WO2014108342A1

WO2014108342A1 - Intelligent and interactive unit arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2014108342A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/000054
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hubert Knott; Berthold Müller; Ulrich Dahm-Wachsmann
Original assignee: Tielsa Gmbh
Priority date: 2013-01-11
Filing date: 2014-01-13
Publication date: 2014-07-17
Also published as: DE102013100262A1; EP2943091A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a unit arrangement (1), in particular for a kitchen or a bathroom. Said unit arrangement comprises at least two unit modules (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) which are designed, preferably in the form of low units, high units or built-in units and table tops or similar. Said unit modules of the unit arrangement capture information relating to the unit, evaluate and emit the captured information and carry out the actions related to or not related to the unit or emit control and/or regulation tasks.

Description

Intelligent and interactive furniture arrangement

The invention relates to a furniture arrangement for a kitchen or a bathroom, wherein the furniture arrangement comprises at least two furniture modules and the furniture modules preferably in the form of

Base cabinets, wall units or complete cabinets as well

Table tops or the like are formed.

Living rooms, especially kitchens or bathrooms need the

To meet the demands of increasingly complex and sometimes rapidly changing living conditions. Singles become couples, couples become families, families become new generations. The requirements of the consumer for a dynamic and flexible furniture concept demand that the furnishing is ergonomically and technologically completely in line with the requirements of the customer

individual needs and living conditions of their users.

The present invention relies on dynamic

Working elements, clever movement mechanisms and the

Integration of technology (keyword: "smart kitchen / bathrom"). It can be adapted to the needs and circumstances of life,

be configured differently. Individuality and personal life situation of the users are always in the

Foreground. The furniture arrangement is modular and can be rebuilt and supplemented as desired. Comfort and flexibility of the concept are based on dynamic lifting elements for adjusting the working height of individual furniture. Thus, the furniture arrangement adapts to the different needs of the people who live and work in it. In the simplest way, the furniture modules, for example

Ergonomically adapt kitchen elements so that you can sit and relax while sitting, handing over dishes while standing, reading or doing many other things comfortably.

CONFIRMATION COPY The present invention is based on the example of a

Furniture arrangement in a kitchen will be explained in more detail. However, the invention is not limited to use in a kitchen. In particular, it can also be applied to bathrooms or other living and working spaces in which the features essential to the invention are used.

The core of the invention is that the furniture modules of

Furniture arrangement receive non-furniture information, evaluate and execute on the basis of the information received own or off-furniture actions or control or

Output control tasks.

Non-furniture information is to be understood as meaning information which is not caused by furniture conditions or

objective contents are given. For example, but not conclusively, here are state data of the spaces

(Temperature, exposure, air quality, air circulation, etc), room sensor (pressure sensitive floor, optical

Room recording and evaluation, switch contacts on doors or windows, etc), calendar data, predefined plans such as diet, medication and nutrition plans, control signals from

Input devices (terminals, mobiles

Communication devices, Internet) and a variety of other information.

As möbeleigene information are those to understand, which by furniture components themselves or by in the furniture

recorded content. For example, this includes a position of the furniture body in furniture modules with motor or manually movable body parts, the opening or closing of access openings, flaps or drawers, the monitoring of content for presence and their

Removal or addition to furniture, as well as the provision of information to understand these or similar parameters.

To clarify the invention, some of the above-mentioned processes will be explained below by way of example. The Invention is not limited to these operations.

Example 1: Persons position and / or position detection

For example, if the kitchen includes a sensor floor that senses and evaluates the load and its position in a pressure-sensitive manner, the room can detect whether a child, a lighter person (woman) or a heavy person (man) or several people are in the room. If these persons are entered in advance, a specific assignment can be made to the respective person. In addition, based on the

Whether the person stands on his feet, sits in a wheelchair or even lies on the floor.

The latter case, for example, can lead to the triggering of an emergency plan, for example, if a person in the

Bathroom or kitchen is collapsed. such

Non-furniture information can be evaluated and used by the furniture assembly according to the invention.

Depending on which person is in the room and what specifications have been made for this person, the furniture assembly can then, for example, in lifting-lowering modules in a

move the desired position, display a diet plan during weight recording or make suggestions for an adapted diet

Make a recipe or, as already described above, in an emergency with a possible upstream of a

Feedback loop (phone call, time loop, etc.) make an emergency call.

In addition to the use of a sensor floor, other types of sensors are alternatively or additionally conceivable, for example via optical pattern recognition or

Controls.

Example 2: Interactive furniture

If, for example, a diet plan, a nutritional plan or even a medication plan are stored on the non-furniture information, content provision or even a content provision can be provided additionally an content release of in the furniture module

recorded content according to a specification. The kitchen or bathroom can be the user on it

point out that a certain combination of medications has not yet been taken because they are still stored and the corresponding position in the furniture is still occupied. Also, the furniture module in an attempted access to a

Food, for example, when opening the refrigerator, indicate which food is provided according to the given nutritional plan at this time and

is proposed. This may possibly go so far as to limit or block access to certain components, which helps in the implementation of diets or preventive

Measures implemented, for example, against children.

In addition, it is possible to use these functions of blocking access also in the form of parental controls on cabinets.

In combination with the functions mentioned under example 1, a high level of automation is available in the furniture

Functions (access to drawers, cabinets, contents, etc.) can be realized.

Example 3: Task-adapted furniture control

As far as the furniture arrangement is transmitted a higher-level task, depending on the existing expansion level, a corresponding adjustment of the furniture's own settings

will be realized. If, for example, a person who does not want to work standing up or is given the task of gaining access to the stove and sink in the kitchen, a furniture arrangement with lifting and lowering modules can move into the adjusted lowered position, the stove for Prepare the cooking process and, for example, activate or extend a fume hood and lower a sink, if necessary tilt it slightly forward (in order to prevent the sink)

Floor area of the pool) and

for example, on the front arranged controls for stove and / or water, etc. activate. Especially for wheelchair users or older, in the

Mobility restricted persons exist a multiplicity of superordinate tasks, which by

own settings and content sharing can be improved. In addition to cooking and rinsing be

exemplarily still the cleaning (all surfaces in a level) of the kitchen, the collection of stocks or in the bathroom mirror positioning in the bathroom, the operation of a bath lifter or an access door or the

Use of toilets and hygiene facilities mentioned.

Example: Task-adapted media control

By parent Aufgebanstellungen, such as a nutrition plan or the like can also be

task-adapted media control of existing ones

Kitchen media can be realized. For example, by specifying a corresponding recipe according to person weight, nutrition plan, stock or calendar (religious motivation) the user can be supported, the

Optimal nutritional plan.

In particular, the detection of in the furniture modules

recorded inventories, providing a for

Stocking appropriate recipe, which can also evaluate information about shelf life or stored quantities, for example, and the resulting optimal

Use of the stored articles is only one aspect of this embodiment of the invention. If this aspect still takes into account a nutrition plan or diet plan, the user can be optimally cared for, even if the latter may not be able to perform these tasks manually without media control (for example, in the case of senile dementia or the like).

Also, purchase lists or orders can be generated so easily and sustainably. Information technology solutions, for example in the field of balanced nutrition, which inform about the right foods, their quantity, weights and composition take preventive care of the state of health and thus contribute to the increase in vitality.

Example 5: Person-coded positioning - adaptation to life situation

By the construction of furniture modules personal or person coded orders can be taken. If a part of the furniture modules or all furniture modules are equipped with lifting / lowering mechanisms, everyone can choose their own

Specify working height or even according to the task (cooking, reading, rinsing, tidying up, etc) adjust the arrangement accordingly.

In addition, the modules allow for changing the

Living conditions to vary the modular structure by Umbaumöglichkeiten, so that, for example, from a kitchen with cooking island and wall line later a U-shape can be formed or a former raised standing workstation is converted into a seated workplace.

By a modular design, for example by using appropriate dimensions, a conversion and an amended recombination or supplement without major investment is possible.

If the furniture modules connected to each other by a bus system or the like, so even with a successful conversion or supplement the figure of the invention

Functions are readily ensured. For this purpose, common systems can be used or a centrally arranged control unit is realized, which manages and controls the controlled furniture modules as a whole. Example 6: Sensor

Basically, the said sensors, which for

Capture non-furniture information, too

Safety aspects or comfort aspects meet. Exemplary here are fire protection by smoke and temperature sensors, water protection by humidity sensors,

Impact detection on the floor or return detection at the sink and / or sink and general accident protection by detection of recumbent persons, acoustic commands

(Call for help) or other control signals (emergency call button).

As a protective function, this procedure can be such

expand the furniture modules over a period of time to analyze the typical behavior of the user and certain

Learn patterns of behavior. As soon as atypical patterns of behavior occur during use, the

Furniture arrangement, possibly with the interposition of a

Feedback loop such as an indication that an action must now be taken to perform an action, such as making a call for help or making an emergency call. Also burglary protection or the like can be realized.

It is advantageous that the user does not have to take any active actions, such as one

Press emergency button.

Furthermore, the room climate can be adjusted by an adaptive

Ventilation control, for example, coupled with stove use, be improved, the ventilation can, for example, only be done when the user has left the room.

Example 7: Master - Slave communication

To provide the above advantageous functions of the furniture assembly according to the invention is in a

Embodiment provided that a master station and at least one slave station is included, wherein the master station of the furniture assembly and the slave station is associated with a furniture module or a functionally connected module group.

The master station is responsible for the overall control of furniture-own and furniture-remote actions and usually formed in the form of a computer. The slave station is associated with a furniture module or an associated furniture module group and can perform one or more functions.

For example, a slave station may be associated with some furniture with height-adjustable body parts and control this furniture module group in total in their height position, if the master station corresponding control instructions

transmitted .

In one embodiment, it is advantageous that the master station and at least two slave stations are connected in a star shape, preferably each directly connected to the master station. The star-shaped connection is appropriate and

expandable. It can be designed as a cable connection, radio connection or the like.

To provide the necessary safety in operation is advantageously provided that the slave station means for

Release of a own action includes, in particular own actions by the master station only under

Release by the slave station are executable. In particular, in functional actions such as furniture movement, activation of stove, oven or waste choppers, it is necessary that a release of these functions is monitored and executed directly on the furniture module, so no activations by the

Master station can be done, for example, if people are present in the danger area or the function one

Danger itself represents (stove with overlying flammable materials). For this purpose, release buttons, sensors for

Pot detection and much more are used.

It is also part of these security features advantageous that a clocked communication between the master station and slave station is executable and the slave station performs its own functions in real time or releases. The master station can, for example, a furniture module a

Give instructions for height adjustment. This instruction is received by the slave station and corresponding routines are started. The slave station has to do the test of the

Security clearance in real time with the execution of the

Execute function so that there are no parameters between

Release of the function and execution of the function more

can change.

It is also advantageous if the master station comprises a gateway, wherein the furniture arrangement can be contacted, in particular controlled, via the gateway. This allows some actions via external instructions, for example, via the Internet to control or query. Communication,

Video transmission or data query (for example: What is in the fridge?) Are just a few examples.

It is particularly advantageous if the communication between master station and slave station is bidirectional

Communication is trained. Then it can be a real one

Interaction between the stations takes place and

Status messages or action results can be returned to the master station for further processing.

It is possible to form the master station as a decentralized station, for example as a tablet PC, control panel or server to facilitate the operation and the

To be able to extend the scope of functions continuously ..

In a particularly preferred embodiment it is provided that means for detecting the position of the master station are included, wherein the means for detecting the position of the

Master station assigned to at least one slave station and share own functions or block. A position detection, for example by direct

Signal transmission on sight (eg infrared) or Short-range radio signals, etc., allow control of safety-related functions. For example, a stove or oven may only be turned on when the master station, such as a tablet PC, is nearby (visible) to preclude unattended use of the appliance. Also movement of furniture and use of other equipment can with different release and

Blocking criteria are provided.

Where appropriate, the position detection can also be performed by the master station to the effect that it identifies the slave stations and determines their positions relative to the master station.

It is also envisaged that the master station will have means of communication with external stations, in particular

Telecommunications or Internet access means. In this way, information can be exchanged or

Communication means such as video calling, conferencing or the purchase of media of all kinds are made possible. ^

Figure description

By way of example, the functions are to be supplemented by a view of a furniture arrangement according to FIG. 1.

The furniture assembly 1 to summarizes various furniture modules 2,3,4,5,6,7 where the module 2 as a top cabinet, the module 3 as a lifting-lowering base cabinet, the module 4 as a lifting-sink spool, the module 5 and 6 as lifting-lowering work surfaces and the module 7 is ever designed as a tall cabinet. The furniture module 6 comprises

Furthermore, a lifting rack 8, which for receiving

Is suitable for objects. The upper cabinets 2 are presently also lowered, wherein the reduction in Fig.l is not shown. The lowering movements 10 of all

Furniture modules was symbolized schematically by the dashed double arrows. Depending on the expansion stage, the furniture module 7 has a refrigerator 8 with display 9 or can be used to hold appliances,

For example, a baking ovens, recesses 11 included.

In addition, extendable work surfaces 12 are conceivable.

If a user enters the kitchen of the furniture assembly 1 via an access direction 20, he enters a pressure-sensitive

Floor 21 (shown in fragmentary form). Additionally or alternatively, optical detection devices in the form of cameras 22 may be provided. At the entrance, a terminal 23 may be provided, on which

Operating tasks, attendances or other information can be provided. The terminal can take over the function of the master station and be removable if necessary.

The furniture assembly further comprises an island 30, which is composed of 4 furniture modules a, b, c, d. The island 30 has a lifting-lowering module 31 on the right side, which also has a lifting shelf. The furniture modules a, b, c, d can be removed from the island and possibly used as wall modules and reconfigured. In case of doubt, one must

changed work surface are provided.

Claims

Claims :

1) furniture arrangement, in particular for a kitchen or a bathroom, wherein the furniture assembly comprises at least two furniture modules and the furniture modules are preferably in the form of base units, wall units or cabinets, as well as table tops or the like, characterized in that the furniture modules of the furniture arrangement receive information outside the furniture , evaluate and based on the received

Information to perform own or remote furniture actions or issue control tasks.

2.) Furniture arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the furniture foreign information through sensors

to be provided.

3.) Furniture arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized

in that the non-furniture information is provided by user-provided tasks.

4.) Furniture arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the furniture-foreign information provided by the user information

to be provided.

5.) Furniture arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one furniture module is designed to be movable in at least one spatial direction.

6.) Furniture arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one furniture module is designed to receive möbeleigenen state parameters of another furniture module or a central control.

7.) Furniture arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a master station and at least one slave station is included, wherein the master station of Furniture arrangement and the slave station is associated with a furniture module or a functionally connected module group.

8.) Furniture arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the master station and at least two slave stations connected in a star shape, preferably each directly connected to the master station.

9.) Furniture arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, characterized

in that the slave station comprises means for releasing a furniture-own action, in particular furniture-own actions can be executed by the master station only when released by the slave station.

10.) Furniture arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that between the master station and slave station a clocked communication is executable and the

Slavestation realizes or releases its own functions in real time.

11.) Furniture arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the master station comprises a gateway, wherein the furniture arrangement is contactable via the gateway, in particular controllable.

12.) Furniture arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that formed between the master station and slave station means for bidirectional communication.

13.) Furniture arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the master station as a decentralized station, for example as a tablet PC, control panel or server

is trained.

14.) Furniture arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that means for detecting the position of the master station are included, wherein the means for detecting the position of the master station are associated with at least one slave station and share own functions or functions To block .

15.) Furniture arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 14, characterized in that the master station means for

Communication with external stations, in particular

Telecommunications or Internet access means.