ELECTRICAL COMPONENT HAVING A SENSOR SEGMENT COMPOSED OF CONCRETE, METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME, AND USE OF SAME

Abstract

The invention describes an electrical component (10) which at least comprises a section (12) configured as a sensor (sensor section) made of concrete and which contains electrically conductive aggregates (22) which are present in a region (24) near the surface of at least one outer surface (20) of the section (12) in a higher spatial density than in the remaining section (12). In addition, a method for its production and a use of the component (10) are described.

Claims

1. Electrical component (10) which at least comprises a section (12) configured as a sensor (sensor section) made of concrete and which contains electrically conductive aggregates (22) which are present in a region (24) near the surface of at least one outer surface (20) of the section (12) in a higher spatial density than in the remaining section (12).

2. Electrical component according to the preceding claim, characterized by a capacitively, inductively or resistively acting sensor section (12).

3. Electrical component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive aggregates (22) are unevenly distributed in a plan view on the outer surface (20) section (12) configured as a sensor.

4. Electrical component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by electrical interfaces (26; 28) introduced into the region (24) near the surface of the sensor section (12) to an electrical circuit (14).

5. Electrical component according to one of the preceding claims, having a manually actuable sensor section (12), characterized by an optically perceptible marking generated by means of the electrically conductive aggregates (22) on a surface of the sensor section (12).

6. Electrical component according to one of the preceding claims for detecting variable component characteristics of a concrete component, characterized by a sensor made of electrically conductive concrete arranged monolithically in a component to be sensed.

7. Method for the production of a proximity-sensitive or contact-sensitive concrete component, having the following steps: a) Preparing a concrete matrix for fresh concrete, b) Admixing electrically conductive aggregates into the fresh concrete, c) Introducing the fresh concrete into a formwork for the component to be produced, d) Increasing the spatial density of at least a part of the electrically conductive aggregates (in a defined region adjacent to) a component surface (outer surface) e) Curing the concrete component.

8. Method according to the above method claim, characterized in that in step b) at least a part of aggregates which can be influenced by magnetization is admixed, and a magnetic field is established on the formwork in step d).

9. Method according to the above method claim, characterized in that a pulsed, in particular non-continuous, magnetic field is established.

10. Method according to one of the above method claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive aggregates are distributed unevenly in a plan view on the component surface.

11. Method according to one of the above method claims, characterized in that electrical contacts are mounted in the hardened concrete component before step c) or after step e).

12. Method for the production of a concrete component which is proximity-sensitive or contact-sensitive, wherein the electrical component is concreted in at least two phases, namely in any case in the temporally first phase in a manner known per se and in any case in the temporally last phase according to a method according to one of the above method claims 7 to 11.

13. Method for producing a concrete component which is proximity-sensitive or contact-sensitive, wherein the electrical component is produced at least as a precast concrete part and subsequently is applied to a concrete component.

14. Use of an electrical component of electrically conductive concrete section as a switching or control element according to one of claims 1 to 6 for switching or controlling electrical current and/or for detecting variable component characteristics.

15. Method for determining the position of a mobile communication device in a building having electrical components according to one of the above device claims and having a central computer which stores location information for each electrical component within the building and a further data record in each case, in the following steps: a) Making contact with the central computer by the communication device, b) Requesting to actuate the electrical component, c) Detecting an actuation of the electrical component, d) Transferring the further data record assigned to the actuated electrical component to the communication device.

Description

[0051] The principle of the invention is explained in more detail below by means of a drawing, by way of example. The drawings show:

[0052] FIG. 1: a principle diagram of an electrical component according to the invention,

[0053] FIG. 2: a schematic diagram of the production of a sensor section according to the invention,

[0054] FIG. 3: an alternative method of producing a sensor section,

[0055] FIG. 4: an application example of the invention,

[0056] FIG. 5: a sectional view of a first embodiment of a domestic installation,

[0057] FIG. 6: an alternative embodiment to it,

[0058] FIG. 7: an exemplary embodiment for a building installation and

[0059] FIG. 8: an example of an optical design according to the invention.

[0060] According to FIG. 1, the electrical component according to the invention is composed of a section 12 made of concrete as a sensor and an electronics assembly 14, which is explained in more detail below. The sensor section 12 is configured box-shaped, thus comprising six outer surfaces, of which a rear surface 16, two side surfaces 18, 19 opposing one another and a component surface 20 are designated. The sensor section 12 consists essentially of conventional concrete. According to the invention, it additionally contains electrically conductive aggregates 22. The conventional components of the sensor section 12 made of concrete are known to be distributed as evenly as possible in order to provide the sensor section 12 a homogeneous structure. On the other hand, the electrically conductive aggregates 22 are unevenly distributed. Its density is particularly high in a region 24 near the surface, which directly adjoins the component surface 20. As viewed toward the rear surface 16, viewed from the component surface 20, the density of the electrically conductive aggregates 22 decreases at least substantially.

[0061] Two bolts project into the sensor section 12 as rod-shaped electrically conductive contacts 26, 28 and there into the region 24 near the surface. The contact 26 extends from the rear surface 16 to almost the component surface 20, the contact 28 extends from the side surface 18 in the region 24 near the surface. Both contacts 26, 28 represent an electrical interface to the region 24 near the surface, in which the electrically conductive aggregates 22 are present in a particularly high concentration. The contacts 26, 28 are connected via lines 30 to a current source 32 and a control device 34.

[0062] Due to its construction and its composition, the sensor section 12 on its component surface 20 provides a high conductivity of its concrete material. This electrical conductivity of its component surface 20 can be used to detect capacitance, charge or temperature, deformation or moisture changes influencing it. The component 10 can consequently act in any case as a capacitive, possibly as an inductive or resistive sensor. Due to its electrical conductivity according to the invention, the component surface 20 can be used as one of two electrodes of a capacitive sensor whose capacitance changes as soon as either an electrically conductive material or a dielectric is brought into the immediate vicinity. A person, or his hand or finger, which is or can reach the component surface 20 or in its immediate vicinity, can be used, for example, as the dielectric, an electrically weak or nonconductive, non-metallic substance whose charge carrier is generally not freely mobile. As a result, the capacitance of the section 24 near the surface changes. The control device 34 senses the change in capacitance there via the contacts 26, 28. Thereupon, the control device 34 outputs a signal which causes a desired effect with the contact of the component surface 20. The component 10 can thus serve as an approach or contact switch, with which, for example, a room lighting is switched, and a conventional light switch can be replaced. In contrast to the prior art, however, a conventional mechanical switch with moving parts is no longer required, which is subject to wear and, where appropriate, must be protected against environmental influences. Instead, the electrical component 10 according to the invention can be arranged as a switch in a conventional concrete wall without any movable parts. It is thus configured extremely robust and, in particular, vandalism-proof, whereby it is suitable, for example, as a switch in public space. Because it is produced from concrete, it can also be brought into almost any shape and design. In particular, it is not limited in terms of area, as a result of which switches can be designed with an actuation surface of virtually any desired size.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a highly schematic sequence of production steps for producing a sensor section 12 according to the invention: a concrete matrix 42 is filled into a boxed-shaped formwork 40, open on the upper side, according to FIG. 2a, which contains a homogeneous concrete matrix of conventional aggregates, water and cement, and additional electrically conductive aggregates 22. Two electromagnets 46 are attached on a lower side 44 of the formwork 40 and are connected to a power supply 48.

[0064] After the concrete matrix 42 has been filled into the formwork 40 according to FIG. 2a, the electromagnets 46 are charged with current so that they form a magnetic field in the formwork 40. The electrically conductive aggregates 22 are initially largely freely movable in the still fresh concrete matrix 42. Under the influence of the magnetic field, they attach on the formwork 40 in two regions 23 above the magnets 46, so that they have a higher concentration there than in the remaining fresh concrete matrix 42. This process can further be supported by shaking the formwork 40 or the fresh concrete matrix 42, which is usually carried out for compacting concrete. Having the locally increased density of the aggregates 22 in the two regions 23, the concrete matrix 42 is allowed to cure. As soon as the electrical aggregates 22 have assumed their position and concentration according to FIG. 2b and the concrete matrix 42 has hardened so far that the aggregates of the matrix 42 can no longer be relocated, the power supply 48 is switched off.

[0065] After the concrete matrix 42 has hardened, the sensor section 12 is switched off, removed from the formwork 40 and reversed (see FIG. 2c). At its current component surface 20, the electrically conductive aggregates 22 concentrate with high density in the two regions 23. A sensor section 12 according to FIG. 1 can now be configured in each case where electrical contacts are mounted in the two regions 23 and are connected to an electronics assembly 14 according to FIG. 1.

[0066] In the region close to the surface 24 according to FIG. 1, the electrically conductive aggregates 22 are largely homogeneously present on the component surface 20 in an orthogonal plan view. The component surface 20 according to FIG. 2c, on the other hand, is not expected to have fully uniform conductivity, but shows two zones with high conductivity in those regions 23 near which the electromagnets 46 were placed during production. The increased density of the electrically conductive aggregates 22 can consequently be generated not only uniformly but also non-uniformly on the component surface 20, both in a direction from the component surface 20 to the rear surface 16, as well as non-uniformly in a direction between the side surfaces 18, 19.

[0067] A certain arrangement of permanent magnets or electromagnets is attached under the formwork. The conductive and magnetic particles of the concrete, i.e., the aggregates defining the conductivity, align themselves during the concreting process along the magnetic field lines. In its simplest form, the magnet system is attached under an existing formwork system, almost a ‘plug-under’, which does not require an adaptation of the formwork system. Forming systems with an integrated magnet system allow more precise control of the process.

[0068] The magnetic fields can be specifically controlled. Depending on the type, shape and strength of the magnet, the spread of the magnetic field changes. Neodymium magnet systems form higher and slimmer fields than ferromagnets. The field strengths of simple electromagnets are generally below permanent magnets. However, electromagnets can be produced in almost any size and are more calculable than permanent magnets because of the option of controlling them via design and current flow. A differentiated magnetic field can be produced through a targeted alignment of the magnetic poles so that magnetic fields and their paths can be selectively steered or redirected.

[0069] FIG. 3 shows a further option for producing a conductive concrete. The fresh concrete matrix 42 according to FIG. 3a also consists of substantially conventional components, and additional of steel fibers as electrically conductive aggregates 22. After mixing into a homo-geneous concrete matrix 42, it is introduced into a likewise box-shaped formwork 40 with opposing side surfaces 41 of FIG. 3a. In a subsequent manufacturing step, two electromagnets 46 are attached on the side surfaces 41 (see FIG. 3b). The fresh concrete matrix 42 is now exposed to magnetic pulses of the electromagnets 46. Depending on the strength and frequency of the magnetic impulses, they can either rotate and rectify in their orientation the electrically conductive aggregates 22 which are previously undirected or can even displaced them selectively in the concrete matrix 42 and can spatially concentrate them to form paths or strands.

[0070] The matrix 42 is subsequently allowed to harden in order to obtain the sensor element 12 according to FIG. 3c after the stripping. It shows regions 23 with high electrical conductivity, which lie on mutually opposite side surfaces 18, 19 of the sensor element 12, but deviating from the sensor element 12 according to FIG. 2c, are electrically conductively connected to one another by a section 25 made of conductive concrete.

[0071] If the opposing electromagnets 46 are attached to the formwork 40 according to FIG. 3 near a future component surface 20, a region near the surface 24 with increased electrical conductivity in the sensor element 12 can also be configured. Alternatively, regions of high density of electrical aggregates 22 in the sensor element 12 can additionally also be configured beyond the section 24 near the surface. Thus, for example, an electrical contacting by contacts 26, 28 (see FIG. 1) can be facilitated, namely, its spatial extent within the sensor element 12 can be shortened.

[0072] FIG. 4 shows a demonstration object for the use of the electrical component 10 according to the invention as an operating element: a block 50 of concrete produced and assembled according to the invention has a touch-sensitive surface 51. A high density of electrically conductive aggregates is present in a region near the surface below the surface 51, so that the surface 51 of the block 50 has a high electrical conductivity. On its underside, the block 50 has a likewise box-shaped recess 52. A U-shaped carrier 54 is attached, in which a light bulb 56 and its power supply 58 are attached. A control device 60 is inserted into a circuit for the electrical supply of the light bulb 56, which is in electrically conductive contact with the concrete block 50 via electrically conductive pins 62, or with the region near the surface under the surface 51. As soon as a user touches the surface 51 of the block 50, the control device 60 senses a change in capacitance on the surface 51 and turns on the power supply 58 of the light bulb 56. Further contact of the surface 51 actuates the control device 60 again, whereupon it switches off the power supply 58.

[0073] FIG. 5 shows a first possible application of the component 10 as a switch for a domestic installation. According to the invention, the sensor section 12 is part of a concrete wall 70 which separates two rooms from one another. The sensor section 12 is sunk into a position in the concrete wall 70 in which a user expects conventional light switches. The location of the sensor element 12 is indicated by a marking (not shown) on the concrete wall 70 so that the user can locate the sensor element 12 in the otherwise homogeneous wall 70. It is connected to a control device 34 with leads 30 shown in simplified form. On request, it switches on a room lighting 74, which is supplied with household electricity via a cable 75 under a ceiling 73.

[0074] If a user wishes to switch on the lighting 74, he touches the concrete wall 70 within the marking 72 and thus the sensor section 12. In the manner described in FIG. 1, the control device (not shown) senses the touch of the sensor section 12 and then switches on the supply current of the lighting 74. In principle, the lighting 74 can be switched off again. According to the invention, therefore, standard 220 V voltage of the supply current of the lighting 74 itself is not applied to the sensor section 12, that is to say in the area in which the power supply to the lighting 74 is switched. Instead, a substantially lower control current flows through the lead 30, which only detects a change in capacitance at the sensor element 12 and transmits it to the control device. Thus, the sensor element 12 according to the invention and the associated electrical unit are less dangerous than conventional switch arrangements for lighting.

[0075] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of a concrete wall to that in FIG. 5. Deviating from this embodiment, the concrete wall 76 is configured entirely from conductive concrete produced according to the invention. Its entire surface thus represents a sensor section 12 according to FIG. 1. It is connected to a control device 34 via contacts (not shown) and a lead 30, which in turn switches the supply current of a lighting 74.

[0076] No matter where a user touches the wall 76, the control 34 detects the capacitance change. It thereupon turns the power supply to the lighting 74 on or off. The function of the light switch is therefore applied to the complete surface of the concrete wall 76, so that a locally limited switch and a marking of a sensor element 12 (see FIG. 5) are no longer required.

[0077] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment for the use of the sensor element 12 according to the invention for switching a building installation. The large-area, rectangular sensor elements 12 are composed of a panel 82 of four rows and two columns. The panel 82 is attached vertically on the wall of an interior space and is connected to a control electronic unit 86 via leads 84. The control electronics unit 86 couples the panel 82 to the room installation from a lighting unit 88 and a ventilation unit 90. The control electronics unit 86 is configured and set up such that the sensor elements 12 in the left column 83 exclude a gain of electrical power during contact, while a touching of the sensor elements 12 of the right column 83 causes a reduction. Each row of sensor elements 12, in each case two sensor elements 12 arranged next to one another, are assigned to the same building installation, namely the uppermost row to the lighting unit 88, the underlying second row to the ventilation unit 90, the subsequent, underlying row can be assigned to a lead and the lowest row, for example, a loudspeaker device. The panel 82 thus represents a flat, unobstructed, but, based on its materials, easy-to-design operating unit for building installations, which can either be mounted separately and decorated or integrated into a building wall. The panel 82 can thus be used both as retrofitting and in the course of the original equipment of a building. Particularly as retrofitting, the panel 82 can show its strengths with regard to the low risk which comes from its leads 84.

[0078] The panel 82 is predestined for a modular design consisting of a plurality of sensor elements 12, which can either be provided with individual switching functions, as shown in FIG. 7, or together provide only a single switching function, for example, of six composite fields. Composite fields are in particular suitable for the configuration of dimming functions, according to which the left column 83 controls, e.g., “sweep” downward, the lighting unit 88 brighter, “sweep” upward, on the other hand, darker. The right column can be operated in the same way and an air conditioner can be set warmer or colder. The panel 82 can advantageously be configured as a prefabricated system, which is either mounted as an curtain-like element in front of an existing wall, as shown in FIG. 7, or is integrated as a finished part in a building construction.

[0079] FIG. 8 shows the basic structure of a formwork system 100 for the electromagnetic structuring of concrete components. The formwork system 100 comprises an electromagnetic square matrix 110 which can be mounted externally on or inside a formwork (not shown) for concrete components. It consists of 48×48 electromagnets 112, each of which is square. Each electromagnet 112 is electrically connected via lead 113 to a central computer unit (CPU) 114 and can be individually controlled from there, namely, switched on or off. The switched-on electromagnets 112 are black in FIG. 8 and the switched-off electromagnets 112 are shown in white. The central computer unit 114 controls the electromagnets 112 on the basis of a predetermined pattern 116, which converts them into a 48×48 grid and controls the local electromagnets 82 accordingly. The pattern 116 may have been created with one or every conventional graphics program and can be processed, as in the case of programming, for example, by a CNC-controlled milling cutter.

[0080] After introducing a fresh concrete matrix having an additive of electrically conductive and magnetic aggregates into the formwork, the central computer unit 114 switches on the black-marked electromagnets 112, so that they build up a magnetic field. A high concentration of electrically conductive aggregates thereupon queues up in the region of the switched-on electromagnets 112. This reflects the predetermined pattern 116 as a density distribution of electrically conductive aggregates in the concrete in the sense of FIG. 2. As a result, the concrete wall has an increased conductivity at its surface, which corresponds to the pattern 116. If the electrically conductive aggregates also have the property of coloring the concrete, the pattern 116 becomes apparent on the concrete surface and also visually reflects the regions of increased electrical conductivity.

[0081] Since the preceding electrical components or sensor elements described in detail are exemplary embodiments, they can be modified in a conventional manner by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the concrete formations of the structure of the formwork can also follow a different form from that described here. In particular, the component can be configured in another form if this is necessary for reasons of space or design. Currently, concrete offers a variety of design possibilities here. Furthermore, the use of the indefinite articles “a” or “an” does not exclude the fact that the relevant features can also be present several times or more.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numbers 10 Electrical component 12 Sensor element 14 Electronics assembly 16 Rear surface 18, 19 Side surfaces 20 Component surface 22 Electrically conductive aggregates 24 Region near the surface 25 Conductive section 26 Contact 28 Contact 30 Lead 32 Power source 34 Control unit 40 Formwork 42 Concrete matrix 44 Lower side 46 Electromagnet 48 Power supply 50 Block 51 Surface 52 Recess 54 Carrier 56 Light bulb 58 Power supply 60 Control device 62 Contact pin 70 Concrete wall 72 Lighting 73 Cover 74 Lighting 75 Cable 76 Conductive concrete wall 82 Panel 83 Column 84 Leads 86 Control electronics unit 88 Lighting unit 90 Ventilation unit 100 Formwork system 110 Electromagnetic matrix 112 Electromagnet 113 Lead 114 Central computer unit 116 Pattern