Sensor-Controlled Sofa Headrest for Automatic Protective Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing furniture, such as sofas, with pivotable headrests are complex to use and require manual adjustment, leading to potential mechanical system damage due to improper positioning, and users often forget to return the headrest to a protective position when leaving.
Innovation Solution
A furniture system with a pressure sensor that automatically controls an electric motor to adjust the headrest between raised and lowered positions based on user presence or absence, eliminating the need for manual operation and ensuring the mechanical system is protected in its secure position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of headrest is required, then user can control headrest position, but operation becomes complex and mechanical system may be damaged due to improper positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The headrest system automatically detects user presence via weight sensor and autonomously adjusts its position without manual intervention. When a user sits on the sofa, the sensor triggers the motor to raise the headrest; when the user leaves, the headrest automatically lowers, eliminating the need for manual operation and ensuring proper positioning to protect the mechanical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated electromechanical system. A weight sensor detects user presence and triggers an electric motor to drive the headrest mechanism, substituting the need for manual mechanical operation and ensuring consistent, damage-free positioning through automated control.
2Ease of operation
If headrest is kept in raised position for convenience, then user comfort is improved, but mechanical system becomes vulnerable to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary protective action by automatically lowering the headrest to its secure position whenever the user leaves the sofa, as detected by the weight sensor. This preliminary action ensures the mechanical system is protected before any potential damage can occur, while maintaining user comfort during usage by keeping the headrest raised when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The headrest position is made dynamic rather than static, automatically adjusting between raised and lowered positions based on real-time user presence detection. This dynamic behavior allows the system to optimize both user comfort (raised position during use) and mechanical protection (lowered position when unused) at different times.
3Ease of operation
If automatic sensor control is implemented, then operation is simplified, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual control operations with a simple automated electromechanical system consisting of a weight sensor, control circuit, and motor. This substitution simplifies user interaction to merely sitting or leaving the sofa, while the added electronic components provide intelligent automatic control without requiring complex user interfaces or manual adjustment mechanisms.
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 simplifies user interaction, automatically positioning the headrest and television, extending their lifespan by maintaining the headrest in a protective position and the television in an optimal usage state.
Implementation Method 1
characterised in that it comprises a sensor, in particular a pressure sensor (11), which is intended to capture the presence or the absence of a person on the piece of furniture
Implementation Method 2
an electric motor (20) incorporated in the backrest which drives the mechanical system linked to the headrest to rotate the latter between its two lowered and raised positions
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
Furniture used to sit or lie down, in particular an armchair, a chair, a bed or a sofa, comprising at least one part of the seat and/or one part forming a backrest, and at least one element which can pass between two positions and/or two different states, for example a headrest, and control means intended to control the passage of said at least one element from one position to another or from one state to another, is characterized in that: - sensor means are provided for detecting the presence of a person seated on the seat portion and/or the backrest portion; and - the arrangement is such that the control means control the passage of said one element from one position to another or from one state to another when the means forming a sensor detect the presence of a person on the part of seat and/or on the part forming the backrest.