Seat pressure measuring device and sitting posture improving method

Abstract

To provide a seat pressure measuring device capable of accurately measuring whether or not the right and left of a seat pressure are balanced.SOLUTION: A seat pressure measuring device of the present invention includes a pressure sensitive sensor for right seat pressure, a pressure sensitive sensor for left seat pressure, a mat, and a control unit electrically connected to the pressure sensitive sensor for right seat pressure, and the pressure sensitive sensor for left seat pressure. The mat is a mat to be laid on a seat surface of a chair or a mat constituting the seat surface of the chair. The control unit is provided so as to measure data corresponding to seat pressure using the pressure sensitive sensor for right seat pressure and the pressure sensitive sensor for left seat pressure. The pressure sensitive sensor for right seat pressure and the pressure sensitive sensor for left seat pressure are detachably attached to the mat and are provided so as to change positions for attaching the pressure sensitive sensor for right seat pressure and the pressure sensitive sensor for left seat pressure on the mat.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a seated pressure measuring device and a method for improving seated posture. [Background technology]

[0002] Lower back pain is a symptom that many people suffer from, regardless of gender or occupation. One of the causes of lower back pain is a heavy burden on the lower back caused by poor sitting posture. For this reason, improving sitting posture can sometimes cure or alleviate lower back pain. However, it is difficult for an individual to determine whether their sitting posture is good or bad. For this reason, it is considered to visualize sitting posture. For example, a sitting posture monitoring system is known that has pressure distribution sensors attached to the seat and back of a chair (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-102861 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional sitting posture monitoring systems use fixed sensors to measure the pressure distribution on the seat surface, which requires many measurement points on the seat surface, making the device complex and the analysis of the measurement data complicated. In addition, the accuracy of determining sitting posture can be reduced. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a seating pressure measuring device that can accurately measure whether or not the seating pressure is balanced between the left and right sides. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention provides a seat pressure measuring device comprising a right seat pressure sensor, a left seat pressure sensor, a mat, and a control unit electrically connected to the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor, wherein the mat is a mat to be placed on the seat of a chair or a mat that forms the seat of a chair, the control unit is configured to measure data corresponding to seat pressure using the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor, the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor are detachably attached to the mat, and the attachment positions of the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor on the mat can be changed. The present invention also provides a method for improving sitting posture, which includes the steps of instructing the person sitting in the chair to adopt a sitting posture tilted to the right, a sitting posture tilted to the left, or a sitting posture that is balanced to either the left or the right, and informing the person sitting in the chair of information about their sitting posture based on measurement data measured using the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor when the person sitting in the chair moves in accordance with the instructions, or data calculated from the measurement data. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] In the seat pressure measuring device of the present invention, the attachment positions of the right and left seat pressure sensors can be changed to suit the physique and shape of the person sitting in the chair. This makes it possible to place the right and left seat pressure sensors near the rear connection between the buttocks and thighs when the person is sitting. This makes it possible to accurately measure the ratio of seat pressure on the right side to the left side, and to accurately measure whether or not the seat pressure is balanced between the left and right sides. Furthermore, because the right and left seat pressure sensors are detachably attached to the mat, the positions of the right and left seat pressure sensors can be prevented from shifting even if the person sitting in the chair moves their body back and forth or side to side. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1]1 is a schematic perspective view of a chair to which a seating pressure measuring device according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached. [Figure 2] (a) is a schematic plan view of a mat with a seat pressure sensor attached, (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right seat pressure sensor and mat at dotted line AA in (a), (c) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the mat and the right seat pressure sensor removed from the mat, (d) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the left seat pressure sensor and mat at dotted line BB in (a), and (e) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the mat and the left seat pressure sensor removed from the mat. [Figure 3] (a) is a schematic plan view of a mat with a seat pressure sensor attached, (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the right seat pressure sensor and mat at dotted line CC in (a), (c) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the mat and the right seat pressure sensor removed from the mat, (d) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the left seat pressure sensor and mat at dotted line DD in (a), and (e) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the mat and the left seat pressure sensor removed from the mat. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart of a sitting posture improving method according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is the distribution of the sitting posture of the survey subjects measured using a seating pressure measuring device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The configurations shown in the drawings and the following description are merely examples, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to those shown in the drawings and the following description. The seat pressure measuring device 30 of this embodiment comprises a right seat pressure sensor 2, a left seat pressure sensor 3, a mat 4, and a control unit 5 electrically connected to the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3, wherein the mat 4 is a mat to be placed on the seat of a chair 6 or a mat that forms the seat of the chair 6, and the control unit 5 is configured to measure data corresponding to seat pressure using the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3, and the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 are detachably attached to the mat 4, and are configured so that the attachment positions of the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 on the mat 4 can be changed.

[0009] The seating pressure measuring device 30 is a device that measures the seating pressure of a person sitting on the chair 6. In this specification, the seating pressure is the pressure exerted on the seat surface corresponding to the buttocks and thighs when a person is sitting on the chair 6. Right seat pressure is the pressure exerted on the seat surface corresponding to the right buttock and right thigh when a person is sitting in chair 6, and right seat pressure sensor 2 is a pressure sensor for measuring the magnitude of this right seat pressure. Right seat pressure sensor 2 is preferably located at the rear junction (near the right ischium) of the person sitting in chair 6 where the right buttock and right thigh meet. This allows the magnitude of right seat pressure to be measured appropriately. Although the position of the rear junction of the right buttock and right thigh varies from person to person, with seat pressure measuring device 30, the attachment position of right seat pressure sensor 2 can be changed, allowing the magnitude of right seat pressure to be measured appropriately.

[0010] Left seat pressure is the pressure exerted on the seat surface corresponding to the left buttocks and left thigh when a person is sitting in chair 6, and left seat pressure pressure sensor 3 is a pressure sensor for measuring the magnitude of this left seat pressure. It is preferable that left seat pressure pressure sensor 3 be located at the rear junction (near the left ischium) of the left buttocks and left thigh of the person sitting in chair 6. This allows the magnitude of left seat pressure to be measured appropriately. Although the position of the rear junction of the left buttocks and left thigh varies from person to person, with seat pressure measuring device 30, the attachment position of left seat pressure sensor 3 can be changed, allowing the magnitude of left seat pressure to be measured appropriately.

[0011] The right seat pressure sensor 2 or the left seat pressure sensor 3 is not particularly limited as long as it can measure the magnitude of seat pressure, but may be, for example, a film-type pressure-sensitive resistor element. When a voltage is applied to the film-type pressure-sensitive resistor element using the control unit 5, the electrical resistance value of the element changes according to the magnitude of the pressure applied to the pressure-sensitive resistor element. Therefore, by measuring the electrical resistance value of the pressure-sensitive resistor element using the control unit 5, it is possible to measure the relative seat pressure (data corresponding to seat pressure). The shape of the right seat pressure sensor 2 or the left seat pressure sensor 3 is, for example, a rectangular or round film. The size of the right seat pressure sensor 2 or the left seat pressure sensor 3 (the length of each side if rectangular, or the diameter if round) is, for example, 0.5 cm or more and 6.0 cm or less, and preferably 1.5 cm or more and 5.0 cm or less.

[0012] The control unit 5 is electrically connected to the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3, and is configured to measure time series data corresponding to the right seat pressure and time series data corresponding to the left seat pressure using the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3. The control unit 5 may be a microcomputer or a computer. If the control unit 5 is a microcomputer, the control unit 5 may be connected to a computer 16. The control unit 5 may also be connected to a smartphone 17 via wireless communication. The control unit 5 may also be connected to the smartphone 17 via wireless communication via the computer 16.

[0013] When the control unit 5 has a display unit or a speaker, the control unit 5 may be configured to notify the person sitting in the chair 6 of information about their sitting posture based on measurement data measured using the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3. The control unit 5 may also be configured to directly or indirectly output the measurement data measured using the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 or data calculated from the measurement data to a device for notifying the person sitting in the chair 6 of information about their sitting posture (for example, a device having a display unit or a speaker such as a computer 16 or a smartphone 17). By having a display unit or speaker in the control unit 5 or the device, it becomes possible to provide information and instructions to the person sitting in the chair 6 in the sitting posture improvement method described below.

[0014] The mat 4 is a mat to be placed on the seat of the chair 6 or a mat that constitutes the seat of the chair 6. For example, the mat 4 included in the seating pressure measuring device 30 shown in FIG. 1 is placed on the seat of the chair 6. The mat 4 may also be a cushion cover that constitutes the seat of the chair 6. The mat 4 is, for example, a cloth, a cushion, a sheet, a rug, etc.

[0015] The right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 are detachably attached to the mat 4, and are provided so that the attachment positions of the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 on the mat 4 can be changed. The right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 are detachably attached to the mat 4 using, for example, hook-and-loop fasteners 7, adhesive tape, temporary fastening pins, etc. The adhesive tape is, for example, adhesive double-sided tape, adhesive single-sided tape, etc. The hook and loop fastener 7 is composed of a hook surface with many small hooks and a loop surface that is designed to catch the small hooks on the hook surface, and the hook and loop surfaces are attached together when the small hooks on the hook surface catch on the loop surface. Also, the hook surface can be peeled off from the loop surface when the small hooks on the hook surface release their engagement. Examples of the hook and loop fastener 7 include Magic Tape (registered trademark), Velcro (registered trademark), and Quicklon (registered trademark).

[0016] The mat 4 can have loop surfaces 8, 8a, and 8b of the hook-and-loop fastener 7. The mat 4 can have the loop surface 8 over the entire surface that will become the seating surface (e.g., FIG. 2), or it can have the loop surfaces 8a and 8b only on a portion of the surface that will become the seating surface (e.g., FIG. 3). The mat 4 can also have both a loop surface 8a for attaching the first hook-and-loop surface sheet 10 and a loop surface 8b for attaching the second hook-and-loop surface sheet 11 (e.g., FIG. 3). In this case, the mat 4 can have a loop surface sheet 12a having the loop surface 8a and a loop surface sheet 12b having the loop surface 8b.

[0017] The right seat pressure sensor 2 may be fixed to a first hook surface sheet 10 having a first hook surface 9a of a hook-and-loop fastener 7. For example, as shown in Figures 2(b) and 3(b), the right seat pressure sensor 2 can be attached to the mat 4 by attaching the first hook surface 9a of the first hook surface sheet 10 to which the right seat pressure sensor 2 is fixed to the loop surfaces 8, 8a of the mat 4. Also, as shown in Figures 2(c) and 3(c), the right seat pressure sensor 2 can be removed from the mat 4 by peeling the first hook surface 9a from the loop surfaces 8, 8a. The loop surfaces 8, 8a can have a larger area than the first hook surface 9a. In this case, by changing the portion of the loop surfaces 8, 8a to which the first hook surface 9a is attached, the attachment position of the right seat pressure sensor 2 on the mat 4 can be changed to match the position of the rear connection between the right buttock and right thigh (near the right ischium) of a person sitting in the chair 6. For example, the area of ​​the loop surface 8a can be 1.3 times or more the area of ​​the first hook surface 9a.

[0018] The left seat pressure sensor 3 may be fixed to a second hook surface sheet 11 having a second hook surface 9b of the hook-and-loop fastener 7. For example, as shown in Figures 2(d) and 3(d), the left seat pressure sensor 3 can be attached to the mat 4 by attaching the second hook surface 9b of the second hook surface sheet 11 to which the left seat pressure sensor 3 is fixed to the loop surfaces 8, 8b of the mat 4. Also, as shown in Figures 2(e) and 3(e), the left seat pressure sensor 3 can be removed from the mat 4 by peeling the second hook surface 9b from the loop surfaces 8, 8b. The loop surfaces 8, 8b can have a larger area than the second hook surface 9b. In this case, by changing the portion of the loop surfaces 8, 8b to which the second hook surface 9b is attached, the attachment position of the left seat pressure sensor 3 on the mat 4 can be changed to match the position of the rear connection between the left buttock and left thigh (near the left ischium) of a person sitting in the chair 6. For example, the area of ​​the loop surface 8b can be 1.3 times or more the area of ​​the second hook surface 9b.

[0019] When both the first hook surface 9a and the second hook surface 9b are attached to one loop surface 8 (e.g., FIG. 2), the loop surface 8 can have an area larger than the sum of the areas of the first hook surface 9a and the second hook surface 9b. This allows the attachment positions of the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 on the mat 4 to be changed to match the positions of the rear joints of the right buttock and right thigh (near the right ischium) and the rear joints of the left buttock and left thigh (near the left ischium) of a person sitting in the chair 6 by changing the portion of the loop surface 8 to which the first hook surface 9a and the second hook surface 9b are attached. For example, the area of ​​the loop surface 8 can be 1.5 times or more the sum of the areas of the first hook surface 9a and the second hook surface 9b.

[0020] The loop surfaces 8, 8a, and 8b of the mat 4 or the mat 4 may have scales or marks for attaching the first hook surface 9a and the second hook surface 9b to the loop surfaces 8, 8a, and 8b. This allows the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 to be attached in appropriate positions. The mat 4 shown in FIG. 2(a) has scales 15 for attaching the first hook surface 9a and the second hook surface 9b on the loop surface 8. The mat 4 shown in FIG. 2(b) has scales 15 for attaching the first hook surface 9a and the second hook surface 9b on a portion of the mat 4 other than the loop surfaces 8a and 8b. The scales or marks on the mat 4 may, for example, correspond to the width of the ischial tuberosities.

[0021] When attaching the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 to the loop surfaces 8, 8a, 8b of the mat 4 laid on the seat of the chair 6, for example, the right seat pressure sensor 2 can be attached near the position corresponding to the right ischium of a person sitting in the chair 6, and the left seat pressure sensor 3 can be attached near the position corresponding to the left ischium of a person sitting in the chair 6. The positions of the right and left ischium are the positions at which the person feels contact with the seat when leaning their body left or right or forward or backward while sitting in the chair 6. For example, after confirming the position of their ischium, they can attach the right seat pressure sensor 2 to the mat 4 by leaning their body left to the left and lifting their right buttock, inserting the first hook surface sheet 10 to which the right seat pressure sensor 2 is fixed between their right buttock and the loop surface of the mat 4 so that the right seat pressure sensor 2 is located near their right ischium, and then lowering their right buttock. Alternatively, the left seat pressure sensor 3 can be attached to the mat 4 by leaning the body to the right and lifting the left buttock, inserting the second hook surface sheet 11 with the left seat pressure sensor 3 fixed between the left buttock and the loop surface of the mat 4 so that the left seat pressure sensor 3 is located near the left ischial bone, and then lowering the left buttock. By measuring seat pressure in this state, the balance of seat pressure can be measured appropriately. Furthermore, by measuring the distance between the right and left seat pressure sensors 2 and 3 after attaching them, the ischial width of the person sitting in the chair 6 can be measured. If this person were to measure seat pressure again, the balance of seat pressure could be measured appropriately by attaching the right and left seat pressure sensors 2 and 3 to the scale positions on the mat 4 corresponding to the measured ischial width. A dedicated hook surface sheet may also be used to measure ischial width. Furthermore, when attaching the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 to the mat 4 using adhesive tape, the sensors 2 and 3 can be attached to the mat 4 in a similar manner. Furthermore, if the seat pressure measuring device 30 is for personal use, the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 may be attached to appropriate positions on the mat 4 using hook-and-loop fasteners, adhesive tape, or temporary fastening needles, and then the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 may be fixed to the mat 4 by sewing a sheet to which the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 are fixed to the mat 4.

[0022] The mat 4 may have lines or marks to help the user sit properly on the mat 4 placed on the seat of the chair 6. For example, the mat 4 shown in Figures 2(a) and 3(a) has a straight line extending up and down in the center. A person sitting on the chair 6 can sit on the chair 6 so that this line is positioned in the center between the right and left thighs. This allows the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 to be positioned in appropriate positions, allowing the right and left seat pressures to be measured properly.

[0023] The sitting posture improvement method of this embodiment includes the steps of instructing the person sitting in chair 6 to adopt a sitting posture tilted to the right, a sitting posture tilted to the left, or a sitting posture that is balanced to either the left or right, and the step of informing the person sitting in chair 6 of information about their sitting posture based on measurement data measured using right seat pressure sensor 2 and left seat pressure sensor 3 when the person sitting in chair 6 moves in accordance with the instructions, or data calculated from the measurement data. FIG. 4 is an example of a flowchart of the sitting posture improving method of this embodiment. The method will be described using this flowchart. Here, it is assumed that instructions and information are conveyed to the person sitting in the chair 6 using the smartphone 17. If the control unit 5 or the computer 16 has a display unit or a speaker, the control unit 5 or the computer 16 may convey the instructions and information to the person sitting in the chair 6. Furthermore, this control flow may be performed by the control unit 5, the computer 16, the smartphone 17, or at least two of the control unit 5, the computer 16, and the smartphone 17.

[0024] In step S1, the weight and height of a person sitting on a mat 4 placed on the seat of a chair 6 are input into a smartphone 17 connected to a control unit 5. In step S2, the display or speaker of the smartphone 17 explains to the person sitting on the mat 4 the installation positions of the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 and how to sit on the mat 4. How to install the sensors 2 and 3 in the appropriate positions and how to sit have been explained above, so they will not be repeated here.

[0025] In step S3, the control unit 5 outputs the measurement values ​​of the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 to the smartphone 17. The smartphone 17 also determines whether the measurement values ​​measured by the control unit 5 using the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 when a person is sitting on the mat 4 are within a normal range. For example, the smartphone 17 can determine whether the measurement values ​​are within a normal range as follows. Let max_r be the maximum value of the measurements taken by the right seat pressure sensor 2, and max_l be the maximum value of the measurements taken by the left seat pressure sensor 3, and calculate x = max{max_r, max_l} and y = min{max_r, max_l}. Note that x is the larger of max_r and max_l, and y is the smaller of max_r and max_l. The smartphone 17 can determine that the measurement value is within the normal range when the calculated x and y satisfy formula 1: (xy)<50 or formula 2: (x / y)<1.1, and can determine that the measurement value is outside the normal range when x and y do not satisfy either formula 1 or formula 2. Additionally, smartphone 17 may determine whether the measurement values ​​are within the normal range based on the weight, height, etc. input in step S1.

[0026] If the measured values ​​are within the normal range, it is considered that the right seat pressure sensor 2 is positioned so that it can properly measure the right seat pressure, and the left seat pressure sensor 3 is positioned so that it can properly measure the left seat pressure. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S4. If the measured value is outside the normal range, it is considered that at least one of the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 is not positioned to properly measure seat pressure. Therefore, the process returns to step S2, and guidance is given on the installation positions of the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 and how to sit on the mat 4. At this time, based on the measured values ​​of sensors 2 and 3, a method for correcting the installation positions of sensors 2 and 3 or how to correct the sitting posture is explained.

[0027] In step S4, the person sitting is instructed to maintain a sitting posture tilted to the right so that the left buttock does not leave the seat surface for 5 seconds, and in step S5, the person sitting is instructed to maintain a sitting posture tilted to the left so that the right buttock does not leave the seat surface for 5 seconds. In step S6, the person sitting is instructed to maintain a sitting posture tilted to the right as in step S4, and in step S7, the person sitting is instructed to maintain a sitting posture tilted to the left as in step S5. In step S8, the person sitting is instructed to maintain a sitting posture with the center of gravity toward the center of the body (a sitting posture with no left-right bias) for 10 seconds. In steps S4 to S7, the order was a sitting posture tilted to the right side → a sitting posture tilted to the left side, but in steps S9 to S12, the order is instructed to a sitting posture tilted to the left side → a sitting posture tilted to the right side. Specifically, in step S9, the person sitting is instructed to maintain a sitting posture tilted to the left as in step S5, and in step S10, the person sitting is instructed to maintain a sitting posture tilted to the right as in step S4. In step S11, the person sitting is instructed to maintain a sitting posture tilted to the left as in step S5, and in step S12, the person sitting is instructed to maintain a sitting posture tilted to the right as in step S4. In step S13, the person sitting is instructed to maintain a sitting posture with the center of gravity toward the center of the body for 10 seconds. In addition, in steps S 4 to S 13 , the control unit 5 outputs the time-series data of the measurement values ​​of the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 to the smartphone 17 directly or indirectly.

[0028] In step S14, the smartphone 17 evaluates the sitting posture based on the time-series data of the measurements from the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3, and notifies the person sitting in the chair 6 of the evaluation result. Specifically, the sitting posture can be evaluated as the degree of left-right tilt based on the time-series data of the measurements. For example, when the difference between the measurements from the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 in steps S8 and S13 is small, it can be evaluated as a good sitting posture with almost no left-right tilt. Furthermore, when the difference between the measurements from the right seat pressure sensor 2 and the left seat pressure sensor 3 in steps S8 and S13 is large, the sitting posture can be evaluated as the degree of left-right tilt based on the magnitude of the difference in the measurements or the ratio of the measurements.

[0029] The smartphone 17 may calculate the reliability at the time of step S8 and the reliability at the time of step S13. Furthermore, the smartphone 17 may evaluate the sitting posture based on the calculated reliability at step S14. For example, if the average value of the measurements taken by the right seat pressure sensor 2 in steps S4 to S7 is ave_r1 and the average value of the measurements taken by the left seat pressure sensor 3 in steps S4 to S7 is ave_l1, then the reliability of the measurements taken by the right seat pressure sensor 2 at step S8 can be (ave_r1 / x), and the reliability of the measurements taken by the left seat pressure sensor 3 at step S8 can be (ave_l1 / x). Here, x is the value of x = max{max_r, max_l} where max_r is the maximum value of the measurements taken by the right seat pressure sensor 2 and max_l is the maximum value of the measurements taken by the left seat pressure sensor 3. Furthermore, when the average value of the measurements of the right seat pressure sensor 2 in steps S9 to S12 is ave_r2 and the average value of the measurements of the left seat pressure sensor 3 in steps S9 to S12 is ave_l2, the reliability of the measurements of the right seat pressure sensor 2 at step S13 can be (ave_r1+ave_r2) / 2x, ​​and the reliability of the measurements of the left seat pressure sensor 3 at step S13 can be (ave_l1+ave_l2) / 2x.

[0030] Assessment of sitting posture Nine subjects were asked to sit on a mat 4 with the right seat pressure sensor 2 and left seat pressure sensor 3 positioned in appropriate positions as shown in Figure 1, and to move as described in steps S4 to S13 above. Time-series data of measurements from the right seat pressure sensor 2 and left seat pressure sensor 3 while the subjects were moving was obtained using the control unit 5 and computer 16. The distribution of the sitting postures of the nine subjects calculated from this time-series data is shown in Figure 5. The right seat pressure sensor 2 and left seat pressure sensor 3 were pressure sensors FSR406 (manufactured by Interlink Electronics, size: 4.3 cm x 4.3 cm).

[0031] The horizontal axis of the graph in Figure 5 represents the average difference in pressure applied to the seat when the center of gravity was finally shifted to the center (step S13), and the vertical axis of the graph in Figure 5 represents the difference in maximum pressure applied to the seat when tilted to the left or right. When the graph in Figure 5 was divided into four quadrants, the five subjects in the third quadrant had a small difference in pressure applied to the seat between the left and right. Furthermore, the imbalance in the sitting posture when the center of gravity was shifted to the center of the body was not affected by the body tilting movements made immediately before. These five subjects responded in the pre-test questionnaire that they "are conscious of their posture in their daily lives," suggesting that they are able to maintain good posture. On the other hand, the three subjects in the first and fourth quadrants showed changes in the imbalance in the sitting posture when the center of gravity was shifted to the center of the body (steps S8 and S13), depending on the body tilting movements made immediately before. Furthermore, when the center of gravity was shifted to the center of the seat (steps S8 and S13), the body tilt changed depending on the movements made immediately before, with the difference in imbalance between the left and right being particularly large. Therefore, this seems to suggest that relatively poor posture has become a part of everyday life. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 2: Pressure sensor for right seat pressure 3: Pressure sensor for left seat pressure 4: Mat 5: Control unit 6: Chair 7: Hook and loop fastener 8, 8a, 8b: Loop surface 9a, 9b: Hook surface 10: First hook surface sheet 11: Second hook surface sheet 12a, 12b: Loop surface sheet 15: Scale 16: Computer 17: Smartphone 30: Seat pressure measuring device

Claims

1. The device includes a right seat pressure sensor, a left seat pressure sensor, a mat, and a control unit electrically connected to the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor, The mat is a mat to be placed on the seat of a chair or a mat that constitutes the seat of a chair, The control unit is configured to measure data corresponding to seat pressure using the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor, A seat pressure measuring device characterized in that the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor are detachably attached to the mat, and the attachment positions of the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor on the mat can be changed.

2. 2. The seat pressure measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor are detachably attached to the mat by hook-and-loop fasteners, adhesive tape, or temporary fastening pins.

3. the mat has a loop surface of the hook-and-loop fastener; the right seat pressure sensor is fixed to a first seat having a first hook surface of the hook-and-loop fastener; the left seat pressure sensor is fixed to a second seat having a second hook surface of the hook-and-loop fastener; 3. The seating pressure measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the loop surface or the mat has scales or marks for attaching the first and second hook surfaces to the loop surface.

4. The control unit is configured to inform the person sitting in the chair of information about their sitting posture based on measurement data measured using the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor, or to directly or indirectly output measurement data measured using the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor or data calculated from the measurement data to an apparatus for informing the person sitting in the chair of information about their sitting posture. The seat pressure measuring device of claim 1.

5. the control unit or the device includes a display unit or a speaker, The control unit or the device is configured to use the display unit or the speaker to instruct the person sitting in the chair to adopt a sitting posture tilted to the right, a sitting posture tilted to the left, or a sitting posture that is balanced to the left or right, and to use the display unit or the speaker to inform the person sitting in the chair of information about their sitting posture based on measurement data measured using the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor when the person sitting in the chair moves in accordance with the instructions or data calculated from the measurement data. The seat pressure measuring device of claim 4.

6. A method for improving sitting posture using a seated pressure measuring device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, instructing the person sitting in the chair to take a sitting posture tilted to the right, a sitting posture tilted to the left, and a sitting posture without any left-right bias; and a step of informing the person sitting in the chair of information about their sitting posture based on measurement data measured using the right seat pressure sensor and the left seat pressure sensor when the person sitting in the chair moves in accordance with instructions or data calculated from the measurement data.

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