Wireless Wake-Up Alarm with Occupant Sensing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional wake-up alarms can be disabled by users, require displays and input controls for configuration, and lack features to prevent oversleeping, leading to increased manufacturing costs and ineffective operation.
Innovation Solution
A wireless wake-up alarm system with occupant-sensing load cell assemblies connected to a micro-controller unit, enabling configuration via personal computing devices and ensuring the alarm can only be silenced by exiting the bed, eliminating the need for displays and input controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional alarm clocks include display and input control components for configuration, then users can configure alarm settings, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the display and input control components from the alarm clock system, moving these configuration functions to a separate personal computing device. The alarm clock itself retains only the essential alarm function with occupancy sensing, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while preserving configuration capability through wireless communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a personal computing device as an intermediary between the user and the alarm clock. This intermediary handles all configuration tasks through wireless communication, allowing the alarm clock to be manufactured without expensive display and input components while full configuration functionality is maintained through the intermediary device.
2Ease of operation
If traditional alarm clocks allow manual disabling after alarm trigger, then users have flexibility, but occupants can oversleep past designated alarm time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous occupancy feedback sensing that monitors whether the occupant has actually left the bed. The alarm system uses this feedback to automatically determine when to silence the alarm, replacing manual disabling controls. This ensures the alarm remains active until the intended wake-up action (exiting the bed) is verified, preventing oversleeping while maintaining operational reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The alarm system performs the silencing decision automatically based on occupancy detection, eliminating the need for manual disabling controls. The system serves itself by monitoring occupancy status and autonomously silencing the alarm when the occupant exits the bed, ensuring wake-up effectiveness without requiring user intervention that could lead to oversleeping.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If mechanical pressure switches are used for occupancy detection, then alarm can detect occupant presence, but sensitivity calibration requires trial-and-error and detection is limited to specific regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical pressure switches with electronic occupancy sensing technology. This substitution eliminates the need for manual sensitivity calibration through trial-and-error, as electronic sensors provide consistent, programmable detection thresholds. The electronic system also enables full-surface occupancy detection rather than limited regional detection, simplifying operation while maintaining detection capability.
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
Prevents unauthorized tampering and oversleeping by requiring users to exit the bed to silence the alarm, reducing manufacturing costs and enhancing user compliance with configured wake-up times.
Implementation Method 1
an occupant-sensing apparatus comprising a load cell assembly attached to a bedpost of a bed and configured to detect a weight of an occupant on a sleeping surface of the bed
Data Source
AI summary
A wake-up alarm with occupant-sensing apparatus attached to a bed which is configured via wireless protocol with a personal computing device of the occupant of the bed. During an alarm period, defined by a turn-on time and turn-off time, the alarm will emit an alarm sound when an occupant is detected in the bed. During the alarm period, the alarm cannot be disabled.