Systems and Methods To Adjust An Adjustable Bed

• US 20100302044A1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wells, Thomas W., Chacon, Ryan, Mossbeck, Niels S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,410,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00

Abstract

A system and method provide for reducing the snoring of a person sleeping on an adjustable bed. The system comprises a device configured with at least a microphone and a speaker, the device configured to monitor for a noise consistent with snoring. The system further comprises a control unit communicably coupled to the device and configured to actuate at least one motor of the adjustable bed to adjust at least a portion of the adjustable bed, wherein the control unit is further configured to actuate the at least one motor in response to the device detecting a noise consistent with snoring.

Claims

1. A system to reduce snoring of a person sleeping on an adjustable bed, the system comprising:

a device configured with at least a microphone and a speaker, the device configured to monitor for a noise consistent with snoring; and

a control unit communicably coupled to the device and configured to actuate at least one motor of the adjustable bed to adjust at least a portion of the adjustable bed, wherein the control unit is further configured to actuate the at least one motor in response to the device detecting a noise consistent with snoring.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the device includes at least a processing unit, a memory and a network interface.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the device includes at least one elevation control to adjust the at least a portion of the adjustable bed, and wherein the pillow is configured to determine interaction with the at least one elevation control to adjust that at least a portion of the adjustable bed.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the device is configured to play an audio signal on the speaker in response to the device detecting snoring of the person.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the device includes a pillow portion.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the device includes an output device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the device is configured to provide a display representation that indicates information about previous adjustments of the adjustable bed.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the device is configured to provide a display representation that indicates a quality of sleep of the person.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the device is configured to provide a display representation that is interactable to adjust at least a portion of the adjustable bed.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to detect the presence of a person prior to detecting snoring of the person.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to ignore snoring of the person for a period of time in response to determining that the adjustable bed has been adjusted to a sleep position.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to determine if power from an energy storage device associated therewith is low and, in response to such determination, provide an indication to the person.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to convert a voiced utterance of the person into machine readable input to adjust the at least a portion of the adjustable bed.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to communicate wirelessly with the control unit.

15. A method to reduce snoring of a person sleeping on an adjustable bed, comprising:

monitoring for a noise consistent with snoring with a device; and

in response to detecting a noise consistent with snoring, actuating at least one motor of the with a control unit.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining interaction with the device to adjust the at least a portion of the adjustable bed.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to detecting the noise consistent with snoring, playing an audio signal.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing information about previous adjustments of the adjustable bed with the device.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing an indication of a quality of sleep of the person.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein providing the indication further comprises:

analyzing previous adjustments of the adjustable bed; and

analyzing movement of the person during their sleep.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

adjusting a vibratory sensation associated with the at least a portion of the adjustable bed.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

adjusting a firmness associated with the at least a portion of the adjustable bed.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting the presence of the person with the device.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to determining that the adjustable bed has been adjusted to a sleep position, ignoring a noise consistent with snoring for a period of time.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

in response to determining that power provided by an energy storage device associated with the device is low, providing an indication of that low power to the person.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

converting a voiced utterance of the person into machine readable input to adjust the at least a portion of the adjustable bed.

27. A method to adjust an adjustable bed, the method comprising:

monitoring a sleeping person for a noise consistent with snoring;

in response to detecting a noise consistent with snoring, determining whether to adjust the adjustable bed or attempt to awaken the person;

in response to determining to adjust the adjustable bed, actuating at least one motor of the adjustable bed with a control unit.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

in response to determining to attempt to awaken the person, actuating at least one motor of the adjustable bed with the control unit.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

in response to determining to attempt to awaken the person, producing a vibratory sensation on at least a portion of the adjustable bed.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

in response to determining to attempt to awaken the person, playing an audio signal.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

in response to determining to attempt to awaken the person, providing an indication.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

in response to determining to attempt to awaken the person, activating a light.