AU2008333385A1

AU2008333385A1 - Furniture having a device for wirelessly transmitting electrical energy

Info

Publication number: AU2008333385A1
Application number: AU2008333385A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Thomas Behnke
Original assignee: Paul Hettich GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Paul Hettich GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2007-12-03
Filing date: 2008-11-20
Publication date: 2009-06-11
Also published as: EP2217108B1; KR20100103549A; RU2010126731A; DE202007016660U1; EP2570051A1; CN101883508A; EP2217108A1; JP2011505184A; WO2009071447A1; RU2503388C2

Description

I Furniture having a device for wirelessly transmitting electrical energy The invention relates to furniture having a furniture body and having at least one or more furniture parts movable in relation to the furniture body, in particular having one or more drawers displaceable in relation to the furniture body, and having a coupling device for wirelessly transmitting electrical energy between the furniture body and the at least one movable furniture part. Furniture of this type is known. It is the object of the invention to expand the functionality of the furniture according to the invention and to design its structure simply. The invention achieves this object through the subject matter of Claim 1. In addition, it provides the concurrent subjects of Claims 16 and 32, which may be viewed as refinements of the subject matter of Claim 1, or also as independent inventions. According to the characterizing part of Claim 1, the coupling device has at least one first electrical circuit on the furniture body, which is designed for transmitting electrical energy from the furniture body to the movable furniture part to supply a corresponding second electrical circuit oh the movable furniture part, and the second circuit is additionally designed at least for transmitting operating data or signals, which can be input at at least one operating device, to the circuit on the furniture body to control at least one electrical appliance. In its simplest form, the operating device is a trigger element such as a pushbutton switch. Cables which are carried between the furniture body and the movable furniture part can thus be dispensed with in a simple manner and nonetheless an electrical device such as an ejection device on the furniture body can be operated or activated using an operating element on the drawer, in particular on the front panel. According to Claim 18, the coupling device has modules having housings having the corresponding coupling devices, at least one of the housings or a part of the housing being situated so it is movable in a limited manner on the furniture body or on the movable furniture part. If the housings are additionally provided with corresponding means which interlock in the closed state of the furniture part, for which purpose one of the housings is provided with at least one intake formation and the other housing is provided with an extension, which is designed for 2292f6_1 (GHMatlrs) 2 the purpose of plunging completely into the intake formation in the completely retracted state of the drawer, it is ensured in a simple manner that in spite of the play of the drawer perpendicular to the sliding movement, the housings having the coupling means are oriented relative to one another in the closed state in such a manner that the energy and data transmission occurs with high functional reliability. A particularly precisely fitted design of the furniture parts which are movable relative to one another can thus be dispensed with. The term housing is not to be defined too narrowly. It comprises any element similar to a housing or also similar to a plate, which is used for carrying at least the coupling means. The housing can also receive a complete circuit or even enclose it on all sides, however. According to Claim 33, one or more of the operating devices are additionally situated on (preferably only) one of the drawers and the input of this or these operating device(s) is also used or is only used for activating the ejection devices of one or more other drawers, which preferably do not have a separate operating device. Further operating devices may thus be dispensed with, which improves the appearance of the furniture and simplifies the operation. According to Claim 33, the invention also provides a furniture configuration having multiple pieces of furniture each having a furniture body and furniture parts movable relative to the furniture body, in particular drawers, and having an operating device for the input of operating information, such one or more of the operating devices being situated only on one furniture body or on one of the furniture parts of the furniture, in particular drawers, and the input of this or these operating device(s) also or only being used for activating the ejection devices of one or more other drawers of this piece of furniture or another piece of furniture of the furniture configuration. One operating device on a furniture part is thus also used for activating appliances on other pieces of furniture, which saves further operating devices. The invention also provides an advantageous method for energy and data transmission, whose idea is illustrated with respect to the device in Claim 30. Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be inferred from the subclaims. The invention is explained in greater detail hereafter with reference to the drawing on the basis of exemplary embodiments, numerous further options for implementing the invention also being disclosed. In the figures: 2292668_1 (GHMatters) 3 Figure 1 shows a perspective view of furniture; Figure 2 shows a simplified, schematic sectional view through further furniture; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of modules having inductive coupling elements in a first usage position; Figure 4 shows a sectional view through the configuration from Figure 3; Figure 5 shows the device from Figure 3 in a second usage position; Figure 6 shows a sectional view through the configuration from Figure 5; Figure 7 shows a (partial) sectional view, perpendicular to Figure 6, through the configuration from Figures 5 and 6; Figure 8 shows a pulse diagram to illustrate the preferred mode of operation of the device from Figure 3; Figure 9 shows a block diagram of an exciter; and Figure 10 shows a block diagram of a transponder. Figure 1 shows furniture 1 having a furniture body 2 and three furniture parts movable relative to the furniture body 2 here, which are implemented as extendable and retractable drawers 3, 4, 5. At least one operating device 7 for inputting operating information is situated frontally - on the front panel 6 - on the exemplary uppermost drawer 3 here. This operating device 7 can be implemented in greatly varying ways, thus as one single or multiple pushbutton switches, toggle switches, or rotary switches or also as a touchscreen or the like. Multiple operating devices 7 may also be provided: it is thus to be viewed as an advantageous refinement, which can also be considered as an independent invention, to provide one or more of the operating devices 7 on only one of the movable furniture parts, the drawer 3 here, and to also use them to activate other or further furniture parts, drawers 4, 5 here. In any case, one of the operating devices 7 is used for the purpose of activating at least one electrical appliance situated in the furniture body 2, which can particularly - but not necessarily be at least one electrical ejection device for ejecting the movable furniture part, or also an electrical device of another type, such as another electrical drive or also an electrical light or the like. An electrical ejection device is preferably assigned to each of the drawers. 22926661 (GHMatters) 4 In order that an electrical line which is carried along does not have to be situated between the movable furniture part 3 and the furniture body 2, the furniture 1 is provided with a coupling device for wirelessly transmitting electrical energy between the furniture body and the movable furniture part, which is designed at least - for transmitting electrical energy, in particular for supplying an electrical or electronic component on the movable furniture part - in particular the operating device and an electrical circuit assigned thereto on the drawer 3 - and - for transmitting data to control the at least one electrical appliance on the furniture body. It is also conceivable that the energy and data transmission occurs via two separate devices. The coupling device for wirelessly transmitting electrical energy comprises - see the simplified illustration of Figure 2 - a first module 9 situated on the furniture body 2 and a second module 10 situated on one of the drawers 3, 4, 5, which are provided with cooperating electrical circuits 11, 12, which are preferably implemented as exciter and transponder and which preferably - but not necessarily - have a construction and the functionality as may be inferred from the diagram of Figure 8 and the block diagrams of Figures 11 and 12 and as are described in greater detail hereafter. Each of the electrical circuits 11, 12 has a coupling element, which is implemented in a preferred embodiment as an inductive coupling element 31, 36. An embodiment as a capacitive coupling element is alternatively conceivable. Preferably, two coils 13, 14 are used as the inductive coupling elements 31, 36, which are shown as examples in Figures 3 and 4, and which may be wound on correspondingly designed coil carriers. The cooperation of the modules 9, 10 results from a combined viewing of Figures 3 through 10. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, each of the modules 9, 10 preferably has a housing 20, 21, which are fastened on the furniture body and on the drawers 2, 3 (not shown here), respectively. 229266_1 (GHMatters) 5 The housing 20 is provided with an intake formation 22 and the other housing 21 is provided with an extension 23, which is designed for the purpose of plunging into the intake formation 22 in the completely retracted state of the drawer (Figure 5). The extension 23 has a ferrite core 24 or is implemented as such and preferably extends in the housing 21 up into the coil 14 of the module 10. In the pushed-together state - Figures 5 through 7 - the extension 23 having the ferrite core 24 projects into the coil 13, which is situated concentrically to the intake formation 22. In this way, an inductively acting coupling device is implemented in any case in the completely retracted state of the drawer, which is implemented at least for wirelessly transmitting supply energy from the circuit 11 on the furniture body to the circuit 12 on the drawer 3 and/or for wirelessly transmitting data in the reverse direction (see Figures 9 and 10). The housings 20, 21 can each be installed on installation means or fastening means such as holes or oblong holes 25 of the modules 9, 10 on the assigned furniture part - furniture body 2 or drawer 3. The configuration is preferred in which the module 9 is fastened on the furniture body 2 and the module 10 is fastened on the drawer 3. The reverse configuration would also be conceivable, however. One of the coils 13 is preferably situated on the first module 9 and the other of the coils 14 on the second module 10, i.e., the coils 13, 14 are movable relative to one another, because one of the coils 14 is extended and retracted together with the drawer (see also Figure 2, in which the extended position of the drawer 3 is shown). It is essential that the two coils 13 and 14 are situated on the furniture body 2 and on the drawer 3 in such a manner that, at least in the completely or almost completely retracted position of the drawer 3 in the furniture body, energy and data transmission are possible between the modules 9, 10 or the circuits 11, 12 of the coupling device. 2292688 (GHMaters) 6 In contrast, in the extended state of the drawer 3, energy and data transmission can also be dispensed with according to the teaching of the invention if the at least one operating device 7 is used for activating a furniture ejection device, which is solely designed for the purpose of ejecting the drawer somewhat out of its retracted position, but is not also used for closing the drawer, because this is still performed manually by pushing it in. As may be seen from Figure 2, one of the modules 9 can be situated on the inner side of the furniture body rear wall 15 and the other of the modules 10 can be situated on an installation traverse 16 of the drawers 3, for example. The module 9 situated on the furniture body is preferably connected via a multiconductor cable 17 to the ejection device 18 or another electrical device and preferably (not shown here) to a power supply unit, which is used for the power supply of the ejection device and the circuit 11. The module 10 situated on or in the drawer 3 is preferably connected via a multi-conductor cable 19 to the at least one or the multiple operating device(s) 7. It is particularly advantageous if at least one of the modules is situated so it is movable on its assigned furniture part. For this purpose, according to Figure 3 the module 9 on the furniture body 2 is movable relative thereto in a limited manner. This is achieved in a simple manner in that a central housing area 20a for receiving the circuit 11 of the module 9 is connected so it is movable to housing areas 20b, c, which have the installation means - the recesses 25 here - for installing a module on the furniture body using screws or the like. This mobility can be implemented in that the housing area 20a is connected via one or more spring webs 26 to installation plates 27, which are used as the areas 20b, c, which have the installation means 25. The mobility can also be implemented by elastic material per se. The housing area 20a is preferably situated centrally between the installation plates 27 and is connected on both sides via one or more - three here - wavy curved spring webs 26, which are spaced apart from one another, to the installation plates 27, the movable spring webs 26 being able to be stretched and compressed, which implements the mobility. 2292660_1 (GHMatters) 7 It appears expedient and cost-effective to produce the housing 20 having the spring webs 26 and the installation plates 27 in one piece, in particular from plastic. The above-described configuration achieves the effect in a simple and nonetheless particularly advantageous way that a certain play is provided between the furniture parts of furniture body 2 and drawer 3, which are movable relative to one another, also transversely to the displacement direction, since the housing area 20a having the coil 13 is movable somewhat relative to the furniture body 2 through the spring webs 26, the extension 23 of the drawer 3 is thus reliably guided into the intake formation 22 when the furniture parts of furniture body 2 and drawer 3 which are movable relative to one another are pushed together, which ensures very good functional reliability of the configuration and allows the coupling device to also be used on furniture parts which are less precisely fitted or are guided with more play relative to one another. It is conceivable to increase the functional reliability once again through a slightly conical design of the extension 23 and/or the intake formation 22. In addition, the intake formation 22 can also have a somewhat larger diameter than the extension 23 having the ferrite core, which does not impaired the functionality of the circuits 11, 12. Finally, it is even conceivable that the energy and data transmission is also still ensured if the ferrite core 13 does not plunge into the intake formation 13 [sic; 22] but is situated very close thereto, i.e., if the drawer 3 was unintentionally not closed entirely. Alternatively, the coils 13, 14 could also be oriented relative to one another in a different way in the retracted state. According to Figure 9, the circuit 11 on the furniture body 2, which is implemented as an exciter, preferably has a power supply device 28, an oscillator 29 downstream therefrom, a device for pulse shaping 30 downstream from the oscillator 29, and the inductive coupling element 31 downstream from the device 30, which is formed in Figure 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 for the purpose of supplying the circuit 12 on the drawer, which is preferably implemented as a transponder, with 229208_1 (GHMatters) 8 electrical energy. It would theoretically also be conceivable to also transmit data to the transponder in addition to the energy, but this is not absolutely necessary. Signals which are coupled into the inductive coupling element 31 and/or wirelessly transmitted by the transponder and received via the coupling element 31 are conducted from the coupling element 31 to a signal sampling device 32, from which a demodulator 33 and a device for signal analysis 34 are downstream, which can be designed for the purpose of activating a consumer such as the above-mentioned ejection device as a function of these signals. A control device, in particular a microcontroller 35, can be provided with one or more of the components of the circuit. It is connected here to the oscillator 29, the device 30 for pulse shaping, the signal sampling device 32, the demodulator 33, and the device for signal analysis 34. According to Figure 10, the circuit 12 on the furniture body 2, which is implemented as the transponder, has an inductive coupling element 36, which is formed in Figure 3 by the coil 14. A power supply device 37 and a pulse separation stage 38 are downstream from the inductive coupling element 36 in a parallel circuit here, in order to be able to separate both the energy transmitted to the transponder and also the transmitted signals from one another and/or be able to use them. The pulse separation stage 38 is connected to a control device 39, which is in turn preferably implemented as a microcontroller. The operating device, to which an input/output logic 40 is assigned, is connected at an input of the control device 39. As a function of the input at the operating device 7, signals are output by a modulator 41, which is downstream from the power supply device 37 and is connected to the control device 39, to an oscillator 42 downstream therefrom, whose signals are in turn transmitted to the inductive coupling element 36, in order to transmit control signals to the exciter on the furniture body. It is thus possible in a simple manner to dispense with a cable which is carried along between the drawer 3 and the furniture body 2, because both the energy transmission and also the data transmission occur wirelessly between the furniture body 2 and the drawer 3. A similar M2266_1 (GHMatters) 9 configuration would be able to be implemented between a furniture body 2 and another movable furniture part 3, such as a revolving door. It is particularly advantageous - but not required - if, as shown in Figure 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, occur in a manner offset in time in blocks E, S, E, because this makes the energy transmission and the signal analysis particularly simple and reliable. It is possible through the invention to provide an operating device on only one of the drawers 3 and nonetheless also activate other drawers 4, 5 in the furniture body. This can be used, for example, in such a manner that the operating device 7 is situated on a drawer 3 which is well accessible to the user and is also used for the purpose of entirely or partially opening a drawer which is somewhat less easily accessible - situated lower or higher, for example - such as the drawer 5. It is also conceivable that the operating device 7 of the drawer 3 is only used for the purpose of activating the ejection device 18 of another drawer at all. Furthermore, it is conceivable that movable furniture parts of another piece of furniture are activated by means of the operating device of one piece of furniture. This is similar to networking of the pieces of furniture with one another like a fieldbus. The circuits 11, 12 are preferably completely integrated in the modules 9, 10 or the housings 20, 21, on which contacts 43 or plug devices for connecting electrical conductors may be implemented, as indicated in Figure 4. However, this is not absolutely necessary for the function of the circuits. A cleaning effect between surfaces pressing against one another is also optionally achieved by friction in the area of the elements 22, 23 upon closing and opening. 22926661 (GHMatters) 10 List of reference numerals furniture 1 furniture body 2 drawer 3, 4, 5 front panel 6 input device 7 coupling device 8 first module 9 second module 10 circuits 11, 12 coils 13, 14 furniture body rear wall 15 installation traverse 16 multiconductor cable 17 ejection device 18 multiconductor cable 19 housing 20, 21 intake formation 22 extension 23 pin 24 fastening means 25 spring webs 26 installation plates 27 power supply device 28 oscillator 29 device for pulse shaping 30 coupling element 31 signal sampling device 32 demodulator 33 device for signal analysis 34 microcontroller 35 coupling element 36 power supply device 37 229268_1 (GHMatters) 11 pulse separation stage 38 control device 39 input/output logic 40 modulator 41 oscillator 42 data transmission S energy transmission E 2292051 (GHMatters)

Claims

1. Furniture (1) having a furniture body (2) and having at least one or more furniture parts movable in relation to the furniture body (2), in particular having one or more drawers (3) displaceable relative to the furniture body, and having a coupling device for wirelessly transmitting electrical energy between the furniture body (2) and the at least one movable furniture part (3), characterized in that the coupling device at least has the following: a) a first electrical circuit (11) on the furniture body, b) a second electrical circuit (12) on the movable furniture body (3), c) the first electrical circuit (11) being designed at least for transmitting electrical energy from the furniture body to the movable furniture part (3) to supply the corresponding second electrical circuit (11) on the movable furniture part, and d) the second circuit (12) being designed at least for transmitting operating data or signals which can be input on at least one operating device (7) to the circuit (11) on the furniture body (2) to control at least one electrical appliance.

2. The furniture according to Claim 1, characterized in that the at least one electrical appliance to be activated is an ejection device (18) for ejecting one of the drawers (3).

3. The furniture according to Claim 2, characterized in that one of the ejection devices (18) is assigned to each of the drawers.

4. The furniture (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more of the operating devices (7) are situated on only one of the drawers (3), and the inputs at these operating devices are also or are only used for activating the ejection devices (18) of one or more other drawers (3), which do not have a separate operating device.

5. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling device is designed to act inductively. 229266_1 (GHMatters) 13

6. Furniture, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inductively acting coupling device is designed for data and energy transmission only in the retracted state of the drawer (3).

7. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling device for wirelessly transmitting electrical energy has the following: a first module (9) situated on the furniture body (2) and a second module (10) situated on one of the drawers (3, 4, 5), which are each provided with the cooperating electrical circuits (11, 12) having coupling elements (31, 36).

8. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical circuits (11, 12) are implemented as exciter and transponder.

9. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the exciter is situated on the furniture body (2) and the transponder is situated on the drawer (3).

10. The 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 designed for the purpose of transmitting data and/or energy only in the almost entirely or entirely retracted state of the drawer (3).

11. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the electrical circuits (11, 12) has an inductive coupling element (31, 36).

12. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the electrical circuits (11, 12) has one coil (13, 14) as the inductive coupling element (31, 36).

13. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module (9) situated on the furniture body is connected via a multiconductor cable (17) to the ejection device (18) having a power supply unit. 229268_1 (GHMatter) 14

14. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module (10) situated on or in the drawer (3) is connected via a multiconductor cable (19) to the at least one or the multiple operating device(s) (7).

15. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the modules (9, 10) has a housing (20, 21), which is situated on the furniture body (2) or on the drawer (3).

16. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims or according to the preamble of Claim 1, characterized in that the coupling device has the modules (9, 10) having the housings (20, 21) having the coupling devices, and at least one of the housings (20 or 21) or a part of the housing (20 or 21) is situated so it is movable in a limited manner on the furniture body or on the movable furniture part, in particular on the at least one drawer.

17. The furniture according to Claim 16, characterized in that one of the housings (20) is provided with at least one intake formation (22), and the other housing (21) is provided with an extension (23), which is designed for the purpose of plunging into the intake formation (22) in the completely retracted state of the drawer.

18. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extension (23) has a ferrite core or is implemented as such.

19. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housings (20, 21) can each be installed on installation means or fastening means such as holes or oblong holes (25) of the modules (9, 10) on the assigned furniture part furniture body (2) or drawer (3).

20. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a central housing area (20a) for receiving the circuit (11) is connected so it is movable to housing areas (20b, c), which have the installation means (25) for installing the module on the furniture body. 22926"_81 (GHM.tters) 15

21. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobility is implemented in that the housing area (20a) is connected via one or more spring webs (26) to installation plates (27), which have the installation devices.

22. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing area (20a) is connected via one or more wavy curved spring webs (26), which are spaced apart from one another, to the installation plates (27).

23. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (20) is implemented in one piece with the spring webs (26) and the installation plates (27).

24. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extension (23) and/or the intake formation (22) are formed conically.

25. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit (11) on the furniture body (2), which is implemented as an exciter, preferably has a power supply device (28), an oscillator (29) downstream therefrom, a device for pulse shaping (30) downstream from the oscillator (29), and the inductive coupling element (31) downstream from the device (30), in order to transmit energy from the inductive coupling element (31) to the corresponding coupling element (36) on the drawer (3).

26. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit (11) also has, in order to process signals coupled into the inductive coupling element (31) and/or wirelessly transmitted by the transponder and received via the coupling element (31): a signal sampling device (32), from which a demodulator (33) and a device for signal analysis (34) are downstream, which can be designed for the purpose of activating consumers such as the ejection device (18) as a function of these signals.

27. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control device, in particular a microcontroller (35), is connected to one or more of the components of the exciter circuit (11). 2292661 (GHMatters) 16

28. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the microcontroller (35) is connected to the oscillator (29), the device (30) for pulse shaping, the signal sampling device (32), the demodulator (33), and the device for signal analysis (34).

29. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuit (12) has the inductive coupling element (36), from which a power supply device (37) and a pulse separation stage (38) are downstream in parallel, and the pulse separation stage (38) is connected to a control device (39), and the operating device (7) is connected to an input of the control device (39), to which an input/output logic (40) is assigned, and the circuit for signal output also has a modulator (41) connected to the control device (39) and an oscillator (42) downstream therefrom, which is connected to the inductive coupling element (36).

30. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circuits (10) and (11) are sequence controlled in such a manner that 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, occur in blocks (E, S, E), in a manner offset in time.

31. The furniture according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling device is designed as a capacitively acting coupling device.

32. Furniture (1) having a furniture body (2) and a furniture part movable in relation to the furniture body (2), in particular a drawer (3), and having an operating device (7) for the input of operating information, or furniture according to Claim 1, characterized in that one or more of the operating devices (7) are situated on one of the furniture parts, in particular drawers (3), and the input of this or these operating device(s) (7) is also used or is only used for activating the ejection devices (18) of one or more other movable furniture parts, in particular drawers (3).

33. A furniture configuration having multiple pieces of furniture (1), each having a furniture body (2) and multiple furniture parts movable in relation to the furniture body (2), in particular drawers (3), and having an operating device (7) for the input of operating 2292668_1 (GHMatters) 17 information, characterized in that one or more of the operating devices (7) are situated on one of the furniture parts of a piece of furniture, in particular drawers (3), and the input of this or these operating device(s) (7) is also used or is only used for activating the ejection devices (18) of one or more other furniture parts, in particular drawers (3) of this piece of furniture or another piece of furniture of the furniture configuration. 22926601 (GHMottrs) 18 Figure 10 Input / Output - Logik = input/output logic 229265_1 (GHMaters)