Flexible Tactile Sensor Chair for User State Monitoring

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies lack effective methods for monitoring a user's state, such as respiration, heartbeat, drowsiness, and seating posture, while sitting, using flexible tactile sensors integrated into chairs, which are not adequately addressed in existing healthcare and sensor technologies.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a chair with embedded flexible tactile sensors that sense force on both planes, transmitting data to a monitoring apparatus to measure respiration, heartbeat, and detect drowsiness, and adjust the chair's position to correct posture, using wireless communication and impact sensors for comprehensive user state monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If flexible tactile sensors are integrated into the chair to monitor user state, then monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser state monitoring capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates flexible tactile sensors directly into the chair structure, merging the monitoring function with the existing chair framework. This combination allows the chair to simultaneously provide seating support and biometric monitoring without requiring separate monitoring equipment, thereby improving monitoring capability while managing system complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The chair is designed to perform multiple functions: providing structural support for seating and simultaneously monitoring user state through embedded flexible tactile sensors. This multi-functionality allows a single device to serve both mechanical and sensing purposes, improving monitoring capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If flexible tactile sensors sense force on both planes to detect user motion, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotion detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor integration difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs flexible tactile sensors that can conform to curved surfaces and detect force in multiple directions. These flexible sensing elements are integrated into the chair's seating structure, enabling bidirectional force sensing for accurate motion detection. The flexible nature of these sensors allows them to be manufactured and integrated using techniques suitable for curved or irregular surfaces, managing manufacturing complexity while achieving high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If the monitoring apparatus continuously monitors user state, then reliability of safety monitoring is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring apparatus performs periodic sampling of user state data rather than continuous monitoring. By checking user state at regular intervals and analyzing changes over time, the system maintains reliable safety monitoring while reducing energy consumption compared to continuous real-time monitoring. This periodic approach allows the system to detect drowsiness, posture changes, and other safety-critical states without constant power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system naturally monitors user states like respiration and heartbeat, detects drowsiness, and corrects seating posture by transmitting control signals to adjust the chair, enhancing user safety and comfort through real-time feedback.

Implementation Method 1

at least one flexible tactile sensor positioned in the back plate or seat plate and sensing a motion of a user who sits on the chair

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoresistive Effect: Piezoresistive Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10898120B2User state monitoring method and system performing the same

Publication Date: 2021.01.26 KOREA ELECTRONICS TECH INST

AI summary

Provided is a system for monitoring a state of a user. The system includes a chair including a backrest and a seat plate, at least one flexible tactile sensor positioned in the back plate or seat plate and configured to sense a motion of a user who sits on the chair. The system further includes a monitoring apparatus configured to monitor the state of the user based on the sensed value received from at least one flexible tactile sensor.