Steelcase Inc.

Stirworks Inc.

Michael Xinjie Chu

Scott Lindsay Sullivan

Jean-Paul Labrosse

Matthew Ness Schneider

A work environment adjustment system includes multiple instances of controllable office equipment located within an office space, each instance associated with a specific office location and including an activator for controlling states of the instance, at least one presence sensor for detecting user presence within each space associated with each instance, and a master controller linked to each office equipment activator to control activation of each activator to control a current state of each instance. The master controller is programmed to perform the steps of receiving sensor signals from the at least a first presence sensor, determining user presence at each space associated with each instance, controlling states at each of the instances independent of user input when the space associated with the instance is vacant, and enabling user control of the state of each instance associated with a space that is occupied by a user.

Ergonomic seating system, tilt-lock control and remote powering method and apparatus

A system for managing the elevation of a workstation, the system comprising a frame, a worktop having an upper worksurface, at least a first powered vertical-displacement drive mechanism connected between the frame and the worktop and arranged to selectively vertically displace the worktop with respect to the frame, a presence sensor and a processor linked to the drive mechanism and the sensor, the processor using information from the presence sensor to track user presence at the workstation and, upon detecting that the workstation is unoccupied, automatically controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop from a current height to a scheduled height.

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

A table assembly comprising a worktop, a frame supporting the worktop, an integrated drive subassembly, a memory storing defined conditions, a control system including a user input control interface and at least one processor, the input control interface for receiving user commands to initiate changes in worktop height, the processor programmed to perform the steps of a) at any time, respond to direct manual user input via the interface to change the worktop height and b) enable a reminder function to periodically change the worktop height by i) monitoring worktop use, ii) comparing worktop use to at least one of the defined conditions, iii) after the at least one condition is met, providing a signal to the user to change the worktop height to a different position, iv) monitoring for user input via the interface to change the worktop height and (v) upon each of the worktop height being changed prior to providing a signal to the user to change the worktop height and the worktop height being changed subsequent to providing a signal to the user to change the worktop height, repeating steps (i) through (v).

A height adjustable table assembly system comprising a worktop, a frame, a height adjustment subassembly integrated into the table assembly and adapted to cause worktop elevation adjustment, a user interface and a processor programmed to perform the steps of, while the worktop is at a current elevation position, upon sensing a quick multiple activation of the interface, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to move the worktop to a stored elevation position and upon sensing a prolonged activation of the interface, controlling the height adjustment subassembly to change worktop elevation while the prolonged activation persists.

Methods and systems for reminding a user to adjust a height adjustable workstation that includes a worktop supported by a frame, an interface including user input controls and a vertical displacement drive mechanism, the user input controls including at least one input control, each of the user input controls for receiving manual direct user selections from a workstation user to activate the drive mechanism to initiate worktop elevation adjustments to a different worktop elevation positions, an exemplary method comprising the steps of monitoring at least one condition related to ongoing use of the worktop over a period of time while a user is associated with the worktop and when the at least one condition occurs, without any user selection to initiate a change in worktop height via the interface subsequent to the at least one condition occurring, moving the worktop to remind the user to perform some activity.

A system for adjusting a height of a workstation, comprising a height adjust system for a workstation, the height adjust system being adjustable in elevation, a worktop mounted to the height adjustment system for movement therewith to different positions, a first sensor device for sensing the presence of a workstation user within a space associated with the workstation, a processor that tracks and stores at least the duration of time that the worktop is in at least one of a sitting position and a standing position while a user is within the space associated with the workstation, the processor further providing a user with a reminder to change a current position of the worktop to another position.

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 and a processor tracking a first duration of time that the worktop is in at least one of a standing position or a sitting position and generating ongoing statistical data associated with the first duration on an ongoing basis by comparing the first duration to a time period as the user is using the workstation during an ongoing prolonged period of time.

A system and method for controlling a height adjustable workstation that includes a worktop supported by a frame, a processor, and a vertical displacement drive mechanism controllable by the processor to change the elevation of the worktop to different worktop elevation positions, the method comprising the steps of sensing the presence of a workstation user within a space associated with the workstation, tracking the duration of time that the worktop is in at least a first position while a user is within the space associated with the workstation and providing the user with a reminder to change the current position of the worktop to another position when the tracked duration of time reaches a threshold level by driving the worktop through at least one vertical displacement that is perceptible to the workstation user.

A workstation system for tracking workstation activity, the system comprising a database storing user specific information including at least one user goal associated with user activity at the workstation, the workstation including at least a first sensor, the at least a first sensor automatically collecting data useable to determine identity of a user within a space associated with the workstation and collecting user biometrics, a first reminder device and the system further including at least a first processor linked to the at least a first sensor and the reminder device, the processor receiving data from the at least a first sensor device and using the received data to attempting to determine the identity of the user that occupies the space, upon identifying the first system user, the processor tracking user biometrics, programmed to access at least a subset of the information associated with the first user and use the accessed information for the user as well as the user biometrics to automatically generate periodic reminders for the first system user via the reminder device to perform at least one activity.

A method for controlling a height adjustable workstation that includes a worktop supported by a frame and a vertical displacement drive mechanism controllable to change the elevation of the worktop to different worktop elevation positions, the method comprising, using a processor linked to the drive mechanism to perform the steps of tracking periods during which the worktop is in various worktop elevation positions, using the tracked periods to identify times at which to present reminders to a workstation user to change a current worktop elevation position to a standing elevation position and at the identified times, controlling the drive mechanism to automatically change the worktop height from the current worktop elevation position to another elevation position that is distinct from any standing elevation position to encourage a workstation user to raise the worktop to a standing elevation position.

A sit-stand desk includes a frame located on a floor surface; a panel having an upper work surface and being selectively vertically displaceable in respect to the frame; and a vertical-displacement drive mechanism mechanically connected between the frame and the panel. Activation of the drive mechanism vertically displaces the panel with respect to the frame. The sit-stand desk also includes a control circuit selectively activating the drive mechanism to vertically displace the panel according to prescribed displacement instructions in response to receipt of a trigger signal and a pressure mat located on the floor surface adjacent to the frame on which a user stands. The pressure mat includes a pressure sensor in communication with the control circuit and configured to measure a presence of the user adjacent to the desk.

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 vertically slidably attached to said frame and selectably adjustable in elevation to different positions, at least one drive mechanism mechanically connected between said frame and said worktop and arranged to selectively vertically displace the worktop with respect to said frame when activated, a processor controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop to different positions, the processor monitoring at least one condition with respect to the worktop and, when the at least one condition is met, generating at least one reminder for a workstation user, the processor providing the reminder to a workstation user by driving the worktop through at least one small vertical displacement.

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 a processor controlling the drive mechanism to move the worktop to 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 controlling the rate of worktop height displacement at the first speed sometimes and at the second speed at other times.

A sit/stand workstation includes a worktop that includes a powered drive and is moveable between a sitting height and a standing height. During use, a controller moves the worktop up and down following a user-defined schedule and uses sensors, such as a pressure mat, to detect how well the user follows the schedule and biometric indicators that convey fatigue and user energy level. In response to this monitored user information, the controller changes time, duration, and/or frequency of the schedule to better meet the abilities and fitness of the user and also to help encourage the user to continue regular use of both sitting height and standing height workstation positions. Sounds, voice, lights, colors, and numerical information are used to help encourage the user in use of the sit/stand workstation.

Growing community of inventors

Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Michael Xinjie Chu