DE102006048547B4 - Remote Control System - Google Patents

Abstract

Remote control system for a plurality of devices (7, 13) which can be controlled wirelessly with a single mobile remote control device (2), a) the mobile remote control device (2) having a tilt sensor (3) which displays current tilt coordinates (Δx / Δy / Δz) b) the mobile remote control device (2) has a radio communication module (5), c) the mobile remote control device (2) has at least one control button (4), d) each wirelessly controllable device (7, 13) has a radio communication module (10, 16), e) wherein each wirelessly controllable device (7, 13) has a reference memory (9, 15) for storing the position of all wirelessly controllable devices (7 , 13) in the room, f) wherein by pressing the operating button (4) detected by the tilt sensor (2) current direction (.DELTA.x / .DELTA.y / .DELTA.z) of the mobile remote control device (2) is determined and radiated by radio signal, g ) wherein the wirelessly controllable devices (7, 13) have an evaluation unit (11, 17) which determines the current position of the mobile remote control device (2) in space on the basis of the received radio signal, h) wherein the wirelessly controllable devices (7, 13 ) communicate with one another in such a way as to exchange information relating to the received radio signals; and i) wherein the evaluation units (11, 17) of the wirelessly controllable devices (7, 13) based on the determined current position of the mobile remote control device (2) and the current received by radio signal Inclination coordinates (Δx / Δy / Δz) of the mobile remote control device (2) determine the device to be controlled (7, 13).

Description

The invention relates to a remote control system according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention can be used, for example, in the field of building installation technology / building system technology.

From the US Pat. No. 5,963,145 For example, a method by selecting a target unit by physically pointing to it is known. A portable hand held system is described which transmits position signals to a target unit at various infrared frequencies and via divergent pointing axes. Based on the strength of these position signals, a sensor connected to the selected target unit detects the position of the portable transmitter.

From the US 2006/0 033 662 A1 is an ultra-wideband UWB-based location system for determining the position of an object in space, which assumes that the absolute position of an object can be determined when the relative position of that object to sufficient reference points with a fixed localization is known.

From the DE 601 03 778 T2 is a network device with selectable cells known. A unit network is described which comprises a plurality of destination units, one or more selection units (s) movable with respect to the destination units, and a control unit. Each selection unit includes means for detecting its own position and orientation (pointing axis) in an external coordinate system, means for generating a signal containing the detected position and orientation, and means for sending that signal to the control unit. The control unit stores the position of each target unit in the outer coordinate system and determines whether the position and orientation of the selecting unit and the position of a target unit are in a certain relationship with each other. If so, that destination is selected.

The invention has for its object to provide a simply constructed remote control system.

This object is achieved in conjunction with the features of the preamble according to the invention by the features specified in the characterizing part of claim 1.

The achievable with the present invention consist in particular that a complex position determination in the mobile remote control device (mobile device) is eliminated. The mobile remote control device only reports its current tilt coordinates. The remote control device can therefore be made very compact.

Further advantages will be apparent from the following description.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

The invention will be explained below with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Show it:

1 a first embodiment of a system for remote control of devices with a position determination of the remote control device by radio,

2 . 3 two alternative embodiments with a bus to which the controllable devices are connected,

4 an embodiment for position determination using time differences,

5 an embodiment for determining the position using reception angles.

In 1 a first embodiment of a system for remote control of devices is shown. It is a room 1 to recognize, in which at least two controllable devices 7 . 13 are located. A controllable device 7 is on the input side to a power supply network 23 connected and on the output side via an actuator 8th with a ceiling light 12 connected. The controllable device 7 has a reference memory 9 on, in which the position of the device 7 in the room 1 with the space coordinates x ₁ / y ₁ / z ₁ and the space coordinates of all in space 1 located controllable devices are stored. Furthermore, the controllable device 7 a radio communication module 10 (Radio transmitter and receiver) including antenna and an evaluation unit 11 on.

Furthermore, there is at least the other controllable device 13 in the room 1 , which on the input side also to the power supply network 23 is connected and the output side via an actuator 14 with the drive motor of a blind 18 connected is. The controllable device 13 has a reference memory 15 on, in which the position of the device 13 in the room 1 with the space coordinates x ₂ / y ₂ / z ₂ and the space coordinates of all in space 1 located controllable devices are stored. Furthermore, the controllable device 13 a radio communication module 16 (Radio transmitter and receiver) including antenna and an evaluation unit 17 on.

A person enters the room 1 and, for example, I want the ceiling light 12 turn on. For this purpose, the person takes a provided mobile remote control device (handheld transmitter) 2 , shows with this remote control device 2 to the ceiling light 12 and press an operation button 4 , One in the remote control device 2 built-in tilt sensor 3 (eg in the form of a magneto-inductive sensor element) determines the current tilt axis or index axis 19 with the inclination coordinates in the space Δx / Δy / Δz of the remote control device. These tilt coordinates become when the operation button is pressed 4 via a radio communication module 5 (Radio transmitter) including antenna in the form of a radio signal radiated. This results in a radio link 20 between the remote control device 2 and controllable device 7 as well as a radio link 21 between the remote control device 2 and controllable device 13 , Of course, this is the mobile remote control device 2 with a power supply unit 6 (Battery or accumulator).

• • dass die Positionen aller ansteuerbaren Geräte 7, 13 bekannt und in den Referenzspeichern 9, 15 abgespeichert sind und
• • dass die beiden Auswerteeinheiten 11, 17 miteinander kommunizieren, um derart die Resultate hinsichtlich der Zeitdifferenzen TDOA und/oder der Empfangswinkel AOA auszutauschen.

The for the determination of the device to be controlled 7 . 13 required determination of the current spatial coordinates x ₃ / y ₃ / z _{3 of} the remote control device 2 takes place in the embodiment according to 1 not in the remote control unit itself, but in the evaluation units 11 . 17 the controllable devices 7 . 13 , Here, various implementations are possible. For example, the time differences TDOA (Time Differences of Arrival) or the reception angle AOA (Angle of Arrival) over the radio links 20 . 21 received radio signals are detected and used to the current, exact position of the remote control device 2 in the room 1 to investigate. Also a combination of both methods time differences TDOA + reception angle AOA is feasible. The basis for the proposed methods is, of course,

• • that the positions of all controllable devices 7 . 13 known and in the reference memories 9 . 15 are stored and
• • that the two evaluation units 11 . 17 communicate with each other so as to exchange the results in terms of the time differences TDOA and / or the receiving angle AOA.

Such methods for determining the position over the time differences TDOA or the receiving angle AOA are known per se; for this purpose, reference is made to an article by Ubisese Limited by Pete Steggles and Stephan Gschwind "The Ubisense Smart Space Platform", May 2005, in particular the chapter "Accurate 3D Positioning". noted on pages 1-3. From the Ubisense Hardware Datasheet, May 2006, regarding Ubisense Sensor, Ubisense Tag and Platform performance, it appears that an implementation of this positioning technology into a commercial product has been done.

It makes sense to radio technologies are used, which allow the most accurate positioning of the remote control device. In particular, ultrawideband methods UWB are to be mentioned, which allow accuracies with respect to the position determination of 0.3 m even in complex buildings, since they avoid the classical disadvantages of radio-based localization systems, such as multipath propagation.

• • zunächst die Position des Fernbedienungsgerätes 2 zu ermitteln, um
• • anschließend anhand der gemeldeten Neigungs-Koordinaten der Neigeachse 19 zu ermitteln, welches der beiden Geräte 7, 13 angesteuert werden soll.

As the embodiment according to 1 shows, it must be at the receiving units, ie the controllable devices 7 . 13 not to be a participant of an installation bus. It makes sense, the radio technology for the actual communication between the participants, ie the controllable devices 7 . 13 , be used - see radio link 22 between the devices 7 . 13 - so that a "sensor network" with localization possibilities arises. About the radio link 22 the above-mentioned radio information (results with respect to the time differences TDOA or the reception angle AOA) are exchanged, so that it is for the evaluation units 11 . 17 is possible

• • first the position of the remote control device 2 to determine
• • then on the basis of the reported inclination coordinates of the tilt axis 19 to determine which of the two devices 7 . 13 to be controlled.

Alternatively, the controllable devices 7 (for the control of the ceiling light 12 ) and 13 (for the control of the blind 18 ) also participants of a bus 24 be like this in 2 is shown. In such an embodiment, the communication modules 10 . 16 have only radio receiver (for receiving over the radio link 20 respectively. 21 from the remote control device 2 radiated radio signals, ie pitch coordinates) and the communication between the devices 7 . 13 takes place via the bus 24 , The radio link 22 between the devices 7 . 13 omitted in this embodiment.

As in 3 can be shown as an alternative to the embodiment according to 2 also a base station 25 of the bus 24 with an evaluation unit 26 be equipped, which the above-described position determination in place of the evaluation 11 . 17 in the controllable devices 7 . 13 accomplished and by evaluation of position and inclination coordinates of the remote control device 2 determines the device to be controlled. As a result, the evaluation units 11 . 17 omitted in such an embodiment.

In 4 is an embodiment for determining position using Time differences TDOA shown. They are the two at known positions within the room 1 located radio receiver 27 respectively. 28 the radio communication modules 10 respectively. 16 to recognize. Depending on the distance between radio transmitter (of the remote control device 2 ) and radio receiver 27 respectively. 28 become concentric spherical surfaces 29 respectively. 30 of balls of different diameters each with the radio receiver 27 respectively. 28 Defined in the sphere center, ie the greater the distance between radio transmitter and radio receiver, the greater the duration of the radio signal and the greater consequently the ball diameter representing this transit time.

For the in 4 sketched embodiment, it is assumed that due to the determined maturities the bold surfaces shown in bold 31 around the radio receiver 27 and the bold surface of the sphere 32 around the radio receiver 28 as relevant. The inside of the room 1 located intersection 33 the two relevant spherical surfaces 31 . 32 represents the position to be determined of the remote control device 2 represents.

In 5 For example, an embodiment for determining position using reception angles AOA is shown. They are the two at known positions within the room 1 located radio receiver 27 respectively. 28 of the radio communication module 10 respectively. 16 to recognize. The radio receiver 27 determines the reception angle α between a basic line 34 (with known orientation within the room 1 ) and a detected receive direction line 35 , The radio receiver determines in the same way 28 the reception angle β between a basic line 36 (with known orientation within the room 1 ) and a detected receive direction line 37 , The inside of the room 1 located intersection 38 the two detected receive direction lines 35 . 37 represents the position to be determined of the remote control device 2 represents.

Above are always exemplified two controllable devices within the room 1 intended. Of course, the invention is not limited thereto, that is, there may be three and more controllable devices in the room, the position of the remote control device again takes place with the inclusion of these controllable devices.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

room

2

Remote control device (hand-held transmitter)

3

tilt sensor

4

Control key

5

Radio communication module incl. Antenna (radio transmitter)

6

Power supply unit (battery, accumulator)

7

controllable device

8th

actuator

9

Reference memory for storing the position in the room

10

Radio communication module incl. Antenna (radio transmitter and receiver)

11

evaluation

12

ceiling light

13

controllable device

14

actuator

15

Reference memory for storing the position in the room

16

Radio communication module incl. Antenna (radio transmitter and receiver)

17

evaluation

18

louvre

19

Tilt axis or pointing axis

20

radio link

21

radio link

22

radio link

23

Power supply network

24

bus

25

base station

26

evaluation

27

Radio receiver of the radio communication module 10

28

Radio receiver of the radio communication module 16

29

Concentric spherical surfaces of balls of different diameters with the radio receiver 27 in the sphere center

30

Concentric spherical surfaces of balls of different diameters with the radio receiver 28 in the sphere center

31

relevant sphere surface

32

relevant sphere surface

33

Intersection of the relevant spherical surfaces

34

Especially base

35

Reception direction Straight

36

Especially base

37

Reception direction Straight

38

Intersection of the receive direction line

x / y / z

Space coordinates of the position ikm space

Ax / Ay / Az

Tilt coordinates of the axis slopes in space

α

receiving angle

β

receiving angle

Claims (5)

Remote control system for several with a single mobile remote control device ( 2 ) wirelessly controllable devices ( 7 . 13 ), a) the mobile remote control device ( 2 ) a tilt sensor ( 3 ) has which current inclination coordinates (Δx / Δy / Δz) of the axial inclinations of the mobile remote control device ( 2 ) detected in the room, b) the mobile remote control device ( 2 ) a radio communication module ( 5 c) where the mobile remote control device ( 2 ) at least one control key ( 4 d) each wirelessly controllable device ( 7 . 13 ) a radio communication module ( 10 . 16 ) e) where each wirelessly controllable device ( 7 . 13 ) a reference memory ( 9 . 15 ) for storing the position of all wirelessly controllable devices ( 7 . 13 ) in the room, f) by pressing the control key ( 4 ) from the tilt sensor ( 2 ) detected current direction (Δx / Δy / Δz) of the mobile remote control device ( 2 ) and radiated by radio signal, g) wherein the wirelessly controllable devices ( 7 . 13 ) an evaluation unit ( 11 . 17 ), which show the current position of the mobile remote control device ( 2 ) determined in space on the basis of the received radio signal, h) wherein the wirelessly controllable devices ( 7 . 13 ) communicate with one another in such a way as to exchange information with regard to the received radio signals, and i) wherein the evaluation units ( 11 . 17 ) of the wireless controllable devices ( 7 . 13 ) based on the determined current position of the mobile remote control device ( 2 ) and the current tilt coordinates (Δx / Δy / Δz) of the mobile remote control device ( 2 ) the device to be controlled ( 7 . 13 ) determine. Remote control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the time differences of the over the radio links ( 20 . 21 ) between mobile remote control device ( 2 ) and controllable device ( 7 . 13 ) are detected and used to determine the current position of the mobile remote control device ( 2 ) in the room ( 1 ) to investigate. Remote control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the reception angles (α, β) of the transmission paths ( 20 . 21 ) between mobile remote control device ( 2 ) and controllable device ( 7 . 13 ) are detected and used to determine the current position of the mobile remote control device ( 2 ) in the room ( 1 ) to investigate. Remote control system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication between the wireless controllable devices ( 7 . 13 ) by radio. Remote control system according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the communication between the wirelessly controllable devices ( 7 . 13 ) via a bus ( 24 ) he follows.

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