Automatically adjusting comfort system

An automatically adjusting comfort system, comprising:

• a pressure-sensor array in or beneath an outer fabric of a seat;
• a controller communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor array, the controller being configured for determining:
• a) a cumulative pressure profile by integrating pressure values from the pressure sensor array over time;
• and
• b) a region of high or low pressure based on pressure values from a grouping of nearby pressure sensors in the pressure-sensor array;
• and
• c) a pressure map comprising contour lines to display a pressure distribution, wherein the contour lines indicate pressure values interpolated between individual sensors of the pressure-sensor array for indicating the region of high or low pressure;
• a plurality of adjusting mechanisms configured to alter the cumulative pressure profile and the region of high or low pressure to increase a user's comfort, wherein the controller automatically adjusts one or more of the plurality of adjusting mechanisms;
• and
• a user interface configured to display the pressure map.

A method of automatically maintaining comfort for extended duration while seated, comprising:

• measuring pressure applied to a surface of a seat via an array of pressure sensors to determine an array of pressure values in real-time via a controller;
• weighting the pressure values, via the controller, based on measurements from the array of pressure sensors in combination with locations on the surface of corresponding pressure sensors of the array to determine weighted-pressure values;
• determining one or more regions of differential pressure, via the controller, based on the weighted-pressure values for groupings of pressure sensors in proximity with one another for an initial duration;
• adjusting a configuration of the seat for reducing a magnitude of the differential pressure at the one or more regions;
• after the initial duration, determining a cumulative pressure profile, via the controller, by integrating the weighted-pressure values over a second duration;
• repeating the step of determining the cumulative pressure profile for an iteratively shorter duration than the second duration due to a cumulative effect on discomfort of the user;
• and
• adjusting a configuration of the seat for maintaining comfort based on the cumulative pressure profile.