Furniture product power management system

Abstract

A power management method is proposed to realize a system of furniture products that is energy-saving, independent of the mains voltage, and powered by electricity, with more flexible functions. [Solution Method] The power management method includes the steps of (i) generating electrical energy from the displacement of components (C; 30) of a furniture product that can be moved by a user, and (ii) storing the generated electrical energy in a storage device (B) preferably mounted on the furniture product.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to power management systems for furniture products (eg, home decor). [Background technology]

[0002] For example, in the furniture industry, door sliding systems are known that are equipped with shock-absorbing and return members, such as pneumatic and hydraulic dampers and return springs. From the standpoint of standardization, the size of these members is calculated and determined based on the weight and dimensions of doors common in the market, which does not ensure proper operation under all circumstances. In addition, since it is difficult to adjust the dynamic response of the mechanical dampers and return members in a post-process, settings must be made for each case from the design stage, which is a drawback in that there is almost no freedom of customization.

[0003] Therefore, it is self-evident that the more flexibility there is in the functionality the better.

[0004] Some of the above mentioned systems use electric motors that are powered from the mains rather than from batteries. The consumption of electrical energy is not trivial and there are no uniform standards, for example the mains supply voltage, which varies from country to country. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The main object of the present invention is to improve upon this situation in the prior art.

[0006] A further object of the present invention is to realize an electrically powered furniture product system that is energy saving and independent of mains voltage and has more flexible functions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Therefore, a power management method is proposed, characterized in that it comprises the steps of (i) generating electrical energy from the displacement of components of a furniture item that can be moved by a user, and (ii) storing the generated electrical energy, preferably in a storage device mounted on the furniture item.

[0008] This allows the electrical energy consumed by the furniture product to be generated within the product itself, without the need for, or compatibility with, the general power mains.

[0009] In a preferred variant of the method, electrical energy is obtained by converting the kinetic energy of the components into electrical energy, which, during their free movement, have a kinetic energy that can be converted into electrical energy, for example by an electric motor or a dynamo used as a generator.

[0010] In particular, the kinetic energy of a component is converted into electrical energy, thereby simultaneously braking the movement of the moving component.

[0011] In a preferred variant of the method, electrical energy is obtained by converting the mechanical action applied by a user to move the component: if the component is moved manually, the mechanical action of the user on the component can be used to generate electrical energy, for example by an electric motor or a dynamo used as a generator.

[0012] In a preferred variant of the method, the stored electrical energy is used to move the components, in particular to power rotary electric motors or linear actuators connected to the components, which has the advantage that the movement of the components can be electrically independent from the general power mains.

[0013] In a preferred variant of the method, the stored electrical energy is used to brake the component, in particular to power an electric brake connected to the component. This has the advantage that the component can be braked and damped via an electric (e.g. linear) actuator or a rotary electric motor, without the use of a mechanical system as in the prior art. Furthermore, the dynamic behavior of the actuator or electric motor is easier to program and certainly not subject to the structural constraints of a mechanical system.

[0014] In a more preferred variation of the method, the dynamic behavior of an actuator or electric motor powered by the stored electrical energy is programmed to move the component along a predetermined path. For example, the stored electrical energy can be utilized to move and brake the component according to programmed or programmable dynamic references (e.g., velocity and / or acceleration). In particular, the dynamic references include velocity and / or acceleration ramps and / or activation timing.

[0015] In a preferred variant of the method, the start and / or end of step (i) and / or step (ii) may be determined by the position of the moving component, or the start and / or end of said steps of motorized braking and / or activation / displacement of the component may be determined by the position of the moving component, thereby allowing the dynamic behavior of the component to be programmed during its movement.

[0016] In a preferred variant of the method, the stored electrical energy is utilized to supply the components and / or light sources of the furniture item and / or electrically powered components and electrical loads mounted on the furniture item.

[0017] Thus, the energy saving benefits are realized for further components as well.

[0018] Another aspect of the invention relates to an article of furniture comprising components movable by a user, means for generating electrical energy from the displacement of the components, or a generator, and a storage device mounted on the article of furniture for storing the converted electrical energy.

[0019] In a preferred variant, the article of furniture comprises means for converting the kinetic energy of the components into electrical energy, or a power converter.

[0020] In a preferred variant, the article of furniture comprises means for converting the mechanical action exerted by the user on the components into electrical energy, or a power converter.

[0021] In a preferred variant, the furniture item comprises an electric component acting on behalf of the user, such as a rotary electric motor (e.g. a brushless motor) or an electric linear actuator, connected to the component and powered by an electrical storage device, for moving the component.

[0022] In a preferred variant, the item of furniture comprises an electric component acting on behalf of the user, such as an electric brake connected to the component and powered by the power storage device, so as to brake the component.

[0023] In a preferred variant, the article of furniture comprises a programmable processor which manages the storage of electrical energy in the storage device and / or the flow of electrical energy from the storage device to the electrical components acting on behalf of the user, thereby controlling the operation of the electrical components acting on behalf of the user.

[0024] In a preferred variant, the processor is programmed to control electrical components on behalf of the user, thereby providing dynamic references to the components (e.g., speed and / or acceleration), in particular including speed and / or acceleration ramps and / or start / stop timings of the electrical components on behalf of the user.

[0025] In a preferred variant, the furniture item comprises a wireless communication interface, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, which connects to a programmable processor, the programmable processor being programmed to receive data and setting commands relating to the displacement of the energy of the components from the interface.

[0026] In a preferred variant, the article of furniture comprises a position sensor for detecting the position of the component during movement, the sensor being connected to a programmable processor, the programmable processor being programmed to receive position data from the sensor and to control the kinetic energy of the component as a function of the position data.

[0027] For example, the position sensor may be a relative encoder (e.g., a Hall effect sensor) located on an electric motor or part of a motor, or may be implemented by programming a microprocessor to sense the current absorbed by one or more phases of the motor with a sensor and calculate the position of the moving component from the resulting data.

[0028] The components of the furniture product are not particularly limited and may be horizontally movable and / or liftable doors, removable drawers and shelves.

[0029] The advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a motorized system installed in a furniture item. [Diagram 2] 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a motorized sliding runner of a furniture product, in which the same or conceptually similar components are given the same reference numerals and the elements are described in actual use. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a power management system MC installed in an item of furniture (not shown) comprising a generic displaceable component C such as a door.

[0032] The displaceable component C is connected to an energy converter CONV and an electric drive member M. The energy converter CONV serves to convert the displacement of the component C into electrical energy, which is then stored in a storage device B and the drive member M serves to move the component C.

[0033] The arrows indicate the direction of power or the direction of a signal.

[0034] The microprocessor U controls the energy converter CONV and is connected to a power stage PW (eg an inverter) which controls the power supply flow from the power storage device B to the motor M.

[0035] Preferably, the microprocessor U is connected to a sensor S that detects the position of the moving component C. This allows the microprocessor U to easily determine whether and how to control the energy converter CONV to transfer electrical energy to the storage device B.

[0036] Thus, the general operation of the system is as follows:

[0037] In the event of manual displacement of component C, microprocessor U intervenes and drives energy converter CONV to generate electrical energy from such displacement and stores the generated energy in storage device B.

[0038] The stored energy is then used, for example, to move a component C; for this purpose, the microprocessor U controls a power stage PW to drive a drive member M.

[0039] The microprocessor U is preferably connected to a wireless communication stage W, via which it can receive external set-up data for the system, for example timing and dynamic profiles of the components C.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows an example of an application of the system MC.

[0041] The slide of the furniture door 32 is indicated by the reference numeral 30 .

[0042] The slide 30, which corresponds to component C in FIG. 1, is slidable on a rail, thereby allowing the door body 32 to move horizontally back and forth (along the X-axis) relative to the compartment of the furniture item.

[0043] The slide 30 includes a bracket 34. A rotating plate 36 rotatably pivots on the bracket 34. The rotating plate 36 is part of an electric motor, for example a brushless motor, connected to a battery.

[0044] The gliding unit 30 also includes an electrical power unit that controls the flow of electricity from the electric motor to the battery and from the battery to the electric motor.

[0045] When the door body 32 is pressed, the rotating plate 36 rotates on the guide, generating electrical energy, which is then stored in the battery by the motorized section.

[0046] Next, the electric motor acts on the battery provided in the motor of the sliding part 30. This causes the rotating plate 36 to function as a thruster that slides the door body 32.

[0047] Also, if an electric motor can be used as actuator and generator, the energy converter CONV and the electric drive member M may be integrated.

Claims

1. 1. A power management method, comprising: (i) generating electrical energy from the displacement of a component (C; 30) of the furniture item that can be moved by a user; (ii) storing the generated electrical energy in an electrical storage device (B) mounted on the furniture product; using the stored electrical energy to move the component.

2. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the stored electrical energy to power a rotary electric motor or an electric linear actuator connected to the component.

3. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the electrical energy is obtained by converting the kinetic energy of the component into electrical energy.

4. 4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the kinetic energy obtained during the free movement of the component is converted into electrical energy by means of an electric motor or dynamo used as a generator.

5. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dynamic behavior of an electric actuator or motor powered by the stored electrical energy is programmed to cause the component to follow a predetermined path.

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