Design Challenge and Design Ideas

The CBX series consists of a DIN rail mounted advanced controller and expansion modules, which are designed for a wide range of applications for intelligent control of HVAC equipment, lighting control and electrical systems including metering applications. Because of the modular nature of the installation, the device design needed to be flexible and adaptable while minimising the footprint, and providing easy installation and configuration.

How the brief was fulfilled

The brief for this project was initially quite loose, different techniques were used to rationalise the specification and user requirements. The most important requirement was that the modules could be easily connected to each other, and that a single module could be taken out of a row if needed without disturbing the rest of the chain.
The design solution took a clean, linear aesthetic, with a branded band starting at the controller and running the full length of the modules. Complex functions and connectors were hidden behind doors, keeping the front surface clean except for indicator LEDs. Custom connector interfaces chain the controller to each of the modules while retaining the clean visual look, and keeping to the DIN standard. Any module can easily be replaced by unplugging two connector interfaces. Additional cable connection interfaces were designed for connection between rows, everything designed to click together securely.