Patent ID: 12217746

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1shows a bed1as an example of an item of furniture having an electromotive furniture drive in an exemplary embodiment of a speech-controlled controller10in a schematic view.FIG.2is a schematic illustration of an item of seating furniture1′ having a furniture drive and the exemplary embodiment of the speech-controlled controller10. A schematic block diagram of the speech-controlled controller for the furniture drive according toFIGS.1,2is shown inFIG.3.

The bed1has at least one support element2for accommodating a mattress (not shown here). The bed1can be designed as a single bed for one person or also as a double bed for multiple persons. The support element2is formed from multiple plate-shaped parts or from a slatted frame and is placed or installed on a base element (not shown here), for example, a framework having feet.

The support element2has in the illustrated example a back part4and a leg part5, which are arranged movably mounted in relation to a fixed middle part3or in relation to the base element. This movable arrangement is implemented, for example, by means of a so-called movement fitting (not shown here). The movement is designed as displaceable and/or pivotable.

The bed1shown in this example is equipped with an electromotive furniture drive. The movably mounted back part4and the leg part5are each coupled here to an electromotive adjustment drive7,8via a mechanical connection6(only schematically shown). The back part4is thus coupled to the electromotive adjustment drive7. The electromotive adjustment drive8is provided for moving or adjusting the leg part5.

The item of seating furniture1′ shown inFIG.2has a support element2. The support element2is provided with a base plate to be placed on an underlying surface and is connected to a middle part at its upper end using a movement fitting (not shown). A back part4as a backrest and a leg part5are pivotably attached to the middle part. The back part4is coupled to the adjustment drive7, and the leg part5is connected to the adjustment drive8. The connections6are embodied here similarly as described above.

The electromotive adjustment drives7,8are designed in the present case as linear drives. The linear drives have one or a number of electric motors, wherein a speed reducing gear having at least one gear step is generally connected downstream of each motor. A further gear, for example, in the form of a threaded spindle gear, can be connected downstream from the speed reducing gear, which generates a linear movement of an output element from the rotational movement of the motor. The last gear element or a further element connected thereto forms the output element. The output element of the respective electromotive adjustment drive is connected to the respective furniture component (back part4, leg part5) or alternatively to a component connected to the base element, so that upon operation of the electric motor of the respective adjustment drive7,8, the movable furniture components4,5are adjusted in relation to one another and/or in relation to the base element.

The electromotive adjustment drives7,8are electrically connected to a controller10for the control thereof. This connection can be embodied, for example, as a pluggable wired connection9. The controller10has an electrical supply unit100(seeFIG.5), which provides the electric energy, for example, from a power supply grid, for the electromotive adjustment drives7,8. For this purpose, the controller10is connectable via a grid cable101to a grid plug102having a grid connection (seeFIG.5). The grid plug102conducts the input-side grid voltage via the grid cable101to the electrical supply unit100of the controller10, which outputs a low voltage in the form of a DC voltage on the secondary side.

Alternatively thereto, the controller10has an external grid-dependent power supply100having grid input/grid plug102and having secondary-side low voltage output connected upstream, which supplies the low voltage in the form of a DC voltage via the line.

The electrical supply of the furniture drive of the item of seating furniture1′ can also be implemented by means of a rechargeable accumulator, which is not shown here, but is easily conceivable. Such an accumulator can be arranged both in the furniture drive or externally and can have an integrated or external charging device.

In an alternative design, the controller10is not arranged or is not arranged completely in a separate housing, but rather is integrated entirely or partially into one of the adjustment drives7,8. This adjustment drive then represents a main drive, to which possibly further adjustment drives can be connected.

The electromotive furniture drive can have various operating states. The following operating states are possible, inter alia: OFF operating state, ON operating state, STANDBY operating state, EMERGENCY OFF operating state, GRID CUT-OFF operating state.

In the OFF operating state, a motor is/motors of the furniture drive are switched off, but can be switched into the ON operating state by an operating device20. A power supply of the controller10is provided.

In the ON operating state, a motor is/motors of the furniture drive are switched on, for example, by means of the operating device20. The power supply of the controller10is provided.

In the STANDBY operating state, the power supply of the controller10and possibly further transmission units, for example, radio gateway or the like, is reduced to a minimum. When the STANDBY operating state is switched on, it has to be switched off so that an actuation of the furniture drive becomes possible. This switching off of the STANDBY operating state is also referred to as “waking up”.

In the EMERGENCY OFF operating state, it is not possible to switch on the motor/motors of the furniture drive. If the EMERGENCY OFF operating state is switched on from the on operating state, switched-on motor/motors is/are immediately switched off. The power supply of the controller10is provided. The EMERGENCY OFF operating state is ended after its cause is remedied by suitable measures, which are not described in greater detail here.

In the GRID CUT-OFF operating state, a connection of the furniture drive, i.e., the power supply, to a grid connection is interrupted by means of a grid cut-off device. The grid cut-off device recognizes in the switched-on GRID CUT-OFF operating state when it is switched off, i.e., a connection to the grid is required for operating the furniture drive. The grid cut-off device also recognizes when the GRID CUT-OFF operating state can be resumed again.

Two alternative options for an operating device20for the furniture drive are shown inFIGS.1and2. In one design, a wired operating unit21can be provided, which has operating elements, for example, in the form of buttons.

In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the furniture drive has a controller10having a speech controller. Instead of the typical actuating buttons, speech control subunits210to214each having a microphone31(see, for example,FIGS.3,4) are provided in the operating unit21. A respective adjustment function of the respective associated adjustment drive7,8is associated here with each of the speech control subunits210to214. This is explained in greater detail below.

The operating unit21can also be wirelessly connected in an alternative design, wherein it has a transmitting device for a wireless transmission of signals to the controller10. An actuation of the speech control subunits210to214by means of speech, which is explained in detail below, generates control signals, which are transmitted via the illustrated connecting cable22to the controller10, which controls the adjustment drives7,8in accordance with the operated elements. This control can be subject to certain restrictions, for example, certain adjustment drives7,8or certain adjustment ranges can be excluded from an adjustment or can only be accessible after release, for example, via a key switch or similar superior element. Moreover, one or more end switches can be arranged in each of the adjustment drives7,8, which prevent a movement beyond one or two defined endpoints.

The operating unit21can be connected, as shown inFIGS.1and2, via the connecting cable22to the controller10. Alternatively, the operating unit21can be provided with a transmitting device for a wireless transmission of signals to the controller10. The wireless transmission can be implemented by a radio transmission link, an optical transmission link (for example, for infrared light), and/or an ultrasonic transmission link, wherein the controller10is equipped with a respective corresponding receiving unit. For example, such a receiving unit is schematically illustrated as a transmission unit110for the transmission link24inFIG.5.

The operating device20can also be produced by a mobile device23alternatively or additionally to the operating unit21. The mobile device23can be in particular a commercially available mobile telephone (“smart phone”) or a tablet computer. An item of software (“app”) is preferably installed on the mobile device23for the function as an operating unit. Control commands to the adjustment drives7,8can thus be transmitted via a wireless transmission link24from the mobile device23used as a handheld control to the controller10. The wireless transmission link24can be based, for example, on a WLAN (wireless local area network) or Bluetooth transmission path. The wireless transmission from the mobile device21via the wireless transmission link24can take place directly to the controller10. In alternative designs, a transmission is also possible via an access point (not shown here) of a network, to which the controller10is connected.

The operating device20is implemented in the exemplary embodiment ofFIGS.1and2as a speech controller, which comprises speech control subunits210to214each having a microphone31in the exemplary embodiment. Each of the speech control subunits210to214is connected to the control unit10via a respective cable22a,22b,22c,22d,22e, as shown inFIG.3. A control of the adjustment drives7,8and possibly further components of the furniture drive connected to the controller10and controlled by the controller10takes place via electrical signals of the microphone31, which reproduce the acoustic signals received by the respective microphone31.

This is described in greater detail on the basis of the example of the item of seating furniture1′ inFIG.2.

Two speech control subunits210and211are associated with the adjustment drive7for adjusting the back part4in a pivot movement upward and a pivot movement downward. In the same manner, the further two speech control subunits212and213are associated with the adjustment drive8for adjusting the leg part5in a pivot movement upward and a pivot movement downward. Stopping of every adjustment movement of the adjustment drives7,8is performed in this example by the speech control subunit214.

Each speech control subunit210to214comprises the microphone31, a speech analysis device32, and a switching device33.

The speech control subunit210,211,212,213,214is a very small, completely integrated component. With its speech recognition, which is performed by means of the speech analysis device32of the words recorded by the microphone31, the speech control subunit210,211,212,213,214is capable of recognizing individual words or phrases. The speech control subunit210,211,212,213,214can be designed, for example, only for special words and thus can be particularly fast.

An electrical signal for control can be output in dependence on recognized words or phrases by means of the switching device33. This switching device33can be integrated (as shown) into the speech control subunit210,211,212,213,214or can also be arranged externally. It is designed, for example, as a semiconductor switch and/or an electromechanical contact (relay).

The operating unit21can be picked up in the hand or arranged in speech range of an actuator. Certain keywords are then spoken to actuate the adjustment drives7,8. This will be explained hereinafter.

The controller10of the exemplary embodiment according toFIGS.1and2is shown in greater detail in the form of a block diagram inFIG.3. In this block diagram, a power supply for the controller10and/or the adjustment drives7,8is not shown. It is either integrated in the form of a power supply unit into the control device10, which then also has a grid connection in addition to the connections shown. For example, a supply unit100is indicated hereinafter in conjunction withFIG.5in this regard. Alternatively, an external power supply unit can also be provided, which supplies the controller10with a low voltage.

The controller10comprises an evaluation unit11, which in the illustrated example evaluates signals of the operating unit21which are supplied via the cable22. Furthermore, the evaluation unit11is configured for evaluating supplied control commands of the mobile device23via the transmission link24using a transmitting unit110(seeFIG.5). If the controller10permits this control option, a receiver for signals of the transmission link24can be arranged in the evaluation unit11or connected to the evaluation unit11, for example, a Bluetooth receiver. A transmitting unit110is schematically shown as an example of such a receiver inFIG.5. Alternatively, items of information of the mobile device23for controlling the adjustment drives7,8can also be transmitted via a network (not shown) and a network connection to the evaluation unit11and analyzed therein.

In general, the evaluation unit11has a microcontroller, which evaluates the received control commands for the adjustment drives7,8. This microcontroller can also be used for further tasks.

The evaluation unit11is connected in the illustrated example via a release component12to a motor controller13. The motor controller13accepts instructions which relate to an adjustment of the adjustment drives7,8and converts them into corresponding motor currents for operating the adjustment drives7,8. The motor controller13can be viewed in these terms as a power end stage of the controller10.

It is to be noted that in alternative designs, adjustment drives can also be used which contain the motor controller itself in integrated form. In this case, a corresponding motor controller13is dispensed with in the controller10. The function of the release component12is explained hereinafter.

The microphones31are each part of a speech control subunit210,211,212,213,214of the controller10. The speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214are coupled via the individual cables or cable wires22a,22b,22c,22dto the evaluation unit11. The speech control subunit214is connected here via the cable22eto the release component12(FIG.3).

In operation of the controller10, electrical signals of the microphones31are digitized in the speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214and analyzed by the respective speech analysis device32of a respective speech control subunit210,211,212,213,214, wherein a speech content is extracted. This is performed, for example, in comparison to previously stored or defined speech patterns, the number of which can be limited.

If the spoken control word or keyword is recognized during this comparison, the switching device33is thus prompted to emit an electrical signal, for example, a specific voltage.

This signal is transmitted to the evaluation unit11via the cable22. The evaluation unit11then controls the motor controller13, presuming that the release component12is not blocked (for example, by a preceding EMERGENCY OFF signal, as described below in conjunction withFIG.5).

The speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214react to spoken keywords, for which they are preset. This task does not require a high level of processing power or a complex speech analysis system.

Typical spoken commands can have the form “back up” or “leg down” or “stop” or the like. Commands of the form “memory” are also conceivable upon use of a memory function of the controller10. Furthermore, factory-preset commands such as “move into the TV position” or “move into zero gravity” or “move into the recumbent position” can also be provided, which are linked to permanently preset adjustment positions for the head part and/or the foot part. The above-mentioned commands are solely exemplary in nature and can be adapted as desired to the functional options of the bed1or the item of seating furniture1′ having the furniture drive.

In this exemplary embodiment, the keywords “stop”, “halt”, “freeze”, “off”, and the like are only recognized by the one speech control subunit214, because the release component12is thus prompted to immediately switch off any adjustment movement of the adjustment drives7,8.

Of course, it is also possible that each adjustment drive7,8is respectively associated with three speech control subunits210,211,214and212,213,214, in such a way that one speech control subunit214for a stop function is associated with each adjustment drive7,8. Furthermore, a further speech control subunit214can also be provided as a redundant EMERGENCY OFF actuator. This is not shown but is easily conceivable.

For example, a further speech control subunit217can be provided as an EMERGENCY OFF actuation. An EMERGENCY OFF operating state can be activated, for example, in that the further speech control subunit217directly recognizes instructions such as “stop” or “halt” and relays an emergency stop signal to a further release component12a. It thereupon blocks a signal possibly received from the evaluation unit11in the release component12to operate one of the adjustment drives7,8and thus blocks a further movement of the adjustment drives7,8. The blocking function of further speech control subunit217can, of course, also act on the evaluation unit11and be taken into consideration therein or act directly on the motor controller13and result in blocking of the adjustment drives7,8therein. In this manner, the emergency off operating state of the furniture drive is controlled.

The speech control by the speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214is not only convenient, it is also safe, since the commands can be overridden at any time by the emergency stop shut down by the speech control subunit214and possibly by the further speech control unit217.

In alternative designs, it is conceivable that the adjustment drives7,8not only stop when a corresponding emergency stop command occurs, but rather stop and move at least somewhat in an opposing direction. In this way, a person in bed1negatively affected by the adjustment procedure can be moved back into a pleasant position or a slight pinching which has already occurred can be reversed.

The speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214,217can operate a further microcontroller, a DSP (digital signal processor), and/or an FPGA (field programmable gate array) in this case, wherein the mentioned components are possibly integrated in the form of a SOC (system-on-a-chip). With relatively little hardware expenditure, in this manner at least one analysis of speech inputs restricted to a few keywords can take place. The mentioned keyword “stop”, for example, is easily and reliably identifiable on the basis of the characteristic phonetics. In addition to explicit words, noises used in conjunction with hazardous situations can also be recognized and can be interpreted as signs to stop the adjustment drives7,8or cause them to run in reverse. A further increased safety level is thus achieved.

It is to be noted that the illustrated speech-based emergency shutdown for the adjustment drives7,8based on the local speech control subunit214and possibly the further speech control unit217can be combined with further safety measures to ensure a comprehensive pinch protection. In these terms, pressure sensors or button sensors, which are arranged on the moved bed elements or a framework of the bed1item of seating furniture1′ or another item of adjustable furniture (for example, lift table) can also be evaluated and act on the release component12and thus the motor controller13.

If the controller10has been deactivated by means of the emergency shutoff, the furniture drive is in the EMERGENCY OFF operating state.

FIG.4shows a schematic block diagram of an operating unit21. As already described above, the typical actuating elements are replaced by the speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214. The example shown here relates to an item of furniture having two adjustment drives7,8. Of course, embodiments having more than two adjustment drives7,8or having only one are also possible.

The operating unit21shown inFIG.4is equipped here with two further speech control subunits215and216. The speech control subunit215is connected to a light40of the operating unit21and switches it on upon a certain keyword, for example, “light”. This is helpful in particular in the dark. Easily finding the operating unit21, in particular if it is wireless, can be enabled by the further speech control subunit216, which is connected to an acoustic indicator41. The further speech control subunit216can react, for example, to the keyword “search” or “report”.

FIG.5shows a schematic block diagram of a variant of the exemplary embodiment of the speech-controlled controller10for the furniture drive according toFIGS.1,2.

An exemplary use of three further speech control subunits217,218,219will be shown in addition to the speech control subunits210to216of the operating unit21.

The first speech control subunit217is connected here as already indicated above to an emergency off release unit12a, which is connected to the release unit12and to the motor controller13. The speech control subunit217directly recognizes, like the speech control subunit214in the operating unit21, Instructions such as “stop” or “halt” and relays an emergency stop signal to the release component12a.

The speech control subunit217as an EMERGENCY OFF actuator can also be connected at another point, however. It is thus possible, for example, that the speech control subunit217can be formed solely or additionally as an external component for a bus arrangement (MFP/Furnibus). Furthermore, it is conceivable that the speech control subunit217is solely or additionally installed in a Wi-Fi radio gateway or looped into the supply line to the motors.

The second speech control subunit218is connected here to a transmitting unit110in the evaluation unit11. The transmitting unit110is connected to the transmission link24and can be, for example, a transceiver for a wireless transmission link24, for example, infrared, ultrasound, radio. The second speech control unit218recognizes instructions such as “standby ON/OFF”, “power save ON/OFF”, and the like. The second speech control unit218thus controls the STANDBY operating state in that the transmitting unit110is switched into a power-saving mode when a keyword such as “standby ON”, inter alia, is recognized. The power saving mode is switched off again when the second speech control subunit218recognizes a keyword such as “standby OFF” or any other keyword for “waking up”.

InFIG.5, the supply unit100within the control unit10is furthermore shown and is connected via a grid cable101having a grid plug102for connection to a network. In addition, the grid plug102is arranged here together with a grid cut-off circuit103in a housing as a plug-in power supply unit. The grid cut-off circuit103is connected in this variant to a third speech control subunit219.

By means of the grid cut-off circuit103, the furniture drive can be separated completely or also only partially from an electrical power grid or also from a battery/accumulator supply. The grid cut-off circuit103recognizes by means of different devices (not described here) when the GRID CUT-OFF operating state is to be switched over, i.e., switched on or switched off. In the variant shown here, this is recognized by the third speech control subunit219by a keyword such as “cut off ON”, “grid OFF”, and/or “cut off OFF”, “grid ON” and the like. In dependence on the recognized keyword, the third speech control subunit219then controls the GRID CUT-OFF operating state via the grid cut-off circuit103.

In particular in the case of items of seating furniture1′, which are operated using accumulators, it is of great importance that a STANDBY operating state, of the power supply here, can be activated to reduce electric power which is taken from the accumulator to a minimum.

The controller10of the furniture drive is arranged together with it in most cases under the bed. It is therefore necessary for the microphones31of the speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214,215,216,217,218,219to be placed at a point at which they are not sound-insulated by the bed1item of seating furniture1′, parts of the bed1item of seating furniture1′, or other objects. For this reason, the microphones31or the speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214,215,216,217,218,219can be arranged outside the furniture, for example, on a nightstand or at a non-sound-insulated point, and can be connected via a cable connection or also wirelessly to the controller10.

A power supply of the microphones31the speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214,215,216,217,218,219can be produced via batteries, accumulators, or also small power supply units. Plug-in power supply units can also be used here, into which the microphones31or the speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214,215,216,217,218,219are integrated.

Furthermore, it is possible that a so-called dead man switch is provided together with the microphones31or speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214,215,216,217,218,219placed in the above-described manner. In this case, very short data sets are exchanged between the microphones31or speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214,215,216,217,218,219and the controller10, in particular by means of bidirectional transmission. The controller10is designed in this case so that it switches on the EMERGENCY OFF operating state if the microphone31in the or one specific one of the speech control subunits210,211,212,213,214,215,216,217,218,219has lost the contact to the controller10within a definable time interval, for example, 1 to 2 seconds.

A deactivation or switching off of the EMERGENCY OFF operating state can be executed, for example, by means of an app or in another suitable manner.