Patent ID: 7291940

Claim:
An electronic switching device for use with a power source and at least an energy consuming load or product including: (a) a switch (b) a microchip which has an input to which the switch is connected and which is configured to influence operation of the load/product in response to at least a signal from the switch which acts as a user interface to the microchip, wherein the switch and said input do not form a serial element in a circuit that transfers power from the power source to power the load/product; (c) said microchip further configured to implement at least one function selected from the group consisting of: an automatic delayed switch-off of a function activated in response to an activation signal from the switch; a find-in-the-dark function by controlling an indicator, said indicator at least activated to indicate an activation of the switch; and a mode selection function whereby the selection of specifically a shut off function by a user, is also influenced by the time period between successive switch activation signals exceeding a predetermined minimum time; and (d) wherein the switch comprises at least a part that is constructed from a compressible material such that the body thereof is significantly deformed under pressure, so that it becomes thinner in the direction in which the pressure is exerted and in becoming thinner affects the operation of the switch.