System of adjustable bed control via a home network

• US 9,226,593 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin B. Rawls-Meehan
• Original Assignee: Martin B. Rawls-Meehan
• Inventors: Rawls-Meehan, Martin B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gami, Tejal
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laughlin, Nathan L
• Application Number:
  US14/709,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20150238023A1
• Time in Patent Office: 238 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/21, 700/78, 700/79, 700/83, 700/275
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/041 by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/003 Lighting, radio, telephone or the like connected to the bedstead
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/006 Oscillating, balancing or vibrating mechanisms connected to the bedstead for children's beds A47D9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/04 Devices for ventilating, cooling or heating
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/16 Touchpads
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/36 for motion
• 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 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0443 substantially horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/106 for selecting a programme, variable or parameter
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23051 Remote control, enter program remote, detachable programmer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2608 Hospital bed
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

This disclosure concerns a handheld control with a user interface adapted to facilitate a user in adjusting a parameter of an adjustable bed and a parameter of a home control system. A display on the user interface displays a graphical representation of the adjustable bed parameter and a graphical representation of the home control system parameter.

Claims

1. An adjustable bed handheld remote control, comprising:

a handheld housing;

a user interface on a front face of the handheld housing, wherein the user interface is adapted to facilitate a user in adjusting a parameter of an adjustable bed and wherein the user interface is adapted to facilitate the user in adjusting a parameter of a secondary system selected from the group consisting of a massage motor, an audio system, an audio-visual system, a lighting system, an alarm clock, an air purification system, a telephone, a video system, a computer system, a networking system, a kitchen appliance, a vehicle system, and combinations thereof;

a processor housed within the handheld housing, wherein the processor is adapted to provide control signal instructions for the adjustable bed parameter upon receiving user input for same and to provide control signal instructions for the secondary system parameter upon receiving user input for same; and

a display on the user interface for displaying a graphical representation of the adjustable bed parameter and a graphical representation of the secondary system parameter;

wherein the handheld remote control is adapted to transmit to an adjustable bed controller of the adjustable bed a code key indicating that commands can be received and executed between the handheld remote control and the adjustable bed controller, and the handheld remote control is adapted to receive from the adjustable bed controller of the adjustable bed an indication that the code key has been received and accepted.

2. The remote control of claim 1 wherein the graphical representation of the adjustable bed parameter indicates a current status of the parameter as indicated by the adjustable bed.

3. The remote control of claim 1 wherein the graphical representation of the secondary system parameter indicates a current status of the parameter as indicated by the secondary system.

4. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the remote control communication with the adjustable bed is via WiFi.

5. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the remote control communication with the adjustable bed is via Bluetooth.

6. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the remote control communication with the secondary system is via WiFi.

7. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising:

a two-way wireless communication system adapted to communicate between the handheld remote control and an adjustable bed controller, wherein the user interface is adapted to facilitate a user in adjusting a parameter of an adjustable bed using the two-way wireless communication system.

8. The remote control of claim 7, wherein the adjustable bed controller is adapted to, in response to a receipt of a motion command from the remote control, adjust, with feedback, a portion of the adjustable bed;

wherein the feedback is based on a comparison of a sensor feedback and a predetermined position stored in memory.

9. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the user interface is adapted to facilitate a user in adjusting a parameter of an adjustable bed by presenting the option for a recall command, wherein upon receiving the command at an adjustable bed controller, the adjustable bed controller accesses a memory of the adjustable bed controller to recall a predetermined position.

10. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the secondary system comprises a massage motor associated with the adjustable bed.

11. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the secondary system comprises an audio system.

12. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the secondary system comprises an audio-visual system.

13. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the secondary system comprises a lighting system.

14. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the secondary system comprises an alarm clock.

15. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising:

a transceiver housed within the handheld housing, wherein the transceiver is adapted to receive the control signal instructions from the processor and to transmit corresponding control signals to an adjustable bed controller.

16. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the handheld remote control is a cell phone or a smart phone.

17. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen display adapted to receive the user input for the adjustable bed parameter and the user input for the secondary system parameter.

18. An adjustable bed system comprising:

the remote control of claim 1; and

an adjustable bed facility comprising at least one adjustable bed segment and an adjustable bed controller, the adjustable bed controller being adapted to

receive from the remote control the provide control signal instructions for the adjustable bed parameter corresponding to the user input for same,

position adjust the at least one bed segment upon receipt of the provide control signal instructions,

receive from the remote control the code key indicating that commands can be received and executed between the handheld remote control and the adjustable bed controller, and

transmit to the handheld remote control the indication that the code key has been received and accepted.

19. A method for controlling an adjustable bed facility, the method comprising:

providing the remote control of claim 1;

receiving the user input on the remote control for adjusting the parameter of the adjustable bed;

transmitting from the remote control to the adjustable bed controller the control signal instructions for adjusting the parameter of the adjustable bed;

transmit from the remote control to the adjustable bed controller the code key indicating that commands can be received and executed between the handheld remote control and the adjustable bed controller; and

receiving from the adjustable bed controller at the remote control the indication that the code key has been received and accepted.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving the user input on the remote control for adjusting the parameter of the secondary system; and

transmitting from the remote control to the secondary system the control signal instructions for adjusting the parameter of the secondary system.