IT202100032807A1 - COVERING STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRICAL CONTROL EQUIPMENT - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled:

"COVERING STRUCTURE OF ELECTRICAL CONTROL EQUIPMENT"

DESCRIPTION TEXT

The present invention refers to a covering structure for electrical control devices.

The present invention refers in particular to a cover plate equipped with an integrated display and advantageously usable for specific supports of a civil series.

More? in detail, the present invention refers in particular to a covering structure with integrated display that can be associated with a base suitable for supporting the so-called fruits, that is? control devices, sockets, electronic modules, etc.

In the electrical system sector, a so-called civil series includes control and actuation devices made up of switches, diverters, sockets and other elements of the electrical system, which are generally assembled in a modular manner on support frames that are fixed to boxes, generally recessed into the walls or mounted outside the walls themselves.

Normally, the internal parts of the appliances are protected by frame covering frames, called plates, which provide an adequate aesthetic finish and the necessary protection.

Are the cover plates appropriately configured to allow accessibility? to the switches and other functional control elements.

Traditionally, plates are passive elements made of various materials, mainly technopolymers, but also metals, wood, to satisfy different aesthetic needs.

In recent years, plates with functional characteristics, called active plates, have been proposed on the market, which do not simply cover the fastening elements of electrical appliances but also cover them. they are equipped with control, actuation and signaling devices.

EP3398409B1 describes a control apparatus of a civil system comprising a cover plate coupled to a functional frame which has a lower protruding edge on which sensors are positioned. The board contains an electronic circuit equipped with a series of LEDs and a microcontroller that analyzes, controls and manages the LEDs, sensors and a series of communication ports of the electronic circuit. Between the plate and the functional frame? Is there a light guide that is present? coupled with LEDs and what? configured to uniformly illuminate the external surface of the plate.

A system problem described in EP3398409B1? consisting of the fact that the front structure of the plate and the bottom of the plate open to allow the support to be housed, so as to make it interchangeable; however, in this way the assembly consisting of the plate, the front structure of the plate, the bottom of the plate and the support is bulky and therefore protrudes significantly from the installation wall.

A further problem with the structure described in EP3398409B1? constituted by the fact that the same is not equipped with visual elements that allow you to view the status of the switches or other information useful to the end user.

A further problem with the structure described in EP3398409B1? consisting of the fact that the sensors are positioned above the horizontal extension of the bottom of the plate, with a further increase in the thickness and number of system components.

Task of the present invention? that of creating a covering structure for electrical control devices which overcomes the drawbacks of the cited prior art.

Within the scope of this task, a particular purpose of the invention is? that of creating a covering structure equipped with an integrated display that allows you to view the functional status of the so-called components, i.e. devices such as control devices, sockets, electronic modules, etc.

A particular purpose of the invention? that of creating a covering structure equipped with an integrated display that allows the function associated with each individual module to be easily modified.

A further purpose of the invention? is to create a covering structure that can be advantageously mounted in place of an original traditional plate, without the need? to remove all the fruits and with a thickness substantially identical to that of a standard type plate.

Another purpose of the invention? that of creating a roofing structure that can be produced using a reduced number of components.

A further purpose of the invention? that of creating a roofing structure that has compact dimensions, with particular reference to thickness.

A further purpose of the invention? that of creating a structure with a display that is activated only in the presence of a person and which allows significant energy savings.

Another purpose of the present invention? is to create a structure which, due to its peculiar construction characteristics, is able to ensure the most extensive guarantees of reliability? and safety in use.

These objectives and others which will appear better below are achieved by a covering structure for electrical control devices, as claimed in the attached claims.

Further characteristics and advantages will emerge more clearly from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the invention, illustrated for indicative and non-limiting purposes in the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1? a perspective view of the covering structure with integrated display, for electrical control devices, sockets or other electronic devices, according to the present invention, illustrated with the display activated;

figure 2 shows, in three front views of the external part of the plate, an example of a sequence of activation of functions or configurations;

figure 3 shows, in two front views of the external part of the plate, a further example of configuration activation; figure 4? a schematic front view illustrating an example of the configuration of a plate equipped with traditional fruits;

figure 5? a schematic front view illustrating an example of configuration of a plate equipped with traditional sockets and a smart module.

With reference to the cited figures, the covering structure according to the invention, indicated globally with the reference number 1, includes a light guide element 2 associated with an electronic module (PCB), not visible in the figures, which is covered by a load-bearing structure associated with a film 4.

Structure 1? can be associated with a standard base, which can? support one or more? inserts 5, i.e. electrical and electronic devices such as, for example, control devices, sockets, electronic modules, etc.

In this case, by way of example, devices consisting of switches 5 are illustrated.

The electronic form? a printed circuit board (PCB) which includes an LED matrix 3, covered by a mask arranged between the area of the LED matrix 3 of the electronic module and the supporting structure covered by the film 4.

Corresponding to the position of the LED matrix 3, the film 4 has transparent areas for passage in correspondence with the holes present on the structure.

The electronic module has a TOF (Time Of Flight) sensor, not visible in the figures, which carries out measurements through a seat 6 formed in the supporting structure.

The TOF sensor measures the distance of vertically approaching objects, for the "gesture" function.

Film 4? translucent and has an opening in correspondence with seat 6 of the TOF sensor.

The electronic module also includes a microcontroller for serial communication with the connected devices and for communication with the LED drivers of the matrix and the frame.

The electronic module also includes a brightness sensor? environmental.

The integrated display element, consisting of the 3 LED matrix, is freely configurable to display, via icons, including animated ones, the status of the control devices and/or the associated function.

The integrated display element allows you to display fixed or scrolling or sequentially appearing alphanumeric messages.

According to the present invention, the integrated display element is disappearing and ? visible only when activated.

The automation system information is displayed directly on the plate and includes various information, such as window opening status, meeting room occupancy, door call, automation system alarms, echo.

The display takes place directly on the plate, for example by changing the color of the perimeter lighting or the internal window.

According to the present invention, the TOF sensor is used to identify the possible presence and/or movement of a hand in proximity? of the same, reporting it to the associated modules.

With so-called "intelligent" modules, i.e. capable of communicating and/or receiving signals from/to the covering structure and/or towards other intelligent modules positioned in other points of the system, the combination of these intelligent modules and the covering structure allows you to create functionalities? additional.

For example, by stopping your hand in front of the TOF sensor for a sufficient amount of time, ? It is possible to modify the function of the associated module, as schematically illustrated in figure 2.

In this way, ? It is possible to associate different functions to a single device: for example, the same switch 5 can? be used to turn on/off a specific lighting fixture or to turn on/off all the lighting fixtures in the system.

At parity? of fruits installed, the main advantage of this invention is? therefore that of guaranteeing the maximization of the functions available to each user, while at the same time allowing them to easily identify, through a symbol 7 that appears on the covering structure, the function performed by the individual fruit.

An additional advantage of this function? that, by associating the plate with intelligent modules connected via radio to other modules, even located in different points of the system, communication between the individual modules can happen without the need? of physical connections, for example between the device connected to the covering structure and the actuator that controls the load.

Furthermore, the second fruit can? also be protected by a traditional covering structure, for example a plastic plate, thus minimizing installation costs.

A further important characteristic of the present invention consists in the fact that, through the execution of specific hand movements, It is possible to recall predefined configurations.

For example, as schematically illustrated in figure 3, moving the hand from left to right can activate configuration A, while the one from top to bottom can? activate a second configuration B.

Without prejudice to what has already been said? highlighted in the previous point, in this way ? It is possible to further increase the number of functions that can be associated with each individual fruit.

Another advantage offered by this invention? constituted by the fact that ? It is possible to use hybrid type combinations, using "smart" type plates, configurable smart type inserts (modules) and traditional type inserts (modules).

Figure 4 shows an example of the configuration of a plate equipped with traditional fruits 51 while figure 5 shows an example of configuration of a plate equipped with traditional sockets 51 and a smart module 52.

In this way ? It is possible to renovate traditional systems making them smart in a simple and economical way.

Finally, a further advantage offered by the present invention consists in the fact that the functions of the smart modules are easily configured and modified via apps, or similar systems, without resorting to complex systems.

Yes ? in practice it has been observed that the invention achieves the intended task and objectives, creating a covering structure for electrical control devices equipped with a system for modifying the function of the devices themselves.

The covering structure which is the object of the present invention constitutes a so-called plate which can be advantageously used for specific supports of a civil series.

The plate according to the present invention allows the functional status of said inserts or modules to be displayed via the integrated display.

The present invention offers the advantage of allowing the user to easily identify the fruit suitable for carrying out a specific function, such as, for example, turning on or off a specific light source, bell, etc.

The present invention also offers the important advantage of allowing the function associated with each individual module to be easily modified.

Unlike known systems, in which, for example, the front structure of the plate and the bottom of the plate open to allow the housing of the support, so as to make it interchangeable, which oblige the installer to remove the original inserts to reassemble them in a special support, the covering structure according to the present invention can? be advantageously mounted to replace and replace the original classic plate, without necessarily intervening on the fruits.

For example, the fruit can? be removed from the previous support without being disconnected and reassembled on the new support suitable for hosting the covering structure.

The structure according to the invention? susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Naturally ? materials used, as well as? the dimensions may be any according to needs and the state of the art.

Claims (8)

1. Covering structure for electrical control devices, which can be associated with a base suitable for supporting functional modules; said structure being characterized by the fact that it comprises at least one LED matrix, constituting an integrated display element, and a TOF sensor which carries out detections through a seat formed in said structure; said integrated display element being configured to display a functional state of said functional modules; said functional state being determined by movements of a user's hand. 2. Covering structure, according to claim 1, characterized in that said integrated display element is? configurable to display, by means of icons, the status of said modules and associated control devices and/or functions. 3. Coverage structure, according to one or more? previous claims, characterized by the fact that said integrated display element allows a display of alphanumeric information or images, fixed or scrolling or sequentially appearing. 4. Coverage structure, according to one or more? previous claims, characterized by the fact that said integrated display element is? disappearing and ? visible only when activated. 5. Coverage structure, according to one or more? previous claims, characterized by the fact that said TOF sensor identifies a possible presence and/or movement of a hand in proximity? of said TOF sensor, reporting it to the associated modules. 6. Coverage structure, according to one or more? previous claims, characterized by the fact that said modules are intelligent modules, capable of communicating and/or receiving signals from/toward said covering structure and/or to other intelligent modules positioned in other points of a system; the combination of these intelligent modules and the covering structure allows you to create functionalities? additional. 7. Coverage structure, according to one or more? previous claims, characterized by the fact that, by moving the hand in front of said TOF sensor, It is possible to recall and activate pre-established configurations. 8. Coverage structure, according to one or more? previous claims, characterized by the fact that, by moving the hand in front of said TOF sensor, following different directions,? It is possible to recall and activate various pre-established configurations.