Furniture Actuator with Sensor-Driven Movement Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing furniture parts, such as flaps, doors, and drawers, are not conveniently operated, lacking intuitive control mechanisms that allow for seamless movement without user intervention.

Innovation Solution

A device equipped with a sensor device that records and stores movement profiles based on physical state variables, enabling the actuator to control the furniture part automatically or assist the user, with features like learning modes for personalized profiles and wireless activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual operation of furniture parts is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of intuitive control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor device automatically detects physical state variables and retrieves corresponding movement profiles from data memory without requiring user intervention. The actuator then executes the appropriate movement pattern autonomously, allowing the furniture part to serve itself rather than requiring manual control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an automated system comprising sensors that detect physical state variables, a data memory storing movement profiles, and an actuator that executes movements. This substitution of mechanical user interaction with sensor-actuator technology improves ease of operation while managing device complexity through electronic automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If automated movement control is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Movement profiles are pre-stored in the data memory, each associated with specific physical state variables. When the sensor detects a matching state variable, the corresponding pre-prepared movement profile is automatically retrieved and executed, eliminating the need for real-time complex control algorithms and reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor device continuously monitors physical state variables of the movable furniture part and provides feedback to the control system. This feedback loop enables automatic retrieval of appropriate movement profiles from data memory and execution by the actuator, creating a closed-loop control system that improves ease of operation while managing complexity through systematic feedback processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If movement profiles are pre-stored for all situations, then adaptability is improved, but loss of information increases due to memory requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidloss of information
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of storing all possible movement profiles universally, the system stores movement profiles locally in data memory that are specifically associated with particular physical state variables. This allows the system to adapt to different movement situations by retrieving only the relevant pre-stored profiles, providing adaptability while minimizing memory requirements by storing information only where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2699748B1Device for moving a movable furniture part, and piece of furniture
Publication Date: 2017.07.12 GRASS GMBH

AI summary

In a device for moving a furniture part, in particular a shutter, door or drawer, which is accommodated in a movable manner on a basic furniture structure, having an actuating drive, which, in a drive mode, is connected to the movable furniture part and drives the movable furniture part, and having a sensor means, which is connected to the actuating drive and is intended for activating the actuating drive, the sensor means has a database and is designed such that, with the device installed in the use state, physical state variables to which the movable furniture part is subjected via the user, and which serve for monitoring the movement of said furniture part, can be sensed and read into the database, wherein the database has, or can have, stored in it movement profiles which are each assigned to a certain movement situation of the movable furniture part which is initiated by external action on the movable furniture part and can be described by physical state variables, and wherein, with the aid of at least one sensed physical state variable, a certain associated movement profile can be retrieved from the database and the actuating drive can be activated in accordance with the movement profile achieved.