Smart Chair Control Interface for Intuitive Ergonomic Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Mobile task chairs lack intuitive adjustment mechanisms for users to easily adjust seating settings, leading to discomfort and ergonomic issues, especially in shared environments where users are unfamiliar with the chair's controls.

Innovation Solution

A smart seating chair with a control mechanism that provides visual indications of adjustment settings and functionalities, allowing for both gross and fine adjustments of pivoting resistance, and enabling partially or completely automated adjustments through integrated sensors and electronic controls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If adjustment mechanisms are disposed under the chair bottom, then the chair structure remains compact, but the mechanisms become difficult to locate and operate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of adjustment mechanismsVSAvoidchair structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control mechanism is relocated from the traditional under-seat location to the vertical backrest surface, utilizing the unused vertical space dimension. This allows users to access controls from the front without compromising structural compactness, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and compact design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

A visual indicator system serves as an intermediary between the adjustment mechanisms and the user. The indicators provide clear feedback about current settings and available adjustments, making the mechanisms intuitive to use without requiring users to physically explore or guess the function of each component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple adjustment mechanisms are provided for different users and tasks, then the chair becomes more adaptable, but the control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechair adjustment capabilitiesVSAvoidcontrol mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control mechanism integrates multiple adjustment functions (height, tilt, lumbar support, armrests) into a single unified interface on the backrest. Each control element manages multiple parameters simultaneously, allowing one mechanism to perform the work of several separate adjustments, thereby maintaining adaptability while reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Visual indicators provide real-time feedback about current adjustment settings and available ranges. This feedback system helps users understand the chair's state without requiring them to remember or interpret complex mechanical positions, simplifying the user experience while maintaining multiple adjustment capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If adjustment mechanisms require laborious turning of handles, then mechanical simplicity is maintained, but user convenience and adjustment speed decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustment speedVSAvoidadjustment effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Traditional mechanical handle-turning mechanisms are replaced with electronic controls that use motors or actuators to make adjustments. This substitution eliminates the need for users to apply repeated mechanical force through multiple rotations, enabling rapid adjustments with minimal physical effort while maintaining precise control over chair parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Loss of information

If visual indicators are added to show adjustment settings, then user understanding of current settings improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation about current settingsVSAvoidcontrol mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Visual indicators utilize color-coded elements (such as colored bars or LED lights) to represent different adjustment settings and resistance levels. This color-coding system provides immediate, intuitive information about chair configuration without requiring text labels or complex displays, minimizing the addition of complexity while maximizing information delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS9247828B2Smart seating chair with IC controls, electronic sensors, and wired and wireless data and power transfer capabilities

Publication Date: 2016.02.02 CVEK SAVA

AI summary

A chair with a control mechanism with a base structure, a seat bottom structure supported by the base structure, a seat back structure supported by the base structure, a control mechanism supported by the base structure, a power source and means for electrically coupling the power source to the control mechanism and an electrical port, wireless transmitter, or other electrical communicator for producing electrical communication relative to the control mechanism. The power source can be a portable power source that plugs into the connector of the control mechanism. One or more electrical sensors can be retained relative to the seat bottom or seat back structures and memory can be provided for retaining data from the electrical sensor.