Impact protection controller for electric height-adjustable desk
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing impact protection systems for electric height-adjustable desks are either too sensitive, causing false stops due to current fluctuations, or too dull, allowing damage and injury due to delayed protection during high resistance encounters, especially during descent under load.
Innovation Solution
A combination of current detection and shock detection using an MCU, electric motor drive circuit, current sampling and amplification circuits, HALL pulse generator, HALL filter, and a shock switch, with PID automatic control for synchronous operation of multiple posts, increasing sensitivity and reliability of impact protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protection is set to be too sensitive, then impact protection is triggered more easily, but false stops occur during normal operation due to current fluctuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the impact detection function into two independent detection channels: current detection and shock switch detection. Each channel operates independently with its own threshold settings, allowing the system to distinguish between normal current fluctuations and actual impact events. The shock switch provides a separate mechanical detection path that is not affected by electrical noise or current variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock switch acts as an intermediary mechanical sensor that translates physical impact forces into electrical signals independent of the motor current. This intermediary detection mechanism provides a reference signal that helps distinguish true impacts from normal operational current variations, reducing false positives while maintaining protection sensitivity.
2Ease of operation
If protection is set to be too dull, then false stops are reduced, but damage and injury may occur before protection is triggered
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing detection into two channels with different characteristics, the system can use the shock switch's mechanical sensitivity to detect even minor impacts that current detection might miss. This segmentation ensures that protection is triggered at appropriate sensitivity levels without causing operational instability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial detection through current monitoring and excessive detection through the shock switch. The shock switch is positioned to trigger on a wide range of impact forces, ensuring that even significant impacts that cause immediate damage are detected. This complementary approach ensures comprehensive protection coverage.
3Ease of operation
If current detection threshold is increased to reduce false triggers, then normal operation is more stable, but protection response to actual impacts is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The shock switch serves as an intermediary that provides immediate mechanical detection of impacts regardless of current threshold settings. When an impact occurs, the shock switch directly triggers protection without waiting for current changes, eliminating the time delay associated with high current thresholds while maintaining operational stability during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock switch is pre-positioned and pre-configured to detect impacts immediately upon occurrence. This preliminary mechanical detection mechanism is always ready and does not require threshold adjustment or calibration, providing instant protection response while the current detection system maintains stable operation thresholds.
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
Enhances the sensitivity and reliability of impact protection by accurately distinguishing between normal operation and actual impacts, preventing false triggers and ensuring timely protection against significant forces, thus reducing the risk of damage and injury.
Implementation Method 1
a HALL pulse generator and a HALL filter; the MCU controlling the electric motor drive circuit; a signal transmitted by the HALL pulse generator is sent to the MCU via the HALL filter; a HALL signal reflects the number of revolutions of the electric motor
Implementation Method 2
an electric motor current sampling circuit, a current amplification circuit; an electric motor current, after sampling by the electric motor current sampling circuit, is sent into the MCU via the current amplification circuit, and used for detecting a change in current
Data Source
AI summary
An impact protection controller for an electric height-adjustable desk. The controller comprises an MCU, a motor drive circuit, a motor current sampling circuit, a current amplifier circuit, a Hall pulse generator, and a Hall filter. The MCU controls the motor drive circuit. A signal transmitted by the Hall pulse generator is sent to the MCU via the Hall filter. A motor current is sampled by the motor current sampling circuit, and the result is sent to the MCU via the current amplifier circuit to detect a change of the current. The controller further comprises a shock switch provided outside of and connected to the MCU, or provided inside of the MCU. The present invention combines current detection and shock detection to improve sensitivity and reliability of impact protection.