FR3136562A1 - Control point for home automation installation and associated home automation installation - Google Patents

Abstract

Control point for home automation installation and associated home automation installation This control point (16) comprises a control device (20), comprising a housing (24), a button (32) allowing a user of the control point to generate signals control (18), an electronic card (36) transmitting the control signals to a home automation installation (2); and a power supply accessory (21), comprising a photovoltaic solar panel (54), an electrical energy storage device (58) recharged by the solar panel and powering the electronic card, and a recharge interface (74) allowing recharging the storage device with an external electrical energy source at the control point. The power accessory has a housing (50) carrying the solar panel and the storage device and forming a housing (52) in which the control device is mounted when the control point is assembled. The charging interface is accessible when the controller is not mounted in the housing, and is not accessible when the controller is mounted in the housing. Figure for abstract: Figure 3

Description

Control point for home automation installation and associated home automation installation

The present invention relates to a control point for a home automation installation, as well as a home automation installation comprising such a control point.

In the field of home automation, it is known to control various equipment in a home, for example a closing installation with a motorized roller shutter, lighting, etc., by means of a wireless control point, otherwise also called control unit. Such a control point is generally supplied with energy by means of electric batteries, in particular by means of button cells. However, the use of such electric batteries poses environmental problems when they are discharged, due to a low recycling rate. It is therefore desirable to have a wireless control point without an electric battery to reduce the environmental impact of the control point.

For this purpose, it is known to replace the electric battery of a control point with a power supply accessory, such as a photovoltaic solar panel associated with a supercapacitor making it possible to store the energy produced by the photovoltaic solar panel. However, when the control point is stored before being put into service in a home automation installation, its photovoltaic solar panel is hidden and therefore does not recharge the supercapacitor, which tends to discharge quickly. When the supercapacitor is discharged, commissioning of the control point is impossible. A disadvantage of this approach is therefore to impose a recharge time of the supercapacitor prior to commissioning of the control point, by exposing the photovoltaic solar panel to light, which slows down this commissioning.

To solve this problem, FR-A-2 855 338 describes a device equipped with an accumulator connected to a photovoltaic panel, further comprising terminals accessible from outside the device. The terminals are adapted to be brought into contact with electrical wires connected to an external electrical voltage source, thus making it possible to recharge the accumulator before putting the device into service. Although generally satisfactory, this solution involves installing terminals on the device, visible from the outside, which is unsightly.

Alternatively, electrical wires can be connected to the terminals during the manufacture of the device, making it possible to hide the terminals, the electrical wires being able to be torn off after recharging the battery. This approach, however, makes it impossible to recharge the accumulator using the external electrical voltage source after removing the wires, and generates additional waste. However, such a recharge of the accumulator is sometimes necessary after prolonged non-use of the device, such as for example when the device is installed in a home used infrequently.

It is these drawbacks that the invention more particularly intends to remedy by proposing a control point (or control unit) which can be easily and quickly recharged after unpacking and before being put into service, while being practical and aesthetic.

To this end, the invention relates to a control point for a home automation installation, the control point comprising:

• a control device, comprising:
  • a box having a front face configured to be directed towards a user and a rear face,
  • at least one button on the front face, configured to allow a user of the control point to generate control signals,
  • an electronic card, configured to transmit control signals to a home automation installation,
• a power accessory, comprising:
  • a photovoltaic solar panel,
  • an electrical energy storage device, configured to be recharged with electrical energy by the photovoltaic solar panel and to supply electrical energy to the electronic card when the control point is assembled,
  • a charging interface configured to enable charging of the electrical energy storage device with an external electrical energy source at the control point.

According to the invention, the power supply accessory comprises a housing carrying the photovoltaic solar panel and the electrical energy storage device, distinct from the housing of the control device and the housing of the power supply accessory forms a housing in which the control device is mounted when the control point is assembled. Additionally, the charging interface is accessible when the controller is not mounted in the housing of the power accessory housing, and the charging interface is not accessible when the controller is mounted in the housing of the power accessory housing.

Thanks to the invention, the electrical energy storage means is easily rechargeable before the control point is put into service, via the charging interface, and the charging interface is hidden when the control point control is assembled, which is aesthetic and practical.

According to advantageous, but not obligatory, aspects of the invention, the control point incorporates one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in any technically admissible combination:

- The charging interface is covered by the controller when the controller is mounted in the housing of the power accessory housing.

- The charging interface comprises a slot provided in the housing of the power supply accessory, electrical connectors arranged in the housing of the power accessory and conductive elements connected on the one hand to the electrical connectors and on the other hand on the other hand to the electrical energy storage device, and the slot is configured so that the external electrical energy source is at least partially inserted therein so as to connect the electrical energy source to the electrical connectors.

- The charging interface comprises electrical connectors protruding from the housing of the power accessory and conductive elements connected on the one hand to the electrical connectors and on the other hand to the electrical energy storage device, and the Electrical connectors are configured so that the external electrical energy source is connected thereto so as to connect the electrical energy source to the electrical energy storage device.

- When the control device is mounted in the housing of the power accessory housing, at least one of the electrical connectors connects the electrical energy storage device to the electronic card.

- The power supply accessory further comprises a signaling element, configured to emit a signal when the external electrical energy source recharges the electrical energy storage device and/or when the charging level of the storage device d The electrical energy reaches a predefined threshold.

- The signaling element is supplied with electrical energy by the external electrical energy source.

- The signaling element is visible when the control device is not mounted in the housing of the power accessory housing and is not visible when the control device is mounted in the housing of the power accessory housing power accessory.

- The electrical energy storage device is a supercapacitor.

According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a home automation installation, in particular a closure or solar protection installation, comprising a control point as mentioned above.

This home automation installation induces the same advantages as those mentioned above regarding the control point of the invention.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows of an embodiment of a control point and a home automation installation, conforming to its principle. , given solely by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

There represents a home automation installation in accordance with the invention, with a control point also in accordance with the invention;

There is a perspective view of the control point of the ;

There is an exploded perspective view of the control point of Figures 1 and 2;

There is an exploded perspective view of the control point of Figures 1 to 3, from another angle; And

There is a perspective view of part of a control point according to another embodiment of the invention.

There represents a home automation installation 2. The home automation installation 2 is here a closing installation, in particular a rolling shutter installation, which partially closes an opening 4 made in a wall 6. As a non-limiting variant, the home automation installation 2 is a solar protection installation and/or includes one or more lighting devices. In other words, the home automation installation 2 includes one or more controllable pieces of equipment.

In the example illustrated, the opening 4 is a window, which passes right through the wall 6. In a variant not shown, the opening 4 is a door, for example a garage door. The opening 4 is here partially blocked by a concealment screen 8 which is the apron of the rolling shutter.

In the example, the home automation installation 2 comprises a box 10, which is provided on an upper part of the opening 4 and delimits an internal volume in which is housed a shaft 12 for winding the screen 8, in particular under the shape of a winding tube. Shaft 12 defines a main axis A12, which is horizontal. The concealment screen 8 is connected to the shaft 12, in particular winds on the winding tube, the shaft 12 being here mounted free to rotate relative to the box 10 around the axis A12. The shaft 12 is rotated by an electromechanical actuator 14, which is here internal to the shaft 12. As a non-limiting variant, the box 10 is arranged at another location relative to the opening 4 and/or the main axis A12 is not horizontal.

The home automation installation 2 also includes a control point 16, otherwise also called a control unit, configured to control one or more of the various pieces of equipment of the home automation installation 2. In the example illustrated, the electromechanical actuator 14 is controlled by the control point 16, via control signals, for example wireless, transmitted by the control point 16 and received by the actuator 14. By control point is meant a remote control device, which communicates with the actuator 14. The control signal is represented by a flash 18 on the .

The control signals 18 are received by the actuator 14 even when the electromechanical actuator 14 is located in the internal volume of the trunk 10, and are advantageously signals transmitted by radio waves. The control point 16 thus comprises a radio wave transmission module, which is not shown or detailed further in this description.

In the example illustrated, the control point 16 is shown fixed on the wall 6 in which the opening 4 is provided. Of course, the control point 16 can be fixed on a wall other than the wall 6, or else n 'is fixed to no wall and in which case the control point 16 is simply placed at the convenience of a user. The control point being removably fixed to a wall or free, it is then qualified as a nomadic control point. The spatial constraint is in particular that the control point 16 must be located in a zone within radio range of the actuator 14.

We now describe, with reference to Figures 1 to 4, the control point 16, which conforms to a first embodiment of the invention.

The control point 16 comprises a control device 20 and a power supply accessory 21, which are assembled together, that is to say fixed together, when the control point 16 is in service in the home automation installation 2 .

Preferably, the control point 16 also includes a fixing support 22 on a wall, here the wall 6. The fixing support 22 is fixed, on the one hand, to the wall 6, and, on the other hand, to the device control 20 or to the power accessory 21, in the example to the power accessory.

The control device 20 comprises a housing 24, which has a front face 26, oriented towards the user when the control point 16 is fixed on the wall 6, a rear face 28, oriented opposite the front face 26 , and a side edge 30 connecting the front face 26 to the rear face 28. In the example, the control device 20 is circular in shape. In other words, the front 26 and rear 28 faces are disc-shaped and the side edge 30 is ring-shaped. Preferably, the shape of the fixing support 22 corresponds to the shape of the control device 20. Thus, in the example, the fixing support 22 is also circular in shape. The fixing support 22 is placed between the wall 6 and the rear face 28 when the control point 16 is fixed on the wall 6.

The control device 20 here comprises several main buttons 32, accessible at the front face 26 and intended for controlling the equipment of the home automation installation 2, for example to control the raising or lowering of the roller shutter apron, to switching lights on or off, etc. The number, shape, arrangement and function of the buttons 32 of the control device 20 are not limiting. In the example, the control device 20 comprises two buttons 32A arranged on the front face 26 and partially on the side edge 30 and two buttons 32B on the front face 26. When the control point 16 is assembled, it is that is to say when the control point is in service in the home automation installation 2, the main buttons 32 are accessible by a user to control one or more of the various pieces of equipment in the home automation installation 2.

In the example, the main buttons 32 are mechanical buttons, that is to say the main buttons function like switches. As a variant not shown, the main buttons 32 are tactile buttons or digital buttons represented on a computer display device.

Advantageously, the control device 20 also comprises auxiliary buttons 34, in the example three auxiliary buttons 34, arranged on the rear face 28. The auxiliary buttons 34 serve for example to turn on or off the control point 16, or else to configure it, for example to pair the control device 20 with the or one of the equipment of the home automation installation 2. The number, arrangement, shape and functions of the auxiliary buttons 34 are not limiting. In practice, the auxiliary buttons 34 are intended to be used by an operator when commissioning the control point 16 in the home automation installation 2. Preferably, when the control point 16 is assembled, that is to say i.e. when the control point is in service in the home automation installation 2, the auxiliary buttons 34 are not accessible by a user of the home automation installation 2.

The housing 24 provides an interior volume, which receives various elements of the control device 20, in particular a printed electronic circuit board 36 - also called "Printed Circuit Board" or "PCB" in English -, which is a main electronic card of the point control 16. The main electronic card 36, not visible from outside the housing 24, is shown schematically in dotted lines only at the .

A portion of this interior volume is configured to receive one or more electric batteries, intended for supplying energy to the control device 20. In other words, the housing 24 provides a battery compartment 38, that is to say a reception volume intended to receive one or more batteries. In the example illustrated, compartment 38 is designed to receive a single battery, here a button cell, not shown in the figures. The type and number of batteries are not limiting. The compartment 38 opens onto the rear face 28 of the housing 24. The control device 20 is configured to also receive a cover 40 for closing the compartment 38. When it is put in place, the cover 40 is mounted on the rear face 28 of the housing 24 so as to close the battery compartment 38. The cover 40 is only visible at the . Inside the battery compartment 38, the control device 20 comprises two electrical connectors 42 making it possible to electrically connect the battery received in the compartment to the main electronic card 36. In other words, the electrical connectors 42 are electrically connected to the main electronic card 36.

The control device 20 is autonomous when it is supplied with electrical energy by a battery received in the battery compartment 38, that is to say it operates alone to send a control signal 18 to the actuator 14 In other words, when powered by a battery, the control device 20 does not need to be associated with the power supply accessory 21 to operate.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the control device 20 can also operate in association with the power supply accessory 21. In other words, the power supply accessory 21 is configured to supply energy to the control device 20. Furthermore, when the power accessory 21 powers the control device 20, as in the example illustrated, then it is not necessary for the control device 20 to include a battery. Thus, the power accessory 21 is used to replace a battery.

The power supply accessory 21 comprises a housing 50, which forms a housing 52. As visible in Figures 2 and 3, the housing 52 is of complementary shape to the housing 24 of the control device 20, so that the control device is adapted to be received in housing 52 of the power accessory. In other words, when the control point 16 is assembled and in service in the home automation installation 2, the control device 20 is mounted in the housing 52 of the housing 50 of the power supply accessory 21.

In practice, the housing 50 comprises a front face 50A and a rear face 50B, and the housing 52 is delimited by an internal side edge 50C of the housing. Thus, when the control point 16 is assembled and in service in the home automation installation 2, the side edge 30 of the housing 24 of the control device 20 faces the internal side edge 50C of the housing 50 of the control accessory. food 21.

The power supply accessory 21 comprises a photovoltaic solar panel 54, a secondary electronic card 56 and an electrical energy storage device 58, which in the example is a supercapacitor. The supercapacitor 58 is electrically connected to the photovoltaic solar panel 54 and to the secondary electronic card 56. The secondary electronic card 56 controls the photovoltaic solar panel 54 and the supercapacitor 58 and is electrically connected to the main electronic card 36 so as to allow the power supply to the control device 20. Alternatively, the electrical energy storage device 58 is a rechargeable battery.

In practice, the housing 50 of the power supply accessory 21 carries the photovoltaic solar panel 54, the secondary electronic card 56 and the supercapacitor 58. The electronic card 56 and the supercapacitor 58, not visible from outside the housing 50 , are represented schematically in dotted lines only at the .

When the photovoltaic solar panel 54 is exposed to light radiation, and in particular to solar radiation, it generates electrical energy which recharges the supercapacitor 58.

The power supply accessory 21 comprises a rear faceplate 60, interposed between the control device 20 and the fixing support 22. When the control point 16 is assembled, the rear faceplate 60 is fixed to the housing 50 and is in contact with on the one hand with the fixing support 22 and on the other hand with the rear face 28 of the control device 20.

Advantageously, the rear faceplate 60 has flexible portions 61, located opposite the auxiliary buttons 34. Thus, an operator can activate the auxiliary buttons 34 through the rear faceplate 60, by pressing on the flexible portions 61, which causes their deformation and their support against the auxiliary buttons 34.

In the example, the rear faceplate 60 is distinct from the housing 50, that is to say that the rear faceplate 60 is assembled to the housing 50. In a variant not shown of the invention, the rear faceplate 60 and the housing 50 are in one piece.

The control point 16 comprises a conduction path 62 electrically connecting the electrical connectors 42 to the secondary electronic card 56, and thus allowing the electrical supply of the main electronic card 36 by the supercapacitor 58, via the electronic card secondary 56. In other words, the conduction path 62 makes it possible to electrically connect the supercapacitor 58 to the main electronic card 36.

The conduction path 62 includes electrical connectors 64 arranged, in the example, on the cover 40 of the battery compartment 38, outside the battery compartment. These electrical connectors 64 are electrically connected to the electrical connectors 42 arranged in the battery compartment 38 by conductive elements not shown, such as for example conductive sheets or a printed circuit, which are housed in the battery compartment 38.

The conduction path 62 also includes first connection points 66 and second connection points 68, located on the rear faceplate 60 and in the housing 52 of the housing 50 when the control point 16 is assembled. The first connection points 66 and the second connection points 68 are connected by conductive elements 70. In the example, the conductive elements 70 are a printed circuit comprising electrically conductive tracks not shown. The electrically conductive tracks of the printed circuit are electrically isolated from each other.

The conduction path 62 also includes electrical connectors 72 arranged on the power supply accessory 21, in the example on the side edge 50C of the housing 50 of the power accessory. The electrical connectors 72 are electrically connected to the secondary electronic card 56, by conductors not shown. Thus, the electrical connectors 72 are electrically connected to the supercapacitor 58.

Here, the main electronic card 36 is supplied with direct current, and the conduction path 62 then comprises a positive circuit and a negative circuit. Thus, the conduction path 62 comprises a pair of electrical connectors 64, a pair of first connection points 66, a pair of second connection points 68 and a pair of electrical connectors 72, that is to say an electrical connector 72A and an electrical connector 72B.

When the control point 16 is assembled, the electrical connectors 64 of the cover 40 are in contact with the first connection points 66 of the rear faceplate 60, and the second connection points 68 of the rear faceplate 60 are in contact with the electrical connectors 72 of the power supply accessory 21. The conduction path 62 thus electrically connects the secondary electronic card 56 to the main electronic card 36.

Advantageously, in the example, the rear faceplate 60 comprises four pairs of second connection points 68, each pair of second connection points 68 being connected to the pair of first connection points 66 by the conductive elements 70. The orientation of the housing 50 relative to the rear faceplate 60 can thus be chosen from four different orientations, and whatever the chosen orientation of the housing 50 relative to the rear faceplate 60, the electrical connectors 72 are in contact with one of the four pairs of second connection points 68. Thus, whatever the orientation of the housing 50 relative to the rear faceplate 60, the first connection points 66 are electrically connected to the supercapacitor 58.

Alternatively, the rear faceplate comprises a number of pairs of second connection points 68 different from four, for example one, two or six pairs.

Alternatively, the orientation of the housing 50 is fixed relative to the rear faceplate 60 and a direct electrical connection is made between the first connection points 66 and the secondary electronic card 56.

When the control point 16 is put into service and in operation in the home automation installation 2 and when, as in the example, it is not powered by a battery, then it is powered by the supercapacitor 58, itself recharged by the photovoltaic solar panel 54. To allow the commissioning of the control point 16 in the home automation installation 2 when the control point has not previously been exposed to light, that is to say when the supercapacitor 58 is not charged, the control point 16 particularly advantageously comprises a recharge interface 74.

The charging interface 74 is configured to allow the charging of the supercapacitor 58 with a source of electrical energy external to the control point, such as a battery, for example a button cell, or even such as a battery. The external electrical energy source is not shown in the figures. In other words, the charging interface 74 makes it possible to connect the supercapacitor 58 to an external electrical energy source. In practice, the charging interface 74 is connected to the secondary electronic card 56, which is itself connected to the supercapacitor 58, so that the secondary electronic card supervises the recharging of the supercapacitor by the external electrical energy source and interrupts recharging the supercapacitor by disconnecting the external electrical energy source when the supercapacitor is fully recharged.

Particularly advantageously, the charging interface 74 is located inside the housing 52 of the housing 50, for example on the side edge 50C of the housing 50 of the power accessory 21, so that when the charging point control 16 is assembled, the charging interface 74 is covered by the control device 20. In other words, the charging interface 74 is accessible, or usable, when the control device 20 is not mounted in the housing 52 of the housing 50 of the power accessory 21, and the charging interface 74 is not accessible when the control device 20 is mounted in the housing 52 of the housing 50 of the power accessory 21 .

The charging interface 74 can thus be used by an operator commissioning the control point 16 within the home automation installation 2, but is not accessible or visible by a user of the home automation installation 2 after activation. in service of the control point 16, which is aesthetic and guarantees protection of this charging interface.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the charging interface 74 can also be used after the commissioning of the control point 16 within the home automation installation 2, however requiring dismantling of the control device 20 outside the housing 52. This use of the recharge interface 74 is particularly useful after a prolonged shutdown of the home automation installation, such as for example after a prolonged absence of the user from the home automation installation, or when the home automation installation is installed in a secondary house with little frequented. Indeed, without recharging by the photovoltaic solar panel 54, the supercapacitor 58 tends to discharge, and the photovoltaic solar panel is generally not exposed to light during prolonged periods of non-use of the home automation installation. Thus, in the event of complete discharge of the supercapacitor 58 after a prolonged shutdown of the home automation installation, the recharge interface 74 allows the home automation installation to be put back into service. In practice, this reactivation can be carried out either by the operator who commissioned the control point, or by the user of the home automation installation.

In the example of Figures 1 to 4, the charging interface 74 comprises electrical connectors 76 and conductive elements 78, which are shown schematically in dotted lines only at the . The electrical connectors 76 are intended to be brought into contact with the external electrical energy source and the conductive elements 78 electrically connect the electrical connectors 76 to the supercapacitor 58.

Advantageously, the charging interface 74 comprises two electrical connectors 76, one of which is an electrical connector 76A dedicated to the charging interface 74, and the other of which is one of the two electrical connectors 72A, 72B also part of the conduction path 62. In the example, the other of the two electrical connectors 76 is the electrical connector 72B. As a not shown variant of the invention, the charging interface 74 comprises two dedicated electrical connectors. According to another variant, the two electrical connectors of the charging interface are the electrical connectors 72A and 72B of the conduction path 62. The electrical connectors 76 project from the housing 50 of the power supply accessory 21.

Advantageously, when the supercapacitor 58 is recharged using an external electrical energy source, such as a cell, a battery or a charger connected to a mains socket, its recharge is particularly rapid, that is to say that the recharging of the supercapacitor 58 takes place in a few seconds.

Thanks to the charging interface 74 and the electrical connectors 76, an operator wishing to activate the control point 16 in the home automation installation 2 can previously recharge the supercapacitor 58, by connecting the secondary electronic card 56 to the source of external electrical energy, by contact of the external electrical energy source on the electrical connectors 76. Once the supercapacitor 58 is recharged, the control point 16 can be assembled by mounting the control device 20 in the housing 52 of the accessory power supply 21, then the control point 16 can be configured, in particular using the auxiliary buttons 34. Thanks to the charging interface 74, the supercapacitor 58 is simple and quick to recharge, and it is not necessary to expose the photovoltaic solar panel 54 of the control point 16 to light for a long time before putting the control point into service. Furthermore, the electrical connectors 72A, 72B and 76A are covered by the control device 20 when the control point 16 is assembled, which makes the control point 16 more aesthetic.

Advantageously, the control point 16 comprises a signaling element 80, such as for example a light source or a sound source. The signaling element 80 is designed to emit a signal when the supercapacitor 58 is being recharged by the external electrical energy source, and to emit a signal when the charge level of the supercapacitor 58 reaches a predefined threshold, for example 75% or 100%. Alternatively, the signaling element 80 is designed to emit a signal only when the supercapacitor 58 is being recharged or when the charge level of the supercapacitor 58 reaches a predefined threshold.

Preferably, the signaling element 80 is supplied with electrical energy by the external electrical energy source when the latter is connected to the charging interface 74. Alternatively, the signaling element 80 is supplied with electrical energy by the supercapacitor 58.

In the example, the signaling element 80 is a light source arranged on the side edge 50C of the housing 50 of the power supply accessory 21. Thus, the signaling element 80 is not visible when the point of control 16 is assembled and is visible when control point 16 is not assembled. Thus, the signaling element 80 is not visible to a user of the home automation installation 2, which is advantageous because the signaling element 80 is not intended for this user. As a variant of the invention not shown, the signaling element 80 is arranged at another location of the power supply accessory 21, for example on the front face 50A of the housing 50.

The signaling element 80 is particularly useful for the operator responsible for commissioning the control point 16 in the home automation installation 2, because it allows the operator to be informed, on the one hand, of the proper execution of the charging process of the supercapacitor 58, and, on the other hand, knowing when to disconnect the external electrical energy source from the charging interface 74.

Advantageously, the power supply accessory 21 comprises at least one diode, not shown, preventing the circulation of an electric current from the supercapacitor 58 to the external electrical energy source. Alternatively, this management of the circulation of electric current is carried out by an integrated power management circuit, called "power management integrated circuit" in English.

We now describe a second embodiment of the control point 16. The second embodiment of the control point 16 differs from the first embodiment only by its power accessory 21, which is different from the power accessory 21 of the first embodiment.

The power supply accessory 21 is thus represented alone in . In the second embodiment, the elements similar to those of the first embodiment bear the same references and operate in the same way. In the following, the differences between the first and second embodiments are mainly described. Furthermore, if a component is mentioned in the description of the second embodiment without being shown on the , it corresponds to the same element shown in Figures 1 to 4 for the first embodiment.

As in the first embodiment, the charging interface 74 of the second embodiment comprises electrical connectors 84 and conductive elements 78, but the electrical connectors 84 are accessible through a slot 82 provided in the side edge 50C of the housing 50 of the power supply accessory 21. Thus, the electrical connectors 84 are arranged inside the housing 50. The electrical connectors 84 and the conductive elements 78, not visible from the outside of the housing 50, are represented schematically in dotted lines on the .

Here, the two electrical connectors 84 are dedicated to the charging interface 74. In other words, the electrical connectors 72 of the conduction path 62 are not used by the charging interface 74.

To recharge the supercapacitor 58 from the external electrical energy source, the operator commissioning the control point 16 inserts the external electrical energy source inside the slot 82, until putting in contact, that is to say connect, the source of external electrical energy with the electrical connectors 84. For example, when the source of external electrical energy is a button cell, then this button cell is partially inserted into the slot 82, so as to allow its removal manually. As a variant not shown, the button cell is designed to be fully inserted into the slot 82, and the power supply accessory 21 comprises means allowing the button cell to emerge from the slot 82.

Recharging the supercapacitor 58 is then particularly simple, since it is carried out only by inserting the external electrical energy source into the slot 82.

Advantageously, once at least partially inserted into the slot 82, the source of external electrical energy is maintained in the slot by friction, which allows the operator commissioning the control point 16 not to have to maintain the external electrical energy source. The recharging of the supercapacitor 58 is thus facilitated.

Alternatively, the charging interface is a standard electrical connection interface, such as a USB interface, which allows the supercapacitor 58 to be recharged using a universal charger connected to the mains.

When the control point 16 is assembled, the slot 82 is covered by the control device 20, and more precisely by the side edge 30 of the control device 20, so that the slot 82 is not visible to a user of the control point 16, which is particularly aesthetic and protects the charging interface. Furthermore, the external electrical energy source can only be inserted into the slot 82 when the control point 16 is dismantled, that is to say when the control device 20 is not mounted in the housing 52 of the power accessory 21.

In a variant not shown of the invention, the slot 82 is arranged on the front face 50A of the housing 50, and is covered by the control device 20 when the latter is mounted in the housing 52, the control device 20 s then extending partially in front of the front face 50A of the housing 50, or else the slot 82 is arranged on the rear face 50B of the housing 50, and is covered by the rear faceplate 60 or by the fixing support 20 when the control point 16 is assembled.

In a variant not shown of the invention, the power supply accessory 21 does not include a secondary electronic card 56 and the supercapacitor 58 is directly connected to the main electronic card 36 by the electrical conduction path 62. In such a variant , the main electronic card 36 also controls the photovoltaic solar panel 54 and the supercapacitor 58.

In a variant not shown of the invention, the control device 20 comprises a battery received in the battery compartment 38 in addition to the supercapacitor 58. In such a variant, the electronic card 36 is powered selectively either by the battery or by the supercapacitor 58. Preferably, in such a variant, the control point 16 comprises an integrated power management circuit configured so that the electronic card 36 is powered by the supercapacitor 58 as long as the charge level of the supercapacitor is higher at a predefined threshold, for example greater than 5%, and so that the electronic card is powered by the battery when the charge level of the supercapacitor is lower than the predefined threshold.

In a variant not shown of the invention, the control device 20 does not include a cover 40 and the rear faceplate of the control device 20 itself supports the conduction path 62. In other words, the conductive elements of the conduction path 62 are metal strips and the first ends of each conductive element are fixed to the rear faceplate in a rigid manner. The first ends of each conductive element are also in contact with the first connection points 66 arranged on the rear faceplate, so as to be connected to the conductive elements 70. In other words, the first ends of each conductive element form electrical connectors in contact with the first connection points of the rear faceplate. The second ends of the conductive elements form contact pads. When assembling the control device 20 in the power supply accessory, the rear faceplate itself forms the closing cover of the battery compartment. The second ends of the conductive elements are then located inside the battery compartment and are then in contact with the electrical connectors 42 connected to the main electronic card 36 of the control device.

Other shapes are possible for the control device 20, the power supply accessory 21 and the fixing support 22. For example, the control device 20 can be of rectangular shape and the power accessory 21 can have a rectangular housing 52, of shape complementary to that of the control device 20.

Any feature described for an embodiment or variation in the foregoing may be implemented for the other embodiments and variations described above, to the extent technically feasible.

Claims (10)

Control point (16) for home automation installation (2), the control point comprising:

• a control device (20), comprising:
  • a housing (24) having a front face (26) configured to be directed towards a user and a rear face (28),
  • at least one button (32) on the front face, configured to allow a user of the control point to generate control signals (18),
  • an electronic card (36), configured to transmit the control signals to a home automation installation (2),
• a power supply accessory (21), comprising:
  • a photovoltaic solar panel (54),
  • an electrical energy storage device (58), configured to be recharged with electrical energy by the photovoltaic solar panel and to supply electrical energy to the electronic card when the control point is assembled,
  • a charging interface (74) configured to allow charging of the electrical energy storage device with an external electrical energy source at the control point (16),

characterized in that:

• the power supply accessory (21) comprises a housing (50) carrying the photovoltaic solar panel (54) and the electrical energy storage device (58), distinct from the housing (24) of the control device (20),
• the housing of the power accessory forms a housing (52) in which the control device is mounted when the control point (16) is assembled,
• the charging interface (74) is accessible when the control device (20) is not mounted in the housing (52) of the housing (50) of the power accessory (21), and
• the charging interface (74) is not accessible when the controller is mounted in the housing of the power accessory housing.

Control point (16) according to claim 1, wherein the charging interface (74) is covered by the control device (20) when the control device is mounted in the housing (52) of the housing (50) of the power accessory (21). Control point (16) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the charging interface (74) comprises a slot (82) provided in the housing (50) of the power accessory (21) , electrical connectors (84) arranged in the housing of the power supply accessory and conductive elements (78) connected on the one hand to the electrical connectors and on the other hand to the electrical energy storage device (58), and wherein the slot is configured so that the external electrical power source is at least partially inserted therein so as to connect the electrical power source to the electrical connectors. Control point (16) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the charging interface (74) comprises electrical connectors (72B, 76A; 72A, 76A) projecting from the housing (50) of the power accessory (21) and conductive elements (78) connected on the one hand to the electrical connectors and on the other hand to the electrical energy storage device (58), and in which the electrical connectors are configured so that the external electrical energy source is connected thereto so as to connect the electrical energy source to the electrical energy storage device (58). Control point (16) according to claim 4, wherein, when the control device (20) is mounted in the housing (52) of the housing (50) of the power accessory (21), at least one ( 72B; 72A) electrical connectors (72B, 76A; 72A, 76A) connect the electrical energy storage device (58) to the electronic card (36). Control point (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the power accessory (21) further comprises a signaling element (80), configured to emit a signal when the energy source external electric recharges the electrical energy storage device (58) and/or when the charge level of the electrical energy storage device reaches a predefined threshold. Control point (16) according to claim 6, wherein the signaling element (80) is supplied with electrical energy by the external electrical energy source. Control point (16) according to any one of claims 6 and 7, in which the signaling element (80) is visible when the control device (20) is not mounted in the housing (52) of the housing (50) of the power accessory (21) and is not visible when the controller is mounted in the housing of the power accessory housing. Control point (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the electrical energy storage device (58) is a supercapacitor. Home automation installation (2), in particular a closure or solar protection installation, comprising a control point (16) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.