INTERACTIVE ADJUSTABLE MEDIA BED PROVIDING SLEEP DIAGNOSTICS

• US 20090177327A1
• Filed: 01/05/2009
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: MOSSBECK, NIELS S., CHACON, RYAN, TURNER, JASON, SCHEMBS, ANDY, QUINN, MARK A., WELLS, THOMAS W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,869,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/275
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/003 Lighting, radio, telephone or the like connected to the bedstead
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system

Abstract

An bedding apparatus is provided that allows a user the ability to control a bedroom environment using one selectable control. The apparatus includes an adjustable bedding unit and a computing unit coupled to the adjustable bedding unit. A number of controllable electronic appliances, having an effect on the bedroom environment, are electrically coupled to the computing unit. These electronic appliances are capable of being controlled by the computing unit. A user interface control unit is coupled to the computing unit. The user interface presents the user with a number of user-selectable settings that cause an adjustment in the position of the adjustable bed and at least one of the electronic appliances.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a user the ability to control a bedroom environment using one selectable control, the apparatus comprising:

an adjustable bedding unit;

a computing unit coupled to the adjustable bedding unit;

a plurality of controllable electronic appliances, having an effect on the bedroom environment, that are electrically coupled to the computing unit and capable of being controlled by the computing unit; and

a user interface control unit coupled to the computing unit, the user interface presenting the user with a plurality of user-selectable settings that cause an adjustment in the position of the adjustable bed and at least one of the electronic appliances.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one motor coupled to the adjustable bedding unit and the computing unit, and wherein a first user-selectable setting includes a first predetermined adjustable bed position that upon selection causes the computing unit to control the motors to moved the adjustable bedding unit to the first predetermined position.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first predetermined adjustable bed position is associated with a first predetermined setting for a first of the electronic appliances, and such that selection of the first user-selectable setting causes the computing unit to adjust the first electronic appliance and the adjustable bedding unit to the first predetermined settings for each.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first predetermined adjustable bed position is associated with a second predetermined setting for a second of the electronic appliances, and such that selection of the first user-selectable setting causes the computing unit to adjust the first and second electronic appliances and the adjustable bedding unit to the first predetermined setting for the adjustable bed and the first predetermined setting for the first electronic appliance and the second predetermined setting for the second electronic appliance.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first user-selectable setting moves the bed to a position amenable to reading, with the first predetermined adjustable bed position being a flat bed position, wherein the first electronic appliance is a light and the first predetermined setting for the first electronic appliance causes the computing unit to instruct the light to turn off, and wherein the second electronic appliance is an audio/video device and the second predetermined setting for the second electronic appliance causes the computing unit to instruct the audio/video device to turn off.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first user-selectable setting moves the bed to a position amenable to sleeping, with the first predetermined adjustable bed position having a raised head end of the bed, wherein the first electronic appliance is a light and the first predetermined setting for the first electronic appliance causes the computing unit to instruct the light to turn on, and wherein the second electronic appliance is an audio/video device and the second predetermined setting for the second electronic appliance causes the computing unit to instruct the audio/video device to turn off.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first user-selectable setting moves the bed to a position amenable to watching television, with the first predetermined adjustable bed position having a raised head end of the bed, wherein the first electronic appliance is a light and the first predetermined setting for the first electronic appliance causes the computing unit to instruct the light to turn off, and wherein the second electronic appliance is an audio/video device and the second predetermined setting for the second electronic appliance causes the computing unit to instruct the audio/video device to turn on.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first user-selectable setting moves the bed to a position amenable to watching television, with the first predetermined adjustable bed position having a raised head end of the bed, wherein the first electronic appliance is a light and the first predetermined setting for the first electronic appliance causes the computing unit to instruct the light to dim, and wherein the second electronic appliance is an audio/video device and the second predetermined setting for the second electronic appliance causes the computing unit to instruct the audio/video device to turn on.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface control unit is a hand-held device presenting graphical icons representing the user-selectable settings.

10. An apparatus for detecting and reacting to a physical condition of a person sleeping on an adjustable bedding unit, the apparatus comprising:

an adjustable bedding unit having at least an adjustable head end that can be raised and lowered;

at least one sensor coupled to the bedding unit and capable of detecting at least one physical condition of a person on the adjustable bedding unit; and

a controller coupled to the sensor and the adjustable bedding unit, the controller being able to send signals to the adjustable bedding unit instructing the adjustable bedding unit to alter at least the position of the head end of the adjustable bedding unit;

wherein the at least one sensor can indicate to the controller a detected physical condition, and the controller can send signals instructing the adjustable bedding unit to raise the head end of the adjustable bedding unit to a predetermined angular condition, thereby aiding in abating the physical condition.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the physical condition is snoring.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the physical condition is apnea.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the adjustable bedding unit includes an articulating frame supporting a mattress, and wherein the at least one sensor is coupled directly to the articulating frame.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller can send signals instructing the adjustable bedding unit to return to a flat orientation after a predetermined time after the detected physical condition is no longer detected.

15. A computer executed method for determining the quality of sleep of a user of an adjustable bedding unit coupled to a computing device, the method comprising:

receiving data conditions from sensors coupled to the bedding unit, the data conditions including one or more of the number of snoring events, apnea events, movement events, exit event and the number of hours a user was in bed;

calculating a factor for each of the received data conditions;

applying a multiplier to the calculated factors;

adding the multiplied, calculated factors together; and

dividing by the sum of the applied multipliers.

16. The computer executed method of claim 15, further comprising presenting the determined quality of sleep number to a user on a display associated with the adjustable bedding unit.

17. The computer executed method of claim 16, further comprising averaging the determined quality of sleep numbers over a predetermined period of time and presenting the averaged number on a display associated with the adjustable bedding unit.

18. The computer executed method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined period of time is one week.

19. The computer executed method of claim 18, further comprising determining whether the determined quality of sleep is increasing or decreasing over the predetermined period of time, and presenting the user information regarding the increasing or decreasing quality of sleep information.