Touch controlled switching circuit

Claim 2

In an alternating current electromagnetic environment, a solid state touch controlled switching system operabLe from a direct current power source and activated by an alternating current signal produced upon touch at a prescribed touch point by a person having a potential induced by said environment; said switching system including: means responsive to said alternating current signal after a touch of relatively short duration to provide a deactivating direct current signal, and responsive to said alternating current signal after a touch of relatively long duration to provide an activating direct current signal; and means responsive to said activating signal to provide and maintain a direct current switching signal; the last said means, if operative, being responsive to said deactivating signal to terminate said switching signal; the last said means, if inoperative, being non-responsive to said deactivating signal.

Claim 3

In an alternating current electromagnetic environment, a solid state, touch controlled switching system operable from a direct current power source and activated by an alternating current produced upon touch at a prescribed touch point by a person having a potential induced by said environment; said switching system comprising: a touch point carrying an alternating current while touched by said person; a power translator circuit having an input connection to said touch point and operating to translate the alternating current at said touch point into on-off conditions at the output, at the frequency of said alternating current; a voltage control circuit connected with the output of said power translator circuit and operating to produce a direct current (dc) output voltage of a polarity and magnitude dependent upon the duration of a touch at said touch point and further operating upon termination of a touch of relatively long duration to produce a transient voltage of positive polarity; a latching circuit connected with the output of said voltage control circuit and operating upon receipt of said positive polarity voltage to provide the desired switching current, said latching circuit including means to provide for continuation of said switching current after the transient action of said positive polarity voltage; and a direct current power source for energizing said switching system.

Claim 4

In an alternating current electromagnetic environment, a solid state, touch controlled switching system operable from a direct current power source and activated by an alternating current produced upon touch at a prescribed touch point by a person having a potential induced by said environment; said switching system comprising: a touch point carrying an alternating current while touched by said person; a power translator circuit having an input connection to said touch point and operating to translate the alternating current at said touch point into on-off conditions at the output, at the frequency of said alternating current; a voltage control circuit connected with the output of said power translator circuit and operating to produce a direct current (dc) output voltage of a polarity and magnitude dependent upon the duration of a touch at said touch point and further operating upon termination of a touch of relatively long duration to produce a transient voltage of positive polarity; a latching circuit connected with the output of said voltage control circuit and operating upon receipt of said positive polarity voltage to provide the desired switching current, said latching circuit including means to provide for continuation of said switching current after the transient action of said positive polarity voltage; and a direct current power source for energizing said switching system.

Claim 5

a touch point carrying an alternating current while touched by said person;

Claim 6

a touch point carrying an alternating current while touched by said person;

Claim 7

A touch controlled switching system as described in claim 2 in which said voltage control circuit operates upon termination of a touch of relatively short duration to deliver a negative polarity voltage and in which said latching circuit, upon receiving said negative polarity voltage, remains inoperative or, if operative, is made inoperative.

Claim 8

a power translator circuit comprising: a current sensitive semiconductor element having its control terminal connected to said touch point and being normally conductive (no touch applied) in circuit with said dc power source, said current sensitive element being nonconductive on negative half cycles of the alternating current at said control terminal when touch is applied; and a power translator transistor having its control terminal connected to said current sensitive element and being normally nonconductive under negative bias when said current sensitive element is conductive, said power translator transistor being conductive in circuit with said dc power source, under control of said current sensitive element, at the frequency of the alternating current that results when touch is applied to said touch point; the emitter of said power translator transistor being connected to the negative line of said dc power source, and the collector being the output terminal for said power translator circuit;

Claim 9

a power translator circuit comprising: a current sensitive semiconductor element having its control terminal connected to said touch point and being normally conductive (no touch applied) in circuit with said dc power source, said current sensitive element being nonconductive on negative half cycles of the alternating current at said control terminal when touch is applied; and a power translator transistor having its control terminal connected to said current sensitive element and being normally nonconductive under negative bias when said current sensitive element is conductive, said power translator transistor being conductive in circuit with said dc power source, under control of said current sensitive element, at the frequency of the alternating current that results when touch is applied to said touch point; the emitter of said power translator transistor being connected to the negative line of said dc power source, and the collector being the output terminal for said power translator circuit;

Claim 10

A touch controlled switching system as described in claim 2 in which said direct current power source is a rectifier circuit connected with a source of alternating current which also provides power for the load to be switched by said switching system and also contributes to said electromagnetic environment.

Claim 11

a voltage control circuit comprising: a resistor and a capacitor connected in series with a parallel circuit including a second resistor and a second capacitor, the other terminal of the first said resistor being connected to the positive line of said dc power source, the other terminal of said parallel circuit being connected to the negative line of said dc power source, and the said output terminal of said power translator circuit being connected to the junction of the first said resistor and the first said capacitor; and an output connection from the junction of the first said capacitor and said parallel circuit; both said capacitors being normally charged (no touch applied) by power from said dc power source; the said power translator transistor in said power translator circuit, when conductive during an applied touch, being a shunt across the series connected first said capacitor and said parallel circuit operating initially to drive the potential on said output connection to a negative value depending upon the ratio of the capacitances of the two said capacitors and upon the voltage of said dc power source, the non-conductive condition of said power translator transistor at successive intervals while touch is applied being an open circuit which permits the potential on said output connection to rise to 0 v., dc, exponentially, dependent upon the time constant of said voltage control circuit; removal of the touch at some time before the output potential reaches 0 v. resulting in a deactivating or nonactivating output signal; continuation of the touch until some time after the output potential reaches 0 v. resulting, upon removal of the touch, in a transient positive potential as an activating signal on said output connection; and

Claim 12

a voltage control circuit comprising: a resistor and a capacitor connected in series with a parallel circuit including a second resistor and a second capacitor, the other terminal of the first said resistor being connected to the positive line of said dc power source, the other terminal of said parallel circuit being connected to the negative line of said dc power source, and the said output terminal of said power translator circuit being connected to the junction of the first said resistor and the first said capacitor; and an output connection from the junction of the first said capacitor and said parallel circuit; both said capacitors being normally charged (no touch applied) by power from said dc power source; the said power translator transistor in said power translator circuit, when conductive during an applied touch, being a shunt across the series connected first said capacitor and said parallel circuit operating initially to drive the potential on said output connection to a negative value depending upon the ratio of the capacitances of the two said capacitors and upon the voltage of said dc power source, the non-conductive condition of said power translator transistor at successive intervals while touch is applied being an open circuit which permits the potential on said output connection to rise to 0 v., dc, exponentially, dependent upon the time constant of said voltage control circuit; removal of the touch at some time before the output potential reaches 0 v. resulting in a deactivating or nonactivating output signal; continuation of the touch until some time after the output potential reaches 0 v. resulting, upon removal of the touch, in a transient positive potential as an activating signal on said output connection; and

Claim 13

a latching circuit comprising: an NPN type transistor having its base connected with the said output connection of said voltage control circuit, its emitter to the negative line of said dc power source, and its collector to the base of a second transistor through a limiting resistor; a PNP type transistor (said second transistor) having its emitter connected to the positive line of said dc power source and its collector to the base of said NPN type transistor through a limiting resistor; said NPN type transistor operating upon receipt of said transient positive potential from said voltage control circuit to trigger said PNP type transistor into opEration, whereupon the base of said NPN type transistor receives current from the positive line of said dc power source, remains in operation and continues to activate said PNP type transistor; said NPN type transistor being inoperative upon receipt of a deactivating or nonactivating signal from said voltage control circuit; and an output connection from the collector of said PNP type transistor to provide the desired switching current.

Claim 14

a latching circuit comprising: an NPN type transistor having its base connected with the said output connection of said voltage control circuit, its emitter to the negative line of said dc power source, and its collector to the base of a second transistor through a limiting resistor; a PNP type transistor (said second transistor) having its emitter connected to the positive line of said dc power source and its collector to the base of said NPN type transistor through a limiting resistor; said NPN type transistor operating upon receipt of said transient positive potential from said voltage control circuit to trigger said PNP type transistor into opEration, whereupon the base of said NPN type transistor receives current from the positive line of said dc power source, remains in operation and continues to activate said PNP type transistor; said NPN type transistor being inoperative upon receipt of a deactivating or nonactivating signal from said voltage control circuit; and an output connection from the collector of said PNP type transistor to provide the desired switching current.

Claim 15

A touch controlled switching system as described in claim 2 adapted for operating a solid state switch device having two main terminals connected in series with a source of alternating current and a load to be switched ON or OFF; said solid state switch device having a gate terminal connected with the output of said latching circuit and energized, when said latching circuit is operative, to cause current to flow between said main terminals and provide power to said load; said switch device being nonconductive when said latching circuit is inoperative.

Claim 16

A touch controlled switching system as described in claim 2 in which said power translator circuit comprises: a current sensitive semiconductor element having its control terminal connected to said touch point and being normally conductive (when no touch is applied) in circuit with said direct current (dc) power source, said current sensitive element being nonconductive on negative half cycles of the alternating current at said control terminal when touch is applied; and a power translator transistor having its conTrol terminal connected to said current sensitive element and being normally nonconductive under negative bias when said current sensitive element is conductive (no touch applied), said power translator transistor being conductive in circuit with said dc power source, under control of said current sensitive element, at the frequency of the alternating current that results when touch is applied to said touch point; output of the power translator circuit being provided by connection of the collector of said transistor to said voltage control circuit.

Claim 17

A touch controlled switching system as described in claim 2 in which said voltage control circuit comprises: a resistor and a capacitor connected in series with a parallel circuit including a second resistor and a second capacitor, the other terminal of the first said resistor being connected to the positive line of said direct current (dc) power source, the other terminal of said parallel circuit being connected to the negative line of said dc power source, and the output of said power translator circuit being connected to the junction of the first said resistor and the first said capacitor; and an output connection from the junction of the first said capacitor and said parallel circuit to the input of said latching circuit; both said capacitors being normally charged (no touch applied) by power from said dc source, the ''''on'''' condition at the output of said power translator circuit when touch is applied being a shunt across the series connected first said capacitor and said parallel circuit operating initially to drive the potential on said output connection to a negative value depending upon the ratio of the capacitances of the two said capacitors and upon the voltage of said dc power source, the ''''off'''' condition at the output of said power translator circuit at successive intervals while touch is applied being an open circuit which permits the potential on said output connection to rise to O v., dc, exponentially, dependent upon the time constant of said voltage control circuit; removal of the touch at some time before the output potential reaches O v. leaving said latching circuit inoperative; continuation of the touch until some time after the output potential reaches O v. resulting, upon removal of the touch, in a transient positive potential on said output connection for operation of said latching circuit.

Claim 18

A touch controlled switching system as described in claim 2 in which said latching circuit comprises: an NPN type transistor having its base connected with the output of said voltage control circuit, its emitter to the negative line of said direct current (dc) power source, and its collector to the base of a second transistor through a limiting resistor; a PNP type transistor (said second transistor) having its emitter connected to the positive line of said dc power source and its collector to the base of said NPN type transistor through a limiting resistor; said NPN type transistor operating upon receipt of said positive polarity voltage from said voltage control circuit to trigger said PNP type transistor into operation, whereupon the base of said NPN type transistor receives current from the positive line of said dc power source, remains in operation and continues to activate said PNP type transistor; and an output connection from the collector of said PNP type transistor to provide the desired switching current.

Claim 19

A touch controlled switching system as described in claim 8 in which said voltage control circuit operates upon termination of a touch of relatively short duration to deliver a negative polarity voltage, said NPN type transistor operating upon receipt of said negative polarity voltage to deactivate said PNP type transistor.

Claim 20

In an alternating current electromagnetic environment, a solid state, touch controlled switching system operable from a direct current power source and activaTed by an alternating current produced upon touch at a prescribed touch point by a person having a potential induced by said environment; said switching system comprising:

Claim 21

In an alternating current electromagnetic environment, a solid state, touch controlled switching system operable from a direct current power source and activaTed by an alternating current produced upon touch at a prescribed touch point by a person having a potential induced by said environment; said switching system comprising:

Claim 22

A touch controlled switching system as described in claim 10 adapted for operating a solid state switch device having two main terminals connected in series with a source of alternating current and a load to be switched ON or OFF, said solid state device having a gate terminal connected with the output connection of said latching circuit and energized when said latching circuit is operative to provide the desired switching current.