Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8174304 | Key module having light-indicating functionality and a method for controlling the same A key module includes a key, a light emitting component, and a drive circuit. The key is operable between on and off states. The light emitting component is disposed adjacent to the key, and is capable of providing indicating light for the key. The drive circuit is ... | 05/08/2012 |
| 7973589 | Micro-controller-based electronic switch using a proximity detector to facilitate hands-free control of an AC device This system is a no touch single pole single throw (spst) two wire electronic light switch that uses an Infrared Proximity Detector to create a working system designed to replace existing mechanical switches common in households. The use of a Micro Controller enable... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7884664 | Input device, and multi-function peripheral An input device including an electrode a width dimension of which changes in its direction of extension, an output portion an output signal of which corresponds to an electrostatic capacity induced between the electrode and an electrically charged body when the body... | 02/08/2011 |
| 7863966 | Readout circuit for touch panel A readout circuit for touch panel includes first and second switches, an operational amplifier (OP-AMP), a feedback capacitor, a comparison unit, and a counter. A first input terminal and an output terminal of the OP-AMP are respectively coupled to a second terminal... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7843249 | Adaptive capacitive touch sense control circuit An adaptive capacitive touch sense control circuit includes a voltage buffer, a current setting resistor, a current mirror, a capacitor, a start comparator, an end comparator and a time-to-digital converter. The capacitor is connected with the current setting resist... | 11/30/2010 |
| 7336120 | Circuit and method for boosting output current The circuit has an output stage comprising a current source and a current sink. The circuit also has a comparison stage operable to compare a current mirrored from the current source with a current mirrored from the current sink to determine a difference therebetwee... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7193833 | Electric switch An electric switch (1) comprising a capacity sensor circuit (2) provided with a signal input (3) arranged to be connected to an actuating line, and which is provided with a relay device (4) arranged to feed a current to a load line (7 | 03/20/2007 |
| 7091823 | Human body detecting device and door locking device A human body detecting device includes a door handle provided on an outer panel, a first sensor electrode provided on the obverse side of the door handle, and a second sensor electrode provided on the reverse side of the door handle. The human body is detected in re... | 08/15/2006 |
| 7075443 | Wastewater fluid level sensing and control system A wastewater fluid level sensing and control system is provided. The system comprises a control panel, a reservoir, at least one pump and a fluid level sensing device. The control panel comprises a housing and user interface input and output devices for use with con... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7047854 | Power tools Power tool 1 may include table 5 on which work W is positioned. A portion of a circular blade 3 protrudes above table 5. Circular blade 3 may be driven by a motor. The motor may be controlled by a control device 90. Work W i... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7045764 | Passive detection system for detecting a body near a door A detection system for detecting a body near a doorway includes two detectors having one or more activation lines that overlap each other. With certain mounting arrangements, the detectors cover areas within and on both sides of the doorway. The detectors are meant ... | 05/16/2006 |
| 7026861 | Electronic door latch system with water rejection filtering A control circuit receives inputs from first and second field effect sensors. The control circuit produces a control output only if the second field effect sensor senses proximity or touch more than a predetermined time after the first field effect sensor senses pro... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7006078 | Apparatus and method for sensing the degree and touch strength of a human body on a sensor An improvement in sensor for detecting contact with a human resistive element is disclosed. This design uses additional components to avoid discharging capacitors through the human resistive element, thereby sparing the user the uncomfortable sensation associated th... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6922153 | Safety detection and protection system for power tools A detection system for detecting a dangerous condition for an operator using a power tool of the type which has an exposed blade relative to a work surface and a protection system for minimizing, if not eliminating the possibility of a user being injured by contacti... | 07/26/2005 |
| 6798217 | Proximity sensor A proximity sensor with a sensor head for generating sensor signals is described. The proximity sensor is divided into a fastening portion containing a sensor head, and an electronics portion that can be connected to the fastening portion and has at least a sensor-s... | 09/28/2004 |
| 6791398 | Data token with power saving switch A data token with extended operational lifetime incorporates operational circuitry requiring D.C. power, a battery for supplying D.C. power to the circuitry, a power switch coupled between the battery and the circuitry, and a frequency selector for sensing remotely ... | 09/14/2004 |
| 6750564 | Compact non-contact electrical switch A compact non-contact electrical switch for use in an electrical box mounted on a wall has a capacitance sensor for detecting a presence of a hand placed adjacent to the switch and for generating a first data bit, and a CPU for receiving the data bit and for calcula... | 06/15/2004 |
| 6710629 | Impedance comparison integrator circuit Disclosed is an impedance comparison integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a current mirror part, a discharging part, a differential amplification part and a first output part. The current mirror part provides current to a first and second input termin... | 03/23/2004 |
| 6532447 | Apparatus and method of controlling a voice controlled operation An electronic device, e.g. a mobile telephone, includes speech recognition means for controlling the operation of the device in response to a voice command. The device includes a proximity sensor e.g. a capacitive, inductive, or IR-red proximity sensor, f... | 03/11/2003 |
| 6376939 | Sensor apparatus and safety apparatus for protecting approach to machines A sensor apparatus and a safety apparatus which can ensure significantly enhanced safety by monitoring constantly whether the sensor apparatus is operating normally. An auxiliary electrode plate of a small area is disposed in parallel and in opposition to... | 04/23/2002 |
| 6362632 | Balanced charge pump capacitive material sensor A balanced charge pump sensor circuit (switched capacitor) for measuring the capacitance of a sensor element includes a switching circuit having a charging state during which the sensing element is connected to a relatively fixed upper reference voltage s... | 03/26/2002 |
| 5977662 | Electronic switching device and circuits with a plurality of such switching devices An electronic proximity switching device with a proximity indicator and with an electronic switch which can be controlled by the proximity indicator. A plurality of these switching devices can be series connected without an unacceptable voltage drop occur... | 11/02/1999 |
| 5949257 | DC level transition detecting circuit for sensor devices The DC sensor signal S, on which a low frequency waviness component S1 and a high frequency noise component S2, is obtained by amplitude detecting for a sinusoidal output signal from a touch signal probe. For generating a touch trigger signal TG at an sbr... | 09/07/1999 |
| 5920487 | Two dimensional lithographic proximity correction using DRC shape functions Integrated circuit designs are continually shrinking in size. Lithographic processes are used to transfer these designs to a semiconductor substrate. These processes typically require that the exposure wavelength of light be shorter than the smallest dime... | 07/06/1999 |
| 5880538 | Capacitive proximity switch circuit A capacitive proximity switch which may be used as an actuating device for a variety of control applications, such as windshield wipers and door locks. According to the invention, the actuating element a contact or proximity switch to be actuated in a non... | 03/09/1999 |
| 5783875 | Touch sensor circuit A touch sensor circuit is disclosed for sensing a person's touch and for switching power to an AC load. The touch sensor circuit includes a sense input circuit, logic circuit, power switching circuit and power supply/reference circuit. The power supply an... | 07/21/1998 |
| 5714808 | Touch control supply system for an electrical device, method of implementation and applications A system for supplying at least one electrical apparatus with a touch control. The system may be utilized in a home automation system for supplying electrical equipment, e.g., light bulbs, motors, strip lights, electrical power points, etc., or may be uti... | 02/03/1998 |
| 5463333 | Proximity switches The present invention provides an integrator 5 with switched hysteresis for inductive proximity switches comprising a reference current source IREF connected between a reference voltage supply rail and a first side of a current mirror, a second side of th... | 10/31/1995 |
| 5453644 | Personal-care apparatus comprising a capacitive on/off switch A personal-care apparatus comprises a load (LD) and a switch (SW), which load (LD) and which switch (SW) are coupled in series between a first (1) and a second (2) supply terminal for receiving an alternating voltage, the personal-care apparatus further c... | 09/26/1995 |
| 5355130 | Ultrasonic proximity switch with a synchronizing device When operating adjacent ultrasonic proximity switches, faulty output states can occur due to mutual interference (e.g., the incorrect allocation of echo signals). To solve this problem, it is known to adhere to standard mounting specifications as well as ... | 10/11/1994 |
| 5264783 | Contactless magnet-activated proportional controller An electrical power controller includes an integrated circuit having a Hall element, a Hall voltage amplifier, a ramp signal generator, and a voltage comparator. The output of the ramp generator is connected to one input of the voltage comparator and the ... | 11/23/1993 |
| 5256909 | Electronic, preferably zero-contact switch In an electronic switch, preferably operating with zero contact, an electronic load switch (3) is controlled by a sensor stage (1), with the switching elements being located in an IC circuit (200) between sensor stage (1) and load switch (3), said circuit... | 10/26/1993 |
| 5107210 | Displacement sensing circuit with coil and band pass filter for attenuating external interference A displacement sensing circuit for sensing a displacement of a measured object without any contact with the measured object. A detecting coil is disposed relative to the measured object to be capable of changing its inductance in response to a displacemen... | 04/21/1992 |
| 5075632 | Automatic control using proximity sensors Proximity sensor apparatus has at least first and second antenna strips arranged along the edge of a structure. The antenna strips receive signals reflected by an object whose proximity is to be detected. Signal processing circuitry is coupled to the ante... | 12/24/1991 |
| 5063306 | Proximity sensing device A proximity sensing device comprising a sensor including a planar capacitor (1) having a central region (1a) and an outer region (1b) separated by a dielectric area, differentiator means (2,3) associated with said capacitor to form a spiked output pulse f... | 11/05/1991 |
| 5034621 | Inductive proximity switch exhibiting magnetic field immunity A proximity switch assembly (10) for signaling the location of a movable member (36) at either of opposite end limits of movement relative to a stationary frame (44, 46) includes a compact elongate housing (58) adapted to be mounted on the frame to extend... | 07/23/1991 |
| 5019804 | Apparatus and method for detecting movement of an object A sensor electrode is capacitively coupled to the environment. Electric charges carried by surrounding objects induce corresponding electric charges on the sensor electrode. A high input impedance circuit senses change in charge on the electrode and provi... | 05/28/1991 |
| 4922227 | Touch-controlled switch and alarm system A touch-controlled switch and alarm system for protecting electrically conductive objects. The touch switch automatically adjusts itself within a few seconds to a wide range of ungrounded conductive objects, is not triggered by AC power line transients or... | 05/01/1990 |
| 4920281 | Proximity switch circuit The circuit operates a main switch SCR to pass an a.c. supply V through a load L when a metallic object is in proximity to coil L1. Coil L1 is driven by an oscillator comprising transistor T2 and associated components. SCR is gated on simultaneous occurre... | 04/24/1990 |
| 4910464 | Proximity detector A movable door incorporates a proximity detection system for sensing obstructions in the path of the door. The system comprises an array of transmitter/receiver pairs (21, 22 and 23), each pair comprising a transmitter (1) for transmitting an energy pulse... | 03/20/1990 |
