Control unit for controlling electrical apparatus

• US 9,813,058 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2014
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vimar SPA (Viaro Srl)
• Original Assignee: Vimar SPA (Viaro Srl)
• Inventors: Gusi, Piero Camillo
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Felix O
• Application Number:
  US14/893,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20160126952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 200600, 200 4318- 4322
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/03 Stoppers for on or off position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/068 having a not operable condition
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/22 for interlocking between casing, cover, or protective shutter and mechanism for operating contacts explosion-proof cases H01H9/045; built-in fuses and interlocking mechanisms H01H9/104; by automatic release of circuit breakers H01H71/126
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/287 wherein the operating part is made inaccessible or more difficult to access by a lid, cover or guard, e.g. lockable covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/24 Terminal blocks
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9622 using a plurality of detectors, e.g. keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960755 Constructional details of capacitive touch and proximity switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A control unit for controlling electrical apparatus. The control unit has (i) a control device which may be wall-mounted; (ii) an actuation plate which may be secured to the control device and comprises a cover surface which is at least partially transparent; (iii) a sensor member for detecting when a user'"'"'s finger or another body comes into contact with a touch zone; and (iv) a control designed to control the electrical apparatus according to a specific function following detection of the contact action. The control device comprises a switching device associated with the touch zone through the control in such a way that the actuation of the switching device controls the electrical apparatus according to the same function associated with the touch zone.

Claims

1. A control unit for controlling an electrical apparatus, the control unit comprising:

a control device adapted to be mounted on a wall;

a rigid actuation plate removably secured to the control device and including a cover surface which is at least partially transparent, the cover surface being disposed, in use, to cover the control unit and a portion of the wall on which the control device is mounted;

a sensor member for detecting when a user'"'"'s finger or another body comes into contact with a touch zone; and

a control for controlling the electrical apparatus according to a specific function following detection of a contact of the user'"'"'s finger or another body with the touch zone,

wherein the control device has a switching device associated with the touch zone through the control in such a way that actuation of the switching device controls the electrical apparatus according to the same specific function associated with the touch zone, the switching device being covered by the actuation plate when the actuation plate is secured to the control device such that actuation of the switching device is prevented, the switching device being accessible by the user only when the actuation plate is removed.

2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control device has a base structure and an abutment member including an edge adapted to abut on an inner surface of the actuation plate opposite the cover surface, the abutment member being connected to the base structure in such a way as to enable the edge at least to move in translation in a fastening direction of the actuation plate on the control device.

3. The control unit according to claim 2, wherein the switching device comprises a switch adapted to be actuated by moving the abutment member beyond a predetermined distance in the fastening direction.

4. The control unit according to claim 3, wherein the abutment member further includes elongate extensions which extend in the fastening direction and are adapted to actuate the switch.

5. The control unit according to claim 4, wherein the control device further has a front body to which the abutment member is secured in a sliding manner, the elongate extensions being housed with play in respective through cavities formed in the front body in such a way as to enable at least limited rotations about an axis perpendicular to the fastening direction.

6. The control unit according to claim 5, wherein the axis perpendicular to the fastening direction is, in use, substantially horizontal.

7. The control unit according to claim 2, further comprising a spring adapted to counter the displacement of the abutment member in the fastening direction.

8. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the actuation plate is detachably secured to the control device.

9. The control unit according to claim 1, further comprising an electrical connection between the actuation plate and the control device, wherein the control device further has a base structure and a terminal block and the actuation plate further includes a support frame, the electrical connection being connected to the terminal block and including at least one electrical connector adapted to move in the fastening direction with respect to the support frame and/or with respect to the base structure.

10. A control unit for controlling an electrical apparatus, the control unit comprising:

a control device adapted to be mounted on a wall;

a rigid actuation plate removably secured to the control device and including a cover surface which is at least partially transparent, the cover surface being disposed, in use, to cover the control unit and a portion of the wall on which the control device is mounted;

a sensor member for detecting when a user'"'"'s finger or another body comes into contact with a touch zone;

a control for controlling the electrical apparatus according to a specific function following detection of a contact of the user'"'"'s finger or another body with the touch zone; and

a spring,

wherein the control device has (i) a switching device associated with the touch zone through the control in such a way that actuation of the switching device controls the electrical apparatus according to the same specific function associated with the touch zone, the switching device being covered by the actuation plate when the actuation plate is secured to the control device such that actuation of the switching device is prevented, the switching device being accessible by the user only when the actuation plate is removed, the switching device including a switch, (ii) a base structure, (iii) an abutment member including elongate extensions which extend in a fastening direction of the actuation plate on the control device and an edge adapted to abut on an inner surface of the actuation plate opposite the cover surface, the abutment member being connected to the base structure in such a way as to enable the edge at least to move in translation in the fastening direction, the switch being adapted to be actuated by the elongate extensions upon moving the abutment member beyond a predetermined distance in the fastening direction, and the spring being adapted to counter the displacement of the abutment member in the fastening direction, and (iv) a front body to which the abutment member is secured in a sliding manner, the elongate extensions being housed with play in respective through cavities formed in the front body in such a way as to enable at least limited rotations about an axis perpendicular to the fastening direction.

11. The control unit according to claim 10, wherein the axis perpendicular to the fastening direction is, in use, substantially horizontal.

12. The control unit according to claim 10, wherein the actuation plate is detachably secured to the control device.

13. The control unit according to claim 10, further comprising an electrical connection between the actuation plate and the control device, wherein the control device further has a base structure and a terminal block and the actuation plate further includes a support frame, the electrical connection being connected to the terminal block and including at least one electrical connector adapted to move in the fastening direction with respect to the support frame and/or with respect to the base structure.

14. A control unit for controlling an electrical apparatus, the control unit comprising:

a control device adapted to be mounted on a wall and including a base structure and a terminal block;

a rigid actuation plate removably secured to the control device and including a support frame and a cover surface which is at least partially transparent, the cover surface being disposed, in use, to cover the control unit and a portion of the wall on which the control device is mounted;

a sensor member for detecting when a user'"'"'s finger or another body comes into contact with a touch zone;

a control for controlling the electrical apparatus according to a specific function following detection of a contact of the user'"'"'s finger or another body with the touch zone;

an electrical connection between the actuation plate and the control device, the electrical connection being connected to the terminal block and including at least one electrical connector adapted to move with respect to the support frame and/or with respect to the base structure in a fastening direction of the actuation plate on the control device; and

a spring,

wherein the control device has (i) a switching device associated with the touch zone through the control in such a way that actuation of the switching device controls the electrical apparatus according to the same specific function associated with the touch zone, the switching device being covered by the actuation plate when the actuation plate is secured to the control device such that actuation of the switching device is prevented, the switching device being accessible by the user only when the actuation plate is removed, the switching device including a switch, (ii) an abutment member including elongate extensions which extend in the fastening direction and an edge adapted to abut on an inner surface of the actuation plate opposite the cover surface, the abutment member being connected to the base structure in such a way as to enable the edge at least to move in translation in the fastening direction, the switch being adapted to be actuated by the elongate extensions upon moving the abutment member beyond a predetermined distance in the fastening direction, and the spring being adapted to counter the displacement of the abutment member in the fastening direction, and (iii) a front body to which the abutment member is secured in a sliding manner, the elongate extensions being housed with play in respective through cavities formed in the front body in such a way as to enable at least limited rotations about an axis perpendicular to the fastening direction which axis is, in use, substantially horizontal.