ELECTRICAL ADJUSTABLE TABLE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR ELECTRICAL ADJUSTABLE TABLE

• US 20160309889A1
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Published: 10/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiMOTION Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: TiMOTION Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: CHOU, Pen-Chih, LIN, Dong-Jye, WU, Chou-Hsin
• Granted Patent: US 9,993,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 2200/0062 Electronically user-adaptable, height-adjustable desk or table
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 9/00 Tables with tops of variable height lecterns with variable height A47B19/06; school forms or desks with variable height A47B39/02, A47B41/02; seats with variable height A47C3/20

Abstract

An electrical adjustable table (10, 10′, 8) and its control method are disclosed. The control method of the electrical adjustable table includes following steps. Initialize an internal setting value or a user setting value. Enter a static status. Extend or shrink a table foot (11, 11′, 86) for adjusting the height of a table plate (13, 13′, 88) heading to a first direction according to an operation to a hand control device (25, 84). Stop adjusting the height of the table plate (13, 13′, 88) when a motion sensor unit is used and detects the table plate tilted during adjusting the height of the table plate. The method effectively prevents the table plate to keep lifting when the table plate hits an obstacle to avoid objects fallen, the obstacle damaged or malfunction of the electrical adjustable table.

Claims

1. A control method of an electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8), comprising;

a) activating an internal setting value or a user setting value;

b) entering a static status;

c) receiving an operation via a hand control device of the electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) and extending or shrinking at least a table foot (11, 11′

, 86) in a first direction according to the operation to adjust a height of a table plate (13, 13′

, 88) of the electrical adjustable table; and

d) stopping adjusting the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) when sensing the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) being tilted via at least one motion sensor unit (23) of the electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) during adjusting the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88).

2. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor unit (23) is a gyroscope or an accelerometer sensor, and the step d) is performed by sensing a first tilt angle via the motion sensor unit (23) and determine whether the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) is tilted according to the first tilt angle.

3. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 2, wherein the step d) is performed by determining the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) being tilted when the first tilt angle is not less than 0.3 degree.

4. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 1, wherein the step d) comprises further adjusting the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) to a second direction opposite to the first direction to adjust the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) to a safety distance when stopping adjusting the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88).

5. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 4, wherein the step d) is performed by further adjusting the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) heading the first direction after adjusting the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) heading to the second direction to the safety distance.

6. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 1, wherein after the step c), the control method further comprises a step e):

entering a safety mode when sensing an obstacle (70, 72) via at least one obstacle sensor unit (26) of the electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) during adjusting the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88).

7. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 6, wherein after step e), the following steps are performed:

e1) sensing a first distance between the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) and the obstacle (70, 72) via the obstacle sensor unit in the safety mode; and

e2) stopping adjusting the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) and issuing a first warning if determining the first distance being not larger than a first distance setting value.

8. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 7, wherein after the step e1, the following step is performed:

if determining the first distance being not less than a second distance setting value, adjusting the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) heading to the first direction, wherein the second distance setting value is larger than the first distance setting value.

9. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 6, wherein after the step e), a step e4 is comprised:

adjusting the position of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) horizontally to avoid meeting the obstacle (70, 72).

10. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 1, wherein after the step b), a step f) is comprised:

when sensing the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) being tilted via the motion sensor unit (23) in the static status, entering a response mode and issuing a warning.

11. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 10, wherein the step f) is performed by sensing a second tilt angle via the motion sensor unit (13) and determining the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) being tilted when the second tilt angle is not less than 1 degree.

12. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 10, wherein a step f1) is performed after the step f):

extending a table foot plate (111, 111′

) of the electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) in the response mode.

13. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 10, a step f2) is comprised after the step f):

lowering the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) in the response mode.

14. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 10, a step f3) is comprised after the step f):

adjusting the position of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) horizontally in the response mode.

15. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 1, further comprising:

g1) retrieving a first length of the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) during adjusting the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88);

g2) retrieving a second length of the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) after counting a first time period being passed;

g3) when determining an extending or shrinking speed of the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) being too fast according to the first length and the second length, slowing down the extending or shrinking speed; and

g4) when determining the extending or shrinking speed being too slow according to the first length and the second length, increasing the extending or shrinking speed.

16. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 15, wherein the step g1 is performed by sensing a first hall effect signal value corresponding to the current first length of the table foot (11, 11′

, 86);

the step g2 is performed by sensing a second hall effect signal value corresponding to the current second length of the table foot;

the step g3 is performed by determine whether the extending or shrinking speed is too fast according to whether a signal value difference between the first hall effect signal value and the second hall signal value is larger than a first signal threshold value;

the step g4 is performed by determining whether the extending or shrinking speed is too slow according to whether the signal value difference is smaller than a second signal threshold value, wherein the second signal threshold value is not larger than the first signal threshold value.

17. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 15, wherein the step g2 comprises:

g21) accumulating a counting time when receiving an interrupt signal;

g22) repeating the step g21) when the counting time is less than the first time period; and

g23) retrieving the second length when the counting time is not less than the first time period.

18. The control method the electrical adjustable table of claim 15, wherein the step g3) comprises a step g31:

when determining the extending or shrinking speed being too fast and a first speed difference between the extending or shrinking speed and a lowest speed is larger than a speed decreasing value, decreasing a rotation speed of a motor (50, 820) of the electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8).

19. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 18, wherein the step g4) comprises a step g41):

when determining a second speed difference between the extending or shrinking speed and a fastest speed being larger than a speed increasing value, increasing the rotation speed of the motor (80, 820).

20. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 15, further comprising:

h1) performing current sensing to a motor (50, 820) of the electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) for each second time period during adjusting the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) to retrieve a plurality of current values sequentially; and

h2) performing an over current protection mechanism when determining the motor (50, 820) operating abnormally according to the plurality of current values.

21. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 20, wherein the over current protection mechanism is to stop extending or shrinking the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) and to extend or shrink the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) to a second distance in an opposite direction after the stopping.

22. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 20, wherein the step h1) is to retrieve a first current value, a second current value and a third current value, and the step h2) further comprises:

h21) calculating a first current difference value between the first current value and the second current value and calculating a second current difference value between the second current value and the third current value;

h22) performing the over current protection mechanism when determining the motor (50, 820) having started not reaching an initialization time and the second current difference value being larger than a first current threshold value; and

h23) performing the over current mechanism when determining the motor (50, 820) having started reaching the initialization time and the second current difference value being larger than the second current threshold value, wherein the second current threshold value is less than the first current threshold value.

23. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 22, wherein the step h22 comprises:

h221) performing the over current mechanism when determining the motor (50, 820) having started not reaching the initialization time, the second current difference value being larger than the first current threshold value, the second current difference value being less than four times of the first current difference value, the table foot extending or shrinking to a first direction, and the first current difference value and the second current difference value being both larger than zero; and

h222) performing the over current protection mechanism when determining the motor (50, 820) having started not reaching the initialization time, the second current difference value being larger than a third current threshold value, the second current difference value being less than four times of the first current difference value, the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) extending or shrinking in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the first current difference value and the second current difference value being both larger than zero, wherein the third current threshold value is larger than the first current threshold value.

24. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 22, wherein the step h23 comprises:

h231) performing the over current protection mechanism when determining the motor (50, 820) having started reaching the initialization time, the second current difference value being larger than the second current threshold value, the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) extending or shrinking in the first direction, and the first current difference value and the second current difference value being not less than zero; and

h232) performing the over current mechanism when the motor (50, 820) having started reaching the initialization time, the second current difference value being larger than a fourth current threshold value, the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) extending or shrinking in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the first current difference value and the second current difference value being both not less than zero, wherein the fourth current threshold value is less than the second current threshold value.

25. The control method of the electrical adjustable table of claim 15, further comprising:

j1) accumulating an operating value when detecting a button (251, 252) of the hand control device (25, 84) being pressed continuously more than a third time period;

j2) decreasing the operating value when detecting the button (251, 252) being not pressed each fourth time period; and

j3) issuing a warning message or stopping adjusting the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) according to operation when determining the operation value being not less than an operation threshold value.

26. An electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8), comprising;

a table plate (13, 13′

, 88);

at least one table foot (11, 11′

, 86) connected to the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) and moved together with the table plate (13, 13′

, 88);

a lifting structure (30) disposed in the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) for extending or shrinking the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) to adjust the height of the table plate;

a hand control device (25, 84) for receiving an operation;

a motion sensor unit (23); and

a control box (20, 80) being disposed to the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) and located at the same side with the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) and being electrically connected to the lifting structure (30), the hand control device (25, 84) and the motion sensor unit (23), the control box (20, 80) driving the lifting structure (30) to adjust the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) heading to a first direction according to the operation, and stopping driving the lifting structure (13) for stopping adjusting the height of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) when sensing the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) tilted via the motion sensor unit during adjusting the height of the table plate.

27. The electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) of claim 26, wherein the control box (20, 80) comprises a main power unit (21), a main control unit (22) and a warning unit (24).

28. The electrical adjustable table of claim 26, wherein the motion sensor unit (23) is a gyroscope or an accelerometer sensor, the control box (10, 10′

, 8) senses a first tilt angle via the motion sensor unit (23) and determines the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) tilted when the first tilt angle is not smaller than 0.3 degree.

29. The electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) of claim 26, wherein the control box (20, 80) is disposed in the table foot (11, 11′

, 86).

30. The electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) of claim 26, further comprising at least one obstacle sensor unit (26) for sensing an obstacle, the obstacle sensor unit (26) being disposed to the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) and electrically connected to the control box (20, 80).

31. The electrical adjustable table of claim 30, wherein the obstacle sensor unit (26) is a light sensor element.

32. The electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) of claim 26, wherein the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) has at least one table foot plate (111, 111′

), and the electrical adjustable table further comprises a table foot plate driver structure (60) electrically connected to the control box (20, 80) and disposed in the table foot plate (111, 111′

).

33. The electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) of claim 26, wherein one side of the table foot (11, 11′

, 86) is connected to a beam (12, 12′

) supporting the table plate (13, 13′

, 88).

34. The electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) of claim 33, further comprising a horizontal moving structure (40) disposed between the beam (12, 12′

) and the table plate (13, 13′

, 88), the horizontal moving structure being electrically connected to the control box (20, 80) for adjusting the position of the table plate (13, 13′

, 88) horizontally.

35. The electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) of claim 26, wherein the hand control device (25, 84) comprises at least one magnet sensor unit for wireless charging.

36. The electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) of claim 26, wherein the hand control device (25) is embedded in the table plate (13, 13′

, 88).

37. The electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) of claim 36, wherein the hand control device (25) is at the same height with the table plate (13, 13′

, 88).

38. The electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) of claim 36, wherein the hand control device (25) further comprises a touch screen (251) or at least one button (252).

39. The electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) of claim 36, wherein the hand control device (25) further comprises at least one touch screen (251) and at least one button (252).

40. The electrical adjustable table (10, 10′

, 8) of claim 39, wherein the touch screen (251) and the button (252) are disposed at different sides of the hand control device, and wherein the touch screen (251) and the button (252) are respectively disposed at a top surface of the hand control device (25) and an adjacent surface adjacent to the top surface.