DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AT LEAST ONE ELECTRICALLY DRIVABLE OR MOVABLE FURNITURE ELEMENT

Abstract

A device for controlling an electrically drivable or movable furniture element includes a main transmitter for emitting a wirelessly transmitted signal, and a receiver for receiving a wirelessly transmitted signal. The furniture element can be controlled by a first wirelessly transmitted signal, and the first wirelessly transmitted signal can be transmitted from the main transmitter to the receiver. An auxiliary transmitter separate from the main transmitter is provided, from which a second wirelessly transmitted signal can be sent to the receiver. The furniture element can be controlled by a second signal transmitted from the auxiliary transmitter to the receiver.

Claims

1. A device for controlling at least one electrically drivable or movable furniture element, the device comprising: at least one main transmitter for emitting at least one wirelessly transmitted signal and at least one receiver for receiving at least one wirelessly transmitted signal, wherein the at least one furniture element can be controlled by means of at least one wirelessly transmitted first signal, wherein the at least one wirelessly transmitted first signal can be transmitted from the at least one main transmitter to the at least one receiver, characterized in that at least one auxiliary transmitter which is separate from the at least one main transmitter is provided, from which at least one auxiliary transmitter at least one wirelessly transmitted second signal can be sent to the at least one receiver, and the at least one furniture element can be controlled by means of at least one second signal transmitted from the at least one auxiliary transmitter to the at least one receiver.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first signal and/or the at least one second signal is a digital signal, which can preferably be transmitted via at least one digital transmission protocol.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first signal and/or the at least one second signal is a control signal for controlling at least one furniture element.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein each furniture element is allocated its own receiver.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one auxiliary transmitter is in cabled and/or wireless data connection with a furniture element, wherein at least one wirelessly transmitted second signal can be sent to the receiver of at least one further furniture element, and the further furniture element can be controlled by means of this at least one second signal.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one auxiliary transmitter is arranged on a domestic appliance, preferably a robotic vacuum cleaner or a microwave oven.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein each furniture element is allocated its own auxiliary transmitter.

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a common main transmitter is provided for at least two, preferably for all furniture elements.

9. The device according claim 1, wherein, for at least one furniture element, preferably for all furniture elements, the auxiliary transmitter lies closer to the furniture element than the main transmitter.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one furniture element has an electrical drive device for moving a movable furniture part, in particular a drawer, a door or a flap.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one furniture element has at least one electrical closing device for locking a movable furniture element, in particular a drawer, a door or a flap.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one furniture element and the allocated receiver are combined to form a structural unit, preferably accommodated in a common housing.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one furniture element that is in radio communication with a particular auxiliary transmitter and the particular auxiliary transmitter are attached to or mounted in the same piece of furniture.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one main transmitter is integrated in a preferably wireless network, in particular a WLAN network.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein a device for voice control is provided with which device for voice control at least one furniture element can be accessed via the at least one main transmitter.

16. The device according to the claim 15, wherein the device for voice control comprises a terminal device, connected to the internet, with a microphone, wherein a voice recording effected by the terminal device can be sent to an external computer network, in particular over the internet, an electronic message determined by the voice recording and/or an operating command determined by the voice recording can be sent from the external computer network to the at least one main transmitter, in particular over a wireless network, and at least one signal determined by the operating command can be transmitted to at least one furniture element.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one main transmitter can be accessed from a mobile terminal device, preferably via a Bluetooth connection, wherein in normal operation at least one furniture element can be accessed in turn by the at least one main transmitter.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein, for the at least one auxiliary transmitter, a switch that is physically operatable, in particular by hand, is provided, through the actuation of which the at least one auxiliary transmitter can be prompted to send at least one second signal to at least one receiver.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the at least one auxiliary transmitter and the switch are assembled to form a structural unit, preferably in a common housing.

20. The furniture arrangement comprising at least one piece of furniture and the device for controlling an electrically drivable or movable furniture element claim 1.

21. The furniture arrangement according to the claim 2, wherein the furniture arrangement comprises at least two pieces of furniture.

22. The furniture arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the furniture arrangement comprises, as driven furniture parts, at least one flap and/or at least one door and/or at least one drawer, wherein in the case where the furniture arrangement comprises several pieces of furniture, the furniture parts can be distributed between the several pieces of furniture as desired.

23. A method of controlling at least one electrically drivable or movable furniture element with the device according to claim 1, wherein; the at least one auxiliary transmitter emits at least one wirelessly transmitted signal and the at least one receiver receives at least one wirelessly transmitted signal the method further comprising: transmitting at least one first signal and at least one second signal to the at least one receiver controlling the at least one furniture element on the basis of the at least one first signal and on the basis of the at least one second signal, wherein the at least one first signal originates from the at least one auxiliary transmitter and the at least one second signal originates from at least one main transmitter, which is different from the at least one auxiliary transmitter.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein, in the transmission method step, the transmission of the at least one signal is effected unidirectionally between the main transmitter and/or auxiliary transmitter and the receiver and/or addressed directly to the receiver and/or without an acknowledgement of receipt by the receiver and/or without checking the readiness-to-receive of the receiver and/or with a firmly predefined or predefinable routing of the at least one signal, wherein ESB (Enhanced ShockBurst) is preferably used as transmission protocol.

25. A computer program product comprising commands, which, if executed by at least one arithmetic unit, prompt it to perform the method according to claim 23 from at least one memory unit, which is in a data connection with the at least one arithmetic unit or can be brought into such a connection.

Description

[0071] FIGS. 1a, b piece of furniture with a furniture drive for moving a flap,

[0072] FIG. 2 piece of furniture with a furniture drive for ejecting a drawer,

[0073] FIG. 3 piece of furniture with a furniture drive for ejecting a door,

[0074] FIGS. 4a, b piece of furniture with a furniture drive for moving a flap and physically actuatable switch,

[0075] FIG. 5 schematic overview of several furniture elements controlled via radio signals, and

[0076] FIGS. 6a-e embodiment examples of the device according to the invention for controlling at least one furniture element.

[0077] FIG. 1a, FIG. 1b, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b show various embodiments of pieces of furniture 9 with furniture drives 11, which are severally already the state of the art. Of course, the invention can also be used with novel, other furniture drives 11.

[0078] In FIGS. 1a and 1b, in each case a piece of furniture 9 with a furniture element 1 formed as a furniture drive 11 is shown. A flap 92 that can be opened upwards is also shown in FIG. 1a but is not represented in FIG. 1b for reasons of clarity. The flap 92 is connected to the furniture carcass 91 via the furniture element 1 formed as a furniture drive 11. The furniture element 1 comprises a control arm 111, two levers 112a, 112b and a drive lever 113. The control arm 111 is fastened to the flap 92 and rotatably connected to the levers 112a, 112b. A drive lever 113, which can be moved electrically by the furniture drive 11, is in turn rotatably connected to the levers 112a, 112b. This embodiment of the furniture drive 11 is also disclosed in published document WO 2017/177247 A1.

[0079] FIG. 2 shows a piece of furniture 9, which has three drawers 94 in a furniture carcass 91. At least one drawer 94 can be ejected electrically by a furniture drive 11. For this, the furniture drive 11 has an ejection lever 114. This embodiment is also disclosed in published document AT 513756 A4.

[0080] FIG. 3 shows a piece of furniture 9 in the form of a cabinet. The door 93 arranged on the furniture carcass 91 can be ejected by an electrical furniture drive 11 as in FIG. 2. This embodiment is also disclosed in published document AT 514945 A4.

[0081] The electrical furniture drives 11 shown in FIGS. 1a to 3 can also be accessed via a radio communication.

[0082] FIGS. 4a and 4b disclose an embodiment example of a physically actuatable switch 5, which transmits signals 4 to the furniture drive 11 via a radio communication. The signals 4 can prompt the furniture drive 11 to open or close the flap 92. Here, FIG. 4b shows a detailed view of the region D in FIG. 4a. This embodiment example is also disclosed in published document AT 11 904 U1.

[0083] In an embodiment example of the present application it is provided that several pieces of furniture 9 form a furniture arrangement.

[0084] The furniture arrangement can, for example, comprise a kitchen unit with several pieces of kitchen furniture. Through the communication with and between several furniture elements 1, in particular furniture drives 11 and furniture locks 12, the kitchen can be made easier to use.

[0085] In particular, flaps 92, doors 93 and drawers 94 can electively be controlled by radio switch 5, voice control, mobile terminal device 34 or the like.

[0086] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of the communication with and between several furniture elements 1 by means of a wireless communication network. The dashed lines show radio communications between the individual elements. The following are part of the wireless communication network: [0087] four furniture drives 11 of different types, in particular of the type in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 [0088] physically actuatable switches 5 [0089] a furniture lock 12 [0090] domestic appliances 35 in the form of a microwave oven, a coffee machine and a robotic vacuum cleaner [0091] a main transmitter 31, which is integrated into a wireless network 6 [0092] a router 61, which is likewise integrated into a wireless network 6 and can produce a connection to the internet [0093] a mobile terminal device 34 and [0094] a device for voice control 7.

[0095] Over the internet, the communication network is in data connection with at least one external computer network 8 (“cloud”), in which the analysis of a voice message can be carried out, for example. At least one external computer network 8 can be accessed by means of a computer with web interface 81.

[0096] FIGS. 6a-e show various embodiment examples of the device according to the invention for controlling the furniture element 1, wherein in each case at least one signal 4 is wirelessly transmitted from at least one main transmitter 31 and at least one auxiliary transmitter 32 to at least one receiver 2. The signal 4 is transmitted to at least one furniture element 1 and used to control the at least one furniture element 1.

[0097] FIG. 6a shows an embodiment example with two main transmitters 31, which wirelessly transmit a signal 4 to four receivers 2. The receivers 2 are partially allocated to a specific furniture element 1. However, an auxiliary transmitter 32 can also not be firmly allocated to a single furniture element 1, but instead also transmit the received signals 4 to two furniture elements 1, for example. In addition, three auxiliary transmitters 32 likewise send a signal 4 to the receivers 2.

[0098] FIG. 6b shows a typical embodiment example with only one main transmitter 31. This one main transmitter 31 wirelessly transmits signals 4 to each receiver 2. Each receiver 2 is allocated to one furniture element 1, wherein the received signals 4 can be used to control the respective furniture element 1. Each receiver 2 can also receive signals 4 from an auxiliary transmitter 32, wherein here one auxiliary transmitter 32 is allocated to each receiver 2.

[0099] FIG. 6c shows a further embodiment example, in which a first furniture element 1 is controlled through signals 4 of a main transmitter 31 and through signals 4 of an auxiliary transmitter 32, wherein the auxiliary transmitter 32 is arranged in a second furniture element 1.

[0100] This configuration can, for example, be used to avoid collisions between two furniture parts 90, for example flaps 92, doors 93 or drawers 94, driven by the two furniture elements 1. If, for example, the main transmitter 31 gives the first furniture element 1, by means of the receiver 2, the command to move a furniture part 90, this command can be countered, depending on the position of the second furniture element 1 with a second driven furniture part 90, by means of a signal 4 sent by the auxiliary transmitter 32.

[0101] This configuration can also be used when the second furniture element 1 is a furniture lock 12 and the first furniture element 1 is a furniture drive 11 of the same furniture part 90. In this case, in the case of a locked furniture lock 12, the auxiliary transmitter 32 on the furniture lock 12 can counteract an opening of the furniture part 90 commanded by the main transmitter 31, in order for example to avoid damage to the piece of furniture 9.

[0102] FIG. 6d shows the control of a furniture element 1 via a voice input by means of a device for voice control 7 and via a physically, in particular manually, actuatable switch 5.

[0103] For the voice control, a voice recording 44 is made by the microphone of the device for voice control 7 and passed to at least one external computer network 8 over the internet. There, the voice recording 44 is analyzed and an electronic message 46 and/or an operating command 45 is generated. An electronic message 46 can also be generated in an external computer network 8 and an operating command 45 can be generated in a further external computer network 8 from the electronic message 46.

[0104] The electronic message 46 and/or the operating command 45 are then sent back to the operator. The main transmitter 31 receives the operating command 45 and/or the electronic message 46 over a wireless network 6 of the operator and controls the furniture element 1 with signals 4 via the receiver 2. The voice recording can, for example, include “open”, wherein the main transmitter 31 is then prompted to open the furniture part 90 driven by the furniture element 1.

[0105] In parallel with this, the auxiliary transmitter 32 is prompted, through the manual actuation of the switch 5, to send a signal 4 to the receiver 2. The auxiliary transmitter 32 can be structurally combined with the switch 5. The furniture part 90 can thus be opened and locked by means of voice control and manual control.

[0106] FIG. 6e shows the control of a furniture element 1 by a switch 5 via the auxiliary transmitter 32 and by a mobile terminal device 34 via the main transmitter 31. The mobile terminal device 34 sends operating commands 45 to the main transmitter 31. For this, a program (“app”) for operating the furniture elements 1 can be installed on the mobile terminal device 34.

[0107] In addition, a program (“app”) for configuring the furniture elements 1 can be present, by means of which both the main transmitter 31 and the auxiliary transmitter 32 can be configured with the associated furniture element 1. Both the movement of a single furniture element 1 and the common, synchronized movement of two or more furniture elements 1 can be preconfigured. In addition, the movement of a furniture element 1 can be prohibited on the basis of the position and/or movement of another furniture element 1, in order to avoid collisions of the furniture parts 90 driven by the furniture elements 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0108] 1 furniture element [0109] 11 furniture drive [0110] 111 control arm [0111] 112a lever [0112] 112b lever [0113] 113 lever [0114] 114 ejection lever [0115] 12 furniture lock [0116] 2 receiver [0117] 21 first receiving unit [0118] 22 second receiving unit [0119] 3 transmitter [0120] 31 main transmitter [0121] 32 auxiliary transmitter [0122] 33 transmitter of a furniture element [0123] 34 mobile terminal device [0124] 35 domestic appliance [0125] 4 signal [0126] 401 signal in the first transmission protocol [0127] 402 signal in the second transmission protocol [0128] 41 control signal [0129] 42 signal with configuration data [0130] 43 signal with status data [0131] 44 voice recording [0132] 45 operating command [0133] 46 electronic message [0134] 5 switch [0135] 6 wireless network [0136] 61 router [0137] 7 device for voice control [0138] 8 external computer network [0139] 81 computer with web interface [0140] 9 piece of furniture [0141] 90 furniture part [0142] 91 furniture carcass [0143] 92 flap [0144] 93 door [0145] 94 drawer