Infant Support Motion Control With Independent Lateral and Lift Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing infant care devices lack the capability for simultaneous or independent movement in multiple directions, limiting the variety of motion profiles that can be generated, which restricts their ability to provide a range of soothing and entertaining motions for infants.
Innovation Solution
The infant care apparatus features a base with a drive mechanism that includes a lateral motion assembly and a lifting motion assembly, allowing for independent control of horizontal and vertical movements, combined with a vibratory mechanism, to create a variety of motion profiles that can be selected and adjusted through a control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single degree of motorized freedom is used to move the infant laterally, then the device can provide basic motion, but the variety of motion profiles is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The motion system is segmented into two independent motorized assemblies: a lateral motion assembly providing horizontal movement and a lifting motion assembly providing vertical movement. This segmentation allows each assembly to be controlled independently, enabling a wide variety of motion profiles through coordinated operation while keeping each individual assembly relatively simple in design
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of lateral and lifting motion assemblies creates a universal motion system capable of performing multiple different motion profiles (rocking, bouncing, swinging, etc.) using the same hardware platform, thereby achieving multi-functionality without proportionally increasing complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If motorized motion assemblies are added to provide multiple directions of movement, then motion profile variety increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic control of two motorized assemblies where the lateral motion assembly and lifting motion assembly can be independently adjusted in terms of motion amplitude, frequency, and phase. This dynamic adjustability allows the system to adapt to different motion profile requirements without requiring complex mechanical structures for each specific motion type
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the lateral motion assembly and lifting motion assembly into a single integrated infant care device, where both assemblies work in coordination to produce complex motion profiles. By combining these two relatively simple assemblies, the system achieves multi-directional movement capability without the complexity of a completely new mechanism
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
This design enables the infant care apparatus to provide a range of motion profiles, such as Car Ride, Kangaroo, Ocean Wave, Tree Swing, and Rock-A-Bye, which can be customized for soothing and entertaining infants, enhancing their comfort and engagement.
Implementation Method 1
a vibratory mechanism configured to vibrate the movable stage
Data Source
AI summary
An infant care apparatus includes a base. A drive mechanism and a vibratory mechanism are coupled to the base. A movable stage is movably mounted to the base. An infant support is coupled to the movable stage. The drive mechanism imparts a first cyclic motion to the movable stage, and imparts a second cyclic motion to at least part of the movable stage independent of the first cyclic motion and to the vibratory mechanism so that the vibration motor vibrates the movable stage. The infant support is coupled to the movable stage and moves cyclically in both the first and second cyclic motions. The controller is configured to move the infant support in a selectably variable motion profile with selectable vibration modes selected from different selectably variable motion profiles and selectably different vibration modes for each of the different selectable variable motion profiles.