The present invention relates to the field of flexible workplace desk systems.

In a flexible workplace, for example in an office building, multiple desks are available to potential users. Nowadays it is desirable for the desks to be height adjustable to provide for a sitting work position height and a standing work position height of the user. Herein each desk is provided with a desk surface, a height adjustable frame supporting the desk surface, and an electric motor driven height adjustment actuator configured to raise and lower the desk surface so as to adjust at least a height thereof within a height adjustment range.

In a known simple version, each desk has an up-button and a down-button allowing the user to raise and lower the desk surface. This is considered less desirable as the user has to memorize the height settings.

More sophisticated flexible workplace desk systems are for example disclosed in

WO2016/0128467, WO2016/139293, WO2017/200488, and WO2017/132240.

It is an object of the invention to provide a more effective flexible workplace desk system in view of efficiency of the user of the desk and co-workers that may desire or need to

cooperate with the user of the desk.

This object is achieved by a flexible workplace desk system according to claim 1.

In the system a server stores therein multiple pre-set heights specific for each user of the desk, e.g. for a group of potential users of the desk, e.g. for the employees of a company.

These stored pre-set heights at least comprise a sitting work position height and a standing work position height. In embodiments the system may be more complex, and for example store a preferred maximum duration for working at one or both of these heights, e.g. the server being configured to send to the controller a signal corresponding to a reminder for the user to switch to the other height, e.g. said reminder being signalled via the desk mounted signalling device.

An electronic controller, e.g. including a suitably programmed microprocessor, is mounted on the desk, for example in a housing that is mounted in an opening through the desk surface. The electronic controller comprises two distinct communication circuits, namely:

- a near field wireless communication circuit having a near field communication range, said near field wireless communication circuit being configured to communicate with a near field communication enabled portable device belonging to a user of the desk,

- a network communication circuit configured to communicate with the server via a network, preferably a wireless network communication circuit configured to communicate with the server via a wireless network.

For example the near field communication enabled portable device belonging to a user of the desk is an NFC card or NFC key tag, e.g. the same NFC enabled portable device being used in an NFC based access control system, e.g. of a room, floor, or building wherein the desk is located. In an alternative embodiment the near field communication enabled portable device is a smartphone belonging to the user of the desk.

For example the near field communication range is at most 20 centimetres, e.g. a few centimetres, e.g. at most 10 centimetres.

The network communication circuit, distinct from the NFC circuit, is configured to

communicate with the server via a network. This may involve the use of a wireless communication protocols like WiFi, Bluetooth, Zig-bee, etc. Alternatively, the network communication circuit could be configured to be connected to the server via a network cable, or the controller could provide for both types of network communication. Use of Zig-bee or another mesh communication protocol may be advantageous in that one desk can wireless communication with the server through a wireless mesh of electronic controllers of other desks on the same floor or in the same room.

The electronic controller is connected to the electric motor of the electric motor driven height adjustment actuator and controls the electric motor in order to raise and lower the desk surface.

The system is configured to pair a specific user to the desk upon identification of the user through the near field wireless communication with the near field communication enabled portable device belonging to a user. So the user must be close to the desk in order to allow for this pairing and identification of the user. Once the pairing and identification is completed, the server provides to the electronic controller, for the specific user paired to the desk, the user’s multiple pre-set heights, at least comprising a sitting work position height and a standing work position height of the user.

Use of near field communication for identification of the user avoids issues like a

neighbouring desk being inadvertently paired with the user. However, one can envisage an embodiment wherein, besides the near field communication for identification of the user, another

The system further comprises a desk mounted signalling assembly that is mounted on the desk, preferably on the desk surface, and is configured to signal at least:

- a do-not-disturb status,

- a desk occupancy status.

The signalling of a do-not-disturb status allows the user of the desk to signal to others, e.g. co-workers, that the user does not want to be disturbed.

The signalling of the desk occupancy status allows someone looking for a free desk to determine whether or not a desk is occupied. For example, the desk may look unoccupied due to the user paying a brief visit to a co-worker, getting coffee, etc. The signalling assembly will then signal that the desk is occupied.

The desk mounted signalling assembly is connected to the electronic controller.

The system further comprises a manually actuable user selector and input device that is mounted on the desk, preferably accessible at the desk surface. This device is configured to:

- allow the user paired to the desk to select one of said pre-set sitting work position height and said pre-set standing work position height,

- allow the user paired to the desk user to activate and inactivate the do-not-disturb status of the desk mounted signalling assembly.

This user selector and input device is also connected to the electronic controller.

The electronic controller is configured to communicate to the desk mounted signalling assembly the desk occupancy status on the basis of the user being paired to the desk. As will be explained below various approaches are envisaged for said pairing to be terminated, resulting in the desk being free for another user and the signalling assembly being activated to signal the corresponding status. The electronic controller is also configured to communicate to the desk mounted signalling assembly the activation and inactivation of the do-not-disturb status by the user of the desk. In addition, the electronic controller is configured to communicate to the server the desk occupancy status as well as the activation and inactivation of the do-not-disturb status by the user of the desk.

In the inventive system, the do-not-disturb status is thereby not only available to other user by means of the signalling assembly mounted on the desk, or a second signalling assembly as will be explained below. The user triggered do-not-disturb status is also available on the server, and that allows for a range of further applications wherein the desk, and thus user paired, do-not-disturb status is of interest.

In an embodiment the system is configured to display the do-not-disturb status of a user stored in the server to another user having access to the server, e.g. via a wireless personal device belonging to the other user, e.g. a smart phone communicating with said network. This, for example, allows for a co-worker to look up via an app on a smartphone whether the user of desk has the do-not-disturb status activated. This is for example convenient when the co-worker is based in another room or floor.

Another application of the do-not-disturb status stored in the server may for example be relaying said status to a telephone system, e.g. allowing a receptionist to take a call without disturbing the user of the desk.

In an embodiment, the system further comprises a user presence detection device, preferably mounted on the desk, wherein the user presence detection device is configured to sense the proximity of a user to the desk. The user presence detection device is connected to the electronic controller and the electronic controller is configured to communicate to the server the presence of a user. This for example allows a co-worker is based in another room or floor to look up via an app on a smartphone whether the user is present at the desk.

In an embodiment, the server is adapted to cancel the pairing of the user to the desk and to inactivate the desk-is-occupied status as well as the do-not-disturb status upon output of a routine that involves a detection of the user leaving the desk by means of a user presence detection device. For example, the routine involves measuring the time since the user left the desk, and if said time exceeds a threshold, the mentioned actions are triggered. For example, the time may be variable, based on the demand for desks in a building, room, floor. In an embodiment the server is adapted to cancel the pairing of the user to the desk and to inactivate the desk-is-occupied status as well as the do-not-disturb status upon output of a routine that involves one or more of: detection of the user leaving the room, floor, or building where the desk is located, an entry in an electronic agenda wherein the user is scheduled to be remote from the desk, e.g. in a meeting room remote from the desk, etc.

In an embodiment the desk system further comprises a second signalling assembly that is configured to be mounted on a location remote from the desk mounted signalling assembly and is also connected to the electronic controller. Preferably the second signalling assembly is connected to the electronic controller via a cable, e.g. such as to allow for installation of the second signalling assembly at a location remote from the desk based signalling assembly, e.g. on a desk divider located between desks, or on a desk screen along a side of the desk, or along an edge of the desk surface (e.g. opposite the side where the user will sit, etc.

The second signalling assembly is configured to signal at least:

- a do-not-disturb status,

- a desk-is-occupied status.

In an embodiment the manually actuable user selector and input device is further configured to allow the user to control the electric motor driven height adjustment actuator in order raise and lower the desk surface in any height within the height adjustment range, e.g. by means of an“up-button” and a“down-button”. This for example allows the user to fine-tune the setting of the height, or to set the desk surface at another height than the pre-set heights stored in the server. In an embodiment, the system is configured to allow the user to set a height and to store and/or change a pre-set height in the server.

In an embodiment the second signalling assembly is configured to be removably mounted on a location remote from the desk mounted signally assembly, e.g. the second signalling assembly comprising a clip. For example, the clip may allow to removably secure the assembly on an edge of the desk surface. The assembly could also be secured in other ways, e.g. using double-sided adhesive tape, Velcro, one or more screws, etc.

In an embodiment, the desk mounted signalling assembly comprises a housing with a light emitting window, as well as lighting arrangement that is configured to selectively provide at least first and second coloured light within the housing. The selected first or second coloured light exits the housing via the light emitting window. This allows for a simple practical design of the assembly. It will be appreciated that the inventive system allows for a variety of signalling types, e.g. using coloured light, mobile flags, an LCD screen or the like, etc.

In an embodiment, the desk mounted signalling assembly and/or the second signalling assembly comprises a lighting arrangement configured to selectively provide at least a first coloured light and second coloured light. Herein the first coloured light signals a desk occupancy status, preferably that the desk is free, preferably a green coloured light. The second coloured light signals the do-not-disturb status, preferably a red coloured light. The fact that a desk is occupied may for example be signalled by the assembly emitting no light at all.

In a practical embodiment, the manually actuable user selector and input device and the electronic controller are structurally integrated in a common housing. This allows for optimized integration of the electronics involved and for ease of installation on the desk.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a flexible workplace desk system comprising an electronic controller configured to be mounted on an adjustable height desk, a desk mounted signalling assembly configured to be mounted on said desk, and a manually actuable user selector and input device configured to be mounted on said desk, preferably said electronic controller, a desk mounted signalling assembly, and manually actuable user selector and input device being integrated in a common housing configured to be mounted on an adjustable height desk, e.g. in a housing having a cylindrical portion to be mounted in a bore through a desk surface of the desk, said electronic controller comprising:

- a near field wireless communication circuit having a near field communication range, said near field wireless communication circuit being configured to communicate with a near field communication enabled portable device belonging to a user of the desk,

- a network communication circuit, preferably a wireless network communication circuit, that is configured to communicate with a server via a network, preferably a wireless network, said server storing pre-set heights of the user, said electronic controller being configured to connect to an electric motor of an electric motor driven height adjustment actuator in order to control the electric motor for raising and lowering a desk surface of the desk, said desk mounted signalling assembly being configured to signal at least:

- a do-not-disturb status,

- a desk occupancy status, wherein the desk mounted signalling assembly is connected to the electronic controller, wherein the manually actuable user selector and input device is configured to:

- allow a user paired to the desk to select one of said pre-set sitting work position height and said pre-set standing work position height,

- allow a user paired to the desk user to activate and inactivate the do-not-disturb status of the desk mounted signalling assembly,

wherein said user selector and input device is connected to said electronic controller, and wherein the electronic controller is configured to communicate to the desk mounted signalling assembly the desk occupancy status on the basis of the user being paired to the desk, and wherein the electronic controller is configured to communicate to the desk mounted signalling assembly the activation and inactivation of the do-not-disturb status by the user of the desk, and wherein the electronic controller is configured to communicate to the server the desk occupancy status as well as the activation and inactivation of the do-not-disturb status by the user of the desk.

The second aspect of the invention also relates to a desk, e.g. as described herein, provided with such a system.

The system may comprises a wire harness that bundles cables or wires running between the electronic controller and at least the motor, a power supply, and, if included in the system, a presence detector.

The system may include multiple height adjustable desks, each provided with an electronic controller, signalling assembly, and manually actuable user selector and input device as described herein. Preferably each controller has a wireless network communication circuit based on a mesh protocol, e.g. Zig-bee, so that communication between a specific desk and the server may pass from said desk via one or more controllers of other desks, e.g. on the same floor or in the same room.

The invention also relates to a flexible workplace desk height and do-not-disturb signalling computer program, the computer program comprising program code means for causing a system as defined herein to carry out the steps of user pairing and signalling of desk occupancy status and of do-not-disturb status as defined herein, when the computer program is run on a microprocessor controlling the system.

The invention also relates to a method for operating a flexible workspace desk system as discussed herein.

For example, the method comprises:

- pairing a user to the desk upon identification of the user through the near field wireless communication with the near field communication enabled portable device belonging to the user,

- the server providing to the electronic controller, for the specific user paired to the desk, the multiple pre-set heights, said pre-set heights at least comprising a sitting work position height and a standing work position height of the user,

- the user selecting by means of the manually actuable user selector and input device, one of said pre-set sitting work position height and said pre-set standing work position height of the user, upon which the electric motor driven height adjustment actuator raises or lowers the desk surface so as to adjust at least the height,

- wherein the electronic controller communicates to the desk mounted signalling assembly the desk occupancy status on the basis of the user being paired to the desk,

- wherein the user activates the do-not-disturb status of the desk mounted signalling assembly, and wherein the electronic controller communicates to the server the desk occupancy status as well as the activation of the do-not-disturb status by the user of the desk.

The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:

- fig. 1 schematically shows a flexible workplace desk system according to the invention,

- fig. 2 schematically shows components of the system of figure 1 ,

- fig. 3 schematically shows an embodiment of an integrated electronic controller and manually actuable user selector and input device of the system according to the invention. Figure 1 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of a flexible workplace desk system according to the invention.

The system comprises a desk 1 having a desk surface 2 and a height adjustable frame 3 supporting the desk surface. Here the frame 3 includes telescopic legs 4, 5 at the left and right side of the desk 1. Each leg 4, 5 is provided with an electric motor driven height adjustment actuator with electric motor M. The actuator, e.g. based on a spindle, is configured to raise and lower the desk surface 2 so as to adjust at least a height thereof within a height adjustment range. This range at least includes a sitting work position height and a standing work position height.

The system comprises a server 10 storing therein multiple pre-set heights specific for each user of the desk, said pre-set heights at least comprising a sitting work position height and a standing work position height.

An electronic controller 20 is mounted on the desk 1. The electronic controller comprises:

- a near field wireless communication circuit 21 having a near field communication range, said near field wireless communication circuit being configured to communicate with a near field communication enabled portable device 30 belonging to a user of the desk,

- a wireless network communication circuit 22 configured to communicate with the server 10 via a wireless network 15.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a power supply for the electronics of the controller 20 and other electronic components of the desk system.

The electronic controller 20 is connected to the electric motor M of the electric motor driven height adjustment actuator and controls the electric motor in order to raise and lower the desk surface 2.

The system is configured to pair a specific user to the desk 1 upon identification of the user through the near field wireless communication with the near field communication enabled portable device 30 belonging to a user.

The server 10 is configured to provide to the electronic controller 20, for the specific user paired to the desk 1 , the multiple pre-set heights, said pre-set heights at least comprising a sitting work position height and a standing work position height of the user. A desk mounted signalling assembly 40 is physically integrated, e.g. in a common housing, with the electronic controller 20 and is mounted on the desk.

The assembly 40 is configured to signal at least:

- a do-not-disturb status,

- a desk occupancy status.

The desk mounted signalling assembly 40 is connected to the electronic controller 20.

The same integrated housing mounted on the desk 1 also comprises a manually actuable user selector and input device 50. This device 50 is configured to:

- allow the user paired to the desk 1 to select one of said pre-set sitting work position height and said pre-set standing work position height,

- allow the user paired to the desk 1 to activate and inactivate the do-not-disturb status of the desk mounted signalling assembly 40.

The user selector and input device 50 is connected to the electronic controller 20.

The electronic controller 20 is configured to communicate to the desk mounted signalling assembly 40 the desk occupancy status on the basis of the user being paired to the desk 1.

The electronic controller is configured to communicate to the desk mounted signalling assembly 40 the activation and inactivation of the do-not-disturb status by the user of the desk 1.

The electronic controller is configured to communicate to the server 10 the desk occupancy status as well as the activation and inactivation of the do-not-disturb status by the user of the desk 1.

The system is configured to display the do-not-disturb status of a user stored in the server 10 to another user having access to the server, e.g. via a wireless personal device 35 belonging to the other user, e.g. a smart phone communicating with the network 15.

The system further comprises a user presence detection device 60, mounted on the desk. The user presence detection device 60 is configured to sense the proximity of a user to the desk 1. The user presence detection device 60 is connected to the electronic controller 20. The electronic controller 20 is configured to communicate to the server 10 the presence of a user.

The server 10 is adapted to cancel the pairing of the user to the desk 1 and to inactivate the desk-is-occupied status as well as the do-not-disturb status upon output of a routine that involves detection of the user leaving the desk by means of the user presence detection device 60.

The desk system further comprises a second signalling assembly 70 configured to be mounted on a location remote from the desk mounted signalling assembly 40 and connected to the electronic controller 20.

The second signalling assembly 70 is connected to the electronic controller 20 via a cable 71. The second signalling assembly 70 is configured to signal at least:

- a do-not-disturb status,

- a desk-is-occupied status.

The manually actuable user selector and input device 50 is further configured to allow the user to control the electric motor driven height adjustment actuator in order raise and lower the desk surface 2 in any height within said range by means of an“up-button” and a“down- button”.

The second signalling assembly 70 is configured to be removably mounted on a location remote from the desk mounted signally assembly 40, e.g. the second signalling assembly comprising a clip.

The desk mounted signalling assembly 40 here is integrated with the electronic controller 20 and the user selector and input device 50 in a common housing 41. For example, as shown here, the housing 41 is configured to be mounted in a bore that is made in the desk surface. Here the housing 41 has a cylindrical portion 41a fitting into said bore and having external threading. A threaded nut 46 is envisaged that is screwed onto the housing portion 41a. At the top the housing has a panel portion 41b.

Here, as preferred, the housing 41 houses all electric circuitry and any connectors of the electronic controller. Furthermore, as preferred, the housing 41 has a light emitting window 42, e.g. as an annulus, as well as lighting arrangement, e.g. with LEDs 43, 44 mounted within the housing 41 , configured to selectively provide at least first and second coloured light within the housing 41. The selected first or second coloured light exits the housing 40 via the light emitting window 42 so that it is visible, preferably on the topside of the desk surface.

The panel portion 41 b is embodied to provide touch keys 51 , 52, 53, 54 or buttons, or other input means, allowing the user to select one of the pre-set heights as well as to move the desk up or down within the height adjustment range. The panel portion 41b also is embodied to provide a touch key 55 or button, or other means, allowing the user to activate the do-not- disturb sign.

In an alternative embodiment the desk mounted signalling assembly 40 comprises a colour display, e.g. an LCD screen or the like.

The desk mounted signalling assembly 40 and/or the second signalling assembly 70 comprises a lighting arrangement 43, 44 configured to selectively provide at least first and second coloured light, wherein the first coloured light signals a desk occupancy status, preferably that the desk 1 is free, preferably a green coloured light, and wherein the second coloured light signals the do-not-disturb status, preferably a red coloured light.

The lighting arrangement may also be used to indicate, for example, motion of the desk up and down, and/or the pairing of the user being in progress, etc.

It is envisaged that a wire harness is provided that bundle the cables or wires running between the electronic controller 20 and at least the motor M, the power supply 25, the presence detector 60. A separate cable may connect the signalling assembly 70 to the controller 20, possibly a length of cable already being connected to the controller 20 and being part of the wire harness. Through the use of a wire harness the system may be readily mounted on a desk.

The flexible workspace desk system is for example operable by a method including the steps of:

- pairing a user to the desk 1 upon identification of the user through the near field wireless communication with the near field communication enabled portable device 30 belonging to the user,

- the server 10 providing to the electronic controller 20, for said specific user paired to the desk, the multiple pre-set heights, said pre-set heights at least comprising a sitting work position height and a standing work position height of the user, - wherein the user selects by means of the manually actuable user selector and input device 40 one of said pre-set sitting work position height and said pre-set standing work position height of the user, upon which the electric motor driven height adjustment actuator raises or lowers the desk surface so as to adjust at least the height,

- wherein the electronic controller 20 communicates to the desk mounted signalling assembly

40 the desk occupancy status on the basis of the user being paired to the desk,

- wherein the user activates the do-not-disturb status of the desk mounted signalling assembly 40, and wherein the electronic controller communicates to the server 10 the desk occupancy status as well as the activation of the do-not-disturb status by the user of the desk.