Electric installation device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical installation device comprising a housing (10) in which a plurality of push-buttons (12) are arranged, above which a common actuating button (14) is arranged. Electronic means (16) which output only a single switching signal when several buttons are actuated are provided.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical installation device according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a device is known from EP 2 081 296 B1.

[0002] Such installation devices are known in many designs and are used to switch electrical components such as lighting fixtures, blind controls, temperature controls, etc.

[0003] German patent DE 10 2015 009 066 A1 discloses a bus switch that can be labelled according to specific applications. EP 1 804 346 B1 discloses an electrical installation device with several microswitches arranged on a printed circuit board, which can be operated via pushbuttons of different sizes. US patent 2017 / 076888 A1 also discloses an electrical installation device.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to design an electrical installation device according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that it can be manufactured cost-effectively and modularly and can be used flexibly.

[0005] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1, and in particular by an electrical installation device with a housing in which at least two pushbuttons are arranged, above which a common actuating button is arranged. The actuating button can thus be used to actuate not only one or the other pushbutton, but also both pushbuttons simultaneously. Furthermore, according to the invention, an electronic means is provided which outputs only a single switching signal when both pushbuttons are actuated by the actuating button within a predetermined time window.

[0006] The solution according to the invention allows an actuating button to be arranged above two or more pushbuttons, so that pressing the actuating button activates two or more pushbuttons. To achieve a bounce-free switching process, an electronic means is provided which outputs only a single switching signal, even if both pushbuttons have been actuated within the specified time window.

[0007] The solution according to the invention provides a flexible arrangement, since the installation device can be designed so that the actuating button covers only one, two, four, or even more buttons. Depending on the application, this allows one and the same installation device to be equipped with different actuating buttons, whereby the electronic means always ensures that, regardless of the number of buttons covered by the actuating button, only a single switching signal is output, even if several buttons are actuated simultaneously within the time window.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the description, the drawing and the dependent claims.

[0009] According to a first advantageous embodiment, the electronic means can include a switching device that deactivates the switching function of one or more pushbuttons. This ensures that only one pushbutton is activated at any given time, so that only a single switching signal is output.

[0010] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the electronic device can detect the activation of multiple buttons within the time window. This makes it possible, for example, to detect which button was activated first within the time window, so that only its switching signal is output. Similarly, after detecting the first activated button, it is also possible to disable all subsequent buttons for a specific period of time.

[0011] In a further advantageous embodiment, microswitches can be provided as pushbuttons, arranged in at least two rows on a circuit board. Such an arrangement can be manufactured very cost-effectively and installed in a space-saving manner.

[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment, a display can be provided next to the pushbuttons, showing the switching states and / or functions assigned to the pushbuttons. Additional parameters such as temperature, humidity, time, etc., can also be displayed. The display can be positioned next to a row of pushbuttons or between two rows of pushbuttons, and can be mounted or oriented horizontally or vertically. A controller allows for flexible reprogramming of the display's functions along with the assignment of the individual buttons. The display can be divided into different segments, for example, depending on individual pushbuttons or buttons, with the display segments being freely programmable in terms of size, assignment, and / or positioning relative to the individual pushbuttons or buttons.This also includes an asymmetrical division of the display segments or the display of a single display segment across the entire display.

[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment, a bistable display, for example an e-paper display, can be provided, which is arranged, in particular, between two or between two rows of pushbuttons. Such a bistable display can also be individually programmed and configured so that, for example, the function of a respective button and also the switching state of an electrical component can be displayed. Furthermore, such a bistable display has the advantage that it continues to display information even if the supply voltage fails.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment, a control system can be provided that assigns different switching functions to at least one push button depending on the time of day. For example, the same push button can be assigned the switching function for outdoor lighting from a certain time of day, while at another time of day the same push button can be used to switch indoor lighting. Alternatively or additionally, the control system can also serve to assign a freely configurable function to each push button, be it a switching function or a programming or display function.

[0015] According to a further advantageous embodiment, several operating buttons of different sizes can be provided, so that the electrical installation device can be flexibly configured according to requirements. This allows a large number of switching options to be provided with one and the same installation device simply by providing operating buttons of different sizes.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the size of one actuating button can be an integer multiple of the size of another actuating button. This allows for a wide variety of configurations to be achieved within a predefined grid, similar to a modular system. For example, an actuating button can be provided that is twice, three times, or even four times the size of another actuating button.

[0017] In a further advantageous embodiment, the actuating button can be clipped into a retaining element of the installation device, which has an integrally molded spring element that presses the actuating button into its rest position. In this way, for installation, the actuating button only needs to be clipped into the retaining element, after which the spring element presses the actuating button into its rest position. When the actuating button is pressed, it then exerts pressure – for example, via an integrally molded actuating projection – on one or more associated pushbuttons and is pushed back into its rest position by the spring element after the actuating button is released.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment, all operating buttons of the installation device can be clipped into the retaining element, thereby simplifying both the installation and the replacement of individual operating buttons.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment, the retaining element can be frame-like and, in particular, surround a display. This allows operating buttons to be arranged on two or more sides of a display.

[0020] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the spring element can be fork-shaped and, in particular, penetrated by an actuating projection of the actuating button. This ensures that the actuating button is held centrally above each button.

[0021] According to a further advantageous embodiment, several actuation buttons can be provided, wherein at least one actuation button covers only a single button.

[0022] The present invention is described below by way of example with reference to various embodiments and the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of an installation device; Fig. 2 a perspective exploded view of a further embodiment of an installation device; Fig. 3 a partial sectional view of the installation device of Fig. 2 Fig. 4 shows a partially cutaway view of another embodiment of an installation device; and Fig. 5 shows an exploded view of the installation device of Fig. 2 .

[0023] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an electrical installation device with a housing 10 in which, in the illustrated embodiment, sixteen pushbuttons 12 are arranged, wherein a common actuation button 14 8 is arranged over every eight pushbuttons 12.

[0024] Fig. 2 shows another electrical installation device, which is basically similar to the installation device of Fig. 1 is constructed, wherein two spaced-apart rows, each with four buttons 12, are provided, and a display 18 is arranged between the two rows. In this embodiment, the Fig. 2 The right row of pushbuttons 12 is provided with an actuating button 14 4 that covers all four pushbuttons, while above the left row of pushbuttons 12, a total of three actuating buttons 14 1 and 14 2 are provided. The area of ​​actuating button 14 2 is twice the area of ​​actuating button 14 1. In other words, each actuating button 14 1 covers one pushbutton 12, actuating button 14 2 covers two pushbuttons 12, and actuating button 14 4 covers four pushbuttons 12.

[0025] The more detailed design of the installation device of Fig. 2 is out Fig. 5 This is evident. This illustrates that the housing 10 has an open-topped housing pot in which electronic components 16 are arranged and covered by an intermediate plate 20. The pushbuttons 12 are designed as microswitches arranged in two spaced-apart rows on a circuit board 22, with an LED 24 next to each pushbutton 12 to visualize a switching signal.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, a display 26, designed as an e-paper display, is arranged between the two rows of pushbuttons. This display can be freely configured and programmed using the electronic components 16, so that, for example, it can show which electrical components can be switched by the respective pushbutton, in addition to the associated pushbuttons.

[0027] How Fig. 5 further clarified, the installation device from Fig. 2 a frame-like retaining element 30, which surrounds a recess for the display 26, wherein the retaining element 30 can be clipped onto the housing 10.

[0028] The installation device of Fig. 1 has a similarly designed retaining element 30', which, however, is not frame-like, since no display is provided in this embodiment.

[0029] How especially Fig. 3 und Fig. 4 To illustrate, the retaining element 30 has several integrally arranged spring elements 32, each positioned above a push button 12 and integrally formed with the retaining element 30. Each spring element 32 is fork-shaped and has two spring arms 34 and 36, between which (in top view) a push button 12 is arranged. This allows an actuating projection 40, integrally formed on the underside of the actuating buttons, to act on the corresponding push button 12.

[0030] For example Fig. 3 To clarify, the actuation buttons 14 1 have one actuation projection 40, while the actuation buttons 14 2 are provided with two actuation projections 40. Similarly, actuation button 14 8, for example, has a total of eight actuation projections 40 on its underside.

[0031] Furthermore, it clarifies Fig. 3 , that each actuation button is provided on its inside with tongues 42 which can engage matching projections of the retaining element 30, so that each actuation button, regardless of its size, can be clipped into the retaining element 30, 30' and is then pressed into its rest position by the spring arms 36.

[0032] As can be seen from the preceding description, several pushbuttons 12 can be actuated simultaneously using the actuating buttons 14 2, 14 4, and 14 8. To prevent pushbutton bounce or multiple successive triggering of a switching signal in such a case, the electrical installation device includes an electronic means in its electronic components 16 that outputs only a single switching signal if several pushbuttons 12 are actuated by one actuating button within a predefined time window, for example, within 250 ms. The electronic means can include a monitoring unit that monitors all pushbuttons to see if they are actuated, in which case the controller outputs only a single switching signal. For example, if the installation device of Fig. 1If pressing the actuating button 14 8 activates four or more of the buttons 12 below it, the monitoring unit detects which button 12 was pressed first and then blocks the switching function of the remaining buttons for the specified time window. In one embodiment, it is also possible for the monitoring device to activate only individual buttons and deactivate others.

[0033] Finally, instead of using electronic means, individual buttons can also be selected by providing mechanical means that, in the case of multiple operating elements, ensure that pressing one button only activates one of the buttons below it. For example, only a single actuation projection 40 can be provided on the underside of each operating button, so that only one button can be actuated by that operating button. In this case, no actuation projections are provided for the other buttons located below the operating button.

Claims

1. An electrical installation device comprising a housing (10) in which at least two push-buttons (12) are arranged above which a common actuation button (142, 144, 148) is arranged, wherein an electronic means (16) is provided, characterized in that the electronic means (16) outputs only a single switching signal when both push-buttons (12) are actuated by the actuation button (142, 144, 148) within a predefined time window.

2. An electrical installation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic means (16) comprises a switching device which deactivates the switching function of one or more push-buttons (12).

3. An electrical installation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic means (16) detects an actuation of a plurality of push-buttons (12) within the time window.

4. An electrical installation device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic means detects which of the push-buttons was actuated first.

5. An electrical installation device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that micro push-buttons arranged in at least two rows on a circuit board (22) are provided as push-buttons (12).

6. An electrical installation device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a display (26) is provided next to the push-buttons (12) and displays switching states and / or switching functions associated with the push-buttons (12).

7. An electrical installation device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bi-stable display, in particular an e-paper display (26), is provided that is in particular arranged between two rows of actuation buttons (141, 142, 144, 148).

8. An electrical installation device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control (16) is provided that assigns different switching functions to at least one push-button (12) depending on the time of day.

9. An electrical installation device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of actuation buttons (141, 142, 144, 148) of different sizes are provided.

10. An electrical installation device according to claim 9, characterized in that the size of one actuation button is an integer multiple of the size of another actuation button (141, 142, 144, 148).

11. An electrical installation device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuation button (141, 142, 144, 148) is clipped into a holding element (30, 30') which has a spring element (32) that is molded on in one piece and that presses the actuation button into its position of rest.

12. An electrical installation device according to claim 9 and 11, characterized in that all the actuation buttons (141, 142, 144, 148) are clipped into the holding element (30, 30').

13. An electrical installation device according to one of the preceding claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the holding element (30) is frame-like and in particular surrounds a display (18).

14. An electrical installation device according to any one of the preceding claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the spring element (32) is fork-like and is in particular engaged through by an actuation projection (40) of the actuation button (141, 142, 144, 148).

15. An electrical installation device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of actuation buttons (141, 142, 144, 148) are provided, with at least one actuation button (141) covering only a single push-button (12).

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