Patent Grant
10130169
The present invention generally relates to devices and systems for benefiting the health and efficiency of workers in a workplace, and more particularly, to height-adjustable support surfaces and other devices to encourage health-benefiting movement by the worker.
It is well known that the human body is designed to move and that we do benefit from regular and frequent motion throughout all our activities during each day. The efficiency and health of our circulatory system and our digestive system relies on almost constant movement throughout the day and night—even during our sleep. If a person sits in a chair at a desk for prolonged periods of time without stretching or standing his head will tend to lean forward naturally to try to maintain core balance, which will cause a muscle tone imbalance between the front and rear sides of the body. This results in a high risk of an increase of spinal shrinkage and an increase of intra-disc pressure within the user's spine. This can lead to muscle strain, muscle compression, nerve compression, tendon injury and ligament sprain at the shoulder, the neck, the upper limbs, and the back. This can further result in general musculoskeletal discomfort in the short term and more chronic upper and lower back pain and nerve-damage symptoms in the shoulder, the neck, arms and throughout the back (called: “repetitive strain injury”) in the long term. Other health problems linked to a person regularly sitting for long periods of time include the blocking of the returning flow of venous blood causing blood to accumulate in the legs, in particular in the calves and ankles. Continued strain to such blood vessels will often lead to food edema, muscular discomfort in the legs, and varicosity.
Regardless of the specific injury that may result from sitting for extended periods of time, there is general consensus among physicians and ergonomists that there are clear health benefits to a person who breaks up their day with both periods of standing and periods of sitting at regular intervals.
For over two decades, a number of studies support this. For example, a study by Paul and Helander (1995) found office workers with sedentary jobs showing significantly more spinal shrinkage throughout the day compared to those with less sedentary jobs. They also compared spinal shrinkage with office workers who stood in thirty minute sessions with those who stood for fifteen minute periods. When the spine of each of these test subject workers was measured there was considerably less shrinkage in those who stood for thirty minute intervals. Also, workers in the test that had spinal disorders prior to the test showed a greater variability in the shrinkage pattern.
Another study by Winkle and Oxenburgh (1990) determined the benefits of providing active breaks (standing/moving) versus passive rest breaks (sitting) from the point of view of maintaining the health of muscles and the health of the spine. They found that alternating between sitting and standing was the most effective way to maintain a productive workflow and a healthy spine. The posterior wall of the inter-vertebral disc sustains cumulative degenerative changes when exposed to prolonged periods of high intra-disc pressure associated with flexed or semi-flexed seated postures. In other words, if you sit for long periods of time, you will be more likely to impart stress on your spine and, as a result, be uncomfortable. If you sit and then stand at regular intervals, you will not impart as much stress on your spine.
Nerhood and Thomson (1994) studied the introduction of sit-stand workstations at United Parcel Service (UPS). Results showed workers averaged 3.6 adjustments to standing position per day and spent an average 23% of the time per day in a standing position. They found body discomfort decreased by an average of 62% and the occurrence of injuries and illnesses decreased by more than half.
Unfortunately for their health, a typical office worker is forced to spend most of their day working in an environment that demands very little body movement. Sitting in a chair at a desk for hours at a time is not uncommon here and quite often the only movement such a worker will experience while at work will stem from the rapid, albeit slight movement of their fingers, hands and wrists as they operate their computers and phones while “comfortably” seated. A typical worker will not only sit most of their day while at work, but also will sit during their commute between work and home and also when eating their lunch. This may lead to them being in a seated position for upwards to 9-11 hours each day, and often for long uninterrupted periods of time.
This health concern was addressed decades ago with the introduction of a so-called “Sit-Stand” desk—an electrically-powered desk whose working surface can be power-raised and lowered as desired by the user. Unfortunately, these early electric sit-stand desks were cost prohibitive and not sufficiently commercially attractive for most companies to adopt. Eventually however, these powered desks did find their way into the workplace in limited quantities to a select few companies, such as high-end design firms and law firms.
A major problem with the early sit-stand desks and even those currently available today is that they lack intelligence. Yes, they can move up and down and up again, but only when commanded to do so by the user. Human nature prevails rather quickly and soon after the initial novelty and fun wears off of having such a “cool” desk, the user either forgets to raise or lower their desk at regular intervals throughout the day or simply loses interest, typically ending up sitting the whole day, once again. Therefore in short time, the very expensive high-tech sit-stand desk becomes just a sit-desk, and apart from the cost, essentially no different from the very desks it just replaced.
This problem was addressed to some degree in US Patent Publication No.: 2008/0245279 of Chun Ming Pan, published Oct. 9, 2008, now abandoned and also U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,695 of Borgman et al. Both of these patent references disclose height-adjustable workstations (so-called “sit-stand desks”) that have a working platform (a top) that can be selectively raised and lowered as desired by the user in a manual mode, and also raised and lowered automatically at predetermined intervals. The devices disclosed in these references do allow for a reminder to the user to sit and stand regularly, but the devices are still considered basic in operation and lack intelligent operational software Like prior art height-adjustable workstations, these workstations do not “read” biometrics of the user or take into account other environment conditions that can provide specific and meaningful data. Such data would enable the up-down schedule of the height-adjustable workstation to adapt to the user, both throughout the day and over time.
Applicants of the present application understand that the user's fitness and habits will invariably change over time. Furthermore, Applicants of the present application have recognized a need for a “smart” height-adjustable workstation that responds to user-changes and other conditions and parameters by adapting or modifying its operation accordingly.
It is therefore a first object of the invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.
It is another object of the invention to provide a useful, affordable power-assisted sit-stand desk that encourages and motivates regular use.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a power-assisted sit-stand desk that is able to measure or otherwise detect select biometrics of the user to help control current and future operation and functions.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a power-assisted sit-stand desk that senses and collects user data over time and communicates the same to a local display and to a second location for secondary use.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a power-assisted sit-stand desk that controls its operation in response to the detection of a user's presence.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a power-assisted sit-stand desk that controls operation in response to detection of sound within the immediate area of the desk.
It is another object of the invention to provide such a power-assisted sit-stand desk that allows height control in response to a single touch command by the user.
A sit/stand workstation includes a worktop that has a powered drive and is moveable between a sitting height and a standing height. An electronic controller offers a user different operating modes, each with varying levels of automation. In one such mode, the user inputs a value that represents a desired percentage of standing time over a given period of time. The controller then uses user-profile information and the inputted value to create an initial custom height-adjustment schedule for the user. During use, the controller moves the worktop up and down following the schedule and uses sensors, such as a pressure mat, to detect how well the user follows the schedule and biometric indicators that convey fatigue and also energy. In response to this monitored user-information, the controller changes time, duration, and/or frequency of the schedule to better meet the abilities and fitness of the user and also to help encourage the user to continue regular use. Sounds, voice, lights, colors, and numerical information, as well as displacement of the worktop are used to help encourage the user.
The invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Workstation Structure:
Referring to
Worktop 12 includes a front edge 12a, a rear edge 12b, a left side edge 12c and a right side edge 12d. Worktop 12 can be any size and shape and made from any appropriate strong and rigid material, such as wood, metal, glass, particle board, Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), High Density Fiberboard (HDF), reinforced plastic, or reinforced composites and laminates, or combinations thereof, as is well known by those skilled in the art. Since worktop 12 is meant to be raised and lowered at regular intervals, as described below, it is preferably made from a lightweight, rigid material with a durable work surface 14. As mentioned above, worktop 12 can take on any shape, but as shown and described in this application is preferably generally rectangular between about 4 feet and 6 feet long (measured between side edges 12c and 12d) and between about 26 and 36 inches deep (as measured along either side edge 12c or 12d). In this application, front edge 12a is shown curved inwardly to accommodate the user.
Upper support frame 22 may be of any shape, but is preferably “H” shaped, as shown in
Each pedestal 18a, 18b is preferably of the type that includes two or more vertically telescoping tubular sections and are each designed to selectively collapse and extend linearly between a lowest height, preferably about 20 inches, and a highest height, preferably about 48 inches. At least one, but preferably both pedestals 18a, 18b includes a drive mechanism (not shown). The drive mechanism is preferably located within the pedestal structure and can be electronically and accurately driven to control the exact magnitude of linear displacement (extension or retraction), and therefore the exact height of worktop 12, as measured between the floor and work surface 14. The drive mechanism preferable includes an electric motor (not shown) connected to a lead screw (not shown) wherein the lead screw engages a threaded follower. The follower is mechanically secured to a rigid portion of the pedestal structure so that as the motor rotates the lead screw, the follower is forced along the lead screw and in turn, causes linear displacement of the pedestal, as dictated by the sliding telescoping components of the pedestal.
Although the above arrangement is preferred, other mechanisms may be employed to raise and lower the work surface 14, as those of ordinary skill in the art are well aware, including a system of pulleys and cables, toothed belts, and/or appropriate bar linkages (e.g., four-bar linkages). Each of these systems may be used to effectively mechanically linearly displace each pedestal 18a, 18b, as instructed. Instead of an electrical drive motor, the linear drive mechanism for linearly displacing the pedestals may alternatively be derived from an appropriate pneumatic or hydraulic drive system or a magnetic linear motor, as understood by those skilled in the art. Appropriate linear drive systems for pedestals 18a, 18b are commercially available by several companies, such as: Joyce/Dayton Corp. of Kettering, Ohio. Regardless of the drive mechanism used, the drive mechanism is able to selectively raise and lower worktop 12 with respect to the lower frame (and the floor).
Referring to
Worktop 12 is secured to an upper side of upper support frame 22 using any appropriate fastening means, such as screws, bolts, rivets, adhesive or an appropriate mechanical friction means, such as clamping, so that underside 16 of worktop 12 contacts upper support frame 22 and so that worktop 12 becomes firmly affixed to upper frame surface 32 of upper support frame 22.
Bases 20a, 20b, pedestals 18a, 18b, and upper support frame 22 are all preferably made from a strong rigid material, such as steel or aluminum, but other materials can be used for all or some of these components, including wood, other metals and metal alloys, composites, plastics, and even the use of glass is contemplated.
Referring to
a) If a person is located in front of workstation 10;
b) If that person is standing;
c) If that person is sitting;
d) The weight of that person (used to track the person's weight and also can be used as a user identifier); and
e) Fatigue, by detecting repeated and more frequent weight shift from one foot or zone to the other.
Applicants further contemplate using mat 36 as an input device to help the user communicate to workstation 10, perhaps to raise or lower the work surface 14, or perhaps to cancel a planned height-change event, or to allow the user to perform a bit of exercise while standing, similar in concept to the Wii gaming system.
Also, mat 36 can include transducers (not shown) that would generate mechanical vibration in response to received signals sent to mat 36 from control unit 26 as a means for workstation 10 to communicate to or alert the user. Mat 36 is preferably made from a strong durable material, such as plastic, or rubber or composite and is powered by on-board batteries, or powered from a power unit located within workstation 10. Such mats are well known and the specific internal construction and internal operational details are beyond the scope of this invention. A well-known example of a pressure sensitive mat switch is commonly used at grocery stores to detect the presence of a customer entering or exiting and to then activate a motor-drive unit to automatically open the door.
Control Unit:
According to the present invention and referring to
A motor control circuit 72 is used to drive each drive motor 74 in response to electrical command signals from the connected control circuit 50, as described below. Motor control circuit 72 may be located within each respective pedestal, 18a, 18b, adjacent to each motor located therein. As explained above, drive motors 74 are used to raise and lower work surface 14, as needed. Control circuit 50 further includes various connectors that allow peripheral and other devices to be hard-wire connected to control circuit 50 and therefore to microprocessor 52, as desired or as necessary for proper operation.
As mentioned above, user interface includes display 58, input switches 60, an audio circuit 62 and status LED lights 64. Display 58 functions to communicate to the user both alphanumerical data and visual data during use of workstation 10. In accordance with the present invention, display 58 preferably changes background color to help convey certain information regarding the operation of workstation 10, the performance of the user, or to provide psychological encouragement or concern, depending on the on-going performance of the user. For example, if the user is on target or within 5% of meeting his or her goals for time standing, then display 58 will appear green. Following this example, a yellow color showing on display 58 will indicate a slight departure from the height-management schedule and a red color could show for a short period of time if and when a particular scheduled raising event is cancelled by the user. Display 58, according to the invention is also used to indicate various numerical information during the setup and operation of workstation 10, such as any inputted data including the user's weight, height and age, the date, the time, etc., and various operational data, such as current height of the work surface, current time and date, and desired and current standing time in percentage or hours and minutes. Display 58 can also indicate an estimate of current calories burned for that day, calories burned for the month, etc. and even a rate of calorie-burn at any given time. For encouragement, Applicants contemplate calculating and displaying an equivalent “age number” as an estimate of improved health that the user would be considered equal to, a kind of representative fitness indicator. The number would be displayed automatically if the number shows a younger age than that of the user, and displayed by request regardless of the age.
Input switches (or buttons) 60 are used to allow the user to input information and control different functions and modes during the operation of workstation 10. Input switches 60 can be any conventional type electric switch, such as a simple momentary push-button membrane switch, a capacitive-controlled “touch-sensitive” contact switch, or even as an “on-screen” switch, provided within display 58 as a touch-screen input device. Regardless of the type of switches used, Applicants recognize the need of a sealed user interface to prevent or at least discourage dirt, dust, crumbs, or any liquids from reaching any internal circuitry of control unit 26.
According to one embodiment of the invention, at least two input switches are large capacitive-controlled “touch-sensitive” contact surface pads, a move-up lower touch pad 48 located on the underside 16 of worktop 12, and a move-down upper touch pad 46 located on work surface 14 of worktop 12. According to this embodiment, if a user just touches move-up lower touch pad 48 with his hand, the “switch” would “close” and this condition would be instantly detected by microprocessor 52 during routine interrogation, which would then immediately send a signal to motor control circuit 72, which would, in-turn, cause drive motors 74 to automatically activate to raise worktop 12. The fact that move-up lower touch pad 48 is located under worktop 12 allows the user's hand to move up with the table, giving the user a better sense of control since the user's hand rising with the table would effectively be lifting the table. This arrangement provides effective bio-feedback to the user. Similarly, having the move-down switch located on the top of the table allows the user's hand to move down with the table.
Applicants contemplate providing each up/down capacitive switches with an adjacent momentary pressure membrane switch. This arrangement, for example would allow the user to raise or lower the worktop 12 at a first speed just by lightly touching the capacitive switch and then selectively increase the rate of height displacement by pressing the same switch a bit harder so that the adjacent pressure membrane switch is activated. Control circuit 50 would be programmed to control the speed of the motors in response to the detected condition of both the capacitive switch and the pressure switch for both up and down directions. The switch can be in the form of a touch-screen wherein a graphic switch or similar can be displayed on the screen to convey a switch function. The user merely has to touch the screen on the switch graphic to effectively generate a “start” command, which is sent to the control circuit (the “start” command may not necessary be generated by the switch itself, but may instead be created within the control circuit in response to detecting that the switch has been activated—either moved to cause the worktop to move up or down or change speeds, as understood by those skilled in the art). Once the control circuit “receives” the start command, the control circuit sends a signal to motor control circuit 72, which would, in-turn, cause drive motors 74 to automatically activate to raise worktop 12.
One Touch Operation:
According to another embodiment of this invention, control circuit 50 and the controlling software program is such that the user only has to touch either the upper touch pad 46 or the lower touch pad 48 a single time to instruct the microprocessor 52 to activate drive motors 74 to move worktop 12 either up or down to a preset or predetermined height. In this arrangement, the user only has to touch the touch pad (46 or 48) a single time and then release (just a tap or a swipe with the finger or palm). This feature is unlike conventional sit-stand workstations of the prior art which require that the user hold the switch constantly for the motor to remain activated during the travel of the worktop to the desired height. The prior art workstations use this continuous hold-down requirement as a safety feature so that the worktop does not accidentally hit anything during its movement.
The pedestals of the present invention preferably include an automatic safety cutoff system which will automatically deactivate drive motors 74 instantly should any part of workstation 10 contact an obstruction during movement. Such a cutoff system can be Piezo-electric based, or based on IR proximity type sensors, or other type of sensors, as understood by those skilled in the art, as long as the sensors can detect or otherwise determine that a portion of workstation 10 may contact with or otherwise damage an object or injure a person during lowering and that in such instance, the lowering movement will either stop or not start to begin with. Also, this feature requires that the user preset the upper and lower height-stops so that the control circuit 50 knows when to stop displacement once activated. If worktop 12 is located at its lowest height, as preset by the user during initial setup, and the user touches touch pad (46 or 48), control circuit 50 will drive the motors to raise worktop 12 until it reaches the highest preset height. Similarly, if the user touches touch pad (46 or 48) again, worktop 12 will descend to the lowest preset height. Now, if worktop 12 is located at some intermediate height somewhere between the preset highest and lowest height-stops, then it is preferred that the single-touch feature not activate. In such instance it is preferred that the user manually raise or lower worktop 12 to either the highest or lowest preset height-stops to reactivate the single-touch feature. This is because the system won't know if the single touch command is meant to raise or lower the worktop. As an alternative here, instead of preventing the single-touch feature from operating if the worktop is located at an intermediate position, the control circuit 50 can display a confirmation request on display 58 before a height-displacement occurs, such as “Tap upper pad once to confirm to move up—Tap upper pad twice to confirm to move down” . . . or words to that effect.
According to another embodiment of the invention relating to the above-described single-touch feature, the user may touch upper touch pad 46 once, as before, to activate the drive motor and move the worktop up or down. If the worktop is located at the highest (preset) position, the single-touch input will cause the worktop to descend to a preset lower position, where the drive motor will automatically stop. If the worktop is located at the lowest (preset) position, the single-touch input will cause the worktop to ascend to a present higher position, again where the drive motor will automatically stop. If the worktop is located at any intermediate height (between the uppermost and lowermost preset positions) the user's single-touch command will cause the worktop to automatically ascend (by default) advancing towards the upper preset position. If the user really wanted the table to descend instead, he or she just taps the upper touch pad 46 once to stop the ascending worktop and once more to cause the worktop to reverse direction and descend to the lowermost position. In this arrangement, as the user taps the upper touch pad, the motor will follow the same pattern: first tap, go up, second tap, stop, third tap, go down, fourth tap, stop, fifth tap, go up, etc.
To prevent accidental activation of the motor drive, the single-touch-to-activate operation can actually be a quick double-touch (like the “double-click” of computer mouse buttons) or a prolonged single-touch (or some other pattern of touching) to prevent accidental motor activation. With a single touch operation, the user may find themselves accidentally touching the upper touch pad 46, which can prove to be annoying. The user may set up the tap-to-move feature to operate as follows:
a) Which direction will the worktop move when the touch pad is touched (up or down);
b) How many taps is required to activate the movement (what is the tap pattern—single tap, double tap, long duration tap, etc.); and
c) Which touch pad is to be used in this mode, the upper touch pad 46, the lower touch pad 48, or both.
According to yet another embodiment of this invention relating to the above-described single-touch feature, the user may single-touch the upper touch pad 46 to cause the worktop 12 to auto-move down to the lower preset position and single-touch the lower touch pad 48 to cause the worktop 12 to auto-move up to the upper preset position. In this arrangement, the single-touch feature will work regardless of the height position of the worktop.
According to another embodiment of the invention, Applicants contemplate that control circuit 50 will recognize when a user touches both upper touch pad 46 and lower touch pad 48. This action can be used to cancel a height-displacement event, or cancel a mode or provide an input response to a selection request.
Status LED lights 64 are preferably provided to convey select operational information, such as confirmation of a switch event (confirming to the user that the control circuit has detected the activation of a particular switch), power on, and perhaps a blinking or brighter condition to indicate when the table top is in motion up or down.
Apart from the above-described mat 36 which, as described can be used to detect the immediate presence of a user, ultrasonic range finder 66, and a thermopile 68 (such as Passive Infrared—PR) can also be used to detect when a user is nearby. Such detection allows important features of the present workstation to function, including:
a) Only operating drive motors 74 when a user's presence is detected (a safety feature);
b) Driving drive motors 74 to allow worktop 12 to move quickly up and down as a greeting (and also as a reminder to use the sit/stand operation of workstation 10) when a user first arrives at the workstation, perhaps in the morning; and
c) To only calculate stand-time by the user when the user is actually present at the workstation.
Microphone 70 (and voice-recognition circuitry) is preferably included with the present workstation 10 so that control circuit 50 is able to determine if the user is speaking, perhaps on the telephone, or with a colleague. If such determination is made, it is preferred that control circuit 50 will postpone any table top movement during this time. We don't want to surprise or otherwise bother or interrupt the user when it is likely that he or she is busy.
Microprocessor 52 is instructed by a software program stored in onboard read-only memory. According to the present invention, the software is written to control the work-height of the table top in one of the following modes described in the following paragraphs
Manual Mode:
This mode simply controls the up-down operation in response to the manual instructions by the user. When the user commands it, the control circuitry responds, the motors are driven and the table top is repositioned until the user releases the up/down switch, or as described above, the motors will automatically reposition worktop 12 from the lowest height stop to the highest height stop without having the user to hold onto the upper touch pad 46, or the lower touch pad 48.
Semi Auto Mode:
This mode provides automatic operation of the table top. The user inputs (as a percentage) how much of the time of use of the sit/stand desk he or she wishes to stand. For example, during an 8 hour period of use, worktop 12 will be in the raised position 25% of the time, meaning that the user will be standing for 2 hours during that time. Control circuit 50 will provide a height-adjustment schedule for this time period so that the user will be asked to stand a total time of 2 hours (or 25%) over the 8 hour period. Of course the actual stand time will be divided up during the 8 hours and will preferably follow a predetermined or random schedule. In this mode, control circuit 50 will signal to the user that a height-adjustment event is imminent, but will not carry out the height-adjustment until the user confirms that he or she approves. The user therefore effectively remains aware of the height-adjustment events during the day, but can override any event by either not confirming at the time of an event, or by actively cancelling the particular event. The user remains in control, but control circuit 50 encourages the user to keep to the sit and stand schedule by reminding the user when each height-adjustment event should occur to meet the pre-established goal. When the user cancels an event or manually changes the height of the worktop, control circuit 50 will automatically adjust the remaining schedule to account for the user's override and ensure that the user meets the standing goal (in this example, 25%). Canceling a height-adjustment event is similar to using the “snooze” button to cancel an alarm. It does not cancel the mode. The control circuit will continue to remind the user of future height-adjustment events, as they come up. According to this semi auto mode, when the worktop is meant to displace vertically during a height-adjustment, the present system will prompt the user by a “whisperbreath” worktop movement, as described below and request permission. When the user senses this movement of the worktop, he or she will understand that it is time for a height-adjustment event and that the workstation is requesting permission to carry out the adjustment. The user can either accept or decline this request, as described above.
Full Auto Mode:
This mode moves worktop 12 up and down following a height-adjustment event schedule. The schedule in this mode can either be generated by the control unit, in response to some initial inputs by the user, or set up by the user entirely. During use in this mode, when an event is to take place, the control unit will alert the user that a height-adjustment is imminent (for example, by activating worktop in a “whisperbreath” movement, as described below). The user does not have to confirm or do anything. After a prescribed period of time (a few seconds), the control unit will send a “Start” command to activate the drive mechanism, to raise or lower the worktop, as scheduled. The user can, at any time, cancel the height-adjustment movement by contacting the touch pads 46, 48. If the user cancels the event prior to movement, then worktop will remain at the same height and the schedule will be updated to account for the cancelled event. If the user cancels the event during the event (when the worktop is moving, the movement will stop). The user can then contact the touch pads 46, 48 another time to return worktop to the start height prior to the event.
According to this full auto mode, when the worktop is meant to displace vertically during a height-adjustment, the present system will prompt the user. When the user senses this movement of the worktop, he or she will understand that a height-adjustment is imminent, unless he or she wishes to cancel the event.
Adaptive Operation:
In either full or semi auto modes, an important feature of the present system is that it will adapt to the behavior of the user so that future operation of the workstation will better match the user's fitness level. This will encourage continued use of the workstation and therefore, continued fitness and wellness.
For example, the user programs workstation 10 to be fully raised 40% of the time during a period of operation (a full work day for example). But during operation, control circuit 50 detects that the user is shifting his or her weight side to side at more frequent intervals, as detected by the right and left pressure zones 38, 40 of mat 36, or by other sensors. This can indicate that the user is getting tired standing. In response to this potential fatigue by the user, control circuit 50 adjusts the height-adjustment event schedule so that worktop 12 will only be fully raised perhaps 30% of the time, taking into account the shortened time remaining of the period of operation during the recalculation.
In this example, the workstation of the present invention learned and adapted to a changing user behavior, as detected by its sensors. During use, the user appeared to be getting tired at the set stand time of 40% so the present system automatically reduced the goal to 30% to better match the fitness of the user. The workstation, according to the present invention uses sensors and data to “get to know” its user and adapt accordingly. In the above example, perhaps control circuit 50 can change the duration that the table resides at the full up position from 60 minutes to 30 minutes so that the user will be less fatigued during each standing period. The duration for each full down condition can also be adjusted to better adapt to the user. Continuing with this example, should the user show more fatigue in the future, the present system will again reduce the standing time until a balance is found, wherein the extra work required by the user to stand matches the condition of the user. Once this balance is determined, the present system can establish a schedule that matches the user's ability and fitness and can slowly work with the user to improve the user's strength, fitness and wellness over time. Similarly, control circuit 50 can adjust the duty cycle of each event to more closely fit the user's ability. As the user of the above example improves their fitness over time, the present system will detect this and will again adapt, but this time by increasing the standing duration, decreasing the sitting duration, and perhaps increasing the frequency of height adjustment events.
The learning feature of the present invention also learns basic work habits of the user, such as when the user goes to lunch each day, when he or she arrives and when he or she leaves. The system, according to the present invention may confirm trends over longer periods of time regarding the user. For example, the user may appear to be a bit more tired on Mondays owing to the number of cancelled raising height-adjustment events (and other measured or sensed factors) and perhaps even the measured amount of time it takes the user to transition from sitting to standing. The controlling system of the present invention uses this information to adjust the height-adjustment event schedule accordingly so that the system works with the user's detected strength and endurance, during the day, the week, and over longer periods of time. Over time, while using the present workstation in this mode, the height-adjustment event schedule and user-prompts on the screen will work to encourage the user and/or modify the amount of time sitting to help achieve long-term health benefits.
Other considerations can be used to influence the duration and frequency of height-adjustment events during the time period. Such information, such as general profile information, including the user's age, weight, overall health and answers to such set-up questions as:
1) Are you a morning person?
2) Do you exercise in the morning?
3) Do you have any injuries?
4) Do you have a heart condition? How much do you weigh?
5) About how many miles do you walk each day? What do you eat for a typical lunch?
6) Do you eat breakfast?
Other considerations may include performance data gathered early on during the day. For example, if the user is asked to stand for a duration of 1 hour and after just 15 minutes control circuit 50 reads data from mat 36 and determines that the user is shifting their weight from one leg to the other at an increasing frequency, then control circuit 50 will re-evaluate the duration and the schedule will automatically change to accommodate the learned ability and apparent health of the user. The system is designed to learn over the short term and the long term the particulars and improvements of the user so that a height-adjustment schedule can be created to benefit the user over a long period of time. In the above example, the schedule would change to shorten the stand-duration and if the user response continues to convey signs of weakness or fatigue, the system will either suggest a lower total stand time (perhaps 20%), or will just automatically adjust the percentage regardless.
According to the invention, when control circuit 50 is set in either the above-described automatic or semi-automatic mode, the present system will automatically adapt to the particular user and will change the duration, the frequency of the height-adjustment events, and the total stand time over the period of use in response to the user's measured behavior, as they use the desk. As described elsewhere in this application, if the user shows fatigue, for example, by rocking side to side, alternating putting his or her weight on his or her left and right foot, the present system will detect this (using mat 36 or other sensors). When this fatigue is detected, control circuit 50 will change the parameters of the height-adjustment schedule to better fit the condition of the user. The present desk is meant to work with the user, nudging them along with encouragement to follow an adaptive sit-stand schedule to thereby maximize fitness and wellness. Examples of such user-behaviors include:
Overtime, the present system will better understand “who” the user really is, and based on these measured behaviors and other considerations, the present workstation can adapt its operation accordingly.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, external devices, such as cell phones, computers and exercise-monitoring devices can be connected, either wirelessly, or by electrical connection to the control unit. An example of an exercise-monitoring device is a Fitbit®, made by Fitbit, Inc. of San Francisco, Ca. 94105. This particular device measures various parameters by a user during their movement, including the number of steps taken, the number of miles walked, the number of stairs climbed, and an estimate of calories burned. This information can be downloaded to the present workstation and used to determine the measured behavior of the user so that the workstation can take this information into account when determining the height-adjustment schedule for the user for the day.
Whisperbreath Movement of Worktop:
As described above, in either the fully auto mode or the semi-auto mode, the user is notified by display 58 and/or by smooth, small up and down height-displacements of worktop 14. This smooth up and down motion of the worktop 14 is known to the Applicants as a “whisperbreath” movement and is an important feature of the present invention. The movement provides a means to communicate to the user of the workstation in a relatively calm and non-interrupting manner. The amplitude of vertical displacement and the frequency is preferably calculated to mimic the breathing amplitude and frequency of a relaxed human. This frequency has been determined to be about 16 cycles per minute and the preferred vertical displacement of worktop 14 is about 1 inch (measured from peak to valley).
According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, whenever a height-adjustment event is about to occur in the auto-mode, the worktop of the present workstation will perform a whisperbreath movement (gently moving up and down) to inform the user that the worktop is about to move. In the above-described semi-auto mode, this movement will be used to indicate to the user that the workstation is requesting permission (prompting the user) to make a height-adjustment and the user must authorize the movement by contacting the display panel with his or her hand, using the pre-established tactile gesture, such as a single or double tap, or perhaps a swipe. Although this whisperbreath movement is preferably used alone to prompt the user, as described above, this movement can be supplemented with a sound. Also, if the user ignores the gentle movement of the worktop 12, the frequency and amplitude can be changed by control circuit 50 to a less-than-peaceful movement to better get the user's attention.
Referring to
In use, during initial setup of workstation 10, according to one embodiment of the invention, the user is asked to answer several questions that appear on display 58 and also to input several bits of information, such as the use's age, date, time, the user's name, weight, height, build and other. The user will then be asked to manually raise worktop 12 to a height that the user considers to be a comfortable maximum height for standing. When the desired height is reached, the user holds lower touch pad 48 until control circuit 50 flashes status LED lights 64 and audio circuit 62 beeps (and perhaps the worktop whisperbreath movements). The user will repeat this process for setting the desired lowest worktop height (i.e., sitting)
Control circuit 50 will then continue the set up by asking the user to select a percentage-standing value, such as 25% so that later when “Semi Auto Mode” or “Full Auto Mode” are selected, workstation 10 can operate immediately under the predetermined guidelines of either of these two modes. The user will also have to input the average consecutive time spent at the workstation. These values can be adjusted either by the user, or automatically as control circuit 50 adapts to user conditions and user behavior patterns over time.
Applicants further contemplate an alternative set up process where after the user inputs the above-mentioned information, the user is encouraged to use workstation 10 in a manual mode for a period of time, perhaps a week. During this time, control circuit 50 will keep track of the different worktop heights, duration at those heights and frequency of height-adjustment event and then use this information to determine highest height stop, the lowest height stop, and a baseline health value. From this information, control circuit 50 can create a more accurate height-adjustment schedule when the user selects Full Auto Mode or Semi Auto Mode later on. The computer will know (eventually, as it learns) if the user is not very fit and will start a plan that is less strenuous to the user, offering perhaps a schedule that asks the user to stand 15% during the work day time period. The computer monitors how the user is able to handle this plan over the next week or two and then slowly increases the standing time and/or frequency of the sit-stand events. If the user starts overriding the automatic events set by the computer, either cancelling or extending the duration or frequency, the computer would detect this and make adjustments to the event schedule accordingly. Applicants recognize that an important feature here is to ensure that the user is not discouraged by using the present workstation according to the invention and follows the prescribed height-adjustment event schedule as closely as possible.
An important goal of the present invention is to provide a sit/stand desk (and other devices) that encourage a user to get fit and stay healthy. As mentioned above, the present invention uses sound, by sound effects and voice (words of encouragement, etc.), lights (different colors displayed on display 58 to convey different levels of success and encouragement), or numerically, by displaying a numerical value on display 58 to convey levels of success or honest levels of current health.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, to encourage the new user to just get started, the workstation 10 is immediately operational and will automatically follow a preset level of standing time, such as 15%. The user will be able to “play” with the heights to adjust the preferred heights during initial use, when the user wants to. The control circuit 50 will keep track of all adjustments and will slowly fine-tune the user's operational parameters. The present workstation 10 will ask the user questions over a period of time, such as a week, including the use's age, date, time, the user's name, weight, height, build and other. This way, Applicants believe that because the user will not feel like there is a set up period and they can use the workstation immediately, they will feel better connected to the workstation with develop a feeling of trust and oneness, which can only encourage prolonged use of the workstation and a healthy outcome.
Wire Management:
Since work station 10 commonly supports electronic equipment on worktop 12, such as a computer and monitor, it is important to provide a source of power for such devices located on worktop 12. The challenge is to manage the power cable as it follows the worktop up and down during the operation of workstation 10. Referring to
As shown in
Communication:
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, user use-data can be collected and stored by control circuit 50. Following a predetermined download schedule, control circuit 50 can use the Blue-Tooth® module 54 (or WIFI) to link up with the Internet either directly or through the user's computer and transmit the stored user use-data to remote servers for product validity and user evaluation. Applicants contemplate providing a service for users wherein qualified personnel may review the user use-data and other user-profile information, fitness history to help recommend a refined fitness schedule to allow the user to better reach their fitness goals. In such instance, two-way communication between the remote servers and the user's workstation may occur through the Internet and either the Blue-Tooth® module 54, a WIFI connection, or perhaps a hard wire connection. The remote servers can also use this communication link to provide firmware updates as necessary. This communication feature would allow the user to receive weekly or monthly reports showing health improvement, total times standing and equivalent calories burned daily, weekly and total to date, as well as other collected and monitored data. The user would hopefully look forward to receiving their “report card” and would be encouraged to stay with their schedule.
All user-inputted data and settings and collected data can be automatically backed-up at a remote memory location so that the appropriate data and settings can be recalled if necessary, such as if the user disconnects all power to workstation 10 or upgrades to another workstation 10.
Improvements in Workstation—User Sensing:
According to previous embodiments described in this patent application, mat 36, ultrasonic range finder 66, thermopile 68 (such as a passive infrared—PIR), and microphone 70 are used independently or in any combination to detect when a user is nearby or adjacent to the workstation (i.e., “is present”). Such user-detection allows important features of the workstation to function, including:
a) Only operating drive motors 74 when a user's presence is detected (a safety feature);
b) Driving drive motors 74 to allow worktop 12 to move quickly up and down as a greeting (and also as a reminder to use workstation 10) when a user first arrives at the workstation, as detected by the sensors and perhaps in the morning; and
c) To only calculate stand-time by the user when the user is actually present at the workstation, again as detected by the user.
Applicants have further contemplated that it would be beneficial for the workstation of this invention to not only ‘know” when a person is present at the workstation, but more particularly, to either know if and when the “primary user” of the workstation is present at the workstation, or if not the primary user, to know the identity of whoever is using the particular workstation, perhaps a coworker, the user's boss, or other.
If local sensors cannot accurately detect the presence of the primary user, the workstation will assume that any detected person using the primary user's workstation is in fact the primary user and may respond by switching from standby mode to an operational mode. Such a false detection could lead to inaccurate collected data and would likely result in the workstation poorly meeting the true needs of the primary user. Also, the collected data will yield inaccurate and unreliable trends and statistics of the assumed primary user.
To overcome this potential problem and according to another embodiment of the invention, workstation 10, includes any combination of several sensors, including the above-described mat 36, ultrasonic range finder 66, and thermopile 68 and uses them to create and store an “electronic signature” of a select primary user (the person who regularly uses the particular workstation). This “smart sensing” arrangement allows the present system to accurately determine when a particular person is present at the workstation at any given time and who that person is (or, depending on how the system is set up, to determine who that person is not). For example, a primary user may have habits that can be repeatedly detected by the system, electronically stored within electronic memory, electronically compared and used to ID the current user, or at least used to determine when the person present at the workstation has a signature that is stored within the system. Such habits may include a unique standing pattern (e.g., the user may consistently stand between 2 and 4 inches from the edge of the worktop 12), having a strong and unique body heat pattern that is located at a specific region of the field of view of the sensors, the type of music that the user plays, the user's voice, any tapping the user does against the worktop, the selected height of the worktop 12, or the user's time schedule or known routine. According to one of the embodiments, one of the sensors is a Bluetooth® (or similar) controlled sensor that is able to accurate detect and read an RFID located on the user's body, such as embedded within the user's building ID badge 500.
If other workers (non-primary users) in the office stop by to visit the primary user's workstation when the primary user is not at the workstation, the sensor array located within and adjacent to the workstation will detect electronic parameters that are particular to the visitor and will store this information along with the time of the visit, the duration of the visit, the visitor's name (if determined by the workstation), the date, and perhaps how much the visitor weighs. By providing “smart sensing”, the workstation according to this embodiment of the invention can detect and generate a visitor's and user's log for review by the primary user upon his or her return. Additionally, the workstation can automatically activate a flash-memory voice-recorder when requested to do so by any of the visitors so that the visitor may leave a voice message for the primary user.
By using “smart sensing” with each workstation located within a work environment, the smart sensing system, according to this embodiment of the invention may collect all sensed information and may use this information to help track workers efficiency and attendance. It is not Applicant's desire to create a sensing system that will collect information on the workers of a company to benefit “Big Brother” or to be used against any particular worker, but instead to use this collected information to provide general statistical data regarding a group of workers, such as, what is the average “desk-occupancy” of the workers in the engineering department.
Such “smart sensing” of the present workstation can additionally be used for the following:
1. The collected information can be used to determine which employees are in attendance at a company on any given day, such as engineers, CAD people, sourcing, designers, etc.) to help management manage daily resources and work distribution.
2. The collected information can be used to automatically keep track of billing by determining which workers are working at their desk and for how long each day to improve efficiency and billing accuracy.
3. The collected information can be used to better manage telecommuting, sick-leave, vacations, lunch hours and even smoking breaks.
4. The collected information can be used to learn trends and routines and help the primary user plan ahead for the day's events. For example, as lunchtime on Wed approaches, the system can provide the primary user a list of menus or other information of local restaurants and can even tap into Internet resources to provide wait-time information. Other useful information includes traffic reports or train schedules or train delays, and even weather. This information can be automatically downloaded to the primary user's smart phone, if desired.
5. The collected information can also be used to measure the body temperature of the primary user in an effort to detect the onset of a potential illness, fever, or stress levels. The workstation can use this information to change the sit-stand schedule or perhaps recommend that the user take a break, a vacation, or sick day. Other sensors can be used to measure the heart rate, or other vitals of the primary user.
6. The collected information can be used to power down any combination or all electrical devices connected to or otherwise associated with the user's workstation. For example, if the local sensors connected to the workstation detect that the primary user is no longer at the workstation, the system can turn off the desk lamp located on the worktop and put the computer into a sleep mode. Additionally, the system can turn on various and appropriate announcements on the phone, as predetermined by the user.
According to another embodiment of the disclosure, the drive motors used to raise and lower worktop 12 can be impulse drive so worktop 12 raises or lowers a very small amount (as described in greater detail above), such as a couple of mm. According to this embodiment, this quick movement can be used to help convey the passage of time, such as providing a little “dip” movement every hour, or to alert the user that a scheduled even is soon approaching.
While the invention may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and have been described in detail herein. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Thus, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/285,939, filed Oct. 5, 2016, which is entitled “Height-Adjustable Support Surface and System for Encouraging Human Movement and Promoting Wellness,” which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 9,486,070, filed Sep. 25, 2013, which is entitled “Height-Adjustable Support Surface and System for Encouraging Human Movement and Promoting Wellness,” which claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/795,222, filed Oct. 10, 2012, entitled “Height-Adjustable Support Surface and System for Encouraging Human Movement and Promoting Wellness”. This application claims priority to and incorporates by reference in its entirety each of the applications and patent referenced above.
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