Vehicle seat with vibration monitoring ability

Abstract

The present invention concerns a system for measuring the vibration an operator of a piece of the equipment encounters while operating the equipment. The system includes at least one motion measuring means, such as an accelerometer. The accelerometer may be affixed to the equipment or integrated into the equipment. In addition, motion data recording equipment that is in electrical communication with the accelerometer may also be provided. An alarm may be used to indicate that a preset limit has been or is about to be exceeded.

1 . A system for measuring motion encountered by an occupant of a vehicle comprising: 
 a seat having an outer surface;    a backrest having an outer surface;    at least one motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by an operator;    a processor means in communication with said motion measuring means, said processor means formats generated data into recordable data; and    a data storage means for storing motion related data.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said motion measuring means is an accelerometer.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said processor means further permits operation of the vehicle only upon recognizing an authorized operator.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said data storage means is portable.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an alarm device which is activated in response to a signal indicating that a preset limit has been exceeded.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more armrests having mounted therein a motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by an operator.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a transmitter for receiving motion data from said motion measuring means and transmitting said data to a remote receiving station.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the x-axis.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the y-axis.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the z-axis.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the x and y-axes.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the x, y and z-axes.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said portable data storage means uses random access memory to store data.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the data storage means is a magnetic card.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 4  and said data storage means is an optical card.  
   
   
       16 . The system  claim 4  wherein said data storage means uses at least one memory chip to store data.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said data storage means is a disk.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said processor means and data storage means is an integrated circuit microprocessor card.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said data storage means is an integrated circuit memory card.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said data storage means is an optical memory card.  
   
   
       21 . A system for measuring motion encountered by an operator of moving equipment comprising: 
 at least one motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by an operator;    a processor means in communication with said motion measuring means, said processor means formats generated data into recordable data; and    a data storage means for storing motion related data.    
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21  further including additional motion measuring means and processor means in association with additional pieces of equipment, and a portable data storage means that is personal to an operator and operable with said additional processor means on said additional equipment.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said motion measuring means is an accelerometer.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said processor means further permits operation of the equipment only upon recognizing an authorized operator.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said motion measuring means is located under the outer surface of the equipment.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising an alarm device which is activated in response to a signal indicating that a preset limit has been exceeded.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising a vehicle seat having mounted therein a motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by an operator.  
   
   
       28 . The and system of  claim 21  further comprising a transmitter for receiving motion data from said motion measuring means and transmitting said data to a remote receiving station.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the x-axis.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the y-axis.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the z-axis.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the x and y-axes.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the x, y and z-axes.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said portable data storage means uses random access memory to store data.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said portable data storage means is a magnetic card.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 21  and said portable data storage means is an optical card.  
   
   
       37 . The system  claim 21  wherein said portable data storage means uses at least one memory chip to store data.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said portable data storage means is a disk.  
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said processor means and said portable data storage means is an integrated circuit microprocessor card.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said portable data storage means is an integrated circuit memory card.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said portable data storage means is an optical memory card.  
   
   
       42 . A system for measuring motion created by a plurality of equipment which are operated by at least one operator comprising: 
 providing at least one motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by an operator for each piece of equipment;    providing for each piece of equipment a processor means in communication with said motion measuring means, said processor means formats generated data into recordable data; and    a portable data storage means that is associated with each operator for storing motion related data.    
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said motion measuring means is an accelerometer.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said processor means further permits operation of the vehicle only upon recognizing an authorized operator.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said motion measuring means is located under the outer surface of the equipment.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 42  further comprising an alarm device which is activated in response to a signal indicating that a preset limit has been exceeded.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 42  further comprising a vehicle seat having mounted therein a motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by an operator.  
   
   
       48 . The and system of  claim 42  further comprising a transmitter for receiving motion data from said motion measuring means and transmitting said data to a remote receiving station.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the x-axis.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the y-axis.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the z-axis.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the x and y-axes.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said motion measuring means measures motion in the direction of the x, y and z-axes.  
   
   
       54 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said portable data storage means uses random access memory to store data.  
   
   
       55 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the personal data storage means is a magnetic card.  
   
   
       56 . The system of  claim 42  and said portable data storage means is an optical card.  
   
   
       57 . The system  claim 42  wherein said portable data storage means uses at least one memory chip to store data.  
   
   
       58 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said portable data storage means is a disk.  
   
   
       59 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said process means and said portable data storage means is an integrated circuit microprocessor card.  
   
   
       60 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said portable data storage means is an integrated circuit memory card.  
   
   
       61 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said portable data storage means is an optical memory card.  
   
   
       62 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising one or more control consoles having mounted therein a motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by an operator.  
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising one or more control consoles having mounted therein a motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by an operator.  
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 42  further comprising one or more control consoles having mounted therein a motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by an operator.  
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising one or more armrests having mounted therein a motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by an operator.  
   
   
       66 . The system of  claim 42  further comprising one or more armrests having mounted therein a motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by an operator.  
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said motion measuring means is positionable.  
   
   
       68 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said motion measuring means is positionable.  
   
   
       69 . The system of  claim 42  wherein said motion measuring means is positionable.  
   
   
       70 . The system of  claim 1  further including a positionable motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by and operator.  
   
   
       71 . The system of  claim 21  further including a positionable motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by and operator.  
   
   
       72 . The system of  claim 42  further including a positionable motion measuring means for generating data indicative of motion encountered by and operator.