SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTEGRATING TRANSDUCERS INTO BODY SUPPORT STRUCTURES

• US 20070025575A1
• Filed: 08/09/2006
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Therabody, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SO Sound Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Long, Suzannah, Oser, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,981,064 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/333
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/72 Adaptations for incorporating lamps, radio sets, bars, telephones, ventilation, heating or cooling arrangements or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/727 with speakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/005 Moveable platforms, e.g. vibrating or oscillating platforms for standing, sitting, laying or leaning
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0218 with alternating magnetic fields producing a translating or oscillating movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/045 using vibrating magnet, armature or coil system
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2400/03 Transducers capable of generating both sound as well as tactile vibration, e.g. as used in cellular phones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/023 in a chair, pillow
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/06 Loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 9/066 using the principle of inertia

Abstract

Transducers and resonators are embedded in body support structures in contact with a user to for the purpose of conveying musical sound energy to a user'"'"'s body at selected frequencies and in selected patterns. Body support structures comprise beds, pillows, chairs, and other structures typically used to support people. The sound may be audio tones and/or music. The transducers and resonators may be incorporated into a foam component or in a coil spring component of the body support structure. Latex-type foams and beds made with springs are candidate body support structures for receiving transducer'"'"'s and resonators. Electro-active polymers are also used as transducers.

Claims

1. A method of inducing tactile stimulation to a user through a cushioned transducer interface using musical tonal frequencies comprising:

placing higher frequency transducers in a region of said cushioned transducer interface that induces said tactile stimulation to upper portions of a body of said user with said musical tonal frequencies;

placing lower frequency transducers in a region of said cushioned transducer interface that induces said tactile stimulation to lower portions of said body of said user with said musical tonal frequencies;

applying said musical tonal frequencies to said higher frequency transducers and said lower frequency transducers;

providing controls to said user that allow said user to separately alter the intensity of said musical tonal frequencies to said higher frequency transducers and said lower frequency transducers.

2. A method of inducing tactile stimulation of musical tonal frequencies in a foam layer of a cushioned transducer interface comprising:

providing a transducer that generates vibrations in response to a signal that is encoded with said musical tonal frequencies;

providing a diaphragm that is mechanically coupled to said transducer so that said vibrations are transferred from said transducer to said diaphragm;

placing said diaphragm in contact with said foam layer to transfer said vibrations from said diaphragm to said foam layer to induce said tactile stimulation to a user.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

placing said transducer in an opening in a second foam layer;

placing said diaphragm between said foam layer and said second foam layer.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

providing a second diaphragm that is mechanically coupled to said transducer;

placing said second diaphragm in contact with said second foam layer.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

providing a poly-switch that is connected to said transducer that shuts off said transducer when said transducer reaches a predetermined temperature.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of providing a diaphragm comprises:

providing a diaphragm that is constructed of a composite material and that has spiral openings that create elongated members.

7. A method of inducing tactile stimulation of musical tonal frequencies in a coil spring of a cushioned transducer interface comprising:

providing at least one transducer that generates vibrations in a first predetermined frequency range in response to a signal that is encoded with said musical tonal frequencies;

providing a diaphragm that is mechanically coupled to said transducer so that said vibrations are transferred from said transducer to said diaphragm;

placing said transducer in an interior portion of said coil spring;

coupling said diaphragm to said coil spring to transfer said vibrations from said diaphragm to said coil spring and to said cushioned transducer interface.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said cushioned transducer interface comprises a mattress.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said process of coupling said diaphragm to said coil spring comprises:

coupling said diaphragm to said coil spring using snap connectors on said diaphragm that snap said diaphragm onto said coil spring.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing at least one additional transducer that generates vibrations in a second predetermined frequency range in response to said signal that is encoded with said musical tonal frequencies;

providing an additional diaphragm that is mechanically coupled to said additional transducer so that said vibrations are transferred from said additional transducer to said diaphragm;

placing said additional transducer in an interior portion of an additional coil spring;

coupling said additional diaphragm to said additional coil spring to transfer said vibrations from said additional diaphragm to said additional coil spring and to said cushioned transducer interface.

11. A method of inducing tactile stimulation of musical tonal frequencies using a rigid diaphragm structure comprising:

providing said rigid diaphragm structure;

forming at least one first curved structure in a portion of said rigid diaphragm structure, said first curved structure having a curvature and thickness that causes said first curved structure to respond to a first set of predetermined musical tonal frequencies;

forming at least one second curved structure in a portion of said rigid diaphragm structure, said second curved structure having a curvature and thickness that causes said second curved structure to respond to a second set of predetermined musical tonal frequencies;

attaching a first transducer to said rigid diaphragm structure that vibrates in a frequency range that corresponds to said first set of predetermined frequencies;

attaching a second transducer to said rigid diaphragm structure that vibrates in a frequency range that corresponds to said second set of frequencies.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

forming additional curved structures in said rigid diaphragm structure that respond to additional sets of musical tonal frequencies.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

attaching additional transducers to said rigid diaphragm structure that vibrate at frequencies that correspond to said additional sets of musical tonal frequencies.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said process of attaching said first transducer to said rigid diaphragm and attaching said second transducer to said rigid diaphragm comprises:

attaching first transducer to said rigid diaphragm at a location that corresponds to a peak of said first curved structure;

attaching said second transducer to said rigid diaphragm at a location that corresponds to a peak of said second curved structure.

15. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

placing said rigid diaphragm as an insert between a box spring and a mattress to induce tactile stimulation of said musical tonal frequencies in a bedding system.

16. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

placing said rigid diaphragm below a cushion in a chair to induce tactile stimulation of said musical tonal frequencies in said chair.

17. A method of inducing tactile stimulation of musical tonal frequencies in a transducer interface comprising:

providing an electro-active polymer matrix array, said electro-active polymer array having a plurality of matrix array elements having predetermined shapes that are connected;

providing electrical connections to said plurality of matrix array elements;

disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface so that tactile stimulation of musical tonal frequencies can be induced in said transducer interface.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

providing a source of musical tonal frequencies;

amplifying said musical tonal frequencies to create control signals that are encoded with said musical tonal frequencies;

applying said control signals to said electrical connections.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

bandpass filtering said source of musical tonal frequencies to create a plurality of filtered bandpass frequency signals that each have a predetermined frequency range;

applying said plurality of filtered bandpass frequency signals to said plurality of matrix array elements at different spatial locations on said electro-active polymer matrix according to said frequency range of said plurality of filtered bandpass frequency signals.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:

disposing said electro-active matrix array in an exercise pad.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:

disposing said electro-active matrix array in a chair pad.

22. The method of claim 17 wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:

disposing said electro-active matrix array in a mattress pad.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:

disposing said electro-active matrix array in a padded table.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:

disposing said electro-active matrix array in an elastic bandage wrap.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:

disposing said electro-active matrix array in an adhesive bandage.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein said process of disposing said electro-active matrix array in said transducer interface comprises:

disposing said electro-active matrix array in a cast.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of providing an electro-active polymer matrix array comprises:

providing an electro-active polymer matrix array that has diaphragm actuators.

28. The method of claim 17 wherein said step of providing an electro-active polymer matrix array comprises:

providing an electro-active polymer matrix array that has compliant electrode actuators.

29. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

embedding sensors in said transducer interface;

detecting physiological data of a user from said sensors analyzing said physiological data;

selecting said musical tonal frequencies based upon results of analysis of said physiological data.

30. A method of inducing tactile stimulation in a transducer interface that is disposed in a cast comprising:

providing a flexible material that includes an electro-active polymer matrix array;

wrapping an area of a broken bone with said flexible material;

applying a cast over said area of said broken bone and said flexible material;

providing electrical connections to said electro-active polymer matrix array so that electrical signals can be applied to said electro-active polymer matrix array to induce tactile stimulation in said area of said broken bone.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising:

providing sensors in said flexible material that are capable of providing biometric information.