FORCE SENSOR AND CORRESPONDING FORCE MONITORING MATTRESS

• US 20110185824A1
• Filed: 07/17/2009
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 2M Engineering Limited
• Original Assignee: 2M Engineering Limited
• Inventors: Mink, Jan
• Granted Patent: US 8,671,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.624
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/247 using distributed sensing elements, e.g. microcapsules along a single optical fibre G01L1/242

Abstract

A force sensor and corresponding force monitoring mattress is provided. The force sensor (100) comprises: a first surface (102) and a second surface (104) located opposite the first surface (102), the first surface (102) is translatable against a resilient force in a direction towards and/or from the second surface (104); a distance sensor (110), arranged to measure the distance between the first surface (102) and the second surface (104). The force sensor comprises a flexible coupling (108) extending along the direction, flexibly coupling the first surface (102) to the second surface (104). The flexible coupling (108) is provided with a resilient means (106) to provide the resilient force.

Claims

1. A force sensor (100) comprising:

a first surface (102) and a second surface (104) located opposite the first surface (102), the first surface (102) is translatable against a resilient force in a direction towards and/or from the second surface (104);

a distance sensor (110), arranged to measure the distance between the first surface (102) and the second surface (104);

characterized in that the force sensor comprises a flexible coupling (108) extending along the direction, flexibly coupling the first surface (102) to the second surface (104); and

in that the flexible coupling (108) is provided with a resilient means (106) to provide the resilient force.

2. A force sensor as in claim 1, wherein the resilient means (106)

comprises a spring.

3. A force sensor as in claim 1, wherein the flexible coupling (108) comprises an elastic connection from the first surface (102) to the second surface (104) to constitute the resilient means (106).

4. A force sensor as in claim 1, wherein the resilient means (106) comprises a resilient body (208), in which resilient body (208) the force sensor is embedded.

5. A force sensor as in claim 1, wherein the force sensor comprises a space (302) encompassed by the flexible coupling (108) together with the first surface (102) and the second surface (104), said space (302) being accessible to the distance sensor (110).

6. A force sensor as in claim 5, wherein the space (302) is filled with a medium for providing the resilient force.

7. A force sensor as in claim 1, wherein the distance sensor (110) is an optical distance sensor.

8. A force sensor as in claim 5, wherein the distance sensor (110) is provided with a first optical fiber for carrying light from an external light-source to within the space (302), and with a second optical fiber for carrying reflected light from the space (302) to an external processing unit.

9. A force sensor as in claim 1, wherein the distance sensor (110) is provided upon one of the first surface (102) and the second surface (104).

10. A force sensor as in claim 4, wherein the resilient body is a mattress.

11. A respiration measurement device (900) comprising:

1. A force sensor (100) comprising;

a first surface (102) and a second surface (104) located opposite the first surface (102), the first surface (102) is translatable against a resilient force in a direction towards and/or from the second surface (104);

a distance sensor (110), arranged to measure the distance between the first surface (102) and the second surface (104);

characterized in that the force sensor comprises a flexible coupling (108) extending along the direction, flexibly coupling the first surface (102) to the second surface (104); and

in that the flexible coupling (108) is provided with a resilient means (106) to provide the resilient force.

wherein the flexible coupling (108) comprises an elastic connection from the first surface (102) to the second surface (104) to constitute the resilient means (106);

and

a connecting band (902);

wherein a first end of the connecting band (902) is coupled to the first surface (102) and a second end of the connecting band (902) is coupled to the second surface (104).

12. A pressure sensing system (800) comprising:

a mattress, a supporting surface (808), and a distance sensor (110);

wherein

the mattress comprises;

a supporting side (804), a base side (806) and a resilient body supporting means (802);

the mattress is arranged with the base side (806) upon the supporting surface (808);

the supporting side (804) is suitable for supporting a body and the base side (806) is located opposite the supporting side (804), the mattress comprises a space (810) which includes an open side, which is open towards the supporting surface (808), opposite the open side the space (810) has a first surface (102);

the distance sensor (110) is arranged in the space (810) between the supporting surface (808) and the first surface (102), and is arranged to measure the distance between the first surface (102) and the supporting surface (808).

13. A method for measuring a measured force comprising:

translating (1002) a first surface (102) against a resilient force, in response to the measured force, in a direction towards and/or from a second surface (104), which second surface (104) is located opposite the first surface (102);

measuring (1008) the distance between the first surface (102) and the second surface (104);

characterized in that the method comprises

extending and/or shortening (1004) a flexible coupling (108), which flexible coupling (108) extends along the direction.

14. A method as in claim 13, for use in a mattress with a first force sensor and a second force sensor;

the method comprises the following step;

determining a movement in a body located on the mattress by determining an increase in the measured force in the first sensor and a decrease in the measured force in the second sensor.