The present invention relates to a cover structure with integrated display, for electrical control devices. The present invention relates in particular to a faceplate provided with an integrated display and advantageously usable for specific supports of a domestic range.

In greater detail, the present invention relates to a cover structure, with integrated display, to be associated with a base adapted to support the devices, such as control devices, outlets, electronic modules, etcetera. In the field of electrical systems, a domestic 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 support frames which are fixed to boxes, generally recessed in walls or mounted on the outside of the walls.

The internal parts of the devices are normally protected by means of frame covering border plates that provide an adequate aesthetic finish and the necessary protection.

The faceplates are suitably configured to allow accessibility to the switches and to the other functional control elements.

Traditionally, the faceplates are passive elements made of various materials, mainly techno-polymers, but also metals and wood, in order to meet various aesthetic requirements.

Faceplates with functional characteristics are known; such active plates are not limited to covering the fixing elements of the electrical devices and are provided with control, actuation and signaling devices. EP3398409B1 discloses a built-in electromechanical equipment for controlling devices in a building. The equipment includes a cover plate coupled to a functional frame which has a lower protruding rim on which sensors are positioned. The rim contains an electronic circuit provided with a series of LEDs and with a microcontroller which analyzes, controls and manages the LEDs, the sensors and a series of communication ports of the electronic circuit. A light guide is present between the plate and the functional frame, is coupled to the LEDs and is configured to uniformly illuminate the outer surface of the plate.

A problem of the system described in EP3398409B1 is that the front structure of the plate and the plate bottom open in order to allow the accommodation of the support, so as to render it interchangeable; however, in this manner the assembly constituted by the plate, the front structure of the plate, the plate bottom and the support is bulky and therefore protrudes considerably with respect to the installation wall.

A further problem of the structure described in EP3398409B1 is that it is not provided with visual elements that allow to visualize 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 arranged above the horizontal extension of the bottom of the plate, with a further increase in the thickness and number of the components of the system.

US2019/221958A1 discloses a wall-mounted assembly which may include one or more host devices which receive line voltage and generate low voltage power on one or more contacts for powering one or more modular devices. The devices may be installed adjacent to the host device and may share a faceplate with the host device, such as a standard decorator faceplate. The modular devices may receive power from the host device via a power bus between the host device and the one or more modular devices. The power bus may include a communication bus for communication between the host device and the modular devices. The faceplate may be a smart faceplate, which may include circuitry, such as a battery backup, occupancy sensing, a charging dock for a mobile phone, etcetera.

US2006072302A1 discloses an electro-luminescent illuminated wall plate device with push-tighten frame means.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a cover structure with integrated display that overcomes the drawbacks of the cited prior art.

Within the scope of this aim, a particular object of the invention is to provide a cover structure with integrated display that can be advantageously installed instead of an original plate of the traditional type, without the need to unwire all the devices and with a thickness that is substantially identical to that of a plate of the standard type.

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

A further object of the invention is to provide a cover structure with integrated display that has compact dimensions, with particular reference to its 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 considerable energy saving.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a structure which, by virtue of its particular constructive characteristics, is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a cover structure with integrated display, associable with a base adapted to support devices, said structure being characterized in that it comprises a waveguide associated with an electronic module covered by a translucent film associated with a support structure; said electronic module being a printed circuit board which comprises at least one LED matrix; said LED matrix constituting a display that is visible through said film; said electronic module having a ToF sensor that takes measurements through a seat formed in said support structure; said display being configured to display an operating state of said devices. 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 structure with integrated display for electrical control devices, outlets or other electronic devices, according to the present invention, illustrated with the display activated;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the structure;

Figure 3 is a partially sectional exploded perspective view of the structure;

Figure 4 is a front view of the waveguide;

Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the waveguide;

Figure 6 is a front view of the outer part of the plate in the active condition; Figures 7 and 8 are views of the plate respectively in the off condition and in the on condition;

Figure 9 is a front view of the outer part of the plate in the active condition, with a further example of information; Figures 10 and 11 are views of the plate respectively in the off condition and in the on condition.

With reference to the cited figures, the cover structure with integrated display according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1 , includes a waveguide 2 associated with an electronic module (PCB) 3, which is covered by a support structure 42 associated with a film 4.

The structure 1 can be associated with a base 5 of the standard type, which can support one or more devices, i.e., electrical and electronic devices such as for example control devices, outlets, electronic modules, etcetera.

Devices constituted by switches 5 are shown in the specific case by way of example.

The waveguide 2 is transparent and has a quadrangular window which includes waveguide edges 21 constituted by prismatic elements.

The electronic module 3 is a printed circuit board (PCB) which includes an LED matrix 31 , which is covered by a mask 32 arranged between the region of the LED matrix 31 of the electronic module 3 and the support structure 42 covered by the film 4.

At the position of the LED matrix 31 , the film 4 is provided with transparent areas for passage at the holes provided in the structure 42.

The electronic module 3 has a ToF (Time of flight) sensor 33, which performs the measurement through a seat 43 formed in the support structure 42. The ToF sensor 33 measures the distance of the objects in vertical approach, for the gesture function.

The film 4 is translucent and has an opening at the seat 43 of the ToF sensor 33.

The electronic module 3 also includes a microcontroller for serial communication with the connected devices and for communication with the LED drivers of the matrix and of the border. The electronic module 3 also includes an ambient light sensor.

The cover structure for electrical control devices, outlets or other electronic devices, according to the present invention, is characterized by an integrated display element which can be freely configured in order to display, by means of icons, which are optionally animated, the state of the control devices and/or the associated function.

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

According to the present invention, the integrated display element is of the pop up type and is visible only when activated. Figures 6-11 schematically show the alternating conditions of non-visibility and visibility of the information in the form of images, texts, icons, etcetera.

A feature of the structure is low energy consumption.

According to the present invention, the display of the information of the automation system occurs directly on the plate and includes various information items, such as window open state, meeting room occupation, door call, alarms of the automation system, etcetera.

Display occurs directly on the plate, for example by modifying the coloring of the perimetric lighting or of the internal window.

In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects.

Differently from prior art systems, in which for example the front structure of the plate and the plate bottom open in order to allow the accommodation of the support, so as to make it interchangeable, forcing the installation technician to remove the original devices to reassemble them in a special support, the cover structure according to the present invention can be advantageously mounted as a replacement of the original plate of the classic type, without necessarily acting on the devices.

For example, the device can be removed from the previous support without being disconnected and reassembled on the new support adapted to accommodate the cover structure. A further advantage of the present invention is that the film 4 is printed in translucent colored material, except for the part at the holes that are present in the support structure 42, and the waveguide 2, i.e., the bottom of the plate, is made of transparent material, and therefore the light is directed exclusively onto the outer edges of the plate and in the horizontal ones above and below the devices, parallel to the waveguide edges 21.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the sensor devices are mounted directly on the PCB electronic module 3, allowing to limit the thickness of the plate and limiting the number of components with respect to the systems of the background art cited above. A further advantage of the present invention is that the plate is not provided with communication modules, which, according to the present invention, can instead be arranged in the devices or in adapted device rear modules.

A further advantage of the present invention is that the brightness and proximity sensors are mounted directly on the PCB electronic module 3, providing greater effectiveness and precision, differently from the systems of the background art, in which the sensors are arranged within the box and not in the plate itself.

This application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No. 102021000008663, filed on April 7, 2021 , the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.