Building Aperture Handle with User Interaction Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing building aperture cover systems, such as windows, are often unintuitive and require substantial manual effort for opening and closing, leading to user operation mistakes and difficulties, especially for guests and in scenarios where remote controls are lost or unclear in functionality.

Innovation Solution

A building aperture cover system featuring a fixation frame, a movable unit with an insulated glass unit, an electric actuator arrangement, and a handle with a user interaction sensor arrangement that detects physical interactions to control the actuator, providing intuitive and user-friendly operation by distinguishing between opening and closing forces through sensor data processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If a remote control system is used to operate the building aperture cover, then automation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to loss or unclear functionality of remote controls

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveautomationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary sensor arrangement in the handle that detects physical user interactions and converts them into control signals. This mediator bridges the gap between manual operation and automated actuation, allowing the system to maintain reliability through direct physical interaction while achieving automation through sensor-based control signal generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If manual operation of the building aperture cover is required, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to substantial manual effort required

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the purely mechanical operation system with a hybrid system that incorporates sensor arrangements to detect user interactions. The sensor arrangement converts physical interactions into control signals that drive the actuator, substituting direct mechanical force application with a more efficient sensor-actuator mechanism while maintaining the reliability of direct user control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If control elements and sensors are integrated in the handle, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control elements and sensors directly into the handle structure, combining multiple functions (user interaction interface, sensor detection, and control signal generation) into a single integrated component. This merging approach improves ease of operation by providing intuitive control while managing device complexity through functional integration rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of operation

If directional user interactions are detected to control opening and closing, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidmeasurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by positioning sensors at specific locations on the handle where they can detect directional user interactions. Different sensor locations and orientations provide specialized detection capabilities for specific interaction directions, allowing the system to distinguish between opening and closing commands with adequate precision while maintaining ease of operation through intuitive physical interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system reduces user effort and mistakes by automatically applying opening and closing forces based on detected interactions, enhancing user friendliness and safety, and eliminating the need for separate remote controls, thus providing a more reliable and cost-effective control mechanism.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor arrangement is configured to detect physical user interactions applied at the gripping part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce sensing: Force

Data Source

PatentEP4424966A1A building aperture cover with a handle comprising a user interaction sensor arrangement
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 VKR HOLDING AS
  • EP4424966A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4424966A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4424966A1 patent drawingFigure 3~6B

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a building aperture cover, such as a window (1), comprising - a fixation frame (2) and a movable unit (3), wherein the movable unit (3) is configured to be moved relative to the fixation frame (2) between a closed unit position (CPOS) and an open unit position (OPOS), - an electric actuator arrangement (8) configured to provide said movement of the movable unit (3) between the closed unit position (CPOS) and the open unit position (OPOS), - a handle (5), wherein the handle (5) is attached to a part of the movable unit (3),wherein the handle (5) comprises a gripping part (5a) configured to be grasped by human hand, and - a control system (7) comprising one or more hardware processors. The handle (5) comprises a user interaction sensor arrangement (6, 6a, 6b) configured to detect physical user interactions (FI, F2) applied at the gripping part (5a), and provide sensor data (SDA) based thereon, and the control system (7) is configured to receive and process the sensor data (SDA). The control system (7) is configured to provide first control output (OP1) based on said processing of the sensor data (SDA) if the sensor data (SDA) comprises information indicating that a first user interaction in a first direction is applied to the gripping part (5a). The control system (7) is configured to provide second control output (OP2) based on said processing of the sensor data (SDA) if the sensor data (SDA) comprises information indicating that a second user interaction in a second direction is applied to the gripping part (5a). The electric actuator arrangement (8) is configured to apply an opening force (OF) to the movable unit (3) if the first control output (OP1) is provided, and the actuator arrangement (8) is configured to apply a closing force (CF) to the movable unit (3) if the second control output (OP2) is provided.