Inflatable air mattress snoring detection and response

• US 9,370,457 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sleep Number Corporation
• Original Assignee: Select Comfort Corporation, BAM Labs, Inc. (Sleep Number Corporation)
• Inventors: Nunn, Rob, Palashewski, Wade Daniel, Tilstra, Matthew Wayne, Stusynski, Stacy, Young, Steven, Hewitt, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Santos, Robert G
• Assistant Examiner(s): THROOP, MYLES A
• Application Number:
  US14/206,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20140259417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 561/4, 561/5, 561/7
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 19/025 Direct mattress support frames, Cross-bars
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/04 with adjustable inclination A47C20/08 takes precedence
• 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 27/082 with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/00 Details or accessories for chairs, beds, or the like, not provided for in other groups of this subclass, e.g. upholstery fasteners, mattress protectors, stretching devices for mattress nets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/015 divided into different adjustable sections, e.g. for Gatch position

Abstract

A method can be provided that includes measuring sound waves using a sound measuring device, determining, at a central controller of an air mattress system, one or more parameter values of the sound waves, comparing the one or more parameter values with values, ranges, or patterns indicative of snoring, identifying a snoring state of a user, and initiating, with the central controller, a change to one or more adjustable features of the air mattress system.

Claims

1. A bed system comprising:

an inflatable air mattress;

an adjustable foundation;

a pressure sensor for sensing pressure of the air mattress;

a pump; and

a central controller comprising;

a processor configured to;

analyze pressure signals obtained from the pressure sensor to determine one or more biometric parameters for a user on the air mattress;

compare the one or more biometric parameters with predetermined values, the predetermined values being indicative of snoring;

determine whether the user on the air mattress is snoring based on comparing the one or more biometric parameters with the predetermined values; and

transmit, in response to determining that the user is snoring, at least one instruction to adjust a head position of the adjustable foundation.

2. A method comprising:

determining, at the central controller of the bed system of claim 1, whether the user is snoring; and

in response to determining that the user is snoring, adjusting a head position of the adjustable foundation of the bed system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the bed system includes the inflatable air mattress supported by the adjustable foundation.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising adjusting a pressure of the inflatable air mattress, in response to determining that the user is snoring.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether a user is snoring comprises measuring sound waves using a sound measuring device.

6. The bed system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to adjust a pressure of the air mattress, in response to determining that the user is snoring.

7. The bed system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a user on the air mattress is snoring based on sound waves generated by the user.

8. The bed system of claim 1, wherein the pump is operably connected to the inflatable air mattress and the pressure sensor comprises a pressure transducer positioned in the pump and fluidically connected to both a manifold of the pump and to the inflatable air mattress.

9. The bed system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first air chamber;

a first pressure sensor for sensing air pressure of the first air chamber a second air chamber; and

a second pressure sensor for sensing air pressure of the second air chamber

wherein the processor is further configured to;

detect biometric parameters for a first user supported by the first air chamber;

detect biometric parameters for a second user supported by the second air chamber;

determine, based on the biometric parameters detected for the first and second users, that one of the first and second users is snoring;

transmit, in response to determining that one of the first and second users is snoring, at least one instruction to adjust a head position of a portion of the adjustable foundation supporting one of the first or second air chambers based on determining which of the first and second users is snoring.

10. The bed system of claim 1, wherein comparing the one or more biometric parameters with the predetermined values indicative of snoring is performed in response to determining that the user has reached a predetermined sleep state.

11. A bed system comprising:

an inflatable air mattress;

an adjustable foundation;

a pressure sensor for sensing pressure of the air mattress; and

a central controller comprising;

a pump; and

a processor configured to;

determine whether a user on the air mattress is snoring based on pressure signals obtained from the pressure sensor;

transmit, in response to determining that the user is snoring, at least one instruction to adjust a head position of the adjustable foundation;

transmit, in response to determining that the user is snoring, at least one instruction to adjust a pressure in the inflatable air mattress;

transmit, in response to determining that the user is snoring, at least one instruction to adjust a temperature;

transmit, in response to determining that the user is snoring, at least one instruction to adjust a light;

transmit, in response to determining that the user is snoring, at least one instruction to adjust a sound volume; and

transmit, in response to determining that the user is snoring, at least one instruction to adjust a vibration.