WO2009071447A1 - Furniture having a device for wirelessly transmitting electrical energy - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to furniture (1) having a cabinet body (2) and having at least one or more cabinet part(s) displaceable relative to the cabinet body (2), particularly having one or more drawer(s) displaceable relative to the cabinet body, and having a coupling device for wirelessly transmitting electrical energy between the cabinet body (2) and the at least one displaceable cabinet part (3), wherein the coupling device comprises at least the following: a first electrical circuit (11) on the cabinet body, a second electrical circuit (12) on the displaceable cabinet part (3), wherein the first electrical circuit (11) is designed at least for transmitting electrical energy from the cabinet body to the displaceable cabinet part (3) for supplying the corresponding second electrical circuit (11) on the displaceable cabinet part (3), and wherein the second circuit (12) is designed at least for transmitting operating data or signals that can be input at at least one operating device (7) for the circuit (11) on the cabinet body (2) for controlling at least one electrical device.

Description

 Furniture with a device for the wireless transmission of electrical energy

The invention relates to a piece of furniture with a furniture body and with at least one or more movable relative to the furniture body furniture parts / furniture parts, in particular with one or more relative to the furniture body sliding drawer / drawers, and with a coupling device for the wireless transmission of electrical energy between the furniture body and the at least one movable furniture part.

Such furniture is known. It is the object of the invention to expand the functionality of the generic furniture and to make their structure simple.

The invention solves this problem by the subject matter of claim 1. It also provides the siblings of claims 16 and 32, which can be considered as developments of the subject matter of claim 1 but also as independent inventions.

According to the characterizing part of claim 1, the coupling device has at least a first electrical circuit on the furniture body, which is designed at least for the transmission of 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 inputable operating data or signals designed for switching the furniture body for controlling 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.

According to claim 18, the coupling device units with housings with the corresponding coupling devices, wherein at least one of the housing or a part of the housing is arranged limited movable on the furniture body or on the movable furniture part. If 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 to dive into the inlet molding, it is ensured in a simple manner that despite the play of the drawer perpendicular to the sliding movement, 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.

According to claim 33, one or more of the control devices is or are arranged (preferably only) on one of the drawers and the input of this control device (s) is also or only used to control the ejection devices of one or more other drawers, which then preferably not own Operating device have. In this way, further operating devices can be saved, which improves the optics of the furniture and simplifies the operation. According to claim 33, the invention also provides a furniture arrangement with a plurality of furniture, each with a furniture body and furniture parts that are movable relative to the furniture body, in particular drawers and with an operating device for inputting operating information, wherein only on a furniture carcass or on one of the furniture parts of a piece of furniture, in particular drawers, one or more of the operating devices is / are arranged and wherein the input of this operating device (s) also or only for controlling the ejection devices is used by one or more other drawers of this furniture or another piece of furniture furniture. Thus, an operating device on a furniture part is also used to control devices on other furniture, which saves further operating devices.

The invention also provides an advantageous method for energy and data transmission, the idea of which is reproduced with respect to the device in claim 30.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings on the basis of exemplary embodiments, wherein numerous other options for the embodiment of the invention are also disclosed. 1 shows a perspective view of a piece of furniture;

Figure 2 is a simplified, schematic sectional view through another piece of furniture. 3 is a perspective view of units with inductive coupling elements in a first position of use. Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the arrangement of Fig. 3;

FIG. 5 shows the device from FIG. 3 in a second position of use; FIG.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through the arrangement of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view (partial) relative to Fig. 6 through the arrangement of Figs. 5 and 6; Fig. 8 is a timing diagram for illustrating the preferred operation of the apparatus of Fig. 3; 9 is a block diagram of a pathogen; and

10 is a block diagram of a transponder.

Fig. 1 shows a 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. So that 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 wireless transmission of electrical energy between the furniture body and the movable furniture part, at least - for the transmission of electrical energy in particular for supply an electrical or electronic component on the movable furniture part - in particular the operating device and one of these associated electrical circuit on the drawer 3 - and

- Is designed for the transmission of 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 the wireless transmission of electrical energy comprises - see the simplified representation of FIG. 2 - arranged on the furniture body 2 first unit 9 and arranged on one of the drawers 3, 4, 5 second unit 10, which interacts with cooperating electrical circuits 11, 12 are provided, which are preferably designed as exciters and transponders and which preferably - but not necessarily - have a structure and functionality, as can be seen in the diagram of Fig. 8 and the block diagrams of Fig. 1 1 and 12 and as described in more detail below.

Each of the electrical circuits 1 1, 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 preferably two coils 13, 14 are used, which can be seen by way of example in FIGS. 3 and 4, 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 is (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 inserted position of the drawer 3 in the furniture body energy and data transmission between the units 9, 10 and the circuits 1 1, 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 dispensable when the least one operating device 7 serves to control a furniture ejection device, which is only designed to eject the drawer slightly from its retracted position , which does not serve to close the drawer, as this is done manually by pushing.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, one of the structural units 9 can be arranged on the inside of the furniture body rear wall 15 and the other of the structural units 10 can be arranged on a mounting cross member 16 of the drawer 3, for example.

Arranged on the furniture body assembly 9 is preferably via a multi-conductor cable 17 with the off shock device 18 or other electrical device and preferably (not shown here) connected to a power supply, which serves to power the ejection device and the circuit 11.

The assembly 10 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 can be seen from a combined consideration of FIGS. 3 to 10.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the assemblies 9, 10 preferably has a housing 20, 21, which are each attached 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 adapted to immerse in the fully inserted state of the drawer into 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 projection 23 projects with the ferrite core 24 in the coil 13, which is arranged concentrically to the inlet formation 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 the 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 are each on mounting means or fasteners such

Holes or slots 25 of the units 9, 10 mounted on the associated furniture part furniture body 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, according to 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 movably connected to housing portions 20b, c, which the mounting means - here the recesses 25 - for mounting the unit to the furniture body by means of screws or the like. exhibit.

This mobility can be realized by connecting the housing portion 20a via one or more spring bars 26 to mounting plates 27, which serve 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 webs 26 is slightly movable relative to the furniture body 2, the projection 23 of the drawer 3 when pushing together the relatively movable chen furniture parts furniture body 2 and drawer 3 safely guided in the inlet molding 22, which ensures a very good reliability of the arrangement and it makes it possible to use the coupling device also 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 inlet formation 22 may 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, although not immersed in the inlet formation 13 but is arranged very close to this, that is, 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.

9, the circuit 11 on the furniture body 2, which is designed as a pathogen, preferably a power supply device 28, one of these downstream oscillator 29, a device 29 connected downstream of the oscillator 29 for Impulsaufbi-- device 30 and the device 30 downstream inductive coupling element 31 , which is formed in Fig. 3 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 sampling 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 aforementioned shock 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.

10, the circuit 12 on the furniture body 2, which is designed as the transponder, an inductive coupling element 36 which is formed in Fig. 3 by the coil 14 is formed. The inductive coupling element 36 are here in parallel circuit a

Power supply device 37 and a Impulsabtrennstufe 38 downstream to separate both the energy transmitted to the transponder and the transmitted signals from each other or to use. The pulse separation stage 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.

It is particularly advantageous - but not mandatory - if, according to the type of FIG. 8, the data transmission S from the transponder 12 to the exciter 11 on the one hand and the energy transmission E from the exciter 11 to the transponder 12 on the other hand in a staggered manner in blocks E, S, E takes place, as this makes the energy transfer and the signal evaluation particularly easy and secure.

The invention makes it possible to provide an operating device only on one of the drawers 3 and nevertheless also control other drawers 4, 5 in the furniture body. 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.

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

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

reference numeral

Furniture 1

Furniture carcass 2

Drawers 3, 4, 5

Front panel 6

Input device 7

Coupling device 8 first unit 9 second unit 10th

Circuits 1 1, 12

Coils 13, 14

Furniture carcass back wall 15

Mounting crosspiece 16

Multi-conductor cable 17

From shock device 18

Multi-conductor cable 19

Housing 20, 21

Inlet molding 22

Approach 23

Pin 24

Fasteners 25

Spring bars 26

Mounting plates 27

Power supply device 28

Oscillator 29

Pulse processing device 30 Coupling element 31

Signal sampling device 32

Demodulator 33

Device for signal evaluation 34 microcontroller 35

Coupling element 36

Power supply device 37

Pulse separator 38

Controller 39 Input / Output Logic 40

Modulator 41

Oscillator 42

Data transmission S

Energy transfer E

Claims

claims 1. furniture (1) with a furniture body (2) and with at least one or more relative to the furniture body (2) movable furniture part / furniture parts, in particular with one or more relative to the furniture body sliding drawer / drawers (3), and with a coupling device for wireless transmission of electrical energy between the furniture body (2) and the at least one movable furniture part (3), characterized in that the coupling device has at least the following: a) a first electrical circuit (1 1) on the furniture body, b) a second electrical circuit (12) on the movable furniture part (3), c) wherein the first electrical circuit (1 1) designed at least for transmitting e- lectric energy from the furniture body to the movable furniture part (3) for supplying the corresponding second electrical circuit (11) on the movable furniture part is, and d) wherein the second circuit (12) at least for the transmission of at least one Bediense inrichtung (7) enterable operating data or signals to the circuit (11) on the furniture body (2) is designed to control at least one electrical device. 2. Furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one to be controlled electrical device from a jerk device (18) for ejecting one of the drawers (3). 3. Furniture according to claim 2, characterized in that each of the drawers is associated with one of the ejection devices (18). 4. Furniture (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only one of the drawers (3) one or more of the operating devices (7) are arranged and that the inputs to this operating device (s) also or only for controlling the ejection devices (18) of one or more other drawers (3) are used, which do not have their own operating device. 5. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling device is designed to be inductive acting. 6. Furniture, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inductively acting coupling device for data and energy transmission is laid out only in the retracted state of the drawer (3). 7. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling device for the wireless transmission of electrical energy comprising: one on the furniture body (2) arranged first structural unit (9) and one on one of the drawers (3, 4, 5) arranged second structural unit (10), which are each provided with the cooperating electrical circuits (11, 12) with coupling elements (31, 36). 8. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical circuits (1 1, 12) are designed as exciters and transponders. 9. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exciter on the furniture body (2) and the transponder on the drawer (3) is arranged. 10. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims or according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the exciter and the transponder are adapted to transmit data and / or energy only in almost completely or fully inserted state of the drawer (3). 11. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the electrical circuits (1 1, 12) each having an inductive coupling element (31, 36). 12. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the electrical circuits (1 1, 12) each have a coil (13, 14) as the inductive coupling element (31, 36). 13. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the furniture body arranged on the assembly (9) via a multi-conductor cable (17) with the ejection device (18) is connected to a power supply. 14. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the on or in the drawer (3) arranged assembly (10) via a multi-conductor cable (19) with the at least one or more operating device (s) (7) connected is. 15. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the structural units (9, 10) has a housing (20, 21) which is arranged on the furniture body (2) or on the drawer (3). 16. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims or according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the coupling device, the units (9, 10) with the housings (20, 21) with the coupling means and that at least one of the housing (20 or 21) or part of the housing (20 or 21) limited movable on the furniture body or on the movable furniture part, in particular on the at least one drawer is arranged. 17. Furniture according to claim 16, characterized in that one of the housing (20) is provided with at least one inlet molding (22) and that the other Housing (21) is provided with a projection (23) which is designed in completely inserted state of the drawer in the inlet molding (22) immerse. 18. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projection (23) has a ferrite core or is designed as such. 19. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housings (20, 21) in each case on mounting means or fastening means such as holes or oblong holes (25) of the units (9, 10) on the associated furniture part - furniture body (2 ) or drawer (3) can be mounted. 20. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a central housing portion (20a) for receiving the circuit (11) is movably connected to housing portions (20b, c), which have the mounting means (25) for mounting the assembly on the furniture body , 21. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobility is realized in that the housing portion (20a) via one or more spring bars (26) with mounting plates (27) is connected, which have the mounting means. 22. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing portion (20a) via one or more wave-like curved and spaced-apart spring webs (26) is connected to the mounting plates (27). 23. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (20) with the spring webs (26) and the mounting plates (27) is integrally formed. 24. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projection (23) and / or the inlet molding (22) is conical. 25. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit (11) on the furniture body (2), which is designed as a pathogen, preferably a power supply device (28), one of these oscillator downstream (29), one of the oscillator (29 ) downstream device for pulse conditioning (30) and the device (30) downstream inductive coupling element (31) to transmit energy from the inductive coupling element (31) to the corresponding coupling element (36) on the drawer (3). 26. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit (11) further comprises in order to process in the inductive coupling element (31) coupled or emitted by the transponder wirelessly and via the coupling element (31) received signals: a signal sampling device (32), which is followed by a demodulator (33) and a device for signal evaluation (34), which may be designed to control consumers such as the ejection device (18) in response to these signals. 27. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control device, in particular a microcontroller (35) with one or more of the components of the exciter circuit (11) is connected. 28. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the microcontroller (35) with the oscillator (29), the means (30) for pulp processing, the signal sampling means (32), the demodulator (33) and the means for Signal evaluation (34) is connected. 29. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit (12) comprises the inductive coupling element (36), in parallel circuit, a power supply device (37) and a Impulsabtrennstufe (38) are connected downstream and that the Impulsabtrennstufe (38) is connected to a control device (39) and that to an input of the control device (39), the operating device (7) is connected, which is associated with an input / output logic (40) and in that the circuit for signal output further with the Control means (39) connected to the modulator (41) and an oscillator (42) connected downstream of this, which is connected to the inductive kéve element (36). 30. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuits (10) and (1 1) are so controlled that the data transmission (S) from the transponder (12) to the exciter (1 1) on the one hand and the energy transmission (E) from the exciter (1 1) to the transponder (12) on the other hand in a staggered manner in blocks (E, S, E) takes place. 31. Furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling device is designed as a capacitive coupling device. 32. Furniture (1) with a furniture body (2) and a relative to the furniture body (2) movable furniture part, in particular a drawer (3) and with an operating device (7) for inputting operating information or furniture according to claim 1, characterized in that one or more of the operating devices (7) are arranged on one of the furniture parts, in particular drawers (3), and that the input of this operating device (s) (7) also or only for controlling the ejection devices (18) of one or more others movable furniture parts, in particular drawers (3), is used. 33. Furniture arrangement with a plurality of furniture (1) each having a furniture body (2) and a plurality relative to the furniture body (2) movable furniture parts, in particular drawers (3) and with an operating device (7) for inputting operating information, characterized in that on a the furniture parts of a piece of furniture, in particular drawers (3), one or more of the operating devices (7) are arranged and that the input of this operating device (s) (7) also or only for controlling the ejection devices (18) of one or several other furniture parts, in particular drawers (3), this piece of furniture or other furniture of the furniture arrangement is used.