Seat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seats lack the capability to identify the motion of an occupant, preventing the implementation of interactive and health-promoting features such as encouraging active physical exercise during travel.
Innovation Solution
A seat equipped with a combination of sensors, including pressure sensors at the seat cushion and back, connected to a controller that analyzes pressure values to identify specific motions of the occupant, and a system that provides instructions and feedback on the quality of the motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure sensors are provided in the seat to evaluate posture and provide passive motion, then fatigue recovery is partially achieved, but the exercise effect is insufficient and traveler's thrombosis cannot be effectively prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where pressure sensors detect occupant motion, the controller identifies specific exercise motions (heel lift, foot lift, sit-up-straight, scapulae press-against-seat-back), and the seat provides real-time feedback and instructions to encourage the occupant to perform active physical exercises. This closed-loop feedback system transforms passive seat motion into active occupant engagement, effectively preventing traveler's thrombosis by promoting regular physical activity during long journeys
Solution Approach 2:
The seat system enables self-service exercise guidance where the controller automatically monitors pressure sensor data, identifies performed motions, evaluates exercise quality, and provides instructions for next exercises without requiring external intervention. The occupant autonomously follows the exercise program prompted by the seat system, making the health-promoting function self-sufficient and effective
2Measurement precision
If multiple pressure sensors are arranged at different positions on the seat cushion and back, then motion identification accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the seat into multiple sensor zones with specific functions: first and second cushion sensors at different positions on the seat cushion to detect lower body motions, and first and second back sensors at different heights on the seat back to detect upper body motions. This segmentation allows each sensor to monitor specific motion types, improving overall motion identification accuracy while keeping the system manageable through functional zoning
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure sensor system is designed to universally detect multiple types of motions (heel lift, foot lift, sit-up-straight, scapulae press-against-seat-back) using the same sensor technology platform. The controllers interpret pressure changes from the multi-position sensors to identify various exercise motions, making the sensor array a multi-functional detection system that handles diverse motion recognition tasks without requiring specialized sensors for each motion type
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 the seat to interact with the occupant by providing real-time feedback and instructions on physical exercises, enhancing the travel experience, reducing fatigue, and potentially preventing conditions like traveler's thrombosis.
Implementation Method 1
Adopted as the sensors, for example, may be ones which are capable of acquiring, as the measurement values, values of pressure from the occupant seated on the seat body
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a seat including: sensors which includes a first cushion sensor provided at a seat cushion in a position corresponding to buttocks of an occupant, a second cushion sensor provided at the seat cushion and located farther frontward than the first cushion sensor, a first back sensor provided at a seat back and located in a lower position thereof, and a second back sensor provided at the seat back and located above the first back sensor; and a controller connected to the sensors and thereby allowed to acquire pressure values from the respective sensors. The controller is configured to identify the motion of the occupant based on outputs of at least two sensors of the first cushion sensor, the second cushion sensor, the first back sensor, and the second back sensor.