DIGITAL BED SYSTEM

• US 20080052837A1
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sleep Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: J Blumberg
• Inventors: Blumberg, J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,591,995 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/727
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/04 Seating furniture, e.g. sofas, couches, settees, or the like, with movable parts changeable to beds; Chair beds
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/34 Joining seats, chairs, or couches to form beds
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 17/62 Table beds; Billiard table beds, or like beds convertible tables A47B85/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 23/002 with separate resilient support elements, e.g. elastomeric springs arranged in a two-dimensional matrix pattern
• 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: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats

Abstract

In one embodiment, the digital bed system is comprised of an array of support cells. Each support cells is capable of communicating with a controller and increasing and decreasing in firmness in response to commands issued by a controller. The support cells are operatively connected to a communication channel that is also connected to a controller. The controller is capable of receiving data from the support cells and is also capable of issuing commands to each of the support cells. The controller is programmed issue commands to increase or decrease the firmness of individual support cells within the support cells.

Claims

2. The digital bed system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support cells, in response to the commands, change in at least one manner selected from the set consisting of:

height from a common plane, firmness, pressure, springiness, amount of hysteresis, dampening, range of motion (over what range is it springy).

6. A digital bed system, comprising:

an array of at least four support cells, each of the cells being capable of communicating with a controller, each of the cells further being capable of increasing and decreasing in size or changing in shape in response to commands issued by a controller;

a communication channel operatively connected to each of the support cells;

a controller operatively connected to the communication channel, the controller being capable of receiving data from a plurality of sensors, the controller being further capable of issuing commands to each of the support cells;

wherein the controller is programmed to issue commands to increase or decrease the size of, or change the shape of, individual support cells within the array of support cells.

7. The digital bed system of claim 6, wherein the controller is programmed to issue commands to increase or decrease the size of, or change the shape of, a combination of one or more individual support cells within the support cells wherein the digital bed assumes a second shape.

8. The digital bed system of claim 7, wherein the second form is one of the following forms:

a chair, a desk, a combination of desk and chair, a piece of wall art, a combination of two chairs and a breakfast table, a table, a bed with adjacent nightstands.

9. A digital bed system, comprising:

a two-dimensional array of support cells, each of the cells being capable of communicating with a controller, each of the cells further being capable of changing position in response to commands issued by a controller;

a communication channel operatively connected to each of the cells;

a controller operatively connected to the communication channel, the controller being capable of receiving data from each of the support cells, the controller being further capable of issuing commands to each of the support cells;

wherein, the controller is programmed to issue commands to change the position of individual support cells within the array of support cells.

10. A digital bed system, comprising:

at least one sensor for gathering a measurement relating to a state of a user'"'"'s body;

a means for changing a variable effecting the state of the user'"'"'s body;

a controller operatively connected to the communication channel, the controller being capable of receiving data from the at least one sensor, the controller being further capable of issuing commands to the digital bed.

11. The digital bed according to claim 10, wherein the state of the user'"'"'s body comprises a REM sleep state;

sleep state or awake state.

12. The digital bed according to claim 10, wherein the measurement relating to the state of the user'"'"'s body comprises bodily biometrics, physical body position in relation to the bed, a measurement of brainwaves, a measurement of pulse rate, measurement of a user'"'"'s breathing rate, a measurement taken via a medical device,.

13. The digital bed according to claim 10, wherein the variable comprises shape of the bed;

music, aroma therapy, tactile stimuli, tactile sensation, light, motion of the bed, auditory stimuli.

14. A process for using a controller to control a digital bed system, comprising the steps of:

taking a plurality of measurements;

calculating a change; and

issuing a command to a digital bed to cause the bed to change a variable effecting a state of a user'"'"'s body.

15. The process according to claim 14, wherein the variable comprises shape of the bed;

music, aroma therapy, tactile stimuli, tactile sensation, light, motion of the bed, auditory stimuli.

16. The process according to claim 14, wherein the change comprises a rate of change.

17. A digital bed system, comprising:

An array of at least four independently controllable support cells, each of the cells being capable of communicating with a controller, each of the cells further being capable of changing position in response to commands issued by a controller;

a communication channel operatively connected to each of the cells;

a controller operatively connected to the communication channel, the controller being capable of issuing commands to each of the support cells;

wherein, the controller is programmed to store a profile, and to issue commands to change the position of individual support cells within the array of support cells in accordance with the profile.

1. A digital bed system, comprising:

An array of at least four independently controlled support cells, each of the cells being capable of communicating with a controller, each of the cells further being capable of changing position in response to commands issued by a controller;

a communication channel operatively connected to each of the cells;

at least one sensor for gathering a measurement relating to a state of a user'"'"'s body;

a controller operatively connected to the communication channel, the controller being capable of receiving data from the at least one sensor, the controller being further capable of issuing commands to each of the support cells;

wherein, the controller is programmed to issue commands to change the position of individual support cells within the array of support cells.

3. The digital bed system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support cells, in response to the commands, change in tactile sensation in at least one manner selected from the set consisting of:

spongy, granite-like, like a pillow top.

4. The digital bed system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the support cells is capable of sensing and communicating pressure data to a controller and wherein the controller is programmed to accept sleeper/user body position data from the support cells, the controller being further programmed to increase or decrease the firmness of individual support cells within the support cell array in response to sleeper/user body position data received from the support cells.

5. The digital bed system of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors, each sensor integrated with a support cell.

18. The digital bed system according to claim 17, wherein the controller includes a network interface for receiving the profile via a connected network.

19. The digital bed system according to claim 17, wherein the profile is created using a statistical analysis of other users.

20. The digital bed system according to either of claims 17, wherein the profile is created in accordance with the user'"'"'s preferences.

21. The digital bed system according to claim 17, wherein the profile is created using a statistical analysis of other users and in accordance with the user'"'"'s preferences.

21-1. The digital bed system according to claim 17, further comprising a reader for reading the profile from a portable digital storage device.

22. The digital bed system according to claim 18, wherein the network comprises the internet.

22-2. A digital bed system, comprising:

An array of at least four independently controllable support cells, each of the cells being capable of communicating with a controller, each of the cells further being capable of changing position in response to commands issued by a controller;

a communication channel operatively connected to each of the cells; and

,

a controller operatively connected to the communication channel, the controller being capable of issuing commands to each of the support cells.