Functional module and arrangement comprising a switching device and such a functional module

Abstract

A functional module F is presented for coupling to an electrical / electronic switching device S, which functional module F can be influenced by means of an actuating element B, the electrical / electronic switching device S and a radio transmitter, wherein the functional module F has components necessary for its function on at least one electrical circuit board, and wherein the functional module F has at least one functional module-side interface CF connected to the electrical circuit board, which is suitable for interaction with a switching device-side interface CS, via which interfaces CF, CS actuators, for example lights, blinds or sockets, can be controlled, or sensors, for example touch sensors, can be evaluated, and whereby a control signal is transmitted between the functional module F and the electrical / electronic switching device S, wherein the functional module-side interface CF has an output channel for providing the control signal,which can be influenced both via the radio transmitter and via the actuating element OA, , What is special is that the function module F with its function module-side interface CF can be inserted into the switchgear-side interface CS in the manner of a plug-in connector, and that the function module F has a defined cabling so that the function module F can be influenced by means of the actuating element OA and radio transmitter for influencing actuators, wherein the function module F has recesses that can be engaged with projections HV of the electrical / electronic switchgear S.

Description

The invention relates to a functional module for coupling to an electrical / electronic switching device in building installation technology located in an installation box, which functional module can be influenced by means of an actuating element, in particular an upper part, of the electrical / electronic switching device and a radio transmitter, wherein the functional module has electrical / electronic components necessary for functioning on at least one electrical printed circuit board, and wherein the functional module has at least one functional-module-side interface, which is connected to the electrical printed circuit board and is suitable for interaction with an interface on the switching device side, via which interfaces actuators, for example lamps, shutters or sockets can be actuated, or sensors, for example tactile sensors, can be evaluated, and as a result of which a control signal is transmitted between functional module and electrical / electronic switching device, wherein the functional-module-side interface has an output channel for providing the control signal, which can be influenced both by the radio transmitter and by the actuating element.The invention further relates to an arrangement comprising a switching device and such a functional module.Functional modules of this type for electrical / electronic switching devices in building installation technology are generally provided for controlling actuators and / or sensors via their independent channels, specifically both via a switch or button and via an external device, for example a mobile terminal, via a radio signal. Such functional modules are often used as a button interface, dimming actuator, switching actuator or blind actuator and have, for example, two to four independent channels.A functional module corresponding to the preamble of the main claim is thus known from the prior art, for example according to the website nexentro.de. Such a functional module is designed for building installation technology and has a housing consisting of a base part and a cover part, in the interior of which the electrical / electronic components necessary for functioning are accommodated on at least one electrical printed circuit board. The electrical printed circuit board is connected to a plurality of connection cables for forming an interface via which the connection of an electrical / electronic switching device, in particular a pushbutton, takes place. Messages can be transmitted via a plurality of independent channels, the messages being used to actuate various actuators, for example lamps, shutters or sockets, or sensors, for example touch sensors. By installing the functional modules in installation boxes, the conventional electromechanical switches are made "smart".In order to be able to evaluate the probe signal of an electromechanical switch on a previously known functional module, at least three lines must be connected (outer conductor or phase and switched output / control line and a control line for connecting the switch). In dual and blind applications, a further control line is added; in switching or dimming applications, a control line is added.Since, due to the limited space requirement, accommodation of a functional module and the cable goods in the flush-mounted box is challenging, the omission of each line represents a considerable optimization, in particular because the space requirement in the installation box and the installation outlay can be significantly reduced. In addition, the reduced number of electrical lines to be used makes the construction more comprehensible and can thus be carried out more securely and visually by the installing person. Thus, fewer sources of error result. For these reasons, there are hindrances to the wide mass of users, which are not a skilled installer.In addition, the optimum control of, for example, shutters, sockets and dimmable lighting means by means of such a functional module requires, at any rate, pushbuttons, that is to say a switch which is not permanently closed. This requires a complicated conversion of the existing building system infrastructure of switches in buttons-this too prevents many potential users from implementing such functional modules for "smarting" dimmers, shutters and the like.Furthermore, DE 10 2021 132 395 A1 discloses a functional module for coupling to an electrical / electronic switching device which can switch 230V, in which, when the functional module is coupled to the electrical / electronic switching device via the interfaces, defined cabling of the electrical / electronic switching device remains unchanged. The problem here is that the wiring of the electrical / electronic switching device is regularly damaged by spreading claws of the electrical / electronic switching device, so that a safety risk for the installer is created. Furthermore, such a previously known functional module is only suitable for coupling to an electrical / electronic switching device which is developed and produced separately for the functional module, so that the retrofittability is limited.In addition, DE 10 2023 110 992 B3 discloses a functional module fixed to a socket, in which an actuation of the actuating element is detected by means of a magnet in the actuating element of a switching device and a magnetic sensor in the functional module, so that an interface between functional module and switching device is just avoided.DE 10 2022 128 130 B3 discloses a functional module which can be coupled via an interface to an existing switching device, so that the switching device can be subsequently expanded with respect to specific functions, wherein it is particularly advantageous that the cabling of the switching device is completely maintained.Proceeding from this discussed prior art, the object of the invention is to create a functional module for installation in an installation box for an electrical / electronic switching device of building installation technology, in which the cabling outlay and thus the installation costs are reduced, the space available in the installation box is increased and at the same time the operation of an actuator or sensor without activation by a pushbutton but rather as a switch is possible, wherein a particularly simple and cost-effective retrofitting of the functional modules is achieved with a lower risk of damage to a cabling by spreading claws.This object is achieved by a functional module according to main claim 1.The core idea of the invention is, on the one hand, that the functional module can be inserted with its interface on the functional module side into the interface on the switching device side in the manner of a plug connector, so that the functional module and the electrical / electronic switching device form a unit which can be inserted jointly into the installation box and the cabling outlay is reduced by creating the electrical connection between the functional module and the electrical / electronic switching device via the contacts of the interface.The core idea of the invention is, on the one hand, that, at most, the functional module has a defined wiring for intended use, for example for controlling lights, shutters or sockets, so that the functional module can be influenced by means of actuating element and radio transmitter for influencing actuators connected to the functional module. Because the electrical / electronic switching device thus does not have any cabling, but rather only the functional module, a particularly simple and cost-effective retrofitting of the functional module is achieved with a lower risk of damage to a cabling by spreading claws.The formulation used within the scope of the invention, that at most the functional module has defined cabling for intended use, covers both that only the functional module has cabling (that is to say that the electrical / electronic switching device is not) or that the functional module also does not have cabling. A non-wired function module can then be supplied with battery. In both cases, the communication between the functional module and the electrical / electronic switching device runs via the two interfaces (on the functional module side or switching device side).In the functional module according to the invention, the position of the upper part of the switch is preferably detected by the functional module according to the invention and evaluated accordingly. In the case of the electrical / electronic switching device, an electrical switching by the functional module is thus suspended by the use of a button which returns into its original position for opening the electrical switch, and has therefore become unnecessary. It goes without saying that the functional module according to the invention can also be operated together with pushbuttons.A functional module according to the invention has a housing, in the interior of which electrical / electronic components necessary for functioning are accommodated on at least one electrical printed circuit board. In this case, the at least one electrical printed circuit board has at least one interface for connecting a plurality of electrical lines. The functional module according to the invention for an electrical / electronic switching device in building installation technology, which functional module is suitable for installation in an installation box, can be influenced by means of an actuating element of an upper part of the electrical / electronic switching device.Particularly preferably, the functional module according to the invention has a dimming actuator for dimming dimmable lighting means. In this way, not only can the functionality of dimming dimmable lighting means be realized, but it is also thereby made possible to use dimming without a button (or by means of a rotary knob). The infrastructure outlay is thus significantly reduced, so that the user is rather stimulated to install a functional module according to the invention.In an alternative development of the functional module according to the invention, the functional module has a switching actuator, in particular for switching sockets or lamps.In an alternative development of the functional module according to the invention, the functional module has a blind actuator for controlling blinds.In an alternative development of the functional module according to the invention, the functional module has a touch sensor for actuating an electrical device.According to the invention, the functional module has recesses which can be engaged with projections of the electrical / electronic switching device. The installation space located behind an electrical / electronic switching device is thus effectively utilized.The invention further relates to an arrangement comprising an electrical / electronic switching device and a functional module coupled thereto.The prior art and the invention are described below with reference to the attached figures on the basis of various exemplary embodiments. The following are shown: FIG. 1 : shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a previously known electrical / electronic switching device installed in an installation box, including indicated cabling, FIG. 2 : shows a schematic illustration of a previously known functional module, designed as a dimming actuator, including indicated cabling with respect to the switch, wherein functional module and electrical / electronic switching device are wired, FIG. 3 : shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a functional module according to the invention installed in an installation box, including the indicated cabling, wherein only the functional module is wired.In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference numerals and are therefore generally also designated or mentioned only once in each case.FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a previously known electrical / electronic switching device S installed in an installation box D, including the indicated cabling V. The control of such an electrical / electronic switching device S is conventionally carried out by means of an actuating element of an upper part O of the electrical / electronic switching device S by mechanical actuation, in particular by actuation of a switching rocker. During installation, an adjusting means EM, which is held in a holding device HV and by means of which the spreading claws K are adjustable, is usually used (this can lead to damage to the wiring V in an undesired manner).FIG. 2 shows on the left a conventional functional module F for installation in an installation box D for an electrical / electronic switching device S of building installation technology, wherein the functional module F can be influenced by means of an actuating element of an upper part O of the electrical / electronic switching device S by mechanical actuation, in particular by actuation of a switching rocker. This functional module F comprises a housing G, in the interior of which electrical / electronic components necessary for functioning are accommodated on at least one electrical printed circuit board. In this case, the at least one electrical printed circuit board has at least one interface for connecting a plurality of electrical lines.A disadvantage of such a previously known functional module F is that the wiring V of the functional module F and of the electrical / electronic switching device S is required. This not only results in a high level of installation complexity, but also gives rise to the risk of damage to the cabling V when the adjusting means EM for adjusting the spreading claws K are actuated, owing to the cabling V of the electrical / electronic switching device S.FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional illustration of a functional module F according to the invention installed in an installation box D, including the indicated cabling V. In this case, only the functional module F is wired or wired; in contrast to the prior art, the electrical / electronic switching device S has no cabling V. Since the functional module F is located further in the direction of the base of the installation box D, the risk of spreading claws K being able to touch the cabling V is significantly reduced. Since the functional module F can be inserted with its functional module-side interface CF into the switching device-side interface CS in the manner of a plug connector, there is also the option in a simple manner of developing existing electrical / electronic switching devices S with regard to a sensing, switching or dimming functionality by way of retrofittability; specifically with minimal cabling complexity, since the connection between the electrical / electronic switching device S and the functional module F is implemented without cabling.List of reference charactersCF function module-side interface CS switching device-side interface D installation box DA dimming actuator EM setting means F function module G housing HV holding device K spreading claws L phase N neutral conductor O upper part OA actuating element S electrical / electronic switching device SL control lines V cabling

Claims

Functional module (F) for coupling to an electrical / electronic switching device (S) in building installation technology located in an installation box (D), which functional module (F) can be influenced by means of an actuating element (OA), in particular an upper part (O), of the electrical / electronic switching device (S) and a radio transmitter, wherein the functional module (F) has electrical / electronic components necessary for functioning on at least one electrical printed circuit board, and wherein the functional module (F) has at least one functional-module-side interface (CF) which is connected to the electrical printed circuit board and is suitable for interaction with an interface (CS) on the switching device side, via which interfaces (CF, CS) actuators, for example lamps, shutters or sockets, or sensors, for example touch sensors, A control signal between functional module (F) and electrical / electronic switching device (S), wherein the functional module-side interface (CF) has an output channel for providing the control signal, which can be influenced both via the radio transmitter and via the actuating element (OA), characterized in that the functional module (F) can be inserted with its functional module-side interface (CF) into the switching device-side interface (CS) in the manner of a plug connector, and in that, if necessary, the functional module (F) has defined cabling, for example for driving lights, shutters or sockets, for intended use, such that the functional module (F) can be influenced by means of an actuating element (OA) and a radio transmitter for influencing actuators connected to the functional module (F), wherein the functional module (F) has recesses which can be engaged with projections (HV) of the electrical / electronic switching device (S).Functional module according to Claim 1, characterized in that the functional module (F) comprises a dimming actuator for dimming dimmable lighting means.Functional module according to Claim 1, characterized in that the functional module (F) comprises a switching actuator, in particular for switching sockets or lamps.Functional module according to claim 1, characterized in that the functional module (F) comprises a blind actuator for controlling blinds.Functional module according to Claim 1, characterized in that the functional module (F) comprises a tactile sensor for actuating an electrical device.Arrangement comprising an electrical / electronic switching device (S) and a functional module (F) according to one of Claims 1 to 5 coupled thereto.

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