Patent · US Expired

Touch actuated electronic switch

US4002923A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
6References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 26, 1974
Grant dateJan 11, 1977
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 26, 1994

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K17/962
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electronic switch which has no moving parts and is actuated by the capacitance of an operator providing a connection between earth ground and an input to the electronics associated with the switch is disclosed. The electronic switch in the preferred embodiment, includes a plate accessible to the tough of a human operator electrically connected to a first amplifier, and particularly to the input which is isolated from and thus oscillating with respect to earth ground. The output of the first amplifier is simultaneously connected to one end of a storage capacitor, having its other end connected to earth ground, and to one end of a high impedance. A second amplifier, is connected to the other end of the high impedance to provide a switched output, with the switched output having a first state for approximating an electrical short circuit and a second state for approximating an electrical open circuit.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.