Switching device for a radio pushbutton, radio pushbutton, and method for producing a switching signal of a switching device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9922782-B2
Application number	US-201414897955-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2014
Priority date	Jun 13, 2013
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

Abstract

The current embodiments provide a switch device for a wireless pushbutton, wherein the switch device comprising an energy conversion mechanism, a signal output mechanism, an actuation device, and a plurality of encoding contacts. The actuation device may be configured to establish contact with at least one of the plurality of encoding contacts when a first quantity of an actuation force is applied for generating an encoded signal. The actuation device may be configured to activate the energy conversion mechanism to generate energy when a second quantity of an actuation force greater than the first quantity is applied to the activation device. The signal output mechanism may be configured to transmit a wireless output signal using the encoded signal when the energy conversion mechanism is activated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A switch device for a wireless pushbutton, wherein the switch device comprises:
an energy conversion mechanism;
a signal output mechanism;
an actuation device; and
a plurality of encoding contacts,
wherein the actuation device is configured to establish contact with at least one of the plurality of encoding contacts when a first quantity of an actuation force is applied for generating an encoded signal,
wherein the actuation device is configured to activate the energy conversion mechanism to generate energy when a second quantity of an actuation force greater than the first quantity is applied to the activation device, and
wherein the signal output mechanism is configured to transmit a wireless output signal using the encoded signal when the energy conversion mechanism is activated.

2. The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation device includes a switch membrane having a plurality of switch projections for establishing a contact with at least one of the plurality of encoding contacts, and wherein the actuation device includes at least two lever elements configured to activate the energy conversion mechanism.

3. The switch device according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one coupling element for coupling with a base plate of the wireless pushbutton, wherein the at least one coupling element is designed to enable a pivotal movement or a linear movement of the actuation device in relation to the base plate.

4. The switch device according to claim 3 , wherein the energy conversion mechanism is configured to activate to generate energy when the second quantity of the actuation force is applied to a centralized portion of the actuation device or a decentralized portion of the actuation device.

5. The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the encoding contacts are disposed on a circuit carrier, and wherein the circuit carrier is disposed in an actuation region of the switch device such that the first quantity of the actuation force can cause contact between the actuation device and the encoding contacts.

6. The switch device according to claim 4 , wherein a housing, a circuit carrier, and a spacer are disposed between the energy conversion mechanism and the actuation device, and wherein the spacer is configured for establishing the contact between the at least one encoding contact and the actuation device.

7. The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation device comprises a spring configured to influence the activation means into a standby position, the actuation means being spaced apart from the encoding contacts in the standby position.

8. The switch device according to claim 1 , wherein the signal output mechanism is configured to transmit a second output signal during a return movement of the actuation device from an activation position to a standby position.

9. A wireless pushbutton comprising:
a switch device, the switch device having:
an energy conversion mechanism;
a signal output mechanism;
an actuation device; and
a plurality of encoding contacts,
wherein the actuation device means is configured to establish contact with at least one of the plurality of encoding contacts when a first quantity of an actuation force is applied for generating an encoded signal,
wherein the actuation device is configured to activate the energy conversion mechanism to generate energy when a second quantity of an actuation force greater than the first quantity is applied to the activation device, and

wherein the signal output mechanism is configured to transmit a wireless output signal using the encoded signal when the energy conversion mechanism is activated; and

a base plate serving as a mount for mounting the wireless pushbutton on a carrier, wherein the base plate includes:
at least one coupling element for coupling to the switch device; and
a button for transferring an actuation force- to the switch device, wherein the button is coupled to the switch device.

10. The wireless pushbutton according to claim 9 , wherein the button is divided into a plurality of actuatable button segments, wherein the wireless pushbutton is designed to generate one of a plurality of different switching signals in response to the actuation force applied to at least one actuated button segment.

11. The wireless pushbutton according to claim 9 , wherein the actuation device includes a switch membrane having a plurality of switch projections for establishing a contact with at least one of the plurality of encoding contacts, and wherein the actuation device includes at least two lever elements configured to activate the energy conversion mechanism.

12. The wireless pushbutton according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one coupling element is designed to enable a pivotal movement or a linear movement of the actuation device of the switch device in relation to the base plate.

13. The wireless pushbutton according to claim 9 , wherein the encoding contacts are disposed on a circuit carrier, and wherein the circuit carrier is disposed in an actuation region of the switch device such that the first quantity of the actuation force can cause contact between the actuation device and the encoding contacts.

14. A method for generating a switching signal with a switch device for a wireless pushbutton comprising:
generating an encoded signal with an actuation device when a contact is established between the actuation device and at least one of a plurality of encoding contacts when a first quantity of an actuation force is applied to the actuation device in an encoding setting;
generating energy with an energy conversion mechanism when a second quantity of the actuation force, which is greater than the first quantity, is applied to the actuation means in an activation setting; and
generating a wireless output signal with a signal output mechanism, using the encoded signal when the energy conversion mechanism is activated.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the plurality of encoding contacts are disposed on a circuit carrier, and wherein the circuit carrier is disposed in an actuation region of the switch device such that the actuation force can be transferred to the actuation device.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the actuation device comprises a spring configured to influence the activation device into a standby position, the actuation means being spaced apart from the encoding contacts in the standby position.

17. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising generating a second output signal with the signal output mechanism during a return movement of the actuation device from an activation position to a standby position.

18. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the actuation device includes a switch membrane having a plurality of switch projections for establishing a contact with at least one of the plurality of encoding contacts.

19. The method according to claim 14 , further comprising a pivotal movement or a linear movement of the actuation device in response to the actuation force.

20. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the energy conversion mechanism is configured to activate to generate energy when the second quantity of the actuation force is applied to a centralized portion of the actuation device or a decentralized portion of the actuation device.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Ruff Eduard

Classifications

• H01H23/143

  having a generally flat elongated shape · CPC title

• H01H9/168

  making use of an electromagnetic wave communication · CPC title

• H01H2239/076

  Key stroke generating power · CPC title

• H01H9/0271

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

• G08C17/02 Primary

  using a radio link · CPC title