DE202019000229U1 - Housing of a control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

A compact housing for a control unit with at least one sensor for detecting environmental data, at least one switching actuator (meant: relay, dimmer, thyristor, etc.) and control unit for building automation purposes, which alone "stand-alone" can form a complete building automation system consisting from at least 2 parts, wherein a pot-like bulge formed on the underside of the housing and this can be firmly connected to a standard flush-mounted box. Wherein the housing has at least one vent opening or sensor opening in the edge region, and the housing has at least one opening in the upper part, which is suitable for receiving a touch-sensitive screen (display, display device).

Description

The invention relates to a housing of a control device according to the preamble of claim 1. Such control devices are used for controlling devices and devices in the context of building automation.

In the German patent application DE 102014106568A1 A system of building automation has already been proposed, which has a sensitive area for improving the user-friendliness of a device for controlling building-internal processes. The device collects building-related parameters such as temperature and brightness and sends them to a processing logic of the system. However, a housing for the sensitive area has not been disclosed.

Various building automation applications are also already known, such as networked devices for lighting control, heating, ventilation and air conditioning control, networked measuring devices for recording consumption values (water, electricity, heat, gas, etc.), intelligent household appliances (TVs, speakers, washing machines, etc.). and sensors for recording environmental values (temperature, brightness, air pressure, presence detection). To achieve common building automation solutions (heating, lighting control, monitoring tasks) a variety of different devices (servers, sensors, actuators) are necessary in the current state of the art. The networking (radio, cable), the power supply (cable, battery) and the maintenance of many individual devices is complicated and expensive.

Increased spread of building automation systems is offset by high overall costs, administrative burden and security concerns (probability of failure).

The known control devices or servers are usually housed in cabinets or set-up devices that are connected to sensors and switches by cable or wireless. Such sensors and switches are e.g. housed in standard flush-mounted boxes or the units are designed for wall mounting with battery operation. Flush-mounted boxes typically have an inside diameter of 60 mm and a depth of at least 40 mm in Europe.

As of 2018, 80-90% of newly built houses will be equipped with floor, wall or ceiling heating and air conditioning systems. These houses almost always have flush-mounted boxes at eye level with integrated power supply (AC or DC) and possibly data lines. A single room control of heating systems is required in many EC states in building law.

The "typical" flush-mounted box of the individual room control is in the optimum range (1.5 m height, in each room centrally near the door) for use as a place of accommodation of a compact smart home device.

Although the known control devices already solve a variety of different automation tasks, such as light and heating controls, but they either do not fit into a single commercially available flush-mounted box or you need more external devices (servers, sensors, actuators).

Known stand-alone solutions are currently available only for specific applications (e.g., smart home thermostat).

There is a space problem for a universal smart home system that can be installed in a flush-mounted box because on the one hand there must be sufficient space in the lower area of the box for the connection of supply lines and a power unit must be accommodated in the upper area of the box, but the control unit also space needed for their cooling or ventilation, especially when the typical smart home components (server, computing unit, sensors, actuators) are compressed in one device as well as non-alien automation tasks to be taken over (heating / presence detection - light / monitoring ).

At the same time, compressing all components of a building automation system into a device results in increased self-heating, which adversely affects the accuracy of the acquired environmental data.

The housing of a control device is not suitable in known solutions to include a complete building automation system that accepts a variety of different and alien automation tasks and at the same time can be part of a higher-level decentralized building automation system.

The object of the invention is to provide a housing of a control device which meets the above requirements.

The object is achieved with the features of the protection claim 1.

The housing consists of a rectangular housing upper part, which is mounted on top of a plate of the housing base, wherein a cup-shaped bulge formed on the underside of the plate of the housing base is formed.

• - Heizungs-, Lüftungs-, Klimasteuerungsaufgaben
• - Lichtsteuerung
• - Rollladensteuerung
• - Ambiente-Lichtsteuerung
• - Präsenzerkennung, Indoor-Positioning System, Präsenzvortäuschung
• - Überwachung (Surveillance-System mit integrierter Kamera und Anzeige externer Kameras)
• - Geräuscherkennung / Spracherkennung
• - Smart-Metering, Leistungsmessung angschlossener Verbraucher
• - Sicherheit (Alarmsystem, Brandmelder, Gasmelder, Feuchtigkeitsmelder, Fenster-/Türauswertung)
• - optisches und akustisches Meldungsystem

The housing is advantageously designed uniformly for all rooms of a building and fits into a standard flush-mounted box. It is suitable for a control unit that allows different typical room-wise recurring automation applications, such as:

• - Heating, ventilation, climate control tasks
• - Lighting control
• - Roller shutter control
• - Ambient light control
• - Presence detection, indoor positioning system, presence pre-emption
• - Surveillance (surveillance system with integrated camera and display of external cameras)
• - Noise detection / Speech recognition
• - smart metering, power measurement of connected consumers
• - Security (alarm system, fire detector, gas detector, moisture detector, window / door evaluation)
• - visual and audible message system

The housing allows a strong variation of the functionality of the built-in control unit. In particular, the housing can be equipped with a light sensor and a camera module, wherein the housing is formed so that it allows without modification the retrofitting of a camera module in a fitting design in the upper housing part without having to remove the light sensor. Thus, one and the same device can be used either in rooms with increased need for privacy and in public areas with increased security claim.

The housing has a thermally decoupled, separated area near the air inlet, in which sensors are arranged to detect environmental data as accurately as possible and to reduce impairment of the sensor values by self-heat generation of the control unit. Partitions partition the sensors from heat sources (processor) in the unit and form air ducts for optimized cooling of the unit.

The housing according to the invention optionally additionally includes a valve in the o.g. Partition walls near the air inlet opening to the deterioration of the sensor values of o.g. Minimize sensors by self-heating of the control unit.

The valve separates the insulated o.g. Sensor area from the rest of the control unit. This reduces heat transfer (by convection, heat radiation) to the sensor area, which enables the acquisition of more accurate environmental data. The valve opens by the resulting negative pressure with activated internal fan. The valve closes by gravity with the blower deactivated. The valve may for example consist of a flap, membrane or the like.

Advantageous developments and details of the invention are characterized in the subclaims or are presented in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to FIGS.

• 1, Frontansicht des Gehäuses
• 2, perspektivische Darstellung des Gehäuseoberteils von unten
• 3, Seitenansichten des gesamten Gehäuses,
• 4, perspektivische Darstellung des gesamten Gehäuse,
• 5, Darstellung des Gehäuseoberteils, einer verschraubten Platine und des Gehäuseunterteils,
• 6, Verbindungsnasen des Gehäuseunterteils und Platine mit Öffnungen zur Snap-Fit-Verbindung mit den Verbindungsnasen.
• 7, Detailaufnahme Gehäusebereich zur Aufnahme des Kameramoduls
• 8, Beispielausbildung Ventil des internen Sensorbereichs
• 9, Beispielausbildung Ventil aus der Vogelperspektive

Show it:

• 1 , Front view of the housing
• 2 , perspective view of the upper housing part from below
• 3 , Side views of the entire housing,
• 4 , perspective view of the entire housing,
• 5 , Representation of the upper housing part, a screwed-on circuit board and the housing lower part,
• 6 , Connection tabs of the housing base and circuit board with openings for snap-fit connection with the connection tabs.
• 7 , Detail view Housing area for receiving the camera module
• 8th , Sample training valve of the internal sensor area
• 9 , Example training valve from the bird's eye view

The 1 shows a front view of the housing, which has a top with a rectangular shape. The upper part of the housing is for holding a circuit board and for mounting a lower housing part (see illustration in FIG 3 ) educated. The openings 1a . 1b . 1c are suitable for taking a photo / video camera, light sensor, infrared temperature sensor, thermal imaging camera and signal RGB light emitting diode. 1e represents the clipping for the touch-sensitive display. The clipping 1d serves as an opening for a motion detector.

The perspective view of the housing top after 2 illustrates openings ( 2a) in the edge area, which provides an external access to "releasing" the internal snap-fit snap-in connection latched into the board.

The 3 show all side views ( 3b below, 3d above, 3a right, 3c left) of the housing, the upper housing part is mounted on top of a plate of a housing lower part. A pot-shaped bulge is formed on the underside of the plate of the housing base. The pot-shaped bulge of the housing base has an outer diameter which is smaller than the inner diameter of a commercially available flush-mounted box. The height of the bulge of the housing base is smaller than the height of a standard flush-mounted box.

• • 4a, 4b, 4k entsprechen 1a, 1b, 1c der 1
• • 4c deutet auf die Position der oberen Öffnung zur Öffnung einer Snap-Fit-Verbindung (analog 2 2a)
• • 4d ist der Ausschnitt für das berührungssensitive Display
• • 4e ist die Luftaustrittsöffnung
• • 4m microSD Speicherkarte
• • 4f Abdeckung für microSD Speicherkarte
• • 4g Öffnung PIR-Bewegungsmelder
• • 4h Federkontakte des Unterputznetzeils zum Anschluß an Versorgungsleitungen und gesteuerte Verbraucher
• • 4j Lufteintrittsöffnung mit verdecktem Reset-Taster (kleine Ausbuchtung)
• • 4i Ausschnitt für USB-Anschluss

The 4 shows a perspective view of the entire housing.

• • 4a, 4b, 4k correspond 1a . 1b . 1c the 1
• • 4c indicates the position of the upper opening to open a Snap-Fit connection (analog 2 2a )
• • 4d is the cutout for the touch-sensitive display
• • 4e is the air outlet opening
• • 4m microSD memory card
• • 4f Cover for microSD memory card
• • 4g Opening PIR motion detector
• • 4h Spring contacts of Unterputznetzeils for connection to supply lines and controlled loads
• • 4y Air inlet opening with concealed reset button (small bulge)
• • 4i Cutout for USB port

• • 5b kennzeichnet die Schraublöcher in der Platine mit darunterliegendem Kunstoffdom zur Aufnahme von Schrauben, über die das Gehäuseoberteil fest mit der Platine verbunden werden kann
• • 5d und 6b kennzeichnet die Platine
• • 5c kennzeichnet das Gehäuseoberteil
• • 6a kennzeichnet das Gehäuseunterteil
• • 5a kennzeichnet verschiedene Aussparungen in der Platine welche die notwendigen Hinterschneidungen für Snap-Fit-Haken bilden
• • 6d kennzeichnet eingerastete Snap-Fit-Haken, die sich über die Öffnungen des Gehäuseoberteils entriegeln lassen
• • 6c kennzeichnet normale Snap-Fit-Haken mit abgerundeter weicher Hinterschneidung

From the 5 and 6 is the formation of connection tabs of the housing base and board with openings for snap-fit connection with the connection tabs out.

• • 5b identifies the screw holes in the board with the plastic dome underneath to hold screws that secure the top of the housing to the board
• • 5d and 6b identifies the board
• • 5c identifies the upper housing part
• • 6a indicates the lower housing part
• • 5a identifies various recesses in the board which form the necessary undercuts for Snap-Fit hooks
• • 6d indicates latched snap-fit hooks that can be unlocked through the openings in the top of the housing
• • 6c Features regular snap-fit hooks with rounded soft undercut

The 7 represents the pickup position for the light sensor and the camera module. The soldered SMD component 7b on the board forms the fixed-installed light sensor. The housing shape 7c optionally allows the recording of the square camera module 7a or the inclusion of a round Kunstofflinse.

In 8th and 9 is a development of the separated sensor area with valve shown schematically. The numbering in both drawings is identical. The shielding of the sensor area is via a longitudinal cutout in the board 8f and over a partition 8c educated. About the openings in the edge area 8h in the upper housing part 8e the severed sensor area has direct contact with the ambient air. The valve flap 8d completely closes the separated area from the rest of the controller. By gravity, pointing in the direction of the arrow 8a acts, the flap remains closed in the normal state.

If the control unit has an increased need for cooling, or if there is another reason for ventilation, a fan will cause a flow of air in the direction of 8b generated and the resulting negative pressure opens the flap / lever 8d ,

The open flap then allows air to flow through the entire housing.

The anchor point 8g limits the range of motion so far that the center of gravity of the valve flap 8d can not be above the axis of rotation and the acting gravity 8a the flap closes again when the fan is switched off.

The valve flap 8d can also be designed as a membrane (eg a one-sided fixed flexible membrane).

The invention is not limited to the present embodiment. Thus, obviously other other embodiments of the invention can be developed or used, which are based on the same basic idea of the invention and are encompassed by the appended claims.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102014106568 A1 [0002]

Claims (10)

A compact housing for a control unit with at least one sensor for detecting environmental data, at least one switching actuator (meant: relay, dimmer, thyristor, etc.) and control unit for building automation purposes, which alone "stand-alone" can form a complete building automation system consisting from at least 2 parts, wherein a pot-like bulge formed on the underside of the housing and this can be firmly connected to a standard flush-mounted box. Wherein the housing has at least one vent opening or sensor opening in the edge region, and the housing has at least one opening in the upper part, which is suitable for receiving a touch-sensitive screen (display, display device). Housing a device for measuring temperature or measuring other environmental data such. Humidity, air quality, air pressure is equipped with a spatially separated area within the housing, in which at least one sensor is arranged and in the separator at least one valve is integrated, which is actively or vacuum controlled and the spatially separated area has a connection to the ambient air and opens the valve in the direction of the rest of the housing interior (or a region thereof) and thus enables a transfer of the ambient air over the separated space in the remaining part of the housing interior. A plastic housing of at least 2 housing parts and in a housing part thereof firmly connected, primarily screwed, circuit board (board), wherein the board contains at least one cutout or recess which is part of the snap-fit connection of the other housing part, thus the board necessary undercut for at least one locking lug of the other housing part forms. Housing, after Claim 1 or Claim 2 , characterized in that the housing provides the possibility of accommodating a fan which conveys ambient air through the interior of the housing. Housing, after Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized in that min. an air inlet opening opposite or diagonally to the min. an air outlet opening is arranged in the edge region of the upper part and in the housing, the air flow is first passed through temperature-dependent sensors. Housing, after Claim 1 , characterized in that the lower housing part is designed as a plate with mounting holes for commercially available flush-mounted boxes, which contains the pot-like bulge centered. Housing, after Claim 1 , characterized in that the housing has at least one opening in the upper part, which is suitable for receiving a camera, light sensor, infrared temperature sensor or motion detector. Housing, after Claim 1 , characterized in that the housing is formed so that it allows without modification, the retrofitting of a camera module in a custom-fit shape in the upper housing part without having to remove a light sensor installed in the same area. Housing, after Claim 1 , characterized in that the housing part is formed in the flush area for receiving a modular power supply with an electrical connector to the rest of the controller and which has at least one actuator for controlling an external device. Housing, after Claim 1 , characterized in that the housing has cutouts, which allow the disassembly of the device in the installed state. The cut-outs are designed so that they can be used to release the snap-fit connections inside the housing.

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