System for wireless mobile seating platform

• US 7,327,268 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2004
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McFaddin, Herbert Scott, Levas, Anthony, Moskowitz, Paul Andrew, Yong Wong, Danny Chan, Gruteser, Marco O.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG
• Application Number:
  US11/001,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20050093695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/500, 340/539.1, 340/3.1, 340/825.69, 340/825.19, 165/200, 320/137, 320/166
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 15/004 Seating furniture for specified purposes not covered by main groups A47C1/00 or A47C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor

Abstract

A system (and method) includes a seating platform, at least one sensor for detecting a state of the seating platform connected to a first wireless communications device, the first wireless communications device for conveying information on the state of the seating platform, and a second wireless communications device for receiving information from the first wireless communications device, and a computing system. The second wireless communications device is for receiving the information carrying signal and is connected to the computing system. The computing system is for initiating an action based upon the information.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a movable seating platform;

a wireless power supply coupled to said movable seating platform for powering said seating platform, said movable seating platform being movable in relation to a position of said wireless power supply; and

a remote system for receiving a communication from said seating platform,

wherein during said powering said seating platform, said movable seating platform is aligned with said wireless power supply.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device embedded within the seating platform.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless power supply employs solar cells.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless power supply employs a movement of an occupant in the seating platform.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless power supply employs a movement of the seating platform.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said seating platform includes movable elements that move with respect to one another when the chair occupant moves in the seating platform, and

wherein said wireless power supply employs a movement of said moveable elements of the seating platform.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said seating platform includes movable elements that move with respect to one another when the chair occupant leans forward and backward in the seating platform, and

wherein said wireless power supply employs a movement of said moveable elements of the seating platform.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said seating platform includes wheels, and

wherein said wireless power supply employs rotational motion of said wheels of the seating platform.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said movable seating comprises a first power coil,

wherein said wireless power supply comprises a second power coil, and

wherein said first power coil and said second power coil are inductively coupled during said powering said seated platform.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said second power coil is embedded in a surface over which said movable seated platform moves.

11. A system, comprising:

a movable seating platform;

electronic devices within said movable seating platform and requiring energy; and

a wireless energy transfer device for transferring energy to said devices, said movable seating platform being movable in relation to a position of said wireless energy transfer device,

wherein during said transferring energy to said devices, said movable seating platform is aligned with said wireless power supply.

12. A system, comprising:

a movable seating platform;

electronic devices within said movable seating platform and requiring energy; and

a wireless energy transfer device for transferring energy to said devices, said movable seating platform being movable in relation to a position of said wireless energy transfer device, wherein during said transferring energy to said devices, said movable seating platform is aligned with said wireless power supply,

wherein said wireless energy transfer unit for energy transfer employs inductive coupling and the inductive coupling employs a coil associated with a floor on which said seating platform is located.