Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/701,543 filed Feb. 6, 2010 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,222,771 and entitled ILLUMINATED PUSHBUTTON SWITCH WITH ELECTRONIC LATCHING AND BLINKING FEATURE, and claims priority to commonly assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/207,016, filed Feb. 6, 2009, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure is directed, in general, to illuminated pushbuttons switches, and more specifically to implementing electronic latching and blinking features for illuminated pushbutton switches. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Within the realm of illuminated pushbutton switch usage, specialized applications are emerging requiring inclusion of latching, blinking or remote control functions to be included within the illuminated pushbutton switch housing. Such applications may require depressing the pushbutton switch to initiate a remote action request, activating switch functions from a remote location, energizing or blinking a local or remote display, and resetting the switch state automatically upon remote acknowledgement. Other applications may involve a plurality of illuminated pushbutton switches in differing locations, all controlling the same functions, wherein a switch depressed at one location must change the state of a switch or display at another location. Other applications may need a single illuminated pushbutton switch to cycle through multiple latched states based on signals from either successive switch presses or from a remote source. Nearly all applications require the added safety feature of an automatic reset to a default state after loss of power. 
     Proposed designs may incorporate local latching and remote release functions through the use of internal electromagnetic holding coils, in some cases together with various electronic or electromechanical means to interrupt the holding coil current locally without remote intervention. Many of the proposed designs that rely upon an internal electromagnetic holding coil suffer from excessive power consumption, excessive heat, sensitivity to shock and physical jarring, electrical spikes, holding coil drop-out on low voltage, and low reliability. The internal holding coil also makes the resulting illuminated pushbutton switch substantially longer and heavier than standard models that do not incorporate a holding coil. 
     There is, therefore, a need in the art for improved latching and release in pushbutton switches, together with other features. 
     SUMMARY 
     Within an illuminating pushbutton switch, an electronic latching circuit replaces an electromagnetic holding coil for latching or releasing a state of the illuminated pushbutton switch. The electronic latching circuit includes inputs receiving clock and reset control signals, one or more outputs delivering latch output states, which may include multiple configurable states, and latch logic controlled by the clock and reset control signals and delivering signals maintaining the illuminated pushbutton switch in a predetermined condition depending upon the latch state. The electronic logic circuit fits within the illuminated pushbutton switch housing in space sized to hold one or more snap action switching device without increase in the length, weight or mounting depth of the illuminated pushbutton switch. 
     Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts: 
         FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  1 C are exploded perspective views of a pushbutton illuminated switch (or components thereof) with electronic latching and/or blinking according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 1D and 1E  are perspective views illustrating incorporation of an electronic latching and/or blinking module into the pushbutton illuminated switch of  FIGS. 1A-1C ; 
         FIGS. 1F through 1J  are perspective views illustrating several alternatives for incorporating configurable electronic latching with multiple latched states into the pushbutton illuminated switch of  FIGS. 1A-1C ; 
         FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram for an electronic latching and/or blinking module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram for a configurable electronic latching module providing multiple latched states according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram for a single-state electronic latching module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1A through 4 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged system. 
       FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  1 C are exploded perspective views of a pushbutton illuminated switch (or components thereof) with electronic latching and/or blinking according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The pushbutton switch  100  includes a switch cap  101  and a switch body  102 . The switch cap  101  is located at the front of the switch  100  and is received by the switch body  102 . The switch cap  101  includes a switch cap housing  103  receiving an array  104  of light sources such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) or incandescent lamps. The 2×4 LED array  104  in the exemplary embodiment has two rows of four surface mount diode (SMD) LEDs arranged to illuminate four quadrants of a face plate (not shown) on the front of switch cap body  103 , with two LEDs (a 1×2 subarray) per quadrant. The LEDs are mounted over a switch cap back plate  105  and are connected to an electrical driving circuit (not visible in  FIG. 1B ) mounted on the switch cap back plate  105 . A member  106  for mechanical latching and release of the pushbutton switch when the switch cap  101  is depressed within the switch body  102  protrudes from the rear of switch cap back plate  105 . Electrical connections (not shown) to the display driving circuit are also exposed on the rear surface of switch cap back plate  105 . The structure depicted and described is consistent with the design of the switch bodies for the 4 pole, models 95, LED (R 2 ) and LR3 pushbutton illuminated switches sold by Aerospace Optics, Inc. of Fort Worth, Tex. Each of the circuits and applications may be housed within such switches in the manner described in further detail below. 
     In some embodiments, switch body  102  includes a housing  107  receiving a mechanical and electrical subsystem  108  for mechanical latching and release of the pushbutton switch  100 , for transmitting electrical signals to the driving circuit, and for transmitting mechanical forces to actuate four-pin snap-action switching devices  109   a  through  109   d . Pins for the switching devices  109   a  through  109   d  are received by mounting block  110  and provide electrical switching by connections of the pins to external signal sources and/or through the subsystem  108  to the driving circuit. The pins of devices  109   a  through  109   d  extend through the mounting block  110  and may be connected at the rear of pushbutton switch  100  to external signals, to each other, and/or through subsystem  108  to the driving circuit. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that the complete structure and operation of a pushbutton switch of the type normally used in avionics is not depicted or described herein. Instead, for simplicity and clarity, only so much of the structure and operation of a pushbutton switch as is necessary for an understanding of the present disclosure is depicted and described. For example, filters between the LEDs and the switch cap face plate allow legends on the switch cap face plate to be illuminated in different colors as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,653,798, which is incorporated herein by reference. Numerous other features are also not depicted or described herein are or may be included within pushbutton switch  100 . 
       FIGS. 1D and 1E  are perspective views illustrating incorporation of an electronic latching and/or blinking module into the pushbutton illuminated switch of  FIGS. 1A-1C . As shown in  FIG. 1D , an electronic latching and/or blinking module  111  is inserted in place of switching devices  109   b  and  109   c , with pins received by mounting block  110 .  FIG. 1E  depicts a mounting frame  112  on which integrated electronic circuitry may be mounted, within one of the recesses  113 . The electronic module  111  is coupled to a plurality of interface pins  114  (eight in the exemplary embodiment) each extending from the electronic circuitry through a portion of the mounting frame  112  to an endpoint and configured to pass through additional frames or housings (not shown) and engage additional electronic circuitry (not shown), in the same manner as pins for switching devices  109   b  and  109   c . This approach provides the added functionality of the electronic module  111  with no increase in length, weight or mounting depth while retaining two uncommitted snap-action switching devices  109   a  and  109   d  that can be used to interact with the electronic module  111  or control other system functions. 
       FIGS. 1F through 1J  are perspective views illustrating several alternatives for incorporating configurable electronic latching with multiple latched states into the pushbutton illuminated switch of  FIGS. 1A-1C . In the examples shown, the center two snap-action switches  109   b  and  109   c  depicted in  FIG. 1C  have been replaced with an electronic module  111 . In addition, each of these embodiments employs an alternative mounting block  110   a  having a recessed central region surrounded around portions of the peripheral by sidewalls, configured to receive portions of devices  109   a  through  109   d  and/or electronic module  111 , as well as portions of a configurable electronic latching module  115   a  or  115   b  when such module replaces one or both of devices  109   a  or  109   d  as depicted and described below. However, the pins of switching devices  109   a  or  109   d , electronic module  111 , and/or configurable electronic latching modules  115   a  or  115   b  still extend through the mounting block  110   a  as previously described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1F , an electronic latching module  115   a  is inserted in place of one of the snap-action switching devices  109   d , with pins received by mounting block  110   a  (an alternate design to mounting block  110  depicted in  FIGS. 1C and 1D ).  FIG. 1G  illustrates substitution of an electronic latching module  115   b  for switching device  109   a , while  FIG. 1H  illustrates substitution of electronic latching modules  115   a  and  115   b  for both switching devices  109   d  and  109   a , respectively. The recessed central region of mounting block  110   a  allows for a more compact structure, taking less space within the pushbutton switch  100 , and a mechanically more stable structure. 
       FIGS. 1I and 1J  depict just the configurable electronic latching module  115   a  or  115   b , respectively, and the alternative mounting block  110   a  to better illustrate the outer configuration of configurable electronic latching modules  115   a  and  115   b . The body of each configurable electronic latching module  115   a  and  115   b  has, at the end from which the pins project, a smaller thickness than a remainder of the body, forming a peripheral lip. The width of the body at that region matches a width of the recessed region of mounting block  110   a , such that the portion below the lip is received by the recessed central region. 
     An opposite (inner) face of each configurable electronic latching module  115   a  and  115   b  has grooves. These grooves are complementary to and fit within grooves provided on the adjacent face of electronic latching and/or blinking module  111  in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1F through 1J . The grooves may have a dovetail shape, such that the surfaces are fit together by sliding. Regardless, the presence of the complementary grooves improves mechanical strength of the assembly supported by the mounting block  110   a , such that mounting block  110   a  does not need to provide as much mechanical rigidity to the assembly. 
       FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram for an electronic latching and/or blinking circuit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Electronic latching and/or blinking circuit  200  is contained within the electronic module  111  within switch  100 . TABLE I below contains the input and output signal descriptions for circuit  200 , while TABLE II describes the logic input and output functions: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE I 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 SIGNAL 
                   
                 ACTIVE 
                   
               
               
                 NAME 
                 FUNCTION 
                 STATE 
                 DESCRIPTION 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 /RESET 
                 Input 
                 Low 
                 Forces /N_OPEN to OFF (open). 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Forces /N_CLOSED to ON  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (ground). 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Forces /BLINK to Steady ON  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (ground). 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 See Note 1 below. 
               
               
                 /TOGGLE 
                 Input 
                 ↓ 
                 Toggles /N_OPEN and / 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 N_CLOSED 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 outputs. Toggles blink mode.  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 See Note 2 below. 
               
               
                 /SET 
                 Input 
                 Low 
                 Forces /N_OPEN to ON  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (ground). 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Forces /N_CLOSED to OFF  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 (open). 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Initiates 1 Hz blink mode to  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 /BLINK output. 
               
               
                 +28 VDC 
                 Power 
                 — 
                 Power (+10 VDC to +30 VDC) 
               
               
                 Ground 
                 Common 
                 — 
                 Common for power and signals. 
               
               
                 /N_OPEN 
                 Output 
                 Low 
                 Open drain output. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Forced OFF (open) by /RESET  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 input. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Forced ON (ground) by /SET  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 input. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Toggled by falling edge of  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 /TOGGLE input. 
               
               
                 /N_CLOSED 
                 Output 
                 Low 
                 Open drain output. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Forced ON (ground) by /RESET  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 input. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Forced OFF (open) by /SET  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 input. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Toggled by falling edge of  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 /TOGGLE input. 
               
               
                 /BLINK 
                 Output 
                 Low 
                 Open drain output. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Forced ON (ground) while  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 /RESET is held low. See  
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 TABLE II below. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE II 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Inputs 
                 Outputs 
               
             
          
           
               
                 /SET 
                 /RESET 
                 /TOGGLE 
                 /N_OPEN 
                 /N_CLOSED 
                 /BLINK 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 L 
                 H 
                 X 
                 L (ground) 
                 H (open) 
                 1 Hz blink 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 mode. 
               
               
                 H 
                 L 
                 X 
                 H (open) 
                 L (ground) 
                 Steady ON. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 See Note 1. 
               
               
                 L 
                 L 
                 X 
                 See Note 3. 
                 See Note 3. 
                 See Note 3. 
               
               
                 H 
                 H 
                 ↓ 
                 Toggle 
                 Toggle 
                 Toggle. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 state. 
                 state. 
                 See Note 1. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
         
         Note 1: /BLINK output is held steady ON (ground) while /RESET is held low. /BLINK output goes OFF (open) when /RESET returns to the inactive high level. This feature provides essentially three states to the /BLINK output: OFF, ON and BLINK. 
         Note 2: /TOGGLE input causes /BLINK output to alternate between 1 Hertz (Hz) blink state and OFF (open). 
         Note 3: This is an illegal state that will have unpredictable effect upon the outputs when the inputs are returned to their normal inactive high state. 
       
    
     The logic input circuitry  201  has a total of eight (8) interface pads each connected to an external pin of electronic module  111 . Three interface pads are inputs: /SET, /RESET and /TOGGLE. Three interface pads are outputs: /N_OPEN (normally open), /N_CLOSED (normally closed) and /BLINK. Two additional interface pads are devoted to power: +28 VDC (volts, direct current) and Ground. 
     Each input pad is connected by two parallel resistors: resistors R 1  and R 2  for input /SET; resistors R 3  and R 4  for input /TOGGLE; and resistors R 5  and R 6  for input /RESET. One resistor of each parallel pair (R 1 , R 3  and R 5 ) is connected at the other terminal to the +28 VDC input power. The other resistor of each pair (R 2 , R 4  and R 6 ) is connected to one terminal of a capacitor (C 1 , C 2  and C 3 , respectively) and to the cathode of a zener diode (D 1 , D 2  and D 3 , respectively). The other capacitor terminals and the anodes of the zener diodes are connected to ground. Resistors R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5  and R 6  each have a resistance of 33 kilo-Ohms (KΩ). Capacitor C 1  has a capacitance of 0.1 micro-Farads (μF) and each of capacitors C 2  and C 3  has a capacitance of 1.0 μF in the example depicted. 
     Each input to circuit  200  includes input filter circuitry designed to protect the integrated circuits from electromagnetic interference (EMI), voltage transients, electromechanical contact bounce and shift the 28 VDC logic level to a 5 VDC logic level. Resistors R 2 , R 4  and R 6  and zener diodes D 1 , D 2  and D 3  provide EMI protection and voltage transient protection to circuit  200 , and shift the 28 VDC logic level to a 5 VDC logic level. Furthermore, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) latch-up on extreme transients such as lightning or a conducted electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is prevented by clamping the inputs 0.5 VDC below the logic power supply voltage. Capacitors C 1 , C 2  and C 3  suppress electro-mechanical contact bounce. Resistors R 5  and R 6  and capacitor C 3  on the /RESET input guarantee a default power-up state for circuit  200  since the power-up time constant of those components is substantially longer than that of both the logic power supply VCC (which has a lower resistance) and the /SET input (which has a much smaller capacitance). Pull-up resistors R 1 , R 3  and R 5  establish a default static logic level for the inputs, preventing floating logic states on unconnected inputs. 
     The logic power supply functional unit  202  generating the logic power supply voltage VCC for circuit  200  includes resistor R 7  (which has a resistor of 15 KΩ), zener diode D 4  and capacitor C 4  (which has a capacitance of 1.0 μF) from the +28 VDC power input. Due to the low operating current of the CMOS logic circuitry within circuit  200 , the value of resistor R 7  is selected to limit the current of any EMI or voltage transient on the +28 VDC power pad. Transient suppression and voltage regulation on the +5.6 VDC logic power supply is provided by D 4  while C 4  provides filtering of input and logic transients. Because the logic power supply is a simple shunt voltage regulator, circuit  200  can operate over a wide input voltage range from below +10 VDC to in excess of +30 VDC. 
     Circuit  200  includes two high speed CMOS integrated circuits: a dual D-Type latch (FF 1  and FF 2 ) and a quad Schmidt Trigger NAND gate (NAND 1 , NAND 2 , NAND 3  and NAND 3 ) implementing the latch logic  203  and the blink circuitry  204 . The inverted preset input PRE of latch FF 1  is connected by resistor R 1  to the /SET input, while the input D of latch FF 1  is connected to the inverting output of latch FF 1 . The clock input CLK of latch FF 1  is coupled by NAND gate NAND 4 , configured as an inverter with the inputs tied together, by resistor R 4  to the /TOGGLE input. The inverted clear input CLR of latch FF 1  is connected by resistor R 6  to the /RESET input. Schmidt Trigger logic gates are used to assure consistent performance on low slew-rate input signals. 
     Latch FF 1  is the primary latching circuit that responds to the inputs /SET, /RESET and /TOGGLE as described in TABLE II above. NAND gate NAND 4  is connected between the /TOGGLE input and the clock input of latch FF 1  for the purpose of inverting the positive (leading) edge trigger of latch FF 1  to a negative (trailing) edge trigger. The inverting output of latch FF 1  is connected to the D input so that successive /TOGGLE inputs to latch FF 1  result in a toggling action of latch FF 1  non-inverting and inverting outputs Q and /Q. The non-inverting output Q from latch FF 1  drives the normally open output /N_OPEN via n-channel enhancement mode metal-oxide-semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) Q 3 , and the inverting output /Q from latch FF 1  drives the normally closed output /N_CLOSED via MOSFET Q 2 . The non-inverting output Q of latch FF 1  also holds latch FF 2  in the reset state any time latch FF 1  is in the reset state. 
     Blink circuitry  204  includes series connected NAND gates NAND 1  and NAND 2  configured as inverters with the respective inputs tied together and are interconnected as a dual inverting buffer that, together with resistor R 8  (having a resistance of 220 KΩ) connecting a feedback loop from the output of NAND gate NAND 2  to the input of NAND gate NAND 1  with the input to NAND gate NAND 2  and capacitor C 5  (having a capacitance of 1.9 μF) connected in the feedback loop, form a free running square wave oscillator with a fundamental frequency F=1/(2.2×R 8 ×C 5 ) of approximately 2 Hertz (Hz). The output of that oscillator feeds the clock input CLK of latch FF 2 , where the inverting output /Q of latch FF 2  is connected to the D input so that latch FF 2  functions as f/2 frequency divider. The inverted preset input PRE of latch FF 2  is tied to the logic supply voltage VCC. Because the inverted clear input CLR of latch FF 2  is connected to the non-inverting output Q of latch FF 1 , the f/2 divider circuit is effectively disabled any time latch FF 1  is in the reset state. The f/2 divided frequency output of latch FF 2  creates the 1 Hz blink mode oscillator, enabled only when latch FF 2  is in the set state. 
     The enabled 1 Hertz blink signal from the inverting output /Q of latch FF 2  is connected, along with the filtered /RESET input, each to one input of NAND gate NAND 3 . NAND gate NAND 3  thus serves as blink logic, forcing the /BLINK output to be held in a steady ON state any time the /RESET input signal is held low. The output of NAND gate NAND 3  is connected to MOSFET Q 1  to provide the /BLINK output of circuit  200 . 
     Each output from the circuit  200  includes a power MOSFET Q 1 , Q 2  or Q 3  each rated at 2.5 ampere (A) at 45 VDC (both parameters chosen to be substantially greater than operational requirements) and an output filter designed to protect each output device from transients and overload conditions. A pull-down resistor (e.g., 220 KΩ) R 12 , R 13  and R 14  is connected to the input of each MOSFET Q 1 , Q 2  and Q 3  to ensure that the MOSFETs turn off cleanly should a power-down of the circuit  200  occur under heavy load conditions. Transient protection for the MOSFETs Q 1 , Q 2  and Q 3  is provided by impedances Z 1 , Z 2  and Z 3 , each having a breakdown voltage of 39 VDC. Overload protection may be provided by resettable Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) resistors with a holding current of 0.5 A at elevated temperatures between the MOSFETS Q 1 , Q 2  and Q 3  and the respective /BLINK, /N_CLOSED and /N_OPEN outputs. Those devices would perform the function of a fuse, limiting current in the event of a short or overload, but automatically returning to their normal state when the short or overload is removed. Preferably, however, 3.0 A fast-acting fuses F 1 , F 2  and F 3  are provided to break the circuit in a fail-safe state prior to possible destruction of the MOSFETs from inrush current of an external short circuit condition. In order to provide the highest possible reliability, each output /N_OPEN, /N_CLOSED and /BLINK is derated to a maximum operating current of 0.5 A, or 2.0 A in the embodiment using fast-acting fuses. 
       FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram for a configurable electronic latching module providing multiple latched states according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Configurable electronic latching circuit  300  is contained within the configurable electronic latching modules  115   a  and  115   b  when either or both of those modules is mounted within switch  100 . TABLE III below contains the input and output signal descriptions for circuit  300 , while TABLE IV describes the logic input and output functions: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE III 
               
               
                   
               
               
                   
                 4-POLE 
                   
                   
               
               
                 SIGNAL 
                 HOUSING 
                   
                   
               
               
                 NAME 
                 PIN 
                 FUNCTION 
                 COMMENTS 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 /RESET 
                 J1 
                 Input. Low = Resets to  
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 state 1 with /Q1 latched  
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 low when held low. 
                   
               
               
                 /CLOCK 
                 J2 
                 High to low transition 
                 A clock input 
               
               
                   
                   
                 advances the unit to the  
                 at state 3 or 
               
               
                   
                   
                 next state. 
                 4 will return 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 the unit to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 state 1. 
               
               
                 +28 VDC 
                 J4 
                 Power 
                   
               
               
                 Ground 
                 K1 
                 Ground 
                   
               
               
                 OUTPUT 1 
                 K2 
                 Output: Default = High  
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Impedance (Open Drain);  
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 becomes ground for 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 length of pulse 
                   
               
               
                 OUTPUT 2 
                 K3 
                 Output: Default = High  
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Impedance (Open Drain);  
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 becomes ground for 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 length of pulse 
                   
               
               
                 OUTPUT 3 
                 J3 
                 Output: Default = High  
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Impedance (Open Drain);  
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 becomes ground for 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 length of pulse 
                   
               
               
                 OUTPUT 4 
                 K4 
                 Output: Default = High  
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Impedance (Open Drain);  
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 becomes ground for 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 length of pulse 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
                                                                                                                 TABLE IV                       Outputs            Inputs   OUTPUT    OUTPUT    OUTPUT    OUTPUT             /RESET   /CLOCK   1   2   3   4                    H   H→L   Output transitions from high impedance                (open drain) to ground when state is active.            L   L   Output is   High   High   High               ground   Impedance   Impedance   Impedance                   (Open   (Open   (Open                   Drain)   Drain)   Drain)                    
The “4-pole housing pin” referenced in TABLE III identifies the corresponding pin of an existing Aerospace Optics 4-pole switch into which the configurable electronic latching module providing multiple latched states is incorporated.
 
     The logic input circuitry  301  for configurable electronic latching circuit  300  has a eight (8) interface pads each connected to an external pin of the configurable electronic latching modules  115   a  or  115   b . Two interface pads are inputs: /CLK and /RESET. Four interface pads are outputs: /Q 1 , /Q 2 , /Q 3  and /Q 4 . Two additional interface pads are devoted to power: +28 VDC (volts, direct current) and Ground. 
     Each input pad is connected, via a diode D 1  or D 2 , to two parallel resistors: resistors R 1  and R 2  for input /CLK; resistors R 3  and R 4  for input /RESET. One resistor of each parallel pair (R 1  and R 3 ) is connected at the other terminal to the +28 VDC input power. The other resistor of each pair (R 2  and R 4 ) is connected to one terminal of a capacitor (C 1  and C 3 ) and to the cathode of a zener diode (D 1  and D 3 , respectively). The other capacitor terminals and the anodes of the zener diodes are connected to ground. Resistors R 1  and R 2  each have a resistance of 33 kilo-Ohms (KΩ). Capacitor C 1  has a capacitance of 1.0 micro-Farads (μF) and capacitor C 2  has a capacitance of 2.2 μF in the example depicted. 
     Resistors R 2  and R 4  and zener diodes D 1  and D 2  provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection and voltage transient protection from the respective inputs to circuit  300 , and shift the 28 VDC logic level to a 7.5 VDC logic level. Furthermore, CMOS latch-up on extreme transients such as lightning or a conducted EMP is prevented by clamping the inputs 0.5 VDC below the logic power supply voltage. Capacitors C 1  and C 2  suppress electromechanical contact bounce. Resistors R 3  and R 4  and capacitor C 2  on the /RESET input have a power-up time constant substantially longer than that of both the logic power supply VCC (which has a lower resistance on the 28V power input) and the /CLK input (which has a much smaller capacitance). Those components thus guarantee a default power-up state for integrated circuit  304 . In addition, pull-up resistors R 1  and R 3  prevent floating logic states on unconnected inputs, establishing a default static logic level for the inputs. 
     Diodes D 6 , D 7  and D 9 , resistors R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9  and R 11  (each having a resistance of 33 KΩ), and bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) Q 1  and Q 2  provide inverting circuits for /CLK and /RESET inputs. The logical signals applied to the /CLK and /RESET inputs are inverted before being applied to integrated circuit  304 . 
     The logic power supply functional unit  302  generating the logic power supply voltage VCC for circuit  300  includes diode D 5  connected between the +28 VDC power supply input pad and the power supply connection to other circuit elements within circuit  300 . The opposite terminal of diode D 5  is connected, via resistor R 5  (which has a resistance of 15 KΩ), to a terminal of each of zener diode D 8 , capacitor C 3  (which has a capacitance of 4.7 μF), and resistor R 10  (which has a resistance of 220 KΩ). Transient suppression and voltage regulation on the +7.5 VDC logic power supply is provided by D 8  while C 3  provides filtering of input and logic transients. Because the logic power supply is a simple shunt voltage regulator, circuit  300  can operate over a wide input voltage range from below +10 VDC to in excess of +30 VDC. 
     Circuit  300  includes a high speed CMOS integrated circuit 4-stage Johnson counter  304 . Counter  304  is the primary latching circuit that responds to the logic inputs /CLK and /RESET as described above. The “0,” “1,” “2” and “3” outputs of counter  304  are coupled to outputs /Q 1 , /Q 2 , /Q 3  and /Q 4 . In the default condition, output /Q 1  is low with all other outputs /Q 2 , /Q 3  and /Q 4  having high impedance. Each /CLK input pulse will increment the counter  304  and rotate the outputs /Q 1 , /Q 2 , /Q 3  and /Q 4  through each state—that is, the next output goes low and the previous output returns to high impedance. Thus, after the /CLK input is pulsed once, output /Q 2  goes low and outputs /Q 1 , /Q 3  and /Q 4  have high impedance. After the /CLK input has been pulsed twice, output /Q 3  goes low and outputs /Q 1 , /Q 2  and /Q 4  have high impedance. After the /CLK input has been pulsed three times, output /Q 4  goes low and outputs /Q 1 , /Q 2  and /Q 3  have high impedance. Pulsing the /CLK input four times will cycle the outputs /Q 1 , /Q 2 , /Q 3  and /Q 4  through all four states, returning to the default condition to restart and repeat the cycle. Pulsing the /RESET input at any time restores the default condition. 
     Outputs “2” or “3” from the counter  304  may be routed and combined by a logical OR with the /RESET input, allowing the circuit  300  to act as a two state, three state or four state latch. An external jumper may provide the requisite connection. Thus, for example, if the output “3” of counter  304   4  is externally connected to the /RESET input, the circuit  300  operates as a three position latch with output “3” resetting the circuit  300  back to the default condition. 
     Each output pad /Q 1 , /Q 2 , /Q 3  and /Q 4  is coupled to an output of the counter  304  through a power MOSFET Q 3 , Q 4 , Q 5  and Q 6  rated at 4.0 ampere at 45 VDC, voltage and current parameters that are substantially greater than operational requirements. Transient protection for the MOSFETs is provided by impedances Z 1 , Z 2 , Z 3 , and Z 4  with a breakdown voltage of 39 VDC. The input of each MOSFET Q 3 , Q 4 , Q 5  and Q 6  is coupled to ground by a resistor R 12 , R 13 , R 14  and R 15  having a resistance of 220 KΩ. Overload protection may be provided by 3.0 A fast-acting fuses F 1 , F 2 , F 3  and F 4  providing fail-safe protection as described above. In order to provide the highest possible reliability, each output is derated to a maximum operating current of 2.0 ampere. 
       FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram for a single-state electronic latching module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Single-state electronic latching circuit  400  is contained within the configurable electronic latching modules  115   a  and  115   b  when either or both of those modules is mounted within switch  100 . 
     The logic input circuitry  401  for configurable electronic latching circuit  400  has four (4) interface pads each connected to an external pin of the configurable electronic latching modules  115   a  or  115   b . Two interface pads are inputs: /CLK and +28 VDC. One interface pad is an output /Q 1 . One additional interface pad is devoted to power: Ground. 
     The input pad for the /CLK signal is connected, via a diode D 1 , to two parallel resistors R 1  and R 2 , each having a resistance of 33 KΩ. One resistor R 1  is connected at the other terminal via resistor R 3  (having a resistance of 133 KΩ) to the clear input of flip-flop  404 , to the /RESET input pad. The other resistor R 2  is connected to one terminal of a capacitor C 2  (having a capacitance of 1.0 μF) and to the cathode of a zener diode D 2 . The clear input to flip-flop  404  is also connected to one terminal of a capacitor C 3  (having a capacitance of 2.2 μF). The other capacitor terminals and the anodes of the zener diodes are connected to ground. 
     The logic power supply functional unit  402  for circuit  400  includes a connection to the ground input pad. 
     Circuit  400  includes a flip-flop  404  receiving the /CLK signal at a clock input thereof. The non-inverting output of flip-flop  404  is coupled to output /Q 1 . Output pad /Q 1  is coupled to the output of the flip-flop  404  through a power MOSFET Q 1  rated at 4.0 ampere at 45 VDC, voltage and current parameters that are substantially greater than operational requirements. Transient protection for the MOSFET is provided by impedance Z 1  with a breakdown voltage of 39 VDC. The input of MOSFET Q 1  is coupled to ground by a resistor R 7  having a resistance of 220 KΩ. Overload protection may be provided by a fuse F 1 . In order to provide the highest possible reliability, the output is derated to a maximum operating current of 2.0 ampere. 
     The features of activating switch functions from a remote location, energizing or blinking a local or remote display, resetting the switch state automatically upon remote acknowledgement, changing the state of a switch or display at one location based on another, remote switch controlling the same function being depressed, automatic reset to a default state after loss of power, multi-state configurable electronic latching and single-state electronic latching are implemented in the present disclosure by replacing the traditional electromagnetic holding coil within the illuminated pushbutton switch housing with one or more subminiature electronic logic modules. The logic modules provide many additional features beyond the simple latching or on/off toggling functionality that is typical of an electromagnetic holding coil, including lower size and weight, longer switch life, no electrical spikes, remote set and reset capability, display blinking, and high reliability electronic driver circuits that can drive modest electrical loads. 
     Although the above description is made in connection with specific exemplary embodiments, various changes and modifications will be apparent to and/or suggested by the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 5