EP2702472B1 - User interface element for a lighting system - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a control element, which has a touch screen with a display surface, wherein the control element is adapted to put a lighting system in an on state, in an idle state and also in at least one other state, wherein the lighting system in each of the states gives off different light. Moreover, the invention relates to a building with such a control element.

From the prior art, such an operating element is known in which different symbols can be displayed on the display surface of the touch screen and the lighting system can be put into a specific state by touching the symbols or applying pressure to the symbols with one finger. On the display surface, many different icons or menus can be displayed, with the help of the lighting system can be placed in many different states, so that the lighting system can be influenced in detail so to speak and adapted to individual needs.

The lighting system in question is usually not easy to set for persons who are unfamiliar with the control, as desired. In practice, it has been found that attempts are made to cause a desired state of the lighting system by trying different sequences of corresponding touches of the display surface, which is usually time-consuming and perceived as non-motivating. Also, it may happen that a use of the operating element is even avoided, in the concern to bring about damage to the lighting system or to cause incorrect operation. However, there is usually the desire that such a control element can be operated by appropriately inexperienced persons comparatively simple and effective.

From the US 2009/0315485 A1 a control computer for controlling a lighting system is known, which has a touch screen display with a display surface. On the display surface different control surfaces can be displayed, with the help of the lighting system can be set in different states.

Other controls with touchscreen displays are from the fonts US 2011/0080155 A1 . EP 2 290 514 A2 and EP 2 105 827 A2 known.

The item " Touchscreen Toggle Design "by Catherine Plaisant and Daniel Wallace from 1992 addresses difficulties encountered when operating toggle switches displayed on a touch screen.

The invention has for its object to provide a corresponding control, the operability is facilitated, especially for people who are not familiar with the control.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the object specified in the independent claim. Particular embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a control element is provided, which is designed to put a lighting system in an on state, in an idle state and also in at least one other state, wherein the lighting system emits a different light in each of the states. The operating element has a touchscreen with a display surface which is designed to display an image of a switching and / or regulating element on the display surface, wherein the operating element is configured in such a way that the lighting system is put into the switched-on state by first touching the display surface can be moved and by a second touch of the display surface, the lighting system in the idle state.

In the basic state, therefore, the image of a conventional simple light switch or dimmer can be displayed on the control, which gives the impression of a particularly simple operation. For a person who is unfamiliar with the control, the inhibition threshold for use is reduced in this way, so that overall the acceptance of the control element is increased.

Preferably, the first touch is a press on a first portion of the image and the second touch is a press on a second portion of the image. Depending on the switching state of the system, the pressing is preferably carried out on the area on the illustrated switching or control element, which causes a change in lighting due to everyday experience in pressure application in the case of a corresponding, actually existing element, also triggered a corresponding change in lighting becomes. This allows the operator to achieve a quick "sense of achievement" in the operation, whereby the acceptance of the control element is further increased.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a further area is provided on the display area outside the first area and outside the second area, wherein the operating element is designed in such a way that the lighting installation can be put into the at least one further state by touching the further area. The wider area is preferably an area that does not trigger a switching operation due to the everyday experience in the case of a corresponding actual element. In this way, the following can be realized: By pressing or touching areas (possibly correspondingly marked) which, due to the everyday experience, do not initiate switching operations, the operating element is put into a state in which it is suitable for appropriately trained (or courageous) users can control at least one other switching state of the lighting system and can change setting details of the system. In this way, it is thus possible in particular for persons familiar with the operating element to control the lighting system in more detail.

Advantageously, the further region is arranged between the first region and the second region and / or in a corner region of the display surface. In particular, the operating element can be designed in such a way that by touching the further area on the display surface, a menu is displayed with the aid of which the lighting system can be put into the at least one further state. Furthermore, the design is such that the pressing on the first area and the pressing on the second area each require a higher pressure than a further pressing, which serves the operation of the menu.

Preferably, the image of the usual switching element is so large that it occupies at least 30%, preferably at least 50% of the display area. In this way, a possible inhibition threshold with respect to operation of the operating element can be further reduced.

The impression of a particularly simple operating option can be further increased if the image - as provided according to the invention - represents a toggle switch with a gripping surface; Preferably, in this case, the first area and the second area are located within the gripping area.

Further preferably, the image represents the toggle switch in a first tilt position, wherein the touch screen is further configured to display on the display surface also another image of the toggle switch, which shows this in a second tilt position, wherein the control element is designed such that by touching the first area causes a change in the display of the toggle switch on the display area from the first image to the second image. In this way, a particularly high degree of agreement can be achieved compared to a corresponding operation of an actual toggle switch. This also increases the acceptance of the operating element.

This effect can be exacerbated by the display surface is arranged movable relative to a base element of the control element and further triggered by the first touch and / or the second touch movement of the display surface relative to the base member. The movement is preferably a tilting movement or a vibration.

Preferably, it can be additionally provided that the image also represents a dimming slider, which is preferably shown laterally of the toggle switch, wherein the operating element is configured such that the brightness of a light generated by the lighting system by a vertical or horizontal wiping movement over the display surface is changed. In this case, the design is preferably such that the brightness increases due to a wiping movement to the right and / or above and the brightness decreases due to a wiping movement to the left and / or below.

The image may also be the image of a rotary knob and / or a slider, wherein the operating element is designed in such a way that a first wiping movement over the display surface can cause a light generated by the lighting system to become brighter and by a light second swipe across the display area, which darkens the light.

Preferably, the touch screen is further designed to display on the display surface at the same time several toggle switches side by side or a multi-tip switch, as they are preferably sold as standard electrical material.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a building having an operating element according to any one of the preceding claims, and a switching or regulating element for switching or regulating an electrical system, wherein the image of the switching or regulating element shown on the display surface the design, in particular form and color of the first-mentioned switching or control element is used. This can further reduce the inhibition threshold.

Fig. 1a

eine Skizze einer Darstellung eines Kippschalters auf einer Anzeigefläche eines Touchscreens eines erfindungsgemäßen Bedienelements,

Fig. 1b

eine der Fig. 1 entsprechende Skizze, wobei sich der Kippschalter in der entsprechend anderen Kippstellung befindet und

Fig. 2

eine entsprechende Skizze im Fall eines Drehknopfs.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment and with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1a

a sketch of a representation of a toggle switch on a display surface of a touch screen of a control element according to the invention,

Fig. 1b

one of the Fig. 1 corresponding sketch, wherein the toggle switch is in the corresponding other tilted position and

Fig. 2

a corresponding sketch in the case of a rotary knob.

In Fig. 1a a sketch of a display surface 2 of a touch screen of a control element according to the invention is shown. The operating element is designed in a manner known per se to put a lighting system (not shown in the figures) in an on state, in an idle state and also in at least one further state, wherein the lighting system emits a different light in each of the states , For example, the embodiment may be such that the lighting system can be dimmed with the control element and / or that the lighting system has a plurality of different lights that can be controlled individually with the control element, that differently colored light can be generated, etc

As in Fig. 1a Furthermore, as an example, the touchscreen is designed to display on the display surface 2 an image 4 of a switching and / or regulating element, for example - as shown by way of example - an image 4 of a toggle switch. In particular, the design may be such that the image 4 is displayed in "normal operation" or standby mode of the operating element; For example, it can thus be provided that following any contact of the display surface 2 after a certain predetermined period of time, for example one minute, the image 4 is automatically displayed on the display surface 2 and the operating element returns to the corresponding mode located.

The operating element is designed in such a way that the lighting system can be put into the switched-on state by a first touch of the display surface 2 and the lighting system can be put into the idle state, for example, into the "off" state by a second touch of the display surface 2. However, as a rest state can also be provided that a certain basic lighting is turned on, which is noticeably darker than the lighting in the on state, the basic lighting, for example, only for basic lighting certain spatial areas, while a room is fully lit in the on state.

Preferably, the first touch is a pressing on a first region 6 of the image 4 and the second touching a pressing on a second region 8 of the image 4. Advantageously, the second region 8 is not overlapping with the first region 6.

Further advantageous is on the display surface 2 outside the first area 6 and outside the second area 8, a further area 10 given, which may be characterized by a small icon, for example, the word "menu", wherein the control element is designed such that over a touching of the further area 10, the lighting system can be placed in the at least one further state. In particular, it can be provided that by touching or pressing the further area 10, a menu surface appears on the display surface 2, which allows a suitably instructed person, the lighting system in the to set at least one further state, that is, in particular to control it in detail in a variety of ways, for example to regulate individual luminaires of the lighting system individually, etc

In this case, the further area 10 is preferably arranged between the first area 6 and the second area 8 and / or in a corner area of the display area 2. Advantageously, the operating element is designed such that pressing on the first area 6 and pressing on the second area 8 each requires a higher pressure than another press to operate with the menu. In this way, the control can be designed so that its operation is particularly close to an operation of a corresponding, actual switching or control element.

A particularly low inhibition threshold for operating the operating element can be promoted by the fact that the image 4 is chosen to be so large that it occupies at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, of the display surface 2. Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that in the representation of the image 4 only the image 4 is shown, that is, no symbol is displayed on the display surface 2 outside the area occupied by the representation of the switching or control element.

As in Fig. 1a As shown by way of example, the image 4 may represent a toggle switch with a gripping surface 12, wherein the first region 6 and the second region 8 are located within the gripping surface 12. In the example shown, the representation of the toggle switch is such that the image 4 reveals that the toggle switch can be tilted about a horizontal axis A and the first region 6 is arranged above the axis A and the second region 8 below the axis A. A user is intuitively taught at what point a touch of the display surface for activating or deactivating the lighting system is provided.

As mentioned, it is altogether advantageous to choose the design in such a way that the operation of the operating element comes as close as possible to the operation of a corresponding actual switching or regulating element. For this purpose, for example, it can further be provided that the image 4 represents the toggle switch in a first tilting position or end position and the touchscreen is furthermore designed to be mounted on the Display area 2 - as in Fig. 1b sketched by way of example - to represent another image 4 'of the toggle switch, which shows him in a second or in the other tilt position or end position and while the control is designed such that by touching the first area 6, a change in the representation of the toggle switch on the display surface 2 is triggered from the first image 4 to the second image 4 '.

It is likewise expediently expedient for the operating element to be configured in such a way that the display surface 2 is arranged so as to be movable relative to a base element of the operating element and, furthermore, a movement of the display surface 2 relative to the base element is triggered by the first touching and / or the second touching. For example, the movement may be a tilting movement or a short vibration. This makes it possible to achieve a corresponding haptic detectable feedback by the operator. The operation becomes thereby particularly simple and pleasant. Alternatively or additionally, in this case an acoustic feedback may be provided, for example in the form of a clicking sound or the like.

According to an extended variant can be provided that the image also represents a dimming slider, which is preferably shown laterally of the toggle switch, wherein the control element is configured such that by a vertical or horizontal wiping movement on the display surface 2, the brightness of one of the Lighting system is changed, preferably as in a normal dimmer of the case. Preferably, the design is such that the brightness increases by a wiping movement to the right and / or above and the brightness decreases by a wiping movement to the left and / or below. This corresponds to the usual operation with corresponding conventional dimming slides.

In a variant, the corresponding representation of two or more juxtaposed tilt switches may be provided, but the number should be kept low overall to ensure the simple basic operation.

The representation of the switching or control element can advantageously be chosen so that the appearance corresponds to that of corresponding actual switching or control elements within the building in question. It can therefore be chosen a representation that is selected analogous to the relevant switch program.

As in Fig. 2 sketched, may - as an alternative to the case of the toggle switch - the image represent a knob and / (not shown in the figures) slider, wherein the control element is designed such that can be effected by a first wiping movement on the display surface 2, that a light generated by the lighting system is brighter and by a second wiping movement over the display surface 2, the light is darker.

Overall, can be caused by the control element according to the invention that a "blind" operation is made possible, whereby the acceptance is generally increased in not familiar with the plant people.

Claims (12)

1. An operating element, which is designed to transfer a lighting system into a switched-on state, into an idle state, and also into at least one further state, wherein the lighting system outputs a different light in each of the different states, having a touch screen with a display area (2),
   wherein
   the touch screen is designed to display an image (4) of a switching and/or control element on the display area (2),
   wherein the operating element is designed in such a way that the lighting system can be transferred into the switched-on state by means of a first touch of the display area (2) and the lighting system can be transferred into the idle state by means of a second touch of the display area (2),
   wherein the first touch is a pressing on a first area (6) of the image (4) and the second touch is a pressing on a second area (8) of the image (4),
   characterized in that
   the image (4) displays a toggle switch with a gripping surface (12) and the first area (6) and the second area (8) are localized within the gripping surface (12),
   wherein the design is such that the image (4) is automatically displayed after a predetermined period of time on the display area (2) following a touching of the display area (2),
   wherein a further area (10) is provided on the display area (2) outside of the first area (6) and outside of the second area (8), wherein the operating element is designed in such a manner that the lighting system can be transferred into the at least one further state by means of a touch of the further area (10).
2. An operating element according to Claim 1,
   in which the further area (10) is arranged between the first area (6) and the second area (8) and/or in a corner area of the display area (2).
3. An operating element according to Claim 1 or 2,
   in which the operating element is designed in such a manner that by the touch of the further area on the display area (2) a menu is displayed, by means of which the lighting system can be transferred into the at least one further state.
4. An operating element according to Claim 3,
   in which the pressing on the first area (6) and the pressing on the second area (8) in each case requires a higher pressure than a further pressing, which is used for operating the menu.
5. An operating element according to any one of the preceding claims,
   in which the image (4) is so large that it occupies at least 30%, preferably at least 50% of the display area (2).
6. An operating element according to any one of the preceding claims,
   in which the image (4) displays a toggle switch in a first tilted position and the touch screen is furthermore designed to display on the display area (2) a further image (4') of the toggle switch, which shows it in a second tilted position,
   wherein the operating element is designed in such a manner that by the touch of the first area (6) a change is triggered in the display of the toggle switch on the display area (2) from the first image (4) to the second image (4').
7. An operating element according to Claim 6,
   which is designed in such a manner that the display area (2) is arranged movably relative to a base element of the operating element and furthermore a movement of the display area (2) relative to the base element is triggered by the first touch and/or the second touch.
8. An operating element according to Claim 7,
   in which the movement is a tilting movement or a vibration.
9. An operating element according to any one of the preceding claims,
   in which the image also displays a dimming slide, which is preferably displayed laterally from the image of the toggle switch, wherein the operating element is designed in such a manner that the brightness of a light generated by the lighting system is changed by a vertical or horizontal wiping movement over the display area (2).
10. An operating element according to Claim 9,
    in which the brightness increases as a result of a wiping movement to the right and/or upwards and the brightness decreases as a result of a wiping movement to the left and/or downwards.
11. An operating element according to any one of the preceding claims,
    in which the touch screen is furthermore designed to display several toggle switches side by side or a multiple toggle switch at the same time on the display area (2), as said toggle switches are preferably also sold as standard electrical material.
12. A building, having
    an operating element according to any one of the preceding claims, as well as a switching or control element for the switching or control of an electrical system,
    wherein the design for the image (4) of the switching or control element displayed on the display area (2), in particular the shape and color, of the first-mentioned switching or control element is used for the switching or control of the electrical system.

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