Method for the determination of at least one posture of the user of a seating device on the seating device

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies cannot reliably determine a user's sitting posture on a seat device, particularly failing to identify ergonomically unfavorable positions that can lead to physical discomfort or damage over time, and existing methods require pre-recorded user data.

Innovation Solution

A method that detects changes in physical properties such as pressure, temperature, or distance across multiple areas of a seat device using sensors, calculates a quotient from these measurements to determine the sitting posture independently of individual user data, and uses an electronic data processing device to identify ergonomic issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If existing methods for determining sitting posture are used, then posture detection capability is provided, but pre-recorded user data must be collected and stored beforehand

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesitting posture detection accuracyVSAvoiddata collection and storage requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential measurement data needed for posture determination from the complex set of possible user data. By using sensors to detect physical quantities (pressure, temperature, distance) at specific seat regions and deriving posture information directly from these measurements, the system eliminates the need to collect, store, and process extensive pre-recorded user data while maintaining accurate posture detection capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically determining sitting posture from real-time sensor measurements without requiring external user data input. The evaluation device calculates posture information independently by processing the physical quantity data from sensors, making the system autonomous and eliminating dependency on pre-collected user profiles or historical data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If simple posture detection methods are used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of ergonomic assessment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposture determination simplicityVSAvoidergonomic assessment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the seat into multiple measurement regions (such as seat cushion zones and backrest zones) with sensors positioned at specific locations. By dividing the measurement task into regional segments and evaluating the distribution of physical quantities across these segments, the system achieves reliable ergonomic assessment through a simple operational process of collecting and comparing regional measurement data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system relies on changes in physical parameters (pressure distribution, temperature variations, distance measurements) that occur naturally when users assume different sitting postures. By monitoring these parameter changes rather than requiring complex user input or calibration, the system maintains both operational simplicity and assessment reliability through objective physical measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3363679B1Method for the determination of at least one posture of the user of a seating device on the seating device
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 REALTHINGKS GMBH
  • EP3363679B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining the seated position of the user of a seat device on the seat device and a device for carrying out this method. The method uses a number of sensors (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35) to detect the size of a physical property in each area of ​​a plurality of areas of the seat device in which this size can be changed by the user of the seat device when sitting on the seat device is then determines a value based on the detected quantities and determines a sitting posture of the user using the value.