Patent Description:
Various switch systems are known, including manually operated physical switches such as button switches, rocker switches and touch switches, sensor control switches such as voice control switches and thermo-switches, time switches, and so on.

On certain occasions like a magnetically-levitated globe or sound box in which a bulb is built, it is quite inconvenient to operate a physical power supply switch disposed thereon since a levitating body usually rotates while being levitated. If using a conventional sensor control switch such as a voice control switch, it is susceptible to ambient noise, and a novel operational feeling therewith is almost lost nowadays.

The document <CIT> teaches a levitation system that can levitate an item. The levitator of the levitation system may include sensors that can detect the position and motion of the levitated item, and can adjust the position and motion of the levitated item based on its detected position. In this way, the levitated item can be maintained in a desired location even if it is moved, and/or can be controlled to move. Such movement can be predetermined by being programmed into a control system of the levitator, or can be changeable in real time by being controlled by a real time input such as from a control panel or audio signal. Levitators as described may be used in a retail setting to display items for sale or display. Levitating an item may help bring attention to it and may present it to a consumer in a way that is easy to view and, in some cases, pick up and manipulate. By moving the item with the levitator, a retailer can further make it stand out to a customer and can better display all sides of the item to the customer. Such a levitation system has a self-balance ability to return a levitated item deviating from the equilibrium position in a certain degree, whether naturally or by certain outside forces like a hand-push.

An object of the present invention is to provide a switch system for an electrical appliance.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a switch levitation system according to claim <NUM>.

According to the present invention, the switch control circuit will generate a corresponding switch signal only when the varied magnetic signal output by the magnetic detector means exceeds a set value. The set value is greater than a disturbance value corresponding to normal and stable levitation of the switch body. In other words, in cases where there is no human interference and the switch body itself is subjected to normal ambient air disturbances, the varied magnetic signal or field strength signal detected and output by the magnetic detector means is smaller than the above set value. When forced interference is imposed on the switch body being levitated in a normally stable state or at an approximate levitation reference position, for example, when the switch body is simply pressed or pushed aside a little to deviate by an appropriate distance such as <NUM>-<NUM>, the varied magnetic signal detected and output by the magnetic detector means will be greater than or exceed the set value. Generally, the push or press in such a degree would not exceed or destroy the self-balance recovery or adjustment capability of the magnetic levitation system consisting of the switch body and the magnetic levitation support mechanism.

According to the switch levitation system of the present invention, the magnetic detector means is preferably configured to detect the magnetic field variation when the switch body is displaced in distance relative thereto. Such a displacement in distance or a distance change along Z-axis between the magnetic detector means and the switch body may be achieved by manually pressing the switch body towards the magnetic detector means (or the magnetic levitation support mechanism). Such a manual press imitates the manual operation experience of a conventional switch.

In addition, the magnetic detector means of the present invention may be further configured to detect the magnetic field variation when the switch body is displaced parallel therewith, and the parallel displacement is also achieved by pushing the switch body aside laterally or longitudinally. The magnetic field variation caused by the parallel displacement may include X-axis variation and Y-axis variation. In this case, the varied magnetic signal output by the magnetic detector means may include at least one vector signal selected from the group consisting of vector signals along the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis, and the switch control circuit generates a respective mode of switch control signal based on each of the output vector signals.

According to the switch levitation system of the present invention, a levitation position of the switch body is not limited in any way, and the switch body may be stably levitated in any direction of the magnetic levitation support mechanism, e.g., above, below or aside, depending on practical applications.

In the present invention, although the magnetic detector means may be otherwise arranged, it is preferably arranged stationary to the magnetic levitation support mechanism so as to facilitate detection accuracy of the system. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the magnetic detector means is part of the magnetic levitation support mechanism, e.g., a Hall sensor of the magnetic levitation support mechanism also acts as the magnetic detector means. Such a configuration not only reduces the number of sensors, but also simplifies the system structure. Certainly, the magnetic detector means may also be a separate Hall sensor arranged in any other appropriate position.

According to the above preferred embodiment, the magnetic levitation support mechanism and the switch body may form a magnetic repulsion type levitation system. For example, the switch body may be stably levitated at a predetermined reference position above or aside of the magnetic levitation support mechanism. In this case, the magnet of the switch body is a permanent magnet with opposite magnetic poles, the magnetic levitation support mechanism includes a substantially annular permanent magnet, an electromagnetic coil, a magnetic sensor assembly and a controller, the annular permanent magnet of the magnetic levitation support mechanism and the permanent magnet of the switch body form a substantially repulsively balanced magnetic field, the magnetic sensor assembly is configured to detect in real time a levitation balance position deviation of the permanent magnet of the switch body from the annular permanent magnet of the magnetic levitation support mechanism, the controller controls a corresponding electric current to flow through the electromagnetic coil based on the levitation balance position deviation detected by the magnetic sensor assembly so as to return the permanent magnet of the switch body to its relative levitation balance position, and the magnetic sensor assembly of the magnetic levitation support mechanism functions also as the magnetic detector means.

Alternatively, the magnetic levitation support mechanism and the switch body may form a magnetic attraction type levitation system. For example, the switch body may be stably levitated at a predetermined reference position below the magnetic levitation support mechanism. In this case, the magnet of the switch body may be a permanent magnet with opposite magnetic poles, the magnetic levitation support mechanism includes a ferromagnetic element, an electromagnetic coil and a magnetic sensor, the ferromagnetic element and the permanent magnet of the switch body form a substantially attractively balanced magnetic field (usually having a vertical freedom), the magnetic sensor is configured to detect in real time a levitation balance position deviation between the ferromagnetic element and the permanent magnet of the switch body, a corresponding electric current is controlled to flow through the electromagnetic coil based on the levitation balance position deviation detected by the magnetic sensor so as to return the permanent magnet of the switch body to its relative levitation balance position, and the magnetic sensor of the magnetic levitation support mechanism functions also as the magnetic detector means.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the operation type of the magnetic levitation system of the present invention is unimportant, as long as the levitating body contains a magnet or has magnetic polarities, so that the magnetic field variation caused by the position deviation of the levitating body can be readily detected by magnetic detector means or Hall sensors.

According to the present invention, the levitating body may be designed in any desired configuration, such as a rubber eraser or a lighter or a globe or a toy of suitable sizes. In addition, the levitating body per se may also be designed as a sphere with opposite magnetic poles. In the present invention, the term "opposite magnetic poles" means that the N and S poles of the magnet are on the same straight line; the term "magnet" includes permanent magnet and electromagnet; the term "ferromagnetic element" refers to an element made of iron or permanent magnet and can be attracted by other magnets. The terms "above or below", "longitudinally", "laterally", "aside" etc., are also used for convenient description of corresponding drawing figures.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an electrical appliance is provided, including an electric device and the above-mentioned switch levitation system. The magnetic levitation support mechanism, the magnetic detector means and the switch control circuit of the switch levitation system are arranged on or in a base, and the electric device is controlled by the switch control circuit over its switch modes. The switch modes involve, but not limited to, power-on and power-off modes. For example, the switch modes may also involve a volume mode and a music selection mode when the electric device is a Bluetooth speaker, or involve a lamp light color conversion mode and a light intensity mode when the electric device is a color-changeable lamp.

According to the present invention, the electric device is provided on the switch body of the switch levitatior system.

A wireless power receiving coil powering the electric device may be disposed in the switch body, and a matching wireless power transmitting coil is disposed in the base, and a switch signal generated by the switch control circuit may be used to control powering of the wireless power transmitting coil, i.e., to turn on or off the power source connected thereto.

According to the electrical appliance of the present invention, the magnetic detector means of the switch levitation system is preferably further wire connected to the switch control circuit via a signal amplifier.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electric device may be a lamp ring (such as of a wall lamp) pivotable to the base, and the switch body can freely cross over or go through the lamp ring during the pivoting movement of the lamp ring.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electric device may be a light-emitting element disposed in the base that is tiltable through legs detachably connected thereto.

The Inventors thus achieve an ingenious, convenient as well as novel switch-shift operation by creatively taking advantage of the self-balancing adjustment capability of the magnetic levitation system, i.e., the switch levitating body can spontaneously return to its levitation balance position (without introduction of an extra structure such as a return spring) after forced operations within a certain degree, such as conveniently manual operations by push or press, while ingeniously in combination with a magnetic sensor, such as a Hall sensor of the magnetic levitation system per se, to prepare or generate a corresponding switch signal.

The multidimensional levitation switch or switch system of the present invention may be applied to various electrical appliances, including but not limited to any suitable household or other electrical appliances such as Bluetooth speakers, rice cookers, doorbells, electric lamps, etc. The shift of the switch modes of the electric device can be achieved readily by applying a simple push or press action on the switch levitating body, and thus operational convenience and novelty is introduced.

The present invention will be further described with reference to embodiments and figures. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that those embodiments and figures are only for facilitating the understanding of the present invention, not for any limitations.

<FIG> shows an electrical appliance according to a first example, wherein an electric device B such as a bulb and a circuit board <NUM> are disposed on a base or a bottom of bracket A, and the circuit board <NUM> is provided with a switch control circuit for turning on or turning off power supply to the electric device B.

A magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM> is disposed on the top of the bracket A. The magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM> includes an iron core <NUM> and an electromagnetic coil <NUM> disposed around the iron core. A magnetic sensor (e.g., a Hall sensor) <NUM> is disposed at a lower end of the iron core <NUM>. A cylindrical magnet <NUM> having opposite magnetic poles is disposed in a spherical levitating body <NUM>. Certainly, a U-shaped magnet may also be used in this case.

There will be a magnetic attraction between the magnet <NUM> of the levitating body <NUM> and the iron core <NUM>, and when a distance between the magnet <NUM> and the iron core <NUM> is adjusted appropriately (to a predetermined distance), the gravity of the levitating body <NUM> will be balanced by the magnetic attraction so that the levitating body <NUM> is in a balanced levitation position relative to the magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM> or iron core <NUM>. Once the distance between the magnet <NUM> of the levitating body <NUM> and the iron core <NUM> varies due to air disturbance, such a balanced levitation of the levitating body <NUM> relative to the magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM> will be broken. The sensor <NUM> detects in real time a position variation of the levitating body <NUM> relative to the iron core <NUM> in a longitudinal direction (a vertical direction as shown), then generates a corresponding signal, and transmits the signal to a controller such as a control chip (not shown) disposed on the magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM>. The controller controls the flow direction and magnitude of an electric current flowing through the electromagnetic coil <NUM> based on the positional signal transmitted from the sensor <NUM>, so that the electromagnetic coil <NUM> generates a corresponding electromagnetic force acting on the magnet <NUM> of the levitating body <NUM> to return it into the balanced levitation position. As for the structure and working principle of the magnetic attraction type levitation system, reference may be made to <CIT>.

Certainly, in such a magnetic levitation structure or system, the electromagnetic coil <NUM> is not limited to being arranged around the iron core <NUM>, and it may also be arranged at the bottom of the bracket A so that the electromagnetic coil <NUM> is located below the levitating body <NUM> while being levitated. The levitating body <NUM> is not limited to a spherical shape and its magnet <NUM> is not limited to a cylindrical shape, for example, the whole levitating body <NUM> may be a magnet having opposite magnetic poles (in the vertical direction as shown). The sensor <NUM> is not limited to being arranged at the lower end of the iron core <NUM>, and it may be arranged at any appropriate position such as on the bottom of the bracket A.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> also acts as magnetic detector means simultaneously, although other magnetic sensors may be separately or additionally introduced to function as the magnetic detector means. The sensor <NUM> in such a magnetic attraction type levitation system is usually a vertical component Hall sensor so as to detect variations of a vertical magnetic field component. A vertical component field intensity signal generated by the sensor <NUM> will be transmitted through a transmission line <NUM> to a switch control circuit on the circuit board <NUM>. When receiving a vertical component field intensity signal that is above a set value, for example, when a hand slightly presses down or pushes up the levitating body <NUM> so that it deviates vertically away from the balanced levitation position by a certain distance of such as <NUM>-<NUM> without going beyond the self-balancing capability of the system (i.e., the levitating body is still capable of returning into its balanced levitation position upon hand release), the switch control circuit will generate a corresponding switch signal to turn on or turn off power supply to the electric device B. Thus control of power supply to the electric device B can be achieved by manual operation on the levitating body <NUM>.

<FIG> shows an electrical appliance according to a second example, wherein the magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM> is provided with an electric device B such as a bulb and a circuit board <NUM>, and the circuit board <NUM> is provided with a switch control circuit for turning on or turning off power supply to the electric device B.

The magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM> is further provided with an iron core <NUM> and an electromagnetic coil <NUM> disposed around the iron core. An annular magnet <NUM> is arranged around the electromagnetic coil <NUM>. A magnetic sensor or Hall sensor <NUM> is disposed at a central position of the annular magnet <NUM>. A cylindrical magnet <NUM> having opposite magnetic poles is disposed in a spherical levitating body <NUM>.

There will be a magnetic repulsion between the magnet <NUM> of the levitating body <NUM> and the annular magnet <NUM>, and when a distance between the magnet <NUM> and the annular magnet <NUM> is adjusted appropriately (to a predetermined distance), the gravity of the levitating body <NUM> will be balanced by the magnetic repulsion so that the levitating body <NUM> is in a balanced levitation position relative to the magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM> or the annular magnet <NUM>. The magnet <NUM> and the annular magnet <NUM> may be matched in the form of a smaller diameter cylindrical magnet and a larger diameter annular magnet with opposite magnetic poles adjacently facing each other as shown, or alternatively in the form of two substantially equal-diameter annular magnets with same magnetic poles adjacently facing each other. Once the distance between the magnet <NUM> of the levitating body <NUM> and the annular magnet <NUM> varies due to air disturbance, such a balanced levitation of the levitating body <NUM> relative to the magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM> will be broken. The sensor <NUM> detects in real time a position variation of the magnet <NUM> of the levitating body <NUM> relative to the annular magnet <NUM> in a lateral direction (a horizontal direction as shown), then generates a corresponding signal, and transmits the signal to a controller such as a control chip (not shown) disposed on the magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM>. The controller controls the flow direction and magnitude of an electric current flowing through the electromagnetic coil <NUM> based on the positional signal transmitted from the sensor <NUM>, so that the electromagnetic coil <NUM> and its reinforcing iron core <NUM> generates a corresponding electromagnetic force acting on the magnet <NUM> of the levitating body <NUM> to return it into the balanced levitation position. As for the structure and working principle of the magnetic repulsion type levitation system, reference may be made to such as the Applicant's early patents <CIT> and <CIT>.

In the example of the magnetic repulsion type levitation system shown in <FIG>, the sensor <NUM> is usually a sensor assembly consisting of or integrated from horizontal component Hall sensors and a vertical component Hall sensor. As shown in <FIG>, the horizontal component Hall sensors include an X-axis sensor and a Y-axis sensor, and the vertical component Hall sensor is a Z-axis sensor. For example, when the electric device B is a Bluetooth sound box, the vertical component Hall sensor or Z-axis sensor may be chosen to generate a main switch mode vector signal, the X-axis sensor may be chosen to generate a volume switch mode vector signal, and the Y-axis sensor may be chosen to generate a track-selection switch mode vector signal. As in the example shown in <FIG>, the switch mode vector signals (X+, X-, Y+, Y-, Z+ or Z-) generated by the sensor <NUM> will be transmitted through the transmission line <NUM> to the switch control circuit on the circuit board <NUM>. Based on the switch mode vector signal received, the switch control circuit will generate a corresponding switch control signal to control an operation mode of the electric device B. Of course, it is also possible only to choose the Z-axis sensor to simply generate a switch signal.

<FIG> shows an electrical appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is similar to the second example but different in that the electric device B (a bulb as shown) while disposed together with the magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM> in the second embodiment is now disposed in the levitating body <NUM>.

In <FIG>, an electric wireless power receiving coil <NUM> is also disposed in the levitating body <NUM> and connected with a rectifying circuit board <NUM> to power the electric device B. The magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM> is correspondingly provided with an electric wireless power transmitting coil <NUM>, and the switch circuit board <NUM> is devised to control the power supply to the electric wireless power transmitting coil <NUM>. When the electric wireless power transmitting coil <NUM> is energized, a corresponding electric current is generated in the electric wireless power receiving coil <NUM>. Such a wireless power supply structure is well known in the art and thus its working principle will not be discussed in detail here. As such, the shift of switch modes of the electric device B or indicator lamp in the levitating body <NUM> may be achieved by manual operation such as by slightly pressing the levitating body <NUM> as stated above.

<FIG> shows a block diagram of a switch circuit in the context of the present invention. As shown, a certain magnetic field intensity signal detected by the sensor <NUM> is further amplified via a signal amplifier <NUM>, and then transmitted to the switch control circuit on the circuit board <NUM>. The switch control circuit may then generate a switch control signal for a corresponding power supply control or mode shift of the electric device B.

Certainly, the signal amplifier <NUM> may also be omitted or replaced by an existing signal amplifier already on the magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM>. In this case, the switch levitation system according to the present invention may be achieved by taking advantage of the self-balance adjusting capability of the magnetic levitation system as well as its existing sensors and signal amplifier to be in connection with a certain switch circuit, without introducing any other elements such as a return spring.

Although the levitating body <NUM> is designed as a spherical shape, those skilled in the art may understand the levitating body <NUM> may, if needed, be designed as any desired configuration such as an eraser, a lighter, a globe or a toy of suitable sizes.

A wall lamp ring R shown in <FIG> is pivotable vertically relative to a magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM>. A levitating body <NUM> is levitated on a side of the magnetic levitation support mechanism <NUM> away from the wall, and may freely cross over or go through the wall lamp ring R without interfering therewith during folding or pivoting movement of the wall lamp ring R. Such a wall lamp is quite novel and convenient in use.

Claim 1:
A switch levitation system, comprising:
a switch levitating body (<NUM>) having a magnet (<NUM>);
a magnetic levitation support mechanism (<NUM>) for supporting the switch body in a stably levitated state relative thereto;
magnetic detector means for detecting magnetic field variation of the switch body relative thereto and outputting a correspondingly varied magnetic signal; and
a switch control circuit receiving the varied magnetic signal output by the magnetic detector means and generating a corresponding switch signal based on the varied magnetic signal received, characterized by the switch levitation system being adapted such that said switch signal controls an electric device (B) disposed on the switch body.