Electrical / electronic device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical / electronic device (1) for building installation technology, in particular a light switch, with a lower part (2) and an upper part (3). In an electrical device (1) in which secure fastening is to be ensured while simultaneously maintaining the functionality of the floating mounting of the upper part, it is provided that the upper part (3) is mounted floatingly on the lower part (2), wherein at least one optical displacement sensor is provided which is designed and configured to detect movements of the upper part (3) relative to the lower part (2), wherein a controller is designed and configured to receive sensor data from the displacement sensor and to determine an actuating force as a function of the sensor data, wherein latching recesses (19) are formed on the upper part and wherein latching hooks (20) corresponding to the latching recesses (19) are formed on the lower part (2), wherein the upper part (3) is fastened to the lower part (2) when the latching hooks (20) engage in the latching recesses (19), or,wherein locking recesses (19) are formed on the lower part (2) and wherein locking hooks (20) corresponding to the locking recesses (19) are formed on the upper part (3), wherein the upper part (3) is fastened to the lower part (2) when the locking hooks (20) engage in the locking recesses (19).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electrical / electronic device for building installation technology, in particular a light switch, with a lower part and an upper part.

[0002] Such electrical or electronic devices are known in the prior art in a variety of designs. These electrical or electronic devices are often designed as safety sockets, orientation lights, data connection devices, switching devices, dimmers, and so on. They are intended for the electrical connection of loads and / or for influencing connected actuators, such as lighting devices, roller shutter controls, blind controls, heating controllers, and so on.

[0003] In building installations, there are numerous touch sensors that provide tactile feedback, especially for influencing actuators. Force sensors are also known, which can trigger different functions depending on whether a button is pressed lightly or firmly. However, these are difficult to harmonize, as tactile feedback can negatively influence force sensors, and vice versa.

[0004] At the same time, with such electrical or electronic devices, there is the difficulty of securing the upper part to the lower part while maintaining the functionality of various sensor zones.

[0005] DE 10 2006 024 994 B3 and DE 10 2012 005 474 A1 disclose an electrical / electronic device with a lower part, a floating upper part and recesses without an optical displacement sensor.

[0006] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing an electrical or electronic device in which a secure fastening is to be ensured while at the same time maintaining the functionality of the floating bearing of the upper part.

[0007] This object is achieved in the present invention by the features of claim 1, firstly in that the upper part is mounted floatingly on the lower part, wherein at least one optical displacement sensor is provided which is designed and configured to detect movements of the upper part relative to the lower part, wherein a controller is designed and configured to receive sensor data from the displacement sensor and to determine an actuating force as a function of the sensor data, wherein latching hooks are formed on the upper part and latching recesses corresponding to the latching hooks are formed on the lower part, wherein the upper part is fastened to the lower part when the latching hooks engage in the latching recesses, or wherein latching hooks are formed on the lower part and latching recesses corresponding to the latching hooks are formed on the upper part, wherein the upper part is fastened to the lower part,when the locking hooks engage in the locking recesses.

[0008] The upper part is preferably an actuating element with an actuating surface that can be actuated by a user. The upper part can be designed in the form of a switch or a push-button. The upper part can have a continuous, smooth actuating surface. However, it is also conceivable for the upper part to be visually and structurally divided into different sections. This can be achieved, for example, through notches, different color accents, and / or different materials.

[0009] The lower part is preferably a housing in which electrical and electronic components of the electrical / electronic device can be housed. In particular, this housing can be designed as an installation box for flush mounting. Various fastening elements can be provided on the outside of the housing, for example, retaining springs that can hold the lower part in an installation recess.

[0010] With the floating mounting of the upper part on the lower part, the upper part is arranged on the lower part so that it can move in various spatial directions. It is conceivable that the upper part is at least partially guided in at least one spatial direction. However, it can also be provided that the upper part is arranged on the lower part in such a way that it is not easily removable from the lower part. However, movement toward the lower part and, to a certain extent, parallel to the lower part is possible.

[0011] The optical distance measuring sensor can, for example, be a laser-based sensor that can determine distances using triangulation. The light beam hits an object as a small point. The sensor's receiver, for example in the form of a photodiode array, detects the position of this point. Depending on the distance, the angle of incidence and thus the position of the light point on the receiver changes. Such a change can be detected and transmitted to the controller, which evaluates the signals from the distance measuring sensor. The controller can be designed as a microcontroller located on a circuit board that can be arranged directly on the back of the upper part.

[0012] The electrical / electronic device can also include a cover frame or a design frame. The cover frame is a panel for the installation of the electrical or electronic device in a household wiring system. The cover frame both protects and conceals small electronic components, ensuring a more aesthetic appearance when installed.

[0013] The present invention provides a user with a comfortable operating experience. The underlying force sensor technology in an electrical / electronic installation device, taking into account the installation practices in the field of electrical devices, such as the variety of device boxes, frame designs, and installation environments, not only increases operating comfort but also allows for a consistent space requirement for the device in an installation recess.

[0014] The locking hooks preferably have a locking projection. It is conceivable that the locking hooks comprise a spring element or are themselves designed to be deflectable, so that they are deflected when the upper part is inserted onto the lower part, wherein the locking projections then come into an undercut with the locking recess when the locking projections are returned to the undeflected position. The locking projections can be designed like a ramp, so that the locking hook is deflected further and further when inserted into the locking recess when the ramp-like locking projection is deflected by the contour of the locking recess. By means of a sudden taper of the locking hook after the highest point, it can be moved behind the locking recess into the undercut as it is further inserted into the locking recess.

[0015] The locking recess can be designed as an opening which has at least one contact surface corresponding to the locking projection, which leads to the locking hook coming into an undercut with the locking recess.

[0016] Electronic or electrical devices and / or other relevant devices or components according to the embodiments of the present invention described herein may be implemented using any suitable hardware, firmware (e.g., an application-specific integrated circuit), software, or a combination of software, firmware, and hardware. For example, the various components of these devices may be packaged on an integrated circuit (IC) or on separate IC chips. Furthermore, the various components of these devices may be implemented on a flexible printed circuit board, a tape carrier package (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB), or on a single substrate.Furthermore, the various components of these devices may be a process or thread running on one or more processors in one or more computing devices, executing computer program instructions and interacting with other system components to perform the various functions described herein. The computer program instructions are stored in memory, which may be implemented in a computing device using standard memory, such as random access memory (RAM). The computer program instructions may also be stored in other non-transferable, computer-readable media, such as a CD-ROM, flash drive, or the like.A person of ordinary skill in the art should also recognize that the functionality of various computing devices may be combined or integrated into a single computing device, or that the functionality of a particular computing device may be distributed among one or more other computing devices without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0017] Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the remaining features mentioned in the subclaims.

[0018] In a first embodiment of the electrical / electronic device according to the invention, it is provided that the locking hooks or locking recesses are formed in an edge region of the upper part or the lower part, in particular are formed circumferentially around a contour of the upper part or the lower part. Preferably, the upper part and the lower part have a rectangular or square contour. Accordingly, the locking hooks or locking recesses can be arranged circumferentially around this rectangular or square contour. Advantageously, locking hooks or locking recesses are arranged at least on each side of the square. Particularly preferably, three locking hooks or locking recesses are provided on each side of the square.In this way, the upper part is firmly connected to the lower part, although there is still some play due to the locking hooks, so that although a floating support of the upper part on the lower part is achieved, at the same time it is not easily possible to pull the upper part off the lower part.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment of the electrical / electronic device according to the invention, at least one guide element is formed on the upper part and a receiving element corresponding to the guide element is provided on the lower part, wherein the guide element engages in the receiving element when the upper part is placed on the lower part. In this way, the upper part can be placed in a guided manner towards the lower part, while at the same time play can be left between the guide element and the receiving element. Thus, a floating bearing with respect to small movements can still be realized, although the upper part cannot be displaced excessively relative to the lower part.

[0020] Advantageously, a further embodiment of the invention provides that the receiving element and / or the guide element comprise an elastic material. The elastic material can, for example, surround the receiving element. This allows the guide element to be inserted into the receiving element in a form-fitting manner without any play. The elastic material nevertheless allows for relative movement of the upper part to the lower part, while simultaneously ensuring secure mounting of the upper part on the lower part.

[0021] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the electrical / electronic device according to the invention, the elastic material is arranged around the receiving element and / or the guide element in such a way that compressive forces that can be applied by the upper part can be absorbed by the elastic material. The receiving element can be designed as a one-sided switch bearing, so that it is arranged as a type of buffer material such that the upper part rests at least partially on the elastic material. By pressing on the upper part, the elastic material is compressed. When several receiving elements with surrounding elastic material are used, compressive forces can thus be applied at different points on the upper part and registered or processed differently.Since the upper part cannot be easily lifted off the lower part due to the locking or snap connection, it is sufficient to provide a one-sided switch bearing.

[0022] In order to achieve good mobility between the upper part and the lower part, a further embodiment of the electrical / electronic device according to the invention provides for at least one spring element, in particular a Z-spring element, to be arranged between the upper part and the lower part, wherein the spring element is deflected when a compressive force is applied to the spring element by the upper part. The Z-spring element can be provided alternatively or in addition to other bearings. The primary purpose of the Z-spring element is to allow reversible deflection of the upper part relative to the lower part. Several Z-spring elements can be provided, which are arranged at different locations between the upper part and the lower part. In this way, the elastic mobility between the upper part and the lower part can be further improved.It can also be provided that the different spring elements have different spring constants, so that operating the upper part at different points is difficult for the user. This can be advantageous, for example, if functions are connected to the electronic / electrical device that should not be triggered too easily. Other functions, such as turning the light on or off, can be performed more easily.

[0023] Additionally or alternatively, in a further embodiment of the electrical / electronic device according to the invention, it can be provided that a circumferential elastic component is arranged in the lower part, wherein the upper part is connected to the circumferential elastic component in such a way that the circumferential elastic component absorbs at least compressive forces when a compressive force is applied by the upper part to a section of the circumferential elastic component. The circumferential elastic component can be provided alternatively or in addition to the switch bearings or the Z-spring elements. Due to the circumferential arrangement, a compressive force can be absorbed by the circumferential elastic component in each edge region of the upper part in such a way that a local elastic deformation of the elastic component is caused.In this way, good mobility between the upper part and the lower part is realized, in particular relative mobility of the upper part to the lower part.

[0024] For this purpose, a further embodiment of the invention can provide for the upper part to rest on the circumferential elastic component. This represents the simplest connection between the circumferential elastic component and the upper part. The upper part is placed on the circumferential elastic component.

[0025] Alternatively, in a further preferred embodiment of the electronic / electrical device, the upper part can be provided with a circumferential spring, and the circumferential elastic component can have a groove corresponding to the circumferential spring, with the spring being arranged in the groove. In this way, the upper part is surrounded by the circumferential elastic component on two sides. In addition to the improved deflectability, since the upper part cannot be lifted off the circumferential elastic component, an additional sealing effect is also achieved to protect sensitive electronic components inside the lower part.

[0026] Furthermore, in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a housing for flush-mounted installation can be provided, wherein the lower part is arranged in the housing. The housing can further comprise, for example, a support ring. The support ring is provided for fixing the electrical or electronic device in an installation recess. The support ring can have a larger diameter than the installation recess. For this purpose, the support ring can have a contact surface that rests against the wall around the installation recess. The support ring can be fastened to the wall around the installation recess by means of suitable fastening means, for example a screw connection.

[0027] In a further embodiment of the electrical / electronic device according to the invention, it can be provided that at least one retaining spring is arranged on the housing for mounting the housing in an installation recess, wherein a disassembly protection is provided in order to prevent the lower part from being pulled out of the installation recess, wherein the disassembly protection comprises at least one retaining element which is firmly connected to the lower part and wherein the retaining element can be connected to the retaining spring.

[0028] The various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another, unless stated otherwise in the individual case.

[0029] The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 shows in principle an electrical / electronic device designed as an electrical light switch according to a first embodiment, Fig. 2 a part of the embodiment according to Fig. 1 in a top view and Fig. 3 a sectional view of the electrical device according to Fig. 1 in a longitudinal section.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows an electrical / electronic device 1 for building installation technology with a lower part 2 and an upper part 3, wherein the upper part 3 is mounted floatingly on the lower part 2. The upper part 3 has an actuation side 4 and a rear side 5. In this exemplary embodiment, two optical displacement sensors (not visible here) are arranged on the rear side 5, which can detect movements of the upper part 3 relative to the lower part 2. A controller is arranged on a circuit board arranged on the upper part 2, which controller is designed and configured to receive sensor data from the displacement sensors and to determine an actuation force depending on the sensor data.

[0031] Additionally, in this exemplary embodiment, four capacitive sensors are arranged in the corners of the square-shaped upper part 3. The force sensor system is thus implemented using two optical displacement sensors, four capacitive sensors in the corners, and a controller. When the actuating surface is touched, the upper part 3 is pushed slightly inward. This minimal change in distance between the floating upper part 3 and the rigid lower part 2 in the z-direction is detected both optically by the two displacement sensors and capacitively by the capacitive sensors in the corners and passed on to the controller. The controller determines the actuation force based on the detected sensor data and sends a corresponding command to a KNX controller 10, which is arranged on a lower circuit board 11 in the lower part, in order to trigger the desired function, for example in a smart home environment.

[0032] This combination of displacement sensors and capacitive sensors in the corners enables homogeneous operation of the button, which means that the button can be operated in any position, even in the outer corners.

[0033] To create a ground connection for the capacitive sensors, a metallic stamped part 12 is inserted into the lower part, extending around the circumference of the lower part 2. Additionally, a bent tongue 13 is provided, which is attached to the lower circuit board 11 by means of a screw to connect the ground connection to the lower circuit board 11. Because the capacitive sensors are each arranged in a corner area of the upper part, the stamped part 12 can be designed as a square frame in order to use as little material as possible. The metal tongue is bent from this square frame and extends within the lower part 2 to be contacted at a corresponding location.

[0034] In this exemplary embodiment, four guide elements 14 are formed on the upper part 2, with receiving elements 15 corresponding to the guide elements 14 being provided on the lower part 3. The receiving element 15 comprises an elastic material 16. The elastic material 16 surrounds the receiving element 15. This allows the guide element 14 to be inserted into the receiving element 15 in a form-fitting manner without any play being necessary. The elastic material 16 nevertheless allows a relative movement of the upper part 3 to the lower part 2, while at the same time ensuring secure mounting of the upper part 3 on the lower part 2.

[0035] Fig. Figure 2 shows a section of an edge region of the electrical / electronic device 1 in a sectional view. It can be seen that locking recesses 19 are formed in the edge region on the upper part 3. Locking hooks 20 corresponding to the locking recesses 19 are formed on the lower part 2. The upper part 3 is accordingly fastened to the lower part 2 when the locking recesses 19 engage with the locking hooks 20. The locking recesses 19 and locking hooks 20 are formed in an edge region of the upper part 3 and the lower part 2, respectively. They are formed circumferentially around a contour of the upper part 3 and the lower part 2, respectively. In this way, the upper part 3 is firmly connected to the lower part 2, although there is still play due to the locking hooks 20, so that although a floating mounting of the upper part 3 on the lower part 2 is realized, at the same time it is not easily possible to pull the upper part 3 off the lower part 2.

[0036] In Fig. 3 shows that a vibration motor 17 in the form of an eccentric motor is provided to provide the user with improved tactile feedback. The vibration motor 17 or the eccentric motor generates a vibration that provides the user with tactile feedback, a feeling for the operation of the upper part 3. By decoupling the upper part from the lower part, the vibration can be optimally transmitted to the upper part 3, whereby the vibration felt on the user's finger is clearly perceptible. List of reference symbols 1 Electrical / electronic device 2 lower part 3 Top 4 Operating side 5 Back 10 KNX controllers 11 Lower circuit board 12 punched part 13 Tongue 14 Guide element 15 receiving element 16 Elastic material 17 Vibration motor 19 Recess 20 locking hooks

Claims

[1] Electrical / electronic device (1) for building installation technology, in particular light switches, with a lower part (2) and with an upper part (3), wherein the upper part (3) is mounted floating on the lower part (2), wherein at least one optical displacement sensor is provided which is designed and configured to detect movements of the upper part (3) relative to the lower part (2), wherein a controller is designed and configured to receive sensor data from the displacement sensor and to determine an actuating force depending on the sensor data, wherein latching hooks (20) are formed on the upper part and latching recesses (19) corresponding to the latching hooks (20) are formed on the lower part (2), wherein the upper part (3) is fastened to the lower part (2) when the latching hooks (20) engage in the latching recesses (19), or wherein latching hooks (20) are formed on the lower part (2) and latching recesses (19) corresponding to the latching hooks (20) are formed on the upper part (3), wherein the upper part (3) is fastened to the lower part (2) when the latching hooks (20) engage in the latching recesses (19). [2] Electrical / electronic device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the locking hooks (20) or locking recesses (19) are formed in an edge region of the upper part (3) or the lower part (2), in particular a contour of the upper part (3) or the lower part (2) is formed circumferentially. [3] Electrical / electronic device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one guide element (14) is formed on the upper part (3) and that a receiving element (15) corresponding to the guide element (14) is provided on the lower part (2), wherein the guide element (14) engages in the receiving element (15) when the upper part (3) is placed on the lower part (2). [4] Electrical / electronic device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the receiving element (15) and / or the guide element (14) comprises an elastic material (16). [5] Electrical / electronic (1) device according to claim 4, wherein the elastic material (16) is arranged around the receiving element (15) and / or the guide element (14) in such a way that compressive forces which can be applied by the upper part (3) can be absorbed by the elastic material (16). [6] Electrical / electronic device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one spring element, in particular a Z-spring element, is arranged between the upper part (3) and the lower part (2), wherein the spring element is deflected when a compressive force is applied to the spring element by the upper part (3). [7] Electrical / electronic device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a circumferential elastic component is arranged in the lower part (2), wherein the upper part (3) is connected to the circumferential elastic component in such a way that the circumferential elastic component absorbs at least compressive forces when a compressive force is applied to a section of the circumferential elastic component by the upper part (3). [8] Electrical / electronic device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the upper part (3) rests on the circumferential elastic component. [9] Electrical / electronic device (1) according to claim 7, wherein the upper part (3) has a circumferential spring and wherein the circumferential elastic component has a groove corresponding to the circumferential spring, wherein the spring is arranged in the groove. [10] Electrical / electronic device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a housing for flush mounting is provided, wherein the lower part (2) is arranged in the housing. [11] Electrical / electronic device (1) according to claim 10, wherein at least one retaining spring is arranged on the housing for mounting the housing in an installation recess, wherein a disassembly protection is provided to prevent the lower part (2) from being pulled out of the installation recess, wherein the disassembly protection comprises at least one retaining element which is firmly connected to the lower part (2) and wherein the retaining element is connectable to the retaining spring.

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