Adjustable chair having programmable control switches

Abstract

An adjustable chair including a control system based around a microprocessor and operated by way of switches preferably located on each side of the seat back. The switches are low voltage flat membrane switches by which the operator moves the chair to a desired position. The switches present a low voltage and sterile environment for both the operator and the patient. The switches can also be easily programmed by the operator to act either in a 'momentary' fashion to cause movement of the chair only as long as they are depressed or in a 'maintaining' fashion whereby a single depression of a switch causes selected movement of the chair until such movement is stopped by, for example, a limit switch. In addition, one of the switches can also easily be programmed by the operator to alternatively act as either a recline switch or an 'auto up' switch. The auto up switch causes the chair to assume a raised and reclined position suitable for performing a specific medical procedure. The control system of the present invention further provides a switch disable feature which allows the operator to easily program the system to disable the switches thereby preventing unauthorized, potentially dangerous or damaging operation of the chair. A selectively operable switch beep on feature is also disclosed.