Patent ID: 8890846
Filing Date: 2014-11-18
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
1. A method for guiding a trigger agent to activate a touchless switch having a proximity sensor and a plurality of activatable indicator lights, the touchless switch having an unactivated state and an activated state, the method comprising: detecting that the trigger agent is within a proximity threshold of the proximity sensor while the touchless switch remains in the unactivated state; in response to the detecting, activating at least one of the plurality of indicator lights while the touchless switch remains in the unactivated state; progressively activating additional ones of the plurality of indicator lights as the presence of the trigger agent continues within said proximity threshold of the proximity sensor while the touchless switch remains in the unactivated state; in response to detecting a retracting movement of the trigger agent away from the proximity sensor, progressively de-activating the activated ones of the indicator lights as the trigger agent progresses away from the proximity sensor while the touchless switch remains in the unactivated state; and placing the touchless switch in the activated state in response to detecting that the continuing presence of the trigger agent has reached an activation time threshold.