WO2007144145A2

WO2007144145A2 - Circuit arrangement and method for controlling a drive for an adjustable table top

Info

Publication number: WO2007144145A2
Application number: PCT/EP2007/005179
Authority: WO
Inventors: Walter Koch
Original assignee: Logicdata Electronic & Software Entwicklungs Gmbh
Priority date: 2006-06-12
Filing date: 2007-06-12
Publication date: 2007-12-21
Also published as: WO2007144145A8; DE102006027437A1; CA2654702A1; WO2007144145A3; AU2007260231A1

Abstract

A circuit arrangement for controlling a drive for an adjustable table top (3) comprises a control device (1) and an evaluation device (2). The control device (1) has at least one operating element (11, 12) which can be used to change a state of the control device (1). The evaluation device (2) has a sensor device (21) for wirelessly detecting the state of the control device (1) and a control connection (20) at which a control signal can be emitted to a drive controller (100) on the basis of the state detected.

Description

description

Circuit arrangement and method for controlling a drive for an adjustable table top

The invention relates to a circuit arrangement and a method for controlling a drive for an adjustable table top.

At the present time many tables, in particular

Desks with tabletops offered in which the height of the tabletop is adjustable via a special drive. For the operation of the height adjustment various controls are provided. The controls are connected via a cable connection with a drive control for the ^■ table drive.

For example, the controls can be mounted below the table top on the front edge of the table or glued around the front edge of the table. This is to ensure accessibility by an operator and at the same time a cable guide below the table top are made possible because the drive control is usually located below the table top. This operating position is usually perceived as impractical by a user and can not be flexibly changed because of the cable connection to the drive control.

Often controls are placed on the table or the table top or installed in a hole or a recess in the table top. However, this requires a mechanical processing of the table top, In particular, to achieve a meaningful cable management from above to below the table top.

The object of the invention is to provide a circuit arrangement and a method with which a drive an adjustable table top little effort and can be controlled without editing the table top.

These objects are achieved with the subject matters of the independent claims. Embodiments and developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

In one embodiment of a circuit arrangement for controlling a drive for an adjustable table top, this comprises an operating device and an evaluation device.

The operating device has at least one actuating element, via which a state of the operating device can be changed. The evaluation device has a sensor device for wireless detection of the state of the operating device. Furthermore, a control connection is provided in the evaluation device, on which a control signal can be delivered to a drive control system as a function of the detected state.

For example, a magnetic field acting on the evaluation device can be changed by the at least one actuating element, and the sensor device has at least one magnetic sensor for detecting the magnetic field.

This makes it possible that the operating device and the evaluation device can be mounted independently of each other on the table top. An operation of the table drive is possible without any editing of the table top would be mandatory. By wirelessly recording the access Stands of the operating device, for example, the operating device can be mounted above the table top, while the evaluation device, which may have a cable connection to the drive control, can be mounted below the table top.

In one embodiment of a method for controlling a drive for an adjustable tabletop, a state of an operating device is influenced by actuating at least one actuating element of the operating device, wherein a magnetic field acting on the evaluating device is also changed by the actuation. The state of the operating device is detected wirelessly in an evaluation device, whereby the magnetic field is detected during detection. From the detected state, a control signal can be derived. This control signal is finally delivered to a drive control.

With the method, it is advantageously achieved that actuation of an actuating element can take place above a tabletop, while an evaluation of the thereby changed state of the operating device can take place by the wireless detection below the tabletop.

The underlying principle thus allows a circuit arrangement, in particular the operating device can be arranged flexibly in the area of the table top, for example, at a favorable position in the working area of the table top.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to several embodiments with reference to FIGS. Functional relationship approximately equivalent components carry the same reference numerals.

Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a proposed circuit arrangement,

FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a circuit arrangement,

FIG. 3 shows a first exemplary embodiment of an operating device,

FIG. 4 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a circuit arrangement,

FIG. 5 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a circuit arrangement,

Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of an operating device and

FIG. 7 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a circuit arrangement.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a circuit arrangement for controlling a drive. In this case, an operating device 1 is provided with an actuating element 11, which is arranged above a table top 3. Below the

Table top 3 below the operating device 1, an evaluation device 2 is positioned, which includes a sensor device 21 and a sensor coupler 29 connected thereto. At the sensor coupler 29 is connected via a control terminal 20 of the evaluation device 2, a drive control 100. The operating device 1 and the evaluation device 2 are spaced from each other by the table top 3 and arranged substantially parallel to each other.

By actuating the actuating element 11, a state of the operating device 1 is influenced or changed. The operating device 1 can assume several different states. For example, the operating device 1 is displaced from a first to a second state by actuating the actuating element 11.

The operating device 1 and the evaluation device 2 can be coupled to each other via various options.

For example, the coupling takes place via a magnetic field, in particular a static magnetic field. A coupling can also take place via an electromagnetic alternating field. A change in the state of the operating device 1 can thus be achieved, for example, by changing the properties of the static magnetic field. By changing the inductive and / or capacitive properties of the operating device 1, an electromagnetic field can be changed.

These state changes can be detected or detected by the sensor device 21 and can be converted by the sensor coupler 29 into corresponding control signals for the drive control 100. The detection of the state of the operating device 1 takes place wirelessly through the table top 3, ie without a cable connection between the operating device 1 and the evaluation device 2. Figure 2 shows another embodiment of a circuit arrangement for controlling a drive. In this case, the evaluation device 2 comprises at least one magnetic sensor 22 in the sensor device 21. This is used to detect a magnetic field which acts on the evaluation device 2. The magnetic sensor 22 may for example be formed by a Hall sensor or comprise a Hall sensor. A Hall sensor supplies a voltage as a function of a magnetic field occurring at the Hall sensor. As the magnetic field changes, so does the voltage on the HaIl sensor. From this voltage change resulting from the change in the state of the operating device 1, a control signal for a drive control 100 can be derived.

The magnetic sensor may also have other magnetically influenceable elements, such. As field plates or magnetic diodes.

The operating device 1 comprises in this embodiment, a magnet Ml, which is designed for example as a permanent magnet. The magnetic field of the magnet Ml can be detected wirelessly by the magnetic sensor 22. By way of the actuating element 11, the operating device 1 can be displaced mechanically, for example, on the table top 3, resulting in a change of the magnetic field acting on the evaluation device 2. For example, a movement can take place along a line of movement or by a rotary movement of the operating device 1 on the table top 3.

The magnetic sensor 22 may also be designed to detect a magnetic field acting on the evaluation device 2 at a plurality of locations of the evaluation device 2, for example to detect a plurality of different magnetic states of the evaluation device 2. to be able to record From a plurality of different states, it is thus also possible to derive a plurality of different control signals, which are output to the drive control 100.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of an operating device 1, in which a magnetic state of the operating device 1 is variable. In this embodiment, a switch Sl can be closed by operating the actuating element 11. The switch Sl is arranged in a circuit with a voltage source Vl and a coil Ll. The voltage source Vl represents an electrical supply source.

By closing the switch Sl results in a current flow through the coil Ll. When the voltage source Vl is a DC voltage source, the current flow through the coil Ll generates a magnetic field for a certain time, the time depending on an inductance and an ohmic resistance of the coil Ll. The state change of the operating device 1 can be detected by the change in the magnetic field or the generation of the magnetic field by a magnetic sensor 22, not shown here.

When the voltage source Vl is designed as an alternating voltage source, the magnetic field Ll is permanently discharged when the switch S1 is closed. This magnetic field can also be detected by a magnetic sensor 22.

The operating device 1 can also comprise a plurality of magnets or coils for magnetic field generation, which can generate and / or influence a magnetic field acting on the evaluation device 2 by actuating a plurality of actuating elements. FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a circuit arrangement for controlling a drive. The sensor device 21 in this exemplary embodiment has a resonant circuit 40, which comprises a supply source 4, a capacitor C4 and a coil L4, which acts as an antenna. The operating device 1 has a first and a second actuating element 11, 12 and two oscillating circuits 42, 43 which are formed by a capacitive element C2 and a coil L2 or a capacitive element C3 and a coil L3. By the switches S2, S3, which are actuated by the actuators 11, 12, the passive resonant circuits 42, 43 are electrically closed.

The oscillating circuit 40 emits an electromagnetic alternating field via the coil L4, which acts as an antenna. Depending on the state of the operating device 1, ie a switching state of the switches S2, S3, the resonant circuit 40 can be influenced in its electrical properties. With an open switch S2, S3, the respective resonant circuit

42, 43 do not work, d. H. , the respective resonant circuit 42, 43 has no effective inductance. By closing the respective switch S2, S3 by the respective actuating element 11, 12, an inductance value is thus changed. Since the state of the operating device 1 depends on the inductance value, the state of the operating device 1 also changes.

The connection of one of the oscillating circuits 42, 43 influences the electrical properties of the resonant circuit 40. This can be detected in the evaluation device 2 and used for the derivation of a control signal for output at the control terminal 20. With appropriate tuning of the resonant circuits 42, 43 by a suitable choice of the values for the coils L2, L3 and the capacitive elements C2, C3, the electrical properties of the resonant circuit 40 can be activated by a respectively activated one

Resonant circuit 42 or 43 are influenced differently. As a result, different control signals can be derived.

The operating device 1 and the evaluation device 2 can thus be coupled via an electromagnetic field. The coils L2, L3 act as antennas and can be switched on or off by the actuators 11, 12. By switching on or off the antennas, the electromagnetic field is influenced or changed.

Alternatively, the evaluation device 2 may also include a plurality of antennas or coils, for example two, which are arranged side by side. In this example, the operating device comprises three antennas, one of which is permanently active in the area of the electromagnetic fields of the antennas of the evaluation device, for example in a position centrally above the two antennas of the evaluation device 2. The second and third antenna of the operating device can be arranged in this way in that in each case one antenna is positioned in the main region of action of the electromagnetic field of a respective antenna of the evaluation device. The second and third antenna of the operating device can each be activated via one of the actuating elements 11, 12. Thus, an operation of various actuators 11, 12 can be easily distinguished.

FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a circuit arrangement for controlling a drive. The sensor Direction 21 in turn has a resonant circuit 40. The operating device 1 comprises identification circuits ID2, ID3 which can be activated via the actuators 11, 12 connected switches S2, S3.

The identification circuits ID2, ID3 may be, for example, circuits 102, 103 or chips known from contactless identification cards. These are also known by the term Radio Frequency Identification, RFID.

An identification circuit activated by a closed switch S2, S3 ID2, ID3 influences an electromagnetic field generated by the oscillating circuit 40 or a high-frequency signal emitted by the oscillating circuit 40. The identification circuit allows the signal to be modulated or changed in some other way. The identification circuits ID2, ID3 change the signal or the electromagnetic field in different ways in order to be able to distinguish the actuation of different actuating elements 11, 12. If an identification circuit ID2, ID3 is not activated by closing the corresponding switch S2, S3, there is no influence on the electromagnetic field or the signal emitted by the oscillating circuit 40.

A change caused by an identification circuit ID2, ID3 is detected in the oscillating circuit 40 and a corresponding control signal is derived therefrom. In an alternative embodiment, the evaluation device 2 may comprise a contactless identification card reader.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment of an operating device 1 with an identification circuit ID2. A voltage Supply of the identification circuit ID2 takes place via means 50 for generating a supply voltage, which comprise a coil L5 and capacitive elements C5, C6 and a diode D5. A signal emitted by a resonant circuit 40 is received via the coil L5. This signal, which is usually a high-frequency alternating signal, is rectified via the diode D5 and used to charge the capacitive element C6. The capacitive element C6 acts as a charge storage and serves a voltage supply of the identification circuit ID2. Alternatively, another voltage source, for example a battery can be used.

FIG. 7 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a circuit arrangement for controlling a drive. The evaluation device 2 in turn has a resonant circuit 40, in which a capacitive element of the resonant circuit 40 is formed by capacitor plates P41, P42 arranged side by side. An electric field between the plates P41, P42 also extends over the operating device 1 with the actuating element 11. Upon actuation of the actuating element 11, for example by introducing a finger on or in the vicinity of the actuating element 11, the properties of the electric field or the capacitive Eigen- shafts of the operating device changed or influenced. The state of the operating device thus includes, for example, the capacitive properties.

By changing the capacitive properties, for example, the capacitance value of the capacitive element formed from the plates P41, P42 and thus an oscillation frequency of the resonant circuit 40 changes. This change can be detected and a control signal derived therefrom. the. For example, a capacitive proximity switch is formed by the capacitor plates P41, P42. The evaluation device 2 can also have other embodiments of capacitive proximity switches for detecting changes in the capacitive properties of the operating device 1. The operating device 1 with the actuating element 11 can also be a simple sticker without electrical function in this embodiment.

If a circuit arrangement according to one of the exemplary embodiments has two actuating elements 11, 12, two different functions of the drive control can thus usually be achieved, for example, the table is set higher or lower. However, the number of possible actuators should not be limited by the embodiments in any way. Rather, further actuation elements can be provided which can put the operating device 1 into further evaluable states. Thus, other functions on the movable table top can be performed, such. B. a change in the angle of inclination of the table top.

reference numeral

1 operating device

2 evaluation device 3 table top

11, 12 actuator 20 control terminal

21 sensor device

22 Magnetic sensor 29 Sensor coupler

40, 42, 43 resonant circuit

50 means for generating a supply voltage

100 drive control

Sl, S2, S3 switch D5 diode

L1, L2, L3, L4, L5 coil, antenna

C4, C5, C6 capacitive element

Vl, V4 supply source

Ml magnet ID2, ID3 identification circuit

P41, P42 capacitor plate

Claims

claims

1. A circuit arrangement for controlling a drive for an adjustable table top (3), comprising - an operating device (1), comprising at least one actuating element (11, 12) via which a state of the operating device (1) is variable; and an evaluation device (2), comprising a sensor device (21) for wireless detection of the state of the operating device (1) and a control connection (20) on which a control signal can be output to a drive control (100) as a function of the detected state; wherein a magnetic field acting on the evaluation device (2) can be changed by the at least one actuating element (11, 12) and the sensor device (21) has at least one magnetic sensor (22) for detecting the magnetic field.

2. Circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic sensor (22) comprises at least one Hall sensor.

3. Circuit arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one actuating element (11, 12) generate and / or influence the magnetic field.

4. Circuit arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sensor device (21) comprises a resonant circuit (40) which can be influenced in its electrical properties as a function of the state of the operating device (1) bar.

5. Circuit arrangement according to claim 4, in which by the at least one actuating element (11, 12), an inductance value is variable and the state of the operating device (1) depends on the inductance value.

6. Circuit arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the operating device (1) and the evaluation device (2) can be coupled via an electromagnetic field and at least one actuating element (11, 12) at least one antenna (L2, L3) in the electromagnetic Field can be switched or switched off.

7. Circuit arrangement according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the operating device (1) at least one identification kationsschaltkreis (ID2, ID3) which by the at least one actuating element (11, 12) can be switched or switched off and by the resonant circuit (40) can be influenced in its electrical properties.

8. Circuit arrangement according to one of claims 4 to 7, in which by the at least one actuating element (11, 12) capacitive properties of the operating device (1) are variable and the state of the operating device (1) comprises the capacitive properties.

9. Circuit arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the sensor device (21) comprises a capacitive proximity switch (P41, P42).

10. Circuit arrangement according to one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the operating device (1) comprises means (50) for generating a supply voltage from one of the resonant circuit (40) radiated signal.

11. Circuit arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the operating device (1) has at least one electrical supply source (Vl).

12. Circuit arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the operating device (1) above the table top

(3) and the evaluation device (2) below the table top

(3) is arranged.

13. Circuit arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the evaluation device (2) is arranged below the operating device (1).

14. A method of controlling a drive for an adjustable table top (3), comprising the steps of:

Influencing a state of an operating device (1) by actuating at least one actuating element (11, 12) of the operating device (1), wherein a magnetic field acting on the evaluating device (2) is also changed by the actuation;

Wireless detection of the state of the operating device (1) in an evaluation device (2), wherein the magnetic field is detected during detection; Deriving a control signal from the detected state;

Delivering the control signal to a drive controller (100).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the operating device (1) and the evaluation device (2) are coupled via an electromagnetic field, by the actuation of the electromagnetic field is changed and the detection of the change in the electromagnetic field is detected.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein upon actuation at least one identification circuit (ID2, ID3), by means of which the electromagnetic field can be changed, is switched on or off.

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein upon actuation inductive properties of the operating device (1) are changed and the detection of the change in the inductive properties is detected.

18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the capacitive properties of the operating device (1) are changed during actuation and the change of the capacitive properties is detected when detecting.