Adaptive Air Mattress Pressure Control for Personalized Sleep Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sleep systems fail to provide custom-tailored optimal comfort and support characteristics for individual users, as they are limited to fixed settings and do not account for body variances throughout the night or over time, and lack adjustable comfort levels.
Innovation Solution
A sleep system with a variable comfort layer and support layer, equipped with sensors and a control unit that analyze pressure data to automatically or manually adjust the inflatable members to provide optimal support and comfort based on user-specific characteristics and preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed sleep systems are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to individual user needs and body variances is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The sleep system is divided into multiple independently controllable inflatable zones (head zone, shoulder zone, hip zone, knee zone, etc.) that can be adjusted separately. Each zone has its own inflatable members that can be controlled by a control unit based on sensor feedback, allowing targeted adaptation to different body regions without requiring complete system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleep system transitions from a fixed structure to a dynamic, adjustable system using inflatable members that can change volume and pressure in real-time. The system continuously monitors user position and body characteristics through sensors and automatically adjusts inflation levels to adapt to body variances throughout the night, making the system dynamically responsive rather than statically fixed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed support and comfort characteristics are provided, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to accommodate body variances throughout the night is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor user position, body pressure distribution, and other physiological parameters. This feedback is processed by a control unit that automatically adjusts the inflation of various zones to maintain optimal support and comfort, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to body variances without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleep system performs self-adjustment through automated control based on sensor feedback, eliminating the need for manual adjustment by the user. The control unit independently monitors body variances and modifies inflation levels accordingly, allowing the system to serve itself in maintaining optimal conditions throughout the night.
3Loss of time
If generic sleep systems are selected during brief showroom testing, then purchasing decision time is reduced, but long-term suitability determination is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs the evaluation function that would otherwise require weeks of home testing by continuously monitoring user response to different support configurations and automatically determining optimal settings during the first night, eliminating the extended trial period requirement.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of comfort levels is allowed, then user control and customization are improved, but ease of operation may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to automatically detect user position and body characteristics, providing feedback to the control unit which then makes appropriate adjustments without requiring manual user input. This automated feedback loop maintains customization capability while eliminating the operational burden of manual adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic adjustment based on sensor feedback, eliminating the need for users to manually operate controls. The system serves itself by independently determining and implementing the optimal configuration based on real-time monitoring of user needs.
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
The system dynamically adjusts to provide the best combination of comfort and support, accommodating body variances and long-term changes, enhancing sleep quality by offering customizable and adaptive support and comfort settings.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of support layer inflatable members disposed between the layer of upper coils and a layer of lower coils... each of the plurality of comfort layer inflatable members and each of the plurality of support layer inflatable members adjustable independently of one another to vary a pressure applied by the comfort layer and the support layer, respectively
Data Source
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AI summary
A sleep system (201) is provided, comprising: a sleep support member (230), a data analysis unit and a control unit. The sleep support member comprises a comfort layer comprising a plurality of comfort layer inflatable members (234); and a comfort layer sensor configured to provide data relating to respective pressures of the comfort layer inflatable members. The data analysis unit (330) is configured to analyze data provided by the comfort layer sensor and to generate analyzed comfort layer data. The control unit (250) is configured to control a pressure within at least one of the comfort layer inflatable members using the analyzed comfort layer data. The data analysis unit is configured to determine an adjustment to a pressure of at least one of the comfort layer inflatable members that would cause the comfort layer to provide a more suitable combination of comfort characteristics and support characteristics for a person disposed on the sleep support member. The control unit is configured to adjust the pressure of the at least one of the comfort layer inflatable members based on the determined adjustment.