The present invention relates to a wireless control device.
Conventionally, a wireless control device is a switch of the communicating type, commonly referred to as a wireless battery-less switch, capable of remotely controlling another switch which itself is connected to an electrical wire, such as, for example, an electrical wire supplying power to a light fitting.
Often, this other switch is qualified as a micromodule because it is associated, on the one hand, with a receiver capable of receiving signals sent by a transmitter of the wireless switch and, on the other hand, with a processing unit.
In particular, in the case of light fittings, a lighting micromodule will be referred to.
A wireless switch may also be used to remotely control a roller
— shutter or a blind.
Wireless switches offer the advantage that they can be positioned practically anywhere, and notably away from the path followed by the electric power supply cable.
The user can therefore choose the location that seems most ergonomical to him.
A wireless switch can be placed, like a conventional switch, in a reservation in the wall, or
— can simply be surface mounted on the wall by bonding or screwing.
In general, the wireless switch communicates with the micromodule by radio, namely by hertzian transmission.
Before that, wireless switches included batteries to power the transmitter.
However, the battery needed changing after a certain length of time, something which
— users did not find very convenient.
Thus, wireless switches these days operate without a battery, but using an energy converter, referred to as an “energy harvester’. These energy converters are in fact electric generators which make use of the mechanical energy applied by the user when he presses the button of the switch in order to generate an electrical signal.
This electrical signal is sufficient in amplitude to be able to generate and send a control signal to a remotely sited micromodule.
Converters of the piezoelectric type, using the properties of a material to generate a voltage when it experiences mechanical stress, and converters of the electromagnetic type, using the movement of a magnet to generate induced currents in a circuit are chiefly known.
DE 1 0256 156 discloses an example of a wireless and battery-less switch.
The advantage of using an energy converter in a wireless switch is that the switch is entirely autonomous and that there is therefore no need to change the battery.
However, the disadvantage with the wireless switches currently on the market is that the button is relatively difficult to actuate, at least in comparison with a conventional switch connected to the power supply wire. More specifically, the force needed to actuate present-day wireless switches is comprised between 7 and 10 N, whereas the force required to actuate a standard switch connected to a wire is of the order of 3 N. Thus, wireless switches currently on the market are not, for example, suitable for children. US 2005/0275581 discloses an example of a wireless and battery-free switch. This switch includes a generator, which includes a deformable blade intended to be switched by a mechanism connected to a button. However, such a wireless switch uses an inefficient generator, and does not allow the use of other types of more efficient generators. It is this disadvantage that the invention more particularly intends to remedy by proposing a new type of wireless and battery-less switch, allowing the use of more efficient generators.. To this end, the invention relates to a wireless control device as defined in claim
1. By virtue of the invention, it is possible to use an efficient electric generator comprising at least one coil and a sliding block, and the association of the transmission member with the actuating lever makes it possible to generate a translation movement moving the sliding block from a rotational movement of the actuation button, while being particularly compact. Advantageous but not obligatory aspects of the wireless control device according to the invention are specified in claims 2 to 10. The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a wireless control device as defined in claims 1 to 10 and another control device which is able to be connected to an electrical wire and which comprises a microreceiver configured to receive a control signal sent by the wireless device. The invention and further advantages thereof will become more clearly apparent in the light of the following description of two embodiments of a wireless control device conforming to the principle thereof, given solely by way of example, and made with reference to the attached drawings in which:
- Figure 1 is an exploded view of a wireless control device according to a first embodiment of the invention,
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the control device of Figure 1, now in an assembled configuration,
- Figure 3 is a view from above of the control device of Figures 1 and 2, in which view the actuator button of the device has been omitted in order to provide a clearer view of the other components of the device,
- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a transmission unit of the control device, now assembled with an electric generator capable of converting the mechanical energy transmitted to the unit into electrical energy,
- Figure 5 is a perspective view notably showing the underside of the button,
- Figure 6 is a view comparable with that of Figure 3 but for a second embodiment of the invention, and
- Figure 7 is a view comparable with that of Figure 5, and therefore shows the button of the device according to the second embodiment.
Figures 1 to 5 depict a first embodiment of a control device, or wireless and battery-less switch 2.
This switch 2 comprises an actuator button 4, an electronic control circuit 10, an electric generator 12 for supplying power to the circuit 10, and a transmission unit 14 for transmitting mechanical energy applied to the actuator button 4 to the generator 12.
The electronic circuit 10 comprises a transmitter 16 capable of wirelessly transmitting a control signal to another switch (not depicted) connected to an electrical wire, such as, for example, an electrical wire supplying power to the light fitting.
This other switch may be better known by the name of micromodule because it is associated,
on the one hand, with a receiver capable of receiving signals sent by the transmitter of the wireless switch and, on the other hand, with a processing unit.
In particular, in the case of light fittings, a lighting micromodule will be referred to.
Mention is therefore made of an assembly comprising the wireless switch 2 and the said other switch, which is able to be connected to an electrical wire and which comprises a microreceiver configured to receive a control signal sent by the wireless switch.
Advantageously, the transmitter 16 is an antenna, notably an antenna capable of transmitting a hertzian signal, which means to say of emitting electromagnetic waves.
As an alternative, other transmission modes could be used, such as the low-energy Bluetooth technology or the ZigBee protocol, etc.
Here, the electronic control circuit 10 is made up of a printed circuit, which means to say of an electronic board.
In the example, the actuator button 4 is a rocking button, which means to say a button designed to pivot about an axis X4. Nevertheless, as an alternative, the button 4 could also be a pushbutton.
As visible in Figure 5, the button 4 comprises two receptacles 40 of circular shape, each designed to accept a shaft end 62. The two shaft ends 62 form part of a moulded plastic support plate 6.
The generator 12 is capable of converting mechanical energy into electrical energy.
In the example described, the generator 12 is an electromagnetic generator,
sometimes better known as a “harvester”. This is a module known per se, marketed by the company ZF Friedrichshafen AG, and this is why it is not described further.
Its principle of operation is as follows: the generator 12 comprises a permanent magnet and at least one coil.
Any movement of the magnet generates a variation in the magnetic field around the turns of the coil or coils.
Each coil, like any electrical circuit placed in a variable magnetic field, then has an electrical current passing through it, this current being termed the induced current.
As visible in Figure 4, the electric generator 12 advantageously comprises a mechanism for generating a translational movement F4 from a rotation F2 of the transmission unit 14. This mechanism comprises an actuator lever 120.
For preference, the lever 120 is L-shaped and comprises a first part 120a configured to collaborate with the transmission unit 14 and a second part 120b connected to a sliding block 122 of the generator 12. The connection between the sliding block 122 and the part 120b of the lever 120 is a pivoting connection, the axis of pivoting of which is referenced Z122. The parts 120a and 120b of the lever 120 are each made up of two substantially parallel branches.
In the example, the lever 120 is mounted to pivot about an axis Z120, parallel to the axis Z122, at its intermediate part, namely between the parts 120a and 120b.
Typically, the lever 120 is interposed between the two branches of a U-shaped plate 18 that forms a pivoting support. Advantageously, the sliding block 122 comprises one or more permanent magnets making it possible to generate a magnetic field around one or more coils (not 5 depicted). The sliding block 122 is guided in a U-shaped rail 124. The direction of travel of the sliding block 122 is perpendicular to the axis 2122. The generator 12 is fixed to the support plate 6 by means of an added component (not visible in the figures) which is clipped (or clip-fastened), which is to say elastically locked, onto the support plate 6. In the particular example of Figures 1 to 5, the transmission unit 14 is a lever, able to rotate about an axis Z14. The axis X4 of pivoting of the button 4 is perpendicular to, and preferably secant with, the axis Z14 of pivoting of the transmission unit 14. The transmission unit 14 forms the link between the button 4 and the generator
12. It is therefore a component distinct from the button 4 and also distinct from the generator 12. Typically, the transmission unit 14 is a lever articulated about a pin 8 that has a leg and a cap. The cap has an at least partially circular, in this instance semi-circular, cross section for the articulation of the lever. The leg is inserted into a housing 60 of the support plate 6 and is prevented from rotation by complementing shapes with the housing 60. In the example, and as visible in Figure 4, the transmission unit 14 comprises a C-shaped part 14a configured to collaborate with the cap of the pin 8, and to allow the transmission unit 14 to articulate about the pin 8. The transmission unit 14 also advantageously comprises means 14b for collaborating mechanically with the actuator button 4 and means 14c for collaborating mechanically with the electric generator 12. Typically, the means 14c comprise a slot inside which the free end of the part 120a of the actuator lever 120 is housed. For preference, the means 14b comprise two domed faces, arranged opposing one another. Each of the two domed faces is configured to collaborate with a lug 42 of the button 4, the two lugs 42 of the button 4 being partially visible in Figure 5. The two lugs 42 extend, on the underside of the button 4, parallel to an axis Z4 perpendicular to the axis X4 of rocking of the button 4. The two lugs 42 are also aligned along a common axis Y4 perpendicular both to the axis X4 and to the axis Z4. Advantageously, the width L14 of the lever, referenced in Figure 4, and measured at the level of the domed faces that form the means 14b, is substantially identical to the separation between the two lugs 42 of the button 4. Notably, when the switch 2 is in the assembled configuration, the lugs 42 are positioned one on each side of the transmission unit 14 and respectively bear against the two domed faces.
The actuator button 4 and the transmission unit 14 are specifically designed so that the force of activation F1 of the actuator button 4 is lower than the force F3 transmitted to the generator 12 by the transmission unit 14. The force F1 of activation of the actuator button is the minimum force needed to actuate the button 4, namely, in this example, to cause the button 4 to rock.
Thus, given that the button 4 is of the rocking type, the minimum force is the force applied furthest away from the axis X4 of rocking, in order to derive maximum benefit from the lever arm effect.
In detail, when a force F1 is applied to the button 4 of the switch 2, at that time in the open position, the button 4 rocks about the axis X4 and one of the lugs 42 of the button 4 pushes the domed face 14b with which it collaborates in a direction parallel to the axis Y4. This thrusting force causes the transmission unit 14, which is to say the lever, to pivot about the axis Z14. As it pivots, the transmission unit 14 holds on the actuator lever 120 of the electric generator 12. The switch 2 is then in a closed position.
The actuator lever 120 rocks about the axis Z120 and pulls (or pushes) on the sliding block 122, which then moves translationally in the rail 124. The magnetic field within the generator 12 varies, and an induced current is generated.
This induced current is converted into a form that can be used to power the control circuit 10. The electrical pulse supplied by the electric generator allows the control circuit 10 to generate a signal, consisting for example of electromagnetic waves, and to send this signal, via the antenna 16, to the remotely situated micromodule wirelessly, typically via hertzian waves.
The generator 12 is sized so that it generates electrical energy as soon as the force applied to the lever is 4.20 N at minimum.
A theoretical calculation then shows that this force is achieved when the button 4 transmits to the transmission unit 14 a force of around 6.9 N, notably on one of the domed faces 14b of the transmission unit
14. It is also shown that such a force of 6.9 N can be achieved when, at minimum, a force of around 1.7 N is applied to the button 4.
It will therefore be appreciated that the force ultimately transmitted to the generator 12 through the transmission unit 14 of the switch 2 is higher than the force F1 applied at input, namely than the force exerted by a user when pressing the button 4. This is due to the lever arm effects that are found in the actuation drivetrain of the switch 2.
Figures 6 and 7 depict a second embodiment of the invention.
In what follows,
only the differences in comparison with the first embodiment are described, for the sake of conciseness.
Likewise, switch components that are identical to those of the first embodiment bear the same numerical references, whereas components that differ have a prime symbol (') following their reference.
In this embodiment, the transmission unit 14’ is a slider, capable of translational movement along an axis Y14 perpendicular to the axis X4 of rocking of the button 4.
The axis Y14 is also parallel to the support plate 6 of the switch.
In Figure 6, the double-headed arrow F5 shows the two possible directions in which the transmission unit 14° can move in translation, according to the direction of rocking of the button 4’.
The slider is guided in its translational movement by walls of the support plate 6,
which walls form guide means 15. It also delimits a slot (not visible in the figures) accommodating the part 120a of the actuator lever 120 of the generator 12.
The axis Y14 in the example is parallel to the surface of the support plate 6.
In this embodiment, and as visible in Figure 7, the button 4 comprises lugs 42’, comparable with those of the first embodiment, but more widely spaced apart.
The spacing between the lugs 42’ corresponds more or less to the length of the slider, measured parallel to its axis of movement Y14. In particular, when the switch 2’ is in the assembled configuration, the lugs 42 are positioned one on each side of the transmission unit 14’.
By rocking the button 4, the slider, which is to say the transmission unit 14’, is pushed on one side or the other.
The slider therefore moves parallel to the axis Y14 and in its movement carries with it the rotation of the lever 120; the generator 12 is therefore activated and converts the mechanical energy of the lever 120 into electrical energy,
which can be used to generate and send a signal, for example a radio signal, intended for the remote switch connected to the wire.
In an alternative form which has not been depicted, the switch 2 comprises a means of return to the open position, which is to say to the rest position, in which position the switch does not transmit any signal intended for the wired switch.
This return means may for example adopt the form of a leaf spring positioned in the middle of and underneath the button.
The features of the embodiments described in the figures and alternative forms which have not been depicted can be combined with one another to generate new embodiments of the invention.