EP3908889A1

EP3908889A1 - Universal multifunctional device

Info

Publication number: EP3908889A1
Application number: EP19832159.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lutz HARDER
Original assignee: Shpi GmbH
Current assignee: Shpi GmbH
Priority date: 2019-01-11
Filing date: 2019-12-30
Publication date: 2021-11-17
Also published as: WO2020144081A1; US20210372645A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a universal decentralized building automation device, also known as a smart home device, and to a method for implementing a decentralized building automation network. The devices according to the invention are used to control devices and building technology in the context of building automation. The device according to the invention has a housing and a display and comprises the components of at least one sensor, at least one actuator, and at least one computing unit, wherein the components are arranged in the housing and are thus combined in one device, and the device is functional without connecting to a central gateway or network device. The device is designed to be assembled in a flush-mounted socket or as a replacement device for a wall thermostat and has a power supply unit or a voltage converter.

Description

Universal multifunction device

Universal device for building automation applications and method for implementing a decentralized building automation network,

The invention relates to a universal decentralized building automation device, also called a “smart home device”, and to a method for realizing a decentralized building automation network. The devices according to the invention are used to control devices and house technology in the context of building automation.

The current state of the art knows various building automation applications, such as networked devices for light control, heating, ventilation and air conditioning system control, networked measuring devices for recording consumption values (water, electricity, heat, gas, etc.), intelligent household appliances (TV, speakers, washing machines, etc .) and sensors for recording environmental values (temperature, brightness, air quality, air pressure, presence detection).

In order to achieve common building automation solutions (heating, lighting control, monitoring tasks), a large number of different devices (servers, sensors, actuators) are used in the current state of the art.

Networking via radio or cable, the power supply using cables or batteries and the maintenance of many individual devices is complex and expensive.

A greater spread of building automation systems is countered by the high total costs and maintenance overhead. The installation effort for a complete

Building automation systems are therefore often not worthwhile for smaller residential units.

Building automation systems that are built over a larger area or across several floors have system-related restrictions in terms of range, since all devices communicate via a central gateway or server and the distances are too great for some transmission standards. Battery-operated devices in particular often use extremely economical radio standards (e.g. Bluetooth LE) with a very limited range and the resulting connection problems even in single-family homes.

The known control devices or servers are usually housed in control cabinets or set-up devices, which are then connected to sensors, switches or actuators.

Many radio sensors are powered by batteries or accumulators in order to reduce installation work. Conversely, this means higher maintenance costs in the long term.

Sensors and switches are also installed in standard flush-mounted boxes or the devices are designed for wall mounting.

In Europe, flush-mounted boxes typically have an inner diameter of 60 mm and a depth of at least 40 mm.

As of 2018, 80 - 90% of the 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 voltage) and optional data lines. Individual room control of heating systems is mandatory in many EC countries in building law.

The known control units already solve a multitude of different automation tasks, such as lighting and heating controls, but they either do not fit into one commercially available flush-mounted box and you need additional external devices (servers, sensors, actuators).

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

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

Another major problem in the current state of the art is a higher probability of failure compared to conventional control technology and safety concerns on the part of the end user.

The object of the invention is to reduce known disadvantages of the prior art and to reduce the costs.

The object is achieved with the features of claims 1 and 15. Appropriate embodiments of the invention are contained in the subclaims.

A particular advantage of the invention resides in the universal character of the multifunction device for realizing building automation applications, the device having a housing and a display and comprising the following components:

at least one sensor, at least one actuator, at least one computing unit, at least one fan, at least one loudspeaker and at least one microphone, the components being arranged in the housing and thus being combined in one device and the device functioning without a connection to a central gateway or network device is. The building automation applications can be of a different nature to one another. This means that heating / air conditioning control, for example with lighting control, smart metering functions or intercom can be combined in one device. All smart home stand-alone devices currently on the market are typically specialized in a control task (e.g. Smart Home Thermostat).

The invention is a control device which aims to implement all typical automation applications that recur in different rooms with a single device, without external sensors, user interfaces, gateways, actuators, servers or control units.

Recurring automation applications include:

- Individual room control of heating, ventilation,

Climate control tasks

- light control

- Roller shutter control

- Ambient lighting control

- Presence detection, indoor positioning system

- presence pretense (burglary protection)

- Surveillance (surveillance system with integrated camera and display of external cameras)

- Noise detection / speech detection

- Smart metering, power measurement of connected consumers or electricity consumption of the room

- Security (alarm system, fire detectors, gas detectors,

Moisture detector, window / door evaluation)

- Optical and acoustic reporting system

- Recording of sensor data for statistics, evaluation and

Evidence

- Interactive display for entertainment purposes (digital

Picture Frame)

- Status display

- internal communication, communication with outside (door / bell, intercom system)

However, the device according to the invention does not specify the area of application, but is designed in such a way that - individual

Automation applications for retrofitting

Have expansion modules solved.

For this purpose, the device is designed to accommodate

Extension modules, which are placed on the main board and can be screwed through the main board to the housing, whereby the electrical contact is made via spring pin contacts, which are sunk in the main board (spring pins are in a TH hole and the solder collar is not on the Side of the expansion module, this makes a contact point possible, which has no overall height.). The expansion modules have gold contact surfaces or conventional THT holes (through-hole technology) at the contact point. Examples of expansion modules:

Modules for special radio standards: ZigBee, Zwave, Enocean, LTE, 5G, HomeMatic

Sensor modules for voltage monitoring

Multi-channel gas sensors (e.g. MICS6814)

Connection modules for special wired networks, e.g.

KNX

Furthermore, the device should be universally applicable. The computing units can be programmed individually, so that any

Sensor values, external data or user inputs, any actions can be carried out.

The typical recurring automation tasks require sensors, switches and actuators, which in the state of the art require several individual devices per room.

To reduce the installation effort of a smart home system, the necessary sensors,

Processing units (processors), power supply, I / O devices for

User interaction, interfaces and actuators (relays, dimmers, Thyristo controller, triac or similar), which together can form a completely separate universal smart home system, integrated in one housing.

The multifunction device according to the invention is further characterized in that the sensors are designed for

Temperature measurement and / or humidity measurement and / or

Air pressure measurement and / or air quality measurement and / or

Motion detection and / or as a video camera and the actuators directly control electrical consumers and are designed as relays and / or dimmers and / or thyristors and / or triac and / or actuators.

The device is fully functional without an external gateway or server.

Even if occasionally more sensors are necessary (e.g.

Outside temperature sensor, gas consumption measurement), the installation effort of the overall building automation system with the device according to the invention is greatly reduced. This reduces installation costs significantly, especially in small apartments and houses such as single-family and two-family houses. Extensive control tasks can be solved with a single device.

The device according to the invention is distinguished by the fact that it is designed as a drop-in replacement for a wall thermostat (used in the context of single-cell control).

The position is predestined for other spatial ones

Control tasks such as air conditioning control, roller shutter control or light control. At the same time, the device is with a

Touch-sensitive display equipped to show current status and record user input.

The device according to the invention can also be built into the socket of a commercially available flush-mounted switch, socket or the like.

to be built in. It consists of at least two parts, with a pot-shaped bulge being formed on the underside of the housing and this being firmly connected to a commercially available flush-mounted box, the housing having at least one ventilation opening or sensor opening in the edge area, and having at least one opening in the upper part which are used to record a touch-sensitive

Displays is formed.

The device according to the invention is capable of any electrical

Consumers, as well as network-capable "smart" consumers

head for. For this purpose, there are actuators (relays, dimmers, thyristors, etc.) in the device for controlling heating actuators,

Motors, lamps, fans etc., interfaces (KNX, CAN bus, RS485,

TTL, WLan, Bluetooth, proprietary 433/868 / 915Mhz radio modules) for controlling "smart" devices, actuators, switches, sensors or household appliances and conventional control outputs (analog output, PWM output, digital output).

The multifunction device also has a storage unit for recording the sensor data and storing decentralized control tasks and / or acoustic and optical signal transmitters or warning devices and / or radio modules for communication and / or wired interfaces (KNX, CAN, RS485, TTL) and / or a fan, preferably designed as a speed-controlled blower, primarily for thermal decoupling of the integrated sensors and cooling of the device.

The device according to the invention takes a decentralized approach. As far as possible, it carries out the local control tasks in the decentralized, typically "room-wise" subnetwork. It serves as a local server or gateway for "smart" devices in the "near" environment and is geared towards linking to similar devices according to the invention in other areas / rooms, for example to solve cross-room automation tasks. This increases the susceptibility of the automation tasks to recurring in each room reduced, since each room or section forms its own independent "smart home subnetwork" and if one fails

Subnetwork other subnetworks are not affected.

A combination of all decentralized devices according to the invention on one server is possible and desired. It is conceivable e.g. a

Communication module in the operating system of the invention

Device that communicates separately with a central server (e.g. KNX, Openhab, FHEM server). The “central server” can also be a device according to the invention, since this has the necessary

Components. If the declared "main server" fails, technically known fail-over solutions can be implemented.

By compressing many network components in the

The device according to the invention reduces the total network load (bus load) and “radio load”, which improves the overall stability of the smart home network.

The devices according to the invention can be connected to one another via various radio and wired interfaces (WiFi, Bluetooth, CAN bus, KNX bus, RS485, TTL / serial, proprietary radio connection on 433/868 / 915Mhz). Range problems can be avoided, since each device according to the invention extends the range of the

Overall system increased (repeater function).

The connection to the outside world (Internet, absent user) can also be established via the integrated W-LAN interface. If no local internet access is available, one can

Further development of the device via a GSM / 2G / 3G / LTE radio module to establish a direct connection to the Internet or end users.

To improve the recording of environmental data, such as temperature, humidity or air quality, the device has a fan designed as an active, speed-controlled, integrated fan, which each can supply the integrated sensors with a different amount of fresh ambient air according to the requirement profile. This causes the sensors to react. eg gas sensors, faster on changes in the environment and a better thermal decoupling of the sensors to integrated components with self-heating is achieved (processor, gas sensors with heating, power supply). At least one valve can be integrated in a spatially separated area within the housing, which is controlled actively or under pressure. The spatially separated area has a connection to the ambient air, the valve opening in the direction of the rest of the interior of the housing (or a region thereof) and thus enabling a transfer of the ambient air across the separated space into the remaining part of the interior of the housing.

The main concerns of customers against the use of building automation technology are reliability and computer security, in the sense of protection against external attacks on the system.

To increase computer security or as protection against hacker attacks, the device according to the invention relies on open source software. Vulnerabilities and errors in open source software are discovered faster than in proprietary variants. By using open source software, the device can also be more quickly integrated into individual automation applications.

At the same time, the device is able to integrate into many existing, also proprietary systems for which free software modules exist (e.g. Homematic, Somfy, etc.)

The other advantages of using open source software will not be discussed here. To increase the technical reliability, the control unit in the device according to the invention is in a

Main processor and at least one other secondary

Split computing unit.

The main processing unit is characterized by the fact that it uses a multi-tasking operating system, has significantly more computing power than a secondary processing unit and can provide more complex functions (graphical user interface, web server, evaluation of the data from the camera module, etc.).

The secondary arithmetic unit is characterized by the fact that elementary control tasks can be outsourced to it and can also take over on its own when the main unit is out of operation. Elementary control tasks refer to tasks that can occur locally and can be solved with the integrated sensors and actuators, e.g. Individual room temperature control, light switch, CO alarm.

8-, 16- and 32-bit microcontrollers are suitable as secondary units, which have a non-volatile memory for storing program code and data e.g. AVR microcontroller: Atmega32u4, AT90USB * AT XMEGA or 32-bit ATSAMD microcontroller.

The secondary units are connected to the main processing unit via an internal network (e.g. I2C, USB, SPI etc.). The sensors can be queried by all computing units via the bus system.

The main processing unit has sovereignty over the secondary units and is able to change the program code of the secondary processing units during operation. The secondary processing units can thus be adapted to all current conditions and control tasks. A higher overall stability can be achieved by using two separate systems in the device. The computing units can monitor one another and, in the event of a failure, warn the end user or try to restore an operational state, for example by triggering a reset. For this purpose, the reset pins of the built-in processing units are each connected to a GPIO pin of the other processing unit.

The integrated computing units are interconnected in such a way that they monitor each other and, in the event of a failure of one computing unit, another computing unit is able independently to warn the user acoustically, optically or via network about the failure. Programs that complement the main processor can run on secondary programmable computing units. The integrated secondary processing units can be reprogrammed by the main processing unit during operation.

A separate power supply for the separate computing units can also be implemented in the device. The secondary processing units have a much lower power consumption than the main processing unit and can be e.g. supply separately by a capacitor power supply.

The device according to the invention is modular and has a flexible range of functions. For example, in rooms with increased need for privacy camera modules and microphones undesirable. The device can be adapted to these different needs.

The device according to the invention also allows variable equipping with different radio modules, so that the device can be made specifically compatible for certain radio systems (including proprietary radio systems). The device consists of a flush-mounted part and a surface-mounted part, both components being electrically connected via a pin header and mechanically via a plastic snap connection.

A power supply unit, the switch actuators and at least one current measuring device are integrated in the flush-mounted area of the device. The flush-mounted area also provides an interface to supply, data and control lines.

Direct switching actuators are e.g. relays, trailing edge dimmers, leading edge dimmers and thyristor controllers.

The device can optionally be equipped with various flush-mounted components. Depending on the application, different actuators can be installed to control connected devices.

The housing can be shaped in such a way that, without modification, it is possible to retrofit a camera module into a precisely fitting shape in the upper part of the housing without having to remove a light sensor installed in the same area.

Furthermore, the housing in the flush-mounted area can be shaped to accommodate a modular power supply unit with an electrical plug connection to the rest of the control unit. The device is equipped with a current sensor for recording own consumption and / or current consumption of at least one connected consumer.

In the flush-mounted area, the device is also equipped with an LSA insulation displacement terminal for receiving data lines and / or with a thermally protected varistor to protect itself and consumers connected to the actuators against overvoltage.

The invention can therefore also be used in typical AC environments (110v - 240v 50 / 60Hz) and

Use DC environments (island systems, 24V heating, cars, boats 6v - 80v, off-grid environments) by selecting the appropriate power supply. At the same time, the separate concealed area also enables adaptation to the required smart metering tasks.

Typically, AC power supply lines are laid in the ring in rooms.

The current measuring device can therefore be used as a measuring device for the total current consumption of the “ring” or for measuring a device connected to an actuator.

The cleaning unit consists for example of:

- a touch sensitive display

- the sensors for recording all space-dependent environmental values:

Light (brightness), temperature sensor, air pressure, humidity, motion detector, IR sensors, gas sensors, (video) camera, microphone

- a main processor with an open source operating system

- At least one further secondary computing unit without an operating system, typically 8-32 bit microcontrollers

- A storage unit for recording sensor data and storing the central control tasks

- acoustic and visual signaling devices / warning devices

- Radio modules for communication

- Wired interfaces (KNX, CAN, RS485, TTL)

- Speed-controlled fan, primarily for thermal decoupling of the integrated sensors and cooling of the device

Another advantage and part of the device according to the invention is a data output for connecting serially connected, color and brightness controllable, multi-color lamps. The connected

Illuminants in the "string" can take on different colors and brightness. This can be used in different areas of a room

create different color moods and lighting intensities.

The number of connected lamps is variable, so that rooms of different sizes can be illuminated. Typical light sources are RGB light emitting diodes. In combination with the camera installed in the device, e.g. analyze the image of a TV set in the room and adapt the color mood of the room to it.

Another advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention is the integration of an infrared sensor (IR thermopile), hereinafter referred to as IRS, which is integrated and aligned in the upper housing part in order to be able to detect the heat radiation in the center of the room. The measurement of the IR radiation in the room promises advantages to better determine the temperature “felt by people in the room” and to be able to regulate the heating more precisely as required.

The multifunction device is equipped with one to the room

Aligned infrared sensor for temperature detection with the aim of removing a presence in the room detected by the motion detector via the measured temperature of the infrared sensor

to be approximately determined, the infrared sensor being arranged such that it measures horizontally or almost horizontally into the space in front of the device.

In combination with the integrated motion detector, this also allows a person's approach to the device according to the invention to be predicted.

The determined temperature difference between the internal temperature sensors and the infrared sensor provides information about the approach of a body that is warmer than the room because the infrared sensor is stronger due to the

Approach is affected. When a person approaches the device, the

Heat radiation from the person continuously increases the infrared sensor IRS. The IRS infrared sensor can optionally also be a thermal imager.

The approximation of an approximation enables the device to prepare for future user inputs, e.g.

Controls are shown on the display screen, which are otherwise hidden in order to display room data more clearly.

The method according to the invention for realizing a decentralized building automation network, also known as a smart home network, is based on several spatially distributed "decentralized" devices, each decentralized device serving as a connection interface for "close" other network-compatible smart home devices, sensors or Actuators acts and thus spans its own decentralized network, the various decentralized devices forming their own higher-level network, but still remain functional individually.

The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments shown at least in part in the figures.

Show it:

Figure 1, view of the front of the device

Figure 2, view of the entire device with hidden board and

Display to show the air flow in the housing

Figure 2.2, view of the entire device with raised upper shell, for

Representation of the air flow in the housing

Figure 3, exploded view of the device

Figure 4, representation of the device in the room in typical

Installation positions Figure 5, diagram of the overview of functions / network

Figure 6, representation of room temperature detection via infrared sensor

FIG. 7, representation of a range finder for users of the

Device with the help of the motion detector and infrared sensor

Figure 8, representation of serially arranged multicolored

Ambient lighting, connected to the device

Figure 9, front view of the housing

Figure 10, perspective view of the upper housing part from below

Figure 11, side view of the entire housing from above

Figure 12, side view of the entire housing from below

Figure 13, side view of the entire housing from the left

Figure 14, side view of the entire housing from the right

Figure 15, detailed view of the housing area for receiving the

Camera module

Figure 16, example training valve of the internal sensor area

Figure 17, example training valve from a bird's eye view

Figure 18, expansion module holder in the housing

1 shows a version of the device according to the invention. A full-surface touchscreen is embedded in the front of the housing. 1a, 1b, 1c and 1g are horizontally arranged in the housing Sensors that are aligned with the area in front of the device. It is a light sensor / camera, infrared sensor / thermal imaging camera IRS and motion detector.

1h forms the air inlet openings. The openings are arranged diagonally and allow air to flow through the sensor area, even when the valve is closed. Sensors are arranged near the air inlet opening.

1k position for air outlet opening with blower behind it 1d touchscreen in housing color (touch glass painted on the back)

1e transparent touchscreen area for graphic display

1i is an external USB port on the device

1m position of the slot for data card and combined opening for reset switch and microphone

1f opening in the front glass for speakers

1j position for backlit logo

FIG. 2 shows the airflow 2e in the device, the airflow being formed between the main circuit board and the lower housing part. When fan 2a is activated, the device sucks in ambient air from areas 2c and 2d and expels it at 2e. The sensor area is separated from the rest of the control unit by the partition 2g formed in the lower part. The valve 2b opens due to the resulting negative pressure with the fan 2a activated. A foil 2e separates the power supply from the upper part almost airtight. The screw openings, for example marked 2e and 2g, are closed delivered and only the required openings are opened by the installer to keep the vacuum loss low.

The upper shell is shown raised in FIG. 2.2. 2.2a shows the insulated partition between the sensor area and the rest of the device. The partition is hollow for better insulation (see Figure 10, position 10h).

2.2b valve membrane

2.2e blower

2.2d ventilation openings below

2.2c side ventilation openings

FIG. 3 shows the device according to the invention in an exploded view.

3a shows the touchscreen glass surface

3b shows the opening for the infrared thermal sensor in the glass

3c shows the opening for loudspeakers

3d shows the opening for motion detectors

3e shows the recess for the light sensor

3f shows the speed-adjustable fan

3g shows the infrared sensor

3h shows the RGB-Led with light guide filter for logo in front glass

3i shows the motion detector with a plastic lens

3j shows the recess in the plastic for camera lens

3k shows the recess in the board for camera lens

3m shows the power supply board with spring contacts

3n shows the circuit board for LSA terminal with connection cable (cable not shown)

3o shows the insulation film for electrical insulation and air sealing to the upper part

3p shows the side air outlet

3q shows the opening for reset switch and microphone

3r shows the opening for micro SD card 4 shows the device according to the invention in typical installation positions 4a and 4b.

FIG. 5 contains a schematic overview of the functions and connections of the device according to the invention in its application environment.

5a shows the device according to the invention, a main computing unit and secondary computing unit are shown as examples

5k shows the external power supply: AC voltage or DC voltage

5b is a representation of the sensors integrated in the device itself. So motion, temperature, gas, humidity, air pressure sensors, as well as optional microphone and camera are accommodated in the device. Presence detection or relative position determination is also possible via an integrated radio module, which e.g. detected the signal level of a cell phone.

5o represents external sensors without their own processing logic

5p shows "smart" sensors which enable communication in both directions

5m represents external switches or contacts (window contact, door contact, typically reed contact), without their own processing logic

5n represents "smart" switches with optional integrated actuators

5c shows actuators integrated in the device according to the invention (signal LED, loudspeaker, piezo speaker) 5d shows typical electrical consumers that can be controlled directly with the actuators integrated in the device according to the invention

5e shows a power measurement module integrated in the device according to the invention, for recording consumption

5f shows the connection to an external camera. The connection can be bidirectional if the camera has a speaker and microphone

5g shows the surveillance and intrusion detection separately. Interactions (warning announcements) with detected intruders are conceivable

5h represents the connection to "smart" household appliances. These devices may also provide sensor values (example: washing machine report "laundry done")

5i shows possible interaction options of a user with the device. Touch inputs, voice inputs and communication with third parties via the device according to the invention are shown

5j is intended to represent the internal gateway, server and processing functions. Each device according to the invention can record, process, evaluate and make it available via the network.

5r represents an optional external server, via which the functions of the devices according to the invention can be managed centrally, e.g. integration into a KNX, OpenHAB or FHEM server

The connection arrows between 5a and further devices 5s and 5t according to the invention illustrate the flexible network topology. So the devices can optionally log into a central radio network, however also connect with each other, act as a repeater and achieve range advantages.

5q represents available interfaces of the device: close radio interfaces (WLAN, Bluetooth ...), long-range radio connection (2G, 3G, 4G - EDGE / UMTS / LTE) and wired systems (LAN, RS485, CAN ...)

FIG. 6 shows the device according to the invention in a typical installation position 6a. The rays 6b represent the detection area of the integrated infrared sensor IRS.

FIG. 7 compares the detection area of the motion detector 7b and the detection area of the infrared sensor IRS for temperature detection 7d. A person outside the detection range of the infrared sensor IRS 7c does not influence the determined temperature value of the infrared sensor IRS. A person 7a continually influences the sensor IRS more strongly when approaching the device 7e according to the invention. The determined temperature value approaches the radiation temperature of the person 7a.

The system only works under normal frame controls. If the room temperature is too high, the measurable temperature difference is reduced so that the system cannot detect any approach.

FIG. 8 shows the device 8a according to the invention with an exemplary ambient lighting 8c in the ceiling and floor area. The device is connected to the ambient lighting 8c via flush-mounted lines 8b. The device according to the invention can control the brightness and color of each individual lamp (point in lines 8c) separately via the data line. This allows, for example, a different lighting situation to be created near the bed than near the entrance door. 8d indicates an optional additional Flush-mounted power supply if the required power is higher than the capacity of the integrated power supply of the device according to the invention.

There is a space problem for a universal smart home system that can be built into a flush-mounted box because on the one hand there must be enough space in the lower area of the box for the connection of supply lines and in the upper area of the box a power supply must be accommodated, but the control unit Space is also required for their cooling or ventilation, especially if the typical smart home components (server, computing unit, sensors, actuators) are compressed in one device and automation tasks of a different type are also to be taken on (heating / presence detection - light / monitoring) ).

At the same time, the compression of all components of a building automation system into one device leads to increased self-heating, which has a negative impact on the accuracy of the recorded environmental data.

In known solutions, the housing of a control device is not suitable for accommodating a complete building automation system that can take on a multitude of different and alien types of automation tasks and can also be part of a higher-level, decentralized building automation system.

Within the scope of the invention, a housing of a control device is now also created which fulfills the above-mentioned requirements.

The housing according to the present invention consists of a rectangular housing upper part which is mounted on the top of a plate of the housing lower part, a cup-shaped bulge being formed on the underside of the plate of the housing lower part. The housing is advantageously designed uniformly for all rooms in a building and fits into a standard flush-mounted box. It is suitable for a control unit that enables various typical automation applications that recur in different rooms, such as:

- Heating, ventilation, climate control tasks

- light control

- Roller shutter control

- Ambient lighting control

- presence detection, indoor positioning system,

Pretending presence

- Noise detection / speech detection

- Smart metering, performance measurement of connected consumers

- Security (alarm system, fire detectors, gas detectors,

Moisture detector, window / door evaluation)

- optical and acoustic notification system

The housing allows a strong variation in the range of functions of the built-in control unit. In particular, the housing can be equipped with a light sensor and a camera module, the housing being shaped in such a way that, without modification, the retrofitting of a camera module into a suitable shape in the upper housing part is possible without having to remove the light sensor. This means that one and the same device can be used in rooms with increased need for privacy and in public areas with increased security requirements.

The housing has a thermally decoupled, separated area near the air inlet, in which sensors are arranged in order to record environmental data as precisely as possible and to reduce any impairment of the sensor values by the control unit generating its own heat. Partitions partition the sensors from heat sources (Processor) in the device and form air ducts for optimized cooling of the device.

The housing according to the invention optionally also includes a valve in the above. Partition walls near the air inlet opening to prevent the sensor values of the above To minimize sensors by self-heating the control unit.

The valve separates the isolated above. Sensor range 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 precise environmental data. The valve opens due to the resulting negative pressure when the internal fan is activated. The valve closes by gravity when the fan is deactivated. The valve can consist, for example, of a flap, membrane or the like.

FIG. 9 shows a front view of the housing, which has an upper part with a rectangular shape. A full-surface glass plate with a touch-sensitive surface is embedded in the top. The upper housing part is designed to hold a circuit board and to mount a lower housing part (see illustration in FIG. 11). The openings 9a, 9b, 9c are suitable for receiving a photo / video camera, light sensor, infrared temperature sensor, thermal imaging camera. 9d identifies the programmable backlit device logo. 9e shows the visible area of the color display. The glass front outside the visible area is colored in the housing color. The cutout 9g serves as an opening for a motion detector. The opening 9f forms the sound outlet opening for the loudspeaker mounted behind it.

The perspective view of the upper housing part according to FIG. 10 clarifies the opening 10a in the edge area, which enables external access for “releasing” the snap-fit latching connection 10b. In the Openings 10c for European or 86mm flush-mounted boxes and American flush-mounted boxes 10d are incorporated on the underside. 10f identifies the spring contact terminal for the electrical connection of the supply lines and consumers. The housing openings for the electrical cables are equipped with a taper 10e for clamping the electrical lines. An LSA terminal 10g is also incorporated in the flush-mounted area. The partition of the sensor area is hollow for better insulation, recognizable by marking 10h

Figures 11 to 14 show all side views of the housing, the upper housing part is mounted on the top of a plate of a lower housing part. A pot-shaped bulge is formed on the underside of the plate of the lower housing part. The pot-shaped bulge of the lower housing part has an outer diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of a standard flush-mounted box. The height of the bulge of the lower housing part is smaller than the height of a standard flush-mounted box.

Figure 11 - side view from above

11a identifies motion detectors

11b denotes LSA terminal

Figure 12 - side view from below, with:

12a opening for USB-C connection

12b Opening aid for snap-fit unlocking

12c motion detector

12d diagonally arranged ventilation openings

Figure 13 - side view from the left, with:

13a LSA terminal

13b side ventilation openings for power supply

13c Sensor area ventilation openings diagonally Figure 14 - side view of recgts, with:

14a opening for reset switch and microphone

14b opening for MicroSD card

14c air outlet for blower

FIG. 15 shows the recording position for the light sensor or LED and the camera module. The soldered SMD component 15b on the circuit board forms the permanently installed light sensor. The housing shape 15c optionally allows the angular camera module 15a to be accommodated or a round plastic lens to be accommodated.

A further development of the separated sensor area with valve is shown schematically in FIGS. 16 and 17. The numbering in both drawings is identical. The shielding of the sensor area is formed via a longitudinal cutout in the circuit board 16f and via a partition 16c. The separated sensor area has direct contact with the ambient air via the openings in the edge area 16h in the upper housing part 16e. The valve flap 16d completely closes off the separated area from the rest of the control unit. Gravity, which acts in the direction of arrow 16a, keeps the flap closed in the normal state.

If the control device has an increased cooling requirement or there is another reason for ventilation, an air flow is generated in the direction 16b by a fan, and the resulting suppression opens the flap / lever 16d.

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

The stop point 16g limits the range of motion to such an extent that the center of gravity of the valve flap 16d cannot lie above the axis of rotation and the acting gravity 16a closes the flap again when the fan is switched off. The valve flap 16d can also be designed as a membrane (for example a flexible membrane fixed on one side).

FIG. 18 shows the exemplary installation of an expansion module in the device. The main board 18c is screwed to the upper housing part 18a via plastic domes 18b with screws 18e.

At position 18g, a spring pin contact is soldered or pressed into the main circuit board as an example. If the pin is soldered, it is soldered from the back. The collar 18j on the spring pin determines the correct position in the main board and at the same time serves as a solder receiving surface. The spring pin head 18i is freely movable vertically and a spring present in the spring pin (detail drawing A) presses the head in the direction of the expansion board 18d. Metallic contact points 18h or metallized THT bores (exemplarily 18f) are present in the expansion board. The bias of the spring of the spring pin creates a secure electrical connection between the two boards. Due to the type of construction, the distance 18k between the boards is almost 0. In the main board, there are milled-out areas below the expansion modules to enable expansion modules equipped on both sides.

18a Cutout of the front housing with screwed main board

18b Haltedom with internal thread

18c motherboard

18d expansion board

18e mounting screws

18f exempl. TH hole

18g through-hole main board with soldered spring contact pin 18h gold contact surface on expansion board

18i spring contact pin head

18j solder collar spring contact pin

18k distance between motherboard and expansion module Detail drawing A: soldered spring contact pin, movable head

The invention is not limited to the present embodiments.

Rather, it is possible to implement further design variants by varying and modifying the features mentioned, without leaving the scope of the invention.

Claims

EXPECTATIONS

1. Universal multifunction device for the realization of several

Building automation applications with a housing and a display and / or switches or buttons comprising the components:

- at least one sensor

- at least one actuator

- at least one computing unit

the components are arranged in the housing and thus combined in one device and the device is functional without a connection to a central gateway or network device and the device is designed for installation in a flush-mounted box or as an exchange device for a wall thermostat and has a power supply unit or voltage converter .

2. Multifunction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the display is a touch-intensive display and the sensors are designed for temperature measurement and / or air humidity measurement and / or air pressure measurement and / or air quality measurement and / or motion detection and / or as a video camera

and the actuators directly control electrical consumers and are designed as relays and / or dimmers and / or thyristors and / or triac and / or actuators.

3. Multifunction device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that further a storage unit for recording the sensor data and storing decentralized control tasks and / or acoustic and optical signal transmitters or warning devices and / or radio modules for communication and / or wired interfaces (KNX, CAN, RS485, TTL) and / or a fan, preferably designed as a speed-controlled blower, is / are arranged primarily for thermal decoupling of the integrated sensors and cooling of the device.

4. Multifunction device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with an intensity-controllable ventilation system (fan, blower), which is designed to improve the thermal decoupling of the integrated sensors depending on the utilization of the device and self-heating, and this faster with fresher to supply ambient air to be measured.

5. Multifunction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing consists of at least two parts, a cup-shaped bulge is formed on the underside of the housing and this is firmly connected to a commercially available flush-mounted box, the housing in the edge region at least one ventilation opening or has a sensor opening, and has at least one opening in the upper part, which is designed to accommodate a touch-sensitive display.

6. Multifunction device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with an infrared sensor oriented towards the room for temperature detection, and / or is designed to approximately determine the distance of a presence in the room via the measured temperature of the infrared sensor,

the infrared sensor being arranged such that it measures horizontally or almost horizontally into the space in front of the device and the device uses the motion detector or internal temperature sensors as a comparison value for calculating the distance of the presence.

7. Multi-function device according to claim 1, characterized in that the integrated computing units and sensors are connected so that they monitor each other and in the event of a failure of a computing unit, another computing unit is capable of the user acoustically, optically or via network to warn of the failure and that programs that complement the main processor are running on secondary programmable computing units and that the integrated secondary processing units can be reprogrammed by the main processing unit during operation.

8. Multifunction device according to claim 1, characterized in that

At least one valve is integrated in a spatially separated area within the housing, which is controlled actively or under vacuum 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 a transfer of the Ambient air across the separated room in the remaining part of the housing interior.

9. Multi-function device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with speakers and a microphone

Intercom provides and enables video telephony with installed video camera.

10. Multifunction device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with a data connection for serially interconnectable multi-color lamps and each LED can assume a different color state.

11. Multifunction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing is shaped in such a way that, without modification, it is possible to retrofit a camera module into a precisely fitting shape in the upper part of the housing without having to remove a light sensor or LED installed in the same area.

12. Multifunction device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing is shaped in the flush-mounted area for receiving a modular power supply unit with an electrical plug connection to the rest of the control unit and the device is equipped with a current sensor for detecting the self-consumption and / or current consumption of at least one connected consumer .

13. Multi-function device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device in the flush-mounted area is equipped with an LSA insulation displacement terminal for receiving data lines and / or in the flush-mounted area with a thermally-protected varistor to protect itself and consumers connected to the actuators to protect against overvoltage.

14. Multifunction device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is designed to accommodate expansion modules which are placed on the main board and are screwable through the main board to the housing, the electrical contact being made via spring pin contacts which are in the main board from the Back are formed solderable and the expansion modules at the contact point via gold contact surfaces or conventional THT

Have through-holes (through-hole technology).

15. Method for realizing a decentralized building automation network, also smart home network, which is based on several spatially distributed "decentralized" devices, each decentralized device as a connection interface for "close" other network-compatible smart home devices, sensors or actuators and thus spans its own decentralized network, with the various decentralized devices forming its own higher-level network, but still functioning individually.