ACTUATOR

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present invention relates to an actuating device for triggering a function on a sanitary article according to the preamble of claim 1. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A large number of actuating devices or actuating elements for the electrical triggering of a water dispensing, in particular flushing devices, are known from the prior art.

[0003] For example, EP 2 497 868 and EP 1 961 876 disclose actuator plates with sensors that trigger a flush. EP 1 961 876 discloses the use of capacitive sensors for flush triggering. EP 2 497 868 discloses the use of infrared sensors. ES 2 224 783 proposes an actuator device with an infrared sensor and, alternatively, a radar sensor.

[0004] Both capacitive and infrared sensors have the disadvantage that user actions can only be detected within a specific detection range in front of the actuator. Therefore, a user must perform a hand movement within this detection range for the movement to be recognized and a flush to be triggered.

[0005] For various reasons, it is desirable to monitor different areas in front of a flush plate to trigger, for example, a manual flush when a hand moves in front of the flush plate or an automatic flush when a user moves away from the toilet or urinal. For triggering other functions, such as activating an odor extraction system, simple presence detection is sufficient. However, if multiple areas need to be monitored, existing solutions are either unsuitable or only applicable with additional effort, such as the use of multiple sensors. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Based on this prior art, the invention is based on the objective of providing an actuating device that reliably detects various user movements at different distances from the actuating device. This is particularly important given the requirement of a simple technical design of the actuating device.

[0007] This problem is solved by the device according to claim 1. Accordingly, an actuating device for triggering a function on a sanitary article comprises a front panel, a single sensor designed for user detection, which sensor is a radar sensor arranged behind the front panel with a radar frequency in the range of 55 to 65 GHz, in particular with a radar frequency of 60 GHz, and a control unit functionally connected to the radar sensor. The radar sensor monitors a detection area located in front of the front panel such that a user movement performed in the detection area can be detected with respect to its position within the detection area. Upon detecting a user movement, the radar sensor provides a signal that represents the position of the user movement. Furthermore, the radar sensor transmits said signal to the control unit.The control unit is designed in such a way that, based on the signal from the radar sensor, a control signal can be provided by the control unit, which is assigned to the detected position of the user movement, such that a function assigned to the control signal and thus to the position can be triggered on the sanitary article based on the control signal.

[0008] According to the invention, a single sensor is provided for user identification. This means that no additional sensors are used to detect user movements. This sensor is a radar sensor operating in the specified frequency range. The radar sensor, operating at the aforementioned frequency, provides a resolution that allows for precise position detection of the user's movement. Thus, precise position detection can be achieved with a single sensor, enabling the triggering of various functions on the sanitary fixture with just one sensor.

[0009] In particular, a single radar sensor allows for simple and reliable monitoring of both a close-range area near the front panel and a long-range area at a greater distance. In the close range, a user's hand movement can be easily detected, while in the long range, the user can be identified. If the sanitary fixture is a toilet or urinal, a hand movement in the close range can trigger a manual flush, and user detection in the long range can trigger an automatic flush or another function.

[0010] The single radar sensor also provides an actuating device, which is very simple in design.

[0011] Choosing this frequency range also has the advantage that the radar waves can penetrate a wide variety of materials with a plate thickness of 4 to 12 millimeters. This increases design freedom when selecting the material for the actuator plates.

[0012] When installed, the front panel is visible to the user, while the radar sensor is located on the side of the front panel that is not visible to the user. This means the radar sensor is located on the back of the front panel.

[0013] Furthermore, for manual flushing of the sanitary fixture, area C of the detection range is defined. Area C extends horizontally from the radar sensor by 5 to 15 centimeters. A user movement within this area C generates a corresponding control signal.

[0014] If the sanitary fixture is a toilet or urinal, the control signal is transmitted from the control unit to a flushing valve, which is opened by the control signal so that flushing water can be supplied to the sanitary fixture.

[0015] Preferably, the region C extends conically from the radar sensor, with the apex of the cone being located at the radar sensor and the cone axis having a length of the aforementioned dimension of 5 to 15 centimeters. In the installed position, the cone axis preferably extends horizontally.

[0016] Particularly preferably, the area C is subdivided by a plane lying vertically in the installed position of the actuating device. The subdivision is such that the area is divided into two sub-areas C1 and C2, wherein a user movement in one sub-area C1 can provide a control signal for a partial flush, and wherein a user movement in the other sub-area can provide a control signal for a full flush.

[0017] This activates a flush valve with two different control signals. The flush valve then remains open for varying lengths of time, allowing either a partial or full volume of flush water to drain from the cistern.

[0018] Furthermore, for user recognition, an area A of the detection space is defined, which extends horizontally from the radar sensor by 120 to 150 centimeters, whereby a control signal for triggering a function on the sanitary article can be provided by a user movement in said area A.

[0019] One such function is, for example, the control of an odor extraction system, the control of a heating element in a shower arm, or the control of a lighting element in the bathroom.

[0020] Preferably, region A extends conically from the radar sensor, with the cone apex being located at the radar sensor and the cone axis having a length of 120 to 150 centimeters, as mentioned above. In the installed position, the cone axis preferably extends horizontally. The cone angle of region A is smaller than the cone angle of region C.

[0021] Preferably, for automatic flushing, an area B of the detection space is defined which extends from the radar sensor by 90 to 100 centimeters, wherein a control signal for flushing the sanitary article 2 can be provided by a user movement in said area B.

[0022] This system can detect a user when they first approach the toilet or urinal and when they move away after use. This allows the flush to be triggered automatically based on the user's movements.

[0023] Particularly preferably, the main axis of said area B, viewed in the installed position, extends downwards at an angle from the horizontal. Preferably, this angle is approximately 20°.

[0024] Preferably, the front panel has a front surface which, in the installed position, is oriented essentially vertically, and wherein the radar sensor emits the radar waves in the direction of the surface normal of the front surface.

[0025] Preferably, the radar sensor is arranged centrally on the front panel. In other variants, the radar sensor is arranged in a lateral edge region, in particular in a lower or upper edge region, of the front panel.

[0026] Preferably, the front panel is manufactured in one piece and entirely from the same material. This means the front panel has no windows or similar features, nor any zones made of different materials. The front panel is therefore windowless. This allows for a particularly simple structure that also meets aesthetic requirements.

[0027] In a particularly preferred embodiment, there is exactly one single front panel. In another embodiment, the front panel can also be made up of two parts.

[0028] Preferably, the front panel is made of a non-metallic material, in particular plastic or glass. Other materials such as wood or ceramic, especially porcelain stoneware, are also conceivable.

[0029] The control unit or radar sensor can be operated via mains power or battery power.

[0030] In a further training course, the radar sensor and / or the control unit is located on the front panel.

[0031] In another embodiment, the actuating device further comprises a support element, wherein the front plate is mounted on the support element, wherein the radar sensor is arranged on the support element or on the front plate; and / or wherein the control unit is arranged on the support element or on the front plate.

[0032] Preferably, the radar sensor and the control unit are connected to each other via a control cable or wirelessly, so that the signal representing the position can be transmitted from the radar sensor to the control unit.

[0033] A method for operating an actuating device according to the above description is characterized by: that the radar sensor monitors a detection area located in front of the front panel in such a way that a user movement carried out in the detection area is detected with respect to its position in the detection area, wherein the radar sensor provides a signal corresponding to the position when a user movement is detected and transmits it to the control unit, and wherein the control unit is designed in such a way that, based on the signal from the radar sensor, the control unit provides a control signal which is assigned to the detected position of the user movement, such that a function corresponding to the control signal is triggered on the sanitary article on the basis of the control signal.

[0034] A sanitary arrangement comprises an actuating device according to one of the preceding claims and a sanitary article that can be controlled by the actuating device.

[0035] Preferably, the sanitary fixture is a toilet or a urinal. The toilet or urinal has a flushing valve, which is either part of a cistern or serves as a shut-off device for a water pipe. The operating device is operatively connected to the flushing valve. In further developments, the toilet may be equipped with an odor extraction system and / or be designed as a shower toilet.

[0036] The sanitary item can also be a washbasin, in which case the operating device is part of a spout fitting.

[0037] Further embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which serve only for illustration and are not to be interpreted restrictively. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic view of the actuating device according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 a schematic side view of the actuating device according to Figure 1 with a sanitary article in the form of a toilet; and Fig. 3 a top view of the Figure 2 . DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXECUTION FORMS

[0039] In the Figure 1An embodiment of an actuating device 1 and a sanitary article 2 is shown schematically. The actuating device 1 serves to trigger a function on a sanitary article 2. The sanitary article 2 can be, for example, a toilet, a urinal, or a washbasin. The function is, for example, opening a water valve to trigger a flush in the case of the toilet or urinal, or to initiate a dispensing process in the case of the washbasin. The sanitary article can also be a shower toilet, in which case the function can, for example, be activating a heating element to warm the shower water. Other sanitary articles and functions are also conceivable.

[0040] The actuating device 1 comprises a front panel 3, a radar sensor 4 arranged behind the front panel 3, and a control unit 5. According to the invention, exactly one radar sensor 4 is arranged. The radar sensor 4 is configured such that radar waves in a frequency range of 55 to 65 GHz, particularly preferably 60 GHz, can be emitted. The radar sensor 4 is functionally connected to the control unit 5. This means that signals can be exchanged between the radar sensor 4 and the control unit 5. In particular, signals are transmitted from the radar sensor 4 to the control unit 5.

[0041] The radar sensor 4 monitors a detection area E located in front of the front panel. Detection area E is the area in which a user moves or performs a hand movement for gesture control. The radar sensor 4 monitors detection area E in such a way that a user movement performed within detection area E is detected with respect to its position within detection area E. This means that the radar sensor 4 detects not only the presence of a user movement, but also its position within detection area E. The position can refer to a distance in the horizontal direction from the radar sensor 4 or to a distance in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Upon detecting a user movement, the radar sensor 4 provides a signal representing the position and transmits this to the control unit 5.The control unit 5 is designed such that, based on the signal from the radar sensor 4, it provides a control signal S. This control signal S represents the position of the user's movement, or rather, the detected position is assigned to the control signal S, so that a function assigned to the control signal S can be triggered on the sanitary article 2 based on the control signal S.

[0042] As mentioned previously, the radar sensor 4 is located behind the front panel 3. In its installed position, the radar sensor 4 is covered by the front panel 3 and is therefore not perceptible to a user.

[0043] The front panel 3 is made of a material that is transparent to radar waves. Due to the choice of the aforementioned frequency range, a wide variety of materials can be used for the front panel, thus increasing design freedom. Furthermore, the front panel 3 has a thickness that allows the radar waves to pass through it. Preferably, the front panel has a thickness of 4 to 12 millimeters. The front panel 3 is preferably made in one piece and is entirely of the same material. As mentioned, the front panel 3 can be made of various materials. Non-metallic materials are preferred, in particular plastic, glass, wood, or ceramic, especially porcelain stoneware.

[0044] The radar sensor 4 can be arranged in various ways with respect to the front plate 3. In the Figure 1The radar sensor 4 is arranged centrally to the front panel 3. However, it would also be conceivable that the radar sensor 4 could be arranged in the outer areas of the front panel 3.

[0045] The front panel 3 has a front surface 6, which in its installed position is essentially oriented vertically. The front surface 6 is the surface visible to the user. The radar sensor 4 emits the radar waves in the direction of the surface normal F of the front surface 6. This means that the principal axis of the radar waves extends in the direction of the surface normal F.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating device further comprises a support element 7, which is also arranged behind the front panel 3. The radar sensor 3 and the control unit 5 are located between the front panel 3 and the support element 7. The front panel 3 is held by the support element 7 and can be removed from the support element 7 for maintenance. The radar sensor 3 and the control unit 5 can be permanently attached to the front panel 3 and / or to the support element 7.

[0047] In the illustrated embodiment, the radar sensor 4 and the control unit 5 are connected to each other via a wired connection using a control cable 8. However, it would also be possible for the radar sensor 3 and the control unit 5 to communicate wirelessly.

[0048] In the Figures 2 and 3A sanitary arrangement is defined as comprising an actuating device 1 as described above and a sanitary article, in this case a toilet. The sanitary article can be controlled by the actuating device 1, as described above.

[0049] The actuating device 1 and the radar sensor 3 are designed to allow user movements in different areas, namely areas A, B and / or C.

[0050] For manual flushing of sanitary fixture 2, an area C is defined. Area C is a sub-area of ​​the detection area E. Area C extends horizontally from the radar sensor by 5 to 15 centimeters. A user movement within area C generates a corresponding control signal S. This user movement could be, for example, a hand movement into area C, causing the radar sensor 4 to generate the corresponding signal for the control unit 5.

[0051] Preferably, the area C is subdivided by a plane Z lying vertically in the installed position of the actuating device. The subdivision is such that the area C is divided into two sub-areas C1 and C2. A user movement in sub-area C1 can generate a control signal S for a partial flush, and a user movement in sub-area C2 can generate a control signal S for a full flush.

[0052] For user detection, an area A of the detection space E is defined. Area A extends horizontally from radar sensor 4 by 120 to 150 centimeters. A user movement within this area A can generate a control signal S to trigger a function on the sanitary fixture 2. User detection in this area allows for the detection of an approaching or departing user.

[0053] For automatic flushing, an area B of the detection space E is defined. Area B extends 90 to 100 centimeters from radar sensor 4, and a user movement within this area B can generate a control signal S for flushing the sanitary fixture 2. The main axis of area B, when viewed in its installed position, is inclined downwards at an angle to the horizontal. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0054] 1 Actuating device 2 Sanitary article 3 Front panel 4 Radar sensor 5 Control unit 6 Front surface 7 Support element 8 Control cable 9 Rear AArea A BArea B CArea C C1Subarea C2Subarea FFare normal EErnahmeraum SSteuersignal ZEbene

Claims

1. Actuating device (1) for triggering a function on a sanitary article (2), comprising a front panel (3), a single sensor designed for user recognition, which sensor is a radar sensor (4) arranged behind the front panel (3) with a radar frequency in the range from 55 to 65 GHz, in particular with a radar frequency at 60 GHz, and a control unit (5) in functional connection with the radar sensor (4), wherein the radar sensor (4) monitors a detection space (E) located in front of the front panel (3) in such a way that a user movement performed in the detection space (E) can be detected with regard to its position in the detection space (E), wherein the radar sensor (4), upon detecting a user movement, provides a signal representing the position and transmits it to the control unit (5), and wherein the control unit (5) is designed such that, based on the signal from the radar sensor (4) can provide a control signal (S) that is assigned to the detected position of the user movement, such that a function assigned to the control signal (S) can be triggered on the sanitary article (2) on the basis of the control signal (S), wherein an area (C) of the detection space is defined for manual flushing on the sanitary article (2), wherein the area (C) extends horizontally from the radar sensor by 5 to 15 centimeters, and wherein a corresponding control signal (S) can be provided by a user movement in said area (C); characterized in that an area (A) of the detection space (E) is defined for user detection, which extends from the radar sensor (4) in the horizontal direction, whereby a control signal (S) for triggering a function on the sanitary article (2) can be provided by a user movement in said area (A).

2. Actuating device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that that the said area (C) is divided by a plane (Z) lying vertically in the installation position of the actuating device, such that the said area is divided into two sub-areas (C1, C2), whereby a user movement in one sub-area (C1) of the sub-areas (C1, C2) can provide a control signal (S) for a partial flush, and a user movement in the other sub-area (C2) of the sub-areas (C2, C1) can provide a control signal (S) for a full flush.

3. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for automatic flushing, an area (B) of the detection space (E) is defined which extends from the radar sensor (4) by 90 to 100 centimeters, wherein a control signal (S) for flushing the sanitary article (2) can be provided by a user movement in said area (B).

4. Actuating device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the main axis of said area (B), viewed in the installation position, is oriented downward at an angle from the horizontal.

5. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front panel (3) has a front surface (6) which, in the installation position, is oriented substantially vertically, and wherein the radar sensor (4) emits the radar waves in the direction of the surface normal (F) of the front surface (6).

6. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radar sensor (4) is arranged centrally on the front panel (3); or in that the radar sensor (4) is arranged in a lateral edge area, in particular in a lower or upper edge area, of the front panel (3).

7. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front panel (3) is made in one piece and continuously from the same material.

8. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front panel (3) is made of a non-metallic material, in particular plastic or glass or wood or ceramic, in particular fine stoneware.

9. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radar sensor (4) and / or the control unit (5) is arranged on the front panel (3); or in that the actuating device (1) further comprises a support element (7), wherein the front panel (3) is mounted on the support element, wherein the radar sensor (4) is arranged on the support element (7) or on the front panel (3); and / or the control unit (5) is arranged on the support element (7) or on the front panel (3).

10. Actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radar sensor (4) and the control unit (5) are connected to each other via a control cable (8) or wirelessly, so that the signal representing the position can be transmitted from the radar sensor (4) to the control unit (5).

11. Method for operating an actuating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radar sensor (4) monitors a detection space (E) located in front of the front panel (3) in such a way that a user movement performed in the detection space (E) is detected with regard to its position in the detection space (E), wherein the radar sensor (4), upon detecting a user movement, provides a signal corresponding to the position and transmits it to the control unit (5), and wherein the control unit is designed such that, based on the signal from the radar sensor (4) provides a control signal (S) that is assigned to the detected position of the user movement, such that a function corresponding to the control signal (S) can be triggered on the sanitary article (2) on the basis of the control signal (S).

12. Sanitary arrangement comprising an actuating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1-10 and a sanitary article that can be controlled by the actuating device (1).