Digital bed system

A digital bed system that actively monitors and adjusts its sleeping surface, comprising:

• a two-dimensional array of support cells in communication with a controller, each of the support cells comprising an actuator configured to change position in response to commands from the controller so as to reshape a sleeping surface of a bed, the reshaping of the sleeping surface of the bed resulting from a change in at least one of the actuators;
• a plurality of sensors configured to gather measurements relating to a state of a sleeper or part thereof and to output signals comprising data reflecting the measurements;
• a communication channel operatively connecting the controller to each of the support cells and the plurality of sensors;
• wherein the controller is configured to receive the signals from the plurality of sensors and programmed to send a first command signal to the array of support cells to change the position of one or more of the support cells, the controller being further configured to determine a likely position of the sleeper or part thereof and use the likely position to determine a change of position of a plurality of the support cells within the array of support cells to place the sleeper or part thereof in a selected position, and to send a second command signal to dynamically change position of the plurality of the support cells to place the sleeper or part thereof in a selected position;
• wherein the controller is programmed to actively monitor the array of support cells and to dynamically issue commands to the plurality of support cells within the array of support cells, over the communication channel in real time to increase or decrease the size of, or change the shape of, the plurality of support cells within the array of support cells in response to a determination by the controller that the sleeper has changed position, the determination being either that the sleeper has rolled over or that the sleeper has changed from a first body position programmed into the controller to a second body position programmed into the controller, the first and second body positions being detectable by the controller.

A digital bed system that actively monitors sleep conditions of a particular sleeper and adjusts a sleeping surface, comprising:

• an array of at least four independently controllable support cells, each of the cells being configured to communicate with a controller, each of the cells comprising an actuator configured to change position in response to commands issued by the controller;
• a communication channel operatively connected to each of the cells;
• the controller operatively connected to the communication channel, the controller being configured to receive a signal over the communication channel and to use the signal to determine a likely location of the sleeper or part thereof, and configured to use the likely location to determine a change of position of at least one of the support cells within the array of support cells, the change of position being one that places the sleeper or part thereof in a selected or prescribed position, and to send a signal over the communication channel, the signal comprising commands to at least one of the support cells that dynamically change position of at least one of the support cells to place the sleeper or part thereof in the selected or prescribed position, such that an ergonomic sleeping position results, the controller being programmed to issue send a signal comprising commands to at least one of the support cells in response to a change in the sleep conditions;
• wherein, the controller is programmed to store a profile, and to send a signal comprising commands to at least one of the support cells within the array of support cells, over the communication channel, to change the position of the at least one of the support cells within the array of support cells so as to reshape the bed in accordance with the profile, the reshaping of the bed resulting from a change in at least one of the actuators;
• the profile being associated with the particular sleeper and including instructions as to how to change the position of the individual support cells in response to at least one change in the sleep conditions, the controller being programmable with at least one individual profile associated with at least one user.