INTERACTION MODULE

Abstract

An interaction module includes a housing for holding a projector to project an image onto a working surface and an optical scanning device for scanning a gesture in the region of the image, and a mounting plate configured for fastening to an underside of an object attached above the working surface. The mounting plate is configured for attachment of the housing on a side of the mounting plate which side faces away from the object.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. An interaction module, comprising: a housing holding a projector for projecting an image onto a working surface and an optical scanning device for scanning a gesture in a region of the image; and a mounting plate configured for fastening to an underside of an object attached above the working surface, said mounting plate configured for attachment of the housing on a side of the mounting plate which side faces away from the object.

16. The interaction module of claim 15, wherein the mounting plate and housing are structured to be separated from or attached to one another without tools.

17. The interaction module of claim 15, wherein the mounting plate and housing are connected to one another by a form-fit engagement acting in a direction of the working surface.

18. The interaction module of claim 17, wherein the mounting plate extends in one plane and includes a hooked segment extending in a direction of the housing, said housing including a holder corresponding to the hooked segment, so that the housing is connectable to the mounting plate to establish the form-fit engagement by a movement running parallel to the working surface relative to the mounting plate or be released therefrom by a movement running parallel to the working surface relative to the mounting plate.

19. The interaction module of claim 15, further comprising a locking facility configured to prevent inadvertent release of the housing from the mounting plate.

20. The interaction module of claim 19, wherein the locking facility comprises a vertically movable bolt attached to the housing, said mounting plate including a contact edge extending in a vertical direction to engage with the bolt.

21. The interaction module of claim 20, wherein the contact edge is formed on a delimitation of a cut-out in the mounting plate.

22. The interaction module of claim 19, further comprising an elastic element to hold the locking facility in a locking position.

23. The interaction module of claim 19, further comprising a socket arranged near to the locking facility for insertion of an electrical connecting lead to thereby prevent actuation of the locking facility.

24. The interaction module of claim 23, further comprising a guide element to fix a position of the electrical connecting lead to thereby ensure that the electrical connecting lead runs directly in front of the locking facility.

25. The interaction module of claim 15, wherein the mounting plate is made from a single flat metal sheet.

26. The interaction module of claim 15, wherein the mounting plate is produced as a single piece.

27. The interaction module of claim 15, wherein the mounting plate has a cut-out to allow passage of air to or from a ventilation opening in the housing.

28. The interaction module of claim 15, wherein the mounting plate includes a spacer, which projects by a distance beyond a contour of the housing when the mounting plate is attached to the housing, said distance being selected as a function of optical parameters of the projector such that the image generated by the projector on the working surface has no contact with a vertical surface that delimits one side of the working surface and against which the spacer rests.

Description

[0024] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary system with an interaction module;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary interaction module with a mounting plate in two different states;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a locking facility of an exemplary interaction module on a mounting plate in two different states; and

[0028] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary interaction module in a mounted position.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary system 100 with an interaction module 105. The interaction module 105 is designed to project an image 110 onto a working surface 115 and to capture a gesture in the region of the image 110 optically. For this purpose the interaction module 105 is preferably attached above the working surface 115. A user of the interaction module 105 can be located for example in a user position 120 for this purpose, preferably looking in the direction of the interaction module 105.

[0030] To facilitate direction referencing, an exemplary coordinates system is shown, which is also used in the following figures. A transverse direction (x) runs across the (imagined) user and to the observer in the representation in FIG. 1. A depthwise direction (y) extends from the user position 120 in the direction of the interaction module. The working surface 115 generally runs horizontally along the transverse direction and the depthwise direction. A vertical direction is also referred to as a heightwise direction (z); it extends vertically upward from the working surface 115. Pairs of directions are perpendicular to one another and the directions preferably form a right-handed coordinate system. The direction designations are irrelevant and a different three-dimensional coordinates system can be used in other embodiments. Directions shown here that are parallel or perpendicular to one of the directions should preferably be seen as fuzzy data so that a substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular direction is also included.

[0031] The interaction module 105 in FIG. 1 generally comprises a projector 125 and an optical scanning device 130. The projector 125 is designed to project visible light downward onto the working surface 115 to generate the image 110. Any content can be output optically in this process, for example text, graphics or a video data stream. The scanning device 130 can be configured as a depth camera for example and is designed to capture a gesture in the region of the image 110. For this purpose the scanning device 130 can comprise at least one optical sensor and a light source, which can supply invisible light in particular, for example infrared light. The scanning device 130 is preferably designed to determine a distance from an object by means of a stereoscopic recording by two sensors in different places or by determining the propagation speed of light (time of flight, TOF).

[0032] To control a function the image 110 can comprise for example an operating surface or button and the scanning device 130 can capture contact with the working surface (or an object) in the region of the button and output a corresponding signal or execute a control function assigned to the button. The projector 125 and the scanning device 130 can be arranged in different places from one another in the plane of the working surface 115. A projection region of the projector 125 and a scanning region of the scanning device 130 in the region of the working surface 115 can however be matched with one another. In particular the regions on the working surface 115 can be substantially congruent. The projector 125 and/or scanning device 130 can each be inclined about an axis parallel to the working surface 115 for this purpose.

[0033] The interaction module 105 preferably comprises a housing 135, which can generally hold the projector 125, the optical scanning device 130 and optionally also further elements, such as a power adapter or a fan 137. The housing 135 can preferably be attached to a mounting plate 140 or removed therefrom without tools. The mounting plate 140 can be attached to an appliance or unit 145 located above the working surface 115. Screws or another common fastening method can be used for this purpose. The appliance can comprise for example a lighting unit or extractor hood and the unit 145 can be configured in particular as a wall cupboard or top cupboard. Other embodiments, in which a shelf, ceiling or dedicated horizontal fastening facility is used instead of the unit 145, are also possible. It is assumed here that the mounting plate 140 can be attached to the underside of any object so that the interaction module is below the mounting plate in the heightwise direction. The underside of the object is generally flat, at least as large as the mounting plate and preferably runs parallel to the working surface 115 for this purpose. The underside of the object can also be perforated, for example for the passage of air or as a guide for an electrical lead.

[0034] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment the working surface 115 is held by a bottom cupboard 150. The bottom cupboard 150, the working surface 115 and the unit 145 here are located on a vertical delimitation, which can comprise in particular a wall 155, a room divider or a large unit, on a side away from the user position 120 in the depthwise direction. Such a configuration is not mandatory but is frequently available in a household context and in particular in a kitchen, in which the interaction module 105 can preferably be used.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary interaction module 105 with a mounting plate 140 in two different states. In an upper region of FIG. 2 the mounting plates 140 and housing 135 are shown separated from one another and in a lower region they are shown attached to one another. The mounting plate 140 can preferably be made as a single piece from a flat metal sheet. Here it comprises a flat segment for contact with an object such as the unit or appliance 145 and one or more hooked segments 205. The hooked segment 205 comprises a first segment 210 extending in a heightwise direction and a second segment 215 extending parallel to the working surface 115, all the second segments 215 of all the hooked segments 205 preferably pointing in the same direction, in this instance the direction of the user position 120. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment four hooked segments 205 are provided, located at corners of a rectangle, but other arrangements are also possible.

[0036] A corresponding holder 220 of the housing 135 is located opposite a hooked segment 205. In the present embodiment the top of the housing 135 comprises a peripheral vertical web 225 for example for this purpose, which preferably has a cut-out 230 for the passage of air on at least one side. A holder 220 results here in that the web 225 is narrower in one region 232 and a horizontal recess 235 adjoins the narrower region 232. When the interaction module 105 is attached to the mounting plate 140, the first segment 210 is located in the region of the narrower region 232 and the second segment 215 is located in the region of the horizontal recess 235. The web 225 is then on a radial outer side of the hooked segments 205 relative to a vertical center axis. In a different embodiment the housing 135 can engage in a hooked segment 205 differently, for example by means of a reversed hooked element designed to engage with a form fit in the hooked element 205.

[0037] The housing 135 can be attached to the mounting plate 140 by first moving it vertically upward so that the hooked elements 205 engage in the corresponding holders 220 and then horizontally so that the second segments 215 engage in the holders 220. Fastening takes place by means of a form fit in a vertical direction between the second segments 215 and the recesses 235. Removal can take place with the sequence of steps reversed.

[0038] The mounting plate 140 can have one or more further cut-outs 240 for fastening to the object 145, it being possible for one cut-out 240 in particular to be round and another to be configured as a slot or arm so that the alignment or position of the mounting plate 140 on the object 145 can be adjusted at a later stage, if screws for example have already been inserted into the object 145 through some of the cut-outs 240.

[0039] The mounting plate 140 optionally comprises a segment that can be used as a spacer 245 in relation to a vertical delimitation such as the wall 155. The length by which the spacer 245 projects beyond a contour of the housing 135 can be predetermined as a function of optical and/or geometrical parameters or properties of the interaction module 105. This length can also be zero in one embodiment.

[0040] A locking facility 250 can be provided between the housing 135 and the mounting plate 140 and this is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3. On the mounting plate 140 the locking facility 250 can comprise a cut-out 255 and on the housing 135 a bolt 260. The bolt 260 is preferably embodied so that it can move vertically and designed to engage in the cut-out 255 in a locking position and to release this in an unlocking position. A contact edge of the cut-out 255 against which the bolt 260 rests to prevent horizontal displacement of the housing 135, which cancels the form fit between the hooked elements 205 and the corresponding holders 220, is then reinforced. A vertical contact structure 265 in particular can be configured on the mounting plate 140 for this purpose. This contact structure 265 can be formed by bending part of the mounting plate 140 downward.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a locking facility 250 of an exemplary interaction module 105 on a mounting plate 140 in two different states. In an upper region of FIG. 3 the bolt 260 is in an unlocking position and the housing 135 is in a position relative to the mounting plate 140 that allows vertical movement. In a lower region the bolt 260 is in a locking position and the housing 135 is latched onto the mounting plate 140, the hooked elements 205 engaging in the corresponding holders 220 with a form fit in a vertical direction.

[0042] In the locking position the bolt 260 rests against the contact structure 265 of the mounting plate 140, its form fit preventing any lateral (horizontal) movement in the direction in which the vertical form fit between the hooked elements 205 and the corresponding holders 220 is cancelled.

[0043] The bolt 265 can for example be held in such a manner that it can be displaced vertically in a groove or arm on the housing 135. An elastic element 305 can load the bolt vertically upward, in the direction of the locking position. A user must move the bolt 265 downward to unlock. Said user can therefore displace the housing 135 horizontally relative to the mounting plate 140 and then remove the housing 135 in a vertical direction.

[0044] An electrical connecting lead for the interaction device (not shown) is passed through the cut-out 255 in the mounting plate 140 and plugged into a socket 270 by means of a right-angle plug arranged at the end of the connecting lead. The socket 270 is arranged centrally below the bolt 260 in a vertical direction and centrally below the cut-out 255 on the housing 135. Therefore when the connecting lead is plugged in, part of the right-angle plug and/or the cable of the connecting lead runs centrally in front of the bolt 260, making this inaccessible for unlocking. It is therefore only possible to unlock the housing 135 from the mounting plate 140 when the connecting lead has been unplugged.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary interaction module in the mounted position on an appliance or unit 145.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0046] 100 System [0047] 105 Interaction module [0048] 110 Image [0049] 115 Working surface [0050] 120 User position [0051] 125 Projector [0052] 130 Optical scanning device [0053] 135 Housing [0054] 137 Fan [0055] 140 Mounting plate [0056] 145 Unit, appliance [0057] 150 Bottom cupboard [0058] 155 Wall [0059] 205 Hooked segment [0060] 210 First segment (vertical) [0061] 215 Second segment (horizontal) [0062] 220 Holder [0063] 225 Web [0064] 230 Cut-out [0065] 232 Narrower region [0066] 235 Recess [0067] 240 Cut-out for fastening [0068] 245 Spacer [0069] 250 Locking facility [0070] 255 Cut-out/guide element [0071] 260 Bolt [0072] 265 Contact structure [0073] 270 Socket [0074] 305 Elastic element