• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The present invention relates to a switching element for mounting behind a device surface, in particular behind a housing surface (10) of a technical device, with at least one non-contact proximity sensor (22) and an electronic control unit (23) which generates a switching signal as a function of the at least one sensor measured value, wherein the switching element comprises at least one via the control electronics (23) excitable piezoelectric actuator (21) which is in the case of a generated switching signal by the control electronics (23) can be set in vibration.
    公开号:AT518774A4
    申请号:T50796/2016
    申请日:2016-09-08
    公开日:2018-01-15
    发明作者:Pregenzer Lukas
    申请人:Pregenzer Lukas；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Summary
    The present invention relates to a switching element for attachment behind a device surface, in particular behind a housing surface of a technical device, with at least one non-contact proximity sensor and control electronics that generate a switching signal as a function of the at least one sensor measured value, the switching element being able to excite at least one via the control electronics Piezo actuator comprises, which can be set in motion by the control electronics in the event of a generated switching signal.
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    Switching element for attachment behind a device surface
    The present invention relates to a switching element for attachment behind a device surface, in particular behind a housing surface of a technical device, with a non-contact proximity sensor and control electronics which generate a switching signal as a function of the measured sensor value.
    Switching elements are usually installed in technical devices for their manual operation. Mechanical switching elements are known which trigger a switching process by means of a mechanical movement which is brought about manually by the operator, in order, for example, to produce or open an electrical switching contact. A disadvantage of mechanical switches, however, are the gap dimensions required between the actuating element and the rest of the switch element. The resulting cracks and transitions are collection points for soiling. Dangerous germs and bacteria can accumulate here, particularly in the case of switching elements for medical devices.
    An alternative to directly mechanically actuated switching elements is formed by sensor-actuated switching elements. The switch actuation is not recognized by mechanical movement, but is sensed. A disadvantage of these designs is the lack of feedback to the switch operator who, due to the lack of mechanical movement, has no feeling for the successful operation of the switch.
    The object of the present invention is to develop a novel switching element that knows how to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.
    This object is achieved by a switching element according to the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the switching element are the subject of the dependent subclaims.
    According to the invention, a switching element for mounting behind a device surface is proposed, which comprises at least one proximity sensor that works without contact and detects at least one physical variable in its sensor field. Approaching a specific object within the sensor field requires a change in this at least one detected size, in particular it can be derived from whether an operator touches the surface of the device surface with a body part, preferably his finger. However, direct contact with the sensor itself is not necessary. The integral control electronics of the switching element evaluate the sensor values output and, when the sensor measured value changes accordingly, assumes a switch actuation, whereupon a switching signal is generated. This can be an electrical switching signal that can be transmitted to a device to be switched via a communication connection, preferably by cable.
    Furthermore, it is now proposed according to the invention to expand the switching element by at least one piezo actuator. The piezo actuator can also be controlled via the integrated control electronics of the switching element in such a way that, in the case of a generated switching signal, the piezo actuator can be suitably controlled or excited by the control electronics in order to vibrate it
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    -3versetzen. The piezo element is preferably excited by the application of a defined alternating voltage by the control electronics.
    The switching element according to the invention offers a number of advantages. Due to the use of a non-contact sensor element, the switching element can be arranged behind a continuous device surface, the switch is actuated by touching or approaching the outer device surface. Due to the omitted switch mechanics, the device surface can be designed consistently without interruptions, scratches or transitions. The dirt deposits occurring in mechanically actuated switching elements are avoided, which has proven to be an enormous advantage, particularly when the switching element is used for medical devices.
    According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the frequency and / or power of the excitation signal transmitted from the control electronics to the piezo actuator can be adjustable, i.e. the frequency and power of the applied AC voltage is freely configurable and can be adapted to the specific use of the switching element.
    For example, the control electronics can be designed in such a way that the piezo actuator is briefly vibrated after a switching operation for haptic confirmation of a switching operation. If, for example, the operator touches the surface of the device surface protruding from the switching element, a short vibration is simultaneously generated when the switching process is triggered by excitation of the piezo actuator, as a result of which the user receives a haptic confirmation of the successful switching process. In this case, the piezo actuator is preferably excited with a signal or an alternating voltage of low frequency. Furthermore, an excitation from a few milliseconds to a maximum of a few seconds is sufficient.
    There is also the possibility that the control electronics are configured in such a way that the piezo actuator is activated with a suitable excitation signal in order to
    4.12
    -4 to generate a vibration of the piezo actuator with a frequency within the frequency spectrum audible to humans. An acoustic confirmation of a successful switching process can be generated by the vibration of the piezo actuator that is audible to the user. In this case, the selected frequency and / or the duration of the excitation are higher or longer than when generating a haptic feedback.
    Additionally or alternatively, it is conceivable for the control electronics to be designed in such a way that the piezo actuator is excited with a high-frequency excitation signal to apply a vibration in the ultrasound range to the device surface. An ultrasonic cleaning process can be stimulated or supported by means of the vibration excitation of the device surface caused thereby. This is particularly advantageous in combination with the simultaneous application of a cleaning or. Disinfectant on the device surface, as this promotes the formation of cavitation bubbles, destroy organisms such as bacteria on the device surface or better dissolve other contaminants on the device surface. It is also possible to achieve dissociation through the vibration excitation with the simultaneous addition of a cleaning agent or disinfectant in order to generate oxidative substances directly on the surface. This offers an efficient method to eliminate chemically resistant germs on the device surface.
    The built-in proximity sensor works, for example, on a capacitive measuring principle and consequently corresponds to a capacitive proximity sensor. The sensor particularly preferably continuously monitors the electrical field strength in its sensor field. Changes in the measured field strength allow conclusions to be drawn about the approach of an object, in particular a part of the body.
    In addition, the switching element can additionally be equipped with a visual light source and / or the control electronics include a control output for connecting and controlling an external light source. The light source can be controlled by the control electronics as a function of the switching state or generation of a switching signal, in order to change the switching or in a defined one
    5/12
    -5 Switching state to generate a suitable light effect to confirm the switching process. Ideally, a bright LED is used, whose emitted light energy is at best sufficient to penetrate the housing surface upstream of the switching elements. As a result, the operator can additionally be shown a successful change of state of the switching element by visual feedback.
    In addition to the switching element, the invention also relates to a device, in particular a medical device, with at least one switching element according to the present invention. The switching element is preferably arranged behind a device surface, in particular the housing surface, in order to enable switching operations by approaching or touching the device surface. The generated vibration of the built-in piezo element can preferably be transmitted to the device surface in order to be able to transmit to the user a haptic or acoustic confirmation of a successful switching operation. Likewise, by appropriate excitation of the piezo element, the device or housing surface can be set in ultrasonic oscillation in order to loosen contamination of the device surface or the housing surface by the vibrations. This works particularly well in conjunction with a suitable cleaning and / or disinfecting liquid that is applied to the surface to be cleaned at the same time.
    For this reason, the device in an optional embodiment can be equipped with suitable means for automatically applying a cleaning agent, in particular a cleaning and / or disinfecting liquid, to the housing surface. For example, the means for applying the liquid can also be linked to the control electronics of the switching element in order to enable a synchronous application of the liquid with simultaneous excitation.
    Further advantages and properties of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the single figure.
    The figure schematically outlines the structure of the switching element according to the invention, which sits behind a housing surface 10 of a medical device.
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    A switching process can be triggered if the operator touches the outer housing surface 10 with his finger 1 or approaches it directly.
    The switching element according to the invention comprises a capacitive proximity sensor with the capacitive surface 22 as the sensor electrode in order to detect the electrical field in the environment, in particular in the area of the housing surface 10. Changes in the electrical field, for example due to the approaching finger 1, can thereby be detected. The sensor measured values are made available to the control electronics 23 of the switch element, which triggers a switching operation of the switching element when the measured value changes accordingly. A switching process is communicated to a connected device to be switched via the cable 25 as an electrical switching signal.
    According to the invention, the switching element comprises an additional piezo element 21, which works as a piezo actuator by means of suitable excitation with a voltage. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the piezo actuator 21 is located directly behind the housing wall 10, i.e. even before the capacitive surface 22. During a switching process, the control electronics 23 not only sends an electrical switching signal via the cable 25, but simultaneously feeds the piezo actuator 21 with a suitable alternating voltage in order to set it in vibration. The generated vibration is transmitted from the piezo actuator 21 to the housing 10.
    The frequency and power of the AC voltage can be set by the control electronics 23, as a result of which different functions of the piezo actuator 21 can be implemented. The first function is haptic feedback through a brief vibration of the piezo actuator 21 or the housing surface 10. This confirms to the operator that a successful switching process has been triggered. For the short vibration, the piezo actuator 21 is activated, for example, with an alternating voltage of low frequency.
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    By increasing the frequency of the alternating voltage by means of the control electronics 23, the piezo actuator 21 can alternatively also be used as a sound-generating element in order to acoustically inform the user of the successful switching process. For this purpose, the power and frequency of the alternating voltage are to be selected such that the piezo actuator 21 oscillates at a frequency in the frequency spectrum which is perceptible to humans
    As a third option, the piezo actuator 21 can also be excited by the control electronics 23 with a high-frequency alternating voltage in order to enable vibrations of the piezo actuator 21 or of the housing 10 in the ultrasonic range. This ultrasonic vibration applied to the housing surface 10 can be used in particular in combination with a liquid applied at the same time for cleaning purposes on the surface of the housing 10, which can be particularly important in medical technology devices.
    The switching element is also equipped with a strong integrated light source 24, in particular an LED, which is switched by the control electronics 23 during a switching process in order to also inform the user of the successful switching process by visual signaling. The LED is dimensioned so that the light signal can penetrate the housing 10 to the outside.
    The advantages of the present invention can be summarized as follows:
    By attaching the sensor element to the back of a housing surface 10 and by means of the capacitive sensor system 22, any switch-related cracks or transitions on the housing surface 10 in which germs and dirt can accumulate are avoided. As a result, better hygiene is guaranteed.
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    The haptic feedback means that the user knows that a switching action has been successfully triggered without having to pay attention to a light signal or the like. This is particularly helpful for people who see or hear poorly.
    The user can be acoustically informed of the triggering of the switching signal by the generated tones.
    The combination of ultrasonic vibration and, for example, disinfectant liquids, can cause cavitation bubbles that destroy organisms such as bacteria on the housing surface 10, as is the case, for example, with the so-called cell disruption process. However, the dirt on the surface 10 is also better dissolved by the resulting ultrasonic cleaning. Furthermore, the cavitation bubbles create micro currents that bring the applied liquid closer to the dirt, viruses, bacteria, etc. and thus increase the likelihood of disinfection and cleaning.
    Through the combination of suitable liquids and the ultrasonic vibration, dissociation can be achieved and oxidative substances can be generated directly on the surface. The combination of chemical or oxidative substances and the mechanical destruction of the cell walls realizes an efficient method to better eliminate chemically resistant germs.
    9.12
    权利要求:
    Claims (12)
    [1]
    1. Switching element for attachment behind a device surface (10), in particular behind a housing surface of a technical device, with at least one non-contact proximity sensor (22) and control electronics (23) that generate a switching signal as a function of the at least one sensor measured value, characterized in that that the switching element comprises at least one piezo actuator (21) which can be excited by the control electronics (23) and which can be set in motion by the control electronics (23) in the event of a generated switching signal.
    [2]
    - 2 to generate and / or support an ultrasonic cleaning process on the device surface.
    2. Switching element according to claim 1, characterized in that the frequency and / or power of the excitation signal of the piezo actuator (21) is adjustable.
    [3]
    3. Switching element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control electronics (23) is designed in such a way that the piezo actuator (21) after a switching process is briefly vibrated for haptic confirmation of a switching process, preferably by brief excitation of the piezo actuator (21 ) with low frequency.
    [4]
    4. Switching element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control electronics (23) is designed such that the piezo actuator (21) is controlled with a suitable excitation signal to oscillate the piezo actuator (21) in the audible frequency spectrum for acoustic confirmation of a To generate switching.
    [5]
    5. Switching element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control electronics (23) are designed such that the piezo actuator (21) is excited with a high-frequency excitation signal for applying a vibration in the ultrasonic range to the device surface (10),
    [6]
    6. Switching element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the built-in proximity sensor is a capacitive proximity sensor (22).
    [7]
    7. Switching element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one visual light source (24) is provided which generates a light effect as a function of the switching signal, preferably a bright LED which is suitable for emitting a light signal through the device surface (10) ,
    [8]
    8. Device, in particular medical device, with a switching element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the switching element is preferably arranged behind a housing surface (10).
    [9]
    9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device has means for applying a liquid, in particular a cleaning and / or disinfectant, to the housing surface (10), together with the switching element on the housing surface (10 ) applied ultrasonic vibration to perform surface cleaning and / or surface disinfection.
    [10]
    10/12
    [11]
    11/12
    [12]
    12/12
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    AT518774B1|2018-01-15|
    WO2018046121A1|2018-03-15|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
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    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    ATA50796/2016A|AT518774B1|2016-09-08|2016-09-08|Switching element for attachment behind a device surface|ATA50796/2016A| AT518774B1|2016-09-08|2016-09-08|Switching element for attachment behind a device surface|
    PCT/EP2017/001038| WO2018046121A1|2016-09-08|2017-08-30|Switching element for attaching behind a device surface|
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