Ergonomic seating system, tilt-lock control and remote powering method and apparatus
A work environment adjustment system includes multiple instances of controllable office equipment located within an office space, each instance associated with a specific office location and including an activator for controlling states of the instance, at least one presence sensor for detecting user presence within each space associated with each instance, and a master controller linked to each office equipment activator to control activation of each activator to control a current state of each instance. The master controller is programmed to perform the steps of receiving sensor signals from the at least a first presence sensor, determining user presence at each space associated with each instance, controlling states at each of the instances independent of user input when the space associated with the instance is vacant, and enabling user control of the state of each instance associated with a space that is occupied by a user.
1 . A system for adjusting the height of a workstation for use by a user, the system comprising:
a frame;
a worktop having an upper work surface, the worktop being vertically adjustably attached to said frame and selectively adjustable in elevation to different positions Including at least a first position and a second position for supporting the user in first and second postures, respectively;
at least one vertical-displacement drive mechanism mechanically connected between said frame and said worktop, the drive mechanism controllable to selectively vertically displace the worktop with respect to the frame when the drive mechanism is activated;
a user interface for receiving an input signal from a user indicating a desire to change worktop position from a current position to a desired position;
a memory storing the first position and the second position and also storing a threshold duration of time that the worktop is to be in the first position and after which it is advantageous to move the worktop to the second position to support the user in the second posture;
a processor programmed to:
(i) while the worktop is in the first position:
(a) monitor a duration of time that the worktop is in the first position;
(b) subsequent to the duration of time that the worktop is in the first position exceeding the threshold duration and prior to any user selection to initiate a change in worktop position via the interface subsequent to the duration of time exceeding the threshold duration, automatically moving the worktop while the worktop remains within a range of motion within one half inch of the first position persistently supporting the user in the first posture, as an intuitive reminder that the moving worktop can be moved to other positions and to encourage the user to provide an input signal via the interface causing the processor to control the drive mechanism to move the worktop to toward the second position; and
(ii) with the worktop in the first position, upon receiving an input signal via the interface indicating a desire to move the worktop to the second position, control the drive mechanism to move the worktop from the first position toward a second position.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the processor performs the step of automatically moving the worktop by moving the worktop while the worktop remains within a range of motion within one tenth of an inch of the first position persistently supporting the user in the first posture.
3 . The system of claim 2 wherein the processor performs the step of automatically moving the worktop by moving the worktop quickly through a repeating movement cycle within the range of motion.
4 . The system of claim 3 wherein the processor performs the step of automatically moving the worktop by causing the worktop to vibrate.
5 . The system of claim 3 wherein the interface includes at least first and second independently selectable surface areas that are associated with the first and second positions, respectively, wherein, when the worktop is in a position other than the first position, upon selection of the first surface area, the processor controls the drive mechanism to move the worktop from a current position toward the first position where movement toward the first position persists even after release of the first surface area until the worktop moves to the first position or until another user input halts worktop movement and, wherein, when the worktop is in a position other than the second position, upon selection of the second surface area, the processor controls the drive mechanism to move the worktop from a current position toward the second position where movement toward the second position persists even after release of the second surface area until the worktop moves to the second position or until another user input halts worktop movement.
6 . The system of claim 5 wherein selection of the first surface area includes touching the first surface area and wherein selection of the second surface area includes touching the second surface area.
7 . The system of claim 5 wherein selection of the first surface area includes double tapping the first surface area and wherein selection of the second surface area includes double tapping the second surface area.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the interface includes at least a first light device and wherein the processor is further programmed to illuminate the light device while the worktop is automatically moved as a secondary reminder that the moving worktop can be moved to other positions.
9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the drive mechanism causes the worktop to automatically move within the range of motion within one half inch of the first position.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first position is a sitting position and the second position is a standing position.
11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the threshold duration is a first threshold duration and the memory further stores a second threshold duration of time that the worktop is to be in the second position and after which it is advantageous to move the worktop to the first position to support the user in the first posture, and wherein the processor is further programmed to:
(iii) while the worktop is in the second position:
(a) monitor a duration of time that the worktop is in the second position;
(b) subsequent to the duration of time that the worktop is in the second position exceeding a second threshold duration and prior to any user selection to initiate a change in worktop position via the interface subsequent to the duration of time exceeding the second threshold duration, automatically moving the worktop while the worktop remains within a range of motion within one half inch of the second position persistently supporting the user in the second posture, as an intuitive reminder that the moving worktop can be moved to other positions and to encourage the user to provide an input signal via the interface causing the processor to control the drive mechanism to move the worktop toward the first position; and
(ii) with the worktop in the second position, upon receiving an input signal via the interface indicating a desire to move the worktop to the first position, control the drive mechanism to move the worktop from the second position toward a first position.
12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the second duration is the same as the first duration.
13 . The system of claim 11 wherein the processor performs the step of
automatically moving the worktop while the worktop persistently supports the user in the second posture by automatically moving the worktop while the worktop remains within a range of motion within one tenth inch of the second position persistently supporting the user in the second posture and performs the step of automatically moving the worktop while the worktop persistently supports the user in the first posture by automatically moving the worktop while the worktop remains within a range of motion within one tenth inch of the first position persistently supporting the user in the first posture.
14 . The system of claim 13 wherein the processor performs each step of automatically moving the worktop by automatically vibrating the worktop.
15 . The system of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically moving ceases after at least one of a second threshold period of time occurs or upon the user providing an input via the interface to move the worktop form the first position.
16 . The system of claim 5 wherein the first surface area and the second surface area face upward and downward, respectively.
17 . The system of claim 16 wherein the Interface is usable to specify user preferred first and second worktop positions.
18 . A system for adjusting the height of a workstation for use by a user, the system comprising:
a frame;
a worktop having an upper work surface, the worktop being vertically adjustably attached to said frame and selectively adjustable in elevation to different positions including at least a first position and a second position for supporting the user in first and second postures, respectively;
at least one drive mechanism mechanically coupled to the worktop and controllable to move the worktop when the drive mechanism is activated;
a processor programmed to:
(i) while the worktop is in the first position:
(a) monitor a duration of time that the worktop is in the first position;
(b) subsequent to the duration of time that the worktop is in the first position exceeding a threshold duration and prior to any user initiated movement of the worktop from the first position subsequent to the duration of time exceeding the threshold duration, automatically controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop while the worktop remains within a range of motion within one half inch of the first position persistently supporting the user in the first posture, as an intuitive reminder that the moving worktop can be moved to other positions and to encourage the user to initiate worktop repositioning toward the second position.
19 . A system for adjusting the height of a workstation for use by a user, the system comprising:
a frame;
a worktop having an upper work surface, the worktop being vertically adjustably attached to said frame and selectively adjustable in elevation to different positions including at least a first position and a second position for supporting the user in first and second postures, respectively;
at least one vertical-displacement drive mechanism mechanically connected between said frame and said worktop, the drive mechanism controllable to selectively vertically displace the worktop with respect to the frame when the drive mechanism is activated;
a memory storing the first position, the second position, a first threshold duration of time that the worktop is to be in the first position and after which it is advantageous to move the worktop to the second position to support the user in the second posture, and a second threshold duration of time that the worktop is to be in the second position and after which it is advantageous to move the worktop to the first position to support the user in the first posture;
a user interface for receiving an input signal from a user indicating a desire to change worktop position from a current position to a desired position;
a vibration transducer;
a surface operably coupled to the vibration transducer so that the vibration transducer can cause the surface to vibrate; and
a processor programmed to:
(i) while the worktop is in the first position:
(a) monitor a duration of time that the worktop is in the first position;
(b) subsequent to the duration of time that the worktop is in the first position exceeding a the first threshold duration and prior to any user selection to initiate a change in worktop position via the interface subsequent to the duration of time exceeding the first threshold duration, automatically causing the vibration transducer to vibrate the surface while the worktop persistently supports the user in the first posture, as a reminder that the worktop can be moved to other positions and to encourage the user to provide an input signal via the interface causing the processor to control the drive mechanism to move the worktop toward the second position;
(ii) while the worktop is in the second position:
(a) monitor a duration of time that the worktop is in the second position;
(b) subsequent to the duration of time that the worktop is in the second position exceeding a the second threshold duration and prior to any user selection to initiate a change in worktop position via the interface subsequent to the duration of time exceeding the second threshold duration, automatically causing the vibration transducer to vibrate the surface while the worktop persistently supports the user in the second posture, as a reminder that the worktop can be moved to other positions and to encourage the user to provide an input signal via the interface causing the processor to control the drive mechanism to move the worktop toward the first position;
(iii) with the worktop in any position, upon receiving an input signal via the interface indicating a desire to move the worktop to the second position, control the drive mechanism to move the worktop from the current position toward the second position; and
(iv) with the worktop in any position, upon receiving an input signal via the Interface indicating a desire to move the worktop to the first position, control the drive mechanism to move the worktop from the current position toward the first position.
20 . The system of claim 19 wherein the surface is independent of the worktop.
21 . The system of claim 20 further including a floor mat and wherein the surface includes an upper surface of the floor mat.
22 . The system of claim 19 wherein the drive mechanism operates as the vibration transducer.
23 . The system of claim 22 wherein an upper surface of the worktop is the surface that vibrates.
24 . A method for controlling a height adjustable workstation that includes a worktop supported by a frame, a processor, a memory, at least one input control, a vertical displacement drive mechanism, and a vibration transducer mechanically coupled to a user support surface, the at least one user input control for receiving manual direct user input from a workstation user to activate the drive mechanism to change the elevation of the worktop to different worktop elevation positions, the method comprising the steps of:
storing in the memory, a first position, a second position, and a first threshold duration, the first and second positions including first and second worktop heights, respectively, for supporting a user in first and second different postures, respectively, the first threshold duration including a duration of time that the worktop is to be in the first position and after which the user intends to move the worktop to the second position to support the user in the second posture;
monitoring a duration of time that the worktop is in the first position while a user is associated with the worktop; and
subsequent to the monitored duration exceeding the first threshold duration, without any user input to intentionally change the worktop height subsequent to the monitored duration exceeding the threshold duration, controlling the vibration transducer to automatically vibrate the support surface wherein the user is supported in the first posture while the worktop vibrates to generate a signal encouraging the user to use the input control to change the worktop height to the second position.
25 . A method for controlling a height adjustable workstation that includes a worktop supported by a frame, a processor, a memory, at least one input control and at least one drive mechanism, the at least one user input control for receiving manual direct user input from a workstation user to activate the at least one drive mechanism to change the elevation of the worktop to different worktop elevation positions, the method comprising the steps of:
storing in the memory, a first position, a second position, and a first threshold duration, the first and second positions including first and second worktop heights, respectively, for supporting a user in first and second different postures, respectively, the first threshold duration including a duration of time that the worktop is to be in the first position and after which the user intends to move the worktop to the second position to support the user in the second posture;
monitoring a duration of time that the worktop is in the first position while a user is associated with the worktop; and
subsequent to the monitored duration exceeding the first threshold duration, without any user input to intentionally change the worktop height subsequent to the monitored duration exceeding the threshold duration, controlling the at least one drive mechanism to automatically move the worktop through a movement cycle that does not include the second position and wherein the user is supported in the first posture throughout the movement cycle to encourage the user to use the input control to change the worktop height to the second position.
26 . The method of claim 25 wherein the at least drive mechanism includes a single drive mechanism for changing the worktop elevation and for moving the worktop through the movement cycle.
27 . The method of claim 25 wherein the step of moving the worktop through the movement cycle includes causing the worktop to vibrate.