Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A touch switch device comprising a member arranged, when touched or closely approached to interrupt the passage of an oscillating signal to a charging circuit including a capacitative store, said charging circuit being responsive to said interruption to initiate discharge of said charge store, and means responsive to a change in the state of charge of said capacitative charge store to cause a switch to change state, the device being arranged to be powered from a source of direct current and including a circuit responsive to the initial supply of power to the device to cause the said switch to be in a predetermined state for an initial period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A touch switch device comprising a member arranged, when touched or closely approached to interrupt the passage of an oscillating signal to a charging circuit including a capacitative store, said charging circuit being responsive to said interruption to initiate discharge of said charge store, and means responsive to a change in the state of charge of said capacitative charge store to cause a switch to change state, the device being arranged to be powered from a source of direct current and including a circuit responsive to the initial supply of power to the device to cause the said switch to be in a predetermined state for an initial period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
A touch switch device comprising a touch plate arranged when touched or closely approached to interrupt the passage of the output of an oscillator to a circuit including a capacitative store, the store being arranged to discharge when the said passage is interrupted, means responsive to a change in the charge state of the store consequent on the said interruption to cause a switch to change state, the switch remaining in the state to which it is changed when the said interruption ceases, and means responsive to the supply of electrical power to the device to cause the said switch to be in a predetermined state for an initial period, during which the said switch is maintained unresponsive to interruptions of the said signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
124 words
A touch switch device comprising a touch plate arranged when touched or closely approached to interrupt the passage of the output of an oscillator to a circuit including a capacitative store, the store being arranged to discharge when the said passage is interrupted, means responsive to a change in the charge state of the store consequent on the said interruption to cause a switch to change state, the switch remaining in the state to which it is changed when the said interruption ceases, and means responsive to the supply of electrical power to the device to cause the said switch to be in a predetermined state for an initial period, during which the said switch is maintained unresponsive to interruptions of the said signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A touch switch device according to claim 1 wherein a change of state of said switch causes a charge in the state of energisation of a relay coil.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A touch switch device according to any foregoing claim in which the circuit which is responsive to the supply of power to the device is arranged to maintain said switch in said predetermined state for a predetermined period irrespective of the charge state of said capacitative store.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
A touch switch according to claim 4 in which the circuit is operative to supply a reset signal during said period to a bistable of which an output controls said switch, said bistable being responsive to the presence of said reset signal to maintain said switch in said one state, and in which another input to the bistable derived from the charging circuit causes the bistable to control the state of the switch, after the elapse of said period, in accord with the changes in the charge state of said capacitative store.