Portable Tilt-Sensing Controller for Adjustable Table Collision Stop
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrical adjustable apparatuses, such as tables, often collide with obstacles during height adjustment, leading to potential damage or objects falling, as users are unaware of obstacles in the raising or lowering path, resulting in costly damage and safety issues.
Innovation Solution
A portable device with a tilt sensor, signal transmitter, and processor is used to detect collisions by determining tilted angles and sending stopping signals to prevent further adjustment, thereby integrating an anti-crash mechanism without the need for a built-in tilt sensor in the apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a built-in tilt sensor is installed in the electrical adjustable apparatus to detect collision, then the reliability of collision detection is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a portable device as an intermediary component that contains the tilt sensor and processing logic. This external device communicates with the electrical adjustable apparatus via signal transmission, allowing collision detection functionality to be added without modifying the internal structure of the apparatus itself. The portable device acts as a mediator that bridges the sensing capability and the control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The collision detection function is extracted from the electrical adjustable apparatus and placed into a separate portable device. By removing the tilt sensor and control logic from the main apparatus structure, the patent reduces device complexity while maintaining detection reliability. The portable device becomes an independent module that can be used across different apparatus units.
2Productivity
If the electrical adjustable apparatus continues to stretch/shorten after collision, then the productivity of height adjustment is improved, but the harmful effects such as damage to structure or articles increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the portable device continuously monitors the tilted angle during the stretching/shortening process. When collision is detected through tilt angle changes, the system automatically sends a stopping signal to halt the motor-driven actuation. This closed-loop feedback ensures that the adjustment process stops immediately upon detecting harmful conditions, preventing damage while allowing rapid adjustment when no obstacles are present.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively detecting potential damage through tilt sensing before significant harm occurs. The system is designed to anticipate harmful effects by monitoring for collision conditions and preemptively stopping the adjustment process, thereby preventing damage to the carrying structure, motor, or articles placed on it.
3Ease of manufacture
If users manually monitor obstacles during adjustment, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the reliability of preventing collision damage decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by enabling the electrical adjustable apparatus to automatically detect and respond to obstacles without requiring user intervention. The portable device with tilt sensor allows the system to monitor its own operational state and autonomously make decisions to prevent collision damage, eliminating the need for users to manually watch for obstacles during adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of manual obstacle monitoring with an electronic sensing and signal transmission system. The tilt sensor electronically detects collision conditions and communicates this information to the control system, substituting human visual monitoring with an automated electronic detection mechanism that is both reliable and cost-effective.
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
Prevents objects from falling and apparatus damage by automatically stopping the adjustment process upon collision detection, reducing manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for a built-in tilt sensor in the electrical adjustable apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a tilt sensor sensing a tilted angle
Data Source
AI summary
A portable device for controlling an external electrical adjustable apparatus is provided. The portable device comprises a case, a signal transmitter connected to the electrical adjustable apparatus, a tilt sensor sensing a tilted angle, a memory storing a threshold angle and a processor. The processor determines that the electrical adjustable apparatus has collision when receiving a controlling signal used to control the electrical adjustable apparatus and the tilted angle is not less than the threshold angle, and sends a stopping signal to the electrical adjustable apparatus via the signal transmitter for making the electrical adjustable apparatus stop raising/lowering when determining that the electrical adjustable apparatus has collision. This present disclosed example can effectively prevent article placing on the carrying structure from falling and prevent the electrical adjustable apparatus or the obstacle from being damaged by continual stretching/shortening after collision.