Arrangement comprising a functional module, a socket and a toggle switch device

Abstract

An arrangement is presented comprising a switching device S, in particular a switch or a push-button, an installation box D and a functional module F, which functional module F can be influenced by the actuation of an actuating element of an upper part O of the switching device S, which actuating element is connected to the switching device S, wherein the functional module F has at least one interface by means of which at least one actuator can be controlled in accordance with an actuation of the actuating element, wherein at least one magnet is arranged on the switching device S, which magnet changes its position upon actuation of the actuating element, and wherein the functional module F has a sensor H for detecting the magnetic field MF, so that the change in the magnetic field MF is detected upon actuation of the actuating element, wherein the functional module F has an evaluation unit for evaluating the magnetic field change, which is designed toto identify, depending on the sensed magnetic field change, which switching device type the switching device S is, which identification flows into the function module-side control of the actuator. What is special about this is that the actuating element is designed as a rocker arm K that can be pivoted about an axis, the rocker arm K having the magnet.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a switching device, in particular a switch or a push-button, an installation box and a functional module, which functional module can be influenced by the actuation of an actuating element of an upper part of the switching device connected to the switching device, wherein the functional module has at least one interface by means of which at least one actuator can be controlled in accordance with an actuation of the actuating element, wherein at least one magnet is arranged on the switching device, which changes its position upon actuation of the actuating element, and wherein the functional module has a sensor for detecting the magnetic field, so that the change in the magnetic field is detected upon actuation of the actuating element, wherein the functional module has an evaluation unit for evaluating the magnetic field change, which is designed to identify, depending on the sensed magnetic field change,what type of switching device the switching device is, which identification is used in the function module-side control of the actuator.

[0002] AT 525 242 B1 discloses an arrangement comprising a switching device, in particular a switch or a push-button, an installation box, and a functional module. Such a functional module can be influenced by the actuation of an actuating element (a rocker) connected to the switching device on the upper part of the switching device, for example to switch or dim lamps or to control blinds, and can also be controlled remotely, for example via a terminal device. For this purpose, the functional module has at least one interface by means of which at least one actuator can be controlled in accordance with an actuation of the actuating element. At least one magnet is arranged on the switching device—usually on the rocker—which changes its position upon actuation of the actuating element. Furthermore, the functional module has a sensor for detecting the magnetic field, so that the change in the magnetic field is detected upon actuation of the actuating element.It is understood that the functional module can be influenced via a terminal device, in particular a mobile device, in order to be operated conveniently. Such a previously known functional module also comprises an evaluation unit for evaluating the magnetic field change, which is configured to identify the switching device type in question based on the sensed magnetic field change, which identification is incorporated into the functional module-side control of the actuator, thus avoiding the replacement of switches with push buttons. For example, dimming a lamp with a functional module requires specific control depending on whether the underlying switching device is a push button or a switch. Therefore, the identification of the switching device type by the evaluation unit is a further advantage of such a functional module.

[0003] A functional module of such previously known arrangements can significantly reduce the installation effort with regard to the cabling required for conventional functional modules without sensing of the magnetic field change – in this case, cables are connected between the switching device and the functional module (hereinafter referred to as "flying wiring") to electrically transmit the actuation. This is because the functional module and switching device communicate magnetically with each other; an electrical connection of the functional module to the switching device has thus become obsolete. Instead, the magnet, usually located in the rocker of the switch or push-button, takes on the task of transmitting the actuation of the rocker in the form of a magnetic field change to the sensor of the functional module.

[0004] The problem with such previously known generic arrangements, however, is that they require the presence of a rocker switch. The presence of a front and a back side of a rocker switch allows for the option of invisibly attaching a magnet to the back of the rocker switch. Furthermore, such a switch typically has a surface area of ​​over 60 cm. 2 each front and back, so that there is sufficient space to accommodate a magnet. Toggle switches, on the other hand, intrinsically have only a few cm 2 Area (especially less than 5 cm 2 area), so that in the prior art these are not even remotely disclosed or realized in connection with a generic arrangement due to installation space reasons.

[0005] Based on this discussed prior art, the invention is based on the object of creating an arrangement with minimal installation effort, comprising a switching device, an installation box and a functional module, wherein the arrangement comprises a toggle switch device as a switching device, which is significantly more demanding than rocker switch or push-button devices in terms of installation space and inconspicuousness.

[0006] This object is achieved by an arrangement comprising a switching device, an installation box and a functional module, wherein the actuating element is designed as a rocker arm pivotable about an axis, wherein the rocker arm has the magnet.

[0007] This ensures that toggle switchgear, where the actuating element is designed as a toggle lever pivotable about an axis, can be realized within the scope of the inventive arrangement with an installation box, a functional module and the toggle switchgear, even though no switchgear with a rocker (which usually has an area of ​​more than 60cm 2 each front and back for accommodating a magnet).

[0008] The magnet is cleverly positioned on the rocker arm so that, when it moves as a result of actuation, it causes a change in the magnetic field, which is detected by the magnetic field sensor in the functional module. Advantageously, the radial extension of the rocker arm relative to its pivot axis or magnet (in contrast to the more tangential extension of a rocker arm relative to its pivot axis) is accompanied by a relatively large distance between the magnet and the pivot axis, so that the change in the magnetic field is particularly strong despite the slight change in the rocker arm position, thus improving the signal-to-noise ratio (despite the greater distance between a rocker arm and the sensor compared to a rocker arm).In this respect, the arrangement of the magnet on a rocker arm according to the invention not only extends the field of application of a previously known arrangement of rocker switchgear, which is not very demanding in terms of installation space (with regard to the accommodation of a magnet), to rocker arm switchgear, but also further improves the signal-to-noise ratio and thus the reliability of the detection of an actuation.

[0009] According to an extremely preferred development of the arrangement according to the invention, the magnet is designed as a magnetic sleeve that can be placed, for example, slipped over, the rocker arm. Such a solution has the particularly attractive advantage that placing the magnetic sleeve on the rocker arm, in particular on an existing rocker arm, is particularly easy to install and, on the other hand, creates a visually particularly appealing and uniform appearance. Furthermore, such a sleeve not only allows for a particularly large volume to be provided for the magnet, but also visually and haptically enhances a rocker arm already in use by effectively covering the old rocker arm - which regularly degrades visually and haptically due to use and environmental influences - with the magnetic sleeve according to the invention.In this respect, this embodiment of the invention not only intelligently maximizes the volume for the magnet and minimizes assembly effort, but also achieves the symbiotic effect that the sleeve simultaneously visually and haptically enhances a rocker arm that has aged in a visually and tactile manner during a retrofit. This embodiment thus represents the most preferred embodiment within the scope of the invention.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of this inventive arrangement, the magnetic sleeve has a wall thickness of less than 5 mm. This only marginally alters the overall visual impression. At the same time, such a wall thickness allows more than sufficient volume for a magnet to achieve a very good signal-to-noise ratio at the sensor for detecting the magnetic field change caused by the actuation of the rocker arm.

[0011] In a further development of this inventive arrangement, the magnetic sleeve has at least one lateral recess. This improves the fit of the magnetic sleeve, in particular its formability – for example, by forming spring legs that can be spread apart for placement on the rocker arm and then exert a restoring force to fix the magnetic sleeve on the rocker arm.

[0012] In a further development of this inventive arrangement, the magnetic sleeve has an elastic element on its inner surface. This not only increases the withdrawal force of the magnetic sleeve with respect to the rocker arm, but also simultaneously increases the geometric tolerance with respect to different rocker arm geometries.

[0013] In a further development of this inventive arrangement, the magnetic sleeve is mounted on the rocker arm in a partially rotatable and / or displaceable manner, so that the rocker arm is further developed to include a rotating or sliding functionality, for example for dimming or moving a blind. This provides the end user with an additional functionality added to the existing rocker arm, provided the functional module is further developed as a dimmer or actuator for moving a blind. The further development of the rocker arm to include a rotating functionality can, for example, be such that the front side of the rocker arm or the top or bottom side of the rocker arm (top side facing the sky, bottom side facing the ground) has a magnetic rotating element and / or a sliding element.

[0014] According to an alternative development of the arrangement according to the invention, the magnet is designed as an adhesive magnet, in particular as a magnetic adhesive film. Such a solution is both unobtrusive and cost-effective and is therefore also considered a very advantageous embodiment. In one embodiment, the magnet is arranged on the downward-facing side of the rocker arm. Given that the rocker arm is usually arranged at a height of approximately 1 m above the floor, a magnet arranged on the downward-facing (i.e., towards the ground) side of the rocker arm can generally be considered effectively invisible (for a person over 1.6 m tall standing or sitting on a chair).This makes it possible to find a cost-effective and visually unobtrusive solution for magnetically detecting the actuation of the actuating element, even in the much more space-restricted category of switching devices (rocker switches), which, in comparison to the prior art (rocker switches with a rear side that easily allows for the attachment of a magnet), to magnetically detect the actuation of the actuating element. In another alternative embodiment, the magnet is arranged on the sides of the rocker arm that do not face downwards or upwards. This allows for a particularly permanent and cost-effective attachment of the magnet to the rocker arm, since these sides are typically less frequently touched by the user when operating the rocker arm.

[0015] According to a further alternative development of the arrangement according to the invention, the magnet is designed as a magnetic paint, particularly applied by brush or spray. This allows any geometry of a rocker arm to be subsequently made magnetic. In this respect, this embodiment is particularly flexible in its use.

[0016] According to a further alternative development of the arrangement according to the invention, the rocker arm comprises the magnet, in particular the rocker arm is made of a magnetic material, in particular monolithic.

[0017] In a further alternative development of the arrangement according to the invention, the rocker arm has a receptacle for the magnet on the inside. This makes it particularly advantageous to arrange the magnet invisibly.

[0018] In a further development of the arrangement according to the invention, the magnet comprises neodymium. This generates particularly strong magnetic fields, so that particularly high signal-to-noise ratios can be achieved even in the special case of relatively small rocker arms.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the functional module has recesses that engage with projections of the installation box, establishing a mechanical connection. This effectively prevents slippage of the functional module and optimizes the signal-to-noise ratio by creating a preferred position.

[0020] The invention is described below with reference to various exemplary embodiments and the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1: a schematic side view of an arrangement according to the invention, comprising a switching device, a functional module and an installation box, wherein the rocker arm has an adhesive magnet, Fig. 2: a schematic side view of another arrangement according to the invention, wherein a magnetic sleeve is placed on the rocker arm, Fig. 3: a schematic side view of a further arrangement according to the invention, wherein the rocker arm is further developed to include a rotary functionality, Fig. 4: a schematic side view of a further arrangement according to the invention, wherein the rocker arm is further developed with a sliding functionality, and Fig. 5: a schematic side view of a further arrangement according to the invention, wherein a magnetic lacquer is applied to the rocker arm, for example by a brush or a spray.

[0021] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols and are therefore usually named or mentioned only once.

[0022] The Fig. 1 schematically illustrated in a side view, the arrangement according to the invention comprises a switching device S, a functional module F and an installation box D. By actuating an actuating element of an upper part O of the switching device S connected to the switching device S, here: a toggle lever K, the switching device S can be influenced, for example to switch a lamp, in that the sensor H for detecting the magnetic field MF detects the change in the magnetic field MF caused by the actuation. The functional module F has an evaluation unit for evaluating the change in the magnetic field, which evaluation unit is configured to identify, depending on the sensed change in the magnetic field, which type of switching device the switching device S is, which identification is incorporated into the control of the actuator on the functional module side.A switching device S can, for example, be a switch or a push-button, wherein the switching device S has a magnet, here designed as a magnetic adhesive film M, on the rocker arm K. This magnetic adhesive film M is arranged on the underside of the rocker arm K, so that a user generally does not notice it visually. The advantage of such a functional module F is that it does not require any wiring of the functional module F to the switching device S. In such an arrangement according to the invention, it is preferably cleverly utilized that the functional module F is fixed in the installation box D so as to prevent mechanical vibrations in order to improve the reliability of the detection of an actuation of the actuating element of the switching device S. Such a fixing can be achieved according to the invention, for example, by an adhesive intermediating between the installation box D and the functional module F.Alternatively, according to the invention, the functional module F can also have recesses (i.e., not of a constant height) that engage with projections of the installation box D, in particular establishing a mechanical connection. This saves valuable installation depth in the installation box D and minimizes the risk of the functional module F slipping in the installation box D.

[0023] The Fig. 2 schematically shown in a side view is characterized in that a magnetic sleeve HS is placed on the rocker arm K. This achieves particularly simple assembly since the sleeve is placed on the rocker arm K. To improve the withdrawal force, the inside of the magnetic sleeve HS can comprise an elastic material, for example a rubber, and / or an adhesive. Another particular advantage of a magnetic sleeve HS according to the invention, which is placed on the rocker arm K, is that it allows existing rocker arms K that are visually and / or haptically degraded to be subsequently upgraded during the magnetization of the rocker arm K, so that different symbiotic effects can be achieved for the end user with little effort and without having to install new rocker arm switching devices.

[0024] The Fig. The arrangement according to the invention, shown schematically in a side view in Figure 3, is characterized in that the rocker arm K is further developed to include a rotary function. This is achieved by the magnetic sleeve HS being mounted at least partially rotatably on the rocker arm K, so that the rocker arm K is further developed to include a rotary function, for example, for dimming or moving a blind. The sensor H thus detects not only a tilting movement, for example, for switching a light on / off, but also a rotary movement, for example, for dimming a light.

[0025] The Fig. The arrangement according to the invention, shown schematically in a side view in Figure 4, is characterized in that the rocker arm K is further developed to include a sliding function. This is achieved by the magnetic sleeve HS being mounted at least partially displaceably on the rocker arm K, so that the rocker arm K is further developed to include a sliding function, for example, for dimming or moving a blind. The sensor H thus detects not only a tilting movement, for example, for switching a light on / off, but also a sliding movement, for example, for dimming a light.

[0026] The Fig.The arrangement according to the invention, shown schematically in a side view in Figure 5, is characterized in that a magnetic lacquer ML is applied to the rocker arm K, for example, by a brush or spray. This represents a universal solution for equipping the rocker arm K with a magnet, particularly suitable for different rocker arm geometries. List of reference symbols D Installation box F Function module H Sensor HS sleeve K rocker arm M magnetic adhesive film MF magnetic field ML magnetic paint O top S switching device QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] AT 525 242 B1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Arrangement comprising a switching device (S), in particular a switch or a push-button, an installation box (D) and a functional module (F), which functional module (F) can be influenced by the actuation of an actuating element of an upper part (O) of the switching device (S) connected to the switching device (S), wherein the functional module (F) has at least one interface by means of which at least one actuator can be controlled in accordance with an actuation of the actuating element, wherein at least one magnet is arranged on the switching device (S), which magnet changes its position upon actuation of the actuating element, and wherein the functional module (F) has a sensor (H) for detecting the magnetic field (MF), so that the change in the magnetic field (MF) is detected upon actuation of the actuating element, wherein the functional module (F) has an evaluation unit for evaluating the change in the magnetic field, which is designed toto identify, depending on the sensed magnetic field change, which switching device type the switching device (S) is, which identification flows into the function module-side control of the actuator, , characterized by that the actuating element is designed as a rocker arm (K) pivotable about an axis, wherein the rocker arm (K) has the magnet. [2] Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the magnet is designed as a magnetic sleeve (HS) which can be placed on the rocker arm (K). [3] Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized by that the magnetic sleeve (HS) has a wall thickness of less than 5mm. [4] Arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the magnetic sleeve (HS) has at least one lateral recess. [5] Arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that the inside of the magnetic sleeve (HS) comprises an elastic material. [6] Arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by that the magnetic sleeve (HS) is at least partially rotatable and / or displaceable on the rocker arm (K), so that the rocker arm (K) is further developed to include a rotating functionality or sliding functionality, for example for dimming or moving a blind. [7] Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the magnet is designed as an adhesive magnet, in particular as a magnetic adhesive film (M). [8] Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized by that the magnet is arranged on the downward-facing side of the rocker arm (K) and / or on the sides of the rocker arm (K) that do not point downwards or upwards. [9] Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the magnet is designed as a magnetic lacquer (ML), in particular applied by a brush or a spray. [10] Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized bythat the rocker arm (K) encompasses the magnet. [11] Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by that the rocker arm (K) has a holder for the magnet on the inside. [12] Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the magnet contains neodymium. [13] Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by that the functional module (F) has recesses which are engaged with projections of the installation box (D), in particular establishing a mechanical operative connection.

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