Ergonomic computer alignment

• US 7,439,956 B1
• Filed: 12/05/2007
• Issued: 10/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Yen-Kwang, Kyle, Steven M., Albouyeh, Shadi E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Duc Q
• Application Number:
  US11/950,987
• Time in Patent Office: 321 Days
• Field of Search: 345168-171
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/046 adapted to upward-downward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/26 by telescoping, with or without folding details concerning the constructional features of telescoping parts only F16B7/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/166 related to integrated arrangements for adjusting the position of the main body with respect to the supporting surface, e.g. legs for adjusting the tilt angle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1664 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0208 Arrangements for adjusting the tilt angle of a keyboard, e.g. pivoting legs for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1667
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0216 Arrangements for ergonomically adjusting the disposition of keys of a keyboard for keyboards integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/1664

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for automatically positioning a computer to an ergonomically correct orientation are presented. An optic sensor at a top of a computer monitor measures a distance and angle to a user'"'"'s eye. This distance and angle, along with stored anatomical data for a specific user, are used to automatically adjust a base of the computer, thus positioning the computer'"'"'s keyboard in an ergonomically correct alignment for the specific user.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting a computer to an ergonomically correct orientation for a specific user, the method comprising:

detecting an angle and a distance from an optic sensor to a user'"'"'s eye, wherein the optic sensor is mounted to a top of a monitor;

automatically adjusting an elevation of a base of the computer by vertically moving the base of the computer until the optic sensor is horizontally aligned with the user'"'"'s eye, wherein the base enclosure maintains a substantially horizontal orientation.