Adjustable bed position control

• US 8,909,378 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2008
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• 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): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAUGHLIN, NATHAN L
• Application Number:
  US12/256,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20090100599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,239 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/83, 700/275, 700/276, 345/173
• US Class Current: 700/275
• 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 31/008 Use of remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/002 having adjustable mattress frame
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/018 Control or drive mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0119 Support for the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0134 Cushion or similar support
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0142 Beds
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0146 Mattresses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0192 Specific means for adjusting dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1604 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1623 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1628 Pelvis
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1635 Hand or arm, e.g. handle hand-held, A61H2201/0153; fore-arm support, A61H2003/006
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/164 Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 : using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 : using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5035 : Several programs selectable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5038 : freely programmable by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 : Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5066 : Limit switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 : wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0443 : substantially horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 : with rotary motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/04 : with hydraulic or pneumatic drive hydraulic or Pneumatic massages, A61H9/00; underwater massages, A61H33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 : using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 : User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/60 : Security, fault tolerance

Abstract

The present invention provides an adjustable bed handheld remote control that may include a handheld housing, a touch sensor on a front face of the handheld housing, a transmitter and the like. The touch sensor may be presented in a slider form and may be adapted to facilitate a user in adjusting a frame position of an adjustable bed. The transmitter may be electrically coupled to a processor and may receive input from the touch sensor, for communication control signals to the adjustable bed in accordance with the input received from the touch sensor.

Claims

1. A mobile wireless device that remotely controls a set of wirelessly controllable functions of a control box of an adjustable bed, the device comprising:

a processor disposed within the mobile wireless device;

a touch-sensitive display disposed within the mobile wireless device and operatively coupled to the processor; and

a wireless transceiver disposed within the mobile wireless device, the wireless transceiver operatively coupled to the processor and, through wireless communication, to said control box of said adjustable bed, wherein the processor is configured to perform the steps of;

directing the wireless transceiver to receive data from said control box wherein said data describes current state information of a set of wirelessly controllable functions of the adjustable bed, the current state information comprises frame position information of the adjustable bed, and the set of wirelessly controllable functions comprises a frame position of the adjustable bed;

displaying on the touch-sensitive display graphical information of the current state information for at least one of the set of wirelessly controllable functions of the adjustable bed, the current state information comprising the frame position information;

receiving user input on the touch-sensitive display wherein said user input directs the processor to change at least one of the set of wirelessly controllable functions of the adjustable bed into a user-selected state, the at least one of the set of wirelessly controllable functions comprising the frame position, and the user-selected state comprising a new frame position;

responding to the user input by causing the wireless transceiver to communicate a wireless control signal that is received by and provided to said control box to change the at least one of the set of wirelessly controllable functions and activate the adjustable bed into accord with the user-selected state;

repeatedly receiving the frame position information and the current state information from the adjustable bed at least when the adjustable bed is activated into accord with the user-selected state; and

repeatedly updating the graphical information of the frame position information according to the received frame position information at least when the adjustable bed is activated into accord with the user-selected state;

wherein;

the mobile wireless device is communication matched with the control box of the adjustable bed with a code key permitting commands to be received from the mobile wireless device and executed by the control box of the adjustable bed, such that the processor of the mobile wireless device is configured to perform the further step of;

directing the wireless transceiver to transmit the code key to the control box of the adjustable bed, the code key indicating that the control box is permitted to receive and execute commands from the mobile wireless device, and

receiving from the control box of the adjustable bed an indication that the code key has been received and accepted.

2. The mobile wireless device of claim 1, wherein the set of wirelessly controllable functions further comprises a massage motor setting of the adjustable bed.

3. The mobile wireless device of claim 1 wherein the user-selected state includes a reset.

4. The mobile wireless device of claim 1 wherein the touch-sensitive display includes a capacitive touch sensor.

5. The mobile wireless device of claim 1 wherein the touch sensitive display presents a slider to adjust the frame position of the adjustable bed.

6. The mobile wireless device of claim 1 wherein the touch sensitive display presents an auxiliary image for control of an auxiliary system associated with the adjustable bed.

7. The mobile wireless device of claim 6 wherein the auxiliary system includes an audio visual system.

8. The mobile wireless device of claim 6 wherein the auxiliary system includes an audio system.

9. The mobile wireless device of claim 6 wherein the auxiliary system includes a computer system.

10. The mobile wireless device of claim 6 wherein the auxiliary system includes an HVAC system.

11. The mobile wireless device of claim 6 wherein the auxiliary system includes a kitchen appliance.

12. The mobile wireless device of claim 6 wherein the auxiliary system includes an alarm system.

13. The mobile wireless device of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to perform the further steps of:

identifying one or more failures or errors in the adjustable bed in a manner independent from the adjustable bed and based on a discrepancy between the user-selected state and the current state information in the data received from the control box, thereby providing an error message locally created by the mobile wireless device; and

displaying the error message on the touch-sensitive display.

14. The mobile wireless device of claim 1 wherein the wireless transceiver is adapted to wirelessly transmit data to and receive data communications from the control box via a receiver operatively coupled to the control box.

15. The mobile wireless device of claim 14 wherein the wireless transceiver and the receiver are configured to wirelessly communicate by radio frequency.

16. The mobile wireless device of claim 14 wherein the wireless transceiver and the receiver are configured to wirelessly communicate by radio frequency according to bluetooth protocol.

17. The mobile wireless device of claim 14 wherein the receiver and the control box are individual devices.

18. The mobile wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is directed to transmit the code key to the control box of the adjustable bed as part of the wireless control signal to activate the adjustable bed into accord with the user-selected state.