Patent ID: 12205779

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following detailed descriptions are provided to help comprehensive understanding of a method, an apparatus, and/or a system described in this specification. However, this is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

In descriptions of embodiments of the present invention, detailed descriptions related to the well-known technologies will be ruled out in order not to unnecessarily obscure subject matters of the present invention. Also, terms used in the present specification are terms defined in consideration of functions according to embodiments, and thus the terms may be changed according to the intension or usage of a user or operator. Therefore, the terms should be defined on the basis of the overall contents of this specification. The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe particular embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression in the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context. In the present specification, it is to be understood that terms such as “including” or “having”, etc., are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.

FIG.1is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of a self-power wireless switch10according to an embodiment of the present invention,FIG.2is an exploded perspective view illustrating the self-power wireless switch10ofFIG.1, andFIG.3is a view illustrating a lower side of an upper body300of the self-power wireless switch10.

Referring toFIGS.1to3, the self-power wireless switch10may include an upper cover100and a lower body200and is provided with a switch cover600exposed from the upper cover100. The switch cover600may be provided in plurality to turn on/off a plurality of electrical appliances. Each of the upper cover100, the lower body200, and the switch cover600may be made of plastic having rigidity. When the switch cover600is pressed, a switch member150disposed inside the self-power wireless switch10may be pressed. The switch member150may have conductivity while having elasticity, and thus, when the switch member150is in contact with a contact unit410of a printed circuit board400, the switch member150is electrically conducted. For this, a side of the switch member150, which is in contact with at least the contact unit410, may be made of carbon or other materials. When the switch cover600is pressed, the upper body300and the printed circuit board400may apply a pressure to a generator bar510of an internal generator while rotating by the switch cover600. The switch cover600may include a coupling member620to be rotatably coupled to one side of the lower body200. Thus, when the user presses the switch cover600, the pressing of the switch cover600may be transmitted to the upper body300and the printed circuit board400through the switch member150. In addition, the upper body300may rotate with respect to the lower body200based on the rotating shaft310formed on the upper body300. The switch cover600may not be coupled to the lower body200, but be coupled to one side of the upper cover100, which will be described later as another embodiment.

The switch member150may have a plurality of pressing positions so that the user turns on/off a desired mechanism. For example, the switch member150may have a plurality of pressing positions that correspond to a plurality of lighting devices, respectively. Thus, a specific lighting fixture among a plurality of lighting devices may be turned on and off according to which one of the plurality of pressing positions is pressed. However, the self-power wireless switch10may be connected to various electric appliances as well as lighting devices to turn on and off the corresponding electric appliance (e.g., air conditioners, televisions, home appliances such as set-top boxes).

A printed circuit board (PCB)400capable of transmitting an on/off signal to a desired electronic appliance and a generator500that supplies power to the printed circuit board400to perform an on/off operation may be disposed below the upper body300. The generator500may include a piezoelectric element to generate power when a pressure is applied to a generator bar510. In the case of the self-power wireless switch10according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the upper body300rotates together with the switch cover600based on the rotating shaft310by the user's pressing force, the generator bar510may be pressed to generate the power in the generator500.

A contact unit (not shown) that is in contact with the switch member150may be disposed on the printed circuit board400when the switch member150is pressed. When the switch member150is in contact with the contact unit410, the on/off signal may be transmitted to the electric appliance corresponding to the corresponding position. When a plurality of pressing positions are formed on the switch member150, a plurality of contact units corresponding to the plurality of pressing positions may also be formed on the printed circuit board400. Thus, when the user presses a specific pressing position, the on/off signal may be transmitted to an appropriate electric appliance according to the corresponding contact unit. The contact unit may be made of carbon or other materials to have durability and corrosion resistance in spite of the multiple contact of the switch member150. According to an embodiment of the present invention, since the contact unit of the printed circuit board400is in direct contact with the switch member150, it may be easy to expand the pressing position between the contact unit and the switch member150. That is, a pattern for forming the contact unit on the printed circuit board400may be freely formed, and also, the pressing position of the switch member150may be formed at each corresponding position to freely expand the number of electronic appliances that are capable of being controlled in one self-power wireless switch10.

When the user presses the switch cover600, and the upper body300rotates with respect to the lower body200and then releases the user's hand, an elastic member550may be disposed so that the upper body300returns to its original state. The elastic member550may be disposed between the upper body300(or the printed circuit board400) and the generator bar510to allow the upper body300to return to its original state when the user releases the user's hand. The elastic member550may be a torsion spring in which elasticity is generated by torsion. The elastic member550may include a spring bar551supported to a side of the upper body and sides of the generator bar510and the pressing member210and a torsion part552fitted into a connection bar331of an elastic member connection member330of the upper body300while generating torsional electricity therebetween.

The pressing member210corresponding to the generator bar510may be disposed inside the lower body200. The pressing member210may have a shape protruding upward from the lower body200. The pressing member210may apply a pressure to the generator bar510by pressing the generator bar510when the upper body300is pressed. As the pressing member210applies the pressure to the generator bar510, the generator500may generate power.

FIGS.4A and4Bare views for explaining an operation of the self-power wireless switch according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIGS.4A and4B, the self-power wireless switch10may include a switch cover600, and the switch member150pressed by the pressing member610of the switch cover600may have a shape that is in contact with the contact unit of the printed circuit board400. The printed circuit board400may be coupled to the upper body300, and the upper body300may rotate by the rotating shaft310. The generator500may be disposed on a bottom surface of the printed circuit board500, and when a pressure is applied to the generator bar510, the power may be generated to be supplied to the printed circuit board400. A through-part (see reference numeral340inFIG.3) for the switch member may be formed in the upper body300so that the pressing member610presses the switch member150disposed on the printed circuit board500.

The user may press one switch cover600corresponding to a desired electrical appliance among the plurality of switch covers600. As the switch cover600is pressed, the contact unit disposed at a position corresponding to the switch member150on the printed circuit board400may be in contact with the switch member150. According to the number of switch members150, the number of contact units410may also be provided to correspond to the number of switch members150, and the user may allow the contact unit corresponding to the switch member150of the switch cover600to be in contact with the switch member150.

The upper body300may rotate about the rotating shaft310by the user's force pressing the switch cover600so as to be inclined toward the lower body200. Since the printed circuit board400and the generator500are coupled to the lower side of the upper body300, the printed circuit board400and the generator500may be inclined together with the upper body300.

When the upper body300is inclined toward the lower body200, the generator bar510of the generator500may be pressed by the pressing member210disposed on the lower body200. When the generator bar510is deformed by being pressed by the pressing member210, power may be generated in the generator500. The generated power may be used to transmit the on/off signal from the printed circuit board400to the corresponding electric appliance.

When the user stops the pressing with respect to the switch member150, the elastic member550may function of allowing the generator bar510and the upper body300to return to their original states. As the elastic member550pushes the upper body300upward while allowing the generator bar510to turn to its original position, the upper body300may return to its original position.

In addition, an auxiliary elastic member570may be separately disposed between an accommodation part630of the switch cover600and an elastic member support part220of the lower body200. The auxiliary elastic member570may provide restoring force for allowing the switch cover600to return to its original state. The elastic member support part220may have, for example, a column shape into which the auxiliary elastic member570that is provided in the form of a coil, is inserted. In addition, a through-hole (see reference numeral350inFIG.3) may be defined in the upper body300to allow the auxiliary elastic member570to pass therethrough.

In the self-powering switch10according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide the self-power wireless switch10with smooth operation feeling by the structure described above. Particularly, since a distance between the switch member150and the rotating shaft310, which corresponds to a position, at which the user presses, is greater than a distance between the generator bar510generating power and the rotating shaft310, the user may operate the generator500with little force through a lever principle, and thus, the smooth operation feeling may be obtained.

In addition, the printed circuit board400and the generator500are disposed below the upper body300, a configuration for operating the generator500may be minimized, and the self-power wireless switch10may be configured with a simple configuration. Also, since the switch member150and the printed circuit board400are in direct contact with each other, the desired number of contact units410may be provided on the printed circuit board400to easily expand an electronic appliance capable of being controlled through one self-power wireless switch10.

FIG.5is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of a self-power wireless switch11according to another embodiment of the present invention, andFIG.6Ais an exploded perspective view of the self-power wireless switch11ofFIG.4, andFIG.6Bis a view illustrating a lower side of an upper body300′ of the self-power wireless switch11.

Referring toFIGS.5and6A to6B, unlike the foregoing embodiment, in the self-power wireless switch11according to this embodiment, a switch cover600disposed above a switch member151may be connected to a side of an upper cover100through a coupling member (see reference numeral620ofFIG.7AorFIG.7B). Likewise, when a user presses the switch cover600, the upper body300′ and a printed circuit board400′ may apply a pressure to a generator bar510of an internal generator while rotating by the switch cover600. The switch cover600is rotatably coupled to one side of the upper cover100. Thus, when the user presses the switch cover600, the pressing of the switch cover600may be transmitted to the upper body300′ and the printed circuit board400′ through the switch member151. In addition, a rotating shaft310may be disposed at one side of a lower body200so that the upper body300′ rotates with respect to the lower body200about the rotating shaft310.

FIGS.7A and7Bare views for explaining an operation of the self-power wireless switch11ofFIG.5.

Referring toFIGS.7A and7B, the self-power wireless switch11may include the switch cover600and may have a shape, in which the switch member151into which a protrusion610of the switch cover600is inserted and coupled is in contact with a contact unit410′. In this embodiment, the printed circuit board400may be coupled to the upper body300′, and the upper body300may rotate by the rotating shaft310′. This embodiment is the same as the foregoing embodiment in that the generator500′ is disposed on a bottom surface of the printed circuit board400′, and when a pressure is applied to the generator bar510, the power is generated to be supplied to the printed circuit board400′.

Also, in this embodiment, when the switch cover600is pressed, a generator510′ of the generator500′ may have the pressure by a pressing member210′ while the printed circuit board400rotates. For this, an auxiliary elastic member570may be separately disposed between a bottom surface portion640of the switch cover600and an elastic member support part220of the lower body200. That is, the auxiliary elastic member570may provide restoring force for allowing the switch cover600to return to its original state. However, the auxiliary elastic member570may not be a necessary configuration and thus may be omitted.

Although the present invention has been described in detail through representative examples above, those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.