EP2570051A1 - Furniture with means for wireless transmission of electric energy - Google Patents

Abstract

The furniture (1) has drawers (3-5) movable relative to a furniture body (2). A coupling device wirelessly transmits electricity between the furniture body and one of the drawers. An electrical circuit of the coupling device transmits the electricity from the furniture body to the drawers for supplying the electricity to another electrical circuit provided at the drawers. The latter circuit transmits operating data or signal inputted at an operating device (7) to the former circuit at the furniture body for controlling an electrical device i.e. ejector.

Description

The invention relates to a furniture arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1

Such furniture arrangements are known.

It is the object of the invention to expand the functionality of the generic furniture arrangement and to make their construction simple.

The invention solves this problem by the subject matter of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

It is / are arranged on one of the furniture parts of one of the furniture, in particular drawers, one or more of the operating devices and the input of this operating device (s) is also or only used to control devices on other furniture. It is thus an operating device on a furniture part also used to control devices on other furniture, which saves further operating devices.

Preferably, the one or more electrical devices ejecting devices for ejecting movable furniture parts, in particular the drawers and that the input of the operating device (s) are also or only to control the ejection devices of one or other of the furniture parts, especially drawers, this furniture or another piece of furniture Furniture arrangement can be used.

Preferably, one or more of the operating devices are or are arranged (preferably only) thereafter at one of the drawers and the input of these Operating device (s) is also or only used to control the ejection devices of one or more other drawers, which then preferably do not have their own operating device. In this way, further operating devices can be saved, which improves the appearance of the furniture and simplifies operation.

Preferably, a coupling device has at least one first electrical circuit on the furniture body, which is designed at least for transmitting electrical energy from the furniture body to the movable furniture part for supplying a corresponding second electrical circuit on the movable furniture part, and the second circuit is also at least for the transmission of at least one Operating device enterable operating data or signals for switching the furniture body designed to control at least one electrical device.

The operating device is in its simplest form a triggering element such as a push-button switch.

Such can easily be dispensed with entrained cable between the furniture body and the movable furniture part and it can be operated or controlled with an operating element on the drawer, in particular on the front panel nevertheless an electrical device such as an ejection device on the furniture body.

Preferably, the coupling device has assemblies with housings with the corresponding coupling devices, wherein at least one of the housing or a part of the housing is arranged limitedly movable on the furniture body or on the movable furniture part. Are the housing also provided with corresponding, in the closed state of the furniture part interlocking means, including one of the housing is provided with at least one inlet molding and the other housing is provided with a lug which is designed in the fully inserted state of the drawer in the To submerge inlet molding, it is easily ensured that, despite the play of the drawer perpendicular to the Sliding movement of the housing with the coupling means in the closed state are aligned relative to each other so that the energy and data transmission takes place with high reliability. This can be dispensed with a particularly precise fit of the relatively movable furniture parts. The concept of the housing is not too narrow. It comprises any housing-but also plate-like element which serves to support at least the coupling means. The housing can also accommodate a complete circuit or even enclose it all around.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Möbels;

Fig. 2

eine vereinfachte, schematisierte Schnittansicht durch ein weiteres Möbel;

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht von Baueinheiten mit induktiven Koppelelementen in einer ersten Gebrauchsstellung;

Fig. 4

eine Schnittansicht durch die Anordnung aus Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

die Einrichtung aus Fig. 3 in einer zweiten Gebrauchsstellung;

Fig. 6

eine Schnittansicht durch die Anordnung aus Fig. 5;

Fig. 7

eine relativ zu Fig. 6 senkrechte (Teil-) Schnittansicht durch die Anordnung aus Fig. 5 und 6;

Fig. 8

ein Impulsdiagram zur Veranschaulichung der bevorzugten Betriebsweise der Vorrichtung aus Fig, 3;

Fig. 9

ein Blockschaltbild eines Erregers; und

Fig. 10

ein Blockschaltbild eines Transponders.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing with reference to exemplary embodiments, wherein numerous other options for the embodiment of the invention will also be disclosed. It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a piece of furniture;

Fig. 2

a simplified, schematic sectional view through another piece of furniture;

Fig. 3

a perspective view of units with inductive coupling elements in a first position of use;

Fig. 4

a sectional view through the arrangement Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 5

the device off Fig. 3 in a second position of use;

Fig. 6

a sectional view through the arrangement Fig. 5 ;

Fig. 7

a relative to Fig. 6 vertical (partial) sectional view through the arrangement Fig. 5 and 6 ;

Fig. 8

a pulse diagram for illustrating the preferred operation of the device Fig. 3 ;

Fig. 9

a block diagram of a pathogen; and

Fig. 10

a block diagram of a transponder.

Fig. 1 shows a piece of furniture 1 with a furniture body 2 and here three relative to the furniture body 2 movable furniture parts, which are designed as extendable and retractable drawers 3, 4, 5.

At the top drawer 3 exemplarily here, at least one operating device 7 for inputting operating information is arranged on the front side - on the front panel 6.

This operating device 7 can be formed in various ways, such as a single or multiple key switch, toggle switch or rotary switch or as a touch screen or the like.

It can also be provided several of the control devices 7: it is as an advantageous development, which can also be regarded as an independent invention to look at only one of the movable furniture parts, here the drawer 3, one or more of the controls 7 and provide them for controlling other or further furniture parts, here drawers 4, 5 to use.

In any case, one of the operating devices 7 serves to control at least one arranged in the furniture body 2 electrical device, which is in particular - but not mandatory - to at least one electric ejection device for ejecting the movable furniture part, but also to an electrical device of another kind as another electric drive but also an electric light or the like. Act. Preferably, each of the drawers is associated with an electrical ejection device.

• zur Übertragung elektrischer Energie insbesondere zur Versorgung eines elektrischen oder elektronischen Bauteils am beweglichen Möbelteil - insbesondere der Bedieneinrichtung und einer dieser zugeordneten elektrischen Schaltung am Schubkasten 3 - und
• zur Übertragung von Daten zur Steuerung des wenigstens einen elektrischen Geräts am Möbelkorpus ausgelegt ist.

Thus, no entrained electrical line between the movable furniture part 3 and the furniture body 2 must be arranged, the furniture 1 is provided with a coupling device for the wireless transmission of electrical energy between the furniture body and the movable furniture part, at least

• for transmitting electrical energy, in particular for supplying an electrical or electronic component to the movable furniture part - in particular the operating device and one of these associated electrical circuit on the drawer 3 - and
• is designed for transmitting data for controlling the at least one electrical device on the furniture body.

It is also conceivable that the energy and data transmission takes place via two separate devices.

The coupling device for wireless transmission of electrical energy comprises - see the simplified representation of Fig. 2 - One arranged on the furniture body 2 first unit 9 and arranged on one of the drawers 3, 4, 5 second unit 10, which are provided with cooperating electrical circuits 11, 12, which are preferably designed as exciters and transponders and preferably - but not mandatory - have a structure and a functionality, as shown in the diagram of Fig. 8 and the block diagrams of FIGS. 11 and 12 and as will be described in more detail below.

Each of the electrical circuits 11, 12 has a coupling element, which is formed in a preferred embodiment as an inductive coupling element 31, 36. An embodiment as a capacitive coupling element is alternatively conceivable.

As inductive coupling elements 31, 36, two coils 13, 14 are preferably used, which exemplifies in Fig. 3 and 4 can be seen, and which can be wound on appropriately designed coil carrier.

In this case, one of the coils 13 is preferably arranged on the first unit 9 and the other of the coils 14 on the second unit 10, that is, the coils 13, 14 are movable relative to each other, since one of the coils 14 pulled out and inserted together with the drawer will (see also Fig. 2 in which the extended position of the drawer 3 is dargstellt).

It is essential that the two coils 13 and 14 are arranged on the furniture body 2 and the drawer 3, that at least in the fully or almost completely pushed position of the drawer 3 in the furniture body energy and data transmission between the units 9, 10 and the circuits 11, 12 of the coupling device is possible.

In the extended state of the drawer 3, however, according to the teachings of the invention, an energy and data transfer in any case unnecessary if the at least one operating device 7 serves to control a furniture ejection device, which is only designed to eject the drawer something from its retracted position, the but not also used to close the drawer, as this is done manually by pushing.

How out Fig. 2 To recognize the one of the units 9 can be arranged on the inside of the furniture body rear wall 15 and the other of the units 10, for example, on a mounting cross member 16 of the drawer. 3

The structural unit 9 arranged on the furniture body is preferably connected via a multi-conductor cable 17 to the ejection device 18 or another electrical device, and preferably (not shown here) to a power supply which serves to supply power to the ejection device and the circuit 11.

The assembly 10, which is arranged on or in the drawer 3, is preferably connected to the at least one or more operating device (s) 7 via a multi-conductor cable 19.

The interaction of the units 9, 10 is derived from a combined consideration of Fig. 3 to 10 ,

As in Fig. 3 and 4 to recognize, each of the units 9, 10 preferably has a housing 20, 21, which are respectively secured to the furniture body and the drawer 2, 3 (not shown here).

In this case, the housing 20 is provided with an inlet molding 22 and the other housing 21 with a projection 23 which is designed to immerse in the fully inserted state of the drawer in the inlet molding 22 ( Fig. 5 ).

The projection 23 has a ferrite core 24 or is formed as such and preferably extends in the housing 21 into the coil 14 of the assembly 10th

In the collapsed state - Fig. 5 to 7 - The approach 23 protrudes with the ferrite core 24 in the coil 13, which is arranged concentrically to the inlet molding 22.

In any case, in the fully inserted state of the drawer an inductively acting coupling device is realized, which is formed at least for wireless transmission of supply energy from the circuit 11 on the furniture body to the circuit 12 on the drawer 3 and the wireless transmission of data in the reverse direction (see Figures 9 and 10 ).

The housings 20, 21 can each be mounted on mounting means or fastening means such as bores or oblong holes 25 of the units 9, 10 on the associated furniture part 2 or drawer 3.

In this case, the arrangement is preferred in which the assembly 9 is attached to the furniture body 2 and the assembly 10 on the drawer 3. The reverse arrangement would also be conceivable.

It is particularly advantageous if at least one of the units is movably arranged on its associated furniture part. For this purpose is after Fig. 3 the assembly 9 on the furniture body 2 relative to this limited mobility.

This is achieved in a simple manner in that a central housing portion 20a for receiving the circuit 11 of the assembly 9 is movable with housing portions 20b, c is connected, which the mounting means - here the recesses 25 - for mounting the unit on the furniture body by means of screws or the like.

This mobility can be realized by connecting the housing portion 20a via one or more spring bars 26 to mounting plates 27 serving as the portions 20b, c having the mounting means 25. The mobility can also be realized by elastic material itself.

Preferably, the housing portion 20a is arranged centrally between the mounting plates 27 and on both sides via one or more - here three - wave-like curved and spaced spring bars 26 connected to the mounting plates 27, wherein the movable spring bars 26 can be stretched and compressed, which realizes the mobility.

It seems expedient and inexpensive, the housing 20 with the spring bars 26 and the mounting plates 27 in one piece, in particular made of plastic.

The arrangement described above is in a simple, yet particularly advantageous manner the effect justice that between the relatively movable furniture furniture body 2 and drawer 3 also transversely to the direction of a certain play exists, because by the fact that the housing portion 20 a with the coil 13 through the spring bars 26 is slightly movable relative to the furniture body 2, the approach 23 of the drawer 3 when pushing together the relatively movable furniture parts furniture body 2 and drawer 3 safely guided into the inlet molding 22, which ensures a very good reliability of the arrangement and allows the coupling device also to use less accurate fit or with more game relative to each other guided furniture parts.

It is conceivable, by a slightly conical configuration of the neck 23 and / or the Einlaufausformung 22 to increase the reliability again. In addition, the Einlaufausformung 22 also have a slightly larger diameter than the projection 23 with the ferrite core, which does not affect the functionality of the circuits 11, 12. Finally, it is even conceivable that the energy and data transmission is still guaranteed in any case if the ferrite core 13 is not immersed in the inlet formation 13 but is arranged very close to this, ie if the drawer 3 was accidentally not completely closed.

Alternatively, the coils 13, 14 could be aligned in the inserted state in another way relative to each other.

To Fig. 9 the circuit 11 on the furniture body 2, which is designed as a pathogen, preferably a power supply device 28, a downstream oscillator 29, a the oscillator 29 downstream device for pulse conditioning 30 and the device 30 downstream inductive coupling element 31, the in Fig. 3 is formed by the coil 13.

In this way, energy can be transmitted from the inductive coupling element 31 to the corresponding coupling element 36 on the drawer 3, which is used there to supply the circuit 12 on the drawer, which is preferably designed as a transponder, with electrical energy. It would theoretically also be possible to transmit not only the energy but also data to the transponder, but this is not absolutely necessary.

Signals coupled into the inductive coupling element 31 or transmitted wirelessly by the transponder and received via the coupling element 31 are passed from the coupling element 31 to a signal scanning device 32, which is followed by a demodulator 33 and a signal evaluation device 34, which can be designed as a function to drive from these signals a consumer like the already mentioned ejection device.

A control device, in particular a microcontroller 35, may be provided with one or more of the components of the circuit. Here it is connected to the oscillator 29, the pulse conditioning device 30, the signal sampling device 32, the demodulator 33 and the signal evaluation device 34.

To Fig. 10 the circuit 12 on the furniture body 2, which is designed as the transponder, an inductive coupling element 36 which in Fig. 3 is formed by the coil 14. The inductive coupling element 36, a power supply device 37 and a Impulsabtrennstufe 38 are connected in parallel circuit here in order to separate both the energy transmitted to the transponder and the transmitted signals from each other or to use. The Impulsabtrennstufe 38 is connected to a control device 39, which in turn is preferably designed as a microcontroller.

To an input of the control device 39, the operating device is connected to which an input / output logic 40 is assigned.

Depending on the input to the operating device 7 41 of a power supply device 37 and connected downstream and connected to the controller 39 signals to a downstream oscillator 42 is output, the signals are in turn transmitted to the inductive coupling element 36 to control signals to the exciter to send to the furniture body.

Thus, it is easily possible to dispense with a mitschleppenes cable between the drawer 3 and the furniture body 2, since both the energy and the data transmission between the furniture body 2 and the drawer 3 is wireless. An analogous arrangement would be realized between a furniture body 2 and another movable furniture part 3, for example in the case of a revolving door.

Particularly advantageous - but not mandatory - is, if after the type of Fig. 8 the data transmission S from the transponder 12 to the exciter 11 on the one hand and the power transmission E from the exciter 11 to the transponder 12 on the other hand in a time-staggered manner in blocks E, S, E, as this makes the energy transfer and the signal evaluation particularly simple and secure.

The invention makes it possible to provide an operating device only on one of the drawers 3 and yet also control other drawers 4, 5 in the furniture carcass. This can be used, for example, in such a way that the operating device 7 is arranged on a drawer 3 which is easily accessible to the user and is also used for a somewhat less accessible - for example, a deep or high drawer - e.g. the drawer 5 - open completely or partially.

It is also conceivable that the operating device 7 of the drawer 3 is used at all only to control the ejector 18 of another drawer.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that by means of the operating device of a piece of furniture movable furniture parts of another piece of furniture are controlled. This equals a fieldbus-like networking of the furniture with each other.

The circuits 11, 12 are preferably in each case completely integrated in the units 9, 10 or the housings 20, 21, to which contacts 43 or plug-in devices for connecting electrical conductors can be formed, which is shown in FIG Fig. 4 is indicated. However, this is not absolutely necessary for the function of the circuits.

When closing and opening rubbing in the region of the elements 22, 23, if necessary, a cleaning effect between adjacent surfaces is achieved.

reference numeral

Furniture

1

furniture body

2

drawers

3, 4, 5

front panel

6

input device

7

coupling device

8th

first building unit

9

second unit

10

circuits

11, 12

Do the washing up

13, 14

Furniture carcass rear wall

15

installation plate

16

Multi-conductor cable

17

ejector

18

Multi-conductor cable

19

casing

20, 21

Einlaufausformung

22

approach

23

pen

24

fastener

25

spring Bars

26

mounting plates

27

Power supply means

28

oscillator

29

Device for pulse conditioning

30

coupling element

31

Signal sampling device

32

demodulator

33

Device for signal evaluation

34

microcontroller

35

coupling element

36

Power supply means

37

Impulsabtrennstufe

38

control device

39

Input / output logic

40

modulator

41

oscillator

42

data transfer

S

power transmission

e

Claims (8)

Furniture arrangement with a plurality of furniture (1) each having a furniture body (2) and a plurality of furniture parts movable relative to the furniture body (2), in particular drawers (3), and with an operating device (7) for inputting operating information, characterized in that on one of Furniture parts of one of the furniture, in particular drawers (3), one or more of the operating devices (7) is / are arranged and that the input of this operating device (s) (7) is also or only used to control devices on other furniture. Furniture arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the one or more electrical devices ejection devices for ejecting movable furniture parts, in particular the drawers (3), and that the input of the operating device (s) (7) or only for controlling the ejection devices of one or several other of the furniture parts, especially drawers, this piece of furniture or other furniture of the furniture assembly can be used. Furniture arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the operating information are operating data or signals for a circuit (11) for controlling the electrical device, in particular the ejection device. Furniture arrangement according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the furniture comprises: a coupling device for the wireless transmission of electrical energy between the furniture body (2) and the at least one movable furniture part (3), wherein the coupling device has at least the following: a) a first electrical circuit (11) on the furniture body, b) a second electrical circuit (12) on the movable furniture part (3), c) wherein the first electrical circuit (11) at least for the transmission of electrical energy from the furniture body to the movable furniture part (3) for supplying the corresponding second electrical circuit (11) is designed on the movable furniture part, and d) wherein the second circuit (12) is designed at least for the transmission of at least one operating device (7) enterable operating data or signals to the circuit (11) on the furniture body (2) for controlling at least one electrical device. Furniture arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that each of the drawers is associated with one of the ejection devices (18). Furniture arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling device is designed to act inductively. Furniture arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inductively acting coupling device for data and energy transmission is designed only in the inserted state of the drawer (3). Furniture arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling device for the wireless transmission of electrical energy comprises: a on the furniture body (2) arranged first structural unit (9) and one of the drawers (3, 4, 5) arranged second structural unit (10), each provided with the cooperating electrical circuits (11, 12) with coupling elements (31, 36).

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