US 11,376,178 B2Granted

Using force sensors to determine sleep parameters

AssigneeSleep Number Corporation

InventorsRamazan Demirli, Yuki Hino, Tyler Holmvik

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Abstract

A support platform supports a mattress. The support platform includes legs. Force sensors are coupled to the legs or to the support platform. The force sensors are configured to sense a force applied to each leg or support platform. A controller is configured to receive at least one force stream from at least one of the force sensors. The at least one force stream represents a force sensed by the force sensor. The controller is configured to, in responses to receiving the at least one force stream, determine a sleep parameter from the following group of sleep parameters: bed presence, weight, heart rate, respiration rate, and motions. The controller is configured to output at least one or more of those parameters to an end user.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A bed system comprising:

a mattress comprising a first air bladder and a second air bladder;
at least one first pressure sensor in fluid communication with the first air bladder, the first pressure sensor configured to sense a pressure within the air bladder;
a support platform supporting the mattress, the support platform comprising a plurality of legs, wherein the plurality of legs comprises a first set of legs along a first side of the platform, wherein the first air bladder is nearer the side with the first set of legs, wherein the plurality of legs comprises a second set of legs along a second side of the platform, wherein the second air bladder is nearer the side with the second set of legs;
a plurality of force sensors, each of the plurality of force sensors coupled to one of the plurality of legs, the force sensors configured to sense a force applied to each leg, wherein the plurality of force sensors comprises a first set of force sensor and a second set of force sensors, wherein the first set of force sensors is coupled to the first set of legs and the second set of force sensors is coupled to the second set of legs;
and
a controller configured to:
receive a pressure stream from the first or second pressure sensor, the pressure stream representing the pressure sensed by the pressure sensor;
receive at least one force stream from at least one of the plurality of force sensors, the at least one force stream representing a force sensed by the force sensor;
generate, from at least the pressure stream and from the at least one force stream a sleeping parameter of a user;
determine that a home automation rule includes a condition that include at least the pressure stream and from the at least one force stream include the sleeping parameter of a user;
responsive to determining that a home automation rule includes a condition that include at least the pressure stream and from the at least one force stream include the sleeping parameter of a user, sending an instruction to drive a controllable device;
and
determine which side of the bed is being occupied by the user.

10 more elements

A bed system comprising:

a mattress comprising first and second air bladders positioned on first and second sides of the mattress and configured to support first and second users;
at least first and second pressure sensors in fluid communication with each of the first and second air bladder, the first and second pressure sensors configured to sense pressure within the first and second air bladders;
a support platform supporting the mattress, the support platform comprising at least four legs;
at least four force sensors coupled to each of the at least four legs, the force sensors configured to sense force applied to each leg;
and
a controller in data communication with each of the at least four force sensors and the at least first and second pressure sensors, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive a first pressure stream and a second pressure stream from the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor respectively, the first pressure stream and the second pressure stream representing the pressure sensed by the respective pressure sensor;
receive at least one force stream from at least one of the force sensors, the at least one force stream representing a force sensed by the force sensor;
generate, from at least one of the pressure streams and from the at least one force stream a sleeping parameter of a user;
determine that a home automation rule includes a condition that include at least one of the pressure streams and from the at least one force stream include the sleeping parameter of a user;
and
responsive to determining that a home automation rule includes a condition that include at least one of the pressure streams and from the at least one force stream include the sleeping parameter of a user, sending an instruction to drive a controllable device.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/682,675Filed 13 Nov 2019 · us provisional application
Priority: 14 Nov 2018
Published: US 2020/0146910 A114 May 2020
Granted: 5 Jul 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A47C 21/003
Attachments for beds, e.g. sheet holders or bed-cover holders ; Ventilating, cooling or heating means in connection with bedsteads or mattresses:…
A61G 7/0527
Parts, details or accessories of beds: weighing devices
A47C 27/082
Of pneumatic type: with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
A47C 27/083
Of pneumatic type: with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors