Height-adjustable table

Abstract

The present invention relates to an improved height-adjustable table (1) which can assist and motivate the user to use the height-adjustable table in a manner which increases health, burning of calories and well-being. The table features a system for determination of user presence and measurement of the time of user presence which can be used for alerting the user to change from a sitting to a standing position in front of the table in intervals based on the practical user presence of the table.

1 . A height-adjustable table ( 1 ) comprising:
 a frame, a table top and   a linear electric actuator system for providing a vertical displacement of the table top relative to the frame, where the linear electric actuator system comprises:
 at least one linear actuator ( 3 ), 
 a control ( 9 ), 
 a system for determining the actual height-adjustment level of the table providing information to the control ( 9 ), 
 an operating unit ( 6 ) with activation keys for user activated height-adjustment of the table, 
 where the operating unit ( 6 ) is connected to the control and configured to transmit requests corresponding to the activation of the activation keys; 
 a system for determination of user presence comprising a microcontroller and at least one sensor for picking up signals originating from mechanical vibrations generated by the user and conveyed through the components of the height-adjustable table, the at least one sensor being arranged in its position on one of the components of the height-adjustable table, and where the microcontroller is adapted to sample and record the signals obtained by the at least one sensor into a set of data, further filtering the set of data in order to collect signals originating from user presence, and suppressing noise signals originating from sources not relating to user presence, integrating the filtered signal over a time interval and determining, by comparing to threshold values or data patterns, the state of user presence, being determined to be one of 1) present at the table or 2) not present at the table and where the system for user presence further includes an interface for indicating or communicating said state to the control. 
   
     
     
         2 . A height-adjustable table according to  claim 1 , where the sensor for picking up signals originating from mechanical vibrations is either a vibration sensor; an acoustic sensor; or an accelerometer. 
     
     
         3 . A height-adjustable table according to  claim 2 , where the sensor is arranged in its position on one of the components of the height-adjustable table by means of a non-flexible means which conveys the vibrations from the table to the sensor. 
     
     
         4 . A height-adjustable table according to  claim 2 , where the sensor is arranged in a cavity formed in the table top, said cavity being adapted for receiving and retaining the sensor in its position, and where the walls of the cavity are adapted for conveying the mechanical noise to the sensor. 
     
     
         5 . A height-adjustable table according to  claim 2 , where the acoustic sensor is a microphone capsule. 
     
     
         6 . A height-adjustable table according to  claim 5 , where the system comprises two microphone capsules where the first microphone capsule is arranged connected to a component of the table by means of a non-flexible fixing means, which is non-dampening of mechanical noise, such as a hard plastic or metal bushing, and where the second microphone capsule is arranged with a mechanical noise dampening means such as a rubber or silicone bushing and where the microcontroller samples and records the signals in the time domain and determines a state of user presence, and where the signal from the microphone capsule, arranged with a mechanical noise dampening means, is used for determining the background noise, in order to calibrate the state of user presence accordingly while compensating for the background noise. 
     
     
         7 . A height-adjustable table according to  claim 2 , where the sensor is an accelerometer and where the signals from the sensor, which represent the individual axis, are sampled by the microcontroller, and the difference in amplitude from the previously sampled value is calculated, and the difference in the measured values from the individual axis is combined into one resulting value, corresponding to the incremental measured value of the mechanical vibration induced by the user for that specific sample, and that the measured value of the resulting values of samples is integrated over time, enhancing the integrity of the value, and that the integrated value is compared with a threshold value for determining the state of user presence, the state of user presence being determined to be one of 1) present at the table or 2) not present at the table, and where the system for user presence further includes an interface for indicating or communicating said state of user presence to the control. 
     
     
         8 . A height-adjustable table according to  claim 1 , where the sensor is arranged in connection with or in the control, or with the control panel, or in a separate housing, and connected to the control or control panel by a cable, or where the sensor is arranged in a dongle which can be plugged into a port in the control or control panel. 
     
     
         9 . A height-adjustable table according to  claim 1 , where the sensor is arranged outside the control or the control panel and is equipped with means for fixation of the sensor itself in mechanical connection with a component of the table such as the table top, ensuring that the sensor picks up the vibrations generated by the user being present at the table and conveyed through the component of the table. 
     
     
         10 . A height-adjustable table according to  claim 1 , where the system has means for registering the lapsed time where the state of user presence has confirmed the user to be present at the table, and means for alerting the user to change between a sitting and standing position based on predetermined sit/stand intervals.