DE202007011340U1 - Operating unit of an electromotive drive for furniture - Google Patents

Abstract

Operating unit (1) of an electromotive drive (2) for a piece of furniture (3), which has the following:
- At least one actuating element (4) for generating a signal for actuating a function of the electric motor drive (2);
- A network-connected power supply device (5) for supplying the operating unit (1) with electrical energy; and
A transmission device (6) for the wireless transmission of the signals of the at least one actuating element (4),
wherein the operating unit (1) is a component of the piece of furniture (3), or a component of the piece of furniture (3) has the operating unit (1).

Description

The The invention relates to an operating unit of an electromotive Drive for a furniture and a corresponding electric motor drive.

operating units for electric motor drives for furniture are in different versions known, such as in embodiment as a hand switch for beds and TV armchair. The furniture have certain furniture parts on, which by one or more electric motor drives are adjustable. The adjustment is made by operating the operating unit activated and deactivated.

These Operating units can both wired and wireless for transmission of control signals generated by the operation of the operating unit can be generated, with a control unit of the associated electromotive Drive stand. As operating units with wireless transmission are, for example, radio transmitters in different frequency ranges, infrared transmitters and also ultrasound transmitters in use.

at Beds, for example, with a use in the care sector, hospital and intensive care area, are far more moving with To control different drives than a bed in the private sector. Furthermore, not all adjustment operations of the entire bed adjustment for the inside patients. This is the electromotive Drive of such a bed as a control unit, a so-called Patient handset, associated with only one patient certain small number of actuation functions allowed. Such a patient hand switch is to be reached in the vicinity of the patient on or in the furniture arranged. Another actuator, the only for the nursing staff can be reached or actuated by this, is outside arranged the range of the patient.

These Operating units in the form of patient hand switches are on the Furniture in addition to install and require a particularly careful installation of their wiring with the electric motor drive, which requires special protective measures, for example against crushing and transection through adjustable Furniture parts, required and causes corresponding costs.

It There is therefore a need for an improvement of such operating units.

It Therefore, the object of the present invention is an operating unit to provide which overcomes the disadvantages listed above and additional Benefits.

A Another object of the present invention is to a to create corresponding electric motor drive.

The Task is performed by an operating unit with the characteristics of Claim 1, and an electric motor drive with the features of claim 13 solved.

Of the The basic idea of the invention is that the operating unit a component of the furniture is or is arranged in a component of the furniture, and over a wireless transmission link is in communication with the electric motor drive.

Consequently is an installation effort of connecting cables and their mechanical precautions advantageously avoided, at the same time increasing the Safety is achieved.

An operating unit according to the invention of an electromotive drive for a furniture has the following:
at least one actuator for generating a signal for actuating a function of the electric motor drive;
a mains-powered power supply for supplying the operating unit with electrical energy; and
a transmission device for the wireless transmission of the signals of the at least one actuating element,
wherein the operating unit is a part of the furniture, or a part of the furniture has the operating unit.

By an integration of the operating unit in the furniture or a furniture component without a wiring is a great freedom of design, for Example with regard to adjustability or mobility, for the furniture component achieved, with the necessary measures to protect the wiring can be omitted.

An electromotive drive for a piece of furniture according to the invention has the following:
at least one motor for driving the furniture; at least one operating unit for actuating the drive; a receiving device for receiving signals of the at least one operating unit; and a control unit for controlling the drive based on the received signals, wherein the operation unit is the one described above. Due to the lack of wiring between control unit and control unit of the electric motor drive results in a cost advantage in terms of cables and their attachment, shielding and protection devices, such as strain relief, Biegeschutzelementen, Einführun conditions, edge protection and the like.

advantageous Further developments of the invention are the dependent claims remove.

In a preferred embodiment is provided that the transmission device for one radio transmission is trained. The radio transmission can be done in such a frequency range, the safe transmission and Einstrahlfestigkeit. They are different types from radio transmission the data possible, being in the case of several furniture in a room during data transmission suitable channel separation method can be used.

The Specifications for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) can be advantageous be easily complied with, since the transmission line only the Area of the furniture concerns and is therefore very small.

The short transmission distance also points the advantage that only low transmission power required for this purpose which are a non-powered source of energy for generating electrical energy Energy, such as battery or accumulator, are removed can. Such components are commercially available in high quality economical available, whereby they have a long life.

It It is also conceivable, for example, for accumulators not to be connected by wire, but wirelessly over to load an induction loop.

There the required transmission powers are low, it is in one alternative preferred embodiment provided that the at least one energy source for use optical, mechanical and / or thermal energy for generation electrical energy is formed. For example, solar cells and / or photodiodes for using optical energy, namely light energy be that either directly ensure a power supply or load an accumulator. You can also use another energy storage, such as a high capacitance capacitor (gold cap or Like.) Load.

in the Trap of solar cells can these "inboard" in a furniture component be arranged, wherein a partition to the outside is translucent. This further gives an advantage in the design, since the solar cells in this way visually unobtrusive can be arranged.

A Another alternative is to use an energy source to use mechanical energy, wherein at least one dynamo unit can be used for generating electrical energy. To For example, at least one actuator with a dynamo component, currently in small size with high electrical power available is coupled, wherein by actuation an electric power is generated for transmission an actuating signal or can be used to charge an energy store. In relation to a so-called first-fault safety, which is required in certain applications In this case, energy is only activated when the dynamo component is actuated to disposal posed.

In In yet another alternative embodiment, the at least one Energy source for using thermal energy at least one Peltier element to generate electrical energy. The ambient heat of the Operation unit be exploited (Seebeck effect).

Of course, combinations of Energy sources possible be.

In a preferred embodiment is the component of the furniture a side rail of a bed. Through the wireless transmission link omitted cables in the side rails, wherein the lifting and / or Pivoting movements are no longer hindered by cabling. As one by lifting and / or pivoting movements of the side rail impaired and did not stress cabling with corresponding wear more is present, increased the security.

In another embodiment is the transmission device for unidirectional and / or bidirectional wireless transmission trained by signals. As a result, it is advantageously possible for the Example signals for a display unit can be transmitted to the operating unit. There are also interrogation signals a control unit of the electric motor drive in terms Safety parameters, for example, the actuators, easily possible.

The Receiving device may be arranged in the control unit. In alternative embodiment is it also possible that they are in another actuator the electromotive drive is arranged. In the latter Case, there is a particular advantage in that the other actuator easily replaceable, whereby the receiving device against other designs easily replaceable or upgradable.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the receiving device is assigned a transmitting device for transmitting signals to the operating unit. For example, a transmitter or transmitter / receiver can be used the. It is advantageously possible to send additional test signals to the control unit. A control of a display unit in the operating unit is possible, for example, a warning or a hint can be transmitted.

A another embodiment sees another control unit with several actuators and a selector. The selection device has at least a switch, which mechanically, magnetically or electrically actuated can be and wherein after its operation selected actuators be locked mechanically or electrically such that the respectively via the transmission path driven engine at least for a user or a patient is not operable.

As already described the component of a piece of furniture Be side rails. According to one first further embodiment can be the component of the furniture formed as a movable part or as a detachable part be. Such parts can as side rails, head and foot components or as adjustable support parts as in height or be formed in the inclination adjustable slatted parts. According to one second further embodiment can be the component of the furniture as a fixed part, for example in the form of a slatted frame or a Basic frame of the furniture be educated.

The The invention will now be described with reference to exemplary embodiments on the attached Figures closer explained. Hereby shows:

1 a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of an electric motor drive according to the invention with an operating unit according to the invention;

2 a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of the operating unit according to the invention;

3 a schematically illustrated embodiment of a piece of furniture with a furniture component and a second embodiment of the operating unit according to the invention;

4 an enlarged view of the furniture component 3 ; and

5 a schematic representation of the second embodiment of the operating unit according to the invention.

Same or similar Functional units are denoted by the same reference numerals in the figures Mistake.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of an electric motor drive according to the invention 2 with a motor 10 and with an operating unit according to the invention 1 ,

The operating unit 1 is at a furniture 3 attached to one side in this example. It has two actuators here 4 on, which respectively when actuated to generate a signal for the drive 2 are formed. For example, the furniture is a hospital bed (see 3 ) with one by engines 10 of the drive 2 adjustable furniture parts, one of which is in the furniture 3 Person only one headboard of the bed by means of the control unit 1 can operate. Thus, this actuates an actuator 4 an adjustment of this headboard up and the other actuator 4 an adjustment of the headboard down.

The of the actuators 4 generated signals are from a transmission unit 6 the operating unit 1 over a wireless transmission link 15 to a receiving unit 13 a control unit 11 of the electromotive drive 2 transfer. The control unit 11 controls the engine 10 of the drive 2 according to the duration and nature of the transmitted signal to adjust the headboard up or down.

For this purpose, the control unit 11 a receiving device 13 on which the wirelessly transmitted signal of the transmission unit 6 the operating unit 1 receives accordingly. In the example given here is the wireless transmission link 15 a wireless radio transmission path having a suitable frequency, for example in the megahertz range, whereby a suitable channel separation can also be used.

In the example of 1 is another actuator 12 shown, which with the electric motor drive 2 connected via a wired transmission link. This may, for example, be a manual switch which can only be operated by the nursing staff or, according to another embodiment, it is an additional hand switch. This actuator 12 also has a receiving device in this example 13 ' on, which instead of the receiving device 13 in the control unit 11 or may be provided in addition to this. If it is additionally provided, it can serve as a redundant transmission protection, for example.

The operating unit 1 For generating the actuation signals, electrical energy is required, which is obtained from at least one source, different sources or a combination of the same or different sources. In addition shows 2 in a block diagram of the operating unit 1 a first embodiment.

The operating unit 1 points in this example next to the two actuators 4 a power supply device 5 with an energy source 7 and an energy store 8th on. The energy source 7 Here is a solar cell or a component which emits electrical energy when exposed to light, for example, a photodiode. Since the electrical energy thus generated is not always needed, it is in the energy storage 8th saved. This may be, for example, an accumulator or a high-capacity capacitor. Upon actuation of an actuating element 4 a signal is generated which is transmitted by the transmission device 6 as a radio signal on the transmission path 15 is given.

The energy source 7 can be from a solar cell or from several or different energy sources 7 consist. For example, it may be a thermoelectric Peltier element and utilize the ambient heat. Furthermore, it is possible that it is a dynamo component, which by actuation of an actuating element 4 is used each time for mechano-electrical power generation and energy storage 8th charging. Although this is not first fault-proof, but a fault exclusion can be done in terms of Erstfehlersicherheit in that only electric energy is available when an actuator 4 is pressed.

3 shows a schematically illustrated embodiment of a piece of furniture 3 with a furniture component 14 and a second embodiment of the operating unit according to the invention 1 ,

The furniture 3 is a hospital bed with a side rail as a furniture component 14 in which the operating unit 1 is arranged. In addition shows 4 an enlarged view, wherein the operating unit 1 is provided in a lower portion of the side rail.

Finally, the operating unit 1 in 5 shown in a further enlarged view. The operating unit 1 is in this embodiment with a display unit 9 and four actuators 4 Mistake. The display unit 9 is used to display, for example, alerts. The actuators 4 are each pair of an adjustment function of an electric motor drive, not shown here 2 assigned as described above.

According to another embodiment of the 5 has the operating unit 1 an energy source 7 in the form of at least one solar cell. According to another embodiment of the 5 can be the source of energy 7 and the display unit 9 be designed as a structural unit.

Because the control unit 1 in wireless version as part of the furniture 3 no cabling with the electric motor drive 2 have, are the construction and the design of the furniture component 14 , namely the side rail, free of protective measures and restrictions by wiring the control unit 1 , The side rail can thus be designed to be pivotable and / or adjustable in height without being impaired by cabling or installation.

The Invention is not explained on the embodiment limited, but under the attached claims modifiable.

It is conceivable that an electric motor drive 2 more than a control unit according to the invention 1 has, for example, one at each side rails in 3 , In this case, a channel separation or a signal monitoring is provided, which prevents the same or unequal signals overlap and unforeseen adjustments of the furniture 3 being able to lead.

It are also other components usable, which light in electrical Convert energy. Furthermore are also light-bundling optical elements, such as lenses, possible.

As energy storage 8th can also be several elements, even in combination of different types, can be provided.

1

operating unit

2

drive

3

Furniture

4

actuator

5

Power supply means

6

transmission equipment

7

energy

8th

energy storage

9

display unit

10

engine

11

control unit

12

actuator

13 13 '

receiver

14

Furniture component

15 16

Wireless transmission line

17

Wired transmission link

Claims (16)

Operating unit ( 1 ) of an electromotive drive ( 2 ) for a piece of furniture ( 3 ), comprising: - at least one actuating element ( 4 ) for generating a signal for actuating a function of the electromotive drive ( 2 ); A mains-powered power supply device ( 5 ) for the supply of the operating unit ( 1 ) with electrical energy; and a transmission device ( 6 ) for the wireless transmission of the signals of the at least one actuating element ( 4 ), whereby the operating unit ( 1 ) a component of the furniture ( 3 ), or a component of the furniture ( 3 ) the operating unit ( 1 ) having. Operating unit ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission device ( 6 ) is designed for a radio transmission. Operating unit ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the power supply device ( 5 ) at least one energy source ( 7 ) for generating, providing or supplying electrical energy. Operating unit ( 1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one energy source ( 7 ) is designed for the use of optical, mechanical and / or thermal energy for generating electrical energy. Operating unit ( 1 ) according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one energy source ( 7 ) for use of optical energy solar cells and / or photodiodes for generating electrical energy. Operating unit ( 1 ) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the at least one energy source ( 7 ) has at least one dynamo unit for generating electrical energy for the use of mechanical energy. Operating unit ( 1 ) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the at least one energy source ( 7 ) for use of thermal energy has at least one Peltier element for generating electrical energy. Operating unit ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the power supply device ( 5 ) at least one energy store ( 8th ) for storing electrical energy. Operating unit ( 1 ) according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one energy store ( 8th ) is a high-capacitance capacitor and / or an accumulator. Operating unit ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component of the furniture ( 3 ) is designed as a movable and / or as a removable and / or as a fixed part and wherein the part is formed for example as a side rail, headboard, footboard, slatted frame, support member or as a base frame. Operating unit ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission device ( 6 ) is designed for unidirectional and / or bidirectional wireless transmission of signals. Operating unit ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims with a display unit ( 9 ). Electromotive drive ( 2 ) for a piece of furniture ( 3 ), with at least one engine ( 10 ) to drive the furniture ( 3 ); at least one operating unit ( 1 ) for actuating the drive ( 2 ); a receiving device ( 13 . 13 ' ) for receiving signals of the at least one operating unit ( 1 ); and a control unit ( 11 ) for controlling the drive ( 2 ) based on the received signals, wherein the operating unit ( 1 ) is designed according to one of the preceding claims. Electromotive drive ( 2 ) according to claim 13, characterized in that the control unit ( 11 ) the receiving device ( 13 ) having. Electromotive drive ( 2 ) according to claim 13 with an actuating device ( 12 ), characterized in that the actuating device ( 12 ) or / and the control unit ( 11 ) the receiving device ( 13 . 13 ' ) having. Electromotive drive ( 2 ) according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the receiving device ( 13 . 13 ' ) a transmitting device for transmitting signals to the operating unit ( 1 ) assigned.