DE102018008297A1 - System of seating, at least one communication device and means for a status display and / or status transmission as well as methods for evaluation and control - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system consisting of a multiplicity of seating furniture each equipped with an electronic assembly and at least one communication device with at least two different transmitting and receiving devices. The electronics module has at least one computing, storage and evaluation unit, at least one power supply and at least one middle-distance transmitting and receiving device. Each piece of seating furniture has at least one sensor. The communication device has at least one middle-distance transmitting and receiving device for communication with the individual seating furniture. It also has at least one long-distance transmitting and receiving device for communication with an external server. The invention further relates to a method for evaluating the data generated by the system and for controlling, regulating and informing the active components installed in the seating furniture Parameters can be monitored over long distances with subsequent evaluation.

Description

The invention relates to a system comprising a multiplicity of seating furniture each equipped with an electronic assembly and at least one communication device with at least two different transmitting and receiving devices.

From the DE 20 2010 009 554 U1 a swivel chair is known which is equipped on the one hand with a sensor element for detecting the pressure generated by a person using the chair and on the other hand with an electric heating element for heating the seat surface and the backrest. The sensor element is operatively connected to a switch for switching the electrical heating element on and off.

The problem underlying the present invention is to develop a system with which the seating furniture of a seating arrangement or other furniture arrangement can be monitored individually with respect to some parameters dependent on the occupancy over large distances with a subsequent evaluation. The system also includes the option of influencing actuators housed in seating or in furniture.

This problem is solved with the features of claim 1. The electronics module has at least one computing, storage and evaluation unit, at least one power supply and at least one medium-distance transmitting and receiving device. Each electronics module has at least one interface for at least one sensor and at least one actuator. Each piece of seating furniture has at least one sensor. The communication device has at least one middle-distance transmitting and receiving device for wireless communication with the individual seating furniture. It also has at least one long-distance transmitting and receiving device for wireless and / or wire or fiber-optic communication with an external server.

Chairs are primarily referred to here as seating furniture. However, the seating furniture not only includes other seating such as benches, sofas, stools and the like, but also wheelchairs and hospital or nursing home beds.

According to claim 8, a method for evaluating the data generated by the system according to claim 1 and for controlling, regulating and informing active components of the electrical or electronic components integrated in the seating furniture is provided. At least one of the communication devices is connected to a server of a server farm. The following data can be called up for the system operator: The identification data of the seating furniture, the revision status of the software and hardware, the parameter data of at least the sensors and actuators as well as the diagnostic data for remote maintenance and maintenance planning. Using the parameter data, current occupancy plans can be called up at any time. In addition, their data can be evaluated for statistical surveys on the server or in the operator's computers.

The identification data, parameter data and diagnostic data are collected in the respective electronic assembly of the seating furniture. The identification data include the seating type, the seating serial number, the manufacturer and, if applicable, the customer. The parameter data of the sensor or sensors indicate which physical, electrical and / or chemical parameters the sensors measure. The process data of the actuators, the latter are, for example, acoustic or optical alarm devices, a vibration alarm, a display or the like, reflect their switching status and / or the message displayed in each case. The diagnostic data contain the information as to whether the monitored sensors and / or actuators are functional or until when they were functional.

With the procedure for evaluating the data generated by the system, the system operator - e.g. a facility manager, a conference room user, an organizer or a freelancer e.g. with a practice or law firm - first, determine how high the seat occupancy rate of the building you are using and its individual rooms is. Secondly, he can determine how high the occupancy rate of each individual piece of furniture is and how many occupancy hours - based on the individual, identifiable chair - accrue. The latter information influences the furniture service interval. Third, the respective system operator can determine whether all chairs are standing or how high the respective room temperature is.

• 1: perspektivische Ansicht der Systembestandteile und einiger Server einer Serverfarm;
• 2: Schnitt durch ein Sitzmöbel nach 1;
• 3: vergrößerter Ausschnitt zu 2.

Further details of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the following description of a schematically illustrated embodiment.

• 1 : perspective view of the system components and some servers of a server farm;
• 2nd : Section through seating 1 ;
• 3rd : enlarged section to 2nd .

The 1 shows the corner ( 7 ) of a seating room, on the wall ( 8th ) a communication device ( 80 ) is arranged and, on the other hand, a server farm that is far away from it ( 90 ) whose server ( 91 ) only with the communication device as an example ( 80 ) is connected by wire.

In the corner of the room ( 7 ) standing seating ( 11 , 12th ) represent a field of chairs of almost any size. The single seating ( 11 , 12th ) is, for example, a cantilever chair.

The cantilever chair ( 11 , 12th ) consists, for example, of a frame ( 13 ) and a seat shell ( 25th ). The frame ( 13 ) includes a U-shaped floor support ( 14 ), two front chair legs ( 15 , 16 ) and two armrests ( 17th , 18th ). The from the floor pad ( 14 ) emerging chair legs ( 15 , 16 ) go into the armrests above the seat cover ( 17th , 18th ) about. The two chair legs ( 15 , 16 ) are directly under the seat cover with a tubular cross bar ( 21 ) rigidly connected, cf. also 2nd and 3rd .

The seat shell ( 25th ) consists of a seat ( 26 ) and a molded backrest ( 27 ). The seat ( 26 ) is mounted on the cross bar ( 21 ) while the backrest ( 27 ) approx. at medium height with the armrests ( 17th , 18th ) is firmly connected.

According to the 2nd and 3rd is, for example, centrally or laterally offset under the seat ( 26 ) an electronic assembly ( 30th ) arranged. In the embodiment shown, the electronics module has a housing ( 31 ), on the bottom plate ( 32 ) a battery compartment ( 40 ) and an electronics compartment ( 50 ) are molded on. The bottom plate ( 32 ) is to the front edge of the seat shell ( 25th ) with a support sword ( 33 ) extended. The support sword ( 33 ) extends over the entire width of the housing ( 31 ). Using the support sword ( 33 ) the housing ( 31 ) when assembling the electronics module ( 30th ) between the underside of the seat ( 26 ) and the cross bar ( 21 ) clamped. The crossbar ( 21 ) on the front wall of the battery compartment ( 40 ) at. To ensure that the electronic assembly ( 30th ) on seating ( 11 , 12th ) is to be ensured on the support sword ( 33 ) in front of the crossbar ( 21 ) a footbridge ( 34 ) molded so that on the housing ( 31 ) a pinch groove ( 35 ) over which the cross beam ( 21 ) form-fitting and non-slip on the support sword ( 33 ) is present. The support sword ( 33 ) prevents the creation of a gap between the electronics compartment ( 50 ) and the underside of the seat ( 26 ).

Between the battery compartment ( 40 ) in which several batteries ( 41 ) or batteries, and the electronics compartment ( 50 ) is with a continuous base plate ( 32 ) a rectangular groove ( 39 ). The latter is used to adapt the electronics module ( 30th ) to a different chair type. The battery compartment ( 40 ) and the electronics compartment ( 50 ) each have a lid ( 45 , 69 ), for example opposite the base plate ( 32 ) arranged and thus freely accessible. Of course, the individual lid ( 45 , 69 ) also in the base plate ( 32 ) be let in.

In the electronics compartment ( 50 ), see. 3rd , which here together with the cantilever chairs ( 11 , 12th ) in the central longitudinal plane ( 5 ) is cut, there is at least one board ( 53 ) installed, e.g. on the base plate ( 32 ) is attached. On the board ( 53 ) is at least one computing, storage and evaluation unit ( 55 ), a medium-distance transmitting and receiving device ( 67 ), at least one interface for a sensor ( 56 , 57 ; 58 ) and arranged at least one interface for an actuator. If necessary, one or the other module is connected to the board via an additional plug-in board ( 53 ) connected.

For example, in the side walls of the electronics compartment ( 50 ) Recesses of different sizes are sometimes arranged to produce or accommodate different connections and switches. In the recesses or behind the recesses on the board ( 53 ) there are plugs or sockets for various sensor and actuator connections. There may also be several special connections. They can be used to connect, for example, acoustic signal transmitters or optical displays such as flashing LEDs or a display for status messages or for other information. Another connection is used to plug in the battery compartment ( 40 ) coming supply cable.

In an additional recess there is an on / off switch with which the power supply for the chair's electronics can be interrupted.

As a power supply ( 40 ) the electronics serve e.g. several batteries ( 41 ) in the form of standard round cells of the Micro type ( AA ) or mignon ( AAA ). The supply voltage is 1 to 3.3 V.

In the base plate ( 32 ), in the field of electronics ( 50 ), there is a e.g. on the board ( 53 ) arranged, possibly two-part capacitive proximity sensor ( 56 , 57 ). It includes an industrial sensor IC ( 57 ), which detects capacity differences in the hundredth of a femtofarad range and a sensor that is constructed from a stack of different materials with different conductivity, different geometry and individual distances to detect the approach of a person sitting on the seating. The sensor ( 56 ) connected to the industrial sensor IC ( 57 ) is connected with regard to its detection distance to the wall thickness and the material combination of the seat ( 26 ) matched so that undesired electrical or electromagnetic interference only negligibly affects the reliability of the measurement.

The proximity sensor ( 56 , 57 ) can be used as a separate assembly - possibly further away from the Electronics assembly ( 30th ) - via a connector on the board ( 53 ) be connected.

The seats ( 26 ) or seat shells ( 25th ) have different equipment variants, which result from different carrier materials or upholstery. The different seat materials also have different wall thicknesses. To adapt the proximity sensor ( 56 , 57 ) The computing, storage and evaluation unit has various types of seating furniture or equipment ( 55 ) or another chip using software that can be manipulated using a push button. To adjust the sensitivity of the proximity sensor ( 56 , 57 ) the adjuster puts his hand on the seat and cycles it on the electronics compartment ( 50 ) Manually raise the buttons until the presence of the human hand is recognized by the system.

In order to prevent unauthorized manipulation, the function of the button is set by the adjuster, for example via a connectable USB cable or the middle-distance transmission and reception device ( 67 ) of the electronics module ( 30th ) - e.g. in connection with the communication device ( 80 ) - blocked with a maintenance laptop, a smartphone with a maintenance app or the like, e.g. password-protected.

On the board ( 53 ) is an acceleration sensor ( 58 ) arranged. The acceleration sensor ( 58 ) has a microelectromechanical system in its housing. For example, the sensor is a spring-mass system in which a small silicon mass is gimbally suspended on wafer-thin silicon webs that it can swing freely in all three coordinate directions. The deflectable mass is surrounded by at least three fixed reference electrodes. If the mass of a reference electrode approaches an acceleration, a measurable change in capacitance results. Electronics installed in the sensor determine an acceleration direction and an acceleration amplitude. On the one hand, the sensor is able to move or bump the seat ( 11 , 12th ) or to recognize a falling over.

Occurs when the cantilever chair is pushed ( 11 , 12th ) an acceleration value that exceeds a predetermined target value, the electronics of the module is woken from a so-called sleeping mode in which the power consumption is minimal, so that all electronic modules are fully functional. In sleepping mode, the electronics module ( 50 ) a current of less than 5 uA.

If the cantilever falls ( 11 , 12th ), for example due to the back of a chair or incorrect loading, the sensor detects ( 58 ) on the one hand the associated acceleration as well as the final side or back position of the seating furniture ( 11 , 12th ). Among other things, incorrect loading occurs when, for example, a patient in the chair of a hospital or waiting room tilts to the side, for example due to falling asleep or fainting.

To monitor the health of patients, e.g. in hospital seating, in the seat ( 26 ) Temperature and humidity sensors arranged on the electronics of the electronics module ( 30th ) are connected via cable. The temperature sensor is, for example, a semiconductor that supplies a voltage that either increases or decreases proportionally with the temperature.

The moisture sensor consists, for example, of two electrodes, between which a polymer film is arranged as an active material. The composite of the electrodes and the polymer film sits on an insulating support. The moisture penetrating into the seat penetrates the upper electrode of the moisture sensor in order to access the active polymer film. The moisture arriving in the polymer film changes the capacitance between the electrodes. The change in capacity is proportional to the change in the relative humidity. From the change in capacity, one on the board ( 53 ) arranged chip the wetting, whereupon it generates an alarm message. The latter is via the medium-distance transmission and reception device ( 67 ) and the communication device ( 80 ) to a care computer or a care smartphone. Alternatively, the seating furniture ( 11 , 12th ), e.g. in the backrest ( 27 ), also an energy-saving piezo buzzer or an optically flashing display ( 70 ) be arranged.

All sensors not required in the respective application ( 56 , 57 ; 58 ) and sensor interfaces, like all actuators and actuator interfaces, are individually or in groups, for example, on the circuit board ( 53 ) Seated mini-dip switches or remotely controlled via the medium and long-distance communications ( 84 , 86 ) can be switched on or off in order to keep the power consumption low. In addition, all external connections of the electronics module ( 30th ) protected against electrostatic discharge (ESD) with special protective components.

The individual electronics assembly ( 30th ) and that or the communication devices ( 80 ) - for communication with each other - each have a medium-distance transmitting and receiving device ( 67 , 83 ). The latter use, for example, Bluetooth or Bluetooth low energy radio technology. The single communication device ( 80 ) is colloquially referred to as a gateway.

If the Bluetooth industry standard according to IEEE 802.15.1 is used, it is at least in the performance class 1 interference-free radio links up to approx. 100 meters possible.

In contrast, the Bluetooth Low Energy radio technology has a shorter range. Reliable networking of the electronic modules ( 30th ) with the communication devices ( 80 ) is only possible below a radio link of 50 meters. However, the medium-distance transmitting and receiving device ( 67 , 83 ) with this radio technology a significantly lower power consumption. To do this, a larger number of networked communication devices ( 80 ) are arranged around all chairs ( 11 , 12th ) to be reached wirelessly.

If necessary, the chairs communicate ( 11 , 12th ) with the communication devices ( 80 ) via the energy-saving Bluetooth Low Energy radio technology, while the communication devices ( 80 ) exchange their data with each other via the regular Bluetooth radio technology. Of course, other radio technologies can be used.

The entire bidirectional working medium-distance communication ( 84 ) is based on encrypted data transmission. This also applies to long-distance communication ( 86 ).

Long distance communication ( 86 ) extends over a distance that varies here between a few kilometers and the circumference of the earth. For long distance communication ( 86 ) with an external server ( 91 ) uses the communication device ( 80 ) a long-distance transmitting and receiving device ( 85 ). The external server ( 91 ) - a so-called cloud - is part of a server farm ( 90 ), where the system operator has rented a certain server capacity.

In most cases, long-distance communication ( 86 ) at least two transmission paths connected in series. These are, on the one hand, the LAN or WLAN connections of the system operator's internal network, where the seating is provided. On the other hand, this is followed by remote transmission, which transmits the data via a wire or fiber-optic data network from a third-party provider.

Alternatively, the communication device ( 80 ) also wirelessly via the UMTS network with the external server ( 91 ) get connected.

Reference list

5

Middle longitudinal plane

7

Corner of the room

8th

Wall with ( 80 )

11, 12

Seating, chair, cantilever

13

Frame, seating frame

14

Floor pad

15, 16

Chair legs, front

17, 18

Armrests

21

Querholm

25th

Seat shell

26

Seat, part of the frame

27

Backrest, part of the frame

30th

Electronics assembly

31

Housing, jam housing

32

Base plate

33

Support sword

34

Landing stage

35

Pinch groove

39

Rectangular groove

40

Battery compartment, battery compartment, power supply

41

Batteries

45

Battery compartment cover, cover

50

Electronics compartment

53

circuit board

55

Computing, storage and evaluation unit

56

Proximity or occupancy sensor probe

57

Industrial sensor IC of the proximity or occupancy sensor

58

Acceleration sensor

67

Medium-distance transmitting and receiving device

69

Electronics compartment cover, cover

70

Display device, display

80

Communication device

81

antenna

83

Medium-distance transmitting and receiving device

84

Medium distance communication, wireless

85

Long-distance transmitting and receiving device

86

Long distance communication

90

Server farm

91

server

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 202010009554 U1 [0002]

Claims (8)

System comprising a plurality of seating furniture (11, 12) each equipped with an electronic assembly (30) and at least one communication device (80) with at least two different transmitting and receiving devices (83, 85) - The electronics module (30) has at least one computing, storage and evaluation unit (55), at least one power supply (40) and at least one middle-distance transmitting and receiving device (67), - The electronic assembly (30) has at least one interface for at least one sensor (56, 57; 58) and at least one actuator, - wherein each seating furniture (11, 12) has at least one sensor (56, 57; 58), - The communication device (80) has at least one middle-distance transmitting and receiving device (83) for wireless communication with the individual seating furniture (11, 12) and - The communication device (80) has at least one long-distance transmitting and receiving device (85) for wireless and / or wire or fiber-optic communication with an external server (91). System according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the electronic assembly (30) is arranged either on or in the seating frame (13) or on or in the seat shell (25). System according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the individual electronic assembly (30) has a housing (31) which is arranged clamped between a part (26) of the seating frame (13) and the seat (26) of the seating furniture (11, 12). System according to Claim 1 , characterized in that it has an occupancy sensor (56, 57) and an acceleration sensor (58). System according to the Claims 1 and 4th , characterized in that the electronic assembly (30) has a sleeping mode which can be deactivated by means of the acceleration sensor (58). System according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the wireless middle-distance transmitting and receiving device (67, 83) use a Bluetooth or a Bluetooth Low Energy radio technology. System according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the long-distance transmitting and receiving device (85) of the communication device (80) can be connected to the external server (91) either via LAN or WLAN of the system network of the system operator in combination with a wire or fiber-optic data network or via UMTS. Procedure for evaluating the system Claim 1 generated data and for the control, regulation and information of active components of the electrical or electronic components integrated in the seating furniture (11, 12), characterized in that - at least one of the communication devices (80) with a server (91) of a server farm (90) in Connection is established - that the following data can be called up for the system operator: - the identification data of the seating (11, 12), the revision status of the software and hardware, - the parameter data of at least the sensors (56, 57; 58) and - the Diagnostic data for remote maintenance and maintenance planning and - that with the help of the parameter data, current occupancy plans can be called up at any time and whose data can be evaluated for statistical surveys on the server (91) or in the operator's computers.

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