Furniture Drive Dual-Sensor Triggering for Drawer Position Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture drives face challenges in minimizing unintentional triggering, particularly when a drawer is fully open and subject to loading or unloading forces, which can lead to accidental activation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of two sensors with different triggering sensitivities, where one sensor is coupled to a mechanical setting sensor independent of the gear mechanism and reacts immediately to user forces, while the other is mechanically coupled to the transmission, providing varying sensitivity based on the drawer's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single sensor with fixed triggering threshold is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of preventing unintentional triggering deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensing function into two separate sensors: a first sensor coupled to the transmission for detecting drawer position, and a second sensor coupled to the mechanical positioning sensor for detecting user force. This segmentation allows each sensor to have optimized triggering thresholds for different operational contexts, improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic triggering thresholds that automatically adjust based on the drawer's position detected by the first sensor. When the drawer is in the closed end position, a lower threshold is applied; when partially or fully open, a higher threshold is applied. This dynamic adaptation prevents unintentional triggering during loading/unloading operations
2Measurement precision
If the triggering threshold is lowered to detect user force, then the sensitivity to user input is improved, but the risk of unintentional triggering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different triggering thresholds (different local qualities) based on the drawer's position. The second sensor uses a lower threshold when the drawer is closed to ensure responsive user force detection, while the first sensor provides position information that triggers a higher threshold when the drawer is open, preventing unintentional activation during loading/unloading
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously receives feedback from both sensors and dynamically adjusts the triggering threshold based on the drawer position detected by the first sensor. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system adapts its sensitivity in real-time to prevent unintentional triggering while maintaining user responsiveness
3Device complexity
If the sensor is mechanically coupled to the transmission, then the device complexity is reduced, but the response speed to user force deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensing system into two independent sensing paths: one through the transmission (first sensor) and one directly through the mechanical positioning sensor (second sensor). The second sensor's direct coupling to the mechanical positioning sensor provides immediate response to user force without the inertia of the transmission mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical positioning sensor acts as an intermediary that directly translates drawer movement into sensor signals for the second sensor, bypassing the transmission mechanism. This intermediary approach enables fast response to user force while the first sensor coupled to the transmission provides position verification
Data Source
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AI summary
A furniture drive (1) having: - an output drive (2) for transmitting force to a movable furniture part (11), - an electric motor(3), - a gear mechanism (4) which is connected between the electric motor (3) and the output drive (2), - a switching device (5) for switching the electric motor (3), - a first sensor (6), it being possible for the signals from said sensor to be supplied to the switching device (5), wherein the first sensor (6) is mechanically coupled to the gear mechanism (4), wherein a second sensor (7) is provided, it being possible for the signals from said second sensor to be supplied to the switching device (5), and wherein the second sensor (7) is coupled to a mechanical actuating sensor (8) independently of the gear mechanism (4), and wherein the switching device (5) switches on the electric motor (3) when a signal is received from the first or second sensor (6, 7), and an item of furniture having a furniture drive of this kind.