Electrical installation device

Abstract

An electrical installation device comprises a controller, which has a radar sensor and a microswitch for selection of a variety of operating modes.

Description

[0001] ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION DEVICE

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical installation device for switching electrical loads, comprising an electronic controller and a sensor. Such electrical installation devices are known in a variety of designs from the prior art, for example, as infrared motion detectors, radar motion detectors, or even presence detectors. Furthermore, electrical installation devices are known from the prior art in which the range of a sensor and other functionalities must be programmed using a remote control in order to switch electrical loads. However, switching the electrical load simply by actually touching the installation device is not possible.

[0003] It is therefore the object of the present invention to create an electrical installation device of the type mentioned above which is similar in its functionality and operability to a conventional light switch, but which at the same time combines the functionality of various proximity sensors.

[0004] This object is achieved by an electrical installation device for switching electrical loads, comprising an electronic controller with a single radar sensor and a microswitch arranged on a front side of the installation device. The controller is designed and configured to generate a switching signal triggered by the radar sensor or the microswitch and to switch between at least two operating modes adjustable by the microswitch, wherein a different range of the radar sensor is set in each operating mode. The installation device according to the invention thus combines the properties of a sensor and a conventional light switch, since an electrical load can be switched by actuating the microswitch, just like with a mechanical light switch.At the same time, however, the installation device also possesses at least two functionalities of different motion sensors, for example, the function of a contactless switch and the function of a motion detector. These two functionalities differ, for example, in the range of the radar sensor. With a contactless switch, a switching signal is only generated when movement is detected within a relatively short distance in front of the installation device. In contrast, a motion detector or a presence sensor has a significantly greater range, allowing it to, for example, switch an electrical load or emit a switching signal when a person passes the motion detector.With the installation device according to the invention, at least three such functionalities can be implemented with a single device, without the need for additional tools to select an operating mode, such as a battery-operated remote control, which is extremely advantageous from a sustainability perspective. Switching between the operating modes is achieved using the same microswitch, which can also be used to generate a switching signal for switching the electrical load.This allows the electrical installation device to be used at any time to switch the electrical load by pressing the microswitch, for example, when the ambient brightness is not yet sufficient to trigger a switching operation in the case of brightness-triggered automatic switching, or when very fast switching of the electrical load is required, or when the operator is accustomed to mechanically operating the light switch. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the description, the drawings, and the dependent claims.

[0005] According to a first advantageous embodiment, the operating frequency of the radar sensor can be in the range of 60 GHz, for example, between approximately 57 and 63 GHz. A radar sensor with such a high operating frequency can be adjusted over a wide range in terms of its range and sensitivity, allowing the implementation of a wide variety of spatial sensors.

[0006] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the installation device can be provided with an actuation button on its front, with which the microswitch can be actuated. Such an actuation button can be designed, for example, as a conventional rocker switch or a push button, so that the electrical installation device is not fundamentally different from a conventional mechanical light switch in aesthetic and technical terms. By using the radar sensor, no lens or the like is required on the front of the installation device, which, on the one hand, reduces the manufacturing effort and the associated costs, and, on the other hand, creates an attractive appearance.

[0007] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the control unit can be equipped with a sensor that detects the brightness of the ambient light. This allows the installation device to also be used as a twilight switch or to switch on a night light.

[0008] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the control unit can be equipped with a timer that can be manually adjusted from the front panel. In this embodiment, the installation device has a timer function, whereby the desired time can be set from the front panel of the installation device without any external tools. Furthermore, the control unit can have an actuator that can be manually adjusted from the front panel for changing the brightness sensitivity, so that this parameter can also be adjusted from the front panel by an operator without any external tools.

[0009] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the control unit can be provided with, in particular, only a single LED, with which at least three and in particular four different operating modes can be indicated. For example, four different operating modes can be indicated by four different colors of the LED(s), so that an operator receives confirmation of the currently selected operating mode. Such an LED can either be continuously illuminated or extinguished after a predetermined period of time.

[0010] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the controller can be designed and configured to switch between the following operating modes using the microswitch: a) contactless switch, b) presence detector, or c) motion detector. For each of these operating modes, the controller sets a suitable range for the radar sensor, a different sensitivity, or a different size of the radar sensor's radiation cone. In the case of a contactless switch, the range is only approximately 10 cm, for example, whereas in the presence detector and motion detector modes, a range of approximately 8 m, for example, can be set.

[0011] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the controller can be designed and configured to switch to a "switch with timer function" operating mode using the microswitch. This allows the controller to be set—again exclusively using the microswitch—to switch on an electrical load for a specific period of time. Switching can occur either by actively pressing the microswitch or contactlessly, as described above. The timer can be restarted by repeatedly pressing the microswitch.

[0012] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the controller can be designed and configured to generate a switching signal by briefly pressing the microswitch and to switch to an operating mode selection mode by pressing the microswitch for a longer period. This allows an electrical load to be switched using a single microswitch, while simultaneously selecting the operating mode of the controller.

[0013] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the controller can have two parallel circuit boards, with all sensors and the microswitch located on one front-facing board, and the other board being provided with connection terminals on its rear. This design is advantageous in terms of manufacturing costs and electrical influences, since the sensors can be manufactured and installed separately from load-switching components.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the two circuit boards can be arranged in a block-like housing consisting of two housing parts clipped together, thereby creating a very compact modular installation device that can be manufactured and assembled cost-effectively and that can be easily and conveniently integrated into an existing switch range.

[0015] The present invention will now be described purely by way of example with reference to an advantageous embodiment and the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an electrical installation device; and

[0016] Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the installation device of Fig. 1 .

[0017] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an electrical installation device 10 used to switch electrical loads, such as lights or other electrical consumers. Of course, however, it can also simply output switching signals that are forwarded to a relay or other control device. The installation device 10 has a cube-like or block-like housing, which in the illustrated embodiment is composed of two housing parts 14 and 16 (Fig. 2) that can be clipped together.

[0018] An electronic control unit 12 is provided inside the housing 14, 16, which has two circuit boards 18 and 20 arranged parallel in the housing, wherein connection terminals 22 are arranged on the rear side of the rear circuit board 18, which can be inserted into chambers 24 of the rear housing part 14.

[0019] On the front of the front-mounted circuit board 20, a single radar sensor 26 and a sensor 28 are provided for detecting the brightness of the ambient light. Furthermore, a microswitch 30 and a status LED 32 are located on the front of the circuit board 20 and thus also on the front of the installation device. Finally, a manually adjustable timer 34 and an actuator 36, which can be manually adjusted from the front, for changing the brightness sensitivity are arranged on the front of the circuit board 20 and thus also on the front of the installation device 10. The timer 34 and the actuator 36 can be adjusted by an operator using control elements 38 and 40. An extension pin 42 can be inserted into the housing part 16 to actuate the microswitch 30.To assemble the electrical installation device 10, the circuit board 18 simply needs to be inserted into the rear housing part 14 and connected via electrical connectors to the front circuit board 20, which can be inserted and, in particular, clipped into the front housing part 16. The two housing parts 14 and 16 can then be clipped together after the components 38, 40, and 42 have been inserted into the front housing part 16 from the rear. This results in the extremely compact design of the installation device shown in Fig. 1. This can be easily locked into a support frame or surrounding housing using two locking tabs 44 and 46.For example, the installation device 10 can be inserted into a cavity wall box using a known support frame. A rocker switch can be inserted into the front of the installation device, for example using a cover frame, with which the microswitch 30 can be actuated. With the rocker switch removed, the microswitch 30 can also be actuated to set various operating modes of the control unit 12, which can then be displayed using the LED 32. A viewing window 48 for better visibility of the LED 32 can be provided in the front housing part 16.

[0020] The control of the installation device 10 described above is designed and configured such that by briefly pressing the microswitch 30, it is possible to switch an electrical load at any time, regardless of the operating mode that is set.

[0021] To set the desired operating mode, you can switch to a mode selection mode by pressing and holding microswitch 30. In this mode, you can select various operating modes—for example, a contactless switch, a switch with a timer function, a presence detector, or a motion detector—by pressing microswitch 30. The selected operating mode can then be indicated by LED 32 in a different color.

[0022] To set the delay time for the timer function, actuator 34 can be operated from the front of the installation device. To change the brightness sensitivity of control 12, this can be done in the same way by manually adjusting actuator 36 from the front.

Claims

Claims 1 . Electrical installation device (10) for switching electrical loads, comprising an electronic control (12) with a single radar sensor (26), and with a micro-switch (30) arranged on a front side of the installation device (10), wherein the control (12) is designed and configured to a) generate a switching signal triggered by the radar sensor (26) or the micro-switch (30), and b) switch between at least two operating modes that can be set by the micro-switch (30), wherein in particular a different range of the radar sensor (26) is set in each operating mode.

2. Electrical installation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating frequency of the radar sensor (26) is in the range of 60 GHz.

3. Electrical installation device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is provided on its front side with an actuating button with which the micro-button (30) can be actuated.

4. Electrical installation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (12) is provided with a sensor (28) which detects the brightness of the ambient light.

5. Electrical installation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control (12) is provided with a timing element (34) that can be manually adjusted from the front.

6. Electrical installation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control (12) is provided with an actuator (36) which can be manually adjusted from the front side for changing a brightness sensitivity.

7. Electrical installation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control (12) is provided with in particular a single LED (32) with which at least three and in particular four different operating modes can be displayed.

8. Electrical installation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control (12) is designed and configured to switch between the following operating modes with the aid of the microswitch (30): contactless switch, presence detector and motion detector.

9. Electrical installation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control (12) is designed and configured to switch to a switch operating mode with timer function with the aid of the microswitch (30).

10. Electrical installation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control (12) is designed and configured to generate a switching signal for an electrical load by briefly actuating the micro-button (30) and to switch to an operating mode selection mode by longer actuation of the micro-button (30). 1 1. Electrical installation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control (12) has two circuit boards (18, 20) arranged in parallel, wherein all sensors (26, 28) and the micro-switch (30) are arranged on a circuit board (20) arranged on the front, and the other circuit board (18) is provided with connection terminals (22) on its rear side.

12. Electrical installation device according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the two circuit boards (18, 20) are arranged in a block-like housing which consists of two housing parts (14, 16) clipped together.

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