Bed Sensor Fusion for Snore and Breathing Detection Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snore and breathing monitoring systems often rely on single modality data, which are prone to false alarms from environmental noise and lack accuracy in distinguishing user presence and sleep status.
Innovation Solution
A bed system that integrates acoustic and pressure sensors to fuse acoustic energy and pressure variations from an inflatable mattress, enabling real-time snore and breathing monitoring by combining data from both modalities to enhance accuracy and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If single modality acoustic sensing is used, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to false alarms from environmental noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines acoustic sensing and pressure sensing into a unified bed monitoring system. The controller receives and processes signals from both acoustic sensors (microphones) and pressure sensors (force sensitive resistors) simultaneously, merging multiple sensing modalities to achieve more reliable snore and breathing detection while reducing false alarms from environmental noise.
2Device complexity
If single modality acoustic sensing is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to distinguish user presence and sleep status
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges acoustic sensing capability (for detecting snore sounds and breathing) with pressure sensing capability (for detecting user presence and sleep status) into a single integrated bed system. This combination allows the controller to reliably distinguish between different states (user present/asleep, user present/awake, no user) and accurately monitor snore and breathing parameters only when appropriate.
3Measurement precision
If acoustic and pressure sensors are integrated, then measurement precision improves through sensor fusion, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates acoustic sensors, pressure sensors, and a controller into a unified bed system where the controller fuses signals from both sensor types. This merging enables precise measurement of snore and breathing parameters by combining the strengths of acoustic sensing (detecting sound-based respiratory events) and pressure sensing (detecting mechanical movements and presence), achieving high accuracy despite increased system complexity.
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 dual sensing modality provides accurate and automated snore and breathing monitoring, reducing false alarms and improving detection by incorporating user presence and sleep status, making it more resistant to environmental noise.
Implementation Method 1
an acoustic sensor configured to sense acoustic energy in the environment of the user
Implementation Method 2
a pressure sensor configured to sense pressure applied to the mattress by the user laying on the mattress
Data Source
AI summary
A mattress supports a user. An acoustic sensor is configured to sense acoustic energy. A pressure sensor senses pressure applied to the mattress. A controller is configured to receive an acoustic stream from the acoustic sensor. The controller is further configured to receive a pressure stream from the pressure sensor. The controller is further configured to combine the acoustic stream and the pressure stream in order to generate a set of snore/breath parameters. The controller is further configured to determine that a home-automation rule includes a condition that includes the generated set of snore/breath parameters. The controller is further configured to, responsive to determining that a home-automation rule includes a condition that includes the generated set of snore/breath parameters, send an instruction to drive a controllable device to the controllable device.