Air mat device and internal pressure control method of air cell
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air mat devices lack effective methods for controlling internal pressure of air cells, particularly in scenarios where user weight is applied, leading to inefficient pressure setting and increased burden on users and caregivers.
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
1Adaptability or versatility
If the internal pressure of the air cell is set manually or by fixed rules, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different user body weights deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The air mat device automatically estimates the user's body weight by measuring the depression amount of the air cell and autonomously determines the optimal internal pressure without requiring manual input or complex sensors. The system serves itself by using the physical interaction between user body and air cell to derive control parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical weight measurement systems with a simpler approach that uses air cell depression measurement. Instead of using load cells or force sensors to directly measure body weight, the system measures the deformation of the air cell structure, which is then used to estimate weight and determine pressure settings.
2Measurement precision
If the air supply and exhaust unit continuously adjusts pressure, then the pressure control precision is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary estimation of the user's body weight and determines the target internal pressure before actually adjusting the air supply and exhaust. By calculating the required pressure adjustment in advance based on depression amount, the system minimizes unnecessary continuous adjustments and reduces energy consumption while maintaining precise pressure control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the depression amount measurement to dynamically adjust the internal pressure. The control unit continuously monitors the air cell depression and adjusts the air supply and exhaust accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that achieves precise pressure control only when necessary, thereby reducing overall energy consumption.
3Measurement precision
If the system requires user to leave the mat for weight measurement, then the measurement accuracy is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs body weight estimation automatically while the user remains on the mat, eliminating the need for the user to leave and re-enter. The air mat uses the depression caused by the user's body during normal usage to estimate weight and determine optimal pressure settings, making the process completely hands-free and user-friendly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs the weight estimation and pressure setting process in advance during the initial phase of usage, before the user needs to adjust their position or leave the mat. By completing the measurement and adjustment preliminarily, the system ensures accurate weight estimation without disrupting the user's comfort or requiring additional actions.
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.