Patent ID: 7420881
Filing Date: 2008-09-02
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. An interactive switching device for a portable electronic apparatus powered by a battery or an accumulator and including: data entry means enabling a user to select data or functions by successive manipulations; display means arranged to provide information representative of the data corresponding to the manipulation carried out; control means connected to the display means and arranged so as to provide a command representative of said data, wherein it further includes a processing unit inserted between the data entry means and the control means, said processing unit including a memory for storing reference times or durations and particularly the maximum time or duration authorised between the start and end of a manipulation, designated by “Time Out”, “TO” by abbreviation, a counter connected to a time base storing the time that elapses between two manipulations which is designated by “TC” and the total elapsed time “TM” between two manipulations, and a comparator including a first unit, which acts on an ON/OFF switch to interrupt, via control means the energy supply to the data entry means and the display means, when TC>TO and which enables certain reference times or durations of the memory to be continuously altered at the end of a series of manipulations, among which certain reference times or durations is the maximum time or duration “TO” authorised between the start and end of a manipulation.