Patent Application
20250194820
The present disclosure relates to a mattress assembly and furniture including the same.
Furniture may include chairs, beds, sofas, recliners, etc. on which users can sit or lie. Such furniture may include a mattress to support the body weight of a user lying or sitting thereon and a backrest to support the back or waist of a user sitting on the mattress. Additionally, a mattress may include an air cell unit for providing a cushion to users, a pump for pressurizing air into the air cell unit, and a controller for controlling the pump. The controller can control the pump by changing the hardness of the air cell unit.
However, conventional furniture has a problem in that, when the current hardness of an air cell unit is changed to a higher hardness, a user cannot easily feel the difference in hardness of the air cell unit. Additionally, conventional furniture has a problem in that, when the current hardness of the air cell unit is changed to a lower hardness, a user feels the difference in hardness of the air cell unit excessively.
In this regard, the applicant's Korean Patent No. 10-2018-0079957, “Sleep care mattress” (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 1) discloses a mattress including an air cell body having a plurality of air cells and a controller that supplies air to control the plurality of air cells.
In the sleep care mattress disclosed in Patent Document 1, the hardness of the plurality of air cells can be changed by injecting or discharging air into or from the air cells to provide a hardness suited to a user. However, there is a problem in that a sensor unit erroneously recognizes the air pressure of the air cells as being higher when the user's weight is applied to the mattress, and thus the hardness of the mattress cannot be changed to the hardness desired by the user. In other words, the hardness of the mattress does not increase to a hardness desired by the user when the user sets the hardness of the mattress to be very high, or the hardness of the mattress excessively decreases from the hardness desired by the user when the user sets the hardness of the mattress to be slightly lower.
One embodiment of the present disclosure has been devised in view of the above background, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a mattress assembly and furniture in which the hardness of a mattress can be changed to a hardness desired by a user when the user changes the hardness of the mattress while lying on the mattress.
A mattress assembly according to one aspect of the present disclosure, includes an air pocket unit for containing air to support a user; a flow channel providing a passage through which the air flows and communicating with the air pocket unit; a pump for causing the air to flow into the air pocket unit; a valve unit including one or more valves selectively opened or closed to control the flow of air in the flow channel and the air pocket unit; a sensor unit configured to detect a pressure of the air pocket unit; and a controller configured to control the pump and the valve unit according to an external signal such that a hardness of the air pocket unit is set to one of a plurality of preset hardness levels, wherein, when a changed hardness level, which is a hardness level different from a current hardness level that is currently set by the signal, is set, the controller calculates a control reference pressure on the basis of a current pressure, which is the pressure of the air pocket unit detected by the sensor unit, and a predetermined level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level, derives a target pressure by adding or subtracting a pressure difference corresponding to the difference between the current hardness level and the changed hardness level to or from the control reference pressure, and controls one or more of the pump and the valve unit such that the pressure of the air pocket unit reaches the target pressure.
Further, the control reference pressure may be calculated on the basis of the level reference pressure when the current pressure is equal to or less than the level reference pressure.
Further, the control reference pressure may be greater than 0.1 psi and less than 1.5 psi
Further, the control reference pressure may be calculated on the basis of the current pressure when the current pressure is greater than the level reference pressure.
Further, the air pocket unit may include a plurality of pocket areas, and the current pressure may be the pressure of the air pocket unit detected by the sensor unit in a state in which all of the pocket areas are in communication with each other.
Further, the air pocket unit may include a plurality of pocket areas, and the current pressure may be an average of pressures of the plurality of pocket areas detected by the sensor unit in a state in which the pocket areas are not in communication with each other.
Further, at the time of changing to the changed hardness level greater than the current hardness level, the target pressure may be derived according to Formula 1 below. (Formula 1) T=R+(K×(Sb−Sa)) (In Formula 1, T is the target pressure, R is the control reference pressure, K is a pressure difference constant between hardness levels, Sa is the current hardness level, and Sb is the changed hardness level.)
Further, at the time of changing to the changed hardness level less than the current hardness level, the target pressure may be derived according to Formula 2 below. (Formula 2) T=R−(K−(Sa−Sb)) (In Formula 2, T is the target pressure, R is the control reference pressure, K is a pressure difference constant between hardness levels, Sa is the current hardness level, and Sb is the changed hardness level.)
Further, the valve unit may include a plurality of injection valves opened or closed to inject the air into the air pocket unit or opened or closed to discharge the air from the air pocket unit, and the controller may control the pump and the plurality of injection valves such that the air is injected into the air pocket unit when the current hardness level is changed to the changed hardness level greater than the current hardness level, and control the plurality of injection valves such that the air is discharged from the air pocket unit when the current hardness level is changed to the changed hardness level less than the current hardness level, thereby causing the pressure of the air pocket unit to reach the target pressure when the target pressure is derived.
Furniture according to one aspect of the present disclosure, includes the mattress assembly described above; and a backrest disposed on one side of the mattress assembly.
One embodiment of the present disclosure has the effect of accurately changing the hardness of a mattress to a hardness desired by a user even when the user's weight is applied to the mattress.
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure for implementing the spirit of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In describing the embodiments of the present disclosure, the detailed descriptions of well-known functions or configurations will be omitted if it is determined that the detailed descriptions of well-known functions or configurations may unnecessarily make obscure the spirit of the present disclosure.
Further, when an element is referred to as being ‘connected’ to, or ‘communicated’ with another element, it should be understood that the element may be directly connected to, or communicated with the other element, but that other elements may exist in the middle.
The terms used in the present disclosure are only used for describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise
Further, in the present disclosure, it is to be noted that expressions, such as the upper side, the lower side, and the side surface are described based on the illustration of drawings, but may be modified if directions of corresponding objects are changed. For the same reasons, some components are exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the size of each component does not fully reflect the actual size.
Terms including ordinal numbers, such as first and second, may be used for describing various elements, but the corresponding elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another element.
In the present specification, it is to be understood that the terms such as “including” are intended to indicate the existence of the certain features, areas, integers, steps, actions, elements and/or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other certain features, areas, integers, steps, actions, elements and/or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.
Hereinafter, furniture 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.
Referring to
Referring to
The body unit 100 may accommodate the air pocket unit 200, the flow channel 300, the pump 400, the valve unit 500, the sensor unit 600, and the controller 700. The body unit 100 may include a housing that forms the exterior of the mattress assembly 10.
The air pocket unit 200 is accommodated in the body unit 100, and air may be contained in the air pocket unit 200 to change the hardness thereof. In other words, the hardness of the air pocket unit 200 may be adjusted to suit the user's body supported by the mattress assembly 10 or changed to massage the user. The air pocket unit 200 may include a plurality of air pockets 200a.
The air pockets 200a may receive or discharge air pressurized by the pump 400.
Additionally, the plurality of air pockets 200a may be arranged in the horizontal direction. The plurality of air pockets 200a may have different hardness by receiving and discharging air. The plurality of air pockets 200a may have different hardness and thus provide a different feeling for each part of the user's body.
Additionally, the air pocket unit 200 may be divided into a plurality of pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240. Each of the plurality of pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 may include a plurality of air pockets 200a. Additionally, the plurality of pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 may be arranged in the horizontal direction and may have different hardness according to air inflow. The plurality of pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 may include a first pocket area 210, a second pocket area 220, a third pocket area 230, and a fourth pocket area 240. For example, when the user lies down on the mattress assembly 10, the first pocket area 210 may support the user's shoulders, the second pocket area 220 may support the user's waist area, the third pocket area 230 may support the user's hip area, and the fourth pocket area 240 may support the user's thigh area.
The flow channel 300 may be in communication with the air pocket unit 200 to guide air to the air pocket unit 200 or provide a passage through which air is discharged from the air pocket unit 200. The flow channel 300 may include an air flow passage 310, a first injection passage 320, a second injection passage 330, a third injection passage 340, and a fourth injection passage 350.
The air flow passage 310 may provide a passage through which air flows from the pump 400 to the first injection passage 320, the second injection passage 330, the third injection passage 340, and the fourth injection passage 350. In addition, the air flow passage 310 may provide a passage through which air discharged from the first injection passage 320, the second injection passage 330, the third injection passage 340, and the fourth injection passage 350 is discharged to the outside. The air flow passage 310 may communicate with the first injection passage 320, the second injection passage 330, the third injection passage 340, and the fourth injection passage 350. Additionally, the air flow passage 310 may be connected to the pump 400.
The first injection passage 320 may provide a passage through which air from the pump 400 flows into the first pocket area 210 through the air flow passage 310. Additionally, the first injection passage 320 may provide a passage through which air discharged from the first pocket area 210 flows into the air flow passage 310. The first injection passage 320 may communicate with the first pocket area 210.
The second injection passage 330 may provide a passage through which air from the pump 400 flows into the second pocket area 220 through the air flow passage 310.
Additionally, the second injection passage 330 may provide a passage through which air discharged from the second pocket area 220 flows into the air flow passage 310. The second injection passage 330 may communicate with the second pocket area 220.
The third injection passage 340 may provide a passage through which air from the pump 400 flows into the third pocket area 230 through the air flow passage 310. Additionally, the third injection passage 340 may provide a passage through which air discharged from the third pocket area 230 flows into the air flow passage 310. The third injection passage 340 may communicate with the third pocket area 230.
The fourth injection passage 350 may provide a passage through which air from the pump 400 flows into the fourth pocket area 240 through the air flow passage 310. Additionally, the fourth injection passage 350 may provide a passage through which air discharged from the fourth pocket area 240 flows into the air flow passage 310. The fourth injection passage 350 may communicate with the fourth pocket area 240.
The pump 400 may be driven to introduce air into the air pocket unit 200. The pump 400 may be connected to the air flow passage 310 and may pressurize the air flowing in the air passage.
The valve unit 500 may include one or more valves that are selectively opened and closed to control the flow of air in the flow channel 300 and the air pocket unit 200. The one or more valves may include a first injection valve 510, a second injection valve 520, a third injection valve 530, a fourth injection valve 540, a fifth injection valve 550, and an exhaust valve 560.
The first injection valve 510 is provided in the air flow passage 310 and may selectively open and close the air flow passage 310. When the air flow passage 310 is opened by the first injection valve 510, the air pressurized by the pump 400 may be injected into the air pocket unit 200 through the plurality of injection passages 320, 330, 340, and 350. In addition, when the air flow passage 310 is opened by the first injection valve 510, the air discharged from the air pocket unit 200 may flow into the air flow passage 310 through the plurality of injection passages 320, 330, 340, and 350.
The second injection valve 520 is provided in the first injection passage 320 and may open and close the first injection passage 320 such that air flows into the first pocket area 210 or air is discharged from the first pocket area 210. When the first injection passage 320 is opened by the second injection valve 520, the first injection passage 320 and the air flow passage 310 communicate with each other, and the air flowing in from the pump 400 may flow into the first pocket area 210 through the air flow passage 310 and the first injection passage 320. In addition, when the first injection passage 320 is closed by the second injection valve 520, air may be blocked from flowing into the first pocket area 210 or from being discharged from the first pocket area 210.
The third injection valve 530 is provided in the second injection passage 330 and may open and close the second injection passage 330 such that air flows into the second pocket area 220 or air is discharged from the second pocket area 220. When the second injection passage 330 is opened by the third injection valve 530, the second injection passage 330 and the air flow passage 310 communicate with each other, and the air flowing in from the pump 400 may flow into the second pocket area 220 through the air flow passage 310 and the second injection passage 330. In addition, when the second injection passage 330 is closed by the third injection valve 530, air may be blocked from flowing into the second pocket area 220 or from being discharged from the second pocket area 220.
The fourth injection valve 540 is provided in the third injection passage 340 and may open and close the third injection passage 340 such that air flows into the third pocket area 230 or air is discharged from the third pocket area 230. When the third injection passage 340 is opened by the fourth injection valve 540, the third injection passage 340 and the air flow passage 310 communicate with each other, and the air flowing in from the pump 400 may flow into the third pocket area 230 through the air flow passage 310 and the third injection passage 340. In addition, when the third injection passage 340 is closed by the fourth injection valve 540, air may be blocked from flowing into the third pocket area 230 or air being discharged from the third pocket area 230.
The fifth injection valve 550 is provided in the fourth injection passage 350 and may open and close the fourth injection passage 350 such that air flows into the fourth pocket area 240 or air is discharged from the fourth pocket area 240. When the fourth injection passage 350 is opened by the fifth injection valve 550, the fourth injection passage 350 and the air flow passage 310 communicate with each other, and the air flowing in from the pump 400 may flow into the fourth pocket area 240 through the air flow passage 310 and the fourth injection passage 350. In addition, when the fourth injection passage 350 is closed by the fifth injection valve 550, air may be blocked from flowing into the fourth pocket area 240 or from being discharged from the fourth pocket area 240.
The exhaust valve 560 is provided in the air flow passage 310 and may open and close the air flow passage 310 such that air is discharged from the air pocket unit 200. When the exhaust valve 560 is opened, the inside and outside of the air flow passage 310 may communicate with each other through the exhaust valve 560. When the exhaust valve 560 is opened, the air discharged from the air pocket unit 200 may be discharged to the outside. When the exhaust valve 560 is closed, communication between the inside and outside of the air flow passage 310 is blocked and air may not be discharged from the air pocket unit 200. When the exhaust valve 560 is opened, the hardness of the air pocket unit 200 may be reduced.
The sensor unit 600 may detect the pressure of the air pocket unit 200. Additionally, the sensor unit 600 may include a plurality of sensors 610, 620, 630, and 640 that sense the pressures of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240, respectively. The plurality of sensors 610, 620, 630, and 640 may include a first sensor 610, a second sensor 620, a third sensor 630, and a fourth sensor 640.
The first sensor 610 may sense the pressure of the first pocket area 210. The second sensor 620 may sense the pressure of the second pocket area 220. The third sensor 630 may sense the pressure of the third pocket area 230. The fourth sensor 640 may sense the pressure of the fourth pocket area 240.
Referring to
For example, the plurality of hardness levels may include a total of 9 hardness levels. In addition, predetermined pressures corresponding to the 9 hardness levels may include level 1:0.14 psi, level 2:0.28 psi, level 3:0.42 psi, level 4:0.56 psi, level 5:0.70 psi, level 6:0.84 psi, level 7:0.98 psi, level 8:1.12 psi, and level 9:1.34 psi. In other words, 0.14 psi can increase per level.
The external signal may be a signal for changing a current hardness level, which is the currently set hardness level of the air pocket unit 200, to a changed hardness level, which is another hardness level. By this signal, the controller 700 may control the pump 400 and the valve unit 500 such that some air in the air pocket unit 200 is discharged and air is re-injected into the air pocket unit 200 from which some air has been discharged.
When the user sets the current hardness level, which is the currently set hardness level to a changed hardness level, which is a different hardness level, the controller 700 calculates a control reference pressure on the basis of the current pressure of the air pocket unit 200 detected by the sensor unit 600 and a predetermined level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level. Then, a target pressure is derived by adding or subtracting a pressure difference corresponding to the difference between the current hardness level and the changed hardness level to or from the control reference pressure. In addition, one or more of the pump 400 and the valve unit 500 may be controlled such that the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 becomes the derived target pressure. Hereinafter, the current hardness level, the changed hardness level, the current pressure, the control reference pressure, and the target pressure will be described.
The current hardness level may be a currently set hardness level among a plurality of hardness levels. For example, the current hardness level may be a currently set hardness level among a total of 9 hardness levels. As a more specific example, the predetermined level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level may be any one of level 1:0.14 psi, level 2:0.28 psi, level 3:0.42 psi, level 4:0.56 psi, level 5:0.70 psi, level 6:0.84 psi, level 7:0.98 psi, level 8:1.12 psi, and level 9:1.34 psi.
The changed hardness level may be a hardness level selected by the user from the plurality of hardness levels. The user may set the changed hardness level, which is a hardness level that is different from the current hardness level. For example, the changed hardness level may be a hardness level selected by the user from among a total of 8 hardness levels excluding the current hardness level. In addition, the predetermined level reference pressure corresponding to the changed hardness level may be any one of the remaining pressures excluding the level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level from among the pressures of levels 1 to 9 described above.
The current pressure may be the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 detected by the sensor unit 600. The current pressure may be set depending on whether the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are in communication with each other.
The current pressure may be the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 detected by the sensor unit 600 when all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are in communication with each other. In other words, when all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are in communication with each other, all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 may have the same pressure. Therefore, the current pressure may be the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 detected by the sensor unit 600.
Further, the current pressure may be the average of the pressures of the plurality of pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 detected by the sensor unit 600 when all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are not in communication with each other. In other words, when all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are not in communication with each other, the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 may have different pressures. Therefore, the current pressure may be the average obtained by summing the pressures of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 detected by the sensor unit 600 and dividing the sum by the number of pocket areas.
The control reference pressure may be calculated on the basis of the current pressure and a predetermined level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level. Such a control reference pressure may be determined depending on the range of a predetermined tolerance of the current pressure and the level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level.
The control reference pressure may be calculated on the basis of the level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level when the current pressure is equal to or less than the level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level. In this case, the control reference pressure may be calculated on the basis of the level reference pressure when the user's weight is not applied to the air pocket unit 200 (when there is no user on the mattress). For example, when the user's weight is not applied to the air pocket unit 200, the level reference pressure itself may be set as the control reference pressure. As a more specific example, the control reference pressure may be any one of predetermined level reference voltages corresponding to the current hardness level, level 1:0.14 psi, level 2:0.28 psi, level 3:0.42 psi, level 4:0.56 psi, level 5:0.70 psi, level 6:0.84 psi, level 7:0.98 psi, level 8:1.12 psi, and level 9:1.34 psi.
Meanwhile, the control reference pressure is not limited to the above example and may be greater than 0.1 psi and less than 1.5 psi. If the control reference pressure is less than 0.1 psi, the user can hardly feel the support force of the air pocket unit 200. If the control reference pressure is greater than 1.5 psi, the user feels that the support force of the air pocket unit 200 is excessively high, and thus the mattress cannot function as a mattress for making the user feel comfortable.
The control reference pressure may be calculated on the basis of the current pressure when the current pressure is greater than the level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level. In this case, the control reference pressure may be calculated on the basis of the current pressure when the user's weight is applied to the air pocket unit 200, that is, when the user is lying on the mattress. For example, the control reference pressure may be the current pressure, which is the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 detected by the sensor unit 600 when all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are in communication with each other. Alternatively, the control reference pressure may be the current pressure, which is the average of the pressures of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 detected by the sensor unit 600 when all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are not in communication with each other.
The target pressure may be derived by adding or subtracting a pressure difference corresponding to the difference between the current hardness level and the changed hardness level to or from the control reference pressure. The target pressure may be set depending on whether the changed hardness level changed by user selection is higher or lower than the current hardness level.
The target pressure may be derived according to Formula 1 below when the user changes the current hardness level to a changed hardness level greater than the current hardness level.
(In Formula 1, T is the target pressure, R is the control reference pressure, K is a pressure difference constant between hardness levels, Sa is the current hardness level, and Sb is the changed hardness level.)
(Example 1) For example, when the user changes the current hardness level 3 to changed hardness level 5 and the current pressure is equal to or less than the level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level, in other words, when the user's weight is not applied to the air pocket unit 200, the target pressure may be derived as follows.
In this case, Sa=3, Sb=5, K=0.14 psi, and the control reference pressure R is 0.42 psi, which is the level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level 3.
The level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level 3 is 0.42 psi, the control reference pressure is 0.42 psi, and the level reference pressure corresponding to the changed hardness level 5 is 0.70 psi. In this way, when the user's weight is not applied to the air pocket unit 200, the target pressure is derived to be equal to 0.70 psi, which is the level reference pressure corresponding to the changed hardness level 5. In other words, when the user's weight is not applied to the air pocket unit 200, the pressure of the mattress may be increased by 0.28 psi (0.70 psi-0.42 psi), which is a level reference pressure difference when the current hardness level 3 changes to the changed hardness level 5.
(Example 2) For example, when the user changes the current hardness level 3 to changed hardness level 5, and the current pressure is greater than the level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level, in other words, when the user's weight is applied to the air pocket unit 200, the target pressure may be derived as follows.
Sa=3, Sb=5, and K=0.14 psi. The control reference pressure R may be the current pressure, which is the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 when all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are in communication with each other or the average of the pressures of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 when all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are not in communication with each other, as described above. In this case, assuming that the control reference pressure R=0.50 psi, the target pressure is as follows.
The level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level 3 is 0.42 psi, the control reference pressure is 0.50 psi, and the level reference pressure corresponding to the changed hardness level 5 is 0.70 psi. When the user's weight is applied to the air pocket unit 200, the target pressure is derived as 0.78 psi, which is greater than 0.70 psi that is the level reference pressure corresponding to the changed hardness level 5.
Although the user actually sets the current hardness level 3 to the changed hardness level 5, the sensor unit 600 which detects the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 erroneously recognizes the current hardness level as 0.50 psi rather than the level reference pressure of 0.42 psi corresponding to level 3 due to the user's weight. In this case, the pressure of the mattress is increased by only 0.20 psi (0.70 psi-0.50 psi), which is less than the level reference pressure difference of 0.28 psi (0.70 psi-0.42 psi) when the current hardness level 3 is changed to the changed hardness level 5. Therefore, the user will only feel a pressure increase of 0.20 psi, which is less than 0.28 psi. In other words, the user feels that the pressure of the mattress insufficiently increases compared to the changed hardness level selected by the user. In order to eliminate this error, the controller 700 derives a target pressure of 0.78 psi and controls the pump 400 and the valve unit 500 such that the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 becomes 0.78 psi, which is the target pressure. In other words, the user can feel a pressure increase of 0.28 psi (0.78 psi-0.50 psi), which is the desired hardness.
The target pressure may be derived according to Formula 2 below when the user changes the current hardness level to a changed hardness level lower than the current hardness level.
(In Formula 2, T is the target pressure, R is the control reference pressure, K is a pressure difference constant between hardness levels, Sa is the current hardness level, and Sb is the changed hardness level.)
(Example 3) For example, when the user changes the current hardness level 5 to changed hardness level 3, and the current pressure is equal to or less than the level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level, in other words, when the user's weight is not applied to the air pocket unit 200, the target pressure may be derived as follows.
In this case, Sa=5, Sb=3, K=0.14 psi, and the control reference pressure R is 0.70 psi, which is the level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level 5.
The level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level 5 is 0.70 psi, the control reference pressure is 0.70 psi, and the level reference pressure corresponding to the changed hardness level 3 is 0.42 psi. When the user's weight is not applied to the air pocket unit 200, the target pressure is derived to be equal to 0.42 psi, which is the level reference pressure corresponding to the changed hardness level 3. In other words, when the user's weight is not applied to the air pocket unit 200, the pressure of the mattress may be decreased by the level reference pressure difference-0.28 psi (0.42 psi-0.70 psi) when the current hardness level 5 is changed to the changed hardness level 3, that is, the pressure of 0.28 psi.
(Example 4) For example, when the user changes the current hardness level 5 to changed hardness level 3, and the current pressure is greater than the level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level, in other words, when the user's weight is applied to the air pocket unit 200, the target pressure may be derived as follows.
Sa=5, Sb=3, and K=0.14 psi. The control reference pressure R is the current pressure, which is the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 when all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are in communication with each other, or the average of the pressures of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 when all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are not in communication with each other, as described above. In this case, assuming that the control reference pressure R=0.80 psi, the target pressure is as follows.
The level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level 5 is 0.70 psi, the control reference pressure is 0.80 psi, and the level reference pressure corresponding to the changed hardness level 3 is 0.42 psi. When the user's weight is applied to the air pocket unit 200, the target pressure is derived as 0.52 psi, which is greater than 0.42 psi that is the level reference pressure corresponding to the changed hardness level 3.
Although the user actually set the current hardness level 5 to the changed hardness level 3, the sensor unit 600 that detects the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 erroneously recognizes the current hardness level as 0.80 psi rather than 0.70 psi, which is the level reference pressure corresponding to the current hardness level 5, due to the user's weight. In this case, the pressure of the mattress is decreased by 0.38 psi (0.80 psi-0.42 psi), which is greater than the level reference pressure difference of 0.28 psi (0.70 psi-0.42 psi) when the current hardness level 5 changes to the changed hardness level 3. Therefore, the user feels a pressure decrease of 0.38 psi, which is greater than 0.28 psi. In other words, the user feels that the pressure of the mattress excessively decreases compared to the changed hardness level selected by the user. In order to eliminate such an error, the controller 700 derives a target pressure of 0.52 psi and controls the pump 400 and the valve unit 500 such that the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 becomes 0.52 psi, which is the target pressure. In other words, the user can feel a pressure decrease of 0.28 psi (0.80 psi-0.52 psi) corresponding to the desired hardness.
The controller 700 described above may be implemented by an arithmetic device including a microprocessor, a measuring device such as a sensor, and a memory, and the implementation method is obvious to those skilled in the art and thus further detailed description will be omitted.
The operating unit 800 may be operated to set the current hardness level of the air pocket unit 200 to a changed hardness level and transmit a signal regarding the changed hardness level to the wireless or wired controller 700. For example, the operating unit 800 may be a remote control, an operating panel including a plurality of buttons, or the like. Additionally, the operating unit 800 may be provided with a display panel, and information on the mattress assembly 10 may be displayed on the display panel. For example, the information may include the pressure, hardness level, control mode, control mode operation time, and the like of the plurality of air pocket units 200.
Meanwhile, the function of the operating unit 800 may be implemented by a portable terminal such as a smartphone. In other words, since the controller 800 can be operated by an external signal input through an application of a portable terminal such as a smartphone, the operating unit 800 is not an essential component in the mattress assembly 10 and may be omitted.
The backrest 20 is disposed on one side of the mattress assembly 10 to support the user's back when the user sits on the mattress assembly 10.
Hereinafter, the operation and effects of the mattress assembly 10 and the furniture 1 including the same according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
When a signal regarding a changed hardness level is input through the operating unit 800, the controller 700 of the mattress assembly 10 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may derive a target pressure and control the pump 400 and the valve unit 500 such that the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 becomes the target pressure as will be described below.
When the current hardness level is changed to a changed hardness level higher than the current hardness level, if the user's weight is applied to the mattress, the controller 700 opens the first to fifth injection valves 510, 520, 530, 540, and 550 such that the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 communicate with each other and thus air can flow into the first injection passage 320, the second injection passage 330, the third injection passage 340, and the fourth injection passage 350. Then, the controller 700 operates the pump 400 such that the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 becomes the target pressure and air flows into the air pocket unit 200 through the air flow passage 310, the first injection passage 320, the second injection passage 330, the third injection passage 340, and the fourth injection passage 350.
When the current hardness level is changed to a changed hardness level higher than the current hardness level, if the user's weight is not applied to the mattress, the controller 700 opens the first injection valve 510 and closes the second to fifth injection valves 520, 530, 540, and 550 such that the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are not in communication with each other. Then, the controller 700 operates the pump 400 such that air flows into the first injection passage 320, the second injection passage 330, the third injection passage 340, and the fourth injection passage 350. Then, the controller 700 selectively opens or closes some of the second to fifth injection valves 520, 530, 540, and 550 such that air selectively flows into some of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 and thus the pressures of all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 become the target pressure.
When the current hardness level is changed to a changed hardness level less than the current hardness level, if the user's weight is applied to the mattress, the controller 700 opens the first to fifth injection valves 510, 520, 530, 540, and 550 such that all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 communicate with each other and opens the exhaust valve 560 such that the pressure of the air pocket unit 200 becomes the target pressure to allow the air to be discharged to the outside.
When the current hardness level is changed to a changed hardness level less than the current hardness level, if the user's weight is not applied to the mattress, the controller 700 opens the first injection valve 510 and closes the second to fifth injection valves 520, 530, 540, and 550 such that all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 are not in communication with each other. Then, the controller 700 selectively opens or closes some of the second to fifth injection valves 520, 530, 540, and 550 such that the pressures of all of the pocket areas 210, 220, 230, and 240 become the target pressure, and opens the exhaust valve 560 to allow the air to be discharged to the outside.
Using the controller 700, the target pressure can be derived and one or more of the pump 400 and the valve unit 500 can be controlled when the current hardness level is changed to a changed hardness level higher than the current hardness level. Accordingly, the user can feel the difference in hardness of the air pocket unit 200 as desired, rather than feeling that the hardness is insufficiently increased.
When the current hardness level is changed to a changed hardness level less than the current hardness level, the controller 700 can derive a target pressure and control one or more of the pump 400 and the valve unit 500. Therefore, the user can feel the difference in hardness of the air pocket unit 200 as desired, rather than feeling that the hardness is excessively decreased.
The examples of the present disclosure have been described above as specific embodiments, but these are only examples, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and should be construed as having the widest scope according to the technical spirit disclosed in the present specification. A person skilled in the art may combine/substitute the disclosed embodiments to implement a pattern of a shape that is not disclosed, but it also does not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art can easily change or modify the disclosed embodiments based on the present specification, and it is clear that such changes or modifications also belong to the scope of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2022-0007478 | Jan 2022 | KR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR2023/000544 | 1/12/2023 | WO |
