Interactive Seat Pressure-Sensor Control for Hands-Free Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional recliners and similar seats require users to manually operate remotes or buttons to adjust movable parts, which can reduce comfort and pose difficulties for individuals with motor or sensory disabilities in achieving optimal positioning.
Innovation Solution
Integration of pressure sensors within the upholstered surface that interpret user pressure actions to control electric actuators, allowing for interactive adjustment of seat components like the back, footrest, and armrest without the need for external controls, using an electronic module to distinguish and interpret various pressure signals and durations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual control via remotes or buttons is used, then the seat adjustment function is achieved, but user comfort is reduced and accessibility for disabled persons is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is merged with the upholstered surface itself. Pressure sensors are integrated into the upholstery layers, allowing the seat cushion to directly detect user intent and control actuators without external remotes or buttons. This merging eliminates the need for separate control devices and makes the upholstery itself the control interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat system becomes self-controlling by using pressure sensors embedded in the upholstery to automatically detect user positioning needs and trigger appropriate actuator responses. The system serves itself by interpreting pressure patterns directly from the user's body contact with the seat surface, eliminating the need for manual control operations.
2Ease of operation
If pressure sensors are integrated into the upholstery, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upholstered surface is segmented into multiple layers with pressure sensors positioned at specific locations within the upholstery structure. This segmentation allows the complex sensing function to be distributed across multiple sensor elements rather than requiring a single complex control unit, making the system more manageable and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
An electronic module serves as an intermediary between the pressure sensors and the actuators. This intermediary component processes sensor signals and translates them into appropriate control commands for the actuators, simplifying the overall control architecture by centralizing the interpretation logic in a dedicated processing unit.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensors are used to interpret complex pressure actions, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor system is designed with multi-functionality to detect various types of user interactions including simple pressure presence, pressure magnitude, and pressure duration. The same sensor array serves multiple detection purposes, eliminating the need for separate sensor systems for different functions and simplifying manufacturing by using a universal sensing platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The system interprets different user intentions by analyzing changes in pressure parameters such as magnitude, duration, and temporal patterns rather than requiring different sensor types. By varying the interpretation of pressure parameters (e.g., short press vs. long press, light vs. heavy pressure), the system achieves high adaptability using a single sensor technology platform.
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
Enables users to adjust seat positions comfortably and intuitively, improving accessibility and usability, especially for those with disabilities, by allowing control through natural pressure actions on the seat surface.
Implementation Method 1
three pressure sensors 2,3,4 electrically connected to the corresponding electronic module 5
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to an interactive seat comprising movable portions (6,7,8) which are actuated by means of at least one electric actuator device (M), according to the resting preferences of a user. The interactive seat comprises at least one pressure sensor (2,3,4) hidden underneath a layer of outer upholstery for decoration or contact (11) distributed along the surface in contact with the body of the user, and an electronic module (5) connected to the electric actuator device (M) and to the pressure sensor (2,3,4). The electronic module (5) actuates the movable portions (6,7,8) by means of the electric actuator device (M) based on a voluntary pressure exerted by the user with any part of their body on said pressure sensor (2,3,4), and additionally based on the duration time of said voluntary pressure.