Ergonomic seating system, tilt-lock control and remote powering method and apparatus

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.

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.

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.

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.