Patent Application
20240251965
This disclosure relates generally to smart beds and, more specifically, to smart beds with mattresses that respond to physical inputs, such as touch inputs (e.g., a tap, a pat, a slap, etc.). More specifically, this disclosure relates to smart beds that adjust in response to detecting a predetermined physical input on a mattress of the smart bed. This disclosure also relates to methods for providing physical inputs for smart beds and methods for adjusting smart beds, which may include providing a predetermined physical input on a mattress of the smart bed, detecting the physical input, and responding to the physical input.
In various aspects, smart beds with configurations that enable the smart beds or the mattresses thereof to receive, detect, and respond to physical inputs are disclosed.
A smart bed may include a mattress with an upper surface that defines a sleep surface, at least one sensor associated with the sleep surface, and a processor that communicates with the at least one sensor and controls one or more functions of the mattress. A smart bed may also include a foundation for the mattress. In some embodiments, the smart bed may interact with an environment in which the mattress is located.
The mattress may have any suitable configuration. As a few examples, the mattress may comprise a conventional mattress with coils, a so-called “memory foam” mattress, a mattress with one or more bladders that may be selectively pressurized, a gel mattress, or a mattress that includes a combination of these and/or other features.
The at least one sensor may be capable of detecting motion or another activity (e.g., proximity, the application of pressure, etc.) to a surrounding area of the sleep surface of the mattress. Each sensor may comprise an accelerometer. More specifically, the at least one sensor may be positioned adjacent to the sleep surface at a location where it may detect a physical input provided by an individual, such as an individual adjacent to the mattress or an individual on the sleep surface. In some embodiments, the at least one sensor may be positioned at a location where an individual would be expected to rest their body, or torso, and/or their legs when laying in a sleeping position on the sleep surface. In other embodiments, the at least one sensor may comprise a group of sensors, such as any combination of a sensor at the side of the mattress (e.g., a sensor positioned over a rail of the mattress, on a side of a rail of the mattress, within a rail of the mattress, etc.), a sensor at a location where an individual would be expected to rest their body when assuming a sleeping position on the sleep surface, a sensor at a location where the individual would be expected to rest their legs when assuming a sleeping position on the sleep surface, and a sensor at any other location that may enable it receive an input.
One or more sensors of a mattress of a smart bed of this disclosure may receive, detect, and respond to physical inputs. The physical inputs may be provided on a mattress of the smart bed. In some embodiments, the physical inputs may be provided at or near one or more specific locations on a surface of the mattress. Without limitation, a physical input may be provided at a location on a surface of the mattress that an individual could readily reach with their hand as they lie on the mattress. Some non-limiting examples of such locations include a somewhat central location along the length of an edge of the mattress (e.g., near where an individual would be able to reach the side of the mattress while the individual lies on the mattress, etc.), at a somewhat central location along the length of an upper surface, or a sleep surface, of the mattress, and at a location on the upper surface of the mattress adjacent to where an individual would typically place their head (e.g., near a head edge of the mattress, etc.). A physical input may be provided at a location that an individual could readily access with their feet, such as a foot end of the sleep surface.
In some embodiments, the physical inputs may be provided as taps on the surface of the mattress, slaps on the surface of the mattress, or the like. Physical inputs may be distinguished from each other by type or intensity (e.g., a tap, a pat, a slap, etc.), number of physical inputs in a sequence of physical inputs (e.g., one, two, three, etc.), pattern (e.g., the amount of time that passes between physical inputs in a sequence of physical inputs, etc.), or the like, or any combination of the foregoing. A physical input may be predefined to correspond to a particular function and, thus, be universal from mattress-to-mattress. Alternatively, a physical input may be user-defined to correspond to a particular function.
The processor, which communicates with (e.g., receives signals from, etc.) each sensor associated with the sleep surface of the mattress, may comprise one or more processing elements of a suitable type. In some embodiments, the processor may comprise one or more microcontrollers, which may execute an embedded program (e.g., firmware) to control one or more dedicated functions. The processor may be carried by the mattress (e.g., internally, adjacent to a foot of the mattress; etc.).
Based on data generated by the at least one sensor, the processor may be programmed to determine when an individual has provided physical input on the mattress, or detect a physical input provided by an individual on a surface of the mattress. Based on data generated by the at least one sensor, the processor may also be programmed to interpret a physical input and correlate the physical input to a particular action to be taken by the mattress or a smart bed of which the mattress is a part. The processor may then initiate at least one function (e.g., an adjustment of the mattress, an adjustment of another component of the smart bed, an adjustment to an environment in which the smart bed is located, etc.) that corresponds to each physical input provided on the mattress.
In some embodiments, the processor may distinguish physical inputs provided by one individual from physical inputs provided by another individual. Thus, in such embodiments, the processor may identify the individual who provided the physical input and initiate the corresponding function(s) in a manner tailored to the individual who provided the physical input.
A few nonlimiting examples of functions that may be activated by a physical input may include adjusting an orientation of the mattress or a portion thereof (e.g., a side of a queen size or king size mattress where the physical input was provided, etc.), adjusting a firmness (or softness) of the mattress or a portion thereof (e.g., pressurization of a bladder within the mattress, etc.), ventilating the mattress or a portion thereof, adjusting a temperature of the mattress or a portion thereof, actuating an anti-snore feature of the smart bed (e.g., its foundation, its mattress, etc.) or a portion thereof (e.g., on the other side of the smart bed, etc.), dimming of lights or turning off lights in a room where the smart bed is located (e.g., a bedroom) and, optionally, elsewhere in the living space (i.e., outside the room where the smart bed is located), etc.
In addition to the mattress, the at least one sensor, and the processor, a smart bed of this disclosure may include a transceiver, along with an associated antenna. The transceiver may be associated with the processor in a manner that enables the processor to communicate with a processor of a portable electronic device (e.g., a smart phone, a tablet computer, a smart watch, etc., that executes a smart bed control app, etc.).
In embodiments where the smart bed includes a foundation, the foundation may comprise an adjustable platform. The adjustable platform may include a plurality of support surfaces, at least one motor, and a processor. The plurality of support surfaces can carry the mattress of the smart bed. The at least one motor, under control of the processor, may move the plurality of support surfaces to desired orientations, which may move a mattress carried by the plurality of support surfaces to a desired arrangement. In addition, the adjustable platform may include a transceiver, along with an associated antenna. The transceiver may establish communication with the processor of the remainder of the smart bed (e.g., the processor of the mattress, etc.) and/or with a processor of a portable electronic device, which may execute the smart bed control app.
In a method of this disclosure, a smart bed receives, detects, and responds to one or more physical inputs. A physical input may be predefined to correspond to a particular function and, thus, be universal from mattress-to-mattress. Alternatively, a user may define one or more physical inputs for one or more corresponding functions.
An individual may provide the one or more the physical inputs to the mattress of the smart bed. Without limitation, a physical input may be provided as one or more taps, pats, or slaps on the surface of the mattress. The physical input may be provided at or in proximity to a particular location on the mattress (e.g., a central portion along a length of a side surface of the mattress; on the sleep surface near a head end, a central portion along a length of the mattress, and/or near a foot end; etc.).
Physical inputs may be distinguished from each other by type or intensity (e.g., a tap, a pat, a slap, etc.), number of distinct physical inputs (e.g., one, two, three, etc.), pattern (e.g., the amount of time that passes between physical inputs in a sequence of physical inputs, etc.), or the like, or any combination of the foregoing. The physical input may be detected by a sensor (e.g., an accelerometer, etc.) and the processor of the mattress. Upon detecting a physical input, the processor of the mattress may identify the physical input and a function that corresponds to the physical input. The processor may then execute the appropriate function, which may include adjusting at least one feature of the mattress, the smart bed of which the mattress is a part, and/or an environment in which the smart bed is located.
The functions that may be executed by the processor may include individual functions or combinations of functions (e.g., a sleep sequence, a nighttime out-of-bed sequence, a wake-up sequence, etc.). Some nonlimiting examples of functions that may be executed are heating and/or cooling the sleep surface of the mattress, ventilating at least a portion of the sleep surface, adjusting a softness/firmness of the mattress, an anti-snore feature of the smart bed (e.g., of its foundation, its mattress, etc.) (e.g., on the other side of the smart bed, etc.), adjusting an orientation of at least a portion of the mattress, and turning on and/or off lighting features. Other functions of a smart bed may also be executed in response to a physical input.
In addition to executing one or more functions of the smart bed in response to a physical input, at least one function may be initiated in an environment in which the smart bed is located. Such a function may include adjusting lighting within the environment (e.g., dimming or shutting off room lighting, turning a reading light and/or nightlight on, etc.), closing window blinds or shutters, adjusting a temperature within the environment, playing or otherwise controlling audio (e.g., music, audiobooks, sounds conducive to rest and/or sleep, subliminal sessions to be played during sleep, white noise, etc.), initiating or otherwise controlling an alarm system of a building or unit in which the smart bed is located, determining and adjusting, as necessary, the status of any of various systems and/or devices (heating/air conditioning, lighting, media, appliances, garage doors, etc.) of the building or unit where the smart bed is located, and the like.
Other aspects of the disclosed subject matter, as well as features and advantages of various aspects of the disclosed subject matter, should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
In the drawings:
The mattress 20 of the smart bed 10 may have any suitable shape and dimensions and may include a cover 22 that contains various internal elements (not shown) of the mattress 20. The mattress may include edges 23, a top surface, or sleep surface 24, between top ends of the edges 23, and a bottom surface, or base 29, between bottom edges of the edges 23. The sleep surface 24 of the mattress 20 may be configured to be slept on by at least one individual. The sleep surface 24 may include edge portions 25 at locations adjacent to side edges 23 of the mattress 20, a head portion 26, an intermediate portion 27, and a foot portion 28.
The mattress 20 may comprise any suitable type of mattress, such as a conventional mattress with springs and foam, a foam mattress, a memory foam mattress, a mattress with pressurizable bladders (e.g., air chambers, etc.), a mattress that includes a gel grid (e.g., those available from Purple Innovation, LLC, of Lehi, Utah and disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,060,213, 7,076,822, and 8,919,750, which may be formed from any suitable material, including, but not limited to, an extended A-B-A triblock copolymer, such as those disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,413,458, 6,797,765 and 7,964,664; the entire disclosures of each of the foregoing patents are hereby incorporated herein), or a mattress that includes any combination of these and/or other features.
The one or more sensors 40 may be carried by the mattress 20. Without limitation, at least one sensor 40 may be positioned adjacent to the sleep surface 24 of the mattress 20. For example, a sensor 40 may be positioned within a cover 22 of the mattress 20 in a manner that enables the sensor 40 to detect activity occurring on a sleep surface 24 of the mattress 20. More specifically, each sensor 40 may be positioned within a recess or a receptacle that opens to and communicates with an outer surface of a component of the mattress 20 that carries the sensor 40, with the cover 22 being placed over the recess or receptacle. In other embodiments, the sensor 40 may be incorporated into the cover 22 or positioned between the cover 22 and internal components (not shown) (e.g., a top layer of foam, gel, etc.) of the mattress 20.
In some embodiments, the mattress 20 may carry a plurality of sensors 40. Without limitation, at least one thoracic sensor 40T may be positioned at the head portion 26 and/or the intermediate portion 27 of the mattress 20. At least one leg sensor 40L may be positioned at the foot portion 28 of the mattress 20. At least one ambient environment sensor 40E may be positioned at an edge 23 (e.g., on, adjacent to, or within a side rail, etc.) of the mattress 20. In a specific embodiment, the mattress 20 may comprise a gel grid, with each thoracic sensor 40T and leg sensor 40L being positioned within a hollow column of the gel grid, adjacent to an upper surface of the gel grid, and each ambient environment sensor 40E being positioned within a recess or cavity that opens to or otherwise communicates with an outer surface of a side rail of the mattress 20.
The at least one thoracic sensor 40T may facilitate detection of the presence (or absence) of an individual on the sleep surface 24 of the mattress 20. In addition, the at least one thoracic sensor 40T may be used to monitor one or more of the individual's movement (e.g., motion, position on the sleep surface 24, etc.), respiration, and heart rate. The at least one thoracic sensor 40T may also monitor the temperature of the individual's body and, optionally, humidity. In a specific embodiment, the at least one thoracic sensor 40T may include an inclinometer (e.g., an inclinometer available from STMicroelectronics of Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland, etc.), an accelerometer (e.g., an accelerometer available from MEMSIC Inc. of Andover, Massachusetts, etc.), and a plurality of temperature/humidity sensors (e.g., a temperature and/or humidity sensor available from Sensiron AG of Stäfa, Switzerland, etc.).
The at least one leg sensor 40L may facilitate the detection of the presence (or absence) of an individual on the sleep surface 24 of the mattress 20. In addition, the at least one leg sensor 40L may be used to monitor the individual's movement (e.g., motion, position, etc.), respiration, and heart rate. The at least one leg sensor 40L may monitor the temperature of the individual's legs and, optionally, humidity. In a specific embodiment, the at least one leg sensor 40L may include an accelerometer (e.g., an accelerometer available from MEMSIC Inc. of Andover, Massachusetts, etc.) and a plurality of temperature/humidity sensors (e.g., a temperature and/or humidity sensor available from Sensiron AG of Stäfa, Switzerland, etc.).
The at least one ambient environment sensor 40E may facilitate the detection of the presence (or absence) of an individual in proximity to a side edge 23 of the mattress 20 or on the sleep surface 24 of the mattress 20. In addition, the at least one ambient environment sensor 40E may be used to monitor information about an environment (e.g., a room, etc.) within which the mattress 20 is located, such as its temperature and/or humidity. In a specific embodiment, the at least one ambient environment sensor 40E may include an accelerometer (e.g., an accelerometer available from MEMSIC Inc. of Andover, Massachusetts, etc.) and a temperature/humidity sensor (e.g., a temperature and/or humidity sensor available from Sensiron AG of Stäfa, Switzerland, etc.).
In the illustrated embodiment of mattress 20, each thoracic sensor 40T and leg sensor 40L is shown at a location where an individual is expected to lie on the sleep surface 24 of the mattress 20 as he or she sleeps, with the mattress 20 having a size that accommodates two individuals. In other embodiments, including small mattresses (e.g., twin size, twin XL (extra-long) size, full size, etc.) and large mattresses (e.g., queen size, king sizes, etc.), thoracic sensors 40T and leg sensors 40L may be positioned along a midline of the mattress—alone or in combination with other sensor placements.
The processor 50 may comprise one or more processing elements of a suitable type (e.g., microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), etc.). In some embodiments, the processor 50 may comprise one or more microcontrollers, which may execute embedded programming (e.g., firmware) to control one or more dedicated functions. The processor 50 may be carried by the mattress 20 of the smart bed 10 (e.g., internally, adjacent to a foot 23f of the mattress 20; etc.), the foundation 60 of the smart bed 10, or elsewhere.
Activity detected by the sensors 40 may be communicated to the processor 50. The processor 50 may execute a program to determine whether the data from the sensors 40 indicates that an individual has provided a physical input on the mattress 20. If the processor 50 determines that an individual has provided a physical input, then the processor 50 may execute one or more programs that affect a state of the mattress 20, the smart bed 10 of which the mattress 20 is a part, and/or the environment in which the smart bed 10 is located. Execution of the one or more programs by the processor 50 may be referred to as execution of a function or sequence of functions by the processor 50.
The transceiver 52 may be associated with the processor 50 in a manner that enables the processor 50 to communicate with a processor 72 of a portable electronic device 70 (e.g., a smart phone, a tablet computer, a smart watch, etc.) or another device. Without limitation, the transceiver 52 may comprise one or more of a WiFi transceiver, a Bluetooth® transceiver, a near-field communication (NFC) (e.g., radiofrequency (RF), etc.) transceiver, a 2.4 GHz RF transceiver, or the like, along with its associated antenna. The transceiver 52 may be carried by the mattress 20 of the smart bed 10, by the foundation 60 of the smart bed 10, or elsewhere. In some embodiments, the transceiver 52 may be associated with (e.g., located adjacent to, packaged with, etc.) the processor 50 of the smart bed 10.
The processor 72 of the portable electronic device 70 may execute a smart bed control app, which may enable an individual to use the portable electronic device 70 to control operation of the smart bed 10 and/or devices in the environment E in which the smart bed 10 is located.
As depicted by
With reference to
One or more sensors 40 of the mattress 20 may detect a physical input provided on the mattress 20. For example, an ambient environment sensor 40E at the edge 23 of the mattress 20 may detect a physical input at input location 45. A thoracic sensor 40T of an edge portion 25 of the sleep surface 24 may detect a physical input at input location 46. A thoracic sensor 40T and/or a leg sensor 40L may detect a physical input at input location 47. A leg sensor 40L may detect a physical input at input location 48.
One or more physical inputs may be predefined. Thus, the processor 50 of the mattress 20 of the smart bed 10 may be preprogrammed to detect, determine a function corresponding to (i.e., recognize), and execute the appropriate function for one or more physical inputs. In some embodiments, including but not limited to those embodiments where one or more physical inputs are predefined, one or more physical inputs may be user-defined. Thus, each user-defined physical input may be programmed into the processor 50. In such embodiments, the user may define a particular physical input, a function that corresponds to a particular physical input, or the particular physical input and its corresponding function.
The processor 50 may “learn” an identity of an individual providing a physical input. Such learning may be similar to the manner in which machine learning occurs with respect to other types of biometric data. For example, the processor 50 may execute a program, or an app, that has an individual repeat one or more predetermined physical inputs, processes data from the physical input(s) (e.g., associates the data with the individual, etc.), and stores the process data for later comparison with subsequently entered physical inputs. Any suitable data from one or more physical inputs may be associated with an individual, including, without limitation, a location on the mattress 20 where the physical input is provided, an intensity of one or more physical inputs (e.g., a tap, a pat, a slap, a kick, etc.), an amount of time that passes between physical inputs in a sequence, and the like.
In embodiments where the processor 50 “learns” the identity of an individual who has provided a physical input, the processor 50 may also be programmed to “learn” individual preferences for one or more functions or one or more sets of functions. Thus, the processor 50 may associate a physical input made by a particular individual with a function or set of functions that corresponds to the physical input, with the function or set of functions being tailored to the particular individual. As a few examples, based on the physical input received, the processor 50 may be programmed to provide an amount of sleep surface 24 ventilation, a sleep surface 24 temperature, a sleep surface 24 orientation, a softness/firmness, or the like, tailored to the particular individual.
With added reference to
The function that corresponds to a physical input may be determined, at reference 120 of
With returned reference to
In addition to initiating one or more functions of the smart bed 10, with reference to
In some embodiments, the processor 50 may execute a set of functions. The set of functions may correspond to: a set of functions associated with an individual's efforts to go to sleep, as disclosed by U.S. patent Application Ser. No. 17/978,119, titled SLEEP SEQUENCE INITIATION FOR A SMART BED (“the '119 application”), the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein; a set of nighttime out-of-bed functions, as disclosed by U.S. patent Application Ser. No. 17/978,167, titled SEQUENCE INITIATION FOR PLACING A SMART BED IN AN OUT-OF-BED STATE (“the '167 application”), the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein; a wake-up set of functions, as disclosed by the '167 application, or any other set of functions.
A simple physical input (e.g., a single tap, pat, slap, etc.; two taps, pats, slaps, etc.; etc.) may correspond to a function that would typically occur in response to an unintended interruption in an individual's sleep. For example, an individual may provide a simple physical input if they have been awakened by a partner's snoring, in which case a physical input on one side of the mattress 20 may initiate one or more anti-snore functions on the other side of the mattress 20. As another example, an individual may provide a simple physical input when their sleep is interrupted by an environmental factor (e.g., a light, audio, etc.), in which case a physical input may shut off activity in the environment E (e.g., turn off a light 80, 82, turn off audio 84, etc.) in which the smart bed is located. In yet another example, an individual may provide a simple physical input to initiate and/or terminate a nighttime out-of-bed set of functions (e.g., low ambient lighting, heating a sleep surface 24 of the mattress 20, etc.) that will enable them to conduct activity out of bed and return to bed without a significant disturbance in their restful state or a partner's sleep.
A more complex physical input (e.g., a more complex sequence of taps, pats, and/or slaps, etc.) may correspond to functions that may be initiated while an individual is awake. As an example, an individual may provide a complex physical input to prepare the mattress 20, the smart bed 10, and/or the environment E in which the smart bed 10 is located for sleep, or to adjust ventilation, a temperature, an orientation, and/or a softness/firmness of the sleep surface 24 of the mattress 20.
Although this disclosure provides many specifics, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of any of the claims that follow, but merely as providing illustrations of some embodiments of elements and features of the disclosed subject matter. Other embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, and of their elements and features, may be devised which do not depart from the spirit or scope of any of the claims. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. Accordingly, the scope of each claim is limited only by its plain language and the legal equivalents thereto.
