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 workstation arrangement comprising:
a control unit connectable to a worktop, the control unit having an input assembly attached to the worktop, the input assembly comprising a first surface and a second surface that is different than the first surface, the worktop connected to a height adjustment system configured to vertically adjust a position of the worktop between a first lower position and a second upper position; and
a controller connected to the input assembly, the controller having a processor connected to a memory, the controller configured to store a first value corresponding to a sitting height of the worktop and to store a second value corresponding to a standing height of the worktop in the memory and programmed to perform the steps of:
(i) in response to at least one quick touch and release activation via a first portion of the first surface without any other user input, controlling the height adjustment system to automatically move the worktop to the sitting height subsequent to the at least one touch and release activation;
(ii) in response to a persistent touch activation via the first portion of the first surface, controlling the height adjustment system to move the worktop downward while the first surface remains activated;
(iii) in response to at least one quick touch and release activation via a first portion of the second surface without any other user input, controlling the height adjustment system to automatically move the worktop to the standing height subsequent to the at least one touch and release activation of the second surface; and
(iv) in response to a persistent touch activation of the first portion of the second surface, controlling the height adjustment system to move the worktop upward while the first surface remains activated,
wherein the controller is further programmed to, upon activation of either the first or second surfaces while the controller is automatically moving the worktop toward one of the standing or sitting heights, halt movement of the worktop.
2 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first and second surfaces face substantially upward and substantially downward, respectively.
3 . The workstation arrangement of claim 2 wherein the first portion of the first surface is vertically above the first portion of the second surface.
4 . The workstation arrangement of claim 3 wherein the worktop includes an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the first surface is flush with the upper surface and the second surface is flush with the lower surface.
5 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the controller can detect a level of force applied to each of the first and second surfaces during persistent activation and wherein the controller controls the speed of movement of the worktop based at least in part on an applied persistent force.
6 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first and second surfaces face upward and are coplanar.
7 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the at least one quick touch and release activation via the first surface includes a sequence of quick touch and release activations.
8 . The workstation arrangement of claim 7 wherein the sequence includes a rapid succession of at least first and second quick touch and release activations.
9 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the at least one quick touch and release activation via the first surface includes a sequence of quick touch and release activations and wherein the at least one quick touch and release activation via the second surface includes a sequence of quick touch and release activations.
10 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to periodically move the worktop as a reminder encouraging a workstation arrangement user to use the input assembly to change the worktop height, wherein the periodic movement is restricted to a range about a current worktop height position so that during the period movement the user is supported at substantially the current worktop height.
11 . The workstation arrangement of claim 10 wherein the controller periodically moves the worktop as a reminder by causing the worktop to vibrate.
12 . The workstation arrangement of claim 10 further including a light indicator linked to the controller wherein the controller controls illumination of the light indicator as a reminder encouraging the workstation arrangement user to use the input assembly to change the worktop height.
13 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 further including a vibration transducer and a surface located at the workstation and operably coupled to the vibration transducer, the vibration transducer linked to the controller, the controller further programmed to periodically control the transducer to vibrate the surface thereby generating a signal that can be sensed by a workstation arrangement user, the signal for encouraging use of the input assembly to change the worktop height.
14 . The workstation arrangement of claim 13 wherein the surface operably coupled to the vibration transducer is a surface that at least periodically supports the workstation arrangement user so that the signal encouraging use can be haptically felt by the workstation arrangement user.
15 . The workstation arrangement of claim 14 wherein the surface operably coupled to the vibration transducer is an upper surface of the worktop.
16 . The workstation of claim 14 wherein the workstation includes a mat and wherein an upper surface of the mat forms the surface operably coupled to the vibration transducer.
17 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 further including an automatic safety cutoff assembly for detecting that worktop movement has been obstructed during movement and halting movement of the worktop irrespective of an activation state of the input device.
18 . The workstation arrangement of claim 1 wherein the control unit that includes the first surface is mounted to the worktop and moves with the worktop as the worktop height is changed.
19 . The workstation arrangement of claim 2 wherein the worktop has an upper surface and a lower surface and wherein the control unit is integrated into the worktop such that the first and second surfaces are substantially flush with the upper and lower surfaces, respectively.
20 . A workstation arrangement comprising:
a control unit connectable to a worktop, the control unit having an input assembly attached to the worktop, the input assembly comprising a first surface and a second surface that is different than the first surface, the worktop connected to a height adjustment system configured to vertically adjust a position of the worktop between a first lower position and a second upper position; and
a controller connected to the input assembly, the controller having a processor connected to a memory, the controller configured to store a first value corresponding to a sitting height of the worktop and to store a second value corresponding to a standing height of the worktop in the memory and programmed to perform the steps of:
(i) in response to at least one quick touch and release activation via a first portion of the first surface without any other user input, controlling the height adjustment system to automatically move the worktop to the sitting height subsequent to the at least one touch and release activation;
(ii) in response to a persistent touch activation of the first portion of the first surface, controlling the height adjustment system to move the worktop downward while the first surface remains activated;
(iii) in response to at least one quick touch and release activation via a first portion of the second surface without any other user input, controlling the height adjustment system to automatically move the worktop to the standing height subsequent to the at least one touch and release activation of the second surface; and
(iv) in response to a persistent touch activation of the first portion of the second surface, controlling the height adjustment system to move the worktop downward while the second surface remains activated,
wherein the controller is further programmed to, upon activation of either the first or second surfaces while the controller is automatically moving the worktop toward one of the standing or sitting heights, halt movement of the worktop.
21 . The workstation arrangement of claim 20 wherein the control unit that includes the first surface is mounted to the worktop and moves with the worktop as the worktop height is changed.
22 . A workstation arrangement comprising:
a control unit connectable to a worktop, the control unit having an input assembly attached to the worktop, the input assembly comprising an upward facing first surface and a downward facing second surface, the worktop connected to a height adjustment system configured to vertically adjust a position of the worktop between a first lower position and a second upper position; and
a controller connected to the input assembly, the controller having a processor connected to a memory, the controller configured to store a first value corresponding to a sitting height of the worktop and to store a second value corresponding to a standing height of the worktop in the memory and programmed to perform the steps of:
(i) in response to at least one quick touch and release activation via a first portion of the first surface without any other user input, controlling the height adjustment system to automatically move the worktop to the sitting height subsequent to the at least one touch and release activation;
(ii) in response to a persistent touch activation of the first portion of the first surface, controlling the height adjustment system to move the worktop downward while the first surface remains activated;
(iii) in response to at least one quick touch and release activation via a first portion of the second surface without any other user input, controlling the height adjustment system to automatically move the worktop to the standing height subsequent to the at least one touch and release activation of the second surface; and
(iv) in response to a persistent touch activation of the first portion of the second surface, controlling the height adjustment system to move the worktop upward while the second surface remains activated,
wherein the controller is further programmed to, upon activation of either the first or second surfaces while the controller is automatically moving the worktop toward one of the standing or sitting heights, halt movement of the worktop.
23 . The workstation arrangement of claim 22 wherein the control unit that includes the first surface is mounted to the worktop and moves with the worktop as the worktop height is changed.