Capacitive sensing for automated recliner furniture

• US 9,488,746 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2015
• Issued: 11/08/2016
• 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): He, Amy
• Application Number:
  US14/608,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20150137835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 324/658, 324/663, 324/686
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 1/02 Reclining or easy chairs supports for parts of body A47C7/36, A47C7/50, A47C7/54
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/00 Attachments for beds, e.g. sheet holders, bed-cover holders bed tables supported on the bedstead A47B23/02; for children's beds A47D7/00, A47D15/00; Ventilating, cooling or heating means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses
• 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: 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: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• 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. A presence detection system comprising:

an automated furniture item comprising a frame detection component, wherein the frame detection component comprises;

(1) a first conductive furniture feature comprising at least one conductive frame member of the furniture item, wherein the conductive frame member is configured to have a voltage based on proximity of an object to the conductive frame member, and

(2) a second conductive furniture feature coupled to the first conductive furniture feature, the second conductive furniture feature comprising at least one articulating furniture feature; and

a control component coupled to the frame detection component, the control component comprising;

(1) a receiving component configured to receive at least one indication of change in capacitance from the frame detection component, wherein the control component is configured to monitor a change in capacitance with respect to the frame detection component; and

(2) a determining component configured to determine whether the received at least one indication of the change in capacitance over time satisfies a threshold change in capacitance over a threshold period of time.

2. The presence detection system of claim 1, wherein upon determining that the received at least one indication of change in capacitance satisfies the threshold change in capacitance, the determining component is configured to generate an indication of presence detection.

3. The presence detection system of claim 1, further comprising one or more of:

an interrupt component configured to activate or inactivate one or more automated features of the automated furniture item;

a communication component configured to communicate a determination of presence to one or more users; and

an occupancy detection system component configured to provide an indication of occupancy of the automated furniture item to the presence detection system.

4. The presence detection system of claim 3, wherein the communication component comprises a wireless component.

5. A method for detecting presence with respect to an automated recliner, the method comprising:

receiving capacitance monitoring data from a frame detection component comprising at least one conductive frame member coupled to the automated furniture, wherein the conductive frame member is configured to have a voltage based on proximity of an object to the conductive frame member, and further wherein the frame detection component comprises one or more conductive features associated with the automated recliner that couple together to provide a capacitive sensor frame; and

determining that the change in voltage satisfies a threshold, wherein determining that the change in voltage satisfies a threshold comprises;

(1) monitoring rate of change in voltage detected by the frame detection component; and

(2) comparing the rate of change in voltage with the threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, based on determining that the change in voltage satisfies a threshold, activating or deactivating or more features associated with the automated recliner.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising, upon determining that the change in voltage satisfies a threshold, receiving an indication of occupancy detection via a sinuous wire detection array component of the automated recliner.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising initiating a corresponding response associated with the received indication of occupancy detection and the determination that the change in voltage satisfies a threshold.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the frame detection component is coupled to the control component of the automated recliner via a conductive connection configured to carry an indication of capacitance from the frame detection component to the control component.

10. A presence detection mechanism associated with an automated recliner, the presence detection mechanism comprising:

a capacitive sensing frame detection component comprising at least one conductive frame member configured to carry a charge, the capacitive sensing frame detection component comprising at least one stationary frame component of the automated recliner and at least one articulating frame component of the automated recliner, the at least one articulating frame component capacitively coupled to the at least one stationary frame component, said at least one articulating frame component configured to move at least between a first position and a second position;

a control component directly coupled to the capacitive sensing frame detection component, said control component configured to receive data associated with a monitored change in capacitance associated with the capacitive sensing frame detection component; and

a determining component associated with the control component, said determining component configured to determine, based on the received data associated with a monitored change in capacitance, whether presence is detected in proximity to at least a portion of the automated recliner.

11. The presence detection mechanism of claim 10, wherein one or more of the determining component and the control component coupled to capacitive sensing frame detection component is configured to generate an indication that a change in voltage satisfies a threshold amount.

12. The presence detection mechanism of claim 11, wherein based on determining that the threshold amount is satisfied, initiating a corresponding response.

13. The presence detection mechanism of claim 12, further comprising:

an interrupt component configured to activate or deactivate the at least one articulating frame component based on a determined indication of presence.

14. The presence detection mechanism of claim 13, wherein the deactivating the at least one articulating frame component comprises discontinuing movement between the first position and the second position.

15. The presence detection mechanism of claim 13, wherein upon deactivating the at least one articulating frame component, the control component is configured to deactivate one or more additional features of the automated recliner while data received from the capacitive sensing frame detection component indicates occupancy.

16. The presence detection mechanism of claim 15, wherein the one or more additional features of the automated recliner remain deactivated until manual user input of an indication presence is no longer detected with respect to the at least one articulating frame component.

17. The presence detection mechanism of claim 16, wherein the automated recliner comprises an automated recliner control coupled to the control component, wherein the automated recliner control is configured to receive user input of the indication that presence is no longer detected with respect to the at least one articulating frame component.

18. The presence detection mechanism of claim 10, wherein the capacitive sensing frame detection component of claim 10 is configured to monitor a change in capacitance during movement of the automated recliner from a first lowered position to a second raised position, wherein upon detection of presence with respect to at least a portion of the capacitive sensing frame detection component, the movement of one or more articulating features of the automated recliner are deactivated.