Wireless control device and assembly comprising a wireless control device and another control device

Abstract

The invention relates to a wireless control device (2) comprising an actuator button (4), an electronic control circuit (10) including a transmitter (16) capable of wirelessly transmitting control signals to another control device connected to an electrical line, a generator (12) for powering the circuit (10), the generator being capable of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, and a transmission unit (14) for transmitting mechanical energy applied to the actuator button (4) to the generator (12). The actuator button and the transmission unit are particularly designed so that the actuation force of the actuator button is smaller than the force transmitted by the transmission unit to the generator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless control device. Background Art

[0002] Traditionally, a wireless control device is a communicating switch, often called a wireless battery-free switch, capable of remotely controlling another switch that is itself connected to an electrical wiring (e.g., the wiring that powers a lighting fixture). This other switch is typically designated a micromodule, as it is associated with a receiver capable of receiving signals sent by the wireless switch's transmitter and a processing unit. Specifically, in the case of lighting fixtures, this is referred to as a lighting micromodule. Wireless switches can also be used to remotely control roller blinds or shutters.

[0003] Wireless switches offer the advantage of being able to be positioned almost anywhere, especially away from the paths of power cables. This allows the user to choose the most ergonomic location for them. Wireless switches can be placed in a recessed wall like conventional switches, or they can be surface-mounted on the wall by simply gluing or screwing.

[0004] Typically, wireless switches communicate with the micromodule via radio, i.e., via Hertz transmission.

[0005] Previously, wireless switches included batteries to power the transmitter, but these batteries needed to be replaced after a certain period of time, which was inconvenient for users.

[0006] Therefore, wireless switches currently operate without batteries but instead use energy converters, known as "energy harvesters." These energy converters are essentially generators that harness the mechanical energy applied by the user when pressing the switch button to generate an electrical signal. The amplitude of this electrical signal is sufficient to generate and transmit a control signal to a remotely located micromodule. The main known types are piezoelectric converters, which exploit the property of a material to generate a voltage when subjected to mechanical stress, and electromagnetic converters, which use the movement of a magnet to induce a current in a circuit.

[0007] An example of a wireless and battery-free switch is disclosed in DE 1 0256 156. An advantage of using an energy converter in a wireless switch is that the switch is completely autonomous and therefore does not require battery replacement.

[0008] However, a drawback of wireless switches currently on the market is that the buttons are relatively difficult to actuate, at least compared to conventional switches connected to a power cord. More specifically, the force required to actuate current wireless switches ranges from 7 to 10N, compared to approximately 3N for standard switches connected to an electrical line. Consequently, wireless switches currently on the market are not suitable for children, for example. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present invention more particularly aims to remedy this drawback by proposing a new type of wireless and battery-free switch having a lower actuation force than traditional switches connected to electrical wires.

[0010] To this end, the present invention relates to a wireless control device comprising:

[0011] - actuator button,

[0012] - an electronic control circuit comprising a transmitter capable of wirelessly transmitting control signals to another control device connected to an electrical wire,

[0013] - a generator for supplying power to an electric circuit, which is capable of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy,

[0014] a transmission unit for transmitting mechanical energy applied to the actuator button to the generator, the actuator button and the transmission unit being specially designed so that the actuation force of the actuator button is smaller than the force transmitted by the transmission unit to the generator.

[0015] The present invention ultimately transfers a higher force to the generator via the switch's transmission unit than the force applied during input, i.e., by the user pressing the button. Calculations show that, simply by applying a force of the order of 2 or 3 N to the button, while also accounting for friction, a force of approximately 4.20 N can be exerted on the generator, which more or less corresponds to the force required to actuate a conventional switch connected to an electrical wire. This is due to the lever effect in the switch's actuation transmission train.

[0016] According to an advantageous but non-mandatory aspect of the present invention, the wireless control device may include one or more of the following features considered in any technically permissible combination:

[0017] -The transmission unit is a rod or a slider.

[0018] The transmission unit comprises first means for mechanical cooperation with the actuator button and second means for mechanical cooperation with the generator.

[0019] - The first component comprises two dome surfaces.

[0020] The pivot axis of the push button is perpendicular to the pivot axis of the transmission unit and preferably tangent thereto.

[0021] The push button comprises at least one, preferably two lugs capable of cooperating with the transmission unit.

[0022] Two lugs, one on each side of the transmission unit, are capable of pushing the transmission unit in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis of the push button.

[0023] - The generator comprises means for generating translational motion from the rotation of the transmission unit.

[0024] The mechanism comprises an actuator rod, one end of which cooperates with the transmission unit, this end being in particular housed in a slot in the transmission member.

[0025] - The control unit does not include batteries.

[0026] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a wireless control device as defined above and a further control device connectable to an electrical line and comprising a microreceiver configured to receive control signals transmitted by the wireless device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The invention and further advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of two embodiments of wireless control devices in accordance with the principles thereof, given by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] - Figure 1 is an exploded view of a wireless control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

[0029] - Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of the control unit, now in its assembled configuration,

[0030] - Figure 3 yes Figure 1 and Figure 2 a top view of a control device of FIG. 1 , wherein the actuator button of the device is omitted in order to provide a clearer view of the other components of the device,

[0031] - Figure 4 is a perspective view of the transmission unit of the control device, now assembled with a generator capable of converting the mechanical energy transmitted to the unit into electrical energy,

[0032] - Figure 5 This is a perspective view showing the underside of the button in particular.

[0033] - Figure 6 is with Figure 3 A view comparable to the view of FIG, but for a second embodiment of the invention, and

[0034] - Figure 7 is with Figure 5 The view corresponds to the view of FIG, thus showing the buttons of the device according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Figures 1 to 5 A first embodiment of a wireless control device or wireless and battery-free switch 2 is depicted.

[0036] The wireless and battery-free switch 2 includes an actuator button 4 , an electronic control circuit 10 , a generator 12 for supplying power to the electronic control circuit 10 , and a transmission unit 14 for transmitting mechanical energy applied to the actuator button 4 to the generator 12 .

[0037] The electronic control circuit 10 comprises a transmitter 16 capable of wirelessly transmitting control signals to another switch (not shown) connected to an electrical line (e.g., the line supplying the luminaire). This other switch may be better known as a micromodule, since it is associated, on the one hand, with a receiver capable of receiving the signals sent by the transmitter of the wireless switch, and, on the other hand, with a processing unit. In particular, in the case of a luminaire, reference will be made to a lighting micromodule.

[0038] Thus, reference is made to an assembly comprising the wireless and battery-free switch 2 and said further switch, which is connectable to an electrical line and comprises a microreceiver configured to receive the control signals sent by the wireless switch.

[0039] Advantageously, the transmitter 16 is an antenna, in particular an antenna capable of emitting Hertzian signals, which means emitting electromagnetic waves. Alternatively, other transmission modes may be used, such as low-energy Bluetooth technology or the ZigBee protocol.

[0040] Here, the electronic control circuit 10 is constituted by a printed circuit, which means an electronic board.

[0041] In this example, the actuator button 4 is a rocker button, which means a button designed to pivot around the axis X4. However, as an alternative, the actuator button 4 can also be a push button.

[0042] like Figure 5 As can be seen in FIG, the actuator button 4 comprises two circular housings 40, each housing 40 being designed to receive a shaft end 62. The two shaft ends 62 form part of a support plate 6 of molded plastic.

[0043] Generator 12 is capable of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. In the example described, generator 12 is an electromagnetic generator, sometimes better referred to as a "harvester." This is a known module sold by ZF Friedrichshafen AG, which is why it is not described further. Its operating principle is as follows: Generator 12 comprises a permanent magnet and at least one coil. Any movement of the magnet generates a change in the magnetic field around the turns of one or more coils. Each coil, like any circuit placed in a variable magnetic field, then has a current flowing through it, which is called the induced current.

[0044] like Figure 4As can be seen in FIG, the generator 12 advantageously comprises a mechanism for generating a translational movement F4 from the rotation F2 of the transmission unit 14. This mechanism comprises an actuator rod 120.

[0045] Preferably, the actuator rod 120 is L-shaped and comprises a first portion 120a configured to cooperate with the transmission unit 14 and a second portion 120b connected to a slider 122 of the generator 12. The connection between the slider 122 and the portion 120b of the actuator rod 120 is a pivot connection, the pivot axis of which is designated Z122. The portions 120a and 120b of the actuator rod 120 are each composed of two substantially parallel branches.

[0046] In this example, the actuator rod 120 is mounted to pivot about an axis Z120 (parallel to the axis Z122) in its middle portion, ie between portions 120a and 120b. Typically, the actuator rod 120 is interposed between two branches of the U-shaped plate 18 forming a pivot support.

[0047] Advantageously, the slider 122 comprises one or more permanent magnets making it possible to generate a magnetic field around one or more coils (not shown). The slider 122 is guided in a U-shaped track 124. The direction of travel of the slider 122 is perpendicular to the axis Z122.

[0048] The generator 12 is fixed to the support plate 6 by means of additional components (not visible in the figures) which are clamped (or clamped), that is to say elastically locked, to the support plate 6 .

[0049] exist Figures 1 to 5 In the particular example of FIG1 , the transmission unit 14 is a lever, rotatable about an axis Z14 . The pivot axis X4 of the actuator button 4 is perpendicular to the pivot axis Z14 of the transmission unit 14 and is preferably secant thereto.

[0050] The transmission unit 14 forms a link between the actuator button 4 and the generator 12. It is therefore a different component from the actuator button 4 and also different from the generator 12.

[0051] Typically, the transmission unit 14 is a rod articulated around a pin 8 having a leg and a cap. The cap has an at least partially circular, in this case semicircular, cross section, which allows for the articulation of the rod. The leg is inserted into a housing 60 of the support plate 6 and is prevented from rotating by a shape complementary to that of the housing 60.

[0052] In this example, and as Figure 4 As can be seen in FIG, the transmission unit 14 comprises a C-shaped portion 14 a configured to cooperate with the cap of the pin 8 and to allow the transmission unit 14 to articulate around the pin 8. The transmission unit 14 also advantageously comprises means 14 b for mechanically cooperating with the actuator button 4 and means 14 c for mechanically cooperating with the generator 12.

[0053] Typically, the device 14c comprises a slot in which the free end of the portion 120a of the actuator rod 120 is housed.

[0054] Preferably, the device 14b comprises two domed surfaces arranged opposite each other. Each of the two domed surfaces is configured to cooperate with a lug 42 of the actuator button 4, the two lugs 42 of the actuator button 4 being arranged in a manner similar to the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 Two lugs 42 extend on the underside of the actuator button 4 parallel to an axis Z4 perpendicular to the rocking axis X4 of the actuator button 4. The two lugs 42 are also aligned along a common axis Y4, which is perpendicular to the axes X4 and Z4.

[0055] Advantageously, in Figure 4 The width L14 of the rod, measured at the level of the dome-shaped surface forming the element 14 b, is substantially the same as the spacing between the two lugs 42 of the actuator button 4. It should be noted that when the wireless and battery-free switch 2 is in the assembled configuration, the lugs 42 are one on each side of the transmission unit 14 and respectively abut against the two dome-shaped surfaces.

[0056] The actuator button 4 and the transmission unit 14 are specifically designed so that the actuation force F1 of the actuator button 4 is lower than the force F3 transmitted to the generator 12 via the transmission unit 14. The actuation force F1 of the actuator button is the minimum force required to rock the actuator button 4, i.e., in this example, the actuator button 4. Therefore, assuming that the actuator button 4 is of the rocking type, the minimum force is the force applied farthest from the rocking axis X4 in order to obtain the maximum benefit from the lever arm effect.

[0057] Specifically, when force F1 is applied to actuator button 4 of wireless and battery-free switch 2, which is now in the open position, actuator button 4 swings about axis X4, and one of its lugs 42 pushes its cooperating dome 14b in a direction parallel to axis Y4. This thrust causes transmission unit 14 (i.e., rod) to pivot about axis Z14. As it pivots, transmission unit 14 remains attached to actuator rod 120 of generator 12. Wireless and battery-free switch 2 is then in the closed position. Actuator rod 120 swings about axis Z120 and pulls (or pushes) slider 122, which then moves in translation within track 124. The magnetic field within generator 12 changes, generating an induced current.

[0058] This induced current is converted into a form that can be used to power the electronic control circuit 10. The electrical pulses provided by the generator allow the control circuit 10 to generate a signal comprising, for example, electromagnetic waves and transmit this signal wirelessly (typically by Hertzian waves) via antenna 16 to a remotely located micromodule.

[0059] The generator 12 is dimensioned to generate electrical energy once a force of at least 4.20 N is applied to the rod. Theoretical calculations show that this force is achieved when the actuator button 4 transmits a force of approximately 6.9 N to the transmission unit 14, specifically on one of the domed surfaces 14 b of the transmission unit 14. It has also been shown that this force of 6.9 N can be achieved when a force of at least approximately 1.7 N is applied to the actuator button 4.

[0060] It can therefore be understood that the force ultimately transmitted to the generator 12 via the transmission unit 14 of the wireless and battery-free switch 2 is higher than the force F1 applied during input, i.e., higher than the force applied by the user when pressing the actuator button 4. This is due to the lever arm effect in the actuation transmission train of the wireless and battery-free switch 2.

[0061] Figure 6 and 7 A second embodiment of the present invention is described. In the following, for the sake of simplicity, only the differences compared to the first embodiment are described. Likewise, switch components that are identical to the switch components of the first embodiment have the same reference numerals, while components that are different have a prime (') after their reference.

[0062] In this embodiment, the transmission unit 14 ′ is a slider capable of translational movement along an axis Y14 perpendicular to the rocking axis X4 of the actuator button 4 ′. The axis Y14 is also parallel to the support plate 6 of the switch.

[0063] exist Figure 6 In FIG. 1 , the double-headed arrow F5 shows two possible directions in which the transmission unit 14 ′ can move in translation, depending on the shaking direction of the actuator button 4 ′.

[0064] The translational movement of the slider is guided by the wall of the support plate 6, which forms the guide means 15. It also defines a slot (not visible in the figures) that houses the portion 120a of the actuator rod 120 of the generator 12.

[0065] The axis Y14 in this example is parallel to the surface of the support plate 6 .

[0066] In this embodiment, and as Figure 7 As can be seen in the figure, the actuator button 4' includes lugs 42', which are comparable to those of the first embodiment, but are spaced more widely apart. The spacing between the lugs 42' corresponds more or less to the length of the slider measured parallel to its axis of motion Y14. In particular, when the wireless and battery-free switch 2' is in the assembled configuration, there is one lug 42' on each side of the transmission unit 14.

[0067] By shaking the actuator button 4 ′, the slider, i.e. the transmission unit 14 ′, is pushed to one side or the other. The slider thus moves parallel to the axis Y14 , and its movement causes the actuator rod 120 to rotate; thus, the generator 12 is activated and converts the mechanical energy of the actuator rod 120 into electrical energy, which can be used to generate and transmit a signal, such as a radio signal, to a remote switch connected to an electric line.

[0068] In an alternative form not shown, the wireless and battery-free switch 2 includes means for returning to the open position, that is to say to the rest position, in which the switch does not transmit any signal for a wired switch. This return means may, for example, take the form of a leaf spring located in the middle and below the button.

[0069] Features of the embodiments described in the figures and alternatives not shown can be combined with one another to produce new embodiments of the invention.

Claims

1. A wireless control device (2; 2'), comprising: Actuator button (4; 4’)， an electronic control circuit (10) comprising a transmitter (16) capable of wirelessly transmitting control signals to another control device connected to an electrical wire, a generator (12) for supplying power to the electronic control circuit (10), the generator being capable of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, a transmission unit (14; 14') for transmitting mechanical energy applied to the actuator button (4; 4') to the generator (12), the actuator button and the transmission unit being particularly designed so that the actuation force (F1) of the actuator button is smaller than the force (F3) transmitted by the transmission unit to the generator, The generator (12) comprises at least one winding and a slider (122) guided in a track (124), the slider comprising at least one magnet. The wireless control device comprises a mechanism including an actuator rod (120) comprising a first portion (120a) configured to cooperate with a transmission unit and a second portion (120b) connected to a slider (122) of a generator (12), wherein the actuator rod is mounted to pivot about a pivot axis (Z120) in an intermediate portion between its first and second portions, wherein the second portion (120b) of the actuator rod is connected to the slider (122) via a pivot link, the rotation axis (Z122) of the pivot link being parallel to the pivot axis (Z120) of the actuator rod and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the slider, wherein the mechanism is configured to generate translational motion (F4) from tilting of the actuator button, The actuator button comprises two lugs (42; 42'), which are arranged on both sides of the transmission unit (14; 14'). wherein the tilting of the actuator button pushes the transmission unit on one side or the other, driving the transmission unit to move perpendicularly to the tilting axis (X4) of the actuator button, The movement of the transmission unit perpendicular to the tilt axis (X4) of the actuator button drives the actuator rod (120) to rotate around the pivot axis (Z120).

2. The wireless control device according to claim 1, wherein The transmission unit (14; 14') is a rod.

3. The wireless control device according to claim 1, wherein The transmission unit (14; 14') comprises first means (14b) for mechanically cooperating with the actuator button (4; 4') and second means (14c) for mechanically cooperating with the generator.

4. The wireless control device according to claim 3, wherein: The first component (14b) includes two dome surfaces.

5. A wireless control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The pivot axis (X4) of the actuator button (4; 4') is perpendicular to the pivot axis (Z14) of the transmission unit (14; 14').

6. The wireless control device according to claim 5, wherein: The mechanism comprises an actuator rod (120) cooperating with the transmission unit (14; 14') at one end, the end being in particular housed in a slot of the second means (14c).

7. An assembly for a wireless control device, comprising a wireless control device (2; 2') according to any one of the preceding claims and a further control device connectable to an electrical line and comprising a microreceiver configured to receive control signals sent by the wireless control device (2; 2').

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