Microcontroller based massage system

• US 6,039,702 A
• Filed: 07/28/1997
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inseat Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: JB Research, Inc. (Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Otis, Alton B. Jr., Gerth, Gayle B., Chau, Taylor, Cutler, Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): DeMille, Danton D.
• Application Number:
  US08/901,374
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 601/46, 601/47, 601/48, 601/49, 601/56, 601/57, 601/58, 601/59, 601/60, 601/70
• US Class Current: 601/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2023/0272 multiple masses each rotated by an individual motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0228 heated by an electric resistance element
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses

Abstract

A computer controlled massaging system includes a pad; a plurality of motorized vibrators in respective regions of the pad; a heater element in the pad; a microprocessor controller; an array of input elements responsive to operator input for signaling an intensity control value, at least one region signal relating motors to be activated, and a heat control input; and a plurality of motor drivers and a heater driver responsive to the controller. The motors can be variably driven using pulse-width modulation, with duty cycle compensation for voltage drops resulting from added loads, and with current limiting when, for example, the system is powered from an AC line using a low-voltage transformer of limited capacity. Also disclosed is a corresponding method for massaging. The system can have a power detector for identifying sources of power having greater and lesser voltage drops as loads are added, the controller being programmed for increasing a base duty cycle and reducing a load increment duty cycle during operation from the power source of lesser voltage drop. A configuration selector can signal particular components being electrically connected in the system for utilizing a single set of programmed instructions in the program memory in variously configured examples of the massaging system. The system can also include an audio detector having an audio mode input element for selectively activating the motors in response to a detected envelope of an external audio signal. The system can also include a test mode that automatically sequentially activates components of the system.

Claims

1. A method for massaging a user contacting a pad, using electrical power from a source having a voltage drop as loads are added, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of eccentric motor vibrators in respective regions of the pad;

(b) providing a microprocessor controller, an array of input elements for interrogation by the controller, and a plurality of drivers for powering the vibrators from the power source in response to the controller;

(c) interrogating the input elements by the controller to determine an intensity control value and vibrators to be activated;

(d) determining a maximum duty cycle being a base duty cycle plus a load increment duty cycle for each of the vibrators to be activated; and

(e) periodically activating the drivers for producing respective operating duty cycles of activated motors being responsive to the intensity control value and limited to the maximum duty cycle.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the further steps of:

(a) providing a heater element in the pad;

(b) providing a heater driver for powering the heater element in response to the controller;

(c) the interrogating step includes determining a heat control input; and

(d) the step of determining the maximum duty cycle comprises;

(i) adding a heater increment duty cycle when the heater element is activated;

(ii) determining a duty cycle upper limit being a base limit less a portion of the load increment for each of the motors being simultaneously activated and, if the heater element is activated, the upper limit being further reduced by a heater reduction duty cycle; and

(iii) limiting the maximum duty cycle of each motor power signal to not more than the duty cycle upper limit.

4. The massaging system of claim 1, further comprising a heater element in the pad, a heater driver responsive to the microprocessor controller for activating the heater element, wherein the signaling further includes a heat control input, and wherein the maximum duty cycle of each motor power signal is augmented by a heater increment duty cycle when the heater element is activated.

5. The massaging system of claim 4, having a duty cycle upper limit being a base limit less a portion of the load increment for each of the motors being simultaneously activated and, if the heater element is activated, the upper limit being further reduced by a heater reduction duty cycle, the maximum duty cycle of each motor power signal being limited to not more than the duty cycle upper limit.

6. The massaging system of claim 5, wherein each motor power signal has a minimum duty cycle, the operational duty cycle being scaled from the product of the intensity control value and the maximum duty cycle less the minimum duty cycle, the minimum duty cycle being added to the product.

7. The massaging system of claim 4, wherein the heat control input has off, high, and low states for selectively powering the heater at high power, low power, and no power, and wherein the microprocessor controller is operative for activating the heater driver to power the heater element at high power when the heat control input is high, at no power when the heat control input is off, and at low power when the heat control input is low, except that when the heat control input is changed from off to low, the microprocessor controller is operative for powering the heater at high power for a warm up interval of time prior to the low power, the warm up interval being dependent on a time interval of the off state of the control input.

3. A computer controlled massaging system comprising:

(a) a pad for contacting a user of the system;

(b) a plurality of vibratory transducers for vibrating respective regions of the pad, each transducer including a motor having a mass element eccentrically coupled thereto, the motor being responsive to a motor power signal;

(c) a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface;

(d) an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor in response to operator input, the signaling including an intensity control value and at least one region signal relating motors to be activated; and

(e) a plurality of motor drivers responsive to the output interface for producing, separately for each of the motors, the power signal; and

(f) means for powering the microprocessor and the drivers from a first source of electrical power, the first source having a voltage drop as loads are added,

wherein each motor power signal has a maximum duty cycle being a base duty cycle plus a load increment duty cycle for each of the motors being simultaneously activated, the microprocessor controller periodically activating the drivers for producing, in response to the intensity control value, respective operating duty cycles for the activated motors being limited to the maximum duty cycle.

8. The massaging system of claim 3, for use additionally with a second power source, the second power source not having a voltage drop as great as the voltage drop of the first source as loads are added, the system further comprising a power detector for sensing whether the second power source is being used, the microprocessor being programmed for increasing the base duty cycle and reducing the load increment duty cycle during operation from the second power source.

9. The massaging system of claim 3, further comprising a configuration selector for determining and signaling to the microprocessor controller particular components being electrically connected in the system for utilizing a single set of programmed instructions in the program memory in variously configured examples of the massaging system.

10. A computer controlled massaging system comprising:

(a) a pad for contacting a user of the system;

(b) a plurality of vibratory transducers for vibrating respective regions of the pad, each transducer including a motor having a mass element eccentrically coupled thereto, the motor being responsive to a motor power signal;

(c) a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface;

(d) an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor in response to operator input, the signaling including an intensity control value and at least one region signal relating motors to be activated; and

(e) a plurality of motor drivers responsive to the output interface for producing, separately for each of the motors, the power signal; and

(f) a configuration selector for determining and signaling to the microprocessor controller particular components being electrically connected in the system for utilizing a single set of programmed instructions in the program memory in variously configured examples of the massaging system.

11. The massage system of claim 10, wherein the input elements are connected in a matrix for scanning by the microprocessor controller, and the configuration selector comprises a plurality of diodes connected between respective portions of the matrix and the microprocessor controller.

12. A computer controlled massaging system comprising:

(a) a pad for contacting a user of the system;

(b) a vibratory transducer for vibrating the pad, the transducer including a motor having a mass element eccentrically coupled thereto, the motor being responsive to a motor power signal;

(c) a heater element in the pad;

(d) a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface;

(e) an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor in response to operator input, the signaling including an intensity control value for the motor and a heat control input having off, high, and low states corresponding to high power, low power, and no power of the heater element;

(f) a motor driver and a heater driver responsive to the output interface for producing the power signal for the motor, and for powering the heater; and

(g) wherein the microprocessor controller is operative for activating the heater driver to power the heater at high power when the heat control input is high, at no power when the heat control input is off, and at low power when the heat control input is low, except that when the heat control input is changed from off to low, the microprocessor controller is operative for powering the heater at high power for a warm up interval of time prior to the low power, the period of time being dependent on a time interval of the off state of the control input.

13. A computer controlled massaging system comprising:

(a) a pad for contacting a user of the system;

(b) a plurality of vibratory transducers for vibrating respective regions of the pad, each transducer including a motor having a mass element eccentrically coupled thereto, the motor being responsive to a motor power signal;

(c) a heater element in the pad;

(d) a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface;

(e) an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor in response to operator input, the signaling including an intensity control value, at least one region signal relating motors to be activated, at least one mode signal, and a heat control input;

(f) a plurality of motor drivers responsive to the output interface for producing, separately for each of the motors, the power signal;

(g) a heater driver responsive to the output interface for powering the heater; and

(h) the microprocessor controller being operative in response to the input elements for activating the motors and the heater element for operation thereof in correspondence with the input elements, and in a test mode wherein each of the motors and the heater is activated sequentially in accordance with substantially every state of the region signal, mode signal, and the heat control input, the motors being activated at power levels responsive to intensity control value.

14. The massaging system of claim 13, wherein the signaling further includes a speed input for determining a rate of sequencing mode component intervals, and wherein, during the test mode, the sequential activation is at a rate proportional to the speed input.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the signaling further includes a power input for selectively invoking massage power on and off states of the system, and the test mode is enabled by activation of one of the intensity and speed inputs, followed within one second by activation of the other of the intensity and speed inputs, when the system is in the power off state.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the intensity and speed inputs each include positive and negative components for respectively incrementing and decrementing respective control values, and wherein enabling of the test mode requires activation of one of the positive and negative components of the intensity input and activation of the other of the positive and negative components of the speed input.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the test mode is entered upon activation of the power input within a predetermined period of time subsequent to the test mode being enabled.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one region signal is one of at least four region signals, the at least one mode signal is one of at least four mode signals, the sequential activation of the test mode is in accordance with substantially all of the region and mode signals.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein at least some of the signals define more than two operational states of the system, and the sequential activation of the test mode is further in accordance with substantially every operational state of the system.

20. The system of claim 13, further comprising a configuration selector for determining and signaling to the microprocessor particular components being electrically connected in the system for utilizing a single set of programmed instructions in the program memory in variously configured examples of the massaging system, wherein the test mode is implemented for skipping states corresponding to components not connected in the system.

21. A computer controlled massaging system comprising:

(a) a pad for contacting a user of the system;

(b) a plurality of vibratory transducers for vibrating respective regions of the pad, each transducer including a motor having a mass element eccentrically coupled thereto, the motor being responsive to a power signal;

(c) a heater element in the pad;

(d) a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface;

(e) an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor in response to operator input, the signaling including an intensity control value, at least one region signal relating motors to be activated, and a heat control input; and

(f) a plurality of motor drivers responsive to the output interface for producing, separately for each of the motors, the power signal;

(g) a heater driver responsive to the controller for activating the heater element;

(h) means for powering the microprocessor and the drivers from a first source of electrical power having a voltage drop as loads are added, and a second source not having a voltage drop as great as the voltage drop of the first power source;

(i) a power detector for sensing whether the second power source is being used, the microprocessor controller being programmed for increasing the base duty cycle and reducing the load increment duty cycle during operation from the second power source; and

(j) a configuration selector for determining and signaling to the microprocessor particular components being electrically connected in the system for utilizing a single set of programmed instructions in the program memory in variously configured examples of the massaging system,

wherein;

(i) each power signal has a maximum duty cycle being a base duty cycle plus a load increment duty cycle for each of the motors being simultaneously activated, and augmented by a heater increment duty cycle when the heater element is activated;

(ii) each power signal also has a duty cycle upper limit being a base limit less a portion of the load increment for each of the motors being activated, the upper limit being further reduced by a heater reduction duty cycle; and

(iii) the power signal maximum duty cycle is limited to not more than the duty cycle upper limit, the microprocessor controller periodically activating the drivers for producing, in response to the intensity control value, respective operating duty cycles for the activated motors being limited to the maximum duty cycle.