Patent Application
20190287743
Aspects of the embodiments relate to wall mounted control devices, and more specifically to a wall mounted control device with interchangeable buttons.
The popularity of home and building automation has increased in recent years partially due to increases in affordability, improvements, 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 or a space, such as a residential home, commercial building, or individual rooms, such as meeting rooms, lecture halls, or the like. Examples of such system elements include heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting control systems, audio and video (AV) switching and distribution, motorized window treatments (including blinds, shades, drapes, curtains, etc.), 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 control devices, such as a keypad. A keypad is typically mounted in a recessed receptacle in a building wall, commonly known as a wall or a gang box, and comprises one or more buttons or keys each assigned to perform a predetermined or assigned function. Assigned functions may include, for example, turning various types of loads on or off, or sending other types of commands to the loads, for example, orchestrating various lighting presets or scenes of a lighting load. Typically, the various buttons are removable and may be printed with indicia to either identify its respective function or the controlled load. However, typically such keypads offer crude designs with bulky buttons or with buttons which are difficult to assemble.
Accordingly, a need has arisen for an apparatus, system, and method for an aesthetically pleasing wall mounted control device with interchangeable buttons.
It is an object of the embodiments to substantially solve at least the problems and/or disadvantages discussed above, and to provide at least one or more of the advantages described below.
It is therefore a general aspect of the embodiments to provide an apparatus, system, and method for a wall mounted control device with interchangeable buttons, which will obviate or minimize problems of the type previously described.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Further features and advantages of the aspects of the embodiments, as well as the structure and operation of the various embodiments, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the aspects of the embodiments are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein. Such embodiments are presented herein for illustrative purposes only. Additional embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the teachings contained herein.
According to one aspect of the embodiments, a control device is provided adapted to control at least one function of at least one associated load. The control device comprise a housing assembly and a plurality of buttons. The housing assembly comprises a front housing portion including a front wall defining a plurality of button zones disposed along the front wall. Each button zone comprises at least one switch. Each of the plurality of buttons are adapted to be removably attached to the front housing portion over one or more of the button zones. Each button comprises a front wall comprising a height adapted to substantially cover the at least one button zone and a width wider than the front housing portion. Each button is adapted to depress the aligned switch when the button is pressed.
According to an embodiment, the front housing portion may comprise a pair of side walls laterally disposed with respect to the front wall of the front housing portion. Each button may comprise a pair of side walls laterally and rearwardly extending from the button's front wall, wherein the button removably attaches to the front housing portion whereby the button side walls envelop the side walls of the front housing portion. According to an embodiment, each side wall of the front housing portion comprises at least one recessed shoulder, wherein each button side wall comprises at least one arm laterally and inwardly extending from the side wall, wherein the button removably attaches to the front housing portion whereby the at least one arm on each button side wall engages the at least one recessed shoulder in a respective side wall of the front housing portion. According to a further embodiment, each side wall of the front housing portion comprises a plurality of recessed shoulders each aligned with one of the button zones.
According to another embodiment, wherein each button zone comprises at least one button alignment orifice extending through the front wall for the front housing portion, and wherein each button comprises at least one alignment post adapted to align with and inserted through the at least one alignment orifice of the respective button zone such that the button is substantially prevented from being displaced in a horizontal or vertical direction.
According to a further embodiment, each button zone comprises at least one light source and wherein each button comprises an opaque area and a transparent or translucent area adapted to permit light from the light source to pass therethrough. According to an embodiment, the control device further comprises a plurality of longitudinally extending light bars each positioned adjacent the at least one light source at one of the button zones, wherein the front wall of the front housing portion comprises a plurality of openings extending traversely therethrough and each sized to receive at least a front portion of one of the light bars, wherein each light bar comprises a material adapted to distribute light from the respective at least one light source. According to an embodiment, the at least one light source at one of the button zones comprises a pair of oppositely disposed light sourced aligned with and adapted to direct light to side edges of a rear portion of the one of the light bars.
According to an embodiment, the control device further comprises a printed circuit board disposed behind the front wall of the front housing portion, wherein at each area aligned with one of the button zones the printed circuit board comprises the at least one switch, at least one light source adapted to provide backlighting to the button zone, and at least one alignment orifice adapted to receive an alignment post extending from one of the buttons, wherein the front wall of the front housing portion comprises openings aligned with the switches, light sources, and alignment orifices on the printed circuit board.
According to an embodiment, at least one of the buttons comprises a single press button adapted to depress one of the at least one switches in one of the button zones. According to another embodiment, at least one of the buttons comprises a rocker bottom adapted to depress two switches in at least one of the button zones. Furthermore, at least one of the buttons may comprise a single zone height button adapted to cover and attach over a single button zone. At least one of the buttons may comprise a multi-zone height button adapted to cover and attach over at least two adjacent button zones. The multi-zone height button may comprise a multi-zone single press button adapted to depress one of the switches in one of the button zones. According to another embodiment, the multi-zone height button may comprise a multi-zone rocker button adapted to depress two switches in two different button zones. According to an embodiment, the single zone and multi-zone height buttons are interchangeably received by the one or more of the button zones to provide a plurality of button configurations.
According to an embodiment, each button may comprise at least one projection extending from a rear surface of the button at a location aligned with the at least one switch of the at least one button zone and adapted to depress the aligned switch when the button is pressed.
According to another embodiment, each button comprises at least one abutment extending from a rear surface of the button, wherein the at least one abutment is adapted to abut against the front wall of the front housing portion such that at least a portion of the button pivots or deflect with respect to the at least one abutment when pressed. The at least one abutment may comprise a pair of oppositely disposed abutments adapted to cause the at least one button to deflect when pressed at a location between the abutments. According to one embodiment, the at least one abutment on at least one button may longitudinally extend along a horizontal pivot axis adapted to cause at least one side of the at least one button to pivot or deflect about the horizontal pivot axis when pressed. According to another embodiment, the at least one abutment on at least one button longitudinally extends along a vertical pivot axis adapted to cause at least one side of the at least one button to pivot or deflect about the vertical pivot axis when pressed.
According to an embodiment, the control device further comprises a faceplate comprising an opening defined by a pair of vertical side walls, a horizontal top wall, and a horizontal bottom wall, wherein the opening is sized to receive the width of at least one button therein. According to an embodiment, the front surface of each button is adapted to be substantially flush with a front surface of the faceplate. The horizontal top wall and the horizontal bottom wall of the faceplate may be recessed back from the pair of vertical side walls of the faceplate and each is adapted to removably receive a decorative trim plate thereon, wherein a front surface of each button is adapted to be substantially flush with a front surface of the pair of vertical side walls of the faceplate and a front surface of each decorative trim plate.
According to an embodiment, when a plurality of control devices are ganged adjacent to each other, a set of buttons of one control device are adapted to be disposed adjacent to a set of buttons of an adjacent control device forming substantially no space therebetween. According to a further embodiment, the housing assembly may further comprise a rear housing portion attached to the front housing portion and adapted to fit within a standard electrical box.
According to another aspect of the embodiments, a control device is provided adapted to control at least one function of at least one associated load. The control device comprises a housing assembly comprising a front housing portion including a front wall defining a plurality of button zones disposed along the front wall, wherein each button zone comprises at least one switch and at least one button alignment orifice extending through the front wall of the front housing portion. The control device further comprises a plurality of buttons each adapted to be removably attached to the front housing portion over one or more of the button zones. Each button may comprise a front wall, at least one projection, at least one alignment post, and at least one abutment. The at least one projection may extend from a rear surface of the button and may be adapted to be aligned with at least one switch of one of the button zones to depress the aligned switch when the button is pressed. The at least one alignment post is adapted to be aligned with and inserted through at least one alignment orifice of one of the button zones. The at least one abutment may extend from the rear surface of the button, wherein the at least one abutment is adapted to abut against the front wall of the front housing portion such that at least a portion of the button pivots or deflect with respect to the at least one abutment when pressed. The buttons may comprise a single zone height button comprising a height adapted to substantially cover and attach over a single button zone, and wherein the buttons comprise at least one multi-zone height button adapted to substantially cover and attach over at least two adjacent button zones.
According to a further aspect of the embodiments, a control device is provided adapted to control at least one function of at least one associated load. The control device comprises a housing assembly comprising a front housing portion including a front wall and a pair of side walls laterally disposed with respect to the front wall, wherein each side wall comprises at least one recessed shoulder, wherein the front housing portion comprises a plurality of switches. The control device further comprise a plurality of buttons each comprising a front wall and a pair of side walls laterally and rearwardly extending from the front wall, wherein each button side wall comprises at least one arm laterally and inwardly extending from the button side wall. Each button may comprise a width wider than the front housing portion, wherein each button is adapted to removably attach to the housing assembly whereby the at least one arm on each side wall of the button engages the at least one recessed shoulder in a respective side wall of the front housing portion, and wherein each button is adapted to engage at least one switch on the front housing portion.
The above and other objects and features of the embodiments will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the following figures. Different aspects of the embodiments are illustrated in reference figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered to be illustrative rather than limiting. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the aspects of the embodiments. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The embodiments are described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. The scope of the embodiments is therefore defined by the appended claims. The detailed description that follows is written from the point of view of a control systems company, so it is to be understood that generally the concepts discussed herein are applicable to various subsystems and not limited to only a particular controlled device or class of devices.
Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the embodiments. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular feature, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.
The following is a list of the major elements in the drawings in numerical order.
The following is a list of the acronyms used in the specification in alphabetical order.
For 40 years Crestron Electronics, Inc. has been the world's leading manufacturer of advanced control and automation systems, innovating technology to simplify and enhance modern lifestyles and businesses. Crestron designs, manufactures, and offers for sale integrated solutions to control audio, video, computer, and environmental systems. In addition, the devices and systems offered by Crestron streamlines technology, improving the quality of life in commercial buildings, universities, hotels, hospitals, and homes, among other locations. Accordingly, the systems, methods, and modes of the aspects of the embodiments described herein can be manufactured by Crestron Electronics, Inc., located in Rockleigh, N.J.
The different aspects of the embodiments described herein pertain to the context of wall mounted control devices, but are not limited thereto, except as may be set forth expressly in the appended claims. Referring to
In an illustrative embodiment, the control device 100 may be configured to receive control commands directly from a user via buttons 102 and transmit the control command to a load (such as a light, fan, window blinds, etc.) or to a load controller (not shown) electrically connected the load to control an operation of the load based on the control commands. In various aspects of the embodiments, the control device 100 may control various types of electronic devices or loads. The control device 100 may comprise one or more control ports for interfacing with various types of electronic devices or loads, including, but not limited to audiovisual (AV) equipment, lighting, shades, screens, computers, laptops, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), security, appliances, and other room devices. The control device 100 may be used in residential load control, or in commercial settings, such as classrooms or meeting rooms.
Each button 102 may comprise indicia 110 disposed thereon to provide clear designation of each button's function. Each button 102 may be backlit, for example via light emitting diodes (LEDs), for visibility and/or to provide status indication of the button 102. For example, buttons 102 may be backlit by white, blue, or another color LEDs when active. The buttons 102 may comprise opaque material while the indicia 110 may be transparent or translucent allowing light to pass through the indicia 110 and be perceived from the front surface 103 of the button 102. The indicia 110 may be formed by engraving, tinting, printing, applying a film, etching, and/or similar processes. For example, each button 102 may comprise a substantially transparent or translucent material. The front surface 103 of the button 102 may be coated using an opaque material, such as paint, film, tint, or the like. The indicia 110 may then be engraved onto the button 102 exposing the transparent or translucent material.
Reference is now made to
Once mounted to a wall or an enclosure, the housing 101 may be covered using a faceplate 106. The faceplate 106 may comprise an opening 108 sized and shaped for receiving the buttons 102 therein. The faceplate 106 may be secured to the housing 101 using screws 213. According to an embodiment, the faceplate 106 may comprise a pair of vertical side walls 202 interconnected at their top by a horizontal top wall 203 and at their bottom by a horizontal bottom wall 204. The pair of vertical side walls 202 may each comprise a decorative front surface 205. The horizontal top and bottom walls 204 and 205 may be recessed back from the decorative front surfaces 205 of the vertical side walls 202 forming shoulders 207 therebetween, respectively. Horizontal top and bottom walls 204 and 205 are each adapted to receive a decorative trim plate 209 thereon that covers the screws 213. The decorative trim plates 209 sit recessed in the faceplate 106 via shoulders 207. The trim plates 209 may be removably attached to the top and bottom horizontal walls 204 and 205 using magnets (not shown).
When the control device 100 is fully assembled, as shown in
In addition, the control device 100 of the present embodiments does not comprise a bezel frame that surrounds the buttons as in conventional control devices. In addition, the buttons 102 comprise width that is larger than the width of the housing 101 (as shown in
Referring now to
The printed circuit board 304 may include a controller comprising one or more central processing units (CPU), memories, communication interfaces, or the like. The CPU can represent one or more microprocessors, such as “general purpose” microprocessors, a combination of general and special purpose microprocessors, or application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Additionally, or alternatively, the CPU can include one or more reduced instruction set (RISC) processors, video processors, or related chip sets. The CPU can provide processing capability to execute an operating system, run various applications, and/or provide processing for one or more of the techniques and functions described herein. The memory may be communicably coupled to the CPU and can store data and executable code. The memory can represent volatile memory such as random-access memory (RAM), and/or nonvolatile memory, such as read-only memory (ROM) or Flash memory. In buffering or caching data related to operations of the CPU, the memory can store data associated with applications running on the CPU.
The one or more communication interfaces on PCB 304 may comprise a wired or a wireless communication interface, configured for transmitting control commands to various connected loads or electrical devices. A wireless interface may be configured for bidirectional wireless communication with other electronic devices over a wireless network. In various embodiments, the wireless interface can comprise a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, an infrared (IR) transceiver, or other communication technologies known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the wireless interface communicates using the infiNET EX® protocol from Crestron Electronics, Inc. of Rockleigh, N.J. infiNET EX® is an extremely reliable and affordable protocol that employs steadfast two-way RF communications throughout a residential or commercial structure without the need for physical control wiring. In another embodiment, communication is employed using the ZigBee® protocol from ZigBee Alliance. In yet another embodiment, the wireless communication interface may communicate via Bluetooth transmission. A wired communication interface may be configured for bidirectional communication with other devices over a wired network. The wired interface can represent, for example, an Ethernet or a Cresnet® port. In various aspects of the embodiments, control device 100 can both receive the electric power signal and output control commands through the PoE interface.
The front surface of the PCB 304 may comprise a plurality of micro-switches or tactile switches 305. For example, the PCB 304 may contain fifteen tactile switches 305 arranged in three columns and five rows to accommodate various number of button configurations as discussed below. However, other number of switches and layouts may be utilized to accommodate other button configurations. The tactile switches 305 are adapted to be activated via buttons 102 to receive user input. The PCB 304 may also comprise orifices 318 at various locations on the PCB 304 for providing alignment points for the buttons 102 as described below.
The PCB 304 may further comprise a plurality of light sources 311, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), configured for providing backlighting to corresponding buttons 102. The plurality of LEDs 311 may be powered using LED drivers located on PCB 304. According to an embodiment, a pair of light sources 311 may be located on two opposite sides of each row of tactile switches 305. The PCB 304 may further comprise a light sensor 317 configured for detecting and measuring ambient light. Light sensor 317 may be used to control the lighting levels of the light sources 311 based on the measured ambient light. According to an embodiment, light sensor 317 may impact the brightness levels of the light sources 311 to stay at the same perceived level based on the measured ambient light levels. A light curve may be used to adjust the brightness of the light sources 311 based on measured ambient light levels by the light sensor 317. According to another embodiment, threshold values may be used. According to yet another embodiment, where multi-colored light sources 311 are used, light sensor 317 may impact the color of the light sources 311 based on the measured ambient light levels. Referring to
The control device 100 may further comprise a plurality of horizontally disposed rectangular light pipes or light bars 315 each adapted to be positioned adjacent a respective row of tactile switches 305 and between a respective pair of light sources 311. For example, each light bar 315 may be positioned above a respective row of tactile switches 305, as shown in
The front housing portion 301 is adapted to be secured to the rear housing portion 302 using screws 307 such that the PCB 304 and light bars 315 are disposed therebetween. The front housing portion 301 comprises a front wall 308 with a substantially flat front surface. The front wall 308 may comprise a plurality of openings 309 extending traversely therethrough aligned with and adapted to provide access to the tactile switches 305 as shown in
The front housing portion 301 may further comprise a pair of rails 312 extending out of the front surface of the front wall 308 at its two opposite side edges. In addition, the front housing portion 301 may comprise a pair of side walls 306 orthogonally extending from side edges of the front wall 308, and from its rear surface. Each side wall 306 may comprise at least one shoulder 319 recessed in the side wall 306. According to one embodiment, each side wall 306 may comprise a single shoulder extending along the length of the side wall 306. According to another embodiment, as shown in
Referring to
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Referring to
The left or the right side of the rocker button 600 may be depressed by a user, for example to provide a raise/lower operation. Depressing the left side of the rocker button 600 will cause the left side of the button 600 to slightly pivot and deflect via abutments 611 in a left direction about pivot axis 615. As a result, the left projection 606 will depress the left tactile switch 305. The rocker button 600 may be similarly depressed on the right side, causing the right side of the button 600 to slightly pivot and deflect in the right direction about pivot axis 614 via abutments 610. As a result, the right projection 606 will depress the right tactile switch 305. In addition, abutments 610 also prevent the button 600 from being depressed in the center, such that left and right tactile switches cannot be pressed simultaneously.
Referring to
Referring to
The upper or bottom side of the rocker button 700 may be depressed by the user, for example to provide a raise/lower operation. Pressing the upper side of the rocker button 700 will cause the upper side of the rocker button 700 to slightly pivot and deflect in an upward direction about pivot axis 713 via abutment 710. This will cause the top projection 706 to depress the top tactile switch 305 in zone 415c. Similarly, pressing the bottom side of the rocker button 700 will cause the bottom side of the rocker button 700 to slightly pivot and deflect in a downward direction about pivot axis 713 via abutment 710. As such, the bottom projection 706 will depress the bottom tactile switch 305 in zone 415e. The at least one abutment 710 will also prevent the button 700 from being depressed in the center, such that upper and lower tactile switches 305 cannot be pressed simultaneously. Additional pivot abutments 710 and/or side abutments 711 may be provided for stability.
As another example,
Referring to
The upper or bottom side of the rocker button 800 may be depressed by the user, for example to provide a raise/lower operation. Depressing the upper side of the button 800 will cause it to slightly pivot and deflect in an upward direction about pivot axis 814 via abutment 810. As such the top projection 806 will depress the top tactile switch. Similarly, depressing the bottom side of the button 800 will cause it to slightly pivot and deflect in a downward direction about pivot axis 815 via abutment 811, thereby causing the bottom projection 806 to depress the bottom tactile switch. The plurality of horizontal abutments 810-812 will also prevent the button 800 from being depressed in the center, such that upper and lower tactile switches 305 cannot be pressed simultaneously.
While not shown, the two and four height button configurations (1002 and 1004,
The wall-mounted control device 100 can be configured in the field, such as by an installation technician, in order to accommodate many site-specific requirements. Field configuration can include selection and installation of an appropriate button configuration based on the type of load, the available settings for the load, etc. Advantageously, such field configurability allows an installation technician to adapt the electrical device to changing field requirements (or design specifications). Beneficially, the buttons are field replaceable without removing the device from the wall. After securing the buttons 102 on the control device 100, the installer may program the button configuration through tapping all of the placed buttons. The configured buttons can then be assigned to a particular load or a load function.
The disclosed embodiments provide an apparatus, system, and method for a wall mounted control device with interchangeable buttons. It should be understood that this description is not intended to limit the embodiments. On the contrary, the embodiments are intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which are included in the spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined by the appended claims. Further, in the detailed description of the embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a comprehensive understanding of the claimed embodiments. However, one skilled in the art would understand that various embodiments may be practiced without such specific details.
Although the features and elements of aspects of the embodiments are described being in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone, without the other features and elements of the embodiments, or in various combinations with or without other features and elements disclosed herein.
This written description uses examples of the subject matter disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the same, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims.
The above-described embodiments are intended to be illustrative in all respects, rather than restrictive, of the embodiments. Thus the embodiments are capable of many variations in detailed implementation that can be derived from the description contained herein by a person skilled in the art. No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the embodiments unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items.
Additionally, the various methods described above are not meant to limit the aspects of the embodiments, or to suggest that the aspects of the embodiments should be implemented following the described methods. The purpose of the described methods is to facilitate the understanding of one or more aspects of the embodiments and to provide the reader with one or many possible implementations of the processed discussed herein. The steps performed during the described methods are not intended to completely describe the entire process but only to illustrate some of the aspects discussed above. It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the steps may be performed in a different order and that some steps may be eliminated or substituted.
All United States patents and applications, foreign patents, and publications discussed above are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the different aspects of the embodiments.
