Automatic sensing and adjustment of a bed system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current air mattress systems lack advanced sensing capabilities to automatically adjust firmness, temperature, and position based on user presence, sleep state, and biometric signals, limiting personalized comfort and sleep monitoring.
Innovation Solution
An air bed system with integrated pressure and temperature sensors, a control box, and a remote control that uses a processor to adjust air chamber pressure and temperature, along with an articulation controller to change bed positions, enabling real-time adjustments and monitoring of user biometrics and sleep patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If automatic sensing capabilities are added to adjust firmness, temperature, and position, then personalized comfort and sleep monitoring are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bed system is divided into multiple independently controllable zones with separate air chambers, temperature control elements, and sensor arrays. Each zone can be adjusted individually based on local sensing data, allowing personalized comfort without requiring a completely complex centralized system for the entire bed.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system integrates multiple functions into a single platform that handles pressure sensing, temperature regulation, firmness adjustment, and position control. This multi-functional approach reduces overall system complexity by consolidating control logic and communication protocols rather than using separate dedicated systems for each function.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and control mechanisms are integrated, then sleep monitoring accuracy is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors and control elements are integrated into the existing mattress structure layers. Pressure sensors are embedded within the mattress foam, temperature elements are incorporated into the comfort layers, and wiring is routed through pre-defined channels. This nesting approach allows high-precision monitoring while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes by adding sensors to existing structures rather than creating entirely new complex assemblies.
3Ease of operation
If real-time adjustment capabilities are added, then user comfort is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic sensing and incremental adjustment rather than continuous operation. Sensors take measurements at regular intervals, and the control system makes stepwise adjustments to firmness, temperature, and position based on detected changes in user state. This periodic approach enables real-time comfort adaptation while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous adjustment mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides personalized comfort by automatically adjusting firmness and temperature and monitors sleep patterns, enhancing user experience and sleep quality through advanced sensing and control mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The pump can be integrated with a sensory array including one or more pressure sensors
Implementation Method 2
The sensory array can include one or more temperature sensors
Implementation Method 3
The pump can be in fluid communication with the air chamber and can be configured to adjust the pressure within the air chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
An air mattress adjustment method includes adjusting the air mattress to a received user pressure setting, learning a level of pressure in the air mattress at a first plurality of times with respect to the user pressure setting, monitoring the level of pressure in the air mattress at a second plurality of times, determining that the pressure of the air mattress at one of the second plurality of times is out of range, and based on the determining, adjusting the pressure of the air mattress.