JOINERY WITH DETECTION OF THE OPENING POSITION RELATIVE TO THE FRAME

Abstract

The invention relates to a building window (301) comprising at least one sensor (303) for detecting the position of the opening sash (305) of said window relative to the frame. The sensor (303) is of the capacitive type and comprises an electrode (309) located on a first element selected from the opening sash (305) and the frame, and which forms a capacitor connected to an electronic circuit (311) carried by this first element (305). The electrode (309) is located at a sealing gasket (307) of the first element (305) and is configured to measure the permittivity of the medium present at the gasket. Figure 4 (for the abstract)

Description

Title of the invention: JOINERY WITH DETECTION OF THE POSITION OF THE OPENING PANEL RELATIVE TO THE FRAMED PANEL Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to joinery, in particular for buildings. Technical background

[0002] In the present application, joinery means a structure comprising at least one opening leaf and at least one frame, that is to say at least one fixed part and at least one movable part. The opening leaf may be movable by sliding on or in the frame, and / or by pivoting relative to the frame. In the case of a window for example, the opening leaf may pivot around a vertical axis for example relative to the opening leaf, but could also pivot around a horizontal axis relative to this same frame in the case where this window is of the tilt-and-turn type. The opening leaf is able to move relative to the frame and to adopt an open position among several possible positions. For example, the opening leaf may be half open or barely open.

[0003] The opening may further adopt a position for closing the frame which may be distinct from a position for locking the opening relative to the frame. In particular, in the locked position, the seal between the opening and the frame may be further compressed or tightened.

[0004] The frame may be formed by a frame or a door frame. The movable part may comprise a frame surrounding a window or may comprise a panel in the frame of a door for example.

[0005] In the known state of the art, systems for detecting the state of a joinery, i.e. whether it is open, closed or locked, are mainly based on the use of magnetic switches (detection of proximity of a magnet) or on the use of accelerometer-type sensors (detection of movements).

[0006] In addition, some of these systems involve a visual addition to the joinery on which they are installed.

[0007] Others of these systems involve complex and potentially very expensive installation.

[0008] Still other such systems, such as those using a magnetic switch, require the integration of different parts of the system into several elements of the joinery.

[0009] The invention makes it possible to overcome at least some of these limitations of the current technique. Summary of the invention

[0010] The invention relates to a joinery, comprising a frame and at least one opening as well as at least one sensor for detecting a position of the opening relative to the frame, the sensor being of the capacitive type and comprising an electrode which is located on a first of the elements chosen from among the opening and the frame, and which forms a capacitor connected to an electronic circuit carried by this first element,

[0011] characterized in that the electrode is the only electrode of said sensor and is located at a seal of the first element, this seal comprising at least one wall configured to cooperate by bearing or to come opposite a second of the elements chosen from the opening and the fixed frame, the electrode being located on this wall of the seal or formed by a part of the seal comprising this wall,

[0012] and in that the electrode is configured to measure a permittivity of the medium present at this wall.

[0013] The integration of a capacitive sensor into the joinery makes it possible to obtain a simple, discreet system requiring installation on only one element of the joinery in order to be able to determine in real time the opening, for example classic or tilt-and-turn, or the closing of the joinery and, if necessary, transmit the information to an external system.

[0014] The simplicity of the capacitive sensor is notably due to the fact that it comprises a single electrode. The electrode may be integrated into the seal or be formed by a part of the seal, such as a section or a portion of the seal. Alternatively, the electrode could be in the form of a layer or thin layer (the thickness of which is typically less than 1 mm) on the seal.

[0015] The building joinery according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation from one another or in combination with one another:

[0016] - the electrode is located on the wall and is in the form of a thin layer of which a first face is located on the side of the joint and a second face of which is free, the electrode being configured to measure the permittivity of the medium present at the level of this second face;

[0017] - the electrode is fixed to the wall of the joint by gluing;

[0018] - the bonding is carried out by a double-sided adhesive film; this is advantageous because it simplifies the mounting of the electrode by simply pressing on the joint; this adhesive is preferably made of a dielectric material to ensure electrical insulation of the electrode;

[0019] - the electrode is connected to the electronic circuit by an electric wire which can be crimped or stapled to the electrode;

[0020] — the electrode is flat;

[0021] — the electrode has any general shape and for example square, rectangular, round, elliptical, etc.;

[0022] - the electrode is formed by an electroconductive ink printed on the wall of the joint or on a support layer added and fixed to the wall of the joint; this support layer is preferably made of a dielectric material to ensure electrical insulation of the electrode;

[0023] - the electrode is formed by an electrically conductive section of the joint, which is insulated electrically from the rest of the joint;

[0024] - the electrically conductive section of the seal is isolated from the rest of the seal by distancing, by at least one insulating spacer, or by a dielectric coating;

[0025] - the electronic circuit comprises a source of electrical energy, for example a battery, and a microprocessor;

[0026] - the electronic circuit further comprises a wireless communication system, for example of the Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) type;

[0027] - the electronic circuit is configured to detect at least two positions of the opening, namely an opening position of the opening and a closing position of the opening, and preferably at least three or four positions of the opening chosen from an opening position of the opening, a closing position of the opening, a tilt-and-turn opening position of the opening, and a locking position of the opening;

[0028] - the electronic circuit is mounted in or on a profile of the first element and is connected to the electrode by electrical wires or an electrical cable;

[0029] — the electrode is covered with a protective dielectric layer;

[0030] - the opening is pivotally movable relative to a first vertical axis and tilt-and-turn manner relative to a second horizontal axis relative to the frame, the sensor being located on a lower part of the opening and on the side opposite the first axis;

[0031] - the sensor is configured to detect at least three distinct positions among a closed position, an open position, a locked position and a tilt-and-turn position;

[0032] - the sensor is configured to detect a malfunction of the electrical circuit electronics;

[0033] - the sensor is configured to be mounted manually, i.e. without tools, and removable manner on the opening or the fixed frame;

[0034] the sensor comprises a housing comprising housings for mounting a battery and / or a portion of seal on which the electrode is located.

[0035] The present invention also relates to a method for detecting a position of an opening opposite a fixed frame in a joinery as described above, the method comprising:

[0036] - a step of pre-recording several ranges of capacity values in a memory, for example internal to said sensor, depending on the possible positions of the opening in relation to the frame, and

[0037] - a step of measuring a capacitance value by the sensor at a particular instant, and a step of comparing this value with the aforementioned ranges and determining the position of the opening relative to the frame at this time.

[0038] In the case where the memory is not integrated into the sensor, it could be located in electronic equipment such as a computer or mobile phone, or a management center, and the sensor could communicate with this equipment remotely via its wireless communication system. Brief description of the figures

[0039] Other characteristics and advantages will emerge from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment of the invention with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0040] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is an illustration of an embodiment of a joinery according to the state of the art;

[0041] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is an illustration of an embodiment of a corner of a me nuisance according to the state of the art;

[0042] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an illustration of an embodiment of a joinery according to the invention;

[0043] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is an illustration of an embodiment of a joinery according to the invention;

[0044] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is an illustration of an embodiment of a joinery according to the invention;

[0045] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is an equivalent electrical diagram of an embodiment of a sensor for detecting the position of an opening relative to a frame of a joinery according to the invention;

[0046] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is an illustration of an embodiment of an electrical circuit electronics of a sensor for detecting a position of an opening relative to a frame of a joinery according to the invention;

[0047] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is an illustration of an electrode in the form of a layer;

[0048] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is a sectional illustration along line IX-IX of [Fig.8];

[0049] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] represents a joinery and in particular a window with three different positions of its opening, respectively open in a pivoting manner, open in a tilt-and-turn manner, and closed;

[0050] [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] is a detail view of the carpentry of [Fig. 10];

[0051] [Fig. 12] [Fig. 12] is a graph representing the evolution of the capacity of a sensor detection according to the position of the opening of the joinery of [Fig.10], and shows capacity values ​​which are reached for each of the three aforementioned positions;

[0052] [Fig. 13] [Fig. 13] is a simplified graph of the type of that of [Fig. 12];

[0053] [Fig. 14] [Fig. 14] is a graph also representing the evolution of the capacity of a detection sensor depending on the position of the opening of the carpentry of [Fig. 10], and shows abnormal capacitance values ​​which are detected in the event of a malfunction of the electronic circuit;

[0054] [Fig. 15] [Fig. 15] is an illustration of an embodiment of an electronic circuit of a sensor for detecting a position of an opening relative to a frame of a joinery according to the invention;

[0055] [Fig. 16] [Fig. 16] is an illustration of an embodiment of a joinery equipped with the circuit of [Fig. 15];

[0056] [Fig. 17] [Fig. 17] is an illustration of an embodiment of a joinery equipped with the circuit of [Fig. 15];

[0057] [Fig. 18] [Fig. 18] represents a joinery equipped with an electrode in the form of a sealing joint section;

[0058] [Fig. 19] [Fig. 19] represents a variant of the carpentry of the [Fig.l8];and

[0059] [Fig.20] [Fig.20] represents a dielectric spacer for the sheave variant lization of [Fig. 19]. Detailed description of the invention

[0060] [Fig.l] shows an example of a joinery 101 of the state of the art. The invention applies to this joinery as to all known types of joinery on the condition of integration into the joinery of a sensor as described in more detail below.

[0061] The joinery 101 is a window which comprises a frame 104 and two openings 105. It is shown open, that is to say in a position in which the openings are not in contact with the frame over their entire perimeter.

[0062] Furthermore, the joinery can be closed either simply by bringing the openings into contact with the frame over their entire periphery (for example by pushing the openings to such a position), or by locking it so as to keep the openings in contact with the frame, over their entire periphery, at a non-zero pressure, under the action of a locking system (for example actuated by means of a handle such as the handle 109).

[0063] The joinery 101 further comprises a sealing joint 107 (also called a sealing profile) of which a part 107a is mounted on the frame 104 and another part 107b is mounted on the openings 105. Furthermore, the parts 107a and 107b of the sealing joint themselves comprise several sub-parts distributed in different locations around the perimeter of the frame 104 and the openings 105.

[0064] Each part of the sealing gasket 107 is mounted on a part of the joinery 101 in the sense that it is made integral with said part of the joinery 101, for example, by an adhesive system or by any other fixing system. Thus, the sealing gasket is held on the part of the joinery 101 on which it is mounted when said joinery 101 is open or closed.

[0065] [Fig. 2] is a sectional view of a corner 201 of a prior art joinery (such as the joinery 101) illustrating in more detail the type and arrangement of a sealing gasket 107 on a frame 104 and an opening 105 of a joinery on which a sensor according to the invention can be installed.

[0066] In this case, a part 107a of the seal 107 is mounted on the frame 104 and another part 107b of the seal 107 is mounted on the opening 105. In the non-limiting example shown, the sealing seal 107 is a flexible seal (for example made of silicone) which contains air-filled cavities designed to optimize its insulating properties.

[0067] The two parts 107a and 107b of the sealing joint 107 are mounted, at least partially, opposite each other and are therefore compressed onto each other and / or onto the part of the joinery opposite each other when the joinery is closed by a locking system so as to cause the joinery to be sealed.

[0068] With reference to [Fig.3], [Fig.4] and [Fig.5] we will now describe an embodiment of a joinery 301 according to the invention.

[0069] Figures 3 to 5 show more specifically a part of the joinery 301 on which a sensor 303 is installed for detecting a position of the opening 305 relative to the frame. In this case, the part shown is a corner of an opening 305 of the joinery 301 on which a sealing gasket 307 is mounted.

[0070] In addition to what is visible in Figures 3 to 5, the joinery 301 is similar to the joinery 101 described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 and therefore comprises, among other things, a frame. Furthermore, in different embodiments of the invention, the number of openings may be greater than or equal to two.

[0071] As stated above, the joinery 301 also includes a sensor 303 for detecting a position of the opening 305 relative to the frame. In the example shown, the joinery 301 includes a single sensor 303 which is located on the opening 305. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of sensors greater than one can be used and that the element of the joinery on which the sensor (or sensors) is installed can be either the frame or the opening (or openings) of the me- nuisance.

[0072] The sensor 303 is of the capacitive type, that is to say that it uses a capacitor whose capacitance value varies according to the position of the opening relative to the frame in order to be able to determine said position.

[0073] In particular, the sensor 303 comprises an electrode 309 which is located on the opening 301 and which forms a capacitor. The electrode 309 is unique and is a conductive electrode, which is in the form of a thin layer, located on a wall of the seal 307 with a first face located on the side of said seal 307 (for example being glued to said seal 307) and a second free face.

[0074] In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the electrode is flat and has any shape, for example rectangular. It typically has a first dimension such as a length of at least two centimeters, and a second dimension such as a width of at least one centimeter. Its thickness is for example less than or equal to 1 mm, or even 0.5 mm.

[0075] The electrode may, for example, be formed by an electroconductive ink printed on the wall of the seal.

[0076] Advantageously, the electrode can thus match the shape of the seal, not create too much excess thickness and not hinder the seal's deformation capacity and, consequently, it preserves its sealing. In addition, an electrode of this type is discreet or even invisible when the joinery is open.

[0077] The capacitance of the capacitor which is formed by the electrode 309 is sensitive to the medium surrounding said electrode 309. More precisely, the capacitance varies according to the variations in the permittivity of the medium surrounding the free face of the electrode 309 so that it is possible to measure the permittivity of the medium present at the level of said free face of the electrode 309.

[0078] Furthermore, the permittivity of the medium surrounding the electrode 309 varies as a function of the presence or absence (and the possible proportions of the presence) of another element of the joinery 301 in said surrounding medium. It is this variation which makes it possible to identify the position in which the opening of the joinery is located relative to the fixed frame.

[0079] Indeed, the wall of the seal 307 on which the electrode 309 is located is configured to cooperate by bearing or to come into contact with another element of the joinery 301 (when the joinery is locked). In the non-limiting example shown, the other element is the frame (not shown) against which the seal of the opening 305 comes to bear when the joinery 301 is locked.

[0080] Consequently, when the joinery 301 is closed or locked, the frame is in the environment surrounding the electrode 309 whereas this is not the case when the joinery 301 is open. The value of the capacitance of the sensor 303 varies accordingly and therefore makes it possible to detect the position of the opening 305 relative to the frame.

[0081] In the case where the sensor is located on the frame, it is the opening which enters or leaves the environment surrounding the electrode of the sensor and which causes the variation of the permittivity of the environment and, consequently, that of the capacitance of the capacitor.

[0082] [Fig.6] describes more precisely, through an equivalent electrical diagram, the operation of a capacitive sensor such as that used to detect the position of the opening relative to the frame.

[0083] The assembly formed by the resistor 403 and the capacitor 401 is electrically powered with a determined voltage Ua. This voltage Ua is preferably supplied by a battery 503 (visible in [Fig.7]). The resistor 403 has a fixed resistance value R (for example of the order of a few MegaOhms) and the voltage Uc across the terminals of the capacitor 401, which is measured at the terminal 405, changes over time (represented by the letter t) according to the following formula:

[0084] [Math.l] Uc = Ua . (1- eréc )

[0085] Where C is the value of the capacitance of capacitor 401.

[0086] As said above, this capacity is variable depending on the presence or the absence of another element of the woodwork in the environment surrounding the conductive electrode that forms the capacitor. More precisely, the capacitance C is expressed according to the formula:

[0087] [Math.2] C = fi. J has

[0088] Where S is the surface area of ​​the conductive electrode, d is the distance between the conductive electrode and a medium or element located opposite this electrode, and e is the permittivity of the medium surrounding the electrode which forms the capacitor 401.

[0089] The ratio between the surface S and the distance d is fixed while the permittivity e varies depending on whether the medium surrounding the electrode is, for example, composed solely of air or includes the other element of the woodwork in a greater or lesser proportion. This variation therefore causes the variation of the capacitance C.

[0090] In summary, the measurement of the voltage Uc leads to the determination of the capacitance C, the variation of which makes it possible to determine the presence or absence of the other element of the joinery in the environment surrounding the electrode of the sensor and, consequently, the position of the opening relative to the frame.

[0091] In addition to the electrode 309, the sensor 303 also comprises an electronic circuit 311 which is carried by the opening 305.

[0092] In the example shown, the electronic circuit 311 is connected to the electrode by an electrical wire 313. In other embodiments of the invention, the electrical connection to the electrode can be made by a plurality of electrical wires or by an electrical ribbon.

[0093] The electronic circuit 311 provides power to the electrode 309 from an electrical energy source included therein, which is the battery 503 in the example shown. In addition, the electronic circuit 311 may also comprise a microprocessor configured, for example, to process the measurement signal from the sensor and generate results in the form of information representative of the position of the opening relative to the frame intended for a user of the joinery.

[0094] The electronic circuit 311 is configured to detect at least two positions of the opening, namely an opening position of the opening and a closing position of the opening. In other words, from the measurement of the permittivity of the surrounding medium, carried out by the sensor 303, the electronic circuit 311 can identify the opening or closing of the joinery 301. Furthermore, to the extent that, as described above, the electrode of the sensor is sensitive to the proportion in which another element is located in its surrounding medium, the electronic circuit can be configured to detect three positions of the opening, namely an opening position of the opening, a closing position of the opening, and a locking position of the opening.

[0095] As can be seen in [Fig. 5], the electronic circuit 311 is mounted (for example fixed by screws) in or on a profile of the opening. In the example shown, a hole 315 is provided in the opening 305 to allow the electronic circuit 311 to be housed. Furthermore, as illustrated in [Fig. 3], the hole 315 and the electronic circuit 311 have a complementary shape so that once the electronic circuit is mounted, no part of the electronic circuit 311 projects in a manner likely to damage the closure of the joinery 301 or its sealing. In this case, only the platform 501 (visible in more detail in [Fig. 7]) projects from the opening with a thickness sufficiently small so as not to have an impact on the closure of the joinery 301 and to allow discreet integration of the sensor into the joinery.

[0096] Figures 8 and 9 show an exemplary embodiment of an electrode 609 usable in the context of the present invention.

[0097] The electrode 609 is of the multi-layer type and comprises a layer of electroconductive ink 614 printed on a support layer 615 which is preferably flexible so as to be able to adapt to the shape of the joint. This support layer 615 is preferably made of dielectric material.

[0098] The electrode 609 may further comprise a protective layer 616 which covers the ink layer 614 in order to protect it. This protective layer 616 is preferably made of dielectric material.

[0099] The electrode 609 is preferably fixed to the joint by gluing. This gluing can be carried out using a liquid glue or advantageously using a double-sided adhesive. The electrode 609 can thus further comprise a double-sided adhesive 617 under the support layer 615. Alternatively, the double-sided adhesive 617 could replace the support layer 615.

[0100] The electrode 609 is connected to the electronic circuit 611 by an electric wire 613. The connection between the electrode 609 and the wire 613 is made by means of a clip 618 which is anchored in the electrode 609 and whose legs 618a pass through at least the layer 614 and are folded under this layer. The clip 618 is welded or crimped to one end of the wire 613 and may be partly embedded or covered by the protective layer 616.

[0101] [Fig. 10] shows a window-type joinery 701 in three distinct positions, respectively pivotally open, tilt-and-turn open, and closed.

[0102] The joinery 701 comprises a frame 704 and an opening 705. The opening 705 is capable of pivoting about a vertical axis Y1 located at one side of the opening, and is further capable of pivoting about a horizontal axis Y2 located at the bottom of the opening, opposite the frame 704. The opening 705 is shown in its open position, by pivoting about the vertical axis Yl, in the left image of [Fig. 10], in which the seal 707 is not compressed. The opening 705 is shown in its tilt-and-turn position, by pivoting about the horizontal axis, in the middle image of [Fig.10], in which the seal 707 is compressed over only part of the perimeter of the frame. In particular, in its lower part, the opening 705 pivots and remains in contact and in close proximity to the fixed frame 704 while the rest of the opening is moved away from the fixed frame.The opening 705 is shown in its closed position, by pivoting around the vertical axis, in the right image of [Fig. 10].

[0103] As seen in [Fig. 11], in this embodiment, the sensor 703 is mounted at the lower left corner of the opening 705, that is to say at the bottom of the opening and on the side opposite the hinges (located on the right side of the opening) or the vertical axis Yl of pivoting of this opening. The sensor 703 will be described in more detail in the following with reference to Figures 15 to 17.

[0104] [Fig. 12] is a graph showing the evolution of the capacitance C measured by the sensor 703 as a function of the position P of the opening 705 with respect to the fixed frame 704.

[0105] The letters O, V, OB and F designate the four distinct positions of the opening, namely O for open, V for locked, OB for tilt and turn and F for closed.

[0106] It can be seen that, when the opening is in the open O position, its capacity has a value in the range [X1-X2], as illustrated in [Fig. 13]. When the opening is in In the closed F position, its capacity has a value in the range [Y 1-Y2], as shown in [Fig. 13]. When the opening is in the locked V position, its capacity has a value in the range [Z1-Z2], as shown in [Fig. 13]. When the opening is in the tilt-and-turn OB position, its capacity has a value in the range [W1-W2], as shown in [Fig. 13].

[0107] It is also noted that the range of values ​​[Y 1-Y2] is greater than the range of values ​​[X1-X2]. This means that the capacitance measured by the sensor when the opening is in the closed position is greater than that which it measures when the opening is in the open position. This is logical because the permittivity seen by the electrode is greater when the opening is closed.

[0108] It is also noted that the range of values ​​[Z1-Z2] is greater than the range of values ​​[Y 1-Y2]. This means that the capacitance measured by the sensor when the opening is in the locked position is greater than that which it measures when the opening is in the closed position. This is logical because locking the opening can ensure greater compression of the seal (compared to the closed position) and can result in an increase in the permittivity of the medium in front of the electrode.

[0109] Finally, it can be seen that the range of values ​​[W1-W2] is greater than the range of values ​​[W1-W2]. This means that the capacitance measured by the sensor when the opening is in the closed position is greater than that which it measures when the opening is in the tilt-and-turn position. This may be due to the fact that the pivoting of the opening around the Y2 axis results in a particular positioning of the seal and the electrode that it carries with respect to the frame, and may result in an increase in the permittivity of the medium opposite the electrode. This phenomenon depends in particular on the position of the electrode on the seal, the profile of the area of ​​the seal that accommodates the electrode, and the position of this area with respect to the frame when the opening is in the tilt-and-turn position.

[0110] From a measurement of the capacity, it is therefore possible to deduce in which position the opening is located with respect to the fixed frame among the four aforementioned positions. It is therefore sufficient, for example, to pre-record these ranges of values ​​in a memory of the electronic circuit, and to compare each value measured by the sensor at a time t with respect to these ranges of values, to determine the position of the opening at this time t.

[0111] [Fig. 14] is a graph similar to that of [Fig. 12] and which shows incorrect capacitance values ​​measured by the sensor. These values ​​are too high (Wl) or too low (W2) and are characteristic of a circuit malfunction such as a circuit break or short circuit for example.

[0112] Figures 15 to 17 show an embodiment of the sensor 703 and its mounting in the opening 705 of the joinery.

[0113] The sensor 703 has a housing 720 of generally parallelepiped shape, one of which end comprises a peripheral rim 721. The opening 705 comprises a hole 715 in which the housing 720 is engaged, the rim 721 being intended to bear on the peripheral edge of the hole 715 to ensure the desired positioning of the sensor 703 with respect to the frame. The sensor 703 can be fixed or held in this position, for example by a snap-fastening system. In the example shown, the housing 720 comprises on one side, near the rim 721, a lug 722 intended to cooperate by snap-fastening with the peripheral edge of the hole 715.

[0114] In the same way, the housing 720 may comprise an arrangement 723 such as a recess facilitating the gripping of the sensor 703 when it is placed on the opening or when it is removed from the opening. The gripping, handling and installation of the housing 720 are advantageously carried out manually, that is to say without tools.

[0115] The electronic circuit 711 may be located on a printed circuit board housed in a first slot 724 of the housing 720. The battery 703 may be in the form of a flat battery, for example of the CR2032 type, which is inserted into a second slot 725 of the housing 720. The slots 724, 725 are parallel to each other and located on the same side of the housing, opposite the edge 721 in the example shown. The housing 720 comprises non-visible internal conductors making it possible to connect the circuit 711 of the card to the battery 703.

[0116] The sensor 703 comprises means for fixing a portion of seal 707. In the example shown, the housing 720 comprises a notch 726 for housing the portion of seal 707. The portion of seal 707 may be previously mounted on the housing 720 before it is mounted on the opening. In this case, a portion of the seal of the opening is cut out and removed, to be replaced by the portion of seal 707 carried by the housing. Alternatively, the seal of the opening is dismantled in whole or in part, the housing 720 is mounted on the opening and then the seal of the opening is reassembled including on the housing.

[0117] The seal portion 707 has any shape and comprises a wall on which the electrode 709 is located or formed. A wire, not shown, connects the electrode 709 to the circuit 711 of the card.

[0118] Figures 18 and 19 show alternative embodiments of the invention in which the electrode 809 is formed directly by a portion of the joint 807. The joint 807 has a generally elongated shape and a portion of this joint, called a section or portion, forms the electrode 809.

[0119] The seal 807 and the electrode 809 have identical or similar cross-sectional profiles. The seal 807 and the electrode 809 may comprise a wall, forming for example a sealing lip, which is configured to cooperate by pressing or to come into contact with another element of the joinery when the joinery is locked.

[0120] The electrode 809 has for example a length of between 2 and 20 cm, and preferably between 3 and 10cm.

[0121] The difference between the section of the joint forming the electrode 809 and the rest of the joint 807 is related to the electrical conductivity of their respective materials. The section of the joint forming the electrode 809 has an electrical conductivity allowing it to be used as an electrode in the context of the present invention. On the contrary, the rest of the joint 807 has zero or insufficient electrical conductivity to ensure this function.

[0122] The material of the seal 807 is for example made of elastomer or TPE. The material of the electrode 809 may be based on elastomer or TPE and further comprises an electrically conductive filler, such as carbon black, carbon nanotubes, etc.

[0123] The section of the joint forming the electrode 809 can be electrically isolated from the rest of the joint 807 by distancing, as illustrated in [Fig. 18]. It is then sufficient to provide a sufficient distance between the electrode 809 and the rest of the joint 807 to prevent the rest of the joint from being in contact with the electrical circuit.

[0124] In the variant shown in [Fig. 19], the section of the joint forming the electrode 809 is electrically insulated from the rest of the joint 807 by dielectric spacers 810 which are each interposed between one end of the electrode and a neighboring end of the rest of the joint 807. The spacers 810 may have a cross-sectional shape similar to that of the joint and the electrode, as illustrated in [Fig. 20].

[0125] In yet another variation, the electrode 809 could be electrically insulated from the remainder of the seal 807 by a dielectric coating that would completely cover the electrode or just the ends of the electrode.

[0126] In yet another variant not shown, to the extent that the remainder of the seal 807 would be made of dielectric material, it would not be necessary to provide spaces, spacers or coating as mentioned above. The electrode 809 could then be directly in contact with the remainder of the seal 807.

[0127] The connection of the electrode 809 to the wire 813 can be achieved using a clip 818, as mentioned above with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 for example. This clip 818 would pass through the electrical coating in the case where such a coating was present on the electrode 809.

[0128] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, as in the case of the electrode, the integration of the electronic circuit can be carried out in the frame in other embodiments of the joinery.

[0129] In addition to the elements described above, the electronic circuit may comprise various electronic components configured to process the measurement signal, such as, for example, electronic components configured to enable filtering of the measurement signal from the sensor.

[0130] In a particular embodiment, the electronic circuit may also comprise a wireless communication system, for example of the Bluetooth type. Advantageously, the results of the measurement can be transmitted securely and wirelessly to a terminal located a short distance from the sensor, such as a smartphone.

[0131] In addition, other types of wireless communication may allow, for example, the transmission of information from the sensor to a processing unit of a home automation network located remotely.

Claims

Claims

1. Joinery (301, 701), comprising a frame (304, 704) and at least one opening (305, 705) as well as at least one sensor (303, 703) for detecting a position of the opening (305, 705) relative to the frame (304, 704), the sensor (303, 703) being of the capacitive type and comprising an electrode (309, 609, 709) which is located on a first of the elements chosen from the opening (305, 705) and the frame (304, 704), and which forms a capacitor connected to an electronic circuit (311, 711) carried by this first element, characterized in that the electrode (309, 609, 709, 809) is the only electrode of said sensor (303, 703) and is located at a seal (307, 707, 807) of the first element, this seal comprising at least one wall configured to cooperate by pressing or to come opposite a second of the elements chosen from the opening (305, 705) and the fixed frame (304, 704), the electrode being located on this wall of the seal (307,707) or formed by a part of the seal (807) comprising this wall, and in that the electrode (309, 609, 709, 809) is configured to measure a permittivity of the medium present at this wall.

2. Joinery (301, 701) according to claim 1, in which the electrode (309, 609, 709) is located on the wall (307, 707) and is in the form of a thin layer (614) of which a first face is located on the side of the joint (307, 707) and of which a second face is free, the electrode (309, 609, 709) being configured to measure the permittivity of the medium present at this second face.

3. Joinery (301, 701) according to claim 2, in which the electrode (309, 609, 709) is fixed on the wall of the joint (307, 707) by gluing.

4. Joinery (301) according to claim 3, in which the bonding is carried out by a double-sided adhesive film.

5. Joinery (301, 701) according to claim 1, in which the electrode (309, 609, 709) is formed by an electroconductive ink printed on the wall of the joint (307, 707) or on a support layer (615) added and fixed on the wall of the joint (307, 707).

6. Joinery (301, 701) according to claim 1, wherein the electrode (809) is formed by an electrically conductive section of the joint, which is electrically insulated from the rest of the joint (807).

7. Joinery (301, 701) according to claim 6, in which the section The electrically conductive part of the seal is isolated from the rest of the seal (807) by distancing, by at least one insulating spacer (810), or by a dielectric coating.

8. Joinery (301, 701) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the electrode (309, 609, 709) is connected to the electronic circuit (311, 711) by an electric wire (313, 613) which can be crimped or stapled onto the electrode.

9. Joinery (301, 701) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the electronic circuit (311, 711) comprises a source of electrical energy, for example a battery (503, 703), and a microprocessor.

10. Joinery (301, 701) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the electronic circuit (311, 711) further comprises a wireless communication system, for example of the Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy type.

11. Joinery (301, 701) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the electronic circuit (311, 711) is configured to detect at least two positions of the opening (305, 705), namely an opening position of the opening (305, 705) and a closing position of the opening (305, 705), and preferably at least three or four positions of the opening (305, 705) chosen from an opening position of the opening (305, 705), a closing position of the opening (305, 705), a tilt-and-turn opening position of the opening (705), and a locking position of the opening (305, 705).

12. Joinery (301, 701) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the electronic circuit (311, 711) is mounted in or on a profile of the first element and is connected to the electrode (309, 609, 709) by electrical wires (313) or an electrical ribbon.

13. Joinery (301, 701) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the opening (705) is movable in a pivoting manner with respect to a first vertical axis (Y1) and in a tilt-and-turn manner with respect to a second horizontal axis (Y2) with respect to the frame (704), the sensor (703) being located on a lower part of the opening (705) and on the side opposite the first axis (Y1).

14. Joinery (301, 701) according to the preceding claim, in which the sensor (703) is configured to detect at least three distinct positions among a closed position, an open position, a locked position and a tilt-and-turn position.

15. Joinery (301, 701) according to the preceding claim, in which the sensor (703) is configured to detect a malfunction of the electronic circuit (711).

16. Joinery (301, 701) according to the preceding claim, in which the sensor (703) is configured to be mounted manually, i.e. without tools, and in a removable manner on the opening (705) or the frame (704).

17. Joinery (701) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the sensor (703) comprises a housing (720) comprising housings for mounting a battery and / or a joint portion (707) on which the electrode (709) is located.

18. Method for detecting a position of an opening (305, 705) with respect to a frame (304, 704) in a joinery (301, 701) according to one of the preceding claims, the method comprising: - a step of prior recording of several ranges of capacitance values ​​in a memory, for example internal to said sensor (303, 703), as a function of the possible positions of the opening with respect to the frame, and - a step of measuring a capacitance value by the sensor at a particular instant, and a step of comparing this value with the aforementioned ranges and determining the position of the opening with respect to the frame at this instant.

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