Actuating device

Abstract

An actuating device for a sanitary fitting comprising a housing (2) having a front side (13) and a rear side (14) and also a detection sensor (3) having a transmitter (4) and a receiver (5) for detecting a user, wherein the detection sensor (3) emits waves via the transmitter (4) and receives them via the receiver (5). The detection sensor (3) is arranged in a cavity (6) that has a radiating region (7a), which is transparent to said waves, in the direction of said waves; and wherein the housing (2) is designed such that it is installable having a gap (7b) in relation to a predefined installation plane (ME) on the structure side, which gap (7b) is located in relation to said radiating region (7a) such that the emitted waves and also the waves to be received are guided through the gap (7b).

Claims

1. An actuating device for a sanitary fitting for the purpose of activating a function, wherein the actuating device comprises a housing having a front side and a rear side and also a detection sensor having a transmitter and a receiver for detecting a user, wherein the detection sensor emits waves via the transmitter and receives them via the receiver, wherein the detection sensor is arranged in a cavity of the housing, wherein the cavity has a radiating region, which is transparent to said waves, in the direction of said electromagnetic waves, and wherein the housing has a lateral face, which extends in the direction of the surface normal of the front side at least partially between front side and rear side, wherein the radiating region is arranged in the region of the lateral face or in the lateral face, respectively.

2. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed in such a way that it is installable with a gap in relation to a predefined installation plane on the structure side, which gap is located in relation to said radiating region in such a way that the emitted waves and also the waves to be received are guided by the gap.

3. The actuating device according to claim 2, wherein the detection sensor is a high-frequency sensor, the frequency of which is preferably in the range of 24 GHz to 24.25 GHz or is 61 GHz or 76 GHz.

4. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the detection sensor is a high-frequency sensor, the frequency of which is preferably in the range of 24 GHz to 24.25 GHz or is 61 GHz or 76 GHz.

5. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter has a transmitter antenna in the form of a patch antenna, and/or wherein the receiver has a receiver antenna in the form of a patch antenna.

6. The actuating device according to claim 5, wherein the radiating region has an area which at least corresponds to the size of the patch antennas, or which is smaller than the size of the patch antennas; and/or wherein the gap has a clearance which at least corresponds to the size of the patch antennas or which is smaller than the size of the patch antennas; and/or wherein said patch antennas are essentially located in a common plane; and/or wherein the patch antenna is circularly polarized.

7. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the cavity is formed so it cannot be penetrated by said electromagnetic waves except in the radiating region, wherein the cavity is provided, except in the radiating region, with a coating which cannot be penetrated by said waves, wherein the coating is preferably formed as being electrically conductive; or wherein the wall of the cavity is formed, except in the radiating region, by a material which cannot be penetrated by said waves.

8. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the radiating region and the gap are substantially congruent when viewed in the main direction of said waves.

9. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the radiating region and/or the gap is substantially rectangular and preferably has a length which corresponds to a multiple of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the detection sensor.

10. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the radiating region and/or the gap has a width which corresponds to the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the detection sensor; or wherein the radiating region has a width which corresponds to half of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the detection sensor; or wherein the radiating region and/or the gap has a width which corresponds to a dimension smaller than half of the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the detection sensor.

11. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a front element having the front side and a rear element having the rear side, which are connectable to one another, wherein said cavity having the radiating region is arranged on the front element; or wherein said cavity is arranged on the rear element having the radiating region; or wherein said cavity is arranged having the radiating region on the front element and on the rear element.

12. The actuating device according to claim 11, wherein the front element has actuating buttons for activating a flushing.

13. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device is part of an outlet fitting, which furthermore comprises an outlet pipe.

14. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the radiating region consists of plastic, in particular a thermoplastic, preferably having a relative permittivity .sub.r of between 3 and 5, and/or wherein the extension of the lateral face in the direction of the surface normal is multiple times smaller than the extension of the front side transversely to the surface normal.

15. The actuating device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating device furthermore has at least one light source, the light of which is emittable via said radiating region or the gap, respectively, or via a passage arranged separately from the radiating region.

16. An arrangement comprising an actuating device according to claim 1 and also a sanitary article, wherein both the actuating device and also the sanitary article are fastened on said installation plane, and wherein the radiating region and/or the gap is oriented toward the sanitary article.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereafter on the basis of the drawings, which are merely used for explanation and are not to be interpreted as restrictive. In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective exploded illustration of an actuating device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the actuating device according to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional illustration along section line III-III of FIG. 2; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a detail view of the detail Z according to FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the propagation of the electromagnetic waves of a detection sensor of the actuating device according to FIG. 1; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an actuating device according to a further embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) An actuating device 1 for a sanitary fitting is shown in the figures. The actuating device 1 is used for the purpose of activating a function in conjunction with a sanitary fitting. The function can be, for example, the activation of a flushing and/or the control of a lower spray nozzle and/or the control of a light and/or the actuation of a water valve in an outlet fitting and/or another sanitary function. The sanitary fitting is preferably a toilet or a urinal or a washbasin or another element.

(9) In FIGS. 1 to 5, the actuating device is shown as an actuating plate and in FIG. 6 it is shown as an outlet fitting. Identical parts are provided with identical reference signs in this case.

(10) The actuating device 1 comprises a housing 2 having a front side 13 and a rear side 14. The front side 13 is recognizable by the user in the installed state. The actuating device is connected via the rear side 14 to a wall or an installation framework or a part of the sanitary fitting in the installed state. Furthermore, the actuating device 1 comprises a detection sensor 3 having a transmitter 4 and a receiver 5. The detection sensor 3 is used to detect a user, who uses the sanitary fitting. The detection sensor 3 emits waves via the transmitter 4, which are then reflected on a user and are received again by the receiver 5. The detection sensor 3 can then recognize a user based on the emitted or received waves, respectively, and emit a corresponding signal. The signal is then used as a control signal for activating said function.

(11) The detection sensor 3 is mounted in a cavity 6 of the housing 2. A cavity 6 is understood in the present case as a receptacle space, which is arranged in or on the housing 2 or is provided by the housing 2, respectively. The cavity 6 has a radiating region 7a in the direction of said waves. The radiating region 7a is transparent to said waves. This means said waves can exit from the cavity 6 through the radiating region 7a. The radiating region 7a can be formed in this case as a passage or it can be formed from a material which is transparent to the waves emitted by the detection sensor 3. This means the waves can penetrate outward through the material.

(12) In the embodiment shown, the cavity 6 is closed by a cover 21.

(13) The housing 2 is designed in the preferred embodiment shown, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, such that it is installable having a gap 7b in relation to an installation plane ME predefined by the structure. The installation plane ME is, for example, a wall covered with tiles or the front side of an installation frame or the surface of the sanitary fitting. The installation plane ME represents the final state in this case, i.e., no elements are arranged which are placed on the installation plane ME. The gap 7b is located in relation to said radiating region 7a in this case such that the emitted waves and also the waves to be received coming from the radiating region 7a are guided through the gap 7b.

(14) It is apparent from FIG. 4 that the waves are emitted by the detection sensor 3 along a main direction H and firstly pass the radiating region 7a and then pass the gap 7b. The arrangement of radiating region 7a and of gap 7b has the advantage that the actuating device 1 can be used independently of the materialization of the installation plane ME predefined by the structure. It has been shown in the field of use that the materialization of the installation plane ME can vary greatly and under certain circumstances negatively influences the waves of the detection sensor or makes a passage impossible, respectively. As a result of the arrangement of the radiating region 7a and the gap 7b, an actuating device 1 is thus provided which can be used in all intended purposes.

(15) The detection sensor 3 is preferably a high-frequency sensor, the frequency of which is preferably at 24 GHz.

(16) The transmitter 4 has a transmitter antenna 8 and the receiver 5 has a receiver antenna 9. The waves are emitted via the antennas. Both the transmitter antenna 8 and also the receiver antenna 9 are designed substantially in the form of a patch antenna. A patch antenna is understood in this context as an antenna which is preferably located in one plane. In the embodiment shown, the transmitter antenna 8 and the receiver antenna 9 are located on a common circuit board, which is shown in FIG. 1. The main direction H, in which the waves of the transmitter 4 are emitted, extends from this circuit board substantially orthogonally to the plane in which the patch antennas are located.

(17) The radiating region 7a has an area which corresponds to at least the size of the transmitter antenna 8 and the receiver antenna 9 or the patch antenna, respectively. Similarly, the gap 7b has a clearance which corresponds to at least the size of the transmitter antenna 8 and the receiver antenna 9 or the patch antennas, respectively. It is thus ensured that all waves which are emitted by the transmitter 4 and received by the receiver 5 can exit unobstructed from the cavity and the housing 2 and can enter again unobstructed.

(18) Moreover, reference is made to FIG. 5 in conjunction with the wave propagation of the transmitter 4, on the basis of which the wave propagation will be explained in greater detail. FIG. 5 schematically shows a part of the patch antenna, and also the radiating region 7a or the gap 7b, respectively. The waves W generally propagate in the direction of the main direction H. This means that the electrical field extends in the direction of the main direction H. The patch antenna polarizes the electrical field such that a circular polarization of the field is achieved. The circularly polarized field rotates with time about the axis of the main direction H. A type of spiral results, which rotates about the main axis H.

(19) The antenna is typically selected such that the electrical field or the waves, respectively, extend in the direction parallel to the feed. The antennas are preferably fed from the left and right according to the preferred embodiment. During half of the time, the electrical field is oriented such that it is parallel or approximately parallel to the gap, while the other half of the time, however, the electrical field is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the gap. In this case, the waves can pass through the gap and radiate forward. Thereby, the waves W will leave the gap.

(20) The cavity 6, except in the radiating region 7a, preferably has a coating which cannot be penetrated by said waves. In this case, essentially the entire interior of the cavity 6, except for the radiating region 7a, is provided with the coating. If the cover 21 is provided, the cover 21 is also provided on the side facing toward the cavity 6 with a metallic coating. The coated inner sides bear the reference sign 22. The cover can also be a metallic cover, however. The coating is typically a metallic coating. The advantage is provided by the coating that the waves exclusively exit from the cavity 6 via said radiating region 7a and focusing can thus be achieved. Moreover, incorrect detections can be practically precluded.

(21) As shown by the detail view of FIG. 4, the radiating region 7a and the gap 7b are substantially congruent when viewed in the main direction H of said waves. This means the radiating region 7a and the gap 7b are located one on top of another in the main direction H such that a clearance through the radiating region 7a and the gap 7b is provided for the waves, through which clearance said waves can exit or enter, respectively. In this context, clearance means a clearance which is transparent for the waves. This does not necessarily have to be a clearance in which no material is located in the radiating region. However, the material has to be transmissive or transparent, respectively, to the waves as described above in conjunction with the radiating region.

(22) The radiating region 7a and the gap 7b essentially have a rectangular basic shape. The rectangular basic shape therein has a length in this case which corresponds to a multiple of the wavelength of the waves emitted by the detection sensor 3. The length L is shown in FIG. 1.

(23) The radiating region 7a and the gap 7b both have a width B which corresponds at most to the wavelength of the waves emitted by the detection sensor 3. It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the radiating region 7a and the gap 7b have a width which corresponds to half of the wavelength of the waves emitted by the detection sensor 3. Due to this design, the gap 7b and also the radiating region 7a can be selected to be as small as possible, which is advantageous for the total thickness of the actuating device 1, since it can be minimized accordingly. The width B is shown in FIG. 4. The width B is typically approximately 4 mm, which is dependent on the wavelength, however, as mentioned. The above-described propagation of the waves enables the provision of a comparatively thinner gap 7b or a comparatively thinner radiating region 7a, respectively.

(24) With respect to the shape of the housing 2, it can be seen well from FIG. 1 that, viewed in the direction of the surface normal F on the front side 13, the housing 2 has the form of a rectangle. However, the housing 2 can also have the form of a square or another shape. A lateral face 15, which is substantially provided here by the front element 10, extends from the front side 13 in the direction of the surface normal F. In this case, the radiating region 7a or the gap 7b, respectively, are arranged in the region of the lateral face 15. This means the main direction H of the waves from the detection sensor 3 is perpendicular to the surface normal F and substantially parallel to the installation plane ME. The housing is typically arranged in the installation position such that the main direction H is oriented downward in the direction of gravity, and therefore a user sitting down on a toilet or stepping up to a urinal can be recognized. It is to be noted in this context that the waves move not only in the main direction H but rather also away from the installation plane ME, as indicated in FIG. 3, after exiting from the gap 7b.

(25) The extension B of the lateral face 15 is multiple times smaller in the direction of the surface normal F than the extension of the front side 13 transversely to the surface normal F.

(26) As can be seen well from the figures, the housing 2 has a front element 10 having the front side 13 and a rear element 11 having the rear side 14. The two elements 10, 11 are connectable to one another via a latching connection 18. In the embodiment shown, said cavity 6 having the radiating region 7a is located on the rear element 11. An arrangement on the front element 10 or even a joint provision of the cavity 6 between the front element 10 and the rear element 11 would also be conceivable. The gap 7b is provided by the spaced-apart arrangement of the front element 10 in relation to the installation plane ME.

(27) Furthermore, the front element 10 has at least one, here two, actuating buttons 12 for activating a flushing. In the embodiment shown, actuating device 1 moreover has a light source 16, the light of which is emittable via said radiating region 7a or the gap 7b, respectively. This means the light source 16 is actuated via the signal of the detection sensor 3, while the flushing is manually activated via the actuating buttons 12 in the embodiment shown. The actuating device 1 shown in the present case is thus essentially used as an actuating device 1, using which, for example, a nightlight can be provided. In other embodiments, it is conceivable to omit the actuating buttons 12 and to use the signal of the detection sensor for the activation of the flushing. In still another embodiment, it would be conceivable to also arrange the actuating buttons and to use the signal of the detection sensor for the starting or the activation of a lower spray nozzle.

(28) The light source 16 is preferably arranged on the same circuit board as the detection sensor 3. In the embodiment shown, the light source 16 is arranged to the left of the detection sensor 3 or the patch antennas of the detection sensor 3, respectively. In this case, the light of the light source 16 is coupled into an optical waveguide and decoupled again in the region of the gap 7b. The optical waveguide bears the reference sign 19.

(29) It can be recognized well from FIG. 4 with respect to the gap 7 that this gap is provided in that the front element 10 stops at the rear element 11 and does not overlap it. The corresponding gap 7a is provided between a rear edge 20 of the front element 10 and the installation plane ME.

(30) Furthermore, it can be recognized well from FIG. 4 that parts of the rear element 11 extend through an opening 23 of the installation plane ME. It is also shown in this sectional illustration that the installation plane ME is the front side of a wall structure 24.

(31) In FIG. 6, as mentioned, the actuating device 1 is shown in conjunction with an outlet fitting. Identical parts are provided with identical reference signs. A water tap 25 which is arranged instead of the actuating buttons according to the embodiment in the other figures extends from the front side 13 here. The installation of the corresponding sensor parts is symbolized by the dashed lines.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(32) 1 actuating device 2 housing 3 detection sensor 4 transmitter 5 receiver 6 cavity 7a radiating region 7b gap 8 transmitter antenna 9 receiver antenna 10 front element 11 rear element 12 actuating buttons 13 front side 14 rear side 15 lateral face 16 light source 17 passage 18 latching connection 19 optical waveguide 20 rear edge 21 cover 22 coated inner side 23 opening 24 wall structure 25 water tap H main direction D extension ME installation plane E plane F surface normal B width L length W waves