WO2012146603A1 - Operating element for a lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating element, which is designed to transfer a lighting system into a switched-on state, into an idle state, and also into at least one further state, wherein the lighting system outputs a different light in each of the different states. The operating element comprises a touch screen having a display area (2), the touch screen being designed to display an image (4) of a switching and/or control element, for example in the form of a toggle switch, on the display area (2), wherein the operating element is designed in such a way that the lighting system can be transferred into the switched-on state by means of a first touch of the display area (2) and the lighting system can be transferred into the idle state by means of a second touch of the display area (2). A switching or control element gives the impression of particularly high ease of use. For a person unfamiliar with the operating element, the inhibition threshold for use is thus reduced, such that the acceptance of the operating element is increased overall.

Description

 Control element for a lighting system

The invention relates to a control that has a touch screen with a

Display surface, wherein the operating element is adapted to a

Lighting system in an on state, in a state of rest and also to put in at least one other state, wherein the

Lighting system in each of the states each gives a different light. Moreover, the invention relates to a building with such a control element. From the prior art, such an operating element is known in which different symbols can be displayed on the display surface of the touch screen and the lighting system can be put into a specific state by touching the symbols or applying pressure to the symbols with one finger. On the display surface, many different icons or menus can be displayed, with the help of the lighting system can be placed in many different states, so that the lighting system can be influenced in detail so to speak and adapted to individual needs.

The lighting system in question is usually not easy to set for persons who are unfamiliar with the control, as desired. In the

Practice has shown that it comes to trying to cause a desired state of the lighting system by trying different sequences of corresponding touches of the display surface, which is usually time-consuming and is perceived as not motivating. It can also happen that a use of the operating element is avoided at all, in the concern to bring about damage to the lighting system or a

Cause incorrect operation. However, there is usually the desire that such a control element also by appropriately inexperienced people

can be operated comparatively simple and effective. The invention has for its object to provide a corresponding control, the operability is facilitated, especially for people who are not familiar with the control. This object is achieved according to the invention with the object specified in the independent claim. Particular embodiments of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a control element is provided, which is adapted to put a lighting system in an on state, in an idle state and also in at least one other state, wherein the

Lighting system in each of the states each gives a different light. The operating element has a touchscreen with a display surface which is designed to display an image of a switching and / or regulating element on the display surface, wherein the operating element is designed in such a way that by a first

Touching the display surface, the lighting system can be set to the on state and by a second touch of the display surface the

Lighting system can be put into hibernation. In the basic state, therefore, the image of a conventional simple light switch or dimmer can be displayed on the control, which gives the impression of a particularly simple operation. For a person who is unfamiliar with the control, the inhibition threshold for use is reduced in this way, so that overall the acceptance of the control element is increased.

Preferably, the first touch is a press on a first portion of the image and the second touch is a press on a second portion of the image. Depending on the switching state of the system, the pressing is preferably carried out on the area on the illustrated switching or control element, which causes a change in lighting due to everyday experience in pressure application in the case of a corresponding, actually existing element, also triggered a corresponding change in lighting becomes. This allows the operator to achieve a quick "sense of achievement" in the operation, whereby the acceptance of the control element is further increased. Further preferably, a further area is provided on the display area outside the first area and outside the second area, wherein the

Control element is designed such that the lighting system can be placed in the at least one further state by touching the wider area. The wider area is preferably an area that does not trigger a switching operation due to the everyday experience in the case of a corresponding actual element. In this way, the following can be realized: By pressure or

Touching (possibly appropriately marked) areas, which trigger no switching operations on the basis of everyday experience, the control element is placed in a state in which it can control at least one other switching state of the lighting system for appropriately trained (or courageous) users and setting details of the system can change. It is thus in particular persons who are familiar with the control, allows the

Control lighting system in more detail.

Advantageously, the further region is arranged between the first region and the second region and / or in a corner region of the display surface.

In particular, the operating element can be designed in such a way that by touching the further area on the display surface, a menu is displayed with the aid of which the lighting system can be put into the at least one further state. Furthermore, the design is such that the pressing on the first area and the pressing on the second area each require a higher pressure than a further pressing, which serves the operation of the menu.

Preferably, the image of the usual switching element is so large that it occupies at least 30%, preferably at least 50%> of the display area. In this way, a possible inhibition threshold with respect to operation of the operating element can be further reduced.

The impression of a particularly simple operating option can be further increased if the image is a toggle switch with a gripping surface;

Preferably, in this case, the first area and the second area are located within the gripping area. Further preferably, the image represents the toggle switch in a first tilt position, wherein the touch screen is further configured to display on the display surface also another image of the toggle switch, which shows this in a second tilt position, wherein the control element is designed such that by touching the first area, changing the appearance of the toggle switch on the

Display area is triggered from the first image to the second image. In this way, a particularly high degree of agreement can be achieved compared to a corresponding operation of an actual toggle switch. This also increases the acceptance of the operating element.

This effect can be exacerbated by the display surface is arranged movable relative to a base element of the control element and further triggered by the first touch and / or the second touch movement of the display surface relative to the base member. The movement is preferably a tilting movement or a vibration.

Preferably, it can be additionally provided that the image also represents a dimming slider, which is preferably shown laterally of the toggle switch, wherein the operating element is configured such that the brightness of a light generated by the lighting system by a vertical or horizontal wiping movement over the display surface is changed. In this case, the design is preferably such that the brightness increases due to a wiping movement to the right and / or above and the brightness decreases due to a wiping movement to the left and / or below.

The image can also be the image of a knob and / or a

Actuate slide, wherein the control element is designed such that it can be caused by a first wiping movement over the display surface that a light generated by the lighting system is brighter and by a second

Swipe over the display area, which darkens the light. Preferably, the touch screen is further designed to display on the display surface at the same time several toggle switches side by side or a multi-tip switch, as they are preferably sold as standard electrical material. According to a further aspect of the invention, a building is provided, which has an operating element according to one of the preceding claims, and a switching or regulating element for switching or regulating an electrical system, wherein for the image of the switching or regulating element shown on the display surface, the design , in particular form and color of the first mentioned switching or control element is used. This can further reduce the inhibition threshold.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment and with reference to the drawings. 1 a is a sketch of a representation of a toggle switch on a

 Display surface of a touch screen of a device according to the invention

 Control element,

Fig. Lb is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1, wherein the toggle switch is in the corresponding other tilted position and

Fig. 2 is a corresponding sketch in the case of a knob.

In Fig. La is a sketch of a display surface 2 of a touch screen of a

shown control element according to the invention. The control element is designed in a manner known per se, a (not shown in the figures)

Lighting system in an on state, in a state of rest and also to put in at least one other state, wherein the

Lighting system in each of the states each gives a different light. For example, the embodiment may be such that the lighting system can be dimmed with the control element and / or that the lighting system has a plurality of different lights that can be controlled individually with the control element, that differently colored light can be generated, etc As further sketched by way of example in FIG. 1 a, the touchscreen is designed to display on the display surface 2 an image 4 of a switching and / or regulating element, for example an image 4 of a toggle switch, as shown by way of example.

In particular, the design may be such that the image 4 is displayed in "normal operation" or standby mode of the operating element, for example, it may thus be provided that, following some kind of touching of the display surface 2 after a certain, predefined period of time, for example, one minute, the image 4 is automatically displayed on the display surface 2 and the control is again in the appropriate mode.

The operating element is designed such that by a first touch of the display surface 2, the lighting system can be set in the on state and by a second touch the display surface 2 the

However, the resting state can also be provided that a certain basic lighting is turned on, which is noticeably darker than the lighting in the on state, the basic lighting, for example, only for basic lighting certain spatial areas, while in the on state, a room is fully illuminated.

Preferably, the first touch is a pressing on a first region 6 of the image 4 and the second touching a pressing on a second region 8 of the image 4. Advantageously, the second region 8 is not overlapping with the first region 6.

Further advantageous is on the display surface 2 outside the first area 6 and outside the second area 8, a further area 10 given, which may be characterized by a small icon, for example, the word "menu", wherein the control element is designed such that over touching the other one

Area 10, the lighting system can be placed in the at least one other state. In particular, it can be provided that by touching or pressing the further area 10, a menu surface appears on the display surface 2, which allows a suitably instructed person, the lighting system in the at least to put another state, ie in particular to control in detail in many ways, for example, individual lights of

Lighting system to be regulated individually and so on Preferably, the further region 10 is arranged between the first region 6 and the second region 8 and / or in a corner region of the display surface 2. Advantageously, the operating element is designed such that pressing on the first region 6 and pressing on the second region 8 each requires a higher pressure than another press to operate with the menu. In this way, the control can be designed so that its operation is particularly close to an operation of a corresponding, actual switching or control element.

A particularly low inhibition threshold for operating the operating element can be promoted by the fact that the image 4 is chosen to be so large that it occupies at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, of the display surface 2. Furthermore, it can advantageously be provided that in the representation of the image 4 only the image 4 is shown, that is, no symbol is displayed on the display surface 2 outside the area occupied by the representation of the switching or control element.

As shown by way of example in FIG. 1 a, the image 4 may represent a toggle switch with a grip surface 12, wherein the first region 6 and the second region 8 are located within the grip surface 12. In the example shown, the representation of the

Toggle switch such that the image 4 reveals that the toggle switch can be tilted about a horizontal axis A and the first region 6 is arranged above the axis A and the second region 8 below the axis A. This is a user intuitively imparted to which point is a touch of the display surface for activating or deactivating the lighting system is provided. As mentioned, it is altogether advantageous to choose the design in such a way that the operation of the operating element comes as close as possible to the operation of a corresponding actual switching or regulating element. For this purpose, for example, it can further be provided that the image 4 represents the toggle switch in a first tilting position or end position and the touchscreen is furthermore designed to be mounted on the Display surface 2 - as exemplarily sketched in FIG. 1b - to represent a further image 4 'of the toggle switch which shows it in a second or in the other tilt position or end position and the operating element is designed in such a way that through the

Touching the first area 6, a change of the representation of the toggle switch on the Anzeigeefiäche 2 of the first image 4 to the second image 4 'is triggered.

It is likewise expediently expedient if the operating element is designed such that the display surface 2 is arranged to be movable relative to a base element of the operating element and, furthermore, a movement of the display surface 2 relative to the base element is triggered by the first touching and / or the second touching. For example, the movement may be a tilting movement or a short vibration. This makes it possible to achieve a corresponding haptic detectable feedback by the operator. The operation becomes thereby particularly simple and pleasant. Alternatively or additionally, an acoustic feedback may be provided here, for example in the form of a clicking sound or the like.

According to an extended variant can be provided that the image also represents a dimming slider, which is preferably shown laterally of the toggle switch, wherein the control element is configured such that by a vertical or horizontal wiping movement on the display surface 2, the brightness of one of the Lighting system is changed, preferably as in a normal dimmer of the case. Preferably, the design is such that the brightness increases by a wiping movement to the right and / or above and the brightness decreases by a wiping movement to the left and / or below. This corresponds to the usual operation with corresponding conventional dimming slides.

In a variant, the corresponding representation of two or more juxtaposed tilt switches may be provided, but the number should be kept low overall to ensure the simple basic operation. The representation of the switching or control element can advantageously be chosen so that the appearance corresponds to that of corresponding actual switching or control elements within the building in question. It can therefore be chosen a representation that is selected analogous to the relevant switch program.

As sketched in FIG. 2, as an alternative to the case of the toggle switch, the image may represent a rotary knob and / or a slider (not shown in the figures), wherein the control element is designed such that a first

Wiping motion on the display surface 2 can be caused that a light generated by the lighting system is brighter and by a second

Swipe over the display surface 2, the light is darker.

Overall, can be caused by the control element according to the invention that a "blind" operation is made possible, whereby the acceptance is generally increased in not familiar with the plant people.

Claims

claims Control element, designed to be a lighting system in one  switched state to put in a resting state and also in at least one other state, wherein the lighting system in each of the states each emits a different light, comprising  a touchscreen with a display area (2),  characterized,  the touchscreen is designed to display an image (4) of a switching and / or regulating element on the display surface (2),  wherein the control element is designed such that by a first touch of the display surface (2), the lighting system can be set in the on state and by a second touch of the Anzeigeefiäche (2), the lighting system can be set to the idle state. Operating element according to claim 1,  wherein the first touch is a press on a first area (6) of the image (4) and the second touch is a press on a second area (8) of the image (4). Operating element according to claim 2,  in which on the display surface (2) outside of the first region (6) and outside of the second region (8), a further region (10) is given, wherein the operating element is designed such that by touching the further region (10) the Lighting system can be placed in the at least one other state. 4. Operating element according to claim 3, in which the further region (10) is arranged between the first region (6) and the second region (8) and / or in a corner region of the Display area (2). Operating element according to claim 3 or 4,  in which the operating element is designed in such a way that touching the wider area on the display surface (2) displays a menu with the aid of which the lighting system can be put into the at least one further state. Operating element according to Claim 5,  in which pressing on the first area (6) and pressing on the second area (8) each require a higher pressure than a further press serving to operate the menu. Operating element according to one of the preceding claims,  in which the image (4) is so large that it occupies at least 30%, preferably at least 50%, of the display area (2). Operating element according to one of the preceding claims,  wherein the image (4) is a toggle switch having a gripping surface (12) and the first region (6) and the second region (8) are located within the gripping surface (12). Operating element according to Claim 8,  wherein the image (4) represents the toggle switch in a first tilt position and the touch screen is further adapted to display on the display surface (2) another image (4 ') of the toggle switch showing it in a second tilt position, the control element is designed such that by touching the first area (6), a change of the representation of the toggle switch on the  Display surface (2) from the first image (4) to the second image (4 ') is triggered. 10. Operating element according to claim 9, is configured such that the display surface (2) is arranged movable relative to a base element of the operating element and further by the first touching and / or the second touching a movement of the Anzeigeefiäche (2) relative to the base element is triggered. 11. Operating element according to claim 10,  where the movement is a tilting movement or a vibration. 12. Operating element according to one of claims 8 to 11,  in which the image also represents a dimming slider, which is preferably shown laterally of the toggle switch, wherein the operating element is configured such that the brightness of a light generated by the lighting system is changed by a vertical or horizontal wiping movement on the Anzeigeefiäche (2) , 13. Operating element according to claim 12,  in which by a swipe to the right and / or above the brightness increases and decreases by a swipe to the left and / or below the brightness. 14. Operating element according to claim 1,  wherein the image represents a rotary knob and / or a slider, wherein the operating element is designed such that a first wiping movement over the display surface (2) can cause one of the  Lighting system becomes brighter light and through a second  Swipe over the display area (2), which darkens the light. 15. Operating element according to one of the preceding claims,  in which the touch screen is further designed to simultaneously on the display surface (2) a plurality of toggle switches next to each other or one  To represent multiple toggle switch, as they are preferably sold as standard electrical material. 16th building, comprising an operating element according to one of the preceding claims, as well as a switching or control element for switching or regulating an electrical Investment, wherein for the image (4) of the switching or control element shown on the display surface (2), the design, in particular shape and color of the first-mentioned switching or control element is used.