Sensor-Driven Seat Adjustment for Automatic Ergonomic Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seating devices, especially office chairs and automotive seats, lack the ability to automatically adjust to an ergonomic position for users, leading to discomfort, fatigue, and potential posture damage due to manual and often incorrect adjustments, and fail to adapt to different users in shared or frequent-use settings.
Innovation Solution
An electrically adjustable seating device equipped with sensor elements, a processor, and an electromechanical actuator that captures user parameter data to automatically set optimal ergonomic settings, including seat height, backrest angle, and armrest height, using a machine learning algorithm to determine the best configuration based on user size, weight, and gender, and can also adjust related workplace elements for enhanced comfort and ergonomics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual adjustment mechanisms are provided below the seat, then the seat can be adjusted to different positions, but the user experience deteriorates due to discomfort in finding and operating the levers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an automated electromechanical system. Sensors detect user parameters (weight, height, posture), a processor calculates optimal settings, and electromechanical actuators automatically adjust the seat position, eliminating the need for users to manually operate levers and knobs below the seat.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat adjustment system performs self-service by automatically detecting user characteristics and adjusting itself without user intervention. The system independently determines optimal seat parameters and executes adjustments, freeing the user from the complex task of manual adjustment.
2Reliability
If iterative manual adjustment is required to find optimal settings, then the user can eventually achieve a comfortable position, but time is lost and ergonomic damage may occur during the adjustment process
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and automatically applying the optimal seat settings based on detected user parameters. This eliminates the need for iterative trial-and-error adjustment, providing the correct ergonomic position immediately when the user sits down, thereby saving time and preventing ergonomic damage during adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensors that continuously monitor user parameters and seat position. The processor analyzes this feedback data and automatically adjusts the seat to maintain optimal ergonomic settings, ensuring reliability of the ergonomic position while eliminating time-consuming manual iteration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the seat is designed for single-user personalization, then ergonomic fit is optimized for that user, but the seat cannot serve multiple users effectively in shared spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The seat incorporates universal adaptability through multi-functionality. Sensors detect user parameters, and the processor automatically adjusts settings for any user, making the seat suitable for multiple users in shared spaces without requiring manual reconfiguration or user recognition systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves adaptability through parameter changes. By detecting variations in user parameters (weight, height, posture) and automatically adjusting seat parameters (position, angle, support levels), the system adapts to different users without increasing device complexity or requiring user identification.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional manual adjustment mechanisms are used, then the device structure remains simple, but users cannot achieve correct ergonomic positions easily leading to posture damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple manual mechanical mechanisms with an automated electromechanical system. While this increases manufacturing complexity slightly, it eliminates posture damage by ensuring correct ergonomic positions are automatically achieved, outweighing the manufacturing considerations.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat performs self-service by automatically detecting user parameters and adjusting to ergonomic positions without user intervention. This protects users from posture damage caused by incorrect positioning while maintaining ease of manufacture through the use of standard sensor and actuator components.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an electrically adjustable seat device (10), comprising at least one sensor element (12a, 12b), a processor (14), a memory unit (16) and at least one electromechanical actuator (18), the at least one sensor element (12a, 12b ) is set up to record predetermined seat parameter data of a person sitting on the seat device (10) and to transmit it to the processor (14), the processor (14) being set up to determine personal parameter data of the person from the seat parameter data, the personal parameter data to extract associated control data from the memory unit (16) and to control the at least one electromechanical actuator (18) on the basis of this control data. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method.