Patent Application
20160006436
1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to control system input controllers and more particularly, to improved wall mounted remote control keypads for controlling home or building automation.
2. Background Art
The popularity of home and building automation has increased in recent years in partly due to increases in affordability, improvements in simplicity, and a higher level of technical sophistication of the average end-user.
Generally, automation systems integrate various electrical and mechanical system elements within a building, such as a residential home or commercial building. Examples of system elements commonly found in both residential and commercial settings may include: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC), lighting control systems, audio and video (A/V) switching and distribution, motorized window treatments (including: blinds, shades, drapes, curtains, etc.), domestic robotics, swimming pool systems, occupancy and/or lighting sensors, and/or motorized or hydraulic actuators, and security systems, to name a few.
One way a user can be given control of an automation system, is through the use of one or more remote control devices, such as a keypad. Keypads typically have one or more buttons or keys that are assigned to performing a predetermined or assigned function. Assigned functions may include, for example, orchestrating of various lighting presets. Lighting presets are sometimes called “scenes.” Keypads can be mounted on to a building's walls. Keypads can also be mounted into a recessed receptacle in a wall, commonly known as a wall box. The various components of a keypad may be assembled into the keypad's housing body, which in turn, can be installed into a wall box.
It is to be understood that both the general and detailed descriptions that follow are only exemplary and are not restrictive.
The present disclosure is described in the context of a residential (or commercial) automation lighting system, however, it should be noted that the present invention is equally capable of deployment in other applications including, but not limited to: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, lighting control systems, audio and video (A/V) switching and distribution, motorized window treatments (including: blinds, shades, drapes, curtains, etc.), domestic robotics, swimming pool systems, occupancy and/or lighting sensors, and/or motorized or hydraulic actuators, and security systems, for example.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a one-piece transparent element with graphics directly printed thereon. The transparent element is preferably transparent or translucent so that it appears as if it were a glass-like material.
In another aspect, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting layer illuminates the transparent element creating a unique and distinctive glass-like glowing appearance. The appearance can be modified or enhanced by using a diffusing medium having one or more light emitting diodes uniformly illuminating the translucent light diffusing medium.
In another aspect, a sensing circuit is provided to detect gestures made on the front of the transparent element through the lighting layer.
In yet another aspect, the transparent element may further include engraved markings help a user to identify the corresponding key function.
In another aspect, the transparent element keypad can provide visual or haptic vibration feedback to a user according to, a gesture, automation condition, function, or the like.
In another aspect, the keypad communicates with other devices using infrared technology. Communications may include programming or feedback control information.
In yet another aspect, the keypad can capture visual data using a camera or optical image sensor. The visual data may include a hand gesture made by a user for controlling the keypad, a printed barcode, a printed Quick Response (QR) code, information on ambient lighting levels, an image of a user's face, or fingerprint.
In yet another aspect, a passive infrared sensor (PIR) can be included for detecting motion in the proximity of the keypad assembly.
The present invention will now be described, in a non-limiting manner, referring to illustrations, where like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The following is a list of the major elements in the drawings.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide thorough explanation of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known components, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description.
Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.
It is to be noted that the following exemplary embodiments are only illustrative. Alterations of the described embodiments are possible. Embodiments of the invention will next be described with reference to the figures, wherein like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Referring now to
The keypad 100 can provide vibration feedback to a user, for example, by embedding a motorized haptic module 14 within transparent element 1. Vibration feedback can be made in response to touch or sliding gestures a user makes upon the transparent element 1. The transparent element 1 can be molded to present a touch surface. The touch surface can be molded as a plurality of vertically adjacent semi-cylindrical buttons or to present a flat surface (as shown in
Backlighting is provided by lighting layer 3 located directly behind transparent element 1. Lighting layer 3 illuminates the transparent element 1 creating a unique and distinctive glass-like glowing appearance. In one embodiment, the illumination of transparent element 1 is accomplished using a fiber optic grid (or mesh) piping light along a flat planar diffusing surface. Other kinds of lighting layers 3 translucent light diffusing mediums can be used. For example, one having several light emitting diodes dispersed uniformly along a translucent light diffusing medium. Additionally, the illumination intensity from the lighting layer 3 may also be varied illumination in order to provide visual feedback according to a gesture, or an automation condition.
Still referring to
Sensing circuit 13 is positioned so that the lighting layer 3 is sandwiched in between the transparent element 1 and the sensing circuit 13. In other words, sensing circuit 13 detects touch through the lighting layer 3.
Sensing circuit 13 may include a LED Array 17 as indicator lights to indicate a user's selections. For example, an indicator light next to the iconic symbols 8 may indicate that a shade is open or closed, or a light is on or off, etc. In another embodiment, light pipe indications may be provided. The indicator lights may be viewable through a plurality of pinholes on bezel 7.
In an embodiment, the keypad 100 can communicate with other devices using infrared technology using an IR transmitter/receiver 19. Communications may include programming or feedback control information.
In another embodiment, the keypad 100 can capture visual data using a camera or optical image sensor 18. Visual data may include a hand gesture made by a user for controlling the keypad. The hand gestures may be made in front or a distance away from the keypad. The optical image sensor 18 can be configured to capture a printed barcode or a Quick Response (QR) code. Codes may be used as a way to authenticate user or to convey programming information to the keypad. The optical image sensor 18 may also be used to capture the ambient lighting level near the keypad. Other uses for the optical image sensor include 18 capturing biometric information such as, a user's face, or a user's fingerprint. A passive infrared sensor (PIR) can be included for detecting motion in the proximity of the keypad 100 assembly.
In an exemplary embodiment, the keypad 100 is connected to a building automation system. The connection may be wire or wireless.
In operation, the user can designate one or more automation functions by touching the transparent element 1 in a designated area. The designated area can be correspondingly marked by a named function or graphic icon 8. The sensing circuit 13 is configured to detect a user's selection and cause the automation system to respond by, for example, executing a corresponding function.
Sensing circuit 13 is responsible for detecting input from a user, for example, the user touching or pressing on a specific portion of the exposed surface of transparent element 1. Sensing circuit 13 may be implemented as a plurality of switching elements which are configured to detect a user's input, for example, by the capacitance resulting from a finger on or near any iconic Symbols 8, which are engraved on transparent element 1. Iconic Symbols 8 signify to a user, the various functions that can be selected, e.g., by touching the respective portion of transparent element 1. For example, different areas of the transparent element 1 may correspond to different functions, as illustrated in
Referring now to
Now turning to
With reference to
In one embodiment, the printing may employ a thermal ink jet process wherein the ink in the nozzles is selectively heated in a graphical pattern to cause droplets of the ink to be ejected in graphical pattern. In another embodiment, the printing apparatus employs an acoustic ink jet process, wherein droplets of the ink are caused to be ejected in graphical pattern by acoustic energy. Additionally, the printing process could further include pretreating the transparent element 1 with a primer or physical abrading to create a more ink receptive surface. If desired, an optional second diffusing layer 5 can be printed directly ontop of ink layer 4.
Accordingly, by forming an image directly onto a transparent element there is no need for insert labels, although the methods disclosed herein can also be used with supplemental layers or other components.
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. For example, the transparent element can be molded into any shape and be inked on using any known methods.
