Height adjustable support surface and system for encouraging human movement and promoting wellness

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 and an undersurface, the worktop being vertically slidably attached to said frame and selectably adjustable in elevation to different positions including at least a first standing position and at least a first sitting position;
• at least one variable speed electrically-powered vertical-displacement drive mechanism connected between said frame and said worktop, said drive mechanism being arranged to selectively vertically displace the worktop with respect to said frame when said drive mechanism is activated;
• a processor controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop to different positions;
• and
• a user interface linked to the processor and supported by the worktop, the interface including oppositely facing upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface facing upward and the lower surface facing downward, the lower surface accessible at a height below the height of the worktop undersurface and the upper surface disposed above the lower surface,
• wherein, the processor is programmed to perform the steps of:
• (i) while the worktop is in the first sitting position:
• (a) upon sensing a quick upward double activation of the user interface, controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop from the first sitting position to the first standing position;
• and
• (b) upon sensing a prolonged single upward activation of the user interface, controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop upward from the first sitting position toward the first standing position and continuing to drive the worktop upward as long as the prolonged single upward activation persists;
• (ii) while the worktop is in the first standing position:
• (a) upon sensing a quick downward double activation of the user interface, controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop from the first standing position to the first sitting position;
• and
• (b) upon sensing a prolonged single downward activation of the user interface, controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop downward from the first standing position toward the first sitting position and continuing to drive the worktop downward as long as the prolonged single downward activation persists capacitive switch pressure membrane switch.

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 slidably attached to said frame and selectably adjustable in elevation to different positions including at least a first standing position and at least a first sitting position;
• at least one variable speed electrically-powered vertical-displacement drive mechanism connected between said frame and said worktop, said drive mechanism being arranged to selectively vertically displace the worktop with respect to said frame when said drive mechanism is activated;
• and
• an interface including an upper surface and a lower surface that face upwardly and downwardly, respectively, the lower surface located within a space below the upper work surface, first and second pressure sensors located at the upper surface and the lower surface, respectively;
• a processor controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop among different positions, the processor controlling the drive mechanism to control the rate of worktop height displacement at various speeds including at least a first speed and a second speed that is different than the first speed, the processor programmed to perform the steps of:
• (i) while the worktop is in a position below the first standing position:
• (a) upon sensing a quick upward double activation of the user interface, controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop from the current position to the first standing position;
• and
• (b) upon sensing a prolonged single upward activation of the user interface, controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop upward from the current position toward the first standing position and continuing to drive the worktop upward as long as the prolonged single upward activation persists;
• (ii) while the worktop is in a position above the first sitting position:
• (a) upon sensing a quick downward double activation of the user interface, controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop from the current position to the first sitting position;
• and
• (b) upon sensing a prolonged single downward activation of the user interface, controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop downward from the current position toward the first sitting position and continuing to drive the worktop downward as long as the prolonged single downward activation persists capacitive switch pressure membrane switch;
• and
• wherein the rate of height displacement during prolonged interface activations is at a first rate when force sensed by one of the sensors is below a threshold force and is at a second rate when force sensed by one of the sensors is above the threshold force.