Under-bed lighting system and method

Abstract

An under-bed lighting system includes a sensor, one or more lights, and a controller. The sensor is mountable to an underside of a bed and has a field of view that extends to a left side, a foot side, and a right side of the bed. The one or more lights are configured to be mounted to the bed and output light downward from the bed. The controller is configured to detect a person with the sensor and operate the lights to output the light in accordance with the detection of the person.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority and benefit to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 624,492, filed January 24, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates generally to the field of beds, and more specifically to systems and methods of operating thereof for detecting, illuminating, and projecting the presence of an under-bed occupant for a bed frame. Background Technology

[0004] Task lighting by the bed can be helpful for users preparing for sleep, but exposure to overly bright light should be avoided before sleep begins. Exposure to variable light color, pattern, or intensity may help promote sleep. Traditional bedside lighting solutions are often static, excessively bright, and require manual control and activation.

[0005] Therefore, it is desirable to provide an innovative system for under-bed and bedside lighting that adapts to the user's positioning and / or posture when standing beside or occupying the bed. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a system that automatically actuates lighting conditions based on occupant detection. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This document discloses an embodiment of an under-bed lighting system and related methods. In one embodiment, an under-bed lighting system includes a sensor, one or more lamps, and a controller. The sensor is mountable to the underside of the bed and has a field of view extending to the left, foot, and right sides of the bed. One or more lamps are configured to be mounted to the bed and output light downwards from the bed. The controller is configured to detect a person using the sensor and, based on the detection of a person, operate the lamps to output light.

[0007] The sensor can be a radar sensor. One or more lights can include light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The controller can be configured to determine the position of a person based on the sensor and operate the lights to output light based on the person's position. The position can include the direction and location from the sensor to the person, and the controller can determine which LEDs among the LEDs output light based on the direction and the brightness of the light output by those LEDs based on the distance. The controller can identify the LEDs among the LEDs that output light as those surrounding a vector extending from the sensor to the person. As the person moves closer to the bed, the controller can gradually increase the brightness of the light output by the LEDs. The controller can determine which LEDs among the LEDs output light based on one of three or more side zones where the person is located, and each side zone is an angular zone within the sensor's field of view. As the person moves closer to the bed from an outer proximity zone to an inner proximity zone, the controller can increase the brightness of the light output by the LEDs in a stepwise manner, with the outer proximity zone positioned away from the bed and the inner proximity zone adjacent to the bed. The controller can be configured to determine when the person enters or leaves the detection area and gradually increase or decrease the brightness of the light output by the LEDs, respectively. If the controller determines the positions of two people, the controller can operate the lights based on the positions of the two people. If the controller determines the location of three or more individuals, the controller operates the lights according to a group of three individuals. One or more lights may include a projector configured to project one or more images onto the ground. The projector may be configured to display one or more static images. The under-bed lighting system may be configured to operate in a first mode with a first detection area and a second mode with a second detection area, wherein the first detection area may be farther from the sensor than the second detection area. Attached Figure Description

[0008] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system according to the present disclosure.

[0009] Figure 2 Is the operation as follows Figure 1 The first method of the illustrated under-bed lighting system.

[0010] Figure 3 Is it like this? Figure 2 The detailed method for performing the illustrated search gesture or gesture control command is described.

[0011] Figure 4 Is calibration such as Figure 1 The method of the illustrated under-bed lighting system.

[0012] Figure 5 Is the operation as follows Figure 1 The illustrated method for operating a reverse alarm clock on an under-bed lighting system.

[0013] Figure 6 Is the operation as follows Figure 1 The method for operating the alarm clock in the illustrated under-bed lighting system.

[0014] Figure 7 Is the operation as follows Figure 1 The illustrated method of guided breathing operation using an under-bed lighting system.

[0015] Figure 8 Is the operation as follows Figure 1 The illustrated method for weather simulation operation of the under-bed lighting system.

[0016] Figure 9 Is it like this? Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the illustrated under-bed lighting system under the first lighting condition.

[0017] Figure 10 Is it like this? Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the illustrated under-bed lighting system under the second lighting condition.

[0018] Figure 11 Is it like this? Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating the under-bed lighting system in transition lighting operation.

[0019] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the under-bed lighting system and the testing area.

[0020] Figure 13 It is used for utilization Figure 12 A flowchart illustrating a method for determining a person's location using an under-bed lighting system.

[0021] Figure 14 It is a flowchart for outputting light based on the position of the person.

[0022] Figures 15A to 15C It is a schematic diagram showing how light is output based on the precise position of a person at the far and right sides of the bed, the middle and left sides of the bed, and the vicinity and foot side of the bed.

[0023] Figures 16A to 16C It is a schematic diagram showing how light is output based on the approximate positions of a person at the far and right sides of the bed, the middle and left sides of the bed, and the vicinity and foot side of the bed.

[0024] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of another implementation scheme for an under-bed lighting system.

[0025] Details of one or more examples of this disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and description below. Other aspects, advantages, objects, and features will be apparent from the following specification read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like parts. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The accompanying drawings and example embodiments described herein provide an under-bed lighting system for sensing the presence, location, posture, orientation, and movement of a bed occupant or user and / or a bystander near the under-bed lighting system. The under-bed lighting system may include one or more sensors, such as one or more radar sensors, one or more lidar sensors, one or more passive infrared sensors, or combinations thereof. The sensors are capable of accurately detecting human occupants in a room and distinguishing them from other stationary objects (such as walls or furniture) or other moving objects (such as cleaning robots or pets). Potential combinations of sensors include one or more of passive infrared (PIR), ultrasonic, optical time-of-flight ranging, millimeter-wave radar, rotating lidar scanners, capacitance / electric field sensors, and controllers that enable computer vision operation.

[0027] The illustrated and described exemplary embodiments also provide a method for dynamically generating light output displays (such as information displays) as illumination or projection patterns. Projection can take various forms via a linear array of addressable LEDs, such as multi-color RGB emitters with serial communication, multiple LEDs each connected to lenses or filters capable of changing the light output into usable forms (such as logos or pictographs), or a movable array of lenses or filters associated with one or more emitters, allowing selection and display of appropriate pictographs. As a complement or alternative, projection can take another form as a projector, such as a digital light processor (DLP) and an illuminator component with the necessary mechanisms to correct "trapezoidal distortion." Under-bed lighting systems may also include mechanisms for acquiring additional information, including but not limited to sensors for ambient light levels, network connectivity for acquiring various information about the occupant and environment (including the occupant's electronic calendar and scheduling information), sleep quality and health statistics, weather forecasts, and combinations thereof.

[0028] The example embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described herein also include logic elements required for processing data and using that data to determine the output of the light display mechanism, as well as other bed functions such as platform adjustment or vibration massage based on predefined rules stored by and capable of being executed by the under-bed lighting system. The logic elements may include software applications (“Applications”) mounted on the under-bed lighting system components, the user’s mobile device, or a combination thereof. Applications can be used to configure the functionality of the under-bed lighting system or to manually control various functional modes.

[0029] The generated lighting output can be used for task lighting purposes to assist in getting into or out of bed, to display information useful to the occupant, or to provide soothing lighting effects to achieve and maintain sleep or deep relaxation (such as dynamic lighting patterns or dimming effects). In one example, the under-bed lighting system can execute a program that determines whether the user's legs are near the bed and drives one or more LEDs to illuminate the area around the user's feet to facilitate putting on shoes. In another example, alternatively or in combination, the under-bed lighting system can execute a program that determines whether the user is getting out of bed based on detected user posture and positioning, and in response, generates and outputs a display of projected information about the user's upcoming day, such as calendar events, weather, physical health status, or other information. In yet another example, alternatively or in combination, the generated output lighting can indicate the quality of the current sleep conditions.

[0030] The generated lighting output can be used to provide lighting patterns and routines that promote relaxation and / or sleep. Under-bed lighting can be manipulated in terms of color, intensity, and positioning to achieve the desired effect. Examples include simulations of twinkling starlight, multi-color lighting synchronized with music, light levels that appear to "breathe" with the occupant, or circadian rhythm light therapy that uses changes in color and intensity to correspond to the user's level of relaxation or sleep state.

[0031] The generated lighting output can be used to attract users toward the bed and provide safety upon approach. The presence of a potential occupant can be determined based on the perceived distant presence of a potential user, and the under-bed lighting can be activated at a low intensity, increasing in intensity as the user approaches the bed to encourage them to move closer. The presence of bystanders adjacent to the bed can also be determined. This determination can be used to deactivate certain automated operations of certain bed features, such as the hinges of adjustable bed frame components, which may pose a risk to bystanders, such as the risk of being trapped. In another example, the under-bed lighting system can determine whether a bystander or user has fallen off the bed or fallen beside it, and generate an output indicating the need for medical care, such as through a bright strobe effect or by generating a signal transmitted to a remote device. The under-bed lighting system can determine the presence of a room occupant and automatically activate a height adjustment mechanism or otherwise position the bed as needed to assist the user in getting into bed.

[0032] These example implementations provide information to the user as they enter or leave the bed, adaptively providing illumination to the user's current location to improve task functionality while minimizing disturbance to other occupants and the user's own sleep state (external lighting is known to disrupt sleep cycles, including but not limited to reducing endogenous melatonin). The under-bed lighting system of this disclosure includes sensors adapted to detect and determine the presence, posture, and location of the surrounding environment, and can distinguish between stationary objects (such as other furniture) and moving objects (such as cleaning robots or pets). Other information besides the presence or absence of the user can also be inputs for controlling the under-bed lighting system, such as calendar events, predefined rules, and other sensor feedback signals. The output of the under-bed lighting system can be activated via a user interface locally provided on a feature of the under-bed lighting system mounted on the bed, or remotely via, for example, an application on a mobile computing device. The output of the under-bed lighting system can also be manually activated via predefined gestures or actions detected by the sensors. In one example, the user can manually actuate the function via gestures, such as “swiping” the sensor in one direction to activate the lighting and “swiping” in the opposite direction to deactivate the lighting.

[0033] Refer to the attached diagram. Figure 1 An under-bed lighting system is illustrated in the form of a representative schematic diagram. The under-bed lighting system 100 can be powered by an external power source or a power supply unit 102. The power supply unit 102 communicates electronically with a main controller 104. The main controller 104 includes or communicates with the main logic elements of the under-bed lighting system 100. Although illustrated as a single integrated construction, other alternatives are contemplated within the scope of this disclosure. The main controller 104 can be mechanically mounted on or integrated with the bed frame or other structure. The main controller 104 includes a microcontroller or other digital signal processor 106. The main controller 104 includes non-volatile memory or other data storage device 108, which communicates bidirectionally electronically with the microcontroller 106. The main controller 104 can include wired or wireless communication technologies, including Bluetooth 110, WiFi 112, near-field communication, a local area network modem, other communication technologies, or combinations thereof.

[0034] The main controller 104 may include at least one set of sensors 114 or be able to communicate with said at least one set of sensors. The set of sensors 114 may include one or more ultrasonic sensors 116, 118, one or more lidar sensors 120, and one or more passive infrared sensors (PIR) 122, 124. The set of sensors 114 may alternatively or additionally include one or more radar sensors 127. The set of sensors 114 may be mechanically mounted to or integrated with the bed frame or other structure. The set of sensors 114 may be centrally located within a compact package within the overall dimensions of the bed frame, or the set of sensors may be distributed around the bed frame in a separate arrangement. The set of sensors 114 is arranged to provide views of at least two lateral sides of the bed frame between the head and foot ends. In other embodiments, the set of sensors 114 may provide views of at least three sides of the bed, including the two lateral sides and the foot end. In other embodiments, the set of sensors 114 may provide views of all four sides of the bed, including the two lateral sides, the head end, and the foot end.

[0035] Based on the signals generated by the set of sensors 114, the main controller 104 can generate output signals to one or more output components. The under-bed lighting system 100 may include a lighting output component 126, an audio output component 128, a bed frame adjustment component 130, or a combination thereof. The lighting output component 126 may include one or more LED drivers 122 and one or more lighting strips 124 communicating with the microcontroller 106. The lighting strips 124 may include individually addressable LEDs for selectively illuminating discrete areas around the bed, these discrete areas being evenly distributed around the perimeter of the bed and potentially facing downwards. The audio output component 128 may include audio signals from one or more... 202 Amplifier 126, the one or more amplifiers communicating with one or more subwoofers 128 and / or one or more speakers 140. Bed frame adjustment components 120 may include one or more actuator drivers and one or more actuators associated with, for example, head support panels and foot support panels, to obtain various support configurations.

[0036] Further reference below Figures 2 to 11 The illustrations depict the operation and execution of methods associated with the under-bed lighting system 100. Figure 2The diagram illustrates the continuous operation of an under-bed lighting system, where the system is powered on and in an idle state. When idle at 202, the under-bed lighting system awaits a high signal from a PIR sensor. A high signal (“Yes”) at 204 transitions the under-bed lighting system from idle to active and wakes up sensor suite 114 at 206; otherwise, the under-bed lighting system remains idle. The environmental sensing unit or the set of sensors 114 is awakened and ready to generate data according to commands. Once the set of sensors 114 is awakened, the sensing unit is queried at 208 to obtain raw data (e.g., acquiring a raw scan). The raw data is held in a 2×N dimensional array that holds the environment in polar coordinates relative to the sensing unit. Column 0 holds angle measurements (in degrees), and column 1 holds the corresponding distances (in mm). In the data correction operation at 210, the absolute value of the difference between the calibrated data and the raw data is calculated. Any absolute value greater than 150 mm is identified as a new element in the environment. Any element with an absolute value less than 150 mm is identified as a nominal environment / calibrated environment.

[0037] In the data filtering operation at 212, a median filter with a predefined mask size is applied to all corrected data. This filtering operation denoises the corrected data. At 214, gesture and posture command inputs are searched in the filtered data. The search for gesture / posture control is described in further detail below. If a gesture or posture command is found, the under-bed lighting system updates the under-bed lighting LEDs at 216 using the corresponding light sequence, or executes the commanded operation, for example, in the sound output or adjustment components. If no gesture or posture command is present in the data within 30 seconds of sensor wake-up, a timeout occurs, and sensor 114 is put to sleep at 218, returning the under-bed lighting system to an idle state.

[0038] exist Figure 3The search for recognizing gestures or posture commands is described in detail. Bipedal tracking (i.e., tracking of both legs) is performed at 302. At 304, any filtered data spanning a distance x > 50 mm in width (where 750 mm < x < 5 m) is identified as candidate legs. If two candidate legs are identified as being within 3 feet of each other, the centroid is located, and at 306, the vector relative to (0,0) (the sensor) to that centroid is determined as the person's location. The LED identified at 308 as centered on the vector intersecting the perimeter of the bed (i.e., determining which LED to turn on) is turned on at 360 (i.e., updating the LED). The number of LEDs identified at 308 as to be turned on increases as the user approaches the bed, and those additional or different LEDs are turned on at 360. The intensity of the LEDs can also be determined to increase at 308 as the user approaches the bed, and the intensity of the LEDs can be increased at 308 (i.e., updating the LED). A Gaussian filter is always applied, or can be applied, relative to the center LED to produce a diffuse light distribution. As the user moves around the bed, the LED positioning is updated at point 306. At point 306, up to two people can be identified at a time. If more than two people are detected at point 306, it can be determined at point 308 that the entire perimeter of the bed is illuminated, and the LED at point 360 is lit based on the determination made at point 308.

[0039] A "in bed" detection is performed at point 312, and a "out of bed" detection is performed at point 322. If a user is tracked from a distance of one meter or more from the perimeter of the bed, followed by an event where the user is not detected and this state is maintained for 5 seconds, the user is determined to be in a "in bed" state at point 312. At point 360, the LED is turned off once the user is in this state. If the user remains in a "in bed" state for more than a predefined number of minutes, and the user's legs are subsequently detected within one meter of the nominal perimeter of the bed, the under-bed lighting system determines that the user has left the bed at point 322. "In bed" and "out of bed" occurrences (total occurrences with discrete times) can be tracked at point 314, and the statistics can be made available to the user in the mobile application. At point 324, the time increment between the first occurrence of "in bed" and the last occurrence of "out of bed" is determined as a coarse sleep time. An offset from the standard sleep start time can be saved in the application to provide more accurate sleep tracking.

[0040] The under-bed lighting system can also be configured to recognize, for example, the posture of an arm or leg extending from the side adjacent to the bed near sensor 114 at point 332. For a gliding gesture, the arm is identified above the edge, and at point 334 the arm is detected moving towards the feet of the bed in a "gliding" motion, and at point 360 the LEDs for that half of the bed are turned on. For a stationary gesture, the arm hangs over the edge and remains still for more than one second to guide the under-bed lighting system to illuminate a small number of LEDs at a low brightness. If the user continues to keep their arm hanging and still at point 336, at point 360, additional LEDs centered at that position are turned and the brightness of all LEDs increases. The brightness of the LEDs always follows a Gaussian distribution around the center of mass of the stationary arm. For a "all off" gesture, the arm above the edge of the bed is identified at point 338, and the arm is moving towards the head of the bed in a "gliding" motion, and at point 360 all lights on that side of the bed are turned off. The gesture descriptions provided are exemplary and are not intended to be limiting. Other gesture controls can be defined within the under-bed lighting system and identified by the set of sensors 114 for selectively performing control operations.

[0041] It may be desirable to configure the under-bed lighting system 100 to distinguish between human occupants or users and other moving objects (such as pets or cleaning robots) as a form of pet interference suppression. If the bed is fully occupied and three or more candidate legs are identified within a 4-foot span, it is determined at 344 that no LED is on, because it is determined at 342 that this is a pet.

[0042] To improve the performance of under-bed lighting systems, adjustments can be made during the setup process or when the user changes the layout of the room or environment. Figure 4 The illustrated calibration operation 400. An event should be triggered when the room is in its nominal state and there are no occupants. This establishes nominal data, against which differences are later calculated. In the first step of calibration at 402, multiple scans taken by the set of sensors 114 are acquired, for example, approximately 25 raw scans (i.e., scans before calibration is applied). For each discrete integral angle from 0° to 359°, the median distance of the open space between the defined origins of the bed or sensors is determined at 404 and stored at 406. The median in the calibration scan represents the environmental boundary at that polar coordinate angle. An array of size 360 ​​stores the median distance to the environment for each discrete angle measurement. When the set of sensors 114 is activated, the distance from the origin at a given angle may differ from the calibration distance for that given angle and can be determined as active data points for controlling the under-bed lighting system and determining user presence or gesture input.

[0043] exist Figures 5 to 7Additional functionality of the under-bed lighting system is described. A "reverse alarm" operation 500 can be set in the application such that 30 minutes before the set time at 502 (or another time pre-programmed or determined by the user), the LED transitions from a bright state to a dim state at 504, for example, to indicate to the user that bedtime is approaching. When the reverse alarm time has arrived, the light can pulse slowly at a low intensity, or the light can turn off immediately or turn off after a sharp drop in intensity. An alarm operation 600 can be set in the application such that a pre-programmed or user-defined number of minutes (e.g., 30 minutes) before the set time at 602, the LED transitions from a dim state or off to a high intensity brightness at 604 to gently assist in waking the user. Once the alarm time has elapsed, the light can pulse slowly at a user-defined intensity, can remain at a high intensity, or can quickly switch off and on to the highest intensity with a flicker effect. Advantageously, the under-bed lighting system can be configured to activate the reverse alarm or alarm operation only when the user is in bed. If the under-bed lighting system determines that the bed is not occupied, the reverse alarm or alarm clock operation can be deactivated without user input (e.g., if the user is traveling).

[0044] Guided breathing exercises can be performed via an application at point 700. Two example lighting and massage schemes are provided that can be used to guide a user's breathing: In the first example 702 (e.g., global guided breathing operation), the head and foot massage motors increase and decrease in frequency, while the overall under-bed lighting increases and decreases uniformly in intensity. The increasing frequency and intensity signal the user to inhale. The decreasing frequency and intensity signal the user to exhale. In the second example 704 (e.g., linear guided breathing operation), the head massage transitions to a foot massage, while addressable LEDs illuminate from the head of the bed to the feet. To signal the user to exhale, the intensity of the massage vibrations and light decreases from a high intensity at the head and increases from a low intensity at the feet. To signal the user to inhale, the intensity of the massage vibrations and light increases from a low intensity at the head and decreases from a high intensity at the feet. These transitions partially correspond to the up-and-down undulating sensation of the user inhaling during the upward phase and exhaling during the downward phase. Under-bed lighting systems offer users selectable intensity levels and transition speeds at both high and low settings. To aid in sleep induction, under-bed lighting systems can allow for longer intervals during breathing exercises.

[0045] In an additional example of under-bed lighting system operation 800 (e.g., weather simulation operation), a user can activate a morning weather simulation via an app, for example, during alarm clock operation. Current weather information can be received from a remote device via Bluetooth or WiFi by the main controller. Then, when the user wakes up after the alarm has been triggered, different weather conditions are simulated using the under-bed LEDs according to predefined associated lighting patterns. In one example, to simulate snow at 802, the under-bed LEDs can be used in an intensity cycle to present a flashing appearance using white. In another example, to simulate a sunny day with little or no cloud cover at 804, LEDs can be used for continuous yellow lighting or high-intensity pulsed lighting. To simulate a cloudy day at 806, blue can be illuminated up and down in a wave-like pattern on the sides of the bed. To simulate rain at 808, a whiter or darker blue intensity can be illuminated along the perimeter of the bed. These example weather simulations are not intended to be limiting, and other examples are conceivable within the scope of this disclosure.

[0046] Now for reference Figures 9 to 11 Example lighting states are shown, which can be determined based on information about... Figure 2 and Figure 3 The described programming is used to perform (e.g., updating LED 216 based on determined posture 214 and / or bipedal tracking 302, for example, by calculating the vector to the center of mass 306 and determining LED 308, and updating LED 360 accordingly). Figure 9 In this system, the under-bed lighting system 100 detects a user at a first distance from the bed based on one or more signals generated by the set of sensors 114. The under-bed lighting system illuminates the portion of the bed closest to the detected user at a first low intensity. Figure 10 In this system, the under-bed lighting system detects a user at a second closest distance to the bed based on one or more signals generated by the set of sensors 114. The under-bed lighting system illuminates at a second high intensity, thereby covering a large portion of the area around the bed near the user. Figure 11 This illustrates the bed's response as the user moves in a direction parallel to the bed's perimeter. The lighting intensity remains constant within a constant distance between the bed and the user, and the positioning of the energized LEDs along the perimeter translates along the side of the bed in a manner corresponding to the user's changing position relative to the bed.

[0047] refer to Figure 12The under-bed lighting system 1200 is an implementation of the under-bed lighting system 100, which includes a sensor 127 and an LED light strip 124 (as shown), and may also typically include an external power supply 102, a main controller 104, a microcontroller 106, a memory 108, and an LED driver 122 (not shown). The under-bed lighting system 1200 may also include other components described for the under-bed lighting system 100 (e.g., communication devices such as Bluetooth 110 or WiFi 112, additional sensors in the sensor suite 104, actuators for the bed frame adjustment components 130, and / or audio components). The sensor 127 may be, for example, a radar sensor. The sensor 127 may be positioned under the bed 2 (e.g., attached to the underside of the bed frame supporting its mattress), above the floor where the bed 2 is positioned, and facing the head of the bed. Sensor 127 may have a lateral field of view that extends substantially uniformly to the left and right sides of bed 2 within an angular range, for example, between 100 and 170 degrees (e.g., between 110 and 140 degrees, such as approximately 120 degrees). The vertical field of view of sensor 127 may be limited (e.g., constrained) by bed 2 and the floor. Alternatively, under-bed lighting system 1200 may include additional sensors 127 at other locations (e.g., three sensors among sensors 127, typically corresponding to sensing a person on the left, foot, and right sides of bed 2, and may be arranged adjacent to these sides of bed 2 or at a central location under bed 2).

[0048] Additional reference Figure 13 and Figure 14 The under-bed lighting system 1200 is configured to represent one or more users, determine the location of each user, and accordingly illuminate the LEDs of the LED strip 124, for example, by adjusting the position and brightness of the LEDs. For example, the under-bed lighting system 1200 may determine to illuminate one or more LEDs positioned approximately between the sensor 127 and the user; the closer the person is to the sensor 127, and thus closer to the bed 2, the brighter the LEDs become; and the closer the user is to the sensor 127, and thus closer to the bed 2, the more LEDs may be illuminated.

[0049] refer to Figure 13The under-bed lighting system 1200 is configured to identify people, for example, to distinguish people (i.e., humans) from objects and animals. The under-bed lighting system 1200 can be configured, for example, to identify people by first identifying various targets and their movement. Those targets can be detected using sensor 127 and suitable software executed by controller 104 (e.g., microcontroller 106). Those targets that are detected and determined to be non-moving (e.g., furniture) are determined not to be people, for example, by not detecting their movement for a threshold time (e.g., 3 seconds, more or less). Non-moving targets can be repeatedly detected while operating the under-bed lighting system 1200 or stored by the under-bed lighting system 1200 and detected periodically. Those targets that are detected and determined to be moving can be identified as people, for example, by detecting two targets corresponding to a person's legs (e.g., as described above for bipedal tracking) that are close to each other (e.g., within a threshold distance, such as within two feet or less), and these two targets together are identified as one person. If more (e.g., three or more) moving objects are detected very close to each other, the objects can be identified as non-human (e.g., animals). The under-bed lighting system 1200 can identify one, two or more individuals.

[0050] Still referencing Figure 13 The under-bed lighting system 1200 is also configured to determine the location of any identified person. As mentioned above with the under-bed lighting system 100, the under-bed lighting system 1200 can determine the location of the identified person by identifying the centroid of the identified person. For example, the under-bed lighting system 1200 can determine the vector from sensor 127 to each leg of the identified person (i.e., determine the distance and direction) and average these vectors to determine the person's location. Alternatively, the under-bed lighting system can determine the location in any other way, for example, by determining the location of the identified person as the object (i.e., a leg) closest to sensor 127, for example, by determining the vector from sensor 127 to the nearest leg. In this way, the under-bed lighting system 1200 determines the precise location of the person.

[0051] The position of each person can also be determined based on approximate location, for example, based on side zones and proximity zones (e.g., forming a grid around bed 2). The position of a person can be located relative to sensor 127 at different lateral positions (e.g., left, foot, or right side of bed 2) and at different proximity levels (i.e., stepped distances from bed 2 and / or sensor 127). A side can generally be defined as a first side zone 1212 (e.g., left side zone), a second side zone 1214 (e.g., foot side zone), and a third large zone 1216 (e.g., right side zone). The second side zone 1214 can generally be an angular region extending from sensor 127 to the left and right corners near the foot side of bed 2. The first side zone 1212 is an angular region to the left of the second side zone 1214 and within the field of view of sensor 127, and the third large zone 1216 is an angular region to the right of the second side zone 1214 and within the field of view of sensor 127. The under-bed lighting system 1200 can be configured with more than three side zones, for example, having two left side zones, two right side zones, and two foot side zones. The under-bed lighting system 1200 can be programmed to have side zones 1212, 1214, and 1216 (e.g., predefined, determined during calibration, or programmed by the user, for example, by inputting a standard bed size), and can determine whether one or more users are within one or more of the side zones 1212, 1214, and 1216 (e.g., by calculating the center of mass 306 from sensor 127 to the user).

[0052] A person can also be positioned at different distances from sensor 127, and thus at different distances from the sensor relative to bed 2. The distance from the user to sensor 127 or bed 2 can be defined as a first proximity zone 1222 (e.g., near proximity zone) closest to bed 2, a second proximity zone 1224 (e.g., intermediate proximity zone) between the first proximity zone 1222 and the third proximity zone 1226, and a third proximity zone 1226 farthest from the bed (e.g., far proximity zone). The under-bed lighting system 1200 can be programmed to have proximity zones 1222, 1224, and 1226 (e.g., predefined, determined during calibration, or programmed by the user, e.g., by inputting a standard bed size). Although depicted as a generally semi-circular area emanating from sensor 127, proximity zones 1222, 1224, and 1226 can alternatively be defined as distances from the perimeter of bed 2. The near proximity zone 1222 may originate from the perimeter of bed 2 and extend radially outward from bed 2 by a single distance (e.g., between 50 cm and 100 cm), extend radially outward from sensor 127 by a single distance, or extend radially outward from bed 2 or around the perimeter of sensor 127 by a variable distance. The intermediate proximity zone 1224 originates from the outer edge of the near proximity zone 1222 and extends radially outward from it by a single distance or a variable distance, such as between 50 cm and 100 cm. The far proximity zone 1226 originates from the outer edge of the intermediate proximity zone 1224 and extends radially outward from it by a single distance or a variable distance, such as between 50 cm and 100 cm. The outer edge of the far proximity zone 1226 may, for example, be between 150 cm and 300 cm from the perimeter of bed 2 (e.g., between 175 cm and 225 cm). The under-bed lighting system 1200 may define fewer or more proximity zones (e.g., two, four, or five).

[0053] Side zones 1212, 1214, 1216 and adjacent zones 1222, 1224, 1226 can collaboratively define the detection area 1230 of the under-bed lighting system 1200, in which the user must adjust the LED output according to the user's position. By determining the approximate position of each person, the under-bed lighting system 1200 can illuminate the LEDs more stably than by continuously adjusting based on the precise position of the person.

[0054] For example, still refer to Figure 13The under-bed lighting system 1200 can perform a method 1300 for determining the location of one or more people, which utilizes a sensor 127 and a controller 104 (e.g., a microcontroller 106). Method 1300 typically includes identifying targets 1310, determining movement of the identified targets 1320, grouping the moving targets 1330, classifying the grouped moving targets as people 1340, and determining the location of each of these people 1350. Method 1300 may also include determining the approximate location of each of these people 1360.

[0055] The identification of a target 1310 is performed using sensors 127 (e.g., transmitting and receiving signals) and controller 104. Target identification 1310 may include determining the distance and direction to the target.

[0056] Determining movement 1320 includes continuously determining the distance and direction of the identified target, and identifying changes in distance and direction over time (e.g., within a specified threshold time period).

[0057] Grouping of moving targets is performed by determining, for example, their proximity to each other, such as within a threshold distance of each other over time (e.g., within two feet or less of each other).

[0058] The classification of grouped objectives into human (1340) is based on the number of objectives in each group. If a group contains two objectives, the group is classified as human. Alternatively, if a group contains fewer than two objectives (i.e., two or one objective), the group is classified as human. If a group contains an additional number of objectives, the group is classified as non-human, for example, in a binary manner or another type of objective.

[0059] Determining the person's position 1350 is performed continuously and can be done in various ways, such as as the direction and distance of the person's nearest identified target (i.e., one leg) or as the average of the direction and distance of the person's targets (i.e., both legs). The position determined in 1350 can be considered a precise position. Determining the approximate position 1360 can be performed continuously based on the person's precise position, for example, by determining a lateral region (e.g., as an angular region among two, three, or more angular regions relative to sensor 127 and bed 2) and a proximity region (e.g., as a distance region among two, three, or more distance regions relative to sensor 127 and bed 2).

[0060] refer to Figure 14As mentioned above, the under-bed lighting system 1200 is configured to illuminate the LEDs of the LED strip 124 as a person moves relative to the bed 2. For example, the under-bed lighting system 1200 can be configured to turn the LEDs on and off as a person enters or leaves the detection area, change the position of the light output as the person moves around the bed 2, and increase the intensity of the light output as one or more people move toward the bed 2.

[0061] When no one is in the detection area (such as when a person is too far from bed 2 or on bed 2), the under-bed lighting system 1200 will not output light based on the position of these persons. It should be noted that the under-bed lighting system 1200 can be configured to still output light according to other criteria. When a person enters the detection area 1230, the under-bed lighting system 1200 begins to output light, and when the person leaves the detection area 1230, the under-bed lighting system 1200 stops outputting light. As described above, the detection area 1230 can be defined relative to the sensor 127 (such as distance or a combination of distance and orientation) (see [reference]). Figure 12 and Figures 15A to 15C ), or defined relative to bed 2 (such as distances from its left, right and foot sides) (see Figures 16A to 16C The detection area 1230 may include side areas 1212, 1214, 1216 and adjacent areas 1222, 1224, 1226. The detection area 1230 may extend, for example, from the left, right and foot sides of the bed 2 at a uniform or varying distance (such as between 175 cm and 225 cm), curving around the corners of the bed 2 or extending parallel to the sides of the bed 2.

[0062] The under-bed lighting system 1200 can also be configured to output light based on each identified person or each of a group of people, and typically output light when the number of identified people exceeds a threshold number (such as two). For example, if more than two people are detected, the under-bed lighting system 1200 may output light around the entire perimeter of the bed 2 where the LED is located, stop outputting light, output light only based on the first person detected, or output light based on the person closest to the bed 2.

[0063] The under-bed lighting system 1200 can also be configured to transition between lighting states. For example, as a person enters the detection area from the periphery, the LED can gradually increase its brightness from 0% to an initial brightness (e.g., between 25% and 75% of maximum brightness) over a predetermined time period (e.g., 3 seconds). As a person enters the detection area from the bed 2, the LED can gradually increase its brightness from 0% to maximum brightness over a predetermined time period (e.g., 3 seconds if starting from maximum brightness). As the person leaves the detection area, the LED's brightness may gradually decrease to 0% of maximum brightness over a predetermined time period corresponding to the initial brightness (e.g., 3 seconds if starting from maximum brightness).

[0064] Still referencing Figure 14 The under-bed lighting system 1200 is configured to perform method 1400, which typically includes determining the position of a person 1410, outputting light 1420, and changing the light output 1430. The method may also include determining the number of people 1405.

[0065] The determination of the number of people 1405 and the determination of the location of people 1410 can be performed according to the method 1300 described previously.

[0066] The output light 1420 includes outputting light 1420A for each of these people. For example, if the number of people is two or fewer (i.e., equal to or less than a threshold of two), light is output discretely for each of these people. More specifically, the light is output by LEDs with a position and brightness corresponding to the location of each user. For example, the under-bed lighting system 1200 determines which of these LEDs outputs light based on the orientation of the person relative to sensor 127 or bed 2. The under-bed lighting system 1200 also determines the brightness of the light output by these LEDs based on the distance of the person relative to sensor 127 or bed 2.

[0067] For example, as described above regarding vectors intersecting the perimeter of the bed, the under-bed lighting system 1200 can determine and output light from those LEDs based on the user's precise location by means of light output from those LEDs near (e.g., intersecting and on either side) a line extending between the user and sensor 127 or another location (e.g., the center portion or centroid of bed 2). Figures 15A to 15C In another example, the under-bed lighting system 1200 can determine and output light from which LEDs in the side zones 1212, 1214, 1216 where the person is located, based on the person's approximate position (e.g., most LEDs are located in the corresponding side zone, while there are no or only a relatively small number of LEDs in adjacent side zones (see example...) Figures 16A to 16C ).

[0068] In addition, the under-bed lighting system 1200 determines and outputs light from the LEDs, the brightness of which corresponds to the proximity of the person to the bed 2 of the sensor 127. For example, the brightness can gradually increase from an initial brightness at the outer edge of the detection area 1230 (e.g., between 25% and 75% of the maximum brightness, such as between 40% and 60%) to the maximum brightness at the outer perimeter of the bed 2 (e.g., 100%) (see example). Figures 15A to 15CWhen configured to output light based on a person's precise location, the gradual increase can be linear, for example, based on distance or another curve. Alternatively, when configured to output light based on a user's approximate location, the brightness can increase in a stepwise manner from an initial brightness in the outer neighboring zone 1326 (e.g., as described above), through a moderate brightness in the intermediate neighboring zone 1324 (e.g., between 60% and 90%, such as between 70% and 80%), to the maximum brightness in the inner neighboring zone 1322.

[0069] The output light 1420 may include outputting light 1420B based on a group of people. For example, if the number of people is greater than one or more than a threshold (e.g., two), light is output based on the group rather than individually based on all people. Outputting light based on the group of people may include outputting light around the entire edge where the LED is located or on the side of the bed 2 where the group is located, based on the nearest or first person identified in the group (e.g., as described above with respect to 1420A) (e.g., in cases where the brightness varies or does not vary based on the distance to the group of people).

[0070] The variable light output 1430 includes gradually changing the manner and position of the output light as the number of people and / or their positions change. For example, when the number of people changes from zero to more than zero, the brightness of the light output can gradually increase from 0% to the initial brightness when a person enters the detection area from the outer periphery of the detection area, or to the maximum brightness when a person enters the detection area from bed 2, within a predetermined time (or a predetermined brightness versus time curve). (See 15A to...) Figure 15C As shown and described in these figures, the position and brightness of the light output can gradually change as the user moves. Figures 16A to 16C As shown, the position and output of the light change in a stepped manner (e.g., based on the approximate position within the side regions 1312, 1314, 1316 and the adjacent regions 1322, 1324, 1326), and can change gradually between each step (e.g., within a predetermined time period, such as 3 seconds, or a predetermined brightness versus time curve, such as a linear curve of brightness from 0% to 100% within a predetermined time period).

[0071] Referring to the above Figures 15A to 15C and Figures 16A to 16C The diagram illustrates different light outputs based on a person's precise and approximate location. In each case, the field of view of sensor 127 is depicted by a long dashed line. The detection area 1230 is depicted by a dotted line. The light output is depicted by a thick solid line, where thicker lines represent brighter outputs. In each case, when a person is outside the detection area 1230 or on the bed 2, the under-bed lighting system 2 does not output light based on the person's position. Figures 15A to 15C This indicates that light is output based on the precise position of the person relative to sensor 127 and bed 2, where... Figure 15A In the middle, the person is positioned at a distance to the right of bed 2. Figure 15B In the middle, the person is positioned at a moderate distance to the left of bed 2, and... Figure 15C In this position, the person is positioned at a close distance to the foot of the bed (position 2). Figures 15A to 15C In this configuration, light is emitted from an LED that is typically located between the person and the sensor 127 (e.g., around a line between the sensor 127 and the person). Figures 16A to 16C This indicates that the output light is based on the approximate position of the person relative to sensor 127, and these approximate positions are similar to those typically used for... Figures 15A to 15C Those described are the same. Figures 16A to 16C In the middle, light is output from LEDs positioned along the side of the bed corresponding to the person.

[0072] refer to Figure 17 The under-bed lighting system 1700 is a variation of the under-bed lighting systems 100 and 1200, configured to output images to a person. The under-bed lighting system 1700 typically includes a sensor 127 (e.g., a radar sensor or a PIR sensor) and an image projector 1725. The under-bed lighting system may also typically include an external power supply 102, a main controller 104, a microcontroller 106, and a memory 108, and may also include those other components of the under-bed lighting system 100, such as an LED driver 122 (not shown), an LED strip 124, and / or other components described for the under-bed lighting system 100. For example, in addition to projecting images, the under-bed lighting system 1700 can be configured to operate as previously described for the under-bed lighting systems 100 and 1200, for example, to utilize LED light output based on the person's position.

[0073] The under-bed lighting system 1700 is configured to detect people and output images to them, for example, by projecting the images downwards onto the ground for people to view. The under-bed lighting system 1700 can be configured for sales environments (e.g., bed showrooms), bedroom environments, or both.

[0074] The under-bed lighting system 1700 utilizes sensor 127 to detect people; for example, as described above, sensor 127 is a radar sensor, or it can simply utilize a PIR sensor to detect movement. An image projector 1725 is mounted under the bed 2 or otherwise around the perimeter of the bed 2. The image projector 1725 can be configured to output one or more fixed images (e.g., one or more slides, which may be in a rotating slide projector or manually switched by the user), which may include sales information about the bed 2. The image projector 1725 can be a display projector (such as a DLP, as previously mentioned), which can be configured to output one or more programmed images or motion graphics.

[0075] In sales environments where multiple beds are positioned close together, the image projector 1725 can be positioned at the foot of bed 2, which is generally more easily accessible for viewing by people (e.g., customers). In bedroom environments, the image projector 1725 can output graphics that provide variable information to people (e.g., daily changing weather information, information about a person's sleep patterns). In bedroom environments, the under-bed lighting system 1700 can include the image projector 1725 positioned on the side of the bed, as shown.

[0076] The under-bed lighting system 1700 can be a single under-bed lighting system configured to operate differently in both a sales environment and a bedroom environment. For example, the under-bed lighting system 1700 can be configured with different detection areas 1730 and 1230 in the sales environment and the bedroom environment, for example, capable of switching between a first mode (e.g., sales mode) and a second mode (e.g., bedroom mode), in which the detection area 1730 extends further from the bed 2 than in the second mode, in which the detection area 1230 extends as previously described. The detection area 1730 can have the same angular width (e.g., field of view) as the detection area 1230 or narrower (e.g., [missing information]). Figure 17 (As shown).

[0077] For the purposes of this disclosure, the terms “couple” or “installation” (in all forms, e.g., couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally refer to the direct or indirect connection of two components (electrical or mechanical components) to each other. Unless otherwise stated, such connection may be inherently fixed or inherently movable; may be achieved by the two components (electrical or mechanical components) and any additional intermediate members forming a single unit with or on each other; and may be inherently permanent or inherently removable or detachable. Similarly, unless otherwise stated, all forms of the terms “couple,” “support,” “joint,” and “installation” should be similarly understood to include direct or indirect, permanent or non-permanent, rigid or flexible.

[0078] For the purposes of this disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to indicate the presence of one or more elements in the foregoing description. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that additional elements may exist in addition to those listed. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “implementation” in this disclosure are not intended to be construed as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the described features. Furthermore, the terms “first,” “second,” etc., as used herein, do not indicate any order, number, or importance, but are used to indicate an element distinct from another element.

[0079] As will be understood by those skilled in the art as covered by embodiments of this disclosure, the numbers, percentages, ratios, or other values ​​stated herein are intended to include such values, as well as other values ​​for which “about” or “approximately” is used. Therefore, the stated values ​​should be interpreted broadly to encompass values ​​that are at least sufficiently close to the stated values ​​to perform the desired function or achieve the desired result. For example, the terms “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially” can refer to amounts less than 5%, less than 1%, less than 0.1%, and less than 0.01% of the stated amount.

[0080] Furthermore, it should be understood that any direction or frame of reference in the preceding description is only relative to direction or movement. For example, the terms “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” “back,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “inner,” “outer,” and their derivatives should be understood in relation to… Figure 1 The orientation shown is as indicated. However, it should be understood that various alternative orientations may be provided unless expressly stated otherwise. It should also be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the drawings and described in this specification are merely exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept defined in the appended claims. Therefore, unless expressly stated otherwise in the claims, the specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein should not be considered limiting.

[0081] Changes and modifications can be made to the specifically described embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention, which are limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law. This disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it should be understood that the terminology used is intended to be descriptive rather than restrictive. In view of the foregoing teachings, many modifications and variations of this disclosure are possible, and this disclosure can be implemented in ways different from those specifically described.

Claims

1. An under-bed lighting system, the under-bed lighting system comprising: A sensor that can be mounted on the underside of the bed and has a field of view extending to the left, foot, and right sides of the bed; One or more lights, the one or more lights being configured to be mounted to the bed and to emit light downward from the bed; and A controller configured to detect a person using the sensor and, based on the detection of the person, operate the lamp to output the light.

2. The under-bed lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a radar sensor.

3. The under-bed lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the one or more lamps comprise light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

4. The under-bed lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controller is configured to determine the position of the person based on the sensor, and to operate the lamp to output the light based on the position of the person.

5. The under-bed lighting system of claim 4, wherein the position includes the direction and location from the sensor to the person, wherein the controller determines which of the LEDs outputs the light based on the direction, and determines the brightness of the light output by those LEDs based on the distance.

6. The under-bed lighting system of claim 5, wherein the controller identifies the LEDs that output the light as those LEDs surrounding a vector extending from the sensor to the person.

7. The under-bed lighting system according to any one of claims 5 to 6, wherein as the person moves closer to the bed, the controller gradually increases the brightness of the light output by the LED.

8. The under-bed lighting system of claim 5, wherein the controller determines which LEDs of the LEDs output light based on one of three or more side zones in which the person is located, each side zone being an angular zone within the field of view of the sensor.

9. The under-bed lighting system according to any one of claims 5 or 8, wherein as the person moves closer to the bed from an outer proximity zone to an inner proximity zone, the controller increases the brightness of the light output by the LED in a stepped manner, the outer proximity zone being positioned away from the bed and the inner proximity zone being adjacent to the bed.

10. The under-bed lighting system of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to determine when the person enters or leaves the detection area and gradually increase or decrease the brightness of the light output by the LED, respectively.

11. The under-bed lighting system of claim 3, wherein if the controller determines the positions of two people, the controller operates the light according to the positions of the two people.

12. The under-bed lighting system of claim 11, wherein if the controller determines the positions of three or more individuals, the controller operates the light based on only one of the three individuals.

13. The under-bed lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the one or more lamps include a projector configured to project one or more images onto the ground.

14. The under-bed lighting system of claim 13, wherein the projector is configured to display one or more static images.

15. The under-bed lighting system according to any one of claims 13 to 14, wherein the under-bed lighting system is configured to operate in a first mode having a first detection area and a second mode having a second detection area, the first detection area extending further from the sensor than the second detection area.

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