Bedding System with Support Surface Control

• US 20130283530A1
• Filed: 04/30/2013
• Published: 10/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xsensor Technology Corp
• Original Assignee: Xsensor Technology Corp
• Inventors: Main, Ian, Gorjanc, Timothy Carl, Miller, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,848,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/600
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/083 with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/10 with two or more independently-fillable chambers
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/12 Means, e.g. measuring means for adapting chairs, beds or mattresses to the shape or weight of persons body measuring means for clothing manufacture A41H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/123 for beds or mattresses

Abstract

A bedding system uses machine vision to makes adjustments for comfort and/or support. In one aspect, a pressure mapping engine measures a two-dimensional pressure image of a sleeper on the bedding system while the sleeper is sleeping on the bedding system. A machine vision process analyzes the pressure image. A comfort and support engine adjusts a comfort and/or support of the bedding system based on the machine vision analysis.

Claims

1. A method for automatically adjusting a bedding system for a sleeper who is sleeping on the bedding system, the method comprising:

measuring a two-dimensional pressure image of the sleeper on the bedding system while the sleeper is sleeping on the bedding system;

applying a machine vision process to analyze the pressure image; and

while the sleeper is sleeping on the bedding system, adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system based on the machine vision analysis.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of applying a machine vision process comprises applying a machine vision process to the pressure image to determine the sleeper'"'"'s body position;

and the step of adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system comprises adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system based on the sleeper'"'"'s body position.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of applying a machine vision process to the pressure image to determine the sleeper'"'"'s body position comprises:

identifying the sleeper'"'"'s body parts based on the pressure image;

determining a positioning of the body parts relative to each other; and

determining the sleeper'"'"'s body position based on the positioning of the body parts relative to each other.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of applying a machine vision process comprises applying a machine vision process to the pressure image to select the sleeper'"'"'s body position from a predefined set of possible body positions that include side-sleeping and back-sleeping.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of applying a machine vision process comprises applying a machine vision process to the pressure image to determine the sleeper'"'"'s sleep state;

and the step of adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system comprises adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system based on the sleeper'"'"'s sleep state.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of applying a machine vision process comprises applying a machine vision process to the pressure image to select the sleeper'"'"'s sleep state from a predefined set of possible sleep states that include at least one of:

bed entry, deep sleep, restless motion, morning wake up and bed exit.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of applying a machine vision process comprises applying a machine vision process to the pressure image to select the sleeper'"'"'s sleep state from a predefined set of possible sleep states that include at least one of the accepted standard five stages of sleep.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system comprises adjusting both a comfort and a support of the bedding system.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the bedding system comprises a comfort layer and a support layer and the step of adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system comprises adjusting both the comfort layer and the support layer of the bedding system.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system comprises creating a travelling wave of pressure across the bedding system.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

measuring a temperature of the bedding system while the sleeper is sleeping on the bedding system; and

adjusting the temperature of the bedding system based on the measured temperature.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the bedding system comprises thermal zones that are separately adjustable, and the step of adjusting the temperature of the bedding system comprises adjusting a temperature of the zone corresponding to the location of the sleeper'"'"'s hands and/or feet.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

measuring a moisture of the bedding system while the sleeper is sleeping on the bedding system; and

adjusting an airflow of the bedding system based on the measured moisture.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

measuring a moisture of the bedding system while the sleeper is sleeping on the bedding system; and

adjusting a temperature of the bedding system based on the measured moisture.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the bedding system comprises zones that are separately adjustable, and the step of adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system comprises adjusting a comfort and/or support of the zones based on the machine vision analysis.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of adjusting a comfort and/or support of the zones comprises:

determining a location of the sleeper'"'"'s hands and/or feet based on the machine vision analysis; and

adjusting a comfort and/or support attribute of the zone corresponding to the location of the sleeper'"'"'s hands and/or feet.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

adjusting a pillow height based on the machine vision analysis.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system results in a reduced peak pressure in the measured pressure image.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system results in an improved alignment of the sleeper'"'"'s spine.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system comprises selecting one of a set of preselected settings for the bedding system based on the machine vision analysis.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the preselected settings are customized for the sleeper.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein different preselected settings are customized for different sleepers.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of selecting one of a set of preselected settings for the bedding system comprises:

determining the sleeper'"'"'s body position based on the machine vision analysis; and

selecting one of the set of preselected settings for the bedding system based on the sleeper'"'"'s body position.

24. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sensing a shape of the sleeper on the bedding system while the sleeper is sleeping on the bedding system; and

while the sleeper is sleeping on the bedding system, adjusting the comfort and/or support of the bedding system based on the sensed shape.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system comprises adjusting a firmness of the bedding system relative to an optimum firmness defined as a firmness where a normalized contact area of the pressure image is equal to a normalized average peak pressure of the pressure image.

26. A comfort and support control system for a bedding system, comprising:

a pressure mapping engine that measures a two-dimensional pressure image of the sleeper on the bedding system while the sleeper is sleeping on the bedding system;

a machine vision process that analyzes the pressure image; and

a comfort and support engine that, while the sleeper is sleeping on the bedding system, adjusts a comfort and/or support of the bedding system based on the machine vision analysis.

27. A method for automatically adjusting a comfort and/or support of a bedding system for a sleeper that regularly sleeps on the bedding system, the method comprising:

over a period of nights;

monitoring a pressure distribution of the sleeper on the bedding system while the sleeper is sleeping on the bedding system; and

adjusting a comfort and/or support of the bedding system based on changes in the measured pressure distribution over the period of nights.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the step of adjusting the comfort and/or support of the bedding system comprises:

quantifying the sleeper'"'"'s movement based on the monitored pressure distributions; and

adjusting the comfort and/or support to reduce the sleeper'"'"'s movement.