Inflatable air mattress system with detection techniques

• US 10,441,086 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2016
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
• Original Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
• Inventors: Nunn, Rob, Palashewski, Wade Daniel, Tilstra, Matthew Wayne, Young, Steven Jay, Hewitt, Carl, Zhovnirovsky, Yuri
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr., Gregory J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stifter, Jr., Terence E
• Application Number:
  US15/341,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20170049243A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/123 for beds or mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1115 Monitoring leaving of a patient support, e.g. a bed or a wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4806 Sleep evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 13/00 Devices or apparatus for measuring differences of two or more fluid pressure values

Abstract

In one example, this disclosure describes a method including receiving, at a central controller of an air mattress system, a plurality of air pressure value, determining a plurality of average values using the plurality of the received air pressure values, calculating a difference value between a first one of the plurality of average values and a second one of the plurality of average values, comparing the difference value to a threshold value, determining, based on the comparison, whether a user of the air mattress system moved.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a central controller of an air mattress system, a plurality of air pressure values;

determining a rate of air pressure decrease using the plurality of the received air pressure values;

comparing the determined rate of air pressure decrease to a threshold value;

determining, based on the comparison, whether a user of the air mattress transitioned out of or onto the air mattress system; and

responsive to determining whether a user of the air mattress transitioned out of or onto the air mattress system, calculating a rolling average of recent received air pressure values to confirm the determination of whether a user of the air mattress transitioned out of or onto the air mattress system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the air mattress system further comprises an adjustable foundation sized and configured to adjustably supporting the inflatable air mattress and a pump fluidically connected to the inflatable air mattress.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the central controller further comprises a pump.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the air mattress system comprises a first bladder that is sized and positioned to support the user on a first side of the air mattress system;

and wherein the air mattress system further comprises a second bladder sized and positioned to support a second user on a second side of the air mattress system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of air pressure rates are sampled at a predefined rate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold value is adjusted over time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a rate of air pressure decrease using the plurality of the received air pressure values comprises:

examining a first air pressure value of the plurality of the received pressure values;

examining at least a second pressure value of the plurality of the received pressure values, wherein the second pressure value was received at the central controller after the first pressure value was received at the central controller; and

determining an air pressure decrease over time between the first pressure value and the second pressure value.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the air mattress system comprises two air chambers, and wherein the plurality of air pressure values are received for one of the two air chambers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the air mattress system comprises a pump having a motor, a pump manifold, a relief valve, at least one control valve, and a pressure transducer fluidly connected with an air chamber of the air mattress system.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, at a central controller of an air mattress system, a plurality of air pressure values;

determining a rate of air pressure decrease using the plurality of the received air pressure values;

comparing the determined rate of air pressure decrease to a threshold value;

determining, based on the comparison, whether a user of the air mattress transitioned out of or onto the air mattress system, wherein comparing the determined rate of air pressure decrease to a threshold value comprises determining that the rate of change is a negative value indicating a decrease in air pressure; and

responsive to determining whether a user of the air mattress transitioned out of or onto the air mattress system, calculating a rolling average of recent received air pressure values to confirm the determination of whether a user of the air mattress transitioned out of or onto the air mattress system.

11. A air mattress system comprising:

an inflatable air mattress; and

a central controller comprising;

a processor configured to;

receive a plurality of air pressure values;

determine a rate of air pressure decrease using the plurality of the received air pressure values;

compare the determined rate of air pressure decrease to a threshold value;

determine, based on the comparison, whether a user of the air mattress transitioned out of or onto the air mattress system; and

responsive to determining whether a user of the air mattress transitioned out of or onto the air mattress system, calculating a rolling average of recent received air pressure values to confirm the determination of whether a user of the air mattress transitioned out of or onto the air mattress system.

12. The air mattress system of claim 11, further comprising an adjustable foundation sized and configured to adjustably supporting the inflatable air mattress and a pump fluidically connected to the inflatable air mattress.

13. The air mattress system of claim 11, wherein the central controller further comprises a pump.

14. The air mattress system of claim 11, wherein the air mattress system comprises a first bladder that is sized and positioned to support the user on a first side of the air mattress system;

and wherein the air mattress system further comprises a second bladder sized and positioned to support a second user on a second side of the air mattress system.

15. The air mattress system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of air pressure rates are sampled at a predefined rate.

16. The air mattress system of claim 11, wherein comparing the determined rate of air pressure decrease to a threshold value comprises determining that the rate of change is a negative value indicating a decrease in air pressure.

17. The air mattress system of claim 11, wherein determining a rate of air pressure decrease using the plurality of the received air pressure values comprises:

examining a first air pressure value of the plurality of the received pressure values;

examining at least a second pressure value of the plurality of the received pressure values, wherein the second pressure value was received at the central controller after the first pressure value was received at the central controller; and

determining an air pressure decrease over time between the first pressure value and the second pressure value.

18. The air mattress system of claim 11, further comprising two air chambers, and wherein the plurality of air pressure values are received for one of the two air chambers.

19. The air mattress system of claim 11, further comprising a pump having a motor, a pump manifold, a relief valve, at least one control valve, and a pressure transducer fluidly connected with an air chamber of the air mattress system, wherein the central controller is in communication with the pressure transducer for receiving the plurality of pair pressure values from the pressure transducer.