Hall-effect universal control button for a man-machine interface, and man-machine interface equipped with such a control button

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016352333-A1
Application number	US-201615167657-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 27, 2016
Priority date	May 27, 2015
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A Hall-effect universal control button for a man-machine interface includes a base adapted for mounting on the interface, and a plurality of manually actuable and interchangeable control modules. Each control module is mountable on the base and includes a bipolar magnet. The base includes at least one sensor to detect a magnetic field of the magnet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A Hall-effect universal control button for a man-machine interface, the button comprising:
a base adapted for mounting on the interface; and a plurality of manually actuable and interchangeable control modules, each control module mountable on the base and comprising a bipolar magnet, wherein the base includes at least one sensor to detect a magnetic field of the magnet.

2 . The Hall-effect universal control button according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect at least one of a rotational motion and a translational motion of the magnet.

3 . The Hall-effect universal control button according to claim 1 , wherein each control module comprises lighting and a lighting board for control of the lighting based on lighting signals originating from the interface.

4 . The Hall-effect universal control button according to claim 3 , wherein:
each control module comprises at least one lug, configured to engage with a socket provided in the base for mechanical coupling and electrical connection of each control module to the base; and the lug and the socket each include contacts, the contacts of the lug configured to contact the contacts of the socket for transmission of lighting and power supply signals.

5 . The Hall-effect universal control button according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of control modules comprises a continuous-rotation rotary control module.

6 . The Hall-effect universal control button according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of control modules comprises a rotary control module with a module position encoding function.

7 . The Hall-effect universal control button according to claim 6 , wherein the rotary control module is actuated by a pull-push function.

8 . The Hall-effect universal control button according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of control modules comprises a push-button control module.

9 . The Hall-effect universal control button according to claim 1 , wherein the base and the control modules include numerous and separate detection and control circuits.

10 . The Hall-effect universal control button according to claim 9 , wherein the detection and control circuits are linked by a communication bus.

11 . A man-machine interface comprising a plurality of control buttons, each control button comprising:
a base adapted for mounting on the interface; and a plurality of manually actuable and interchangeable control modules, each control module mountable on the base and comprising a bipolar magnet, wherein the base includes at least one sensor to detect a magnetic field of the magnet.

Assignees

• Zodiac Aero Electric

Inventors

• Simao Antonio

Classifications

• H03K17/972

  having a plurality of control members, e.g. keyboard · CPC title

• G05B19/04 Primary

  Program control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers (G05B19/418 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01H11/0018

  for allowing different operating parts · CPC title

• H03K2217/94068

  with magnetic detection · CPC title

• G05G1/08

  Controlling members for hand actuation by rotary movement, e.g. hand wheels · CPC title