# US 12,217,746 B2 · Controller for a mobile drive, and method for controlling a mobile drive > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,217,746 B2 - Document ID: US12217746B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/046,666 - Filed: 2019-04-09 - Published: 2021-02-04 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-13 - Assignees: DewertOkin Technology Group Co., Ltd. - Applicants: DewertOkin GmbH - Inventors: Armin Hille - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12217746B2 ## CPC - G10L 15/22: Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue - A47C 20/041: {by electric motors} - G06F 3/167: {Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback} - G08C 17/00: Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link - G10L 15/08: Speech classification or search - G10L 15/32: Multiple recognisers used in sequence or in parallel; Score combination systems therefor, e.g. voting systems - 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) - A47B 2200/006: with table or desk equipped with limit switches - A47B 2200/0062: Electronically user-adaptable, height-adjustable desk or table - A47C 31/008: {Use of remote controls} - A61G 5/1056: {Arrangements for adjusting the seat} - A61G 7/015: divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position - A61G 7/018: Control or drive mechanisms - A61G 13/02: Adjustable operating tables; Controls therefor - A61G 2203/18: by patient's head, eyes, facial muscles or voice - A61G 2203/70: with special adaptations, e.g. for safety or comfort - G08C 2201/31: Voice input - G10L 2015/088: {Word spotting} - G10L 2015/223: {Execution procedure of a spoken command} - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G08C: TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS (fluid pressure transmitting systems F15B; mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member into a different variable G01D5/00; mechanical control systems G05G) - A47B: TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE (furniture jointing F16B) - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) ## Abstract A controller for a furniture drive includes an operating device which includes a speech controller. The speech controller includes a speech control subunit operatively connected to an adjustment drive, and a microphone interacting with the speech control subunit. The speech controller includes three speech control subunits arranged in the operating unit, with two of the speech control subunits forming actuators of adjustment functions and one of the speech control units forming an actuator of stopping the adjustment drive. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A handheld operating unit for controlling an operating state of a furniture drive by speech input, said handheld operating unit comprising: a plurality of speech control subunits arranged in the handheld operating unit, each of the plurality of speech control subunits forming a complete unit including a microphone associated with a speech analysis device and a switching device; wherein each microphone converts an acoustic signal into an electrical signal; each speech analysis device evaluating the electrical signal from its associated microphone, and extracts speech content by comparison to different stored or predefined speech patterns; and each switching device controlling the operating state of the furniture drive when at least one keyword from a set of keywords is recognized by its associated speech analysis device as each electrical signal is evaluated in dependence on the at least one keyword so that each speech control subunit reacts to different spoken words for which each speech control subunit is preset. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The handheld operating unit of claim 1, wherein one of the speech control subunits forms an EMERGENCY OFF actuator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The handheld operating unit of claim 1, wherein includes two sets of two of said speech control subunits arranged in the handheld operating unit and forming actuators of adjustment functions of two adjustment drives of the furniture drive, and one speech control subunit forming a shared actuator for stopping the adjustment drives. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The handheld operating unit of claim 3, wherein the one speech control subunit forms an EMERGENCY OFF actuator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The handheld operating unit of claim 1, further comprising a light, said speech handheld operating unit including a further speech control subunit arranged in the handheld operating unit and coupled to the light. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The handheld operating unit of claim 1, further comprising an acoustic indicator arranged in the handheld operating unit, said handheld operating unit including a further speech control subunit arranged in the operating unit and coupled to the acoustic indicator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The handheld operating unit of claim 1, wherein the handheld operating unit includes multiple switching outputs, which are switched in dependence on different recognized words or phrases. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The handheld operating unit of claim 1, further comprising a cable connecting the plurality of speech control units with a controller for communication, and/or a wireless transmission link for communication of the plurality of speech control units with the controller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The handheld operating unit of claim 1, further comprising a further speech control subunit controlling an EMERGENCY OFF operating state of the furniture drive stopping of a movement of the adjustment drive of the furniture drive, wherein the further speech control subunit is external to the handheld operating unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The handheld operating unit of claim 1, further comprising a further speech control subunit controlling a STANDBY operating state of the furniture drive and includes a control of a transmitting unit and/or an Interface device by switching on and/or off the STANDBY operating state of the transmitting unit and/or the interface device, wherein the further speech control subunit is external to the handheld operating unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The handheld operating unit of claim 1, further comprising a further speech control subunit controlling a GRID CUTOFF operating state of the furniture drive and includes a switching on and/or off of a grid cut-off circuit, wherein the further speech control subunit is external to the handheld operating unit. ### Claim 12 A method for controlling an operating state of a furniture drive by a speech input, said method comprising: receiving an acoustic signal with a plurality of local speech control subunits arranged in a handheld operating unit, wherein each speech control subunit forms a complete unit including a microphone associated with a speech analysis device and a switching device; with each speech control subunit, converting the acoustic signal into an electrical signal with the microphone; with each speech control subunit, evaluating the electrical signal from its associated microphone by the speech analysis device and extracting speech content by comparison to different stored or predefined speech patterns; and with each speech control subunit, controlling an operating state of the furniture drive with the switching device when at least one keyword from a set of keywords is recognized by its associated speech analysis device as each electrical signal is evaluated in dependence on the at least one keyword so that each speech control subunit reacts to different spoken words for which each is preset. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein a further speech control subunit external to the handheld operating unit controls an EMERGENCY OFF operating state of the furniture drive and includes a stopping of a movement of an adjustment drive of the furniture drive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising at least briefly reversing the movement of the adjustment drive after stopping. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein a further speech control subunit external to the handheld operating unit controls a STANDBY operating state of the furniture drive and includes a control of a transmitting unit and/or an interface device by switching on and/or off the STANDBY operating state of the transmitting unit and/or the interface device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein a further speech control subunit external to the handheld operating unit controls a GRID CUTOFF operating state of the furniture drive and includes a switching on and/or off of a grid cut-off circuit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the set of the keywords is predetermined. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the set of the keywords comprises fewer than 10 keywords. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the set of the keywords comprises fewer than 6 keywords.