Furniture Drive Charging Layout With Local Voltage Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electromotive furniture drives require large, expensive, and bulky cables for charging connections due to high current demands, which are obstructive and costly, especially when positioned far from the control unit.
Innovation Solution
A voltage converter is placed in close proximity to the charging connection, reducing the required cable current by a factor of 4-5, allowing for smaller conductor cross-sections and more flexible cable layouts, using a compact switching converter with integrated semiconductor and passive components, and arranging the converter and charging connection on a common circuit board for minimal voltage drop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the charging connection is positioned far from the control unit, then the charging connection is more accessible and can be positioned in convenient locations, but larger cable cross-sections are required which make the cables expensive and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two functional segments: the control unit containing the high-voltage power supply and the charging connection containing the low-voltage voltage converter. This segmentation allows the high-voltage cable to be short and thick (for power transmission), while the low-voltage cable can be long and thin (for signal and low-power transmission), resolving the contradiction between distance and cable size requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage level is changed along the cable path: high voltage (24-30V) is maintained from the power supply to minimize current and cable size for power transmission, then converted to low voltage (5V) at the charging connection for USB device compatibility. This parameter change allows different cable specifications for different sections of the system
2Adaptability or versatility
If a voltage converter is integrated in the control device, then the power supply unit can be used for charging external devices, but cables with large cross-sections are required which are obstructive and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage converter function is extracted from the control device and relocated to the charging connection. This extraction allows the control device to focus on high-voltage power management while the charging connection handles low-voltage conversion, enabling the use of thinner cables for the charging connection while maintaining the versatility of using the power supply unit for charging external devices
3Power
If special cables with higher conductor cross-section are used for charging connections, then sufficient current can be supplied, but the cables are considerably more expensive and worse to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage parameter is changed at the charging connection from high voltage (24-30V) to low voltage (5V) through the voltage converter. This parameter change reduces the current requirement by a factor of 4-5, allowing the use of standard cables with smaller conductor cross-sections instead of expensive special cables, while still maintaining sufficient power delivery capability
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
This design reduces cable size and cost, improves flexibility, and eliminates the need for special cables, enabling easier integration and user-friendly spiral cables with uniform cross-sections for both supply and control cores, while maintaining efficient power transmission.
Implementation Method 1
voltage converters are integrated in the electromotive furniture drives, usually in a control device thereof, which convert the DC voltage used by the furniture drive, which is usually in the range of 24-30 volts (V), into a voltage of usually 5V for the charging apparatuses
Implementation Method 2
using a compact switching converter with integrated semiconductor and passive components
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an electromotive furniture drive comprising at least one adjusting drive (7, 8) for electromotively adjusting at least one movable furniture part relative to further furniture parts, and comprising a control device (9) for actuating the at least one adjusting drive (7, 8), and also comprising a charging apparatus (10) having at least one charging connection (11) for supplying power to an external electronic device. The electromotive furniture drive is distinguished in that the charging apparatus (10) has a cable (13) for connection to the control device (9), wherein the cable (13) leads from the control device (9) to a voltage converter (112) to which the at least one charging connection (11) is connected. The invention further relates to an item of furniture, in particular an item of furniture for sleeping or resting on, comprising an electromotive furniture drive of this kind comprising a charging apparatus (10).