Patent ID: 7466040

Claim:
An electronic switch module for use with a product comprising a connection for a power source and an energy consuming load, said module comprising: a microchip; at least one capacitive sensing proximity/touch sensor switch; said at least one switch functioning as a user interface for the selection of multiple functions controlled by said microchip; said microchip configured to control the activation and deactivation of the load as well as at least one function; said module configured to receive an input signal from the proximity/touch sensor interface; wherein said microchip is further configured to function according to at least one configuration selected from the following group: a) wherein upon activation of the load, the proximity/touch sensor interface establishes a touch condition reference level which is used to determine when a no-touch condition occurs and wherein adjustment of the touch condition reference level is frozen while the no-touch condition is maintained; and b) wherein said at least one switch is used to activate the load in a mode that provides an automatic time-out to deactivate the load, in which the microchip controls an indication before the deactivation occurs and in which an input signal from the proximity/touch switch sensor showing proximity resets the time-out and (i) continues activation of the load only in a predetermined period after the indication has been given, or (ii) reactivates the load only in a predetermined period after deactivation has occurred.