Height-Adjustable Desk Leg Synchronization Using Magnetic Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional height adjustable desks only provide a limited number of height settings, failing to accommodate workers of various heights, and lack synchronous telescoping of legs, which can lead to inefficient and unsafe working conditions.
Innovation Solution
A height adjustable desk with a worksurface and two legs connected to a bottom, each equipped with a motor and lifting apparatus, along with magnetic devices and sensors to ensure synchronous movement, allowing continuous height adjustment and synchronized telescoping of both legs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional adjustable legs with fixed bore positions are used, then the structure is simple, but the height adjustment is limited to discrete positions only
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static leg structure into a dynamic telescopic system where the upper tube can move continuously relative to the lower tube. The synchronous telescoping mechanism enables continuous height adjustment by coordinating the movement of both legs simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between limited discrete adjustment and continuous adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal height adjustment system that can accommodate workers of various heights through continuous adjustment. The synchronous telescoping mechanism serves multiple functions: adjusting height, maintaining leg symmetry, and adapting to different user requirements, thereby achieving versatility without excessive complexity.
2Ease of operation
If independent leg adjustment is used, then each leg can be adjusted independently, but the legs may not telescope synchronously leading to unsafe conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system using magnetic sensors to detect the position of the upper tube relative to the lower tube. The sensors provide real-time feedback to the control unit, which adjusts the telescoping speed of each leg to maintain synchronous movement, ensuring reliability while preserving independent adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces pure mechanical synchronization mechanisms with a control system that uses magnetic field detection and electronic control. This substitution allows for more precise and reliable synchronous telescoping by using magnetic sensors and control units to coordinate leg movement, improving reliability over mechanical linkages.
3Reliability
If magnetic sensors are added to detect synchronous movement, then leg synchronization is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses magnetic sensors and magnetic devices to replace complex mechanical position detection mechanisms. The magnetic field-based detection system provides reliable synchronous movement detection with simpler construction than mechanical linkages or optical systems, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces magnetic fields as an intermediary between the mechanical leg structures and the control system. The magnetic sensors detect changes in the magnetic field generated by the magnetic devices on the telescoping tubes, providing indirect but reliable position information without requiring direct mechanical contact or complex sensing mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables continuous height adjustment and synchronized telescoping of both legs, providing a safe and efficient working environment by accommodating different worker heights and ensuring both legs move in sync, enhancing user comfort and performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first magnetic device connected to a shaft of the first motor to be turned with the first motor, wherein the first magnetic device has a plurality of N-pole sections and a plurality of S-pole sections alternately arranged in an annular pattern; a first front sensor and a first rear sensor provided in the first leg and adjacent to the first magnetic device to detect a change of a magnetic field when the first magnetic device is turning
Data Source
AI summary
A height adjustable desk includes a worksurface, a first leg and a second leg connected to the worksurface. The first leg is provided with a first motor to drive a first lifting apparatus for telescoping the first leg, while the second leg is provided with a second motor to drive a second lifting apparatus for telescoping the second leg. Each of the first motor and the second motor is provided with a magnetic device and two sensors. The magnetic device has several N-pole sections and S-pole sections, and the sensor detect a change of a magnetic field when the motor is turning. A control unit receives the signals of the sensor, and changes a speed of at least one of the motors until the signals are synchronous again when the control unit found that the signals are not synchronous.