Device for identifying a command transmitted by a movable element of an item of furniture

Abstract

A device for identifying a command able to equip an item of furniture having at least one movable element such as a drawer ( 32 ) or a door ( 30 ), the device including at least one sensor ( 42 ) on which the movable element ( 30, 32 ) can act and control elements making it possible to define a command as a function of the action of the movable element ( 30 ) on the sensor ( 42 ), characterized in that the device includes elements for measuring the force or a characteristic of the force of the movable element ( 30 ) on the sensor ( 42 ), the control elements defining a command as a function of the measurement.

1 . Device for identifying a command that is capable of being attached to a piece of furniture that comprises at least one movable element ( 30 ,  32 ), such as a drawer or a door, with said device comprising at least one sensor ( 42 ) on which the movable element ( 30 ,  32 ) can act and control means ( 40 ) that make it possible to define a command as a function of the action of the movable element ( 30 ,  32 ) on the sensor ( 42 ), characterized in that the device comprises means for measuring the force or a characteristic of the force of the movable element ( 30 ,  32 ) on the sensor ( 42 ), with the control means ( 40 ) defining a command as a function of the measurement. 
     
     
         2 . Device for identifying a command that is capable of being attached to a piece of furniture that comprises at least one movable element ( 30 ,  32 ), such as a drawer or a door, with said device comprising at least one sensor ( 42 ) on which the movable element ( 30 ,  32 ) can act and control means ( 40 ) that make it possible to define a command as a function of the action of the movable element ( 30 ,  32 ) on the sensor ( 42 ), wherein the device comprises means for determining the variation rate of the force of the movable element ( 30 ,  32 ) on the sensor ( 42 ), with the control means ( 40 ) defining a command as a function of the variation rate of the force. 
     
     
         3 . Device for identifying a command according to  claim 2 , wherein the sensor ( 42 ) is of the piezoelectric type. 
     
     
         4 . Device for identifying a command according to  claim 2 , wherein the sensor ( 42 ) is a sensor that transmits a signal to the control means ( 40 ) as a function of the force and wherein the control means ( 40 ) comprise means for calculating the variation rate of the force starting from the signal that is received. 
     
     
         5 . Device for identifying a command according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor ( 42 ) transmits a signal as a function of the force that is exerted by the movable element ( 30 ,  32 ), with the control means measuring the signal that is transmitted and defining a command as a function of the measurement of the force. 
     
     
         6 . Process for processing a signal of a device for identifying a command according to  claim 1 , wherein it consists in comparing two signals ( 110 ,  110 ′) of two adjacent movable elements, with each signal corresponding to the variation rate of the force exerted by each movable element, the presence of a signal with a single peak ( 110 ′) making it possible not to convert the other signal ( 110 ) into a command. 
     
     
         7 . Process for processing a signal of a device for identifying a command according to  claim 6 , wherein it consists in measuring a period between the crossing point of a first threshold ( 114 ) by the signal ( 112 ) and the crossing point of a second threshold ( 116 ) by the signal ( 112 ), in comparing this period to a set-point value, and in triggering a command as a function of this comparison. 
     
     
         8 . Process for processing a signal of a device for identifying a command according to  claim 6 , wherein it consists in determining the duration of the signal above a threshold and triggering a command if this duration is greater than a set-point duration TO. 
     
     
         9 . Process for processing a signal of a device for identifying a command according to  claim 6 , wherein it consists in determining the slope of the signal of the variation rate of the force and in triggering a command if this slope is less than a set-point value βO. 
     
     
         10 . Process for processing a signal of a device for identifying a command according to  claim 6 , wherein it consists in measuring the value of the signal of the variation rate of the force after a determined period and in triggering a command if this value is negative. 
     
     
         11 . Device for controlling the flow from a faucet provided at a box of a cupboard comprising at the front an opening that is defined by the edges of the panels forming the box and at least one movable element ( 30 ,  32 ) that is suitable for at least partially blocking said opening and comprising at least one zone that can at least partially cover at least one of the edges defining the opening of the box, with said device comprising at least one solenoid valve allowing the flow or not of the water in a water pipe supplying the faucet, control means ( 40 ) guiding the solenoid valve(s) ( 36 ,  38 ,  39 ) as well as at least one device for identifying a command ( 42 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the device for identifying a command ( 42 ) comprises a sensor placed on the surface of the opening ( 28 ) between, on the one hand, at least one edge of the box, and, on the other hand, at least one movable element ( 30 ,  32 ) in such a way as to totally clear the opening. 
     
     
         12 . Device for controlling the flow from a faucet provided at a box of a cupboard comprising at least two movable elements according to  claim 11 , wherein the device for identifying a command ( 42 ) is placed at one of the edges of the box defining the opening and at the junction zone of the two movable elements ( 30 ,  32 ) in such a way as to be actuated equally by the two movable elements ( 30 ,  32 ). 
     
     
         13 . Process for processing a signal of a device for identifying a command according to  claim 2 , wherein it consists in comparing two signals ( 110 ,  110 ′) of two adjacent movable elements, with each signal corresponding to the variation rate of the force exerted by each movable element, the presence of a signal with a single peak ( 110 ′) making it possible not to convert the other signal ( 110 ) into a command. 
     
     
         14 . Process for processing a signal of a device for identifying a command according to  claim 13 , wherein it consists in measuring a period between the crossing point of a first threshold ( 114 ) by the signal ( 112 ) and the crossing point of a second threshold ( 116 ) by the signal ( 112 ), in comparing this period to a set-point value, and in triggering a command as a function of this comparison. 
     
     
         15 . Process for processing a signal of a device for identifying a command according to  claim 13 , wherein it consists in determining the duration of the signal above a threshold and triggering a command if this duration is greater than a set-point duration TO. 
     
     
         16 . Process for processing a signal of a device for identifying a command according to  claim 13 , wherein it consists in determining the slope of the signal of the variation rate of the force and in triggering a command if this slope is less than a set-point value βO. 
     
     
         17 . Process for processing a signal of a device for identifying a command according to  claim 13 , wherein it consists in measuring the value of the signal of the variation rate of the force after a determined period and in triggering a command if this value is negative. 
     
     
         18 . Device for controlling the flow from a faucet provided at a box of a cupboard comprising at the front an opening that is defined by the edges of the panels forming the box and at least one movable element ( 30 ,  32 ) that is suitable for at least partially blocking said opening and comprising at least one zone that can at least partially cover at least one of the edges defining the opening of the box, with said device comprising at least one solenoid valve allowing the flow or not of the water in a water pipe supplying the faucet, control means ( 40 ) guiding the solenoid valve(s) ( 36 ,  38 ,  39 ) as well as at least one device for identifying a command ( 42 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein the device for identifying a command ( 42 ) comprises a sensor placed on the surface of the opening ( 28 ) between, on the one hand, at least one edge of the box, and, on the other hand, at least one movable element ( 30 ,  32 ) in such a way as to totally clear the opening. 
     
     
         19 . Device for controlling the flow from a faucet provided at a box of a cupboard comprising at least two movable elements according to  claim 11 , wherein the device for identifying a command ( 42 ) is placed at one of the edges of the box defining the opening and at the junction zone of the two movable elements ( 30 ,  32 ) in such a way as to be actuated equally by the two movable elements ( 30 ,  32 ).