Optical Body Mapping System for Personalized Mattress Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mattress selection methods fail to account for individual body characteristics, leading to inadequate support and potential back pain, as they rely on general quality ratings rather than specific physique measurements, and existing pressure mapping technologies are expensive, complex, and ineffective for posture maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A system using optical mapping to create a 3D representation of body shape and pressure distribution, combined with existing data, to provide personalized mattress recommendations, featuring a flexible surface and supporting means that reduces pressure and captures body movement along axes to model the body's interface with a support surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pressure mapping technology is used to measure body characteristics, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebody characteristic measurementVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical pressure mapping systems with optical measurement techniques. Cameras capture images of the body and mattress surface, and software processes these images to derive pressure distribution and body characteristics without requiring arrays of pressure sensors or complex mechanical devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the pressure distribution and body characteristics through optical imaging. Instead of directly measuring pressure with sensors, the system captures images that represent the physical state, then processes these visual copies to extract measurement data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If pressure mapping is used to optimize pressure distribution, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to specialist expertise requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure distribution measurementVSAvoidsystem operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automatic image processing and analysis without requiring operator intervention or specialist knowledge. The software automatically captures images, processes them to determine pressure distribution and body characteristics, and provides measurements without needing calibration or adjustment by trained personnel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Complex mechanical pressure mapping systems requiring specialist operation are replaced with automated optical capture and digital image processing that can be operated by anyone with basic device operation skills.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If general quality ratings are used for mattress selection, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemattress selection processVSAvoidbody characteristic matching

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Subjective general quality ratings are replaced with objective optical measurements of body characteristics and mattress interaction. The system captures precise dimensional and pressure distribution data through imaging, providing quantifiable metrics for mattress selection rather than vague quality assessments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates detailed visual representations and measurements of the user's body characteristics and mattress interface, replacing generic quality ratings with specific, measurable data about the individual user-mattress interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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

Enables accurate and cost-effective mattress selection by providing a 3D mapping of body characteristics, improving spinal alignment and comfort by matching mattress properties to individual physique, reducing the need for expensive pressure mapping systems and complex expertise.

Implementation Method 1

The present invention provides a system for using optical mapping for producing a 3 dimensional mapping of the characteristics of a body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical mapping: Photogrammetry

Implementation Method 2

apparatus having a flexible surface configured for capturing the extent of movement of the flexible surface when a body is placed on the flexible surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10470584B2System, apparatus and method for measuring body characteristics

Publication Date: 2019.11.12 CHAPELGLADE

AI summary

The invention provides a system for using optical mapping for producing a 3 dimensional mapping of the characteristics of a body; the system comprising measuring the movement of at least one registration mark on a capture sheet along a predetermined axis and means for using this measurement of the movement of the at least one registration mark to provide an indicator of the characteristics of the body. The invention also provides an apparatus for measuring body characteristics and a method of measuring body characteristics.