WO2016132307A1

WO2016132307A1 - Wall-mounted remote control device

Info

Publication number: WO2016132307A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/050856
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Ferron
Original assignee: Nice S.P.A.
Priority date: 2015-02-21
Filing date: 2016-02-17
Publication date: 2016-08-25

Abstract

An improved wall-mounted device (20) is described for remote control of a domotic component (10), the device being adapted for fixed application on a wall (W). It comprises: - a motion detector (24) for picking up in its vicinity the movement of a hand or an object; - a transmitter (26) capable of transmitting wirelessly or via cable; - a processing unit (22) programmed for - reading signals from the motion detector, -interpreting the signals to detect a predefined movement; and- driving the transmitter (26) to send a command to the domotic component as a function of the detected movement.

Description

WALL-MOUNTED REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE

The invention relates in general to a wall-mounted remote control device for a domotic component, e.g. a tubular motor or a drive for movable barriers, such as blinds, shutters, roller-blinds, sectional shutters, doors or gates, or generally for a domotic component such as a door, a garage door, a window or a lighting or temperature conditioning appliance.

The control of said home automation devices is becoming more complex and full functionality every day. FR3001098 e.g. illustrates how to control gates through a smartphone communicating bidirectionally via radio with a control unit and being able to display the state of the component that the component itself sends to it. The system even envisages the connection to Internet and the use of images on the display to make the sending of commands intuitive.

For the indoor control, however, the known wall-mounted control devices have less structural complexity. They comprise a mechanical switch, associated to a unidirectional radio or cable-connected transmitter, which has the task of sending such commands to a lamp or a driving unit.

Although simple, the wall-mounted control devices have drawbacks. To increase the number of executable commands either the number of keys is increased, thus complicating the use, or displays are used with different menus, all at the expense of intuitiveness and speed of use. In addition, particular commands are usually programmed by pressing keys in sequences difficult to remember or by reaching submenus accessible only after a lot of typing, or by using specific programming devices generally supplied only to installers because they are expensive and complex.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved control method and an improved remote control device.

Particular object is to achieve a wall-mounted control device easier to use and more intuitive.

An aspect of the invention is a remote-control method for a domotic component executed by a control device, which is preferably applied to a wall, comprising:

- detecting an electrical signal (given e.g. by the variation of a magnetic or electric field emitted by a sensor) indicative of a movement in the vicinity of the device in order to capture the movement of a hand or an object;

- interpreting the electrical signal to determine an executed movement; - comparing the determined executed movement with a predefined movement; and

- transmitting wirelessly or via cable to the domotic component a command as a function of the detected predefined movement.

The transmission via cable of the command is useful when one wants to increase the power-supply autonomy through batteries. It is also possible to use a power supply through the mains.

Another aspect of the invention is a remote control method for a domotic component, comprising:

- fixing a control device on a wall,

- detecting via the device an electrical signal (given e.g. by the variation of a magnetic or electric field emitted by a sensor) indicative of movement in the vicinity of the device in order to capture the movement of a hand or an object;

- interpreting inside the device the electrical signal to determine an executed movement;

- comparing the determined executed movement with a predefined movement; and

- transmitting wirelessly or via cable from the device to the domotic component a command as a function of the detected predefined movement.

Another aspect of the invention is a wall-mounted device for remote control of a domotic component, comprising:

- a motion detector for picking up in its vicinity the movement of a hand or an object;

- a transmitter capable of transmitting wirelessly or via cable (e.g. by radio or infrared, unidirectionally or bidirectionally);

- a processing unit programmed for

- reading signals from the motion detector,

- interpreting the signals to detect a predefined movement; and

- driving the transmitter to send a command to the domotic component as a function of the detected movement.

In this way the user does not need to necessarily touch the device, and the latter may be commanded by predefining intuitive gestures made with the hand, easy to remember. The application of the device to/on a wall is the preferred one, since the functionalities and ease of use of this category are increased. However a plurality of other applications is possible, e.g. placing the device on a remote control.

Preferably, the motion detector comprises capacitive sensors and/or is adapted to detect the perturbation of an alternating electric or magnetic field generated in the surrounding space. The advantage is e.g. to be able to control the motion of a hand or of an object as far as even 20-30 cm from the device.

Preferably, the device comprises a column of LEDs, and the processing unit is programmed for illuminating them sequentially in the same direction of the detected movement. The effect is to give visual feedback that the device has acquired the correct movement.

Or, the processing unit is programmed to sequentially illuminate the LEDs in the column to indicate in analog manner a quantity relative to the domotic component. E.g. the column of LEDs may have the purpose of indicating the brightness level set for a light source, e.g. turning on the 50% of the LEDs may indicate that the supplied brightness level is half of the maximum, or it may indicate the total or partial extension of an awning.

Preferably, the device comprises an ambient-light sensor, and the processing unit is programmed to detect a signal emitted from the light sensor and adjust as a function of it the brightness of said LEDs and/or of visible light-sources placed aboard the device. The advantage is to decrease the power consumption or to avoid glare or to react to too dark an environment by illuminating the device (useful e.g. at night).

Preferably, the device comprises a proximity sensor, e.g. a PIR sensor, and the processing unit is programmed for detecting a signal emitted by the proximity sensor and adjust as a function of it the brightness of said LEDs and/or of visible light sources placed aboard the device. The advantage is e.g. to react to the user's presence by, and only in that case, turning on light sources, or to awaken the device from a low energy consumption mode in which the motion detector is disabled in order to prolong the life of the batteries.

Advantageously the type of PIR sensor or the one exploiting a magnetic or electric field allows recognizing also a touch (tapping) made by the user on the surface of the device or of the sensor itself, thus such action may be interpreted by the processing unit as another command, for instance a stop command at a given position for the roller shutter or as turn-on or turn-off command of a light source. Preferably, the processing unit is programmed to drive the transmitter to send to the domotic component:

an ON/OFF command as a function of a detected movement, e.g. a horizontal straight movement, a bottom-up movement or vice versa, a touch (tap) and/or

a numerical value as a function of the amplitude of a detected movement, e.g. a rotary movement of the hand (like an action on a potentiometer for volume control or a thermostat, ambient brightness, speed of a fan, etc.).

The advantages are to translate simple and intuitive analog movements, especially if already associated mentally to devices already known to the user, into equivalent commands for the controlled domotic component.

In the above methods, or in the operation of said unit by means of the program that it runs, it is preferable, because a high intuitiveness is allowed for the user, that

- a detected bottom-up movement corresponds to a transmitted command of increasing a value or a parameter, and

vice versa that a detected up-bottom movement corresponds to a transmitted command of decreasing a value or a parameter; and/or

a detected movement from right to left or vice versa, or a tap of the device or of the sensor corresponds to the transmission of a stop or start command; and/or

a detected movement indicating the rotation of the hand as if it were turning a knob corresponds to a progressive variation of a value or a parameter.

Preferably, the above methods have at least one of the following advantageous steps:

- by a LED column or other means of analog display the value of an operating parameter is indicated, in particular as soon as a predefined motion is detected;

- the ambient brightness is detected to adjust as a function of it the brightness of said LEDs and/or of visible light sources placed in the vicinity of the point where the movement is detected;

- the proximity from a user or an object is detected for the point in which the movement is detected, with the advantage of reacting to user's presence. The following description relates to a preferred embodiment of the device and will further highlight its advantages, by reference to the attached drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a control system for a tubular drive.

The figure illustrates a remote control system for a tubular drive 10 arranged to move a rolled shutter 12. The drive 10 comprises an RF receiver stage 14 with an antenna 16 capable of receiving control signals from a device 20 applied to a wall W.

The device 20 comprises a microprocessor 22 connected to a motion detector 24 capable of picking up in its vicinity the movement of a hand. The detector 24 may e.g. comprise the MGC3130 chip marketed by company MICROCHIP and a set of electrodes supplied by it with alternating voltage for generating an alternating electric field E in the surrounding space.

The microprocessor 22 is also connected to a radio transmitter 26, equipped with an antenna 28, capable of sending a command to the drive 10.

There are also present an ambient light sensor 30 and a proximity sensor 32, both connected to the microprocessor 22, which also has available an optional data memory 36.

The components in the device 20 are e.g. powered by a battery 34.

OPERATION

When active (not in low-power mode, phase from which it can be awakened thanks to the intervention of the proximity sensor 32) the sensor 24 examines the space surrounding the device, and when it detects a movement it generates a corresponding signal that the unit 22 reads and, after processing, compares with a set of predefined motion-template, e.g. stored in the memory 36. If there is a match, the unit 22 drives the transmitter 26 in order to make it send a relevant radio signal that will be picked up by the receiver 14, decoded and then executed by the drive 10, e.g. a command to raise or lower the shutter 12.

An example of motion-control association may be:

- a linear movement of the hand, such as a horizontal or vertical or oblique sweep, may match an up or down or stop command for the shutter 12;

- a rotary movement of the hand, like when one turns a tap, may match a command to increase or decrease an operating parameter of the shutter 12, e.g. the position or the speed of movement, or, in the case a light source is controlled, the value of its intensity, or a thermostat or the speed of a fan. Additional functions are obtained with the sensors 30, 32, from the reading of which the unit 22 may detect the presence of someone around the device 20 or the actual degree of ambient brightness, and then accordingly or as a function of the detected data it may act on or vary operating parameters of the device 10 and/or of the remotely controlled component, e.g. the drive 10.

As an example of said operating parameters of the device 10 we mention the adjustment of the brightness of LEDs or display present aboard; and/or the turning on or off of the sensor 24; and/or

the sensitivity of the sensor 24.

Claims

1. Remote-control method for a domotic component (10) executed by a control device (20) which is preferably applied to a wall (W), comprising:

- detecting an electrical signal indicative of a movement in the vicinity of the device in order to capture the movement of a hand or an object;

- interpreting the electrical signal to determine an executed movement;

- comparing the determined executed movement with a predefined movement; and

2. Remote-control method for a domotic component (10), comprising:

- fixing a control device (10) on a wall (W),

- detecting via the device an electrical signal indicative of movement in the vicinity of the device in order to capture the movement of a hand or an object;

- comparing the determined executed movement with a predefined movement; and

- transmitting wirelessly or via cable from the device to the domotic component a command as a function of the predefined detected movement.

3. Device (20) for remote control of a domotic component (10), the device being adapted for fixed application on a wall (W), comprising:

- a motion detector (24) for picking up in its vicinity the movement of a hand or an object;

- a transmitter (26) capable of transmitting wirelessly or via cable;

- a processing unit (22) programmed for

- reading signals from the motion detector,

- interpreting the signals to detect a predefined movement; and

- driving the transmitter (26) to send a command to the domotic component as a function of the detected movement.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the motion detector comprises capacitive sensors and/or is adapted to detect the perturbation of an alternating electric or magnetic field generated in the surrounding space.

5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, comprising a column of LEDs, and the processing unit is programmed for illuminating them sequentially in the same direction of the detected movement.

6. Device according to claim 3 or 4 or 5, wherein the processing unit is programmed to sequentially illuminate the LEDs in the column to indicate in analog manner a quantity relative to the domotic component.

7. Device according to claim 3 or 4 or 5 or 6, comprising an ambient-light sensor, and the processing unit is programmed to detect a signal emitted from the light sensor and adjust as a function of it the brightness of said LEDs and/or of visible light- sources placed aboard the device.

8. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, comprising a proximity sensor, and the processing unit is programmed for detecting a signal emitted by the proximity sensor and adjust as a function of it the brightness of said LEDs and/or of visible light sources placed aboard the device, or

awakening the device from a low-power consumption mode.

9. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the processing unit is programmed to detect a signal emitted by a sensor in order to recognize also a tapping made by the user on the surface of the device or of the sensor itself.

10. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the processing unit is programmed to drive the transmitter to send an ON/OFF command to the domotic component as a function of a detected movement or a numerical value as a function of the amplitude of a detected movement.