Reconfigurable switch

• US 20050126897A1
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Platysys Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Platysys Pty Limited
• Inventors: Stephens, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US10/509,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20050126897A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/5.A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/04 Cases; Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/002 replaceable; adaptable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/006 Snap mounting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/008 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/04 Programmable interface between a set of switches and a set of functions, e.g. for reconfiguration of a control panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers

Abstract

To simplify the reconfiguration of switches in a building automation switch panel, touch switches (27) of the mechanical, capacitive or charge transfer type are configured so that the electrode pattern (25) on the switch body can be activated using switch positions on a cover plate (27). The electrode pattern on the reverse face of the cover plate are selected so that a set of cover plates in combination with a single switch body provides as many switch positions as the body can provide. This makes reconfiguring, a matter of changing the front cover plate of the switch and using a software program to reconfigure the electronics if necessary.

Claims

1. An automation system for programming appliances having two or more switch units capable of carrying a switch array to control specified appliances, each switch array having a switch cover with actuation icons corresponding to the appliances to be controlled and switch enabling means that only activate the switches corresponding to the actuation icons on said switch cover in which the appliances to be controlled from a switch unit may be varied by changing the switch cover.

2. A panel switch which includes

a) a fixed unit capable of carrying a multiple n of active switches

b) a replaceable cover for the fixed unit able to carry up to n active contact closure positions

c) where in the covers only carry as many active positions as is desired so that the number of active switches on a fixed unit and the number of actuation positions can be changed by changing the cover.

3. A cover for the panel switch as defined in claim 2 which carries icons or contact positions on the front and switch actuation means on the back corresponding to said icons.

4. A cover as claimed in claim 3 wherein the switches are tactile switches

6. A switch cover for use in the panel switch of claim 4 which includes icons corresponding to the appliances to be actuated by said switches and switch actuation electrodes corresponding to said icons.

5. A switch panel which includes

a. an electronic control circuit and an associated switch array for capacitative or charge transfer switches to activate appliances in communication with said control circuit

b. a control array bearing electrodes to complete a predetermined number of said switches on said switch array

c. said control array being associated with a cover member carrying on its face surface icon indicia corresponding to the appliances to be actuated from the panel switch.