WO2023217550A1 - Dispositif de commande de gradation et procédés et utilisation associés - Google Patents

Dispositif de commande de gradation et procédés et utilisation associés Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2023217550A1
WO2023217550A1 PCT/EP2023/061194 EP2023061194W WO2023217550A1 WO 2023217550 A1 WO2023217550 A1 WO 2023217550A1 EP 2023061194 W EP2023061194 W EP 2023061194W WO 2023217550 A1 WO2023217550 A1 WO 2023217550A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
dimming
zone
equal
lighting
interface panel
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2023/061194
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Gérard FLORENCE
Clément LEMOINE
Original Assignee
Agc Glass Europe
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Agc Glass Europe filed Critical Agc Glass Europe
Publication of WO2023217550A1 publication Critical patent/WO2023217550A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
    • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
    • H03K17/96—Touch switches
    • H03K17/962—Capacitive touch switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
    • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
    • H03K17/96—Touch switches
    • H03K2017/9602—Touch switches characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
    • H03K2017/9604—Touch switches characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes characterised by the number of electrodes
    • H03K2017/9613—Touch switches characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes characterised by the number of electrodes using two electrodes per touch switch
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
    • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
    • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
    • H03K2217/96066—Thumbwheel, potentiometer, scrollbar or slider simulation by touch switch
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
    • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
    • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
    • H03K2217/9607—Capacitive touch switches
    • H03K2217/960785—Capacitive touch switches with illumination

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a dimming controller to provide electronic signals, whatever the protocol (I2C, KNX, Zigbee, Matter, ). Those electronic signals can activate any electronical device such as : light, roller shutter, heating system, electrochromic window or alike.
  • the electronical signals provided by the dimming controller generate control messages to a power stage in charge of controlling any electronical device as described above in order to modify the power such as on/off, increase/decrease, or alike or to change the status of specific functions such as the colour of a lighting system
  • the invention concerns multiple domains where a dimming controller, especially for a domestic use, can be used to control a function such as the intensity of a light source, the opening and the closing of a roller shutter, the light transmission of an active glazing, the temperature of the heating system, the speed of a fan or alike.
  • a dimming controller controls a function by a long pressure on a rocker or with a slider.
  • dimming controllers can include a user interface having plurality of buttons-like to receive inputs from a user. To response to such inputs, such dimming controllers can comprise status indicators (visual, sensitive) for providing feedbacks to the user.
  • status indicators visual, sensitive
  • the difficulty with conventional dimming controllers for the user is to control a function and having the feedbacks at a different location.
  • the present invention relates, in a first aspect, to a dimming controller.
  • the dimming controller comprises
  • an interface panel having a front face designed to be touched by an user to interact with the dimming controller and a back face
  • an electronic board comprising a dimming area; the electronic board is sandwiched between the interface panel and the support; the electronic board comprises a first surface facing the back face and a second surface.
  • the solution as defined in the first aspect of the present invention is based on that the distance between the first surface and the back face is smaller than or equal to 0.4 mm, preferably the distance between the first surface and the back face is smaller than or equal to 0.3 mm, more preferably the distance between the first surface and the back face is smaller than or equal to 0.25 mm.
  • the solution as defined in the first aspect of the present invention is also based on that the dimming area comprises a first dimming zone and a second dimming zone.
  • the first dimming zone comprises Nf capacitive segments forming a first linear array.
  • the second dimming zone comprising Ns capacitive segments forming a second linear array.
  • Nf, Ns are natural numbers and are equal to or greater than 2 (Nf, Ns > 2).
  • the first dimming zone is electrically isolated from the second dimming zone.
  • the solution as defined in the first aspect of the present invention is also based on that the dimming zone further comprises a lighting zone separating the first dimming zone and the second dimming zone.
  • the lighting zone comprises a lighting slot.
  • the solution as defined in the first aspect of the present invention is also based on that the electronic board comprises Nl LEDs forming a lighting linear array and designed to illuminate through the interface panel via the lighting slot, where Nl is a natural number and is equal to or greater than 2 (Nl > 2).
  • the solution as defined in the first aspect of the present invention is also based on that the width of the lighting zone is smaller than or equal to 12 mm, preferably the width of the lighting zone is smaller than or equal to 10 mm, more preferably the width of the lighting zone is smaller than or equal to 8 mm and even more preferably the width of the lighting zone is smaller than or equal to 6 mm.
  • the present invention allows to activate any electronical device, such as light, roller shutter, heating system, electrochromic window or alike, by a gesture along the lighting zone without any precise positioning of a finger or alike on the lighting zone while helping users to interact more easily with such electronic device.
  • the dimming controller of the first aspect of the invention helps to reduce the size, especially the thickness of a dimming controller.
  • the present invention relates, in a second aspect, to a method to manufacture a dimming controller according to the first aspect.
  • the manufacturing method comprises following steps :
  • A1 Providing the interface panel and the electronic board
  • the present invention relates, in a third aspect, to a method to assemble a dimming controller according to the first aspect to an object, especially a wall, to easily and fast assembling said dimming controller on the place where it will be used.
  • the assembling method comprises following steps :
  • the present invention solves the need to interact and command an electronical device with an easy and not precise gesture while reducing the thickness of said dimming controller.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an interface panel and an electronic board of a dimming controller according to a first embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an electronic board of a dimming controller according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an electronic board of a dimming controller according to a third embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an electronic board of a dimming controller according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a dimming controller according to the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded 3D schematic view of a dimming controller according to some embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is an exploded 3D schematic view of a dimming controller according to some embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a dimming area according to some embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a method to interact with a dimming controller by a gesture substantially along the lighting slot according to some embodiments of the invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a method to interact with a dimming controller by acceptable gestures near the lighting slot according to some embodiments of the invention.
  • constituent element e.g., a first constituent element
  • another constituent element e.g., a second constituent element
  • the constituent element may be directly connected to the another constituent element or may be connected to the another constituent element through another constituent element (e.g., a third constituent element).
  • transparent meaning optically transparent, denotes, unless otherwise specified, a property illustrating the average TL (light transmission) of visible light transmitted through a material in the visible spectrum of at least 1 %.
  • transparent relates to a TL property of at least 10%. More preferably, transparent denotes a TL of at least 50%. Ideally, transparent denotes a TL of at least 70%.
  • opaque denotes, unless otherwise specified, a property illustrating the average TL (light transmission) of visible light transmitted through a material in the visible spectrum of at most 1 %.
  • opaque relates to a TL property of at most 0.5%. More preferably, opaque denotes a TL of at most 0.1 %. Ideally, opaque denotes a TL of at most 0.05%.
  • the dimming controller is a controller designed to provide electronic signals, whatever the protocol to be used such as I2C, KNX, Zigbee, Matter, ... Those electronic signals can activate any electronical device such as : light, roller shutter, heating system, electrochromic window or alike.
  • the electronical signals provided by the dimming controller generate control messages to a power stage in charge of controlling any electronical device as described above in order to modify the power (such as on/off, increase/decrease, or alike) or to change the status of specific functions (such as the colour of a lighting system)
  • the dimming controller is able, for example and not limiting, to dim a light source but also to adapt the position of a roller shutter, modify the temperature of a heating system.
  • the diming controller comprises an interface panel.
  • the interface panel has a front face and a back face. Said front and back faces are preferably substantially parallel to each other.
  • the front face is designed to be touched by an user, especially with a finger or alike, to interact with the dimming controller.
  • the gesture of the user on the front face, behind the dimming area permits to control a function such as the intensity of a light source, the opening and the closing a roller shutter, the light transmission of an active glazing, the temperature of the heating system, the speed of a fan or alike depending of the electrical device to be controlled.
  • the interface panel can be made of any material suitable to transmit the user gesture on the first surface of the electronic board.
  • the interface panel can have different chemical composition, such as plastic-based composition.
  • the plastic-based composition can be PET, polycarbonate, PVC or any other plastic-based suitable to be used as a interface panel for a dimming controller.
  • the interface panel can be cut by any known method, for example, a method in which laser light is irradiated on the surface of the interface panel to cut it, or a method in which a cutter wheel is mechanically cutting can be used.
  • the interface panel is a dielectric interface panel to avoid any direct conductivity with the dimming zone.
  • the interface panel comprises a glass sheet.
  • References to glass throughout this application should not be regarded as limiting.
  • the glass sheet according to the some embodiments of the present invention can be made of glass which may belong to various categories.
  • the glass can thus be a glass of soda-lime-silica, aluminosilicate or borosilicate type, and the like, comprising at least 50% in weight (wt%) of SiO .
  • the glass composition typically comprises the following components (Comp. A). In all glass compositions described herein, the levels are in expressed in weight percentage, or in weight ppm expressed with respect to the total weight of glass.
  • the glass composition is a soda-lime-silicate-type glass (Comp. B).
  • soda-lime-silicate-type glass it is meant that the following composition :
  • “ultra-white” or “extra-clear” glasses are known since years in the solar or building domain, due to their high luminous and/or energetical transmittance. These glasses contain low amount of iron such as 0,002-0,06 wt%, preferably 0.002-0.04 wt%, more preferably 0.002-0.02 wt% of total iron (expressed as Fe20s).
  • glass compositions can include other components, of nature and quantity adapted to the desired effect.
  • specific oxidants such chromium oxide, cobalt oxide, selenium oxide, manganese oxide and/or cerium oxide, can be added.
  • the glass advantageously has a composition which comprises, in a content expressed in percentages in total weight of glass: Total iron (expressed as Fe20s) at a level of 0.002 - 0.06 wt%; and CT2O3 at a level of 0.0001 - 0.06 wt%, preferably 0.002 to 0.06 wt%.
  • Total iron expressed as Fe20s
  • CT2O3 at a level of 0.0001 - 0.06 wt%, preferably 0.002 to 0.06 wt%.
  • the glass composition can also further comprise cobalt so that it comprises 0.0015 - 1 wt% of O2O3 and 0,0001 - 1 wt% of Co.
  • the glass can typically comprise : Total iron (expressed as Fe20s) 0.02 - 1 wt%, preferably 0.06 - 1 wt%; C ⁇ Os : 0,002 - 0.5 wt%; and Co 0,0001 - 0,5 wt%.
  • Glass compositions based on chromium, cobalt and selenium as illustrated in WO201 4/146941 have shown particularly good performance in terms of infrared transmission, while offering interesting possibilities in terms of aesthetics/color : from gray neutrality to light to intense coloring in the gray-bronze range.
  • the glass composition will typically comprises : Total iron (expressed as Fe20s) 0.002 - 1 wt%; CT2O3 0,001- 0.5 wt%; Co 0,0001 - 0,5 wt%; and Se 0,0003 - 0,5 wt%.
  • glass compositions of use for the invention herein are those which have been formulated to be easily chemically temperable - more favorable to ion exchange than conventional soda-lime-silica glass compositions while remaining easy to produce, in particular on an existing line of production of classical soda-lime-silica glass.
  • Such glass composition comprises the following components:
  • these glasses contain low amount of iron such as 0,0001 %-0, 06%, preferably 0.002%-0.04%, more preferably 0.002-0.02% of total iron (expressed as Fe2O3).
  • the interface panel can be a tempered glass sheet.
  • the interface panel can comprises two glass sheets laminated together by a polymer interlayer.
  • the interlayer is fixing the majority of the surface of the glass sheets.
  • the interlayer can be made of a single layer of material or multiple layer of single or different material.
  • the interlayer can be made of single sheet of material or a plurality of sheets placed next to each other to form a single-like sheet.
  • the interlayer is a glue.
  • the interlayer is a interlayer able to laminate the glass sheets together.
  • such interlayer can be transparent plastic interlayer.
  • Transparent plastic interlayer can be polyvinyl butyral (PVB), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a polycarbonate (PC), a polystyrene (PS), a polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a polyamide (PA), a polyetherimide (PEI), a polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a polyurethane, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS), a styrene acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN), a styrene methyl methacrylate copolymer (SMMA) and any mixtures of these, a crosslinked resin, an ionoplast, an ionomer, a cyclo-olefin polymer
  • Crosslinked or cured resins are known to the skilled person and are three dimensional polymer networks obtained by the crosslinking/curing of low molecular weight species either by reaction with a curing agent also known as crosslinker or upon exposure to heat, UV radiations (UV) or electron beam (EB).
  • Non exhaustive examples of crosslinked resins are epoxy resins, polyurethane resins, UV or EB curable resins.
  • the precursors of the crosslinked resin may be transparent or not provided that the crosslinked resin is transparent.
  • borders of the interface panel can be chamfered to avoid breakage or risk of cut.
  • the glass sheet can be manufactured by a known manufacturing method such as a float method, a fusion method, a redraw method, a press molding method, or a pulling method. As a manufacturing method of the glass sheet, from the viewpoint of productivity and cost, it is preferable to use the float method.
  • the interface panel can be processed, i.e. annealed, tempered,... to respect the specifications of security requirements.
  • the interface panel can be a clear, a transparent or a colored interface panel, tinted with a specific composition or by applying a coating or a plastic layer for example.
  • the interface panel can have any shape to fit to the other elements of the dimming controller and the design of the dimming controller.
  • the interface layer has the shape, especially the perimeter, of the dimming controller.
  • the thickness of the interface panel is smaller than or equal to 2.5 mm, preferably the thickness of the interface panel is smaller than or equal to 1.5 mm, more preferably the thickness of the interface panel is smaller than or equal to 1 .1 mm to minimize the thickness of the dimming element while minimizing interferences between the gesture on the front face and the dimming zone.
  • the thickness of the interface panel is equal to or greater than 0.1 mm, preferably the thickness of the interface panel is equal to or greater than 0.3 mm, more preferably the thickness of the interface panel is equal to or greater than 0.5 mm to optimize the signal between the gesture on the front face and the dimming zone.
  • the front face and/or the back can be surface treated, preferably only the front face is surface treated, with an etching method or a texturing method, to change the touch feeling of the front face, to become an easy-to-clean, anti-glare surface and/or an anti-fingerprint surface.
  • the surface treatment can be made on the whole front face or on a portion of the front face.
  • the interface panel can comprise a decorative layer on at least a part of the front face and I or the back face.
  • the decorative layer or alike can be deposited over at least a portion of the front face and/or the back face or on the whole surface.
  • the decorative layer can be made of a single or a multiple layers of material.
  • the decorative layer can be a paint deposited by a known method preferably by a inkjet print method.
  • the surface treatment can be designed to show to the user where the dimming area is placed under the interface panel.
  • the decorative layer can be designed to show to the user where the dimming area is placed under the interface panel.
  • the interface panel is a transparent interface panel with a decorative layer on the back face. More preferably, the decorative layer is an opaque decorative layer.
  • the diming controller comprises a support designed to attach the dimming controller to an object.
  • the object can be a furniture, such as a desk, a table or alike.
  • the object can also be a building part such as partition, a wall, a frame, a door or alike.
  • the object can also be a vehicle, a train, an airplane or alike.
  • the support is an element fixed to the interface panel.
  • the support can ensure the tightness of the dimming controller.
  • the support can be fixed on the border of the back face, on the edges of the interface panel and/or the border of the front face.
  • the support is fixed on the back face only to leave visible edges of the interface panel.
  • the support is fixed on the back face and on the edges to ensure that elements of the dimming interface are held together.
  • the support can be fixed on the interface panel by a glue, by an overmolding or any other known method.
  • the support can also be directly 3D-printed or injected on the interface panel with the desired shape with a mold and an injection process.
  • the support can be made of plastic such as Polypropylene, PVC, PC-ABS or alike.
  • the support can be made of aluminium, brass or alike. It is understood that with such material, the dimming zone has to be electrically isolated from said material.
  • the support surround the dimming controller.
  • the diming controller comprises an electronic board.
  • the electronic board is sandwiched between the interface panel and the support.
  • An electronic board is a panel that is not electrically conductive as such.
  • the electronic board is preferably a print circuit board (PCB) and electronic components such as capacitive segments, circuits, capacitance, resistance and alike installed on the PCB.
  • PCB print circuit board
  • the electronic board comprises several layers to facilitate the connection between electric components and then comprises different layers of dielectric materials and conductive circuits sandwiched together.
  • electronic board comprises a first surface facing the back face and a second surface; the second surface is outer and opposite surface to the first surface.
  • the electronic board is substantially parallel to the interface panel meaning that the first surface and the back face are substantially parallel.
  • the electronic board comprises a dimming area on the first surface
  • the dimming area can have different shapes depending on the interface layer, the possibilities to place all electronic components and/or the desired design.
  • the dimming area can have different geometries, such as slider, rotative, impulsion.
  • the electronic board can comprises more than one dimming zone. Each dimming zone controls a specific function.
  • the electronic board can comprise at least a touch zone to ON-OFF a specific function.
  • the distance between the first surface of the electronic board and the back face of the interface panel can be smaller than or equal to 0.5 mm, preferably the distance between the first surface of the electronic board and the back face of the interface panel can be smaller than or equal to 0.3 mm, more preferably the distance between the first surface of the electronic board and the back face of the interface panel can be smaller than or equal to 0.1 mm and even more preferably the distance between the first surface of the electronic board and the back face of the interface panel can be smaller than or equal to 0.05 mm.
  • the first surface of the electronic board is in contact with the back face of the interface panel directly or via a thin layer of tape.
  • the tape layer can be any tape that is limiting the interaction between the gesture and the dimming area.
  • the term “thin” means a thickness of at most 0.4 mm, preferably at most 0.3 mm and more preferably at most 0.25 mm.
  • the tape can be made of closed cell acrylic or any other suitable material.
  • the capacitive segments on the first surface are in contact with the interface panel directly of via a thin layer of tape. It is preferred to avoid air between the capacitive segments and the interface panel.
  • the width of the first dimming zone and I or the width of the second dimming zone is smaller than or equal to 25 mm to be optimise the zone of gesture, more preferably the width of the first dimming zone and I or the width of the second dimming zone is smaller than or equal to 15 mm
  • the width of the first dimming zone and I or the width of the second dimming zone is equal to or greater than 7 mm.
  • the width of the first dimming zone and the width of the second dimming zone is about 12 mm.
  • the dimming area comprises a first dimming zone and a second dimming zone.
  • the first dimming zone comprises Nf capacitive segments forming a first linear array and the second dimming zone comprises Ns capacitive segments forming a second linear array; where Nf, Ns are natural numbers and are equal to or greater than 2 (Nf, Ns > 2).
  • the first dimming zone is electrically isolated from the second dimming zone.
  • the first and the second linear array can be straight or curved depending on the shape of the dimming area and the desired needed gesture of interaction.
  • capacitive segments are preferably aligned substantially perpendicular to the lighting zone to facilitate the interpretation of the gesture on the front face.
  • Capacitive segments can have various shapes depending on the desired geometry of the capacitive area.
  • the capacitive segments Preferably, have a W-like shape, also called chevron-like shape, to reduce the noise while increasing the signal and the interpretation of the gesture.
  • the dimming zone further comprises a lighting zone separating the first dimming zone and the second dimming zone.
  • the lighting zone comprises a lighting slot.
  • the lighting slot is a straight or curved linear and elongated hole made through the electronic board, meaning from the first surface to the second surface.
  • the electronic board comprises Nl LEDs forming a lighting linear array and designed to illuminate through the interface panel via the lighting slot; where Nl is a natural number and is equal to or greater than 2 (Nl > 2).
  • the lighting slot, and the lighting zone is placed between the first dimming zone and the second dimming zone.
  • the lighting linear array can be straight or curved depending on the shape of the dimming area and the desired needed gesture of interaction.
  • LEDs are connected on the second surface of the electronic board and illuminating trough the light slot and are illuminating trough the interface panel to be visible by the user. It means that the interface panel and the decorative layer if exists is/are transparent to lights generated by LEDs.
  • LEDs are punctual LEDS placed to form the lighting linear array.
  • the number of LEDS Nl depends on the application and the level of precision desired.
  • Each LED can be a monochromatic LED or a RGB LED.
  • the intensity, the colour and/or ON/OFF can be managed to give a better visual response to a gesture made by the user on the front face.
  • Each LED can be independently powered.
  • the width of the lighting zone is smaller than or equal to 12 mm, preferably the width of the lighting zone is smaller than or equal to 10 mm, more preferably the width of the lighting zone is smaller than or equal to 8 mm and even more preferably the width of the lighting zone is smaller than or equal to 6 mm.
  • the width of the lighting zone is equal to or greater than 4 mm, preferably the width of the lighting zone is equal to or greater than 5 mm.
  • the dimming controller 1 comprises an interface panel 2, an electronic board 3 and a support 6.
  • the dimming element is extending along a plane, P, defined by a longitudinal axis, X, and a vertical axis, Y.
  • the interface panel has a width, W2, measured along the longitudinal axis, X, and a height, L2, measured along the vertical axis, Y.
  • the electronic board is smaller in X- and Y- axis to be hide and surrounded by the support. Thicknesses are measured along the Z- axis.
  • W2 is about 10 cm
  • L2 is about 10 cm
  • Z2 is at most 2.5 mm, preferably about 1.1 mm or smaller than 1 mm.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a rectangular interface panel 2 with a front face 21.
  • the dimming controller and thus the interface panel can have any shape such as a rectangular shape, in a plan view P.
  • the shape is not limited to a rectangle and may be a circle, a rounded square, a hex or the like depending on the desired design and/or the function to command.
  • the interface panel is a substantially flat panel meaning that the front face of the interface panel is parallel to plane P.
  • the interface panel can be curved.
  • the electronic board has to be curved in a corresponding shape to fit have the first surface and the back face substantially parallel.
  • FIGs. 1 and 2 also illustrate a first surface 31 of an electronic board. It is understood that the dimming area is placed on the first surface to work properly with the gesture on the front face of the electronic board.
  • the dimming area 4 has a general shape in plane P of a rectangular with a width, W4, measured along the longitudinal axis, X, and a height, L4, measured along the vertical axis, Y.
  • the first dimming zone 41 has a general shape in plane P of a rectangular with a width, W41 , measured along the longitudinal axis, X, and a height, L41 , measured along the vertical axis, Y.
  • the second dimming zone 42 has a general shape in plane P of a rectangular with a width, W42, measured along the longitudinal axis, X, and a height, L42, measured along the vertical axis, Y.
  • the lighting zone 5 has a general shape in plane P of a rectangular with a width, W5, measured along the longitudinal axis, X, and a height, L5, measured along the vertical axis, Y.
  • the lighting slot 51 has a general shape in plane P of a rectangular with a width, W51 , measured along the longitudinal axis, X, and a height, L51 , measured along the vertical axis, Y.
  • linear arrays can be elongated along the vertical axis but also along the horizontal axis or in any other direction on the plane P.
  • the first, the second and the lighting linear arrays are straight meaning that capacitive segments (not shown in FIG. 1 or 2) and LEDs (not shown in FIG. 1 or 2) forms independently straight lines formed by aligned punctual capacitive segments or LEDs.
  • the height of the lighting slot 51 can be equal to or smaller than the height of the first 41 and/or the second 42 dimming zones depending on the requirement of the design and the use.
  • the height of the lighting slot corresponds to the number and the size of LEDs needed depending on the desired level of precision expected for a defined use and electronical device.
  • the height of the dimming zones corresponds to the number and the size of capacitive segments needed depending on the desired level of precision expected for a defined use and electronical device.
  • the height of the lighting slot 51 can be greater than or equal to the height of the first 41 and/or the second 42 dimming zones depending on the requirement of the design and the use.
  • the height and/or the width of the first 41 and the second 42 dimming zones are equals.
  • the width of the dimming area W4 is about 30 mm and the height of the dimming area L4 is about 30 mm.
  • the height of the lighting slot L5 is about 50 mm long and the width of the lighting slot W5 is about 1 ,8 mm wide, the width of the dimming area W4 is about 29.3 mm and the height of the dimming area L4 is about 30.5 mm.
  • FIGs. 3 and 4 illustrate other embodiments, where the first, the second and the lighting linear arrays are curved meaning that capacitive segments (not shown in FIG. 3 or 4) and LEDs (not shown in FIG. 3 or 4) forms independently curved lines formed by aligned punctual capacitive segments or punctual LE Ds.
  • Curved lines can be become a circle as illustrated in Fig. 4 in some embodiments.
  • dimensions are measured by taking into account the curvature and the width the measured perpendicular to the normal to the curve.
  • curved linear arrays can have one or more positive or negative radius of curvature.
  • FIGs. 3 and 4 illustrated a single positive radius of curvature.
  • FIG. 5 illustrate a lighting slot 51 with LEDs 52 connected on the second surface 22 and illuminating 53 through the interface panel 2 via the lighting slot 51.
  • the support 6 permits to sandwich the electronic board 3 between the support 6 and the interface panel 2.
  • the support is attached to the interface panel only on the border of the back face.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates an interface panel having a thickness T2 measured in the Z-axis, an electronic board having a thickness T3 measured in the Z-axis and a distance T23 measured in the Z-axis between the first surface 31 and the back face 22.
  • the distance T23 is minimized to reduce noise between the gesture on the front face and the dimming area on the first surface 31 .
  • FIG. 6 illustrates some embodiments where the first surface 31 is directly in contact with the back face of the interface panel 22 (not shown in FIG.6).
  • FIG. 7 illustrates some embodiments where the first surface 31 is in contact via a thin layer of tape 70 with the back face of the interface panel 22 (not shown in FIG.7).
  • the tape can cover the full surface of the first surface 31 or the tape can surround the first surface 31 , a very thin air gap can occur.
  • another feedback can be add to the dimming control such as a haptic response 80 and/or a sound response.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates some embodiments of a linear array of capacitive segments of a first dimming zone according to the invention. It is understood that it could be used for a second dimming zone.
  • capacitive segments CSg1 , CSg2, CS1 , CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5, ... CSn have a chevron-like shape with a width Hs.
  • Parts of a segments have a width Hs1 , Hs2, Hs3 and Hs4.
  • Each segment has a height Ws and are separated from the next one by a distance Wa.
  • the height Ws is function of the thickness of the sum between the interface panel and the distance T23. The larger the sum between the interface panel and the distance T23, the larger the height Ws is.
  • the height Ws is equal to or greater than 1 mm (Ws > 1 mm).
  • the height Ws is smaller than or equal to 4 mm (Ws ⁇ 4 mm).
  • the distance Wa is comprises between 0.5 mm and 2 mm (0.5 mm ⁇ Wa ⁇ 2 mm).
  • the width W41 of the first dimming zone 41 and the width W42 of the second dimming zone 42 are respectively the sum of the width of corresponding segments Ws with the distance Ahg and the distance Ahd.
  • the width Hs is comprised between 7 mm and 15 mm.
  • the width Hs is about 12mm and distances Ahd and Ahg are about 1 mm (Ahd s 1 mm; Ahg s 1 mm) meaning that the width W41 and/or the width W42 is preferably about 14 mm.
  • the electronic board comprises a hatched plane 35, electrically conductive, surrounding dielectric zones 41 , 42.
  • the hatched panel comprises a dielectric zone 36.
  • Capacitive segments are separated from the shield by a distance Ahd and Ahg on each side.
  • Capacitive segments can be considered as sensor pad formed by a copper, or alike, trace on the electronic board surrounded by a plane.
  • the plane can be connected to a ground or to a signal generator.
  • the capacitance between a segment and the hatched plane changes when the user moves his finger on the front face above the dimming area.
  • the variation of capacitance causes a variation of the electrical signal received by a Capacitive Sensing Interface CSI integrated in a microcontroller or alike.
  • the interpretation is to pass from an analogic signal to a digital signal to be converted by a software or alike to control the desired function.
  • this interpretation is powered by the microcontroller.
  • the CSI is composed of an analogical interface which measures the signal of every capacitive segment. Signals are digitally converted and processed, then stored in memory to be provided.
  • the implementation of the CSI consists in configuration of its hardware parameters and choosing the capacitance measurement method.
  • the hardware parameters of CSI are configured taking into account the type of the sensors and lower levels settings.
  • Capacitance measurement can be performed according to two different ways, “Mutual Capacitance” and “Self-Capacitance”. In this last mode, the capacity is measured between a pin connected to the capacitive sensor and the ground. The measurement is performed by applying a switching signal to the pad and sampling the current to convert it digitally .When the user fingertip touched the front face it forms an additional parallel capacitance. This results in a current change which is then converted in a digital value. By comparing the change of digital value to a threshold, the software detects activity on the sensor.
  • Capacitive segments are connected to an input of the CSI. As long as there are enough resources, additional segments can be implemented.
  • the ESL is about 30 mm but depending the design, the dimensions and number of capacitive segments for the desired function.
  • the hatched plane surrounding capacitive sensors may be driven by a signal identical to the sensor switching signal, instead of being connected to ground.
  • the hatched plane, or rather the shield is then connected to a generator integrated in the microcontroller.
  • This function is generally implemented to protect the capacitive touch area from liquid droplets. This reduces the parasitic capacitance due to the trace from the sensor pad to the input pin of the microcontroller.
  • it could be important to consider this aspect because when the user’s finger is spread over both dimming zones ,the generated signal is much lower. This can be a problem with higher interface panel thickness.
  • the adjacent segment are connected to the driven shield.
  • two dummy segments CSg1 CSg2 are implemented at the ends of the linear array.
  • adjacent segments are connected to shield.
  • ESL is the distance between these two dummy segments.
  • To maintain a uniform signal level from all the capacitive segments it is preferred to physically connect the two dummy segments to either ground or driven shield signal.
  • One of the general recommendation for a slider design is to surround the sliders by the hatched plane can be connected to the ground or the shield to increase the ratio signal/noise while ensuring a good signal even if droplet are present on the interface panel. This is not the case in the present invention because of the presence of the lighting slot between the two dimming zones.
  • the present invention permits to combine good sensitivity with the continuity of lighting.
  • an electronic board comprises at least four layers preventing parasites on sensor signals.
  • a specific embodiment of layers can be as following, from the first surface to the second surface :
  • Capacitive segments on the first surface and capacitive sensors are at least partially surrounded by hatched plane connected to a shield;
  • the microcontroller layer is the microcontroller layer
  • Series resistances such as 560 ohms series resistances for instance, can be placed close to the microcontroller so that the radiated noise picked by the traces gets filtered at the input of the device.
  • the height Ws is about 1 mm and the distance Wa is about 1 mm.
  • the surface in the plane P, meaning dimensions and shape, of the interface panel is greater than the surface and shape of the electronic board in order to cover the electronic board to hide and protect the electronic board.
  • the support surrounds entirely the perimeter of the electronic board, being fix on the back face and/or on edges of the interface panel.
  • the electronic board is protected from the outside of the dimming controller to ensure tightness of the dimming controller while protecting a user to be able to touch energized electrical elements such as components comprised by the electronic board.
  • the width of the lighting zone W5 is smaller than or equal to 12 mm, preferably the width of the lighting zone is smaller than or equal to 10 mm, more preferably the width of the lighting zone is smaller than or equal to 8 mm and even more preferably the width of the lighting zone is smaller than or equal to 6 mm.
  • the width of the lighting zone W5 is equal or greater than 4 mm, preferably the width of the lighting zone W5 is equal or greater than 5 mm to ensure the user’s experience while keeping a good ratio signal/noise and avoid any perturbation on the command signal of LEDs.
  • the width of the lighting zone W5 is about 5.3 mm.
  • the first and the second dimming zones can comprises at least 5 capacitive segments (Nf > 5; Ns > 5), preferably at least 7 capacitive segments (Nf > 7; Ns > 7), and more preferably at least 9 capacitive segments(Nf > 9; Ns > 9).
  • the electronic board comprises at least 5 LEDs (Nl > 5), preferably at least at least 7 LEDs (Nl > 7), and more preferably at least 9 LEDs (Nl > 9). The number of LEDs is independent of the number of capacitive segments.
  • the support can provide some elements 65, such as pins, to easily sandwich at the desired location the electronic board .
  • elements 35 such as holes, can be provided.
  • the sandwiching step can be made with a glue, an injection and/or mechanically with mechanical elements or any other suitable method.
  • the support comprises on the outer side, the side that is not sandwiched, of the dimming controller, some elements with defined shape and dimensions and designed to be plugged and/or to be assembled with a functional plate.
  • Such elements can be standard and/or specific to be adapted to any and/or some functional plates that already exist on the market.
  • the functional plate can be fixed to a block set fixed on a wall. This permits to fix the dimming controller according to the first aspect to a wall. It is understood that cables are connected before the fixation to the wall. It is understood that the wall can be any other object where a dimming controller can be installed on.
  • the dimming controller can stand alone with a specific cover, meaning that the dimming controller can control the function wirelessly, without connecting cables linked to the electrical device.
  • the support can be assembled with such specific cover or can be the specific cover.
  • the present invention relates, in a fourth aspect, to the use of a dimming controller according to any claim 1 to 12 to control a defined function such as the intensity of a light source, the opening and the closing a roller shutter, the light transmission of an active glazing, the temperature of the heating system, the speed of a fan or alike in response to a gesture G1 , G2, G3 on the front face of the interface panel.
  • a dimming controller according to any claim 1 to 12 to control a defined function such as the intensity of a light source, the opening and the closing a roller shutter, the light transmission of an active glazing, the temperature of the heating system, the speed of a fan or alike in response to a gesture G1 , G2, G3 on the front face of the interface panel.
  • the present invention relates, in a fifth aspect and as illustrated in FIGs. 9 and 10, to a method to control a defined function such as the intensity of a light source, the opening and the closing a roller shutter, the light transmission of an active glazing, the temperature of the heating system, the speed of a fan or alike in response to a gesture on the front face of the interface panel.
  • a defined function such as the intensity of a light source, the opening and the closing a roller shutter, the light transmission of an active glazing, the temperature of the heating system, the speed of a fan or alike in response to a gesture on the front face of the interface panel.
  • the method comprises a step of touching the front face 21 of the interface panel with a single finger 9 or alike over the dimming zone with a gesture G1 , G2, G3.
  • some LEDs can light on, off and/or change their light intensity to indicate the modification and the action on the electrical device.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a simple gesture G1 along the lighting slot.
  • the user with his finger can easily follow LEDs to control the electrical device and change the current state, for example changing the light intensity of a room, heating up a heating system, decrease or increase the light transmission of an active glazing,... and immediately see the change on the lighting linear area with the change of the state of some LEDs in response.
  • LEDs from the bottom to the top can change their intensity from a defined value to an upper value to see a bar-like increasing/decreasing under the finger.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates other compatible gestures G2, G3 thanks to the dimming controller of the first aspect of the present invention.
  • the user can still control the electrical device without strictly following the lighting slot by passing from one side to the other.
  • the invention permits to allow an user to intuitively control the graduation of any information by moving the fingertip on the front face over the dimming area even if the dimming area is hidden by a decorative layer or alike.
  • This dual dimming zones architecture allows to detect position of the user’s finger either with the left slider or the right one independently. A trajectory crossing the line is then possible.
  • the dimming controller of the present invention permits to accept various gestures G1 , G2, G3,... on the front face while keeping a perfect control of an electrical device.

Landscapes

  • Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de commande de gradation comprenant un panneau d'interface ayant une face avant conçue pour être touchée par un utilisateur pour interagir avec le dispositif de commande de gradation et une face arrière, un support conçu pour fixer le dispositif de commande de gradation à un objet et une carte électronique comprenant une zone de gradation ; la carte électronique est prise en sandwich entre le panneau d'interface et le support ; la carte électronique comprend une première surface faisant face à la face arrière et une deuxième surface. La distance entre la première surface et la face arrière est inférieure ou égale à 0,4 mm, de préférence la distance entre la première surface et la face arrière est inférieure ou égale à 0,3 mm, plus préférablement la distance entre la première surface et la face arrière est inférieure ou égale à 0,25 mm. La zone de gradation comprend une première zone de gradation et une deuxième zone de gradation. La première zone de gradation comprend Nf segments capacitifs formant un premier réseau linéaire. La deuxième zone de gradation comprenant Ns segments capacitifs formant un deuxième réseau linéaire. Nf, Ns sont des nombres naturels et sont égaux ou supérieurs à 2 (Nf, Ns ≥ 2). La première zone de gradation est électriquement isolée de la deuxième zone de gradation. La zone de gradation comprend en outre une zone d'éclairage séparant la première zone de gradation et la deuxième zone de gradation. La zone d'éclairage comprend une fente d'éclairage. La carte électronique comprend des Nl DEL formant un réseau linéaire d'éclairage et conçues pour éclairer à travers le panneau d'interface par l'intermédiaire de la fente d'éclairage, Nl étant un nombre naturel et étant égal ou supérieur à 2 (Nl ≥ 2). La largeur de la zone d'éclairage est inférieure ou égale à 12 mm, de préférence la largeur de la zone d'éclairage est inférieure ou égale à 10 mm, plus préférentiellement la largeur de la zone d'éclairage est inférieure ou égale à 8 mm et encore plus préférentiellement la largeur de la zone d'éclairage est inférieure ou égale à 6 mm.
PCT/EP2023/061194 2022-05-09 2023-04-27 Dispositif de commande de gradation et procédés et utilisation associés WO2023217550A1 (fr)

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Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2187132A2 (fr) * 2008-11-15 2010-05-19 Electrolux Home Products N.V. Panneau de commande pour contrôler plusieurs fonctions différentes d'un appareil
WO2014128016A1 (fr) 2013-02-19 2014-08-28 Agc Glass Europe Feuille de verre à haute transmission aux rayonnements infrarouges
WO2014146941A1 (fr) 2013-03-20 2014-09-25 Agc Glass Europe Feuille de verre à haute transmission aux rayonnements infrarouges
WO2014180679A1 (fr) 2013-05-07 2014-11-13 Agc Glass Europe Feuille de verre à haute transmission aux rayonnements infrarouges
WO2015072983A1 (fr) 2013-11-13 2015-05-21 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Multiplication de rang non binaire d'un module de mémoire
WO2015091106A1 (fr) 2013-12-19 2015-06-25 Agc Glass Europe Vitre ayant un facteur de transmission élevé du rayonnement infrarouge
WO2016008906A1 (fr) 2014-07-17 2016-01-21 Agc Glass Europe Feuille de verre à haute transmission aux rayonnements infrarouges
CN211551544U (zh) * 2020-01-15 2020-09-22 中山明易智能家居科技有限公司 一种触摸电路板及应用其的灯具

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2187132A2 (fr) * 2008-11-15 2010-05-19 Electrolux Home Products N.V. Panneau de commande pour contrôler plusieurs fonctions différentes d'un appareil
WO2014128016A1 (fr) 2013-02-19 2014-08-28 Agc Glass Europe Feuille de verre à haute transmission aux rayonnements infrarouges
WO2014146941A1 (fr) 2013-03-20 2014-09-25 Agc Glass Europe Feuille de verre à haute transmission aux rayonnements infrarouges
WO2014180679A1 (fr) 2013-05-07 2014-11-13 Agc Glass Europe Feuille de verre à haute transmission aux rayonnements infrarouges
WO2015072983A1 (fr) 2013-11-13 2015-05-21 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Multiplication de rang non binaire d'un module de mémoire
WO2015091106A1 (fr) 2013-12-19 2015-06-25 Agc Glass Europe Vitre ayant un facteur de transmission élevé du rayonnement infrarouge
WO2016008906A1 (fr) 2014-07-17 2016-01-21 Agc Glass Europe Feuille de verre à haute transmission aux rayonnements infrarouges
CN211551544U (zh) * 2020-01-15 2020-09-22 中山明易智能家居科技有限公司 一种触摸电路板及应用其的灯具

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