# US 11,227,484 B2 · Control unit for a remote control comprising an activation sensor with a variable effective sensor range > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,227,484 B2 - Document ID: US11227484B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/561,097 - Filed: 2019-09-05 - Published: 2020-03-12 - Granted: 2022-01-18 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-05 - Assignees: Brendel Holding GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Brendel Holding GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Jochen Antes; Friederike Brendel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11227484B2 ## CPC - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - G08C 17/02: using a radio link - G01V 3/08: operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices (with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12) - G05B 15/02: electric - E02F 9/2012: {Setting the functions of the control levers, e.g. changing assigned functions among operations levers, setting functions dependent on the operator or seat orientation} - E02F 9/205: {Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles (E02F3/8866 takes precedence)} - G05B 2219/36163: Local as well as remote control panel - G05G 2009/04774: {with additional switches or sensors on the handle} - G08C 2201/30: User interface - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - G01V: GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS (means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons A63B29/02) - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) ## Abstract A control unit for a remote control for controlling a machine, comprising: a processor device, at least one manually operable operating element provided on the control unit for controlling at least one machine function, which can be switched by the processor device between an activated state (b) and a deactivated state (a), and an activation sensor assigned to the operating element, which activation sensor comprises an effective sensor range and is adapted to detect a defined approach to the effective sensor range by an operator, the processor device being adapted to switch the operating element to the activated state (b) if the activation sensor detects the defined approach to the effective sensor range, and if no defined approach is detected during a preset period of time, to switch the operating element to the deactivated state, the control unit being adapted in such a way that operation of the operating element does not cause the machine function to be activated, as long as the operating element is in the deactivated state (a), and a position or/and size of the effective sensor range on the control unit being variable. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A control unit for a remote control for controlling a machine, preferably for a radio remote control, comprising: a processor device, at least one manually operable operating element for controlling at least one machine function, which can be switched over by the processor device between an activated state (b) and a deactivated state (a), an activation sensor associated with the operating element, the activation sensor comprising an effective sensor range and being adapted to detect a defined approach to the effective sensor range by a body portion of an operator, the processor device being adapted to switch the operating element to the activated state (b) if the activation sensor detects the defined approach to the effective sensor range, and to switch the operating element to the deactivated state (a) when no defined approach to the effective sensor range is detected by the activation sensor during a preset period of time, and the control unit being set up such that operation of the operating element does not cause activation of the machine function, as long as the operating element is in the deactivated state (a), characterized in that a position or/and size of the effective sensor range on the control unit is variable. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that a configuration of the effective sensor range, with respect to its position and/or size on the operating element, can be switched by the processor device between a basic configuration assigned to the deactivated state (a) of the operating element and a working configuration different from the basic configuration and assigned to the activated state (b) of the operating element, and wherein the processor device is further adapted to switch the configuration of the effective sensor range to the configuration of the basic configuration and the working configuration assigned to that state, upon or after switching the operating element to a state of the activated state (b) and the deactivated state (a). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the activation sensor is a capacitive sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the effective sensor range is an effective sensor surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) A control unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the effective sensor range of the basic configuration is contained at least partially, preferably completely, in the effective sensor range of the working configuration, or in that the effective sensor range is enlarged when switching from the basic configuration to the working configuration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) A control unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the operating element comprises a handle section having a distal cover surface and a peripheral surface with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle section, the effective sensor range in the basic configuration being formed by the distal cover surface or a portion thereof, while the effective sensor range in the working configuration comprises at least one area of the peripheral surface and is preferably formed of the distal cover surface and the peripheral surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A control unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the operating element is a rotary switch or a joystick switch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) A control unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the control unit comprises a handle adapted to be held or touched by the operator during operation, and wherein the effective sensor range in a working configuration comprises at least a portion of the handle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the preset period of time is between 0 and 5 seconds inclusive, preferably between 1 and 3 seconds inclusive. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the preset period of time or/and the effective sensor range can be set or modified by the operator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) A control unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the working configuration of the effective sensor range can be adjusted or modified by the operator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that it is further adapted to output a signal to the operator when a configuration of the effective sensor range is changed or switched over, preferably a vibration signal. ### Claim 13 A remote controller for controlling a machine, the remote controller comprising: a control unit that includes: a processor device, at least one manually operable operating element for controlling at least one machine function, which can be switched over by the processor device between an activated state (b) and a deactivated state (a), an activation sensor associated with the operating element, the activation sensor comprising an effective sensor range and being adapted to detect a defined approach to the effective sensor range by a body portion of an operator, the processor device being adapted to switch the operating element to the activated state (b) if the activation sensor detects the defined approach to the effective sensor range, and to switch the operating element to the deactivated state (a) when no defined approach to the effective sensor range is detected by the activation sensor during a preset period of time, and the control unit being set up such that operation of the operating element does not cause activation of the machine function, as long as the operating element is in the deactivated state (a), characterized in that a position or/and size of the effective sensor range on the control unit is variable. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A remote controller according to claim 13, wherein the control unit is characterized in that a configuration of the effective sensor range, with respect to its position and/or size on the operating element, can be switched by the processor device between a basic configuration assigned to the deactivated state (a) of the operating element and a working configuration different from the basic configuration and assigned to the activated state (b) of the operating element, and wherein the processor device is further adapted to switch the configuration of the effective sensor range to the configuration of the basic configuration and the working configuration assigned to that state, upon or after switching the operating element to a state of the activated state (b) and the deactivated state (a). ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A remote controller according to claim 13, wherein the control unit is characterized in that the activation sensor is a capacitive sensor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A remote controller according to claim 14, wherein the control unit is characterized in that the effective sensor range of the basic configuration is contained at least partially, preferably completely, in the effective sensor range of the working configuration, or in that the effective sensor range is enlarged when switching from the basic configuration to the working configuration. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A remote controller according to claim 14, wherein the control unit is characterized in that the operating element comprises a handle section having a distal cover surface and a peripheral surface with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle section, the effective sensor range in the basic configuration being formed by the distal cover surface or a portion thereof, while the effective sensor range in the working configuration comprises at least one area of the peripheral surface and is preferably formed of the distal cover surface and the peripheral surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A remote controller according to claim 17, wherein the control unit is characterized in that the operating element is a rotary switch or a joystick switch. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A remote controller according to claim 15, wherein the control unit comprises a handle adapted to be held or touched by the operator during operation, and wherein the effective sensor range in a working configuration comprises at least a portion of the handle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) A remote controller according to claim 13, wherein the control unit is characterized in that the effective sensor range is an effective sensor surface.