Patent ID: 6869011

Claim:
An electrical switching apparatus configured for low power operation; the apparatus comprising: (a) a plurality of switching devices; said plurality of switching devices being arranged in a switching array permitting sensing of individual switching events by selected switching devices of said plurality of switching devices; (b) a switching control device coupled with said switching array; said control device providing power to said switching array for said sensing and for a first time interval after a first said switching device of said plurality of switching devices is actuated; said control device identifying said first switching device during said first time interval; said control device interrupting power to said switching array after said first time interval until said first switching device is deactuated; said control device providing power to said switching array for a second time interval after said first switching device is deactuated; said control device determining during said second time interval whether a second said switching device of said plurality of switching devices other than said first switching device is actuated.