Air Cell Pressure Control Using State Change and Load Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air mat devices lack effective methods for controlling internal pressure of air cells, particularly in adjusting to user weight, leading to inefficient dispersion of body pressure and potential discomfort.
Innovation Solution
An air mat device with a control unit that acquires time or state change quantity of air cells as a control reference value to adjust air supply and exhaust, allowing for precise estimation and adjustment of internal pressure based on user weight, using detection units for accurate measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If internal pressure of air cell is set manually or with fixed control methods, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and adaptability to user weight are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors the internal pressure of the air cell and automatically adjusts air supply or exhaust based on detected pressure deviations, creating a closed-loop feedback system that maintains precise pressure control without requiring complex manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The air mat device performs self-calibration by automatically detecting user weight through pressure sensors and adjusting internal pressure accordingly, eliminating the need for manual setup or calibration by users while maintaining high precision pressure control
2Adaptability or versatility
If air supply and exhaust operations are performed frequently to adjust internal pressure, then adaptability to user weight is improved, but loss of time and operational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit predicts the required pressure adjustment based on detected user weight and pre-calculates the optimal air supply or exhaust operation, executing the adjustment in advance before the user actually uses the mat, thereby reducing waiting time and improving responsiveness
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous or frequent adjustments, the system performs pressure adjustments at optimized periodic intervals based on user presence detection and pressure stability monitoring, reducing unnecessary operations while maintaining adaptability
3Ease of operation
If pressure measurement units are not maintained properly, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs calibration of pressure measurement units using reference pressure values stored in memory, maintaining measurement precision without requiring manual intervention or specialized knowledge from users
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors pressure measurements and compares them against calibrated reference values, automatically detecting drift or errors and triggering recalibration when measurement precision deteriorates
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
Enables accurate estimation and adjustment of internal pressure to match user weight, reducing burden on users and caregivers, preventing pressure imbalances that could lead to discomfort or injury, and maintaining calibrated pressure measurement units.
Implementation Method 1
a state change quantity of the air cell as a control reference value while changing a state of the air cell in a state where a user applies a load to the air cell
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an air mat device comprising a mat unit that has an air cell; an air supply and exhaust unit that supplies air to the air cell and exhausts the air from the air cell; and a control unit that acquires a state change quantity of the air cell or a time required for a state change of the air cell, as a control reference value, and that controls the air supply and exhaust unit in accordance with the control reference value. There is also provided an internal pressure control method of an air cell according to the above configuration.