WO1998052272A1

WO1998052272A1 - Electronic apparatus with mechanical energy-absorption unit

Info

Publication number: WO1998052272A1
Application number: PCT/EP1998/002717
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claus Rein
Original assignee: Claus Rein
Priority date: 1997-05-12
Filing date: 1998-05-11
Publication date: 1998-11-19
Also published as: DE19721001C1

Abstract

For introducing mechanical-electrical energy known methods either require the use of two hands or, if only one hand is used, do not allow for large quantities of energy to be introduced. These problems grow as apparatus size decreases. The energy-absorption units partly extend outwards in an awkward manner and dominate apparatus design. Electronic apparatus comprising the new energy-absorption unit allows for the introduction of powerful energy using only one hand and one finger, even if the apparatus is very small. On the front face of the electronic apparatus a sliding element (10) or rotating body (1) is positioned. When the apparatus is used with one hand and one finger it is pressed against the back support surface, the palm or, in the case of miniature apparatus, against the index finger and middle finger. This allows for powerful energy to be introduced even with miniature apparatus. The particular advantage of the invention is that a large power-distance product can easily be obtained. The energy-absorption units integrate into the shape of the apparatus and can be configured to be robust. The invention can be used to supply energy to small and miniature types of electronic apparatus such as remote controls, small measuring apparatus and electronic locks.

Description

Electronic device with mechanical energy absorption unit

The invention relates to an electronic device with a mechanical energy absorption unit.

An electronic device is known from US 3,480,807 (H02K41 / 02), in which mechanical energy can be manually entered into the device via a knurled or cranked wheel and converted there into electrical energy. The knurled or cranked wheel is arranged so that it rises slightly above the adjacent housing plane, which is aligned parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel, and can thus also be driven from above, for example with the thumb. The lateral arrangement of the knurled and crank wheel outside of the device housing results in a disadvantageous bulkiness and risk of chopping, particularly with the crank wheel. Another and more practical disadvantage is that the lateral arrangement of mechanical energy input with just one finger always creates a lateral force component that pushes or tilts the electronic device out of its current, stable position, making it difficult or impossible to handle the energy input , if the device is not firmly attached to a rigid surface or is held with the second hand. This device is only of limited use for one-handed energy input.

In addition, other small electrical or electronic devices are known whose mechano-electric generators are operated manually. The mechanoelectric generators generally work either on the piezoelectric or, for a more powerful and effective energy input, on the dynamoelectric principle. DE-OS 3142176 (H02K7 / 18) describes a portable device for power generation which has a lever. In Fig. 1 of this OS, the device is shown as a manually operated flashlight. The mechanical energy was introduced in such a way that the flashlight was taken in hand and a lateral lever was actuated by the joint movement of the fingers when opening and closing the hand. The device presses against the ball of the thumb, and the thumb and palm ensure a stable hold while operating the lever. If the device were to be held in the hand differently than described, the handling would be cumbersome and ineffective. A particular disadvantage of this device is that the lever protrudes bulky from the device. This was recognized in the OS mentioned and the lever is held in an adjacent standby position by an additional locking member. 1

DE-OS 4312074 (F21L13 / 06) and DE-OS 3431529 (F21 L 13/06) propose devices for flashlights, in particular for the type of flashlight, in which the two-part cylindrical housing part with one part, with interposition a spring mechanism is coupled to an internal dynamoelectric generator. By twisting the two housing parts against each other with two hands, the spring mechanism is drawn up and energy is thus supplied to the rod torch. In EP 0749196 devices are shown in the known arrangement of spring mechanism, transmission and dynamoelectric generator, in which the spring mechanism and the mechanically stored energy are wound with a thumb and forefinger by means of a T-shaped key or via a knurled wheel, as is known from wristwatches is ready for the dynamoelectric generator. This device is intended as an emergency energy source for electronic devices such as a Walkman or cell phone. Instead of a spring mechanism, it is also possible, as proposed in DE-PS 3906861, to use a capacitor of corresponding size as an energy store.

The last-mentioned devices have the disadvantage that either an entire hand (DE-OS 3142176) or even two hands (DE-OS 4312074, DE-OS 3431529, EP 0749196) are necessary to supply the systems with energy. In some cases, the corresponding devices also need a certain minimum or "hand-filling" size (DE-OS 3142176, DE-OS 4312074) in order to be able to handle them practically, to keep them stable or to be able to bring in the mechanical energy effectively. The separate T-shaped key in EP 0749196 has the disadvantage of an additional risk of loss.

In addition to the principles mentioned, energy can also be input with one thumb using a button or a push button, as is known from piezoelectric lighters or gas lighters. A strong energy input can only be achieved with a large thumb force or by extending the key or push button stroke. However, the use of large thumb forces is very uncomfortable, is not as powerful over a long distance, and if multiple actuation is necessary, pressure pain at the push-button thumb or fatigue of the thumb can easily develop. On the other hand, there are also constructional limits with regard to the extension of the stroke in addition to the handling. Long buttons or pushers protrude bulky from the basic device, disrupt or dominate the design. Especially in the devices of DE-OS 3142176 and DE-OS 4312074, their downsizing would be accompanied by a deterioration in the handling properties, because a simultaneous holding and operating the mechanics is becoming increasingly difficult and ineffective. The above-mentioned arrangements are therefore not possible for smaller energy absorption units or “hand-held devices”, in particular if mechanical energy is to be introduced powerfully. The energy absorption unit is understood to be the part of the mechanics which is operated manually and which absorbs the mechanical energy of the hand or fingers In the special case of the flashlight mentioned, this is the lever. In general, effective reduction of energy is difficult to achieve with all the devices mentioned when they are reduced.

The advantage of all the devices mentioned is that they are independent of electrochemical voltage sources. The corresponding device can be operated at any time. In contrast, the disadvantages of known solutions are either handling when this is to be done with one hand and / or the energy input efficiency in the case of relatively small devices. Since the trend in various applications, such as electronic remote controls, electronic locks and keys, miniature or pocket locks, pocket data banks and the like, is toward miniaturization and power consumption is only required when the application is in use, these small electronic devices would be able to provide mechanoelectric energy . One has to take into account a sometimes considerable current energy consumption for electrics, electronics or electromechanical devices. Known devices would have to be of considerable size in order to deliver this performance, which would create design and handling conflicts, particularly in the case of small electronic devices.

The object of the invention is to find an effective and easy-to-use solution for a mechanical energy absorption unit for electronic devices, which does not dominate the design of the basic electronic device, which allows a powerful mechanical energy input with one finger, which ensures that during the energy input that the electronic device is not pushed out of the stable position essential for the energy input, which does not require any additional manual support by a second hand during the one-handed energy input and which also allows the powerful energy input when the electronic device is very small and not "hand-filling" is.

The object is achieved by electronic devices with a mechanical energy absorption unit according to claims 1 and 2. A major advantage of the solution according to 1 and 2 is, among other things, that a whole hand is required for the mechanical-electrical energy conversion, but ledi lci, υcvυ ugi ι-sαumcn, uicac i 'uiuviiun uuciiiiiium. iiαiiueu c »a-vu υci ucüi electronic device around a handheld device, so this can be used comfortably and stably in your Hanu. The finger, preferably the thumb, can now transfer muscular energy from it and euβi tiv mecnanisciie to the energy absorption unit. It is a safe and stable solution »υwυiii gewαunciaici, wciui 6a SI H uin an nαiiugciαi uci vJTυiJC Cinci i 'ci ιιacιιιeτπ- as well as if it is an electronic key the size of a key fob. In the latter case, the electronic device can be held comfortably with the curved index and middle fingers and by pushing the thumb forward with the

ueuci uα ii .rmajjiuvai l Ouci uui ^ u iiciuDc-av _^ iiicucii uβ --- »αuiiicna uuci uen -Λ-Oiαi-Ona- itui βi υci ica-eni Λiιuιueκ naen iHapi uen -. CUC UV Unu l anvuu ---. Nergy can be fed into, among other things, equipment. If the electronic device is stationary or attached to a solid surface, mechanical energy can also be put into the electronic device to effectively support one or more fingers with ucin i ingci uuci ι- / uιncιι cnici ricuiu ciiigcuαgcii wciucn, WOυCi can be used by hand.

ι- / he r-energy input, which is possible with a finger movement, is based on the applied finger force and the way of applying the force. Above all, this shows the advantage of l-υaung new-u ueu - "- u i- ¹ - u ucii i uau - .. rui uic r - ι ιι ιιwcnuuιιg aicni υci einci v uii / iuuπ after address 1 almost half the length of the electronic device is available. If the device is used, the device in the small device may even be longer than the device length because the finger movement may cause the device to be moved uca ιv ιαι.njuar-Λ-ιrpcι a ICI ^ IU uiβ vJci αicu-iiiciiSiOiicii uυci aicigen. Known energy absorption units do not offer this advantage, since their degree of freedom of movement or energy input is generally perpendicular to the surface of the respective device. The corresponding levers or pushing elements would be considerably larger or bulky in order to implement comparable r-τa-.ι.anwettuungswegangen such as to claims 1 and 2 and measurements of the electronic device.

The v-retπeυe according to claims 1 and 2 is advantageous in order not to limit the mechanoelectric converter type and to adapt the forces or torques generated during energy input to the optimum working point of the respective mechanoelectric converter. This is particularly important for dynamoelectrical energy converters. adi uen AiiSμi ui ci unu -_. has a JVI α-.uιuιιψθneiJ.ι € ms -Liiiiei c ucs eiciviJt υni & Cπcn v erates. This is only possible if you don't see energy on the side of the device, as is known from EP 074919υ, US 3,480,807 or from watch wheels on wristwatches - but is attached to the front of the electronic device . Even if the energy absorption unit itself is compatible with that in the oCi-r-iien just mentioned, we can use the re_atιve ι-.age zürn electronic device accordingly - ^ - Jisprucn 1 unu 2, as well as with the mecuamscuen energy input Cranes on the external energy unit, especially on the outside with one finger, not on the electronic one

passed by - as is the case with the above mentioned sections -

& υιιu 1cnι a _* ic_ _* is au ci u Anιc_> e ~~ _>,: in u ι: ic & cs »1 D -, w .. u AuiC, nu A: ιc->e-> m: nu iui - , 111 gcii: c "mc ~ _* -. τ - -, jui „ii w .i: iu 1 Dc .-: iu Aci

Operation of the energy absorption unit the electronic device either against the surface,

J: ~ XJ 1 ~ A τ _A :. 1 ui xlaiiu υuci ___ cιgc- unu

iviinciiiiigci gcui utM, -> u 111 »c ci J _^ gc» lauiiisici 1 unu uimu sciiiiun tilted, which only enables safe, one-handed operation with one finger. ιcbcι -L-ιιcιs.1 ιt »ι υci -. enu aici i-αgc uci -ciicigicauiiiαnniceiiuicii am v-rei ai υcöOnuci s wiiKSäm.

Electronic devices with a mechanical energy absorption unit according to claims 1 to 2 are also characterized by the fact that they can be designed in a uncompromising manner. The mechanical energy absorption unit only needs to project itself slightly over the surface of the e-ectronic fourtee in order to ensure uie functionality. In particular, there is no need for bulky, stubborn, protruding from the electronic device, nci aussicnenuc uuci aiϊiiiienc JVVJIISU uKXiυiicn. JL / ic -biieigicαumaiimecinπcii »icin uauui ωi IUI the overall shape of the electronic device is not a dominant component, but can be easily integrated into the overall design. This maintains the character of the electronic device. Instead of a slider according to claim 1 or a Rotatioπsköφers according to claim 2, an endless belt according to claim 3 can also be used, which may however be regarded as an uexiuie variant of a rotating body. For all energy absorption units, especially in the claims 2 and 3, a rough or corrugated surface is recommended, so that the mechanical transfer of energy from the finger into the electronic device can reliably lead to unauthorized use.

In the case of electronic devices which are held in the hand or in the fingers, the typical movement of the thumb for mechanical energy transfer takes place and the energy absorption unit out of the joints of the thumb. Under pressure on the energy The thumb is moved from a starting position to a T

ι_, ag "cg _Λ c _Λ ιuiαviu unu A _Λ IU: CI UC ~ u J: I ic τ i-: iiicig ~: ic ~ a ~ .u, Λii» u-.tιniiic "~ ci ~ nfic ~ imi. - ne Λn vυm g - c - a, e ~ uiiu, -uucn υu Jc. ,, i rolled. A powerful movement and a large energy input is easy to implement. The movement is also easy to perform and, especially after an energy absorption unit according to claim 2, will be pleasant because of the light massage effect. This results in a canoeing method, which is playful, calming, relaxing, for your own distraction and is therefore gladly carried out - not only at the time or immediately before the time of the energy requirement but at any time. Therefore, if an energy storage device according to claim 4 v nittiiucn ιaι, uicaci jcucι -, cn gciαu n wciuon unu ca aicni gcnugCnu Ellcigic ιuι an a _j jauci c

Ready to use. Electrochemical storage devices and particularly advantageously capacitors can be used as energy storage devices. The triggering of an action with the electronic device can take place in various ways, for example by actuating a switch, or a lateral or rearward movement of the energy-absorbing unit, if a certain voltage and / or energy threshold value is exceeded or due to other events .

It is easily possible with a finger, especially the thumb, to use forces between 1-10 N nu inciu -.u ciΔcugcn. Dci cicis-injiiiaencii 1 lαHugci aicn is-aiui uicac ivi n. UueT -cj cm, so that 20 - 300 mNm can be applied with a single movement. These amounts of energy, or more through multiple operation, can, in addition to the immediate operation of your own electrics, electronics or electromechanics of the ele tromscnen fourte, also be stored in a ι - nergιesρeιcner nacn r-nsprucn t and later within the electronic device or, if a mechanical, electrical, electromechanical or optical transmission unit according to claim 5 is present for energy and / or information transmission to a third-party device. This makes it possible, in addition to a purely active information transfer to a counter device, to also supply it with energy. This is particularly advantageous for small electronic or electronic counter devices if they do not have their own energy source. The current energetic state of the electronic device can be checked by means of a display device for the state of charge of the energy store (s) according to claim 6. The invention is particularly suitable for supplying energy to the smallest and smallest electronic devices, where either a relatively high energy consumption is required per unit volume or a large amount of energy is required overall for a short time. Applications would be, for example, electronic remote controls, small measuring devices or electronic locks. In the case of the latter, the mechanoelectrically provided energy can be used both for the electronics and for the electromechanics of measuring heads or the locking system.

The ι_ιιmuung wiru nachstenenu ani-anu of a video sample example explained.

Show in your drawing:

1 shows an electronic key with a mechanical energy absorption unit according to y-vnaμi u n _i in uci y-vuιaιeffl,

Fig. __, a eιeκtronιschen Shooting egg with mecnaniscner Energieauiiiaiimeeiniieit nacn claim 2 with two transmission units according to claim 5 in supervision,

F i; g_.

Fig. 4 is an input module with mechanical energy absorption unit according to claim 1 in the

At sight,

5 shows the input module from FIG. 4 in a side view (keys not shown), FIG. 6 shows a case lock with mechanical energy absorption unit according to claim 1.

In Fig. 1, an approximately 40 mm long and 15 mm wide electronic key with a mechanical energy absorption unit in the form of a rotary body 1 according to claim 2 is shown. A hole 2 is used to attach to a keychain or tag. The key can be comfortably held in the index and middle fingers and the rotary body 1 operated with the thumb. The mechanical energy introduced is converted into electrical energy by an internal generator and is used immediately for the operation of the electronics, which send the stored key code via a transmission unit 3, a light-emitting diode, to a receiving device.

FIG. 2 shows an expanded variant of the electronic key from FIG. 1. It contains a storage capacitor, a transmission unit 4, consisting of a light-emitting diode for transmitting and a photodiode for receiving information, a further transmission unit 5 in the form of two in the interior as an energy store electrical contacts, a liquid crystal display as a display device 6 and two push-button switches 7, 8. The energy introduced via the rotary body I into the electronic device, the electronic key can be temporarily stored in a storage capacitor after the transformation into electrical energy. The amount of the charged energy is shown in the display device 6 and UUTCn un ιe uaιK6n-.eιdeτ 9 uar. If only one BaiKerueid 7 uunκeι, this energy is sufficient to send a code via the transmission unit 4 to a receiving device by actuating the upper push-button switch 7. Two or three dark bar fields 9 are sufficient to receive information with the transmission unit 4 from the receiving device and one or other

to be sent out as required by a higher degree of visual protection. If even more energy is stored, both the code and the energy for the operation of the electromechanics can be transmitted to an electronic lock via the two electrical contacts of the transmission unit 5. The key shown in FIG. 2 can therefore be used both for electronic locks without their own power supply and as an emergency key for locks whose power supply has failed. The lower push-button switch 8 is used for further functions, such as sending further codes or switching the operating modes of the display device 6.

In Fig. 3 the key from Fig. 2 is shown in side view. The left key area has been lowered a little so as not to operate unintentionally during the operation of the rotary switch 1 and push switch 7 and 8. On the other hand, the electronic key from FIG. 1 has the same strength over its entire length, only the rotary body 1, the edge of which can be clearly seen in FIG. 3, rises only slightly above the surface of the electronic key, the axis itself, in both cases is inside. 4 and 5 show an input module for locks. The energy absorption unit here has the embodiment of a slide 10 according to claim 1. In addition to the keys 11 for entering a code or password, the input module also has two display devices 12, 13. The slide 10 can be operated either with a finger of the right hand, preferably the thumb, or with a finger of the left hand, preferably the index finger. be operated easily. If the display device 12 indicates by briefly lighting up a light-emitting diode that sufficient energy is available, a code number or a word can be entered via the keys 11. If this is correctly recognized by the internal evaluation unit, the LED of the display device 13 flashes briefly and a current pulse is sent to the lock, where it is unlocked by means of electromechanics. The input module is suitable for individual door locks as well as for Ai_iυ_. iu iuuugcu mc ιme _-Tei c ov-ιi-ii - ic - uf-e --- u_iιueu: -. cu, s _υ_. _ _- ,. τ ---> ι. i υc: i

u _u-ιci τ ----_ ι-ιc__nικ.αa -ι.cn iυa -u .-. eιι: eu, uie uänn onne accumulator or mains power connection are functional, in -cig. υ is a - onerscmou uarsteut. The energy unit, uer Cnieυer 10, is coupled to claim 7 with the lock bolt of the lock. Under the lock we see in the set of eyes in an unequipped position, which is carried out in a very good condition. Versciuuu- unu Zuiiäiteπegei luentiscu are in the pains of Konersci losses. If we move the slide 10 from our initial position, which is shown in FIG. 6, with a finger or thumb to linz, we transfer energy to the internal mechanical-eugen generator as well as open the guard locking. Due to movement of the knieuers towards recnts we lock and lock level and thus the lock is brought into the locked state. Opening is now only possible if a v-.oue is fed via the j onta te it, ue uie internal - ^ - uswcrtecιeκtronικ ais πcntig recognizes and an internal blocking is released, which releases the locking and locking latch again freely. In order to charge energy in the closed state, the mobility of the slide 10 is to be ensured to the left. This is advantageously possible in the case of a construction as in FIG. 6, in that the slide 10 is sealed off from the locking mechanism by an internal mechanism according to Claim 8 when the lock changes to the closed state. Sowoiu input modules such as m Fig. 4 and 5 or locks as in Fig. 6 can additionally from aπucicn jciicigiequciicn

ι3 ιaι -, eiιcn; υuci uυci an iNeιz, vcι ιιιuuιιg to be taken care of by αiiuin. An energy compliance according to claim 1 or 2 stone is in any case a security even if the other sources fail.

Claims

iυ

Expectations

1. Electronic device with mechanical Energieauiπahmeeiπheit that over em gear with

one, un cieis- uiu-Λ / iicii vJci L αngcuiunetcii, πιceιιαnθclcKι.π-.v ^ ιιcn v-rcncTαι.uι vci uuiiucn, in which the mechanical energy absorption unit is a mechanical part that can only be moved with a finger, and which is only slightly movable the surrounding surface of the electronic device and in which the mechanical energy absorption unit an o ^ iiicυci i _j IM, uc-taen ->cwcguιιg:>ιιcιιιcu-> gιαu μ iαnci -, uι v / uciiiαcnc uc »

Device is located at such a point that one component of the fingertip points in the direction of the degree of freedom of movement of the slide and a second one inside the electronic device for moving the scraper (10).

- Λ- .. r i - .. ιιc _a ι-s_.tu. uιu: M v1-c ~ "- - vτj.c" _iα-, i. 11111 _™ liic „e„ iuiαii: ia „e» nc „_i τ -_-. Ιιcιg: ιc» „- ι„ uΛιι.ι „αrι-nιc ~ cι-ι, -n. c: ι _* ι., u J: c ~ "u.υc _™ i ~ i ~ nv rj-c" _* m-; c »ιυc _™ 11m: + is connected to a mechanoelectric generator arranged in the electronic device, υei which the mechanical energy absorption unit represents a mechanical part that can be moved with a finger, which is only slightly repositioned over the surrounding surface of the eιe_ tro iscιιcn jβTätes and υei uεrπ uie mecu-miscue --- • ncTgieauiiiαiinϊecϊiii-cϊt is a rotational body (1), whose axis of rotation (1) is its rotational axis (1) Parallel to and below the surface of the electronic device lies on a steep part, in addition to the movement of the rotating body (1), a component of the plastic force in order to take account of the rvOuuiunais-ui ci - »^ ι ₇ μ αiici z.uι uuci li Cii € ucS cιcΛ.-ιunι->v> ιιcιι vjci ics n uicaci oicuc unu points a second inside the electronic device.

3. Electronic device with mechanical Eπeτgieaufhahmeeιπneιt according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotating body (1) has the shape of an endless belt.

**. i-.icis.ii umsenca vici-u um ιι-c ^ ι-cu-ι-> ι -.- ιcι ---. iiergicαuiiiαiimcciiincii 11cu.11 a uci -viiaμi uv _^ nc 1 to 3, characterized in that an energy store is arranged in it.

5. Electronic device with mechanical energy absorption unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it has a transmission unit (3, 4, 5), which serves for the delivery and receipt of energy and / or information.

6. Eicjs-troniscnes device with mechanical energy absorption unit according to one of the Aπsprüci-e 1 to 5, uäuurch characterized in that a display device (6) for the state of charge of the / the energy store is arranged in it.

π /. τ ---. ιιc „ιtv ,. _* ^• ι-ι <.JiuS ueι-> v-it- αi lim me / iι <u-ι-> i iιcι --- Ile gieαuiiiαiiiiiGcuiiieii nα n uei --iiisμi Cπc 1 to 6, characterized in that it the electronic device is a lock and the mechanical energy absorption unit is connected to a circuit level without being moved.

8. Electronic device with mechanical energy absorption unit according to claim 7, thereby geennzeicunet, uau in the closed state, the mechanical energy absorption unit is coupled out from the Versciuuijπegel.