Air Mattress Off-Bed Pressure Reset With Centralized Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air mattress systems lack a comprehensive architecture for efficient control and adjustment of firmness and position, often requiring separate remote controls and lacking automated features for pressure adjustment.
Innovation Solution
The proposed air bed system architecture incorporates a central controller that manages firmness, articulation, temperature, and other features through a networked system, allowing for single remote control operation and automated features like auto-fill and auto-adjust for pressure regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a central controller manages multiple features (firmness, articulation, temperature) through a networked system, then ease of operation is improved by enabling single remote control operation, but device complexity increases due to the integrated networked architecture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control functions (firmness adjustment, articulation control, temperature regulation) into a single central controller that manages all features through a networked system, allowing operation via one remote control instead of multiple separate controls
Solution Approach 2:
The central controller serves multiple functions simultaneously - it controls firmness levels, adjusts bed articulation positions, regulates temperature, and coordinates automated features like auto-fill and auto-adjust, making it a universal control hub for the entire mattress system
2Extent of automation
If automated features like auto-fill and auto-adjust are implemented for pressure regulation, then extent of automation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The auto-fill feature automatically inflates the mattress to the desired firmness level before the user arrives or before sleep time, while auto-adjust pre-configures pressure settings based on detected user presence or time of day, performing necessary adjustments in advance without user intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates pressure sensors and controllers that continuously monitor mattress firmness and automatically adjust pressure levels to maintain desired settings, creating a closed-loop feedback system that self-regulates without user input
3Device complexity
If separate remote controls are used for adjusting position and firmness, then device complexity is reduced by keeping control systems separate, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requiring multiple remotes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously separate control functions for position and firmness adjustment into a unified networked control system managed by a single central controller, which can be operated through one remote control interface
Solution Approach 2:
The central controller is designed as a universal control device that handles multiple functions including firmness adjustment, position control, temperature regulation, and automated features, eliminating the need for multiple specialized remotes
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system may include transmitting a signal to a pump of an air mattress to set the pressure of the air mattress to an initial pressure; receiving, at a central controller, a user preference condition for an automatic adjustment of the pressure in the air mattress; receiving, at the central controller, an indication that the air mattress is empty; and based on determining that the user preference condition has been met and receiving the indication: detecting a change in the pressure of the air mattress beyond a threshold value; and based on the detection, adjusting the pressure of the air mattress to the initial pressure.