Dynamic ergonomic chair with active, continuous posture adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10912385-B2
Application number	US-201815976625-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 10, 2018
Priority date	May 10, 2018
Publication date	Feb 9, 2021
Grant date	Feb 9, 2021

Abstract

A dynamic ergonomic chair with a sensor detects an adjustment to a position of a component of the chair and includes a user interface which updates a first user profile based on the detected adjustment to create a second user profile. The second user profile including a second workstation productivity measurement; the interface compares the first workstation productivity measurement of the first user profile with the second workstation productivity measurement of the second user profile, and/or medical outcomes, to determine an optimal user profile. The chair can dynamically adjust various components (e.g. armrest, recline angle, etc.) to enhance worker productivity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for supporting a user in a seated position comprising:
a base portion;
a back portion;
at least one armrest, the arm rest connected to at least one of the base or back portion;
a motor, the motor operatively connected to at least one of the base portion, back portion, or armrest to adjust a position of the at least one of:
a height of the base portion,
a recline angle of the back portion,
a height of the at least one armrest;

a database comprising a first user profile, the first user profile including:
user physical dimensions including at least one of body weight, height and health data,
a recline angle of the back portion,
a height of the at least one base portion, and
a first workstation productivity measurement;

at least one sensor configured to detect an adjustment to a position of at least one of the base portion, back portion and armrest;
a computing node comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor of the computing node to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
receiving the adjustment from the at least one sensor;
determining a second workstation productivity measurement based on the adjustment;
when the second workstation productivity measurement is higher than the first workstation productivity measurement, updating the first user profile based on the adjustment to create a second user profile; and
applying the second user profile to the motor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the productivity measurement includes at least one of typing speed, typing accuracy, mouse movement, or mouse-click target accuracy.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user interface determines a task performed by a user.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the user interface automatically selects an alternate profile based on the task detected, the alternate profile including an adjustment to at least one of the base portion, back portion, or armrest.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user interface includes a preset profile(s).

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the preset profile(s) is based on prior user data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user can rank a plurality of profiles.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a transducer, accelerometer, optical, or biometric sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor is disposed on the apparatus for supporting a user.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor is a wearable sensor configured to measure physiological data.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising first and second sensors, wherein the second sensor confirms the measurement of the first sensor.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein user profiles are refined by correlating adjustments to at least one of the base portion, back portion, or armrest with the work productivity measurements.

13. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith for dynamic adjustment of an ergonomic workstation, the program instructions executable by a processor of the computing node to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
receiving a first user profile, the first user profile including:
user physical dimensions including at least one of body weight, height and health data,
a recline angle of the back portion,
a height of the at least one base portion, and
a first workstation productivity measurement;

determining an activity being performed in a workplace by a user;
determining a first workstation productivity measurement;
receiving, from at least one sensor, an adjustment to a portion of the ergonomic equipment;
determining a second workstation productivity measurement based on the adjustment;
when the second workstation productivity measurement is higher than the first workstation productivity measurement, updating the first user profile based on the adjustment to create a second user profile;
applying the second user profile to a motor of the ergonomic workstation.

14. The computer usable program of claim 13 , wherein updating the first user profile operates independent of a participation of the user.

15. The computer usable program of claim 13 , wherein updating the first user profile requires participation by the user.

16. The computer usable program of claim 13 , wherein productivity measurement includes at least one of typing speed, typing accuracy, mouse movement, or mouse-click target accuracy.

17. The computer usable program of claim 13 , wherein the first user profile is a preset profile.

18. The computer usable program of claim 17 , wherein the preset profile is based on prior user data.

19. The computer usable program of claim 13 , wherein the user can rank a plurality of profiles.

20. A method of dynamically adjusting an ergonomic workstation apparatus comprising:
providing a device for engagement by a user;
storing, in a database, a first user profile, the first user profile including:
user physiological data,
a first position of the device, and
a first workstation productivity measurement;

determining an activity being performed in a workplace by a user;
determining a first workstation productivity measurement;
determining, from a sensor, an adjustment to a portion of the ergonomic equipment;
determining a second workstation productivity measurement based on the adjustment;
when the second workstation productivity measurement is higher than the first workstation productivity measurement, updating the first user profile based on the adjustment to create a second user profile;
applying the second user profile to a motor of the ergonomic workstation, wherein the second profile adjusts the workstation to a second position, the second position associated with the second workstation productivity measurement.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Kelley John F
• Seager Todd P
• Wasser Helaine M
• Brown Douglas S

Classifications

• A47C1/03211 Primary

  by electric motors · CPC title

• A47C7/72

  Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like · CPC title

• A47C31/126 Primary

  for chairs · CPC title