FR2878056A1 - Two-way remote control for alarm system, has motor with unbalancing mass whose functioning is controlled by management unit through interface based on signal/messages received at transmission and reception unit or instructions input by user - Google Patents

Abstract

The remote control has a functioning processing and management unit (2), a radiofrequency transmission and reception unit (3), and control and/or display or signalization units (4, 5). A motor (6) has an unbalancing mass whose functioning is controlled by the unit (2) through an interface (7) according to signals and/or messages received at the level of the unit (3) and/or instructions entered by a user through the control units (4). An independent claim is also included for a method of providing communication between an alarm system and a two-way remote control.

Description

DESCRIPTION

  The present invention relates to wireless remote control systems, more particularly to remote controls used by users or operators to configure, parameterize, control and in general control a device, a system or the like, and relates to a remote control equipped with vibrating or vibrating.

  Currently, most common remotes are of the unidirectional type, that is, they only send signals to the device or system to be controlled, but can not receive signals back.

  Such remote controls are however inadequate and too limited for more sophisticated or advanced applications, such as for example the control of security or surveillance systems.

  Indeed, in such applications, it is necessary to establish a two-way communication between the device or the module to be controlled or controlled and the remote control, for example to confirm the good reception of an order or issued instruction by means of said remote control or to warn the user of the occurrence of a specific event or state at the device or module.

  Such bidirectional remote controls, capable of communicating with at least one remote module or apparatus and comprising at least one processing and operation management unit, a radiofrequency transmitting and receiving unit (including an antenna) and at least one, preferably several, control organ (s) and / or display or signaling.

  The control members are generally in the form of several buttons or buttons, but may also consist of a touch screen or a single multifunction button (for example pivoting limited in four directions) associated with a drop-down display screen .

  The display and / or signaling devices usually consist of a liquid crystal display, light-emitting diodes or other visual signaling means, indicating, for example, the state of the power supply, an emission phase or reception, or the like.

  However, such display or signaling devices are unsuitable for blind people and do not allow to warn the user when the remote control is in a pocket.

  It could be planned to put a buzzer on such bi-directional remote controls, but such a means is generally perceived as disturbing, unpleasant and / or intrusive, particularly for people in the immediate environment of the user or even for this last.

  The present invention aims to propose a solution to the problem mentioned above.

  For this purpose, it relates to a remote control of the aforementioned type, characterized in that it also comprises a motor equipped with an unbalance whose operation is controlled by the processing and management unit according to the signals and / or messages received at the radiofrequency transmission and reception unit and / or instructions entered by the user via said at least one controller.

  The invention will be better understood thanks to the following description, which refers to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings, in which: FIG. schematic and functional representation of a remote control according to the invention, and FIG. 2 is a graphic representation in the form of a timing diagram illustrating the power or the energy supplied to the vibrating unbalance motor during an operating sequence.

  As shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the remote control 1 essentially comprises at least one processing and operation management unit 2, a radiofrequency transmission and reception unit 3 and at least one, preferably several, body (s) control 4 and / or display or signaling 5.

  Such a remote control 1 is able to communicate radiofrequency with at least one remote module or device, also equipped with a radio transmission / reception unit.

  According to the invention, the remote control 1 also comprises a motor 6 equipped with an unbalance whose operation is controlled by the processing and management unit 2 according to the signals and / or messages received at the unit level. 3 transmit and receive radiofrequency and / or instructions entered by the user via said at least control member 4.

  In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processing and management unit 2 controls the unbalance motor 6 forming a vibrator via an interface 7 of the power supply type or a width modulation switching regulator. pulse.

  Such an arrangement allows the unit 2 to easily control the power supplied to the motor 6 (by simple modification of the modulation of the control signal delivered by the unit 2), therefore the speed of the latter and the intensity of the vibrations generated. as well as their frequency (the latter will be outside the audible range).

  Preferably, each operating sequence of the engine 6 comprises a start phase at maximum power, of a predefined duration, followed by a normal operating phase at a reduced power of reference, defined by default or preset by the user.

  In connection with the preceding characteristic, the two different power supply levels of the engine 6 for the start phase and the normal operating phase of each operating sequence are defined by two different high frequency hashing frequencies, the maximum power available. depending on the voltage of the autonomous power supply of the remote control 1.

  Starting the engine 6 at maximum power will prevent a blockage of said engine at the beginning of the operating sequence because of its inertia or possible friction.

  This startup phase will be short enough to go unnoticed by the user holding the remote control 1.

  As part of the bidirectional communication between the remote control 1 and the device or the module 1 'to be controlled, an operating sequence of the engine 6 is normally triggered following the receipt in return of a signal or a message of acknowledgment of a module or remote device 1 ', following the transmission of a signal or message by the remote control 1 to this module or this device.

  Nevertheless, it can also be provided that an operating sequence of the motor 6, and therefore a vibrating sequence of the remote control 1, is triggered after reception by the remote control of any other type of message or signal intended for it, such as for example the signaling of a state, an event or a particular incident by the device or remote module the.

  Depending on the different types of messages or signals received by the remote control 1, it may be provided to generate vibrations of different frequencies or intensities, or possibly to repeat, a predetermined number of times, sequences of operation of said motor 6 .

  The duration of a vibration sequence will be predefined or preset, each sequence possibly being stopped before completion of its normal duration by pressing the user on a warning confirmation button.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the set low power value is stored at the level of the remote module or device 1 'able to communicate with the remote control 1, this value being modifiable and adjustable to and / or by the user of said remote control 1.

  In connection with a preferred application, but not limited to the present invention, the remote control 1 consists of a remote control system security or monitoring wireless or radio frequency, the module or remote device 1 'corresponding to the central alarm or central module of said system.

  The invention also relates to a method of communication between an alarm center 1 'and a bidirectional remote control 1 as described above, in a wireless or radio frequency alarm or monitoring system.

  Such an alarm system comprising at least one remote control is for example described in French Patent Application No. 03 07275 in the name of the Applicant.

  The method according to the invention essentially consists, after each reception by said central unit 1 'of a signal or a command, control or interrogation message from said remote control 1, to transmit a signal or message of acknowledgment receiving said central unit 1 'to said remote control 1 and, upon receipt thereof, to trigger an operating sequence of the unbalance motor 6 forming a vibrator.

  Preferably, each operating sequence of the engine 6 comprises a start phase at maximum power, of a predefined duration, followed by a normal operating phase at a reduced power of reference, defined by default or preset by the user.

  Advantageously, the set low power value is stored at the central unit 1 'and is transmitted with each signal or message acknowledging receipt or reporting of a state or an incident at said central unit. 1 'and the duration of the starting phase of the engine 6 is less than the time required for said engine 6 to reach its maximum rotational speed.

  Thus, the invention provides a bidirectional remote control including an acknowledgment / report of an event by means of a vibration signal perceptible by the user, possibly associated with a light signal or additional display (the) of this event.

  The vibrator function is integrated into the remote control by using standard components.

  The use of a standard motor 6 initially requiring more energy than later for the maintenance of its movement in steady state, requires to have a possibility of variation of the energy delivered to said engine. The solution proposed by the invention is to perform a hash of the control of the high frequency motor, said hash being controlled by the unit 2 consisting for example of a microprocessor associated with a memory including in particular the management program of operation of the remote control 1.

  This flexible control of the energy injected into the motor makes it possible to avoid dissipation by Joule effect in a resistance of the energy which must not be sent to the motor when the latter is operating at reduced power.

  The starting phase at full power advantageously have a duration of between 20 and 100 ms, preferably between 50 and 100 ms. As a result, the engine will not have time to reach its maximum rotational speed, which will avoid an unpleasant feeling to the user.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (10)

  1. Bidirectional remote control capable of communicating with at least one remote module or apparatus and comprising at least one processing and operation management unit, a radiofrequency transmission and reception unit and at least one, preferably several, units ( s) control and / or display or signaling, remote control (1) characterized in that it also comprises a motor (6) equipped with an unbalance whose operation is controlled by the unit (2) treatment and management according to the signals and / or messages received at the radiofrequency transmission and reception unit (3) and / or instructions entered by the user via said at least one control device ( 4).   2. Remote control according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing and management unit (2) controls the unbalance motor (6) forming a vibrator via an interface (7) of the feed type or regulator to pulse width modulated splitting.   3. Remote control according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each operating sequence of the engine (6) comprises a maximum power start phase, a predefined duration, followed by a normal operating phase at a reduced setpoint power, set by default or preset by the user.   4. Remote control according to claim 3, characterized in that the two different power supply levels of the engine (6) for the start phase and the normal operating phase of each operating sequence are defined by two high hashing frequencies. frequency, the maximum available power being a function of the voltage of the autonomous power supply of the remote control (1).   5. Remote control according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a sequence of operation of the motor (6) is triggered consecutively to the receipt in return of a signal or an acknowledgment message a module or remote device (1 '), following the transmission of a signal or message by the remote control (1) to this module or this device (1').   6. Remote control according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the set low power value is stored at the module or remote device (1 ') able to communicate with the remote control (1) , this value being modifiable and can be adjusted to and / or by the user of said remote control (1).   7. Remote control according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it consists of a remote control system for security or monitoring wireless or radio frequency, the remote module or device (1 ') corresponding to the central d alarm or central module of said system.   8. A method of communication between a central alarm and a bidirectional remote control according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in a wireless or radiofrequency alarm or monitoring system, characterized in that it consists, after each reception by said central unit (1 ') of a signal or a command, control or interrogation message from said remote control (1), to transmit a signal or acknowledgment message from said central unit (1); ') to said remote control (1) and, upon receipt thereof, to trigger an operation sequence of the unbalance motor (6) forming a vibrator.   9. The method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that each operating sequence of the engine (6) comprises a start-up phase at maximum power, of a predefined duration, followed by a normal operating phase at a reduced setpoint power. , set by default or preset by the user.   10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the set low power value is stored at the central unit (1 ') and is transmitted with each signal or message acknowledgment of receipt or report of a state or an incident at said central unit (1 ') and in that the duration of the engine start phase (6) is less than the time required for said engine (6) to reach its maximum rotational speed.