Drop-in occupancy detection component for furniture

• US 10,334,960 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2016
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chacon, Ryan Edward, Rohr, William Robert, Madadi, Avinash, Lawson, Gregory Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Smoot, Stephen W
• Application Number:
  US15/339,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20170042340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/041 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/00 Details or accessories for chairs, beds, or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass, e.g. upholstery fasteners, mattress protectors, stretching devices for mattress nets
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/62 Accessories for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/14 Standing-up or sitting-down aids
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 27/2605 Measuring capacitance capacitive sensors G01D5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/088 operating with electric fields G01V3/082 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/048 Monitoring; Safety
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24015 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40133 Force sensation of slave converted to movement of chair for operator
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9602 characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96078 Sensor being a wire or a strip, e.g. used in automobile door handles or bumpers

Abstract

A system and method for incorporating occupancy-detecting technology into furniture is provided. More particularly, the invention relates to detecting occupancy in a recliner using a sinuous wire detection array incorporated into a seat. Further embodiments of the invention are directed to a system and method for incorporating capacitance detection technology with one or more conductive features of a recliner mechanism. In some aspects, a sensor is provided based on coupling one or more conductive features to a control component of the capacitance detector control component. A controller may determine the corresponding response based on occupancy detection and/or presence detection. A processor may receive information regarding changes in capacitance and determines when a change in voltage satisfies a threshold. Based on a determination of occupancy and/or presence, a variety of corresponding features of the adjustable recliner may be activated.

Claims

1. An occupancy detection system comprising:

a frame;

a control component associated with an automated furniture item, the automated furniture item including a cavity corresponding to the frame, the control component comprising a receiving component and a determining component; and

a detection array component adapted to be coupled to the automated furniture item, the detection array component comprising;

(1) one or more sinuous wires coupled to the frame, and

(2) one or more bridging components coupled to the one or more sinuous wires along the frame and the control component, wherein the one or more bridging components are configured to generate a capacitive array associated with the one or more sinuous wires, said capacitive array configured to monitor a change in capacitance with respect to the detection array component.

2. The occupancy detection system of claim 1, wherein the control component further comprises one or more of a notification component, a communication component, and an accessory component.

3. The occupancy detection system of claim 2, wherein the communication component comprises a wireless component.

4. The occupancy detection system of claim 1, wherein the receiving component is configured to receive one or more indications of change in capacitance from the detection array component.

5. The occupancy detection system of claim 4, wherein the determining component is configured to determine whether the received indication of change in capacitance satisfies a threshold amount of change in capacitance.

6. The occupancy detection system of claim 5, wherein the determining component is configured to provide an indication of occupancy of the automated furniture item upon determining that a change in capacitance exceeds the threshold amount.

7. The occupancy detection system of claim 1, wherein the detection array component comprises a plurality of sinuous wires coupled to the frame.

8. The occupancy detection system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of sinuous wires is coupled to the one or more bridging components.

9. An occupancy detection mechanism comprising:

a frame;

a plurality of sinuous wires coupled to the frame, the frame associated with a support feature of a furniture item with a cavity corresponding to the frame, each of the plurality of sinuous wires comprising a conductive material configured to carry a charge;

a bridging component coupled to each of the plurality of sinuous wires along the frame to provide a sinuous wire detection array, wherein the sinuous wire detection array is configured to monitor a change in capacitance detected by the sinuous wire detection array; and

a control component configured to be coupled to the sinuous wire detection array, wherein the control component is configured to receive data associated with the monitored change in capacitance,

wherein the sinuous wire detection array is adapted to have a voltage based on proximity of an object to one or more of the plurality of sinuous wires.

10. The occupancy detection mechanism of claim 9, wherein the control component coupled to the sinuous wire detection array is configured to determine that a change in voltage satisfies a threshold amount.

11. The occupancy detection mechanism of claim 10, wherein the control component is configured to initiate a corresponding response based on determining that the threshold amount is satisfied.

12. The occupancy detection mechanism of claim 9, wherein the frame is a nonconductive frame of a seat support of the furniture item.

13. The occupancy detection mechanism of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of sinuous wires are coupled to a front end of the nonconductive frame at a first end of each of the plurality of sinuous wires, and each of the plurality of sinuous wires are coupled to a back end of the nonconductive frame at a second end opposite the first end of each of the plurality of sinuous wires, the first and second ends of each of the plurality of sinuous wires arranged along a longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of sinuous wires.

14. The occupancy detection mechanism of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of sinuous wires is coupled to a capacitive bridging component configured to conduct a charge carried by the plurality of sinuous wires during occupancy detection, wherein the capacitive bridging component comprises one or more of a capacitive bridging wire and a capacitive bridging foil tape.

15. An occupancy detection system comprising:

an automated furniture item with a cavity corresponding to a nonconductive frame;

a detection array component configured to be coupled to the automated furniture item, the detection array component comprising;

(1) one or more sinuous wires coupled to the nonconductive frame,

(2) one or more bridging components coupled to the one or more sinuous wires along the nonconductive frame, and

(3) a control component comprising a receiving component and a determining component wherein the one or more bridging components are configured to generate a capacitive array associated with the one or more sinuous wires, said capacitive array configured to monitor a change in capacitance with respect to the detection array component.

16. The occupancy detection system of claim 15, wherein the nonconductive frame is configured to couple to one or more furniture items.

17. The occupancy detection system of claim 15, wherein the cavity corresponding to the nonconductive frame is a seat support to the automated furniture item.