Air Mat Internal Pressure Control Using Cell State Change Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air mat devices lack effective methods to control internal pressure of air cells in response to varying user loads, leading to potential discomfort and increased risk of decubitus ulcers, and require manual operations to estimate user weight.
Innovation Solution
An air mat device with a control unit that acquires time or state change quantity of air cells as control reference values to adjust air supply and exhaust based on user load, using existing detection units to estimate body weight without additional sensors, allowing for adaptive internal pressure control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual operations are used to estimate user weight, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The air mat device automatically estimates user body weight by itself using the detection unit and control unit, without requiring manual operation. The control unit acquires detection values from the detection unit and calculates body weight based on the relationship between detection values and body weight, making the system self-sufficient in obtaining user information for pressure adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated detection and calculation system. The detection unit detects air cell state changes, and the control unit processes this data to estimate body weight, substituting the need for manual weight estimation with an automated sensor-based system.
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are added to detect user weight, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detection unit originally designed to detect air cell state changes is made multi-functional by also using it to estimate user body weight. The control unit processes the detection values for dual purposes: monitoring air cell status and calculating body weight, eliminating the need for separate weight sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing detection unit and control unit serve the additional function of body weight estimation without requiring external sensors. The system uses its own existing components to gather and process the information needed for adaptive pressure control.
3Device complexity
If internal pressure is not adjusted according to user load, then device simplicity is maintained, but reliability and user comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously monitors detection values from the detection unit and adjusts the internal pressure of air cells based on the estimated body weight. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that pressure is dynamically adjusted according to user load, improving reliability and comfort while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal pressure of air cells is made dynamic rather than static. The control unit adjusts pressure based on real-time detection values and estimated body weight, allowing the system to adapt to changing user conditions and improve reliability under varying loads.
4Measurement precision
If pressure adjustment requires user to leave and return, then measurement accuracy improves, but loss of time and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs body weight estimation automatically while the user remains on the air mat, without requiring the user to leave and return. The detection unit and control unit continuously monitor and calculate body weight in real-time, eliminating the time-consuming manual process.
Solution Approach 2:
The body weight estimation and pressure adjustment process occurs continuously while the user is on the mat, rather than requiring intermittent interruptions. The control unit acquires detection values and adjusts pressure without breaking the continuous support provided to the user.
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.