TEMPORARY CONTROL ELEMENT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a touch-sensitive control element for controlling a smart home application and / or devices of building automation systems, wherein the control element is mounted behind an opaque surface and is controlled by touching the surface using touch sensors mounted on the control element.

[0002] A smart home refers to technical processes and systems in living spaces that aim to improve quality of life and security and that connect various technical household and living space devices via data processing systems (e.g., bus systems). For example, smart home elements such as lights, blinds, heating, household appliances, etc., can be operated via a central control system. This allows the entire building's technology to be controlled automatically.

[0003] A smart home control element is a device for controlling smart home elements (e.g. household and living room appliances) that are networked via a data processing system.

[0004] State-of-the-art smart home control elements are known which can be stationary switches mounted on walls or mobile devices (for example in the form of an app on a smartphone or tablet). The stationary switches are integrated into walls, for example, using flush-mounted boxes and can be designed as touch-sensitive switches. The stationary or mobile control elements can be networked with the home control system as required, enabling manual control. The disadvantage of current control elements is that they are always visible in the living area, which means they are at risk of breaking, even in particularly exposed locations or, for example, if they are simply dropped. In addition, the control elements can also be visually disturbing in the living space.

[0005] Another known system is a screen integrated into a kitchen worktop as an input surface (e.g., a fully functional mobile or built-in tablet). This allows all functions that can be performed, for example, by a mobile tablet with an integrated mobile smart home app to be controlled directly by input via the kitchen worktop (e.g., controlling kitchen appliances, playing music, or accessing websites). The disadvantage of these systems is that the production of the kitchen worktop is very costly. For example, a high sensor density is required for surface touch detection, and retrofitting existing kitchens is only possible by replacing the entire worktop. The worktop contains various glass elements for operation, which are prone to breakage and therefore require a lot of maintenance.In addition, the usability of screens as input surfaces is severely limited when operated with wet hands. Since wet hands are often used, especially in the kitchen, the control of smart home controls in this area of ​​the home is also limited.

[0006] DE 20 2015 007 999 U1 discloses a plate body comprising a functional layer with a printed circuit board, which is printed on a carrier plate and is located between the carrier plate and the cover layer of the plate body. A disadvantage is that this plate body can only be retrofitted as a replacement for existing plates and can only be used in the system described in DE 20 2015 007 999 U1. A disadvantage is that the functional layer is firmly enclosed in the layer structure of the plate. The plate body can comprise an operating element, although blocking the operating element from input is not described.

[0007] EP2624453A2 discloses a device for actuating an electrical load arranged in or on a body, in particular for a drive device for a closing or opening movement of the body. The device of EP2624453A2 can be regarded as a capacitive device switch that acts on the device itself or its load. EP2624453A2 describes how the risk of incorrect operation of a drive device can be reduced if the input of an input pattern or gesture is recognized. The input device is always active, and a locking of the control element itself is not described.

[0008] US2013100033A1 describes a capacitively controlled touch panel for kitchen or bathroom applications. It is designed for use in humid environments and minimizes the error rate during operation in the presence of water droplets. The touch panel described in US2013100033A1 is primarily designed to be mounted directly on the respective kitchen or bathroom application and is not intended for controlling smart home applications. Furthermore, the touch panel surface of the described touch panels must also be exposed and touched for control, which puts the surface at risk of breakage.

[0009] DE 10 2005 027 572 B3 concerns a control element for a dishwasher. Capacitive proximity sensors are located behind a glass surface, which becomes transparent when an object approaches. The control element of DE 10 2005 027 572 B3 is thus a touch panel with a glass surface, with the display elements of the touch panel becoming visible when operated. The surface of the control element must also be exposed and touched for operation, which puts the surface of the touch panel at risk of breakage. The control element controls the appliance to which it is attached, and the control element is built into the appliance, so that the appliance and control element form a single unit.

[0010] EP1881649A2 shows the control of a building system with a touchscreen. Because the touchscreen is mounted on an external surface, it is vulnerable to breakage and fully exposed to environmental influences.

[0011] WO 2007124754 A2 discloses an electrically adjustable piece of furniture comprising at least one motor-driven actuator and / or a lifting column. For operating the piece of furniture, the piece of furniture comprises touch buttons, which may be located behind a surface of the piece of furniture, with corresponding markings provided on the surface of the furniture. A disadvantage is that inadvertent contact with the touch buttons results in unwanted adjustment of the piece of furniture. While the user receives feedback through the movement of the piece of furniture in this application, in other applications where the user does not receive direct feedback, unwanted actuation might go undetected, for example, a change in room temperature or the opening of doors and windows.

[0012] The object of the invention is to provide more robust control elements for controlling smart home applications or to better protect control elements of smart home applications from environmental influences, whereby unintentional or unnoticed activation of the control element is to be prevented.

[0013] To achieve the object, the use of a touch-sensitive control element according to claim 1 is provided.

[0014] According to claim 1, to achieve the objects, a touch-sensitive control element for controlling a smart home application and / or devices of building automation systems is proposed, which is mounted behind a permanently opaque surface of a building wall, a piece of furniture, a kitchen or a worktop and has capacitive touch sensors which detect touches of users of the permanently opaque surface through it, wherein each touch sensor detects the touch of the opaque surface in an area, so that several touch points or touch areas are defined on the surface of the opaque surface opposite the touch sensors, wherein several touch sensors are used to control the smart home application and / or the devices of building automation systems, wherein the control element communicates with a central data processing system of a building,which controls or regulates decentralised devices of the building automation system on the basis of the detected touches and the control instructions stored therefor, whereby an unwanted and / or unnoticed activation of the touch-sensitive control element is prevented by one or more of the measures selected from the group of measures comprising: , Activating the control element from a locked state by touching one or more touch sensors; issuing an acoustic or tactile signal by the control element as feedback to the user regarding the status of the control element; issuing an optical signal by the control element as feedback to the user regarding the status of the control element, wherein the control element has one or more illuminating means, wherein the illuminating means are located behind openings or in openings in the opaque surface.

[0015] A permanently opaque surface is, for example, an opaque, electrically non-conductive surface of a kitchen worktop, a piece of furniture, a tile or a table.

[0016] This minimizes the risk of breakage of the control element and enables operation even in humid environments. Furthermore, no control element is mounted on the surface or in an outwardly open recess, thus maintaining the integrity of the surface, i.e., it remains closed and has no protrusions.

[0017] Preferably, the touch-sensitive control element has a planar structure with several spaced-apart touch sensors, each touch sensor detecting contact with the opaque surface in a discrete area, so that several discrete touch points or touch areas are defined on the surface of the opaque surface opposite the touch sensors. This ensures that only a few sensors are required, which is particularly cost-effective compared to control elements with touchscreens.

[0018] Capacitive touch sensors preferably operate according to the state-of-the-art "Self-Capacitance Charge Transfer" principle. In this principle, the control element forms a capacitor connected to ground, which is continuously charged and discharged. During discharge, the time it takes for the voltage to fall below a certain value is measured. If a person touches the surface at a location with a capacitively controlled touch sensor underneath, the total capacitance of the touch sensor changes. This causes the capacitor to take longer to discharge, which can be interpreted by software as a touch of the control element's touch sensor.

[0019] Preferably, the opaque surface has visible and / or tactile markings on the side facing the user, which are arranged corresponding to the discrete touch points or touch sensors. This indicates to the user which touch sensor or associated function can be controlled at which position, i.e., at which touch point, on the surface. The tactile marking can preferably be a fine raised structure or an engraving, which in any case does not completely penetrate the element comprising the surface.

[0020] Preferably, the control element can be activated from a locked state by touching one or more touch sensors. This prevents unintentional activation of functions of the smart home application, which is particularly advantageous when working on the surface, for example, when the surface is part of a countertop.

[0021] Preferably, the user is notified by a signal when the control element is activated. Preferably, one or more illuminants can indicate the active mode, wherein the illuminants are located behind or in openings in the surface, wherein the openings are preferably sealed with transparent or at least translucent material. To indicate the activated state, the illuminants can light up and / or extinguish one after the other, similar to a countdown, thereby advantageously indicating to the user the time remaining to operate the control element.

[0022] Alternatively, an acoustic signal can be emitted when at least one of the touch sensors is touched. The advantage of this is that the surface does not need to have any openings, allowing the activated state to be communicated to the user through the surface.

[0023] The distance between the touch sensors and the opposite surface of the opaque surface is preferably between 1 mm and 30 mm, since in this range detection by the capacitive touch sensors can be particularly reliable.

[0024] Preferably, the opaque surface behind which the touch-sensitive control element is mounted is not part of the devices controlled by the touch-sensitive control element. This means that the touch-sensitive control element preferably controls devices and functions that are independent of and remote from the surface on which it is mounted. The advantage of this is that the control element is not built into the device itself, as is usually the case with buttons on ceramic hobs. The disadvantage of control elements built into the device is that if the device is damaged, they must be replaced with the device, or the entire device must be replaced if the control element is damaged. The advantage of the present invention is therefore that the devices operated and their control elements are independent of one another and can therefore be exchanged and supplemented as required.By mounting the control element behind the surface, it can be removed at any time without leaving any visual or functional impairment (e.g. open cavities or screw holes) on the surface.

[0025] The control element preferably communicates, particularly preferably wirelessly (e.g., Wi-Fi), with a central data processing system of a building, which controls or regulates decentralized devices of the building automation system based on the detected touches and the associated control rules. This advantageously allows for the control element to be used particularly flexibly, since the control rules for the touch sensors stored in the data processing system can be defined and changed as required. Thus, when a device is replaced or when an inventive control element is installed, only these control rules need to be changed, and no cabling or direct communication between the control element and decentralized devices of the building automation system is necessary.

[0026] By installing the control element below the surface, breakage and impact protection is achieved, while the integrity of the surface is not compromised when the control element is installed. The marking or engraving, preferably provided on the surface, nevertheless enables targeted operation of the control element mounted below the surface. Feedback on the status of the control element can be provided to the user through the preferred output of a visual, acoustic, or tactile signal from the control element.

[0027] The invention is illustrated by drawings: Fig. 1: shows the flat side facing the underside of the surface of an exemplary embodiment of the control element according to the invention. Fig. 2: shows a schematic exemplary embodiment of an engraving on a surface. Fig. 3: shows an exemplary sectional drawing of the control element according to the invention behind a plate.

[0028] In Fig. 1 The flat side of an exemplary embodiment of the control element 1 according to the invention, facing the surface, is shown. The control element 1 is provided with touch sensors 2, 3, which transmit a signal to a data processing system or a smart home system in the event of a touch on the surface. In one embodiment, an acoustic signal is also triggered on the surface when touch sensors 2, 3 detect a touch, providing the user with feedback. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the control element 1 is equipped with six touch sensors 2, 3 and five lamps 4. If no lamps 4 and no touch sensor 3 are provided, the elongated, narrow extension that carries the lamps can be omitted, so that the control element 1 only has the Fig. 1 upper rectangular or preferably square part. In this embodiment, only the four touch sensors 2 arranged in the corner region of the rectangle can be provided, or preferably a fifth touch sensor 2 can be provided centrally between these four touch sensors 2. A central touch sensor 2 in the center of the square surface area of ​​the control element 1 can of course also be advantageously added to the embodiment shown in the figures.

[0029] The type of light source 4 can be chosen arbitrarily, but light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are particularly preferred. The light sources 4 protrude into openings 6 in the surface, which can be sealed, for example, with a partially transparent or translucent material (e.g., transparent resin), so that the surface and the underlying LEDs are protected from water and dirt. The number and location of the touch sensors 2, 3 and light sources 4 on the control element 1 can be varied as desired.

[0030] In a particularly preferred variant, the control element 1 is activated or unlocked for input by touching the surface above the touch sensor 3. After activation, the lamps 4 can light up as desired, for example, similar to a countdown in sequence, starting with the lamp 4 closest to the touch sensor 3. Another possibility would be for all lamps 4 to light up simultaneously, or for all lamps 4 to flash simultaneously several times during the period of the active mode. While one or more lamps 4 are lit or flashing, the underlying control element 1 or its touch sensors 2, 3 can be operated by touching the surface. As soon as the lamps 4 are no longer lit, the touch sensors 2 are deactivated and the control element 1 is locked for input. As soon as the control element 1 is in deactivated mode, the surface (e.g.kitchen worktop) can be used completely normally, for example for cutting, wiping or as a storage area, without the control element 1 being accidentally operated. By activating or deactivating, targeted use of the integrated control element 1 can be ensured, ensuring no loss of work surface and a shatter-proof environment for the control element 1. In another design variant, the control element 1 can be designed in such a way that it does not have to be activated by touching the touch sensor 3, but is always in activated mode and is therefore always unlocked for inputs. This design variant is possible, for example, for surfaces that are not constantly touched or used for work (e.g. installation in a wall cupboard).

[0031] In the Fig. 2 A schematic exemplary embodiment of an engraving 5 in any non-conductive surface is shown. The touch sensors 2 (not shown in the figure) are located under the elements of the engraving 5. For example, four touch sensors 2 are mounted under the inclined elements of the engraving 5. The openings 6 accommodate the lighting devices 4, with the fifth opening 6 being surrounded by an engraving 7 that identifies a touch sensor 3 (not shown in the figure) whose detection area overlaps with the lowest lighting device 4. Touching the fifth opening 6 between the engraving 7 activates the control element 1.

[0032] Preferably, the control element is mounted behind a permanently opaque worktop, wherein the control of the smart home application and / or devices of building automation systems by the touch-sensitive control element 1 is deactivated in the normal state and is only activated upon performing a targeted user action that clearly differs from the normal use of the worktop. For example, this can be done as described by specifically touching a touch sensor 3. Unlocking can also be done by touching touch sensors 2, 3 in a specific combination and / or sequence. Preferably, the combination and / or sequence can be programmed or specified by the user. This means that unlocking can only be performed by users who know the combination and / or sequence of the surface areas to be touched opposite the touch sensors 2, 3.For example, the unlocking combination may require that exactly two diagonally opposite touch sensors 2 must detect a touch simultaneously. For example, the unlocking sequence may require that the four touch sensors 2 must detect a touch consecutively in a clockwise direction.

[0033] In the Fig. 3an exemplary installation of a control element 1 behind a plate is shown. The surface of the plate has an exemplary engraving 5, 7. The control element 1 is attached to the underside of the plate. A touch sensor 2 is located beneath each contact point marked by the engraving 5, wherein the touch sensors 2 are only made visible from the outside by the engraving 5. The openings 6, which completely penetrate the plate, contain the lighting means 4, wherein a touch sensor 3 is provided close to the fifth and last lighting means 4, whereby the control element 1 can be activated by touching the last opening 6 between the engraving 7 by a signal from the touch sensor 3. The openings 6 are preferably sealed with at least partially transparent or translucent material and are thus closed.

[0034] The operating element 1 can advantageously be operated through surfaces of varying thicknesses. The surface thickness is particularly preferably in a range from 1 mm to 30 mm. The operating element 1 can advantageously be operated in this thickness range without changing the sensors. This is made possible by changing the sensitivity of the touch detection. A control rule for the operating element 1 sets a limit or threshold value above which changes in capacitance are registered as touches. This means that, for example, on thick surfaces (e.g. 30 mm) a touch can be registered even with a small change in capacitance, in comparison to a thin surface (e.g. 1 mm), where a touch is only registered with larger changes in capacitance.This allows the control element 1 to be individually adjusted to the surface used and its thickness without changing the hardware, ensuring identical operation for both thin and thick surfaces. This is made possible by the fact that the capacitive touch sensors 2 are actually proximity sensors, which can detect the approach of objects from a certain distance, essentially regardless of the thickness of the surface. To enable touch detection from the detection of the approach of an object, the threshold can be set so that the distance at which the approach of objects is recorded as a touch is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the surface.Of course, the threshold could also be set so that the distance at which the approach of objects is detected as contact is significantly greater than the thickness of the surface, for example, by 1 mm to 30 mm, to enable contactless operation, i.e., operation without actually touching the surface. The data processing system can also advantageously assign different meanings to the approach and the actual touch, or trigger different control rules.

[0035] The control element 1 can either send the measurement signals from the touch sensors 2, 3 to the data processing system or, when the threshold is reached, a signal indicating that an approach or contact has occurred, according to the function of a button. Communication with the data processing system is either wired or wireless. The data lines can also serve to supply power to the control element 1.

[0036] The data processing system preferably takes over the control of other devices based on the signals from control element 1. The data processing system is preferably the server or the central processing unit of a building automation system or a smart home. For this purpose, communication between control element 1 preferably takes place exclusively with the data processing system that controls decentralized devices of building automation systems.

[0037] In this way, individual functions for controlling devices in the smart home system can be stored in the data processing system's software for the signals from control element 1 or touch sensors 2, 3. For example, two touch sensors 2 can be programmed to control the living room ventilation (e.g., on / off), and two touch sensors 2 can be programmed to control a music system (e.g., volume up / down).

Claims

1. Use of a touch-sensitive operating element (1) in a system for controlling a smart home application and / or devices of building automation systems comprising at least one touch-sensitive operating element (1), a central data processing system and decentralised devices of the building automation system which are controlled or directed by the data processing system, wherein the operating element (1) is disposed behind a permanently opaque surface on the bottom side of a plate of a building wall, a piece of furniture, a kitchen or a worktop and has capacitive touch sensors (2, 3) which detect users' touches of the permanently opaque surface through the plate, wherein each touch sensor (2, 3) senses touching of the opaque surface in an area, so that multiple touch points and / or touch areas are defined on the surface of the opaque surface opposite the touch sensors (2, 3), wherein the operating element (1) communicates with the central data processing system which controls or directs at least one decentralised device of the building automation system based on the detected touches and the respective deposited control protocols, wherein undesired and / or unconscious activation of the touch-sensitive operating element (1) is prevented by the control of the smart home application and / or of devices of the building automation systems being deactivated by the touch-sensitive operating element (1) in a normal state, as well as the steps: activating the operating element (1) from a locked state into an activated state by touching one or more of the touch points and / or touch areas (2, 3) and one of more of the steps selected from the group of steps comprising: issuing an acoustic or tactile signal by the operating element (1) to the user as a response to the active status of the operating element (1); or issuing an optical signal by the operating element (1) to the user as a response to the active status of the operating element (1), wherein the operating element (1) has one or more luminants (4), wherein the luminants (4) are present behind apertures (6) or in apertures (6) of the opaque surface.

2. The use of claim 1, characterised in that multiple touch sensors (2, 3) are present spaced apart on the operating element (1), wherein each touch sensor (2, 3) senses the touch of the opaque surface in a discrete area, so that multiple touch points and / or touch areas are defined on the surface of the opaque surface opposite the touch sensors (2, 3).

3. The use of any one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the operating element (1) has multiple touch sensors (2) for controlling the smart home application and / or the devices of building automation systems and at least one touch sensor (3) for unlocking the touch sensors (2) for controlling the smart home application and / or the devices of building automation systems.

4. The use of any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the operating element (1) has one or more luminants, wherein the luminants (4) are present behind apertures (6) or in apertures (6) of the opaque surface, wherein the apertures (4) are sealed using transparent or at least translucent material.

5. The use of any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the distance of the touch sensors (2, 3) from the opposite face of the opaque surface is between 1mm and 30mm.

6. The use of any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the opaque surface, behind which the touch-sensitive operating element (1) is disposed, is not part of the apparatuses controlled using the touch-sensitive operating element (1).

7. The use of any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the capacitive touch sensors (2, 3) are proximity sensors which recognise the approximation of objects at a certain distance essentially independent of the thickness of the surface, wherein the sensitivity of touch recognition of the capacitive touch sensors (2, 3) is adjusted depending on the thickness of the permanently opaque surfaces by setting a limit and / or threshold value by means of a control protocol for the operating element (1), from which changes in capacity will be registered as touches.

8. The use of any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the operating element (1) is activated from a locked state into an activated state by touching one or more touch areas (2, 3), wherein in doing so, an acoustic or tactile signal is issued by the operating element (1) or an optical signal is issued by the operating element (1) as a response to the status of the operating element (1) to the user, wherein in the case of an optical signal the operating element (1) has one or more luminants (4), wherein the luminants (4) are present behind apertures (6) or in apertures (6) of the opaque surface, wherein one or more luminants (4) display the active mode during the activated state.

9. The use of any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the opaque surface has visible and / or tactile marks, which are arranged according to the touch points and / or touch areas, on its side facing away from the user.

10. The use of any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the operating element (1) has multiple touch sensors (2), which serve to control the smart home application and / or the devices of building automation systems, and at least one further touch sensor (3), wherein the multiple touch sensors (2) may only be used for controlling when the area of the opaque surface opposite the further touch sensor (3) has been previously touched for a predefined duration.

11. The use of any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the operating element (1) communicates with a data processing system, which is the server or the central processing unit of a building automation system or a smart home, wherein the data processing system conducts control of decentralised devices of building automation systems based on the signals of the operating element (1).

12. The use of any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the operating element (1) is provided with touch sensors (2, 3) and luminants (4).

13. The use of claim 12, characterised in that the operating element (1) has at least four touch sensors (2), each arranged in one of the corner areas of a rectangle, wherein an extension carrying the luminants (4) and a touch sensor (3) protrudes from the rectangle.

14. The use of claim 13, characterised in that the touch sensor (3) is provided close to the last luminant (4) of the extension, which is thus the one farthest away from the rectangular or square part.

15. The use of any one of claims 12 bis 14, characterised in that the operating element (1) comprises an issuing element for an acoustic or tactile signal.