Pyreos Ltd.

Spyros Brown

Jonathan Ephraim David Hurwitz

Carsten Giebeler

Tim Chamberlain

Timothy John Chamberlain

A switch actuating device for actuating a switch by eight types of non-tactile gestures performed with an object emitting heat includes a gesture sensor with four pixels configured to detect heat emitted by the object. The pixels include thin films made of pyroelectric sensitive material which generate a signal that has signal deflections corresponding to a temporal intensity curve of the heat detected by the thin film of the corresponding pixel. The types of the gestures are determined with a signal processing unit which controls an actuator to actuate the switch when a performance of one of the types of the gestures is determined. The gesture types are determined during an approach phase when the object approaches the gesture sensor, a waiting phase during when the object remains close to the gesture sensor, and a subsequent translational phase when the object moves in one of eight directions.

Switch actuating device, mobile device, and method for actuating a switch by a non-tactile gesture

A switch operating device () configured to operate a switch () with four possible types (to) of non-tactile translational gestures performed with a heat emitting part (). A gesture sensor () is adapted to detect heat emitted by the part while performing one of the translational gesture types. Four pixels (to) are arranged next to each other and output a signal (to) per pixel, wherein the signal has a signal deflection () corresponding to the temporal intensity curve of the heat detected by the thin film of the corresponding pixel. A signal processing unit () determines the performance of the translational gesture types from the temporal succession of the signal deflections (). An actuator () is controlled by the signal processing unit and operates the switch when one of the translational gesture types is determined.

Switch operating device, mobile device and method for operating a switch by a non-tactile translational gesture

Switch operating device () with: a gesture sensor operating a switch () with a non-tactile push-gesture performed with a heat emitting part. The gesture has an approach phase () during which the part approaches the sensor, a waiting phase () during which the part remains proximate to the sensor, and a withdrawal phase () during which the part is moved away from the sensor. The sensor detects heat emitted by the part with at least one pixel and outputs per pixel a signal (to) with signal deflections () corresponding to a temporal intensity curve of heat detected by the pixel while the gesture () is performed. A signal processing unit () which determines performance of the gesture from a temporal succession of signal deflections. An actuator () is controlled by the signal processing unit and operates the switch when the gesture is performed.

Switch operating device, mobile device and method for operating a switch by a non-tactile push-gesture

Switch operating device () with: a presence sensor operating a switch () in response to presence of a heat emitting part. The presence has an approach phase () during which the part approaches the presence sensor, a remaining phase during which the part remains proximate to the sensor, and a withdrawal phase () during which the part is moved away from the sensor. The sensor detects heat emitted by the part with at least one pixel and outputs a signal (to) with signal deflections () corresponding to a temporal intensity curve of heat detected by the pixel. A signal processing unit () determines the approach and withdrawal phases from the temporal succession and the shape of the signal deflections. An actuator () is controlled by the signal processing unit and operates the switch when the approach phase, the remaining phase and/or the withdrawal phase is determined.

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Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Spyros Brown