.
Summary of invention
The subject matter of this invention is a controller device for electrical equipment, comprising of at least one proximity sensor which has Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor junction devices, and related methods for controlling the said electrical devices as described in the claims which form an integral part of the present description.
Brief description of drawings
Fig. 1 Schematic block diagram of a first preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 Schematic block diagram of a second preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 Simplified circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment of the input stage of the device according to the present invention.
Fig. 4 Flow chart of an example of the method carried out by the processing unit contained in the second preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention.
Detailed description of invention
The subject matter of this invention concerns a controller device for electrical equipment, comprising of a proximity sensor based on Metal-Oxide- Semiconductor junction devices such as MOSFET, JFET, MESFET and all of their derivations.
The said proximity sensor makes use of parasite behaviour common to all devices based on a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor junction, actually allowing for interaction with the electrical behaviour of the said devices by simply disturbing the space in their immediate vicinity.
Referring to Fig. 1 we see a first preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the present invention:
The input stage is made up of a proximity sensor 11 comprising of electronic components equipped with a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor junction for example
MOSFET. The said stage may, for example, comprise of a single gate of an inverting Schmitt trigger but, more generally, all devices are suitable, comprising of
one or more components which are made in Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor technology and capable of generating an electrical oscillation, which is able to operate output commutation in response to changes in an input control signal. Within the various types of circuit which may be used to make the proximity sensor 11 , a floating terminal 10 is always present, which in the case in hand acts as a sort of antenna, directly connected to the gate of a Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor device. The said floating terminal 10 may be constituted by a wire or a metal plate, by an LC tuned circuit or by an active electronic device, for the transfer and amplification of a capacity or of a signal introduced by the disturbing body. In the case of a simple antenna constituted by a wire or a plate, these may have various shapes and sizes in accordance with the desired result. For example, a wire or a metal plate may be used with dimensions depending on the sensitivity required by the system, that is on the desired ratio between the distance of the disturbing body and the corresponding change of the oscillation frequency of the circuit.
The said proximity sensor 11 produces an output voltage waveform having a frequency that changes in proportion to the approach of a disturbing body to the said floating terminal 10 and this frequency change is the parameter on which the adjustment carried out by the device according to the present invention is based. This means that the device according to the present invention can function even as a contact switch insofar as the drastic drop of the oscillation frequency emitted by the proximity sensor 11 when the said disturbing body comes into contact with the said floating terminal, may easily be perceived as an On/Off signal for the user equipment. A non-limiting embodiment example of the said proximity sensor 11 is represented in Fig. 3. In this case a logical inverter component is used, also indicated as "NOT", for example, the component commercially known by the number CD40106. This component, made in MOS (Metal - Oxide - Semiconductor) technology, is configured as a "Schmitt trigger" oscillator, connecting the input terminal to the output terminal by means of an impedance, and connecting a capacitor between the said input terminal and earth. Furthermore, the same input terminal is connected to the said floating terminal 10 so that, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the approach of a disturbing body 30 to the said floating terminal 10 causes a change in the oscillation frequency present in the
output terminal of the logical inverter, a change that is in proportion to the distance of the said disturbing body 30 from the said floating terminal 10. As previously mentioned, any other component made with Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor technology may be used instead of that marked by the number CD40106 seen in Fig. 3, which is capable of generating an electric oscillation, that is, able to operate output commutation in response to changes in an input control signal.
The output oscillation from the said proximity sensor 11 is sent to a divider 12 whose function is to modify the duty cycle and the oscillation frequency of the electrical signal generated by the proximity sensor 11 so as to render it compatible with the type of signal processing carried out by subsequent stages.
Module 13 comprises of a frequency/voltage converter which translates the electrical oscillation and its frequency changes into a proportionate voltage level, easier to process using analogue electronic circuits. The said voltage level is subsequently sent to an appropriate actuator 14 capable of transforming the said control signal into another electrical signal to control the user device 15 which, depending on requirements, may be any. electrical device, such as a motor, a dimmer, an audio amplifier, a data processing apparatus etc. etc.
Referring to Fig. 2 we see the schematic block diagram relating to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. Still present are: the said proximity sensor 11, comprising of components equipped with Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor junction, the said floating terminal 10 directly connected to the gate of at least one of the Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor devices comprised in the said proximity sensor 11 , the said divider 12, the said actuator 14 and the said user device 15.
The output signal from the divider 12 is transferred to a digital processing unit 20, positioned downstream of the said divider 12 and upstream of the said actuator 14 and comprising of a counter 21 , a memory 22, a digital comparator 23, a CPU 24, and an output module 25. The said processing unit may, for example, be constituted by a microprocessor.
The CPU 24 houses an appropriate firmware which ensures that the said processing unit 20 operates as described below:
The said counter 21 determines, at set time intervals, the number of pulses emitted by the sensor, obtaining a datum which is stored in the memory 22 and
made available for subsequent modifications and updates carried out by the CPU 24 based on the instructions contained in the said firmware. The digital comparator 23, at this point, operates a comparison between the input value just read, relating to the current position of the said disturbing body and that relating to the previous reading, and sends the result of the comparison to the output module 25. The output module 25 may be embodied in several ways, based on the following units. It may, for example, comprise of a PWM signal generator through which it is possible to modulate the operation of all the user devices of a switching kind. Alternatively the said output module 25 may comprise of a simple Digital-Analogue converter which produces an analogue control signal.
From the output module 25, regardless of its embodiment, the signal is sent to a appropriate actuator 14 capable of transforming the said control signal into another electrical signal to control the user device 15 which, depending on requirements, may be any electrical device. More particularly, a non-limiting example of the said electrical devices may include the following:
- a motor, for controlling the rotation speed of the blades of a fan, or traction motors,
- a dimmer for controlling the lighting power emitted by lamps in a domestic or industrial environment,
- an amplifier or audio modulator for reproduction volume control of a audio system and the control of any sound effects,
- an apparatus for oxyacetylene cutting, to automatically adjust the distance of the cutting torch from the material to be cut,
- an anti intrusion alarm based on presence detectors,
- a road signalling apparatus (possibly located on the road surface) to mark off shoulders of the carriageway and to collect and process data relating to traffic etc. etc.
Referring to Fig. 4, we see a flow chart relating to a preferred embodiment of a process carried out by the firmware housed in the said CPU 24. In this case, taking as an example a lamp as the user device and the user's hand as the disturbing body, the resulting sequence of operations may comprise of the following steps:
a) the said counter 21 carries out 50 a count of the pulses coming from divider 12 b) the digital comparator 23 carries out 51 a comparison between the previous count value and the count value just carried out in the previous step
c) the CPU 24 operates a first control 52 of the result of the comparison: if the two compared values are the same, the procedure is repeated from the first step to carry out a new count, otherwise
d) the CPU 24 carries out a second control 53 to establish if the adjustment by the user has come to an end. The discriminating factor of this second control may be, for example, the speed with which the disturbing body has moved (low speed = adjustment in progress; high speed = adjustment has terminated, the user has withdrawn his hand from the proximity sensor's sensing range having reached the desired adjustment point) or the execution of a particular action such as contact with the floating terminal 10 of the proximity sensor by the user. If the adjustment has ended the procedure is repeated from the first step to carry out a new count 50, otherwise
e) the CPU 24 proceeds to store 54 the current count value in the memory 22 and subsequently
f) the output module 25 generates 55 a control signal relating to the new adjustment, and to its dispatch to the actuator 14 which carries out the said adjustment by appropriately controlling the user device 15.
Claims
1. A Proximity sensor 11 characterised in that it comprises Metal -Oxide- Semiconductor junction devices.
2. The Proximity sensor 11 as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that it comprises an input terminal connected to the gate of at least one of the said
Metal - Oxide - Semiconductor junction devices.
3. The Proximity sensor 11 as claimed in claims 1 - 2 characterised in that the said Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor junction devices are chosen from the group comprising of MOSFET, IGBT, JFET, MESFET devices.
4. The Proximity sensor 11 as claimed in claims 1 - 3 characterised in that the said Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor junction devices are those, capable of generating an electrical oscillation, that is, able to operate output commutations in response to changes in an input control signal.
5. The Proximity sensor 11 as claimed in claims 1 - 4 characterised in that the said Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor junction devices comprise of an inverting
Schmitt trigger device.
6. A controller device for electrical equipment, comprising of at least one proximity sensor 11 as claimed by claims 1 - 5.
7. The device as claimed in claim 6 characterised in that it comprises: a floating terminal 10 connected to the said input terminal of the said proximity sensor
11 , a divider 12 having an input terminal connected to the output of the said proximity sensor 11, a frequency/voltage converter 13 having an input terminal connected to the output of the said divider 12 and an actuator 14 having an input terminal connected to the output of the said frequency/voltage converter 13.
8. The device as claimed in claim 6 characterised in that it comprises: a floating terminal 10 connected to the said input terminal of the said proximity sensor 11 , a divider 12 having an input terminal connected to the output of the said proximity sensor 11 , a digital processing unit 20 having an input terminal connected to the output of the said divider 12 and an actuator 14 having an input terminal connected to the output of the said digital processing unit 20.
9. The device as claimed in claims 6 - 8. characterised in that the said floating terminal 10 is chosen from the group comprising of metal plates, conductive wires, LC tuned circuits and active electronic devices for the transfer and the amplification of a capacity or of a signal introduced by the disturbing body.
10. The device as claimed in claims 8 - 9 characterised in that the said digital processing unit 20 comprises of a digital counter 21 , a memory 22, a digital comparator 23, a CPU 24, an output module 25.
11. The device as claimed in claim 10 characterised in that the said output module
25 comprises of a PWM signal generator.
12. The device as claimed in claim 10 characterised in that the said output module 25 comprises of a Digital / Analogue converter.
13. The device as claimed in claim 8 - 12 characterised in that the said digital processing unit 20 is constituted by a microprocessor.
14. Method for switching and controlling electrical equipment, characterised in that it comprises of the following steps:
a) the said counter 21 carries out 50 a count of the pulses coming from the said divider 12
b) the said digital comparator 23 carries out 51 a comparison between the previous count value and the count value carried out in the previous step c) the said CPU 24 operates a first control 52 of the result of the comparison: if the two compared values are the same, the procedure is repeated from the first step to carry out a new count, otherwise
d) the said CPU 24 carries out a second control 53 to establish whether or not the adjustment by the user has come to an end
e) the said CPU 24 proceeds to store 54 the current count value in the memory 22 and subsequently
f) the said output module 25 generates 55 the control signal relating to the new adjustment, and to its dispatch to the said actuator 14 which carries out the said adjustment by appropriately controlling the user device 15
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 characterised in that the discriminating factor of the said second control 53 carried out in step d) is constituted by the speed with which the said disturbing body 30 has moved.
16. The method as claimed in claim 14 characterised in that the discriminating factor of the said second control 53 carried out in step d) is constituted by contact with the floating terminal 10 by the user.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ITFI2005A000250 | 2005-12-05 | ||
| ITFI20050250 ITFI20050250A1 (en) | 2005-12-05 | 2005-12-05 | DEVICE FOR ACTIVATION, DEACTIVATION AND ADJUSTMENT OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES INCLUDING A PROXIMITY SENSOR AND METHOD CONNECTED TO IT |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2007066195A2 true WO2007066195A2 (en) | 2007-06-14 |
| WO2007066195A3 WO2007066195A3 (en) | 2007-10-04 |
Family
ID=38123255
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2006/003466 WO2007066195A2 (en) | 2005-12-05 | 2006-12-05 | Device and method for switching and controlling electrical equipment comprising a proximity sensor |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| IT (1) | ITFI20050250A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2007066195A2 (en) |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE102007033886A1 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2009-01-22 | Siemens Ag | Output unit for outputting different signals for electrical component i.e. switch, has transformation device transforming control signals transmitted by data transmission device into different signals, where sensor is attached to unit |
| US7613552B2 (en) * | 2007-05-17 | 2009-11-03 | Fabrizio Bernini | Lawn-mower with sensor |
| DE102008024398A1 (en) * | 2008-05-20 | 2009-11-26 | Ifm Electronic Gmbh | Proximity switch operation method, involves storing measurement of detecting unit as threshold valve when calibration mode is activated, deleting or overwriting key word in storage region, and terminating calibration mode |
| US7668631B2 (en) * | 2008-01-23 | 2010-02-23 | Fabrizio Bernini | Autonomous lawn mower with recharge base |
| WO2011039246A1 (en) * | 2009-10-01 | 2011-04-07 | Arcelik Anonim Sirketi | A broadcast receiving device |
| US8285435B2 (en) | 2009-06-30 | 2012-10-09 | Fabrizio Bernini | Lawn mower |
| JP2019095356A (en) * | 2017-11-24 | 2019-06-20 | 島根県 | Electrode expansion type electrostatic capacitive sensor |
| US10444757B2 (en) | 2016-02-03 | 2019-10-15 | Positec Power Tools (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. | Self-moving device and control method therefor |
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| WO2004023526A2 (en) * | 2002-09-06 | 2004-03-18 | Invisa, Inc. | Apparatus and method for processing capacitor sensor signals using digital frequency shift measurement techniques with floating reference |
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| US4668877A (en) * | 1984-06-13 | 1987-05-26 | Kunen Scott M | Touch controlled switch for a lamp or the like |
| US4937702A (en) * | 1987-05-06 | 1990-06-26 | Minoru Fukumitsu | Light intensity controller using a proximity sensor |
| US4939382A (en) * | 1989-04-20 | 1990-07-03 | Victor Gruodis | Touch responsive power control system |
| WO1990014604A1 (en) * | 1989-05-17 | 1990-11-29 | Moonstone Designs Limited | Proximity sensor |
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Cited By (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7613552B2 (en) * | 2007-05-17 | 2009-11-03 | Fabrizio Bernini | Lawn-mower with sensor |
| DE102007033886A1 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2009-01-22 | Siemens Ag | Output unit for outputting different signals for electrical component i.e. switch, has transformation device transforming control signals transmitted by data transmission device into different signals, where sensor is attached to unit |
| DE102007033886B4 (en) * | 2007-07-20 | 2009-04-30 | Siemens Ag | Output unit for outputting different signals; electrical component for controlling an electrical device and method for outputting different signals by an output unit |
| US7668631B2 (en) * | 2008-01-23 | 2010-02-23 | Fabrizio Bernini | Autonomous lawn mower with recharge base |
| DE102008024398A1 (en) * | 2008-05-20 | 2009-11-26 | Ifm Electronic Gmbh | Proximity switch operation method, involves storing measurement of detecting unit as threshold valve when calibration mode is activated, deleting or overwriting key word in storage region, and terminating calibration mode |
| DE102008024398B4 (en) * | 2008-05-20 | 2015-08-20 | Ifm Electronic Gmbh | Proximity switch and method for operating a proximity switch |
| US8285435B2 (en) | 2009-06-30 | 2012-10-09 | Fabrizio Bernini | Lawn mower |
| WO2011039246A1 (en) * | 2009-10-01 | 2011-04-07 | Arcelik Anonim Sirketi | A broadcast receiving device |
| US10444757B2 (en) | 2016-02-03 | 2019-10-15 | Positec Power Tools (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. | Self-moving device and control method therefor |
| JP2019095356A (en) * | 2017-11-24 | 2019-06-20 | 島根県 | Electrode expansion type electrostatic capacitive sensor |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2007066195A3 (en) | 2007-10-04 |
| ITFI20050250A1 (en) | 2007-06-06 |
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