Device for interactive control

• US 9,542,033 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2013
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interel Trademarks B.V.
• Original Assignee: Interel Trademarks B.V.
• Inventors: Benoni, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): MANDEVILLE, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US14/400,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0633 by amplitude modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Described is an interactive control device (1) for at least one service apparatus (2), comprising a control unit (3), a screen (4) operatively connected to the control unit (3) having touch selection means (5) for interacting with the user. The touch selection means (5) are configurable between an active condition wherein they receive the touch information of the user and an inactive condition wherein they do not receive the touch information of the user. More specifically, the interactive control device (1) comprises a presence and distance sensor (7) operatively connected to the control unit (3) and configured for generating a detection signal (8) representing the presence and the distance of a user relative to the sensor (7). The control unit (3) is configured for receiving the detection signal (8), for processing it and for generating a control signal of at least part of the service apparatus (2) as a function of the processing.

Claims

1. An interactive control device (1) for at least one service apparatus (2), comprising:

a control unit (3) connectable to the service apparatus (2) for controlling it;

a screen (4) operatively connected to the control unit (3) and comprising touch selection means (5) for interacting with a user;

the touch selection means (5) being configurable between an active condition wherein the touch selection means are powered and receive the touch information of the user and an inactive condition wherein the touch selection means are not powered and do not receive the touch information of the user;

during the active condition, the touch selection means (5) being configured for generating a control signal (6) representing the touch selection performed by the user and for sending said control signal (6) to the control unit (3);

characterized in that it comprises a presence and distance sensor (7) operatively connected to the control unit (3) and configured for generating a detection signal (8) representing the presence and the distance of the user relative to the sensor (7);

the control unit (3) being configured for;

receiving the detection signal (8);

processing the detection signal (8) for determining the presence of the user;

generating at least one signal (9) for automatic control of at least part of the service apparatus (2) as a function of the processing;

the control unit (3) being configured for generating the automatic control signal (9) as a function of the presence of the user in a room independently of the information collected from the touch selection means (5);

the control unit (3) being also configured for;

receiving the detection signal (8);

processing the detection signal (8) for determining the distance of the user from the sensor (7);

configuring the touch selection means (5) from the inactive condition to the active condition when the user is at a predetermined distance from the sensor (7) in order to power-on the touch selection means (5);

generating a signal (10) for manual control of the service apparatus (2) as a function of data contained in the control signal (6) received by the control unit (3);

the manual control signal (10) representing information collected from the touch selection means (5);

wherein the detection signal (8) has an undulating trend having its frequency and its amplitude variable with time;

the frequency of the detection signal (8) representing the presence of the user close to the sensor (7), the amplitude of the detection signal (8) representing the distance of the user from the sensor (7);

the control unit (3) being configured for;

identifying the frequency of the detection signal (8) over a period of time;

comparing the frequency identified with a first predetermined frequency value so as to determine the presence of the user;

if the frequency of the detection signal (8) is greater than the first frequency value, generating the automatic control signal (9);

the control unit (3) being configured for;

identifying the instantaneous amplitude of the detection signal (8);

comparing the amplitude identified with a first predetermined amplitude value so as to determine the distance of the user from the sensor (7);

if the amplitude of the detection signal (8) is greater than the first amplitude value, configuring the touch selection means (5) from the inactive condition to the active condition.

2. The interactive control device according to claim 1 characterized in that the control unit (3) is configured for:

if the frequency identified of the detection signal (8) is greater than the first frequency value, generating a first signal (9) for automatic control of a first group of service apparatuses;

comparing the frequency identified of the detection signal (8) with a second predetermined frequency value greater than the first frequency value;

if the frequency identified is greater than the second frequency value, generating a second signal (9) for automatic control of a second group of service apparatuses different to the first group of apparatuses.

3. The interactive control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (13) for backlighting the screen (4) associated with the screen (4) and operatively connected to the control unit (3);

the means (13) for backlighting the screen (4) being configurable between a switched ON condition wherein they illuminate the screen (4) and a switched OFF condition;

the control unit (3) being configured for;

identifying the instantaneous amplitude of the detection signal (8);

comparing the amplitude identified with a second predetermined amplitude value greater than the first amplitude value;

if the amplitude of the detection signal (8) is less than or equal to the second amplitude value, configuring the means (13) for backlighting the screen (4) from the switched OFF condition to the switched ON condition.

4. The interactive control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (3) comprises a clock;

the clock being configured for modifying the content of the automatic control signal (9) as a function of the time, selecting/deselecting the service apparatuses which can be controlled by the control unit (3).

5. The interactive control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (3) comprises a timing sub-unit configured for:

measuring a time interval following configuration of the touch selection means (5) from the inactive condition to the active condition;

setting to zero and restarting the time measurement upon every interaction of the user with the touch selection means (5);

instantaneously comparing the measured time interval with a preset period of time;

if the measured time interval is greater than the preset period of time, configuring the touch selection means (5) from the active condition to the inactive condition.

6. The interactive control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises battery power supply means (22).

7. The interactive control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises photovoltaic power supply means (22).

8. The interactive control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the presence and distance sensor (7) is a passive type infrared sensor (7).

9. The interactive control device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises:

a containment box (102) mounted on a wall (101) having a front opening (103) and which can be inserted in a housing formed on the wall (101);

the control unit (3) being located in the housing;

the containment box (102) having a front frame (111) located at the front opening (103);

the screen (4) being connected to the front frame (111) for closing the front opening (103) in such a way that the screen (4) is on view.

10. A system for controlling service apparatuses (2) comprising:

a plurality of control modules (24) each operatively associated with a respective service apparatus (2) for controlling it;

at least one interactive control device (1) according to claim 1;

the interactive control device (1) being operatively connected to each control module (24) for sending to the latter the automatic control signals (9) and/or the manual control signals (10).

11. A system for controlling service apparatuses (2) according to claim 10 characterized in that it comprises a plurality of interactive control devices (1) connected to each other;

each interactive control device (1) being spaced from the others in such a way as to control the service apparatuses (2) of a room from different positions.