# US 10,117,797 B2 · Lift chair control device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,117,797 B2 - Document ID: US10117797B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/557,118 - Filed: 2016-03-10 - Published: 2018-02-15 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-10 - Assignees: Pride Mobility Products Corporation - Applicants: Pride Mobility Products Corp. - Inventors: Robert Williams Davies; Brett Alan Shoemaker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10117797B2 ## CPC - A61G 5/14: Standing-up or sitting-down aids - A47C 1/029: by changing the length or the inclination of the legs - A47C 1/035: in combination with movably-coupled seat and back-rest - A61G 2203/10: characterised by specific control means, e.g. for adjustment or steering - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS ## Abstract A lift chair comprising: a lift that transitions the lift chair between a resting position and a standing position; a user interface that receives one or more user inputs indicating a request to transition the lift chair between the resting position and the standing position; a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the lift and to the user interface, the controller circuit configured to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position, in response to a single user input, at a first speed over a first time period followed by a second speed over a second time period, the first speed being slower than the second speed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a lift that transitions a lift chair between a resting position and a standing position, the method comprising: receiving a first electrical signal having a first voltage from a user interface; determining whether the first voltage is greater than a positive predetermined threshold; generating a second electrical signal having a second voltage when the first voltage is greater than the positive predetermined threshold, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage; transmitting the first electrical signal to an actuator of a chair to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position at a first speed during a first time period followed by the second electrical signal to the actuator to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position at a second speed during the second time period when the first voltage is greater than the positive predetermined threshold; transmitting the first electrical signal to the actuator to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the standing position to the resting position or from the resting position to the standing position when the first voltage is less than the positive predetermined threshold; and wherein the first voltage is greater than the positive predetermined threshold when the first electrical signal is derived from a power source greater than a battery backup power source. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the positive predetermined threshold is between 20 Volts (DC) and 38 Volts (DC). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first voltage is between 29 Volts (DC) and 38 Volts (DC). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first voltage is between 13 Volts (DC) and 20 Volts (DC). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the second voltage is greater than approximately 40 Volts (DC). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first time period is greater than approximately 2 seconds. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first voltage is less than the positive predetermined threshold when the first electrical signal is derived from a battery backup power source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a positive voltage electrical signal and a negative voltage electrical signal from the power source device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving, from the user, a first user selection type indicating that a user intends to transition the chair from the resting position to the standing position and corresponding the first electrical signal to the positive voltage electrical signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving, from the user, a second user selection type indicating that a user intends to transition the chair from a standing position to a resting position and corresponding the first electrical signal to the negative voltage electrical signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: absorbing the voltage of the second electrical signal when the second voltage is greater than a predefined safety threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: adjusting the second speed at which the actuator of the chair causes the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position by adjusting the voltage of the second electrical signal. ### Claim 13 A method of operating a lift that transitions a lift chair between a resting position and a standing position, the method comprising: receiving a first electrical signal having a first voltage from a user interface; determining whether the first voltage is greater than a positive predetermined threshold; generating a second electrical signal having a second voltage when the first voltage is greater than the positive predetermined threshold, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage; transmitting the first electrical signal to an actuator of a chair to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position at a first speed during a first time period followed by the second electrical signal to the actuator to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position at a second speed during the second time period when the first voltage is greater than the positive predetermined threshold; transmitting the first electrical signal to the actuator to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the standing position to the resting position or from the resting position to the standing position when the first voltage is less than the positive predetermined threshold, and wherein the first voltage is less than the positive predetermined threshold when the first electrical signal is derived from a battery backup power source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the positive predetermined threshold is between 20 Volts (DC) and 38 Volts (DC). ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first voltage is between 29 Volts (DC) and 38 Volts (DC). ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first voltage is between 13 Volts (DC) and 20 Volts (DC). ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the second voltage is greater than approximately 40 Volts (DC). ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first time period is greater than approximately 2 seconds. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first voltage is greater than the positive predetermined threshold when the first electrical signal is derived from a power source greater than a battery backup power source. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: receiving a positive voltage electrical signal and a negative voltage electrical signal from the power source device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising: receiving, from the user, a first user selection type indicating that a user intends to transition the chair from the resting position to the standing position and corresponding the first electrical signal to the positive voltage electrical signal. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising: receiving, from the user, a second user selection type indicating that a user intends to transition the chair from a standing position to a resting position and corresponding the first electrical signal to the negative voltage electrical signal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: absorbing the voltage of the second electrical signal when the second voltage is greater than a predefined safety threshold. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising: adjusting the second speed at which the actuator of the chair causes the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position by adjusting the voltage of the second electrical signal. ### Claim 25 A lift chair comprising: a lift that transitions the lift chair between a resting position and a standing position; a user interface that receives one or more user inputs indicating a request to transition the lift chair between the resting position and the standing position; a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the lift and to the user interface, the controller circuit configured for: receiving a first electrical signal having a first voltage from a user interface; determining whether the first voltage is greater than a positive predetermined threshold; generating a second electrical signal having a second voltage when the first voltage is greater than the positive predetermined threshold, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage; transmitting the first electrical signal to an actuator of a chair to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position at a first speed during a first time period followed by the second electrical signal to the actuator to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position at a second speed during the second time period when the first voltage is greater than the positive predetermined threshold; and transmitting the first electrical signal to the actuator to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the standing position to the resting position or from the resting position to the standing position when the first voltage is less than the positive predetermined threshold, and wherein the first voltage is greater than the positive predetermined threshold when the first electrical signal is derived from a power source greater than a battery backup power source. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The lift chair of claim 25, wherein the positive predetermined threshold is between 20 Volts (DC) and 38 Volts (DC). ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The lift chair of claim 25, wherein the first voltage is between 29 Volts (DC) and 38 Volts (DC). ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The lift chair of claim 25, wherein the first voltage is between 13 Volts (DC) and 20 Volts (DC). ### Claim 29 (depends on 25) The lift chair of claim 25, wherein the second voltage is greater than approximately 40 Volts (DC). ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The lift chair of claim 25, wherein the first time period is greater than approximately 2 seconds. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 wherein the first voltage is less than the positive predetermined threshold when the first electrical signal is derived from a battery backup power source. ### Claim 32 (depends on 25) The lift chair of claim 25, wherein the controller is configured for: receiving a positive voltage electrical signal and a negative voltage electrical signal from the power source device. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The lift chair of claim 32, wherein the controller is configured for: receiving, from the user, a first user selection type indicating that a user intends to transition the chair from the resting position to the standing position and corresponding the first electrical signal to the positive voltage electrical signal. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The lift chair of claim 33, wherein the controller is configured for: receiving, from the user, a second user selection type indicating that a user intends to transition the chair from a standing position to a resting position and corresponding the first electrical signal to the negative voltage electrical signal. ### Claim 35 (depends on 25) The lift chair of claim 25, wherein the controller is configured for: absorbing the voltage of the second electrical signal when the second voltage is greater than a predefined safety threshold. ### Claim 36 (depends on 25) The lift chair of claim 25, wherein the controller is configured for: adjusting the second speed at which the actuator of the chair causes the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position by adjusting the voltage of the second electrical signal. ### Claim 37 A lift chair comprising: a lift that transitions the lift chair between a resting position and a standing position; a user interface that receives one or more user inputs indicating a request to transition the lift chair between the resting position and the standing position; a controller circuit communicatively coupled to the lift and to the user interface, the controller circuit configured to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position, in response to a single user input, at a first speed over a first time period followed by a second speed over a second time period, the first speed being slower than the second speed; wherein the controller is configured for: receiving a first electrical signal having a first voltage from a user interface; determining whether the first voltage is greater than a positive predetermined threshold; generating a second electrical signal having a second voltage when the first voltage is greater than the positive predetermined threshold, the second voltage being greater than the first voltage; transmitting the first electrical signal to an actuator of a chair to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position at a first speed during a first time period followed by the second electrical signal to the actuator to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position at a second speed during the second time period when the first voltage is greater than the positive predetermined threshold; transmitting the first electrical signal to the actuator to cause the lift to transition the lift chair from the standing position to the resting position or from the resting position to the standing position when the first voltage is less than the positive predetermined threshold, and wherein the first voltage is less than the positive predetermined threshold when the first electrical signal is derived from a battery backup power source. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The lift chair of claim 37, wherein the positive predetermined threshold is between 20 Volts (DC) and 38 Volts (DC). ### Claim 39 (depends on 37) The lift chair of claim 37, wherein the first voltage is between 29 Volts (DC) and 38 Volts (DC). ### Claim 40 (depends on 37) The lift chair of claim 37, wherein the first voltage is between 13 Volts (DC) and 20 Volts (DC). ### Claim 41 (depends on 37) The lift chair of claim 37, wherein the second voltage is greater than approximately 40 Volts (DC). ### Claim 42 (depends on 37) The lift chair of claim 37, wherein the first time period is greater than approximately 2 seconds. ### Claim 43 (depends on 37) The lift chair of claim 37, wherein the first voltage is less than the positive predetermined threshold when the first electrical signal is derived from a battery backup power source. ### Claim 44 (depends on 37) The lift chair of claim 37, wherein the controller is further configured for: receiving a positive voltage electrical signal and a negative voltage electrical signal from the power source device. ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The lift chair of claim 44, wherein the controller is further configured for: receiving, from the user, a first user selection type indicating that a user intends to transition the chair from the resting position to the standing position and corresponding the first electrical signal to the positive voltage electrical signal. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The lift chair of claim 45, wherein the controller is further configured for: receiving, from the user, a second user selection type indicating that a user intends to transition the chair from a standing position to a resting position and corresponding the first electrical signal to the negative voltage electrical signal. ### Claim 47 (depends on 37) The lift chair of claim 37, wherein the controller is further configured for: absorbing the voltage of the second electrical signal when the second voltage is greater than a predefined safety threshold. ### Claim 48 (depends on 37) The lift chair of claim 37, wherein the controller is further configured for: adjusting the second speed at which the actuator of the chair causes the lift to transition the lift chair from the resting position to the standing position by adjusting the voltage of the second electrical signal.