Remote control and injection mould for producing same
Internal positioning of solar cells with a textured top shell in remote controls addresses design and durability issues, achieving efficient energy yield and robustness through enhanced light scattering.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FM MARKETING GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-18
Smart Images
Figure IB2025062582_18062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] FROM BÜLOW & TAMADA
[0002] ROTBUCHENSTR. 6 Patent Attorney D-81547 MUNICH DR. TAM AXEL VON BÜLOW TEL: +49-(0)89-642 30 94 LAW FIRM FOR INNOVATION PROTECTION (retired) FAX: +49-(0)89-64 63 42
[0003] Patent attorney
[0004] EMAIL: office@vb-t.com SASCHA TAMADA
[0005] Lawyer ALEXANDER GINZBURG
[0006] December 9, 2025
[0007] Applicant: fm marketing gmbh
[0008] Application number: BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1
[0009] Remote control and injection mold for its manufacture
[0010] The present invention relates to a remote control and an injection mold for manufacturing its upper shell.
[0011] A remote control according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from CN 207732490 U.
[0012] The object of the present invention is to improve the known remote control.
[0013] Starting from a remote control for controlling an electronic device with a control signal, comprising an upper shell with an input interface and a lower shell for at least partially enclosing an interior space in which a printed circuit board with an electronic circuit for generating the control signal based on an input on the input interface is held, according to the invention, at least one photovoltaic element directed towards the upper shell for charging an energy storage device also held in the interior space for supplying electrical energy to the electronic circuit is further arranged in the interior space between the printed circuit board and the upper shell, wherein the upper shell on its side facing away from the interior space is in a transmission area, BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh 9.December 2025, which at least partially covers the photovoltaic element, has a texture with an arithmetic mean roughness value of at least 0.8 m measured according to DIN EN ISO 4287:2010-07 and DIN EN ISO 4288: 1998-04 over a sub-area of at least 50%.
[0014] The remote control described is based on the premise that in conventional solar-powered remote controls, the solar cells are usually located on the outside of the remote control because conventional outer casings—especially those made of opaque or only slightly translucent plastics—absorb, scatter, or reflect too much light, meaning that a solar module located underneath the outer casing would not be sufficiently illuminated. To still ensure enough light reaches the solar cells, the prior art design visibly positions them on the top of the remote control, for example, as solar modules glued on or inserted into a recess.
[0015] By arranging the solar cells internally, the additional solar cell structure on the top surface creates an undesirable design break and also alters the tactile feel of the remote control. Furthermore, it increases susceptibility to mechanical impacts, as exposed solar cells can easily be damaged or broken if dropped. In addition, the solar panel must be positioned so that it is not obscured by control panels or grips, which significantly limits design freedom and often results in a larger form factor, as additional space must be created for the solar cells. Finally, an external solar panel can become dirty or scratched, further reducing light transmission and thus energy yield over its lifespan. BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025
[0016] It would therefore be desirable to position the solar cell not on the outside of the remote control, but rather protected inside between the upper and lower shells, so that the outer casing structure remains unchanged, robust, and freely designable. Such internal positioning would eliminate both mechanical fragility and susceptibility to dirt while preserving the remote control's external appearance. However, this approach fails with conventional remote controls because the outer shells used—even if they are transparent or translucent—absorb or reflect a significant amount of the incident light, thus allowing only a very small proportion of the incident light to pass through to a photovoltaic element located underneath.The light transmission of conventional smooth plastics is significantly reduced, especially at shallow angles of incidence, meaning that the internal solar cell does not receive sufficient light under typical lighting conditions. Therefore, positioning the solar cell indoors is not technically feasible in the current state of the art, as the energy yield would be insufficient to power the remote control.
[0017] Here, the remote control in question achieves the surprising result that by specifically increasing the average roughness of the top shell in the transmission range – contrary to the intuitive expectation that a smooth surface would allow the highest light transmission – an unexpectedly higher light yield can be achieved at the underlying photovoltaic element. It turns out that surfaces with an average arithmetic roughness of approximately 0.8 pm or higher allow the incident light to pass through the top shell significantly better than surfaces with lower average arithmetic values. The top shell of the remote control in question allows a significantly larger proportion of the light rays to penetrate the transmission range at various angles of incidence and reach the photovoltaic element BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 (planned fm marketing gmbh, December 9, 2025) than in conventional remote controls.It can be assumed that this effect is achieved through diffuse scattering, which lengthens the effective optical path and increases the probability that the radiation incident on the top shell is ultimately absorbed by the photovoltaic element. Surprisingly, the increased surface roughness therefore does not lead to a reduction in transmission, as would be expected with conventional optical materials, but on the contrary to an increase in the usable amount of light, since smooth surfaces reflect a significant proportion of the light in a straight line and thus lose it.
[0018] In the remote control, the photovoltaic element can therefore be protected inside the housing without significantly reducing energy yield compared to external solar cells. The top shell can be completely closed and mechanically robust, thus preventing damage to the solar cell from drops, impacts, or external forces. At the same time, the design freedom for the control panels and the overall housing shape is fully preserved, as there are no externally visible solar modules to consider. The remote control can be placed upright with the top shell facing upwards, as usual, while the photovoltaic element still receives sufficient light. Furthermore, the extensive textured surface improves the feel and grip of the remote control without impairing the function of the underlying photovoltaic element.The combination of the internal arrangement of the photovoltaic element and the specifically designed surface structure of the outer shell results in increased durability, reliability, and aesthetic quality of the remote control, while simultaneously ensuring a stable and efficient power supply. BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025.
[0019] In a further development of the specified remote control, the upper shell is injection-molded using an injection mold in which the mold chamber, within the transmission area, has a surface roughness corresponding to at least class 18 according to VDI 3400 Part 1: 1986-02. In this way, the texture crucial for light scattering can be created during tool manufacturing using an electro-erosive structural process. Alternatively, the surface roughness of the upper shell could also be achieved through a subsequent treatment of a previously smooth component. For example, material can be selectively removed from the surface of the upper shell using an erosion process, such as electro-erosive treatment, to achieve a defined roughness. Similarly, plasma treatments or corona treatments allow for modification of the near-surface structure, resulting in a roughened microtexture.These methods, in principle, allow for the local or area-wide treatment of individual zones of the upper shell and could therefore also be used to provide a suitable average roughness value for increasing light transmission. However, such post-processing methods require additional manufacturing steps, are only reproducible to a limited extent depending on the exact geometry, and necessitate separate handling of the finished upper shell. Furthermore, local thermal or structural changes can occur in polymeric materials, which can lead to undesirable embrittlement or optical inhomogeneity. In contrast, the desired roughness is already generated during the injection molding process, without the need for a subsequent processing step.Since the tool surface permanently and with high precision replicates the defined VDI class, a consistently reproducible texture is created in every cycle, regardless of the component geometry or manufacturing variations. This allows the upper shell to be completely injection molded without the need for further processing before or after demolding. BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025.
[0020] Process steps are required. This leads to a particularly economically attractive manufacturing process, reduces the effort in the process chain to a minimum, and simultaneously ensures high component quality and process stability. Since the structure is directly integrated into the injection mold, a material-friendly surface topography is also created, which is free from thermal or chemical impairments and gives the upper shell optimal light scattering properties for the photovoltaic element located underneath.
[0021] In a further development of the specified remote control, the surface of the injection mold in the mold chamber in the transmission area has a surface roughness corresponding to class 18 to 30, preferably to class 21 to 27, and particularly preferably to class 24 of VDI 3400 Part 1: 1986-02. This limits the mold surface roughness, preventing excessively deep erosion structures that lead to increased peak and edge stress as well as accelerated mold wear. Furthermore, an excessively rough mold surface negatively affects the flow of the plastic material in the mold and promotes local air inclusions or incompletely molded areas. The selected upper limit for surface roughness therefore ensures stable molding quality, uniform filling of the mold chamber, and a long mold service life.
[0022] In another embodiment of the remote control, the transmission area is designed as a continuous surface extending over at least 20%, preferably over more than 60%, and particularly preferably over 65-95% of the outer surface of the upper shell. This provides a large, continuous zone for light transmission, allowing the underlying photovoltaic element to be supplied with incident light over a broad area. The large surface area of the texture improves optical uniformity and reduces shadowing, thus enabling reliable energy absorption even at unfavorable illumination angles. At the same time, sufficient space remains for potentially smooth control panels without significantly reducing the effective light transmission area.
[0023] In a further embodiment of the described remote control, at least one control panel for operating the input interface is arranged in the transmission area. The surface of this control panel has a different arithmetic mean roughness value, and in particular a lower one, than that of the sub-area. This allows for the use of a combination of rough and smooth zones in the transmission area. The rough surface provides the diffuse light scattering advantageous for the photovoltaic element, while the smoother control panels enable a clearly recognizable reproduction of labels or symbols located beneath them. This allows control elements to be protected and arranged beneath the top shell without impairing the light transmission and energy yield according to the invention.
[0024] In a preferred embodiment of the specified remote control, at least one control panel is raised above the surface on the outer side of the top shell. This makes the control panel easier to locate and clearly identify by touch, without requiring the user to touch or stroke the rough transmission surface. Since the raised control panel serves as the preferred contact zone, the adjacent transmission area is less frequently touched directly and therefore less prone to soiling or wear, which promotes consistently high light transmission and thus stable energy generation.
[0025] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the remote control, the upper shell and the at least one control panel are formed in one piece, with the at least one control panel preferably transitioning seamlessly into the transmission area. This eliminates any joints or gaps between the control panel and the transmission area, preventing the ingress of dirt or moisture and ensuring the outer surface remains permanently sealed and easy to clean. At the same time, the one-piece construction results in an optically homogeneous transmission surface without interrupting edges or shadow zones, which improves the light absorption crucial for energy generation and avoids mechanical weakening at transition points.
[0026] In a further development of the remote control described above, the upper shell in the transmission area has an arithmetic mean roughness value of between 0.8 pm and 3.15 pm, preferably between 1.12 pm and 2.24 pm, and particularly preferably between 1.5 pm and 1.6 pm. This provides a surface roughness that, on the one hand, enables pronounced diffuse light scattering to improve energy efficiency, but on the other hand, is not so coarse as to cause disturbing optical inhomogeneities, increased material abrasion, or undesirable shadow and shading zones. Excessive roughness would also impair the haptics of the remote control and lead to increased dirt adhesion. The selected upper limit of the mean roughness value thus achieves an advantageous balance between efficient light transmission, pleasant usability, and permanently stable surface quality. BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh 9.December 2025.
[0027] In a further development of the specified remote control, the upper shell in the transmission area has a maximum roughness depth of between 3 pm and 12.5 m, preferably between 4 m and 9.5 pm, and particularly preferably between 6.0 pm and 6.5 pm, measured according to DIN EN ISO 4287:2010-07 and DIN EN ISO 4288:1998-04. This provides a surface structure with roughness depths sufficient to ensure the diffuse scattering advantageous for light transmission, without being so pronounced as to create deep grooves or depressions where dirt particles could accumulate or which could lead to increased material abrasion. The chosen limitation of the maximum roughness depth thus enables a permanently uniform optical quality of the transmission area and facilitates its cleaning, which maintains long-term light transmission and therefore the energy yield of the underlying photovoltaic element.
[0028] According to a further aspect of the invention, an injection mold for producing an upper shell of one of the specified remote controls comprises a mold body with a mold chamber which, in the transmission area of the upper shell to be produced, has a surface with a surface roughness according to VDI 3400 sheet 1: 1986-02 of at least class 18.
[0029] The properties, features, and advantages of this invention described above, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer in connection with the following description of the exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. The drawings show:
[0030] Fig. 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a remote control from a first direction, and BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025
[0031] Fig. 2 shows the remote control of Fig. 1 in a perspective exploded view from a second direction.
[0032] Fig. 3 shows a comparative measurement of the energy yield of different surfaces with different roughnesses.
[0033] Reference is made to Figures 1 and 2, which show a remote control 2 in an exploded view from two different perspectives.
[0034] The remote control 2 extends within a space defined by a longitudinal direction 4, a transverse direction 6 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 4, and a pressure direction 8 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 4 and perpendicular to the transverse direction 6. It is configured to control an electronic device (not shown) using a control signal 7. The background of the pressure direction 8 will be discussed in more detail later. The control signal 7 can be transmitted between the remote control 2 and the electronic device in any way, i.e., wired or wirelessly, and according to any standard, such as Bluetooth Low Energy, Wireless LAN, or the like. This is not relevant for further discussion.
[0035] Viewed from the opposite direction of pressure 8, the remote control 2 comprises a transparent cover plate 10 on its upper side, to the underside of which a transparent position sensor 12 is held. The transparent position sensor 12 is placed on a panel-shaped photovoltaic element 14 within the remote control, which in turn is placed on a circuit board 16. Two energy storage devices 18 and a pressure sensor 20 are held on the underside of the circuit board 16. The assembly described above, together with a cage element 22, is inserted into a frame element 24, which, viewed from the opposite side in the direction of pressure 8, is closed by a lower shell 26. The frame element 24 (BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1, planned fm marketing gmbh, December 9, 2025) thus forms an upper shell together with the cover plate 10, which, together with the lower shell 26, forms a housing in which the functional components of the remote control 2 are enclosed.
[0036] The cover plate 10 extends in the longitudinal direction 4 and in the transverse direction 6 and is made of a transparent plastic. This plastic can be selected analogously to the disclosures in publications WO 2024 / 124 065 A1, WO 2010 / 039 498 A2, or CN 209708099 U. On the upper side, as seen in the printing direction 8, the cover plate 10 is relief-shaped and has raised areas 28, which are modeled on conventional pushbuttons on a remote control in their unpressed state. In Fig. 2, only some of these raised areas are labeled with their own reference numerals to avoid cluttering the drawing. The function of these raised areas will be discussed in more detail later.
[0037] The position sensor 12 has a transparent sensor area 30 extending in the longitudinal direction 4 and the transverse direction 6, which is surrounded by a conductor system 32. The transparent sensor area 30 detects a change in capacitance at a specific point in the longitudinal direction 4 and the transverse direction 6 by the positioning of a user's finger on the top of the cover plate 10 and activates a specific individual conductor, not visible further in the conductor system 32, which leads to a sensor processor 34. The sensor processor 34, in turn, detects the activated conductor and calculates the coordinates of the finger's position in the longitudinal direction 4 and the transverse direction 6 and outputs these coordinates as a sensor signal at a sensor interface 36.
[0038] The panel-shaped photovoltaic element 14 comprises, in the present embodiment, several BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 modules connected in series in a manner not otherwise visible. (Planned by fm marketing gmbh, December 9, 2025)
[0039] Individual panels 38. Each individual panel 38 can absorb light passing through the cover plate 10 and the transparent sensor area 30 and convert it into an electric current in a manner known per se. This will not be discussed further for the sake of brevity. The resulting generated electric current can then be tapped at corresponding contact pads 40.
[0040] The circuit board 16 comprises an electrical circuit (not shown in the figures) with which the position signal from the sensor interface 36 can be received and the control signal 7 generated. For this purpose, a position signal interface 42 and at least one transformer 44 are arranged on the circuit board 16, wherein the electrical circuit (not shown in the figures) receives the position signal from the position signal interface 42, converts it into the control signal 7 in a manner to be described later, and then outputs it at the transformer 44.
[0041] The energy required for operating the electrical circuit is provided by the electrical energy storage devices 18. A photovoltaic element 14 is provided to charge these devices with electrical energy. For this purpose, contact springs 46 are held on the circuit board 16, for example by soldering, and contacted with the electrical circuit. Each contact spring has a first spring arm (not further referenced) that extends through the circuit board 16 and is electrically connected to one of the contact pads 40 of the photovoltaic element 14. In this way, the electrical current generated by the photovoltaic element 14 is fed into the electrical circuit and can be used either directly for its electrical power supply or for charging the energy storage devices 18 via a known charging circuit. BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025
[0042] As a backup in case insufficient light is available for an extended period and the energy storage devices 18 are completely depleted, an inductive charging interface 48 is provided on the circuit board 16. This interface allows an inductively generated charging current from a charging coil 50 to be transmitted, for example, using the Qi standard. The inductive charging interface 48 enables the energy storage devices 18 to be reliably charged even when the photovoltaic modules cannot supply sufficient energy due to insufficient light conditions. The inductive charging interface 48 utilizes resonant inductive coupling, in which an oscillating magnetic field in the primary coil of a charger (not shown) induces a current in the secondary coil of the device. This induced current is then used to charge the energy storage devices 18.
[0043] The integration of the Qi interface ensures that the Remote Control 2 remains operational even when conditions for solar energy generation are less than ideal. This dual charging option combines the advantages of an environmentally friendly, solar-based energy source with the reliability and efficiency of inductive charging. Therefore, the Remote Control 2 can be charged safely and effectively in any environment, indoors or outdoors, regardless of lighting conditions.
[0044] The energy storage devices 18 have a certain weight and must be mechanically stabilized on the circuit board 16. For this purpose, the cage element 22 is placed onto the energy storage devices 18 from below in the pressure direction 8 and pressed against the circuit board 16 in a manner to be described later, thereby achieving the mechanical stabilization of the energy storage devices 18. For positioning the cage element 22 in the remote control 2, the cage element has positioning feet 52 and positioning pins 54, which will be discussed in more detail later in connection with the aforementioned pressing against the circuit board 16, as described in more detail later in the context of BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 (fm marketing gmbh, December 9, 2025).
[0045] The charging coil 50 is held, viewed in the pressure direction 8, on the underside of a shielding element 56, which is inserted with its opposite side forward into a correspondingly designed positioning space 58 in the cage element 22. The shielding element 56 can consist of various materials that provide electromagnetic shielding, such as ferrite materials or special metallic shielding foils. Ferrite materials are ceramic substances containing iron oxide and other metal oxides. They are very effective at attenuating electromagnetic interference (EMI) and can minimize energy losses in the charging coil. Metallic shielding foils typically consist of thin layers of metals such as copper or aluminum, which have high conductivity and can reflect or absorb electromagnetic fields.The shielding element 56 serves to block unwanted electromagnetic radiation that may be generated during the charging process. This not only protects the electrical circuitry on the circuit board 16 from interference but also improves the efficiency of the charging process by concentrating all the energy on the charging coil 50. Furthermore, the shielding element 56 prevents electromagnetic fields from escaping into the environment, thus increasing the safety and electromagnetic compatibility of the remote control 2.
[0046] The energy storage devices 18 themselves are designed as so-called supercapacitors in the present configuration. Supercapacitors, also called ultracapacitors, are a special type of energy storage device characterized by their high power density and fast charge and discharge cycles. If appropriately selected, the BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025
[0047] Remote control 2 can be operated for approximately three weeks if the energy storage devices 18 are fully charged, the remote control 2 is used again, and no charging indicator is available during this time. Unlike conventional batteries, supercapacitors do not store energy through chemical reactions, but rather through the electrostatic storage of charge on the surface of an electrode material. A significant advantage of supercapacitors is their long lifespan and their ability to withstand many charge and discharge cycles without significant capacity loss. They are particularly useful in applications requiring short but intense energy spikes. Due to their construction and the materials used, supercapacitors are also significantly lighter than conventional batteries. This can result in the remote control 2, equipped with such energy storage devices 18, feeling surprisingly light to the user.
[0048] To counteract this impression and improve the feel and weight of the remote control, a ballast element, designed as a metal block 60, is held in a further positioning chamber 59 within the cage element 22, viewed in the direction of pressure 8. Rubber caps 62 are attached to its ends to compensate for tolerances in the longitudinal direction, securing the metal block 60 frictionally within the cage element 22 in the positioning chamber 59 and preventing unwanted noise. The ballast element 60, 62 is therefore an additional weight integrated into the remote control 2 to increase its overall weight and thus provide a more pleasant feel in the user's hand. This can improve the user experience by giving the remote control 2 a more familiar weight, one that the user is accustomed to from other remote controls 2. BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025
[0049] The frame element 24 has a frame 64 enclosing a through-opening 66, with a collar 67 extending in the pressure direction 8. This collar 67 delimits the frame element on its outer side as seen in the longitudinal direction 4 and the transverse direction 6, defining an insertion space. Positioning bores 68 and positioning grooves 70, designed as pocket grooves, are formed on the inner side of this through-opening 66. Positioning bores 72 are also formed in the through-opening 66.
[0050] To assemble the remote control 2 as described above, the cage element 22 is first tilted about the transverse direction 6 and inserted into the through-opening 66 of the frame element 24 such that, viewed in the pressure direction 8, the positioning pins 54 are positioned below the through-opening 66 and the positioning feet 52 are positioned above the through-opening 66. The cage element 22 is then rotated about the transverse direction 6 so that the positioning pins 54 are inserted into the positioning bores 68 and the positioning feet 52 into the positioning grooves 70. Finally, the charging coil 50 is inserted into the positioning chamber 58 and the ballast element 60, 62 into the further positioning chamber 59. Subsequently, the circuit board 16 and the photovoltaic element 14 are inserted into the insertion space defined by the collar 67 against the direction of pressure 8, and the cover plate 10 is placed on a top side of the collar 67 seen in the direction of pressure 8 and bonded to it.The result is a stack on whose underside, as seen in the printing direction 8, the cage element 22 and the pressure switch 20 can be seen.
[0051] This side of the frame element 24 is finally closed with the lower shell 26. For this purpose, retaining holes 74 are provided through the frame element 24 on the rear side (viewed in the longitudinal direction 4) and in the front area (viewed in the longitudinal direction 4) BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 are planned. fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025
[0052] Guide openings 76 are formed. The lower shell 26 is designed so that it can completely cover the frame element 24 in the plane defined by the longitudinal direction 4 and the transverse direction 6. Retaining pins 78 are formed at the corresponding locations of the retaining bores 74 and, viewed in the longitudinal direction 4, in the front area of the lower shell 26, while guide hooks 80 are formed at the corresponding locations of the guide openings 76 on the lower shell 26. A release pin 82 for triggering the pressure switch 20 is also formed between the guide hooks 80. To close the frame element 24 from the underside, viewed in the pressure direction 8, the retaining pins 78 are inserted into the retaining bores 74, while the guide hooks 80 are inserted into the guide openings 76.
[0053] The connection between retaining pins 78 and retaining bores 74 positions the lower shell 26 in the plane defined by the longitudinal direction 4 and the transverse direction 6, allowing the lower shell 24 to pivot to a certain degree around this connection in the transverse direction 6. The guide hooks 80 extend through the guide openings 76 and engage on the upper surface of the retaining frame 24 as viewed in the pressure direction 8. However, the guide hooks 80 are of a length that allows the aforementioned pivoting around the connection between retaining pins 78 and retaining bores 74 to be carried out. Viewed in the pressure direction 8, the movement is limited by the convergence of the retaining frame 24 and the lower shell 26. Contrary to the pressure direction 8, undercuts on the guide hooks 80, which are not further referenced, limit the movement.In this way, the possible path of movement of the lower shell 26 relative to the retaining frame 24 is defined. BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025.
[0054] The release pin 82 is positioned below the pressure switch 20 in the plane defined by the longitudinal direction 4 and the transverse direction 6, as viewed in the direction of pressure 8. The user can thus grasp the remote control 2 with their fingers and place their thumb on one of the raised areas 28 on the upper surface of the cover plate 10, as viewed in the direction of pressure 8, to define a specific function for the device to be controlled. They then use their remaining fingers to press the lower shell 26 upwards in the direction of pressure 8 against their palm, thereby pressing the lower shell 26 against the rest of the remote control 2. In this way, the release pin 82 is pressed against the pressure switch 20, which signals the electrical circuit on the circuit board 16 to generate the control signal 7 corresponding to the position where the user's thumb is located on the upper surface of the cover plate 10.
[0055] The lower shell 26 rests on a further, non-referenced spring arm of each contact spring 46, this further spring arm extending downwards in the direction of pressure 8, opposite to the first spring arm. The further spring arm of each contact spring 46 exerts a restoring force on the lower shell 26 and returns it to an initial position relative to the retaining frame 24, which is defined by the undercuts on the guide hooks 80.
[0056] Finally, a receiving recess 84 is formed on the bottom of the lower shell 26, as seen in the direction of pressure 8, in which a positioning magnet 86 (not shown) can be received. This positioning magnet 86 positions the remote control 2 for the aforementioned inductive charging in a charging station (not shown) with a corresponding counter magnet. BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025
[0057] The aforementioned remote control 2 offers the significant advantage that the photovoltaic element 14 is located entirely inside the housing, and thus beneath the cover plate 10. The cover plate 10, together with the frame element 24, forms the outer shell and reliably protects the photovoltaic element 14 from mechanical impacts, dirt, and scratches. This eliminates the need for an exposed solar cell on the outside, as is required in conventional solar-powered remote controls, so the external appearance remains unchanged and the remote control 2 can be designed to be robust and suitable for everyday use.
[0058] However, the internal positioning of the photovoltaic element 14 presents a technical challenge. Since the incident sunlight or ambient light must first penetrate the cover plate 10 before reaching the photovoltaic element 14, a significant portion of the incident radiant energy is lost along the way. Cover plates made of transparent plastic absorb and scatter the light to a considerable extent, especially when the light strikes the outer surface at a shallow angle of incidence, as is often the case when the remote control 2 is typically stored with the cover plate 10 facing upwards. This limits the amount of radiant energy that actually reaches the photovoltaic element 14, thus reducing its energy yield.
[0059] To ensure sufficient light transmission in the stacking direction 8 despite the internal arrangement of the photovoltaic element 14, the cover plate 10 should be at least partially transparent and have a transmittance of at least 20%, preferably more than 40%. However, high transparency of the cover plate 10 alone does not guarantee optimal light utilization, as smooth surfaces reflect a significant portion of the incident light in a directed manner, thus reducing the effective coupling of the light into the BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025
[0060] Cover plate 10 and further into the transparent sensor area 30 as well as the photovoltaic element 14 can be significantly reduced.
[0061] To increase the light output through the cover plate 10, its outer surface in the transmission area has an increased surface roughness, which is formed as a texture. This texture can be produced by an erosion process, in particular an electro-erosive structuring process, or by alternative surface treatments. In the vicinity of the control panels, such as the raised area 28, the adjacent areas of the cover plate 10 are preferably designed as roughened, in particular eroded, zones.
[0062] In contrast, the control panels 28 themselves have a significantly smoother surface. Their arithmetic mean roughness Ra is preferably less than 0.14 pm, particularly less than 0.1 pm or even less than 0.02 pm, thus ensuring a pleasantly smooth feel and good visibility of underlying markings. The maximum roughness depth Rmax of the control panels is preferably less than 0.65 pm, particularly preferably less than 0.6 pm or less than 0.3 pm according to DIN EN ISO 4287:2010.
[0063] In contrast, the textured areas outside the control panels 28 exhibit significantly higher roughness values. The arithmetic mean roughness Ra of these areas is greater than 1 pm, preferably between 1.1 pm and 1.5 pm according to DIN EN ISO 4287:2010, and can be adjusted by an electro-erosive process according to VDI 3400. The maximum roughness depth Rmax of the texture is less than 6.5 pm, preferably between 1.5 pm and 3.5 pm. Ra and Rmax values can be determined using commercially available, standard-compliant handheld measuring devices; minor variations within the device tolerance must be taken into account. BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025
[0064] Preferably, the texture extends over at least 20%, preferably over at least 60%, and particularly preferably over 70% of the outwardly facing surface of the cover plate 10. This large-area design results in a broad light scattering effect, which significantly improves the transmission of radiation into the photovoltaic element 14.
[0065] Contrary to the intuitive expectation that polished surfaces maximize light transmission, it has surprisingly been shown that rough, especially eroded, surfaces enable a significantly higher energy yield of the photovoltaic element 14.
[0066] Comparative measurements, as shown in Fig. 2, demonstrate that the energy yield of eroded surfaces is 73–75% higher than that of polished surfaces, while under identical measurement conditions, smooth surfaces exhibit significantly lower yields. These measurements prove that a microstructured surface generates a diffuse light scattering that is particularly advantageous for energy generation, directing a sufficient amount of radiation into the photovoltaic element 14 even under weak lighting conditions or shallow angles of incidence.
[0067] Especially for remote controls, which are often stored in places with fluctuating or low lighting, the large-area texture offers significant advantages. Even with diffused indoor lighting or unfavorable positioning, the reduced intensity of the incident light can be compensated for by the increased diffusion.
[0068] While roughened surfaces generally require more cleaning, which is why conventional remote controls are predominantly made with polished surfaces, the unexpected and significant effect of the increased energy efficiency in BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 is planned by fm marketing gmbh on December 9, 2025.
[0069] In the context of the present invention, this disadvantage is deliberately accepted in connection with roughened surfaces in order to enable a reliable solar power supply for the remote control.
[0070] Fig. 3 shows the results of several comparative measurements in which the total power generated by a photovoltaic element was determined as a function of the surface finish of the cover plate 10. The measurements were carried out under identical light and environmental conditions, so that differences can be attributed solely to the respective surface roughness.
[0071] Measurement series 201 and 202 correspond to variants according to the invention, in which the surface of the cover plate 10 in the transmission area is provided with an eroded or roughened texture with an arithmetic mean roughness value in the range of approximately 1.1 pm to 1.6 pm. These surfaces lead to a pronounced diffuse scattering of the incident light and thus to improved coupling of the radiation into the cover plate 10 as well as into the underlying transparent sensor area 30 and the photovoltaic element 14. In Fig. 3, measurement series 201 and 202 achieve total power outputs of approximately 75 mW and 73 mW, respectively.
[0072] In contrast, measurement series 203 and 204 show comparative variants with a smooth or polished surface of the cover plate 10, which exhibit no or only a negligible degree of roughness. With these smooth surfaces, the majority of the incident radiation exits again as directed reflection without penetrating the cover plate 10 or being diffusely scattered. Consequently, the usable amount of light reaching the photovoltaic element 14 is lower. Measurement series 203 and 204 show significantly reduced power values in the range of only about 60 mW and 50 mW, respectively. BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025
[0073] The comparative measurements thus demonstrate that the energy yield of an internally arranged photovoltaic element 14 can be significantly increased by a sufficiently rough, preferably eroded, surface of the cover plate 10. This is surprising insofar as it is usually assumed that polished surfaces allow the highest light transmission. In fact, however, it turns out that a microstructured surface, due to the increased diffuse scattering, results in considerably better coupling of the light and thus enables a significantly higher energy yield.
[0074] Fig. 3 therefore underlines the technical relevance of a large-area, defined rough texture on the cover plate 10 and confirms the finding according to the invention that a targeted adjustment of the mean roughness value in the range above about 0.8 pm leads to an improved energy yield.
[0075] BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025
[0076] Reference symbol list
[0077] 2 remote controls
[0078] 4 Longitudinal direction
[0079] 6 transverse direction
[0080] 8. Print direction
[0081] 7 Control signal
[0082] 10 Cover plate
[0083] 12 Position sensor (transparent position sensor)
[0084] 14 photovoltaic elements
[0085] 16 circuit board
[0086] 18 Energy storage
[0087] 20 pressure sensor
[0088] 22 cage element
[0089] 24 frame elements
[0090] 26 Lower shell
[0091] 28 Raised areas (button-like operating elements)
[0092] 30 Sensor area (transparent sensor area)
[0093] 32 piping system
[0094] 34 Sensor processor
[0095] 36 Sensor interface
[0096] 38 individual panels of the photovoltaic element
[0097] 40 contact pads
[0098] 42 Position signal interface
[0099] 44 transformers
[0100] 46 contact springs
[0101] 48 Inductive charging interface
[0102] 50 charging coil
[0103] 52 positioning feet
[0104] 54 positioning pins
[0105] 56 Shielding element
[0106] 58 Positioning space (for shielding element / charging coil) BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025 9 Further positioning space (for ballast element) 0 Metal block (ballast element) 2 Rubber caps (on ballast element) 4 Enclosing frame 6 Through opening 7 Collar 8 Positioning bores 0 Positioning grooves 2 Further positioning bores 4 Retaining bores 6 Guide openings 8 Retaining pins 0 Guide hooks 2 Release pin 4 Receipt recess 6 Positioning magnet 01 Measurement series (according to the invention) 02 Measurement series (according to the invention) 03 Measurement series (comparison) 04 Measurement series (comparison)
Claims
BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025 Patent claims 1. Remote control (2) for controlling an electronic device with a control signal (7), comprising an upper shell (10, 24) with an input interface and a lower shell (26) for at least partially enclosing an interior space in which a printed circuit board (16) with an electronic circuit for generating the control signal (7) based on an input on the input interface is held, characterized in that at least one photovoltaic element (14) directed towards the upper shell for charging an energy storage device (18) also held in the interior space for supplying electrical energy to the electronic circuit is further arranged in the interior space between the printed circuit board (16) and the upper shell (10, 24), wherein the upper shell (10, 24) has a transmission area on its side facing away from the interior space that at least partially covers the photovoltaic element (14),over a sub-area of at least 50% a texture (15) with an arithmetic mean roughness value of at least 0.8 pm, measured according to DIN EN ISO 4287:2010-07 and DIN EN ISO 4288: 1998-04.
2. Remote control (2) according to claim 1, wherein the upper shell (10, 24) is injection molded using an injection mold, in the mold chamber of which the forming surface in the transmission area has a surface roughness corresponding to at least class 18 according to VDI 3400 sheet 1: 1986-02.
3. Remote control (2) according to claim 2, wherein the surface of the injection mold in the mold chamber in the transmission area has a surface roughness according to class 18 to 30, preferably according to class 21 to 27 and particularly preferably according to class 24 of VDI 3400 sheet 1: 1986-02. BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025 4. Remote control (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission area is designed as a continuous surface which extends over at least 20%, preferably over more than 60%, particularly preferably over 65-95% of the outside of the upper shell (10, 24).
5. Remote control (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one control panel (11) for actuating the input interface is arranged in the transmission area, the surface of which has an arithmetic mean roughness value that differs from the arithmetic mean roughness value of the sub-area, in particular a lower mean roughness value.
6. Remote control (2) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one control panel (11) is raised above the surface on the outside of the upper shell (10, 24).
7. Remote control (2) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the upper shell (10, 24) is formed integrally with the at least one control panel (11) and wherein the at least one control panel (11) preferably transitions seamlessly into the transmission area.
8. Remote control (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper shell (10, 24) has an arithmetic mean roughness value in the transmission area of between 0.8 pm and 3.15 pm, preferably between 1.12 pm and 2.24 pm and particularly preferably between 1.5 pm and 1.6 pm.
9. Remote control (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper shell (10, 24) has a maximum roughness depth in the transmission area between 3 pm and 12.5 pm, preferably between 4 pm and 9.5 pm, BP-X0-R298-159-XP-1 planned fm marketing gmbh December 9, 2025, particularly preferred between 6.0 m and 6.5 m, measured according to DIN EN ISO 4287:2010-07 and DIN EN ISO 4288: 1998-04.
10. Injection mold for producing an upper shell (10, 24) of a remote control according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an injection molding tool comprising a mold body with a mold chamber which, in the transmission area of the upper shell (10, 24) to be produced, has a surface with a surface roughness according to VDI 3400 Sheet 1 : 1986-02 of at least class 18.