Method and apparatus for providing bed recall functions

• US 5,787,528 A
• Filed: 06/30/1997
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L&P Property Management Company (Leggett & Platt Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Santino Antinori
• Inventors: Antinori, Santino
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US08/885,131
• Time in Patent Office: 400 Days
• Field of Search: 318/16, 5/600, 5/613, 5/616, 5/617, 5/618, 5/619, 5/509.1, 5/915
• US Class Current: 5/616
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/041 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive

Abstract

A method and apparatus that allows a bed system to recall bed functions is accomplished by providing a bed controller with additional memory and processing steps. The additional memory is used to store current bed function data, desired bed function data, and recall bed function instructions. The additional processing, when executing the recall bed function instructions, compares the current bed function data with the desired bed function data. When the data does not match, the additional processing generates a function adjust signal which causes the bed to readjust itself to the desired function.

Claims

1. A method for providing a recall bed function for a bed, the method comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a bed position reference by;

i) generating a move signal that causes a foot motor and a head motor to lower a foot and a head of the bed, respectively;

ii) monitoring currents of the foot motor and the head motor; and

iii) when the currents of the foot motor and the head motor decreases, establishing this position of the bed as the bed reference position;

b) receiving a recall bed function message;

c) retrieving desired bed function data and current bed function data, which, for head or foot repositioning, are both derived from the bed position reference;

d) comparing the current bed function data with the desired bed function data; and

e) when the current bed function data does not substantially match the desired bed function data, generating a function adjust signal based on a difference between the desired bed function data and the current bed function data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving the recall bed function message from an radio frequency remote controller.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving a recall bed positioning message as the recall bed function message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (b) further comprises retrieving current head positioning data and current foot positioning data as the current bed function data and retrieving desired head positioning data and desired foot positioning data as the desired bed function data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (e) further comprises generating a head motor adjust signal when the current head positioning data does not substantially match the desired head positioning data and generating a foot motor adjust signal when the current foot positioning data does not substantially match the desired foot positioning data.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the current head positioning data and the current foot positioning data are generating by:

setting the current foot positioning data and the current head positioning data based on the bed reference position;

when a move head signal or a move foot signal is received, monitoring time of movement and direction of movement; and

updating the current foot positioning data when the move foot signal was received and updating the current head positioning data when the move head signal is received, wherein the updating is based on the time of movement and the direction of movement.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the desired head positioning data and the desired foot positioning data are determined by:

receiving a set recall message;

storing the current head positioning data as the desired head positioning data; and

storing the current foot positioning data as the desired foot positioning data.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprises the steps of:

f) updating the current bed function data as the bed adjusts in response to the function adjust signal; and

g) repeating steps (d) through (f) until the current bed function data substantially matches the desired bed function data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises receiving a recall massage message as the recall bed function message.

10. An apparatus for providing a recall bed function for a bed, the apparatus comprising:

signal receiver that operably receives a recall bed function message;

processor operably coupled to the signal receiver;

memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory stores desired bed function data, stores current bed function data, and stores program instructions that direct the processor, when the recall bed function message is received, to retrieve the desired bed function data and the current bed function data, and to generate a function adjust signal when the desired bed function data does not substantially match the current bed function data,

motor drive circuit operably coupled to the processor, wherein the motor drive circuit provides a signal to control a motor of the bed based on the function adjust signal, such that the motor is driven to achieve a desired bed function; and

an AC crossing circuit that provides an AC zero crossing signal to the processor, such that the processor provides the function adjust signal to the motor drive circuit to enable and disable the motor with minimal noise and minimal in-rush current.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the motor drive circuit further comprises a head motor drive section and a foot motor drive section, such that, when the recall bed function message is for positioning the bed in a pre-stored position, the head motor drive section provides a head signal to a head motor of the bed and the foot motor drive section provides a foot signal to a foot motor of the bed.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the motor drive circuit further comprises a foot massage motor drive section and a head massage motor drive section, such that, when the recall bed function is for a pre-stored massage function, the foot massage motor drive section provides a foot massage signal to a foot massage motor of the bed and the head massage motor drive section provides a head massage signal to a head massage motor of the bed.

13. A bed system comprising:

a bed that includes at least one motor for providing a bed function;

remote control that provides a control signal for invoking the bed function;

bed controller operably coupled to the bed, the bed controller includes;

signal receiver that operably receives the control signal;

processor operably coupled to the signal receiver;

memory operably coupled to the processor, the memory stores desired bed function data, stores current bed function data, and stores program instructions that direct the processor, when the control signal is received, to retrieve the desired bed function data and the current bed function data, and to generate a function adjust signal when the desired bed function data does not substantially match the current bed function data;

wherein the function adjust signal causes the at least one motor to adjust the bed such that the bed performs the bed function,

motor drive circuit operably coupled to the processor and to the at least one motor, wherein the motor drive circuit provides a signal to control the at least one motor based on the function adjust signal; and

an AC crossing circuit that provides an AC zero crossing signal to the processor, such that the processor provides the function adjust signal to the motor drive circuit to enable and disable the at least one motor with minimal noise and minimal in-rush current.

14. The bed system of claim 13, wherein the remote control further comprises recall setting means for establishing the bed function, wherein the processor determines the desired bed function data in response to activation of the recall setting means.

15. The bed system of claim 13, wherein the bed further comprises a foot motor and a head motor as the at least one motor, wherein the bed function indicates positioning the bed based on the desired bed function data.

16. The bed system of claim 15, wherein the remote control further comprises head adjust means for providing a head move signal and foot adjust means for providing a foot move signal, wherein, when the head move signal is received, the processor generates a head command which causes the head motor to adjust the bed and, when the foot move signal is received, the processor generates a foot command which causes the foot motor to adjust the bed.

17. The bed system of claim 13, wherein the bed further comprises a foot massage motor and a head massage motor as the at least one motor, wherein the bed function indicates a massage setting of the bed.

18. The bed system of claim 17, wherein the remote control further comprises head massage means for providing a head massage signal and foot massage means for providing a foot massage signal, wherein, when the head massage signal is received, the processor generates a head massage motor signal which causes the head massage motor to provide the bed function as a head massage and, when the foot massage signal is received, the processor generates a foot massage motor signal which causes the foot massage motor to provide the bed function as a foot massage.

19. A method for providing a recall bed function for a bed, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a recall bed function message;

b) retrieving desired bed function data and current bed function data;

c) comparing the current bed function data with the desired bed function data;

d) when the current bed function data does not substantially match the desired bed function data, generating a function adjust signal based on a difference between the desired bed function data and the current bed function data,

step a) further includes receiving a recall bed positioning message as the recall bed function message,

step b) further includes retrieving current head positioning data and current foot positioning data as the current bed function data and retrieving desired head positioning data and desired foot positioning data as the desired bed function data,

step d) further includes generating a head motor adjust signal when the current head positioning data does not substantially match the desired head positioning data and generating a foot motor adjust signal when the current foot positioning data does not substantially match the desired foot positioning data, and

e) establishing a bed position reference by;

i) generating a move signal that causes a foot motor and a head motor to lower the foot and head of the bed, respectively, and

ii) monitoring currents of the foot motor and the head motor such that when the currents of the foot motor and the head motor decreases, establishing disposition of the bed as the bed position reference.

20. An apparatus for providing a recall bed function for a bed, the apparatus comprising:

a signal receiver that operably receives a recall bed function message;

a processor operably coupled to the signal receiver;

a memory operable coupled to the processor, the memory stores desired bed function data, stores current bed function data, and stores program instructions that direct the processor, when the recall bed function message is received, to retrieve the desired bed function data and the current bed function data, and to generate a function adjust signal when the desired bed function data does not substantially match the current bed function data,

a motor drive circuit operably coupled to the processor, wherein the motor drive circuit provides a signal to control a motor of the bed based on the function adjust signal, such that the motor is driven to achieve a desired bed function,

and an AC crossing circuit that provides an AC zero crossing signal to the processor, such that the processor provides the function adjust signal to the motor drive circuit to enable and disable the motor with minimal noise and minimal in-rush current.