Switching module for a switch, switch, method for indicating an actuation of a switch and method for controlling a device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9812265-B2
Application number	US-201214351221-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 14, 2012
Priority date	Oct 13, 2011
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

A switching module for a switch includes a housing configured to execute a switching movement when the switch is actuated. The switching module also includes an actuator, which is disposed in the housing and is configured to execute an actuation movement that can be controlled by a control contour. Moreover, the switching module includes an energy converter, which is disposed in the housing and is configured to provide an electrical pulse when powered by the actuation movement of the actuator. Furthermore, the switching module includes a switch unit for emitting a switching signal based on the electrical pulse, for indicating the switching movement of the housing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A switch device, comprising:
a tray having a side wall forming a ramp-shaped bridge;
a housing positioned in the tray, the housing configured to pivot with respect to the tray about a first axis to perform a switching motion;
an actuator in the housing, the actuator in contact with the ramp-shaped bridge and configured to execute a linear movement in a direction of an energy converter to convert the switching motion into a mechanical input of the energy converter;
the energy converter mechanically connecting to the actuator, configured to convert the mechanical input into an electrical pulse; and
a circuit electrically connected to the energy converter and configured to emit a switching signal corresponding to the switch motion of the housing based on the electrical pulse.

2. The switch device of claim 1 , further comprising an antenna electrically connected to the circuit to wirelessly transmit the switching signal to a remote device controlled by the switch device.

3. The switch device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first output contact electrically connecting to the circuit; and
a second output contact electrically connecting to the circuit, wherein
the switching signal is a first switching signal when the first output contact is actuated together with the switching motion of the housing, and
the switching signal is a second switching signal when the second output contact is actuated together with the switching motion of the housing.

4. The switch device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a button above the housing, configured to switch between:
a first switching position to actuate the first output contact and generate the switching motion of the housing; and
a second switching position to actuate the second output contact and generate the switching motion of the housing.

5. The switch device of claim 4 , wherein
the button is configured to pivot along a second axis different from the first axis.

6. The switch device of claim 5 , wherein the second axis is at a right angle to the first axis.

7. The switch device of claim 1 , wherein the switching motion of the housing comprises:
a first switching motion from a first housing position to a second housing position, and
a second switching motion from the second housing position to the first housing position; and
the electrical pulse of the energy converter comprises:
a first electrical pulse corresponding to the first switching motion, and
a second electrical pulse corresponding to the second switching motion.

8. The switch device of claim 1 , wherein the actuator further comprises a roller and the roller is in contact with the ramp-shaped bridge.

9. The switch device of claim 1 , wherein the energy converter, the actuator, and the circuit are fixedly disposed in the housing.

10. A method for making a switch device, comprising:
providing a tray having a side wall forming a ramp-shaped bridge;
providing a housing in the tray, the housing configured to pivot with respect to the tray about a first axis to perform a switching motion;
providing an actuator in the housing, the actuator in contact with the ramp-shaped bridge and configured to execute a linear movement in a direction of an energy converter to convert the switching motion into a mechanical input of the energy converter;
providing the energy converter mechanically connecting to the actuator, configured to convert the mechanical input into an electrical pulse; and
providing a circuit electrically connected to the energy converter and configured to emit a switching signal corresponding to the switch motion of the housing based on the electrical pulse.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
providing an antenna electrically connected to the circuit to wirelessly transmit the switching signal to a remote device controlled by the switch device.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
providing a first output contact electrically connecting to the circuit; and
providing a second output contact electrically connecting to the circuit, wherein
the switching signal is a first switching signal when the first output contact is actuated together with the switching motion of the housing, and
the switching signal is a second switching signal when the second output contact is actuated together with the switching motion of the housing.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
providing a button above the housing, configured to switch between:
a first switching position to actuate the first output contact and generate the switching motion of the housing; and
a second switching position to actuate the second output contact and generate the switching motion of the housing.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein
the button is configured to pivot along a second axis different from the first axis.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second axis is at a right angle to the first axis.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the switching motion of the housing comprises
a first switching motion from a first housing position to a second housing position, and
a second switching motion from the second housing position to the first housing position; and
the electrical pulse of the energy converter comprises:
a first electrical pulse corresponding to the first switching motion, and
a second electrical pulse corresponding to the second switching motion.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the actuator further comprises a roller and the roller is in contact with the ramp-shaped bridge.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the energy converter, the actuator, and the circuit are fixedly disposed in the housing.

Assignees

• Ruff Eduard
• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Ruff Eduard

Classifications

• H01H2300/03

  Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring · CPC title

• H01H23/08

  Bases; Stationary contacts mounted thereon · CPC title

• H01H2239/076

  Key stroke generating power · CPC title

• H01H9/168

  making use of an electromagnetic wave communication · CPC title

• H01H9/0271 Primary

  structurally combining a switch and an electronic component (for relays H01H50/021) · CPC title