System and method for maintaining air inflatable mattress configuration

An apparatus, comprising:

• an inflatable chamber;
• a transmitter positioned proximal a surface of the inflatable chamber;
• a receiver positioned proximal the surface of the inflatable chamber;
• and
• a valve controller having controller area network (CAN) circuitry positioned proximal the inflatable chamber and in communication with the transmitter and the receiver.

A method, comprising:

• transmitting infra red light into an inflatable chamber;
• receiving the transmitted infra red light from the inflatable chamber;
• determining if a difference between the received light intensity and a dynamic light intensity threshold exists between the transmitted infra red light and the received infra red light, the determining based in part by a controller area network (CAN);
• and
• adjusting a rate of air flow into the inflatable chamber if a difference in light intensity is determined, the adjusting based in part by the CAN.

An apparatus, comprising:

• an inflatable chamber to support a patient thereon, the inflatable chamber having a reflective internal portion and a light transmissive portion;
• an infra red transmitter positioned proximal the light transmissive portion;
• an infra red receiver positioned proximal the light transmissive portion;
• and
• a microcontroller having controller area network (CAN) circuitry, the microcontroller in communication with the infra red transmitter and the infra red receiver.

A method, comprising:

• transmitting infra red light into an inflatable chamber having one or more reflective internal surfaces, the one or more internal surfaces defining one or more passages, the transmitted light reflecting from the one or more reflective internal surfaces;
• receiving the transmitted infra red light from the inflatable chamber at a location different from the transmitting of the infra light;
• determining if a difference between the received light intensity and a dynamic light intensity threshold exists between the transmitted infra red light and the received infra red light, the determining based in part by a controller area network (CAN);
• and
• adjusting a rate of air flow into the inflatable chamber if a difference in light intensity is determined, the adjusting based in part by the CAN.