Adaptive Backrest Contour Control Using Seat Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for adapting the contour of a back element to a person's posture are complex and costly, making them unsuitable for everyday use, such as office chairs, due to high sensor and actuator complexity and calibration requirements.
Innovation Solution
A device with a control unit that measures bearing pressure distribution using sensors and adjusts the back element's contour via actuating elements to maintain a physiologically correct posture, selected based on predetermined posture parameters, ensuring optimal pelvic and spinal alignment without requiring extensive calibration or multiple sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors and actuating elements are used to adapt the back element contour to posture, then the adaptability and precision of posture support is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary sensors and actuating elements from the system. Instead of using multiple sensors throughout the back element, only essential bearing pressure sensors in the seat element are retained. Similarly, only necessary actuating elements in the back element are kept, removing redundant components while maintaining core functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses software algorithms to create a virtual model of the desired back element contour based on bearing pressure data. This software copy replaces the need for complex mechanical sensing and actuation systems, allowing the system to adapt posture support through computational rather than purely mechanical means.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and actuating elements are deployed for precise posture detection and adjustment, then the measurement precision and control accuracy are improved, but the manufacturing cost and calibration effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration by automatically adapting to the user's posture without requiring manual calibration procedures. The control unit processes bearing pressure data and automatically adjusts the back element contour, eliminating the need for complex calibration equipment and procedures that would increase manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing pressure sensors serve multiple functions: they detect user presence, determine posture type, calculate posture parameters, and trigger appropriate back element adjustments. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized sensors and actuators, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining measurement precision.
3Ease of operation
If the back element contour is continuously adjusted to match user posture, then the comfort and posture support are improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs posture detection and back element adjustment in periodic cycles rather than continuous operation. The control unit regularly updates bearing pressure measurements and adjusts the back element contour accordingly, providing continuous comfort support while reducing the complexity of requiring truly continuous adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A device and a method for adapting a contour of a back element to a posture of a person. The device includes a seat element and aback element connected to the seat element in a tiltable way, for accommodating a person, and a control unit. A bearing pressure sensor is configured for measuring an actual bearing pressure distribution exerted by the person. The back element includes a first actuating element for changing the contour of the back element. The control unit selects a predetermined posture and a characteristic target posture parameter matching the predetermined posture, calculates an actual posture parameter from the actual bearing pressure distribution and compares the actual posture parameter with the target posture parameter, and when the actual posture parameter and the target posture parameter match, actuates the first actuating element to adapt the contour of the back element to the posture of the person.