The present invention relates to a device comprising at least one actuation unit allowing manual adjustment of a parameter or an operating mode.
Currently, devices such as detectors, for example optical detectors, must be set up by manually adjusting their operating mode and some of their parameters. The parameters to be adjusted are, for example, a threshold value or a range value while the operating mode to be adjusted is, for example, reflex mode or proximity mode. In order to set up an adjustable parameter or an operating mode, some detectors use, for example, a push-button present on the enclosure of the product. The button is directly connected to release mechanisms present in the enclosure of the detector. The enclosure of the detector therefore has an opening through which the button is activated, this opening disrupting the sealing of the enclosure of the detector. Sealing of the detector may then be obtained, for example, by injecting a resin into the enclosure of the product. However, this sealing cannot be perfect due to the presence of the opening formed in the enclosure to accommodate the button. An O-ring is indeed used to ensure sealing of the button in its opening, but this solution remains inadequate, as the ring is small in size, fragile and difficult to position.
From document WO 97/16123 a switching device is known comprising an outer enclosure on which several buttons are positioned. Each button holds a permanent magnet capable of controlling a Hall-effect or reed sensor located inside the enclosure. This device has the drawback of requiring a distinct button and several magnets for its operation and its parameter setting.
The aim of the invention is to propose a device equipped with a manual parameter-setting solution that is straightforward and does not compromise its sealing.
This aim is achieved by a device comprising an integrally closed enclosure on which an actuation unit is mounted enabling the adjustment of a parameter or operating mode of the device, the device comprising a permanent magnet driven in its movement by the actuation unit, characterized in that:
According to the invention, the contactless adjustment means of the device enable its straightforward adjustment without requiring any opening through its enclosure. This is because, due to the sensors used in the invention, no opening is formed through the enclosure of the device. Sealing may, for example, be ensured by injecting a resin inside the enclosure of the device by centrifugation. In addition, the elimination of conventional parameter-setting buttons enables assembly steps to be eliminated and therefore the manufacturing cost of the device to be reduced.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, each sensor is of the on/off type.
According to this first embodiment, the signal sent by each sensor corresponds, for example, to a value of the parameter or to a particular operating mode of the device and for each of its positions the magnet activates a single sensor.
According to this first embodiment, the signal sent by each sensor corresponds, for example, to an incrementation or decrementation of the parameter or to a change in the operating mode. In this configuration the device comprises a first sensor capable of sending a first signal representing an incrementation of the parameter and a second sensor capable of sending a second signal representing a decrementation of the parameter.
According to a second embodiment, each sensor has two active states for sending two distinct signals representing two distinct values of the parameter or two distinct operating modes of the device.
According to a first configuration, the sensors are, for example, of the Hall-effect type.
According to a second configuration, the sensors are magnetic microswitches of the MEMS type.
According to a third configuration, the sensors are reed switches.
According to a particular feature of the invention, the device comprises means for locking/unlocking the actuation unit.
The device of the invention will be, for example, a detector.
Other features and advantages will become apparent in the following detailed description, referring to an embodiment provided by way of example and shown by the appended drawings, in which:
The invention relates to a device that comprises means for adjusting a parameter or an operating mode such as, for example, a detector 1 or a circuit breaker. In the circuit-breaker case this involves, for example, adjusting the rating, whereas in a detector 1 it involves, for example, adjusting a parameter such as a threshold value or a range value or an operating mode such as reflex mode, proximity mode, or proximity mode with background suppression. The following description applies to a detector 1, but it should be understood as being applicable to any other type of device requiring adjustment.
A detector 1 comprises an enclosure 10, for example cylindrical and integrally closed, enclosing means for transmitting and/or receiving a signal and processing means 50 for processing the signal received, such as a microprocessor. The processing means 50 are also connected to storage means 51 for storing the detector parameter or its operating mode. In the majority of detectors, these parameters and/or operating mode must be manually adjusted by the user. According to the invention, such adjustment can, for example, be carried out using one or more cursors, one or more adjustment rings and/or one or more rotary discs mounted on the detector enclosure.
The following description applies to a detector with parameter setting using an adjustment ring 6. However, it should be understood that the features defined below may be fully implemented for a detector that can be set up using an adjustment cursor or a rotary disc mounted on the enclosure 10 of the detector.
With reference to
According to the invention the adjustment ring 6 comprises a housing 62 (
According to the invention, an electronic card 111 is inserted into the front part 110 of the enclosure 10. This electronic card 111 comprises in particular the storage means 51 and the processing means 50 connected on the card 111 to one or more sensors 2a, 2b, 2c (denoted in a general manner as 2) (
In a first variant embodiment, the sensors 2 are, for example, of the on/off type. They are therefore activated in a certain position of the magnet 4 and deactivated in another position of the magnet 4.
According to the invention, depending on the position of the ring 6 in relation to the indices identifying various parameter values or various operating modes, the magnet 4 assumes different positions and activates one or more sensors 2, each of the sensors 2 activated sending a signal to the processing means 50. Depending on the signal(s) received, the processing means 50 set the detector 1 to the parameter value or to the operating mode of the detector corresponding to the position of the ring 6. In the simplest configuration, each sensor 2 activated may send a signal corresponding to a particular parameter value or operating mode of the detector 1. In this configuration, depending on the sensor 2 activated by the magnet 4, the parameter value or the operating mode corresponding to this sensor 2 is set in the detector 1. Light emitting diodes 8 (
In another configuration (not shown), the detector 1 may comprise, for example, two sensors 2, a first sensor intended to send a signal corresponding to an incrementation of the stored parameter and a second sensor intended to send a signal corresponding to a decrementation of the parameter. The first sensor may also be employed for shifting the detector from one operating mode n to an operating mode n+1 while the second sensor may be employed for shifting the operating mode n to the operating mode n−1. In this other configuration, the adjustment ring is, for example, mounted on a spring returning it to a median position so as to be able to turn on both sides of this median position in order to increment/decrement the parameter or change the operating mode. Two indices are produced on the detector in order to mark the two fleeting positions of the ring.
The sensors 2 are, for example, Hall-effect sensors or may be reed sensors. The sensors 2 employed may also be magnetic microswitches M of the MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical System) type, as shown in
With reference to
According to the direction of a magnetic component created in the membrane 20, the membrane 20 may assume a low position, called the closed position, in which its movable contact 21 electrically connects the two fixed strip conductors 31, 32 so as to close the electrical circuit, or a high, raised position, called the open position, in which its movable contact 21 is separated from the two strip conductors so as to open the electrical circuit. The magnetic actuation of the microswitch M is more specifically illustrated in
In a second variant embodiment, each sensor 2 is, for example, capable of sending several distinct signals according to the position of the magnet 4. They may be of the Hall-effect type allowing at least two distinct signals to be sent to the processing means 50 depending on the intensity of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet 4.
In addition, the magnetic microswitches M described above may be modified in order to send two distinct signals to the processing means 50.
It is obvious that other variants and improvements in detail may be imagined, and even the use of equivalent means envisaged, without departing from the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
07 59970 | Dec 2007 | FR | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4199741 | Serrus Paulet | Apr 1980 | A |
4691185 | Loubier et al. | Sep 1987 | A |
5097209 | Santos | Mar 1992 | A |
5313159 | Allwine, Jr. | May 1994 | A |
6246333 | Doner et al. | Jun 2001 | B1 |
6556005 | Oomkes | Apr 2003 | B1 |
7292028 | Hahn | Nov 2007 | B2 |
7449878 | Lee | Nov 2008 | B2 |
8134431 | Mozer et al. | Mar 2012 | B2 |
20030173954 | Terui et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20080024044 | Palmer et al. | Jan 2008 | A1 |
20080054886 | Uemura et al. | Mar 2008 | A1 |
20080164866 | Steinich et al. | Jul 2008 | A1 |
20080174301 | Mattson | Jul 2008 | A1 |
20090128139 | Drenth et al. | May 2009 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
10 2005 032 032 | Jan 2007 | DE |
2 804 240 | Jul 2001 | FR |
2 332 395 | Jun 1999 | GB |
WO 9716123 | May 1997 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20090160587 A1 | Jun 2009 | US |