The present invention relates to a cover plate assembly for electrical control devices.

The present invention relates in particular to a cover plate provided with an integrated display and advantageously usable for specific supports of a residential range.

In greater detail, the present invention relates in particular to a cover plate assembly with integrated display that can be associated with a base adapted to support so-called plug-ins, i.e., control devices, outlets, electronic modules, etc.

In the field of electrical systems, a so-called residential range includes control and actuation devices constituted by switches, selectors, outlets and other elements of the electrical system, which are generally assembled in a modular manner on supporting frames that are fixed to boxes, usually recessed in walls or mounted outside the walls.

Normally, the internal parts of the devices are protected by means of frame covering borders, known as cover plates, which provide an appropriate aesthetic finish and the necessary protection.

The cover plates are configured to allow accessibility to switches and to the other functional actuation elements.

Traditionally, cover plates are passive elements made of a variety of materials, mainly engineering plastics, but also metals, wood, to meet different aesthetic requirements.

In recent years, cover plates with functional characteristics, known as active cover plates, have been proposed commercially; the active cover plates do not merely cover the fasteners of the electrical devices but they are also equipped with control, actuation and signaling devices.

EP3398409B1 discloses a built-in electromechanical equipment for controlling devices in a building, that includes a cover plate coupled to a functional frame, incorporating a socket-holder frame. The plate and the functional frame are also coupled to a built-in box, which contains a power supply device. The functional frame has a lower protruding rim having sensors and containing an electronic circuit equipped with LEDs and a microcontroller which analyses, controls and manages the LEDs, the sensors and communication ports of the electronic circuit. A light guide, between the plate and the functional frame, is coupled to the LEDs and illuminates the outer surface of the plate.

US2017/117891 A1 discloses a light switch network having a plurality of light switch units, each comprising a gesture interface to sense a user gesture by receiving a gesture signal from a sensing zone, and configured to exchange gesture status signals with another switch unit in the network in relation to the received gesture signal; each switch being enabled, on receiving the gesture signal: in a first mode, to change a designated switch mode and/or state in response to the gesture signal; or in a second mode, to not change the designated switch mode and/or state according to one or more conditions associated with the status signals received from the other switch unit.

US2016/116891 A1 discloses a household appliance having a sensor for detecting a user; the appliance operates by a method that includes evaluating a movement of the user sensed by the sensor; providing a switch-on signal to place the household appliance in a state of operational readiness if, in the evaluating step, the movement is recognized as an approaching movement relative to the household appliance that is sensed in a predetermined first sensing region; and outputting an activation signal to activate a control-movement recognition function of the household appliance using the switch-on signal if, in the evaluating step, the movement is recognized as an approaching movement relative to the household appliance that is sensed in a predetermined second sensing region.

US2011/106996A1 discloses a communications control bus for controlling multiple electronic hardware devices and comprising an IMB slave CPU, at least two registers, and a three bit data connector, which connects the two registers. The connector permits transmission of a three-bit data signal between the two registers. A network interconnects the two registers and the IMB slave CPU.

A problem of a system as described, for example, in EP3398409B1 , is that the front structure of the plate and the bottom of the plate open to allow the accommodation of the support, so as to render it interchangeable; in this way, the assembly constituted by the plate, the front plate structure, the plate bottom, and the support, is bulky and therefore protrudes considerably from the installation wall.

A further problem of the structure described in EP3398409B1 is that it is not equipped with display elements that would allow to view the state of the switches or other information useful to the end user.

A further problem of the structure described in EP3398409B1 is that the sensors are positioned above the horizontal extension of the bottom of the plate, further increasing the thickness and number of the components of the system.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a cover plate assembly for electrical control devices that overcomes the drawbacks of the cited background art.

Within the scope of this aim, a particular object of the invention is to provide a cover plate assembly equipped with an integrated display that allows to display the functional state of so-called plug-ins, i.e., devices such as control devices, outlets, electronic modules, etc.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a cover plate assembly provided with an integrated display that allows to modify in a simple manner the function associated with each individual module.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cover plate assembly that can be advantageously mounted instead of an original plate of the traditional type, without the need to disconnect the wiring of all the plug-ins and with a thickness substantially identical to that of a cover plate of the standard type.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cover plate assembly that can be manufactured with a reduced number of components.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cover plate assembly that has compact dimensions, with particular reference to thickness.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure with a display that is activated only in the presence of a person and allows a considerable energy saving.

The above mentioned aim and objects, and others which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a cover plate assembly for electrical control devices as claimed in the accompanying claims.

Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cover plate assembly with integrated display, for electrical control devices, outlets or other electronic devices, according to the present invention, shown with the display activated;

Figure 2 shows three front views of the external part of the cover plate with an example of an activation sequence of functions or configurations;

Figure 3 shows two front views of the external part of the cover plate with a further example of activation of configurations;

Figure 4 is a schematic view front of an example of a configuration of a cover plate provided with traditional plug-ins;

Figure 5 is a schematic front view of an example of configuration of a cover plate provided with traditional plug-ins and with a smart module.

With reference to the cited figures, the cover plate assembly according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1 , includes a light-guiding element 2 associated with an electronic module (PCB), not visible in the figures, which is covered by a supporting structure associated with a film 4.

The cover plate assembly 1 can be associated with a base, of a standard type, which can support one or more plug-ins 5, i.e., electrical and electronic devices such as, for example, control devices, outlets, electronic modules, etc.

In the specific case, plug-ins constituted by switches 5 are shown by way of example.

The electronic module is a printed circuit board (PCB) which includes an LED matrix 3, covered by a mask arranged between the region of the LED matrix 3 of the electronic module and the supporting structure covered by the film 4.

At the location of the LED matrix 3, the film 4 has transparent areas for passage at the holes provided on the assembly.

The electronic module has a TOF (Time Of Flight) sensor, not visible in the figures, which performs detections through a seat 6 formed in the supporting structure.

The TOF sensor measures the distance of vertically approaching objects, for the gesture" function.

The film 4 is translucent and has an opening at the TOF sensor seat 6.

The electronic module includes a microcontroller for serial communication with the connected plug-ins and for communication with the LED drivers of the matrix and of the border.

The electronic module includes an ambient light sensor.

The integrated display element, constituted by the LED matrix 3, is freely configurable in order to display, by means of icons, including animated icons, the state of the control devices and/or the associated function.

The integrated display element allows to display fixed or scrolling or sequentially appearing alphanumeric messages.

The integrated display element is of the pop-up type and is visible only when activated.

The display of information of the automation system occurs directly on the plate and includes a variety of information, such as window opening state, meeting room occupancy, door call, automation system alarms, etc.

The display occurs directly on the cover plate, for example by changing the coloring of the perimetric lighting or of the internal window.

The TOF sensor is used to identify the possible presence and/or movement of a hand in the vicinity thereof, signaling it to the associated modules.

With so-called "smart" modules, i.e., capable of communicating and/or receiving signals from/toward the cover plate assembly and/or toward other smart modules located elsewhere in the system, the combination of such smart modules and of the cover plate assembly allows to provide additional functionalities.

For example, by stopping the hand in front of the TOF sensor for a sufficient amount of time it is possible to modify the function of the associated module, as shown schematically in Figure 2.

In this way, it is possible to associate several functions with a single plug-in: for example, the same switch 5 can be used to turn on/off a specific luminaire or to turn on/off all the luminaires that are present in the system. For a same number of plug-ins installed, the advantage of the present invention is to ensure maximization of the functions available to each user, at the same time allowing the user to easily identify, by means of a symbol 7 appearing on the cover plate assembly, the function performed by the individual plug-in.

A further advantage of this function is that, by associating the plate with smart modules connected by radio to other modules, even located elsewhere in the system, communication between individual modules can take place without the need for physical connections, for example between the plug-in connected to the cover plate assembly and the actuator that controls the load.

The second plug-in can also be protected by a traditional type of cover plate assembly, for example a plate made of plastic material, thus minimizing installation costs.

A further important characteristic of the present invention resides in that, by performing specific hand movements, it is possible to recall predefined configurations.

For example, as schematically shown in Figure 3, moving the hand from left to right can activate configuration A, while moving the hand from top to bottom can activate a second configuration B.

Without prejudice to what has already been pointed out above, in this manner it is possible to increase further the number of functions that can be associated with each individual plug-in.

An advantage offered by the present invention is that it is possible to use hybridtype combinations, using smart-type cover plates, configurable smart-type plug-ins (modules) and traditional-type plug-ins (modules).

Figure 4 shows an example of configuration of a cover plate equipped with traditional plug-ins 51 , while Figure 5 shows an example of configuration of a plate equipped with traditional plug-ins 51 and with a smart module 52.

In this way, it is possible to renovate systems of the traditional type by making them smart in a simple and economical way.

A further advantage offered by the present invention is that the functions of the smart modules can be easily configured and modified by means of apps, or similar systems, without resorting to complex systems.

In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, providing a cover plate assembly for electrical control devices that is equipped with a system for changing the function of the devices themselves.

The cover plate assembly covered according to the present invention constitutes a so-called plate advantageously usable for specific supports of a residential range.

The plate according to the present invention allows the functional state of the inserts or modules to be displayed by means of the integrated display.

The present invention offers the advantage of allowing the user to easily identify the plug-in adapted to perform a certain function, such as, for example, turning on or off a certain light source, bell, etc.

Moreover, the present invention offers the important advantage of allowing to modify easily the function associated with each individual module.

Differently from known systems, in which, for example, the front structure of the plate and the bottom of the plate open to allow to accommodate the support, so as to make it interchangeable, forcing the installer to remove the original plug-ins in order to reassemble them in a special support, the cover plate assembly according to the present invention can be advantageously mounted as a replacement and in the place of the original classic-type cover plate, without necessarily intervening on the plug-ins.

For example, the plug-in can be removed from the previous support without being disconnected and can be reinstalled on the new support adapted to accommodate the cover plate assembly.

This application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No. 102021000032807, filed on December 28, 2021 , the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.