US 8,757,716 B2 · Control device for a children's bouncer and infant support

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a piezoelectric motion sensing apparatus and a bouncer control device configured to control the oscillation of a children's bouncer based on feedback from the piezoelectric motion sensing apparatus. In various embodiments, the piezoelectric motion sensing apparatus is configured to sense the motion of a body to which it is attached, such as a children's bouncer, and provide a feedback signal indicative of the motion. In addition, various embodiments of the present invention are directed to an infant support control device configured to impart soothing sensation to a child positioned in the infant support. In particular, the infant support control device is configured to impart gentle, repetitive pulses to an infant support that mimic the heartbeat of a parent or caregiver.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A motion sensing apparatus for a moving child support device, said motion sensing apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a longitudinal axis;
at least one piezoelectric sensor having a sensing surface positioned within the housing;
a weighted member positioned within the housing and configured for movement in the direction of the housing's longitudinal axis;
and
a signal amplifier;
wherein the weighted member is configured to apply a variable force to the sensing surface of the piezoelectric sensor in response to movement of the motion sensing apparatus;
wherein the piezoelectric sensor is configured to output a voltage signal corresponding to the magnitude of the variable force applied by the weighted member, the output voltage signal being indicative of the motion sensing apparatus's movement with respect to the housing's longitudinal axis;
and
wherein the signal amplifier is configured to receive the voltage signal output by the piezoelectric sensor and filter the voltage signal in order to output a motion signal indicative of the frequency of the motion sensing apparatus's oscillation with respect to the housing's longitudinal axis.

6 more elements

A bouncer control device for controlling the generally upward and downward motion of a children's bouncer, the bouncer control device comprising:

a drive assembly configured to be actuated in order to impart a motive force on the children's bouncer that causes the children's bouncer to bounce, wherein the drive assembly is actuated by electric current;
a power supply configured to transmit electric current to the drive assembly;
a piezoelectric motion sensor configured to sense the natural frequency of the children's bouncer and generate a frequency signal representative of the natural frequency, wherein the piezoelectric motion sensor comprises:
a housing defining a longitudinal axis;
at least one piezoelectric sensor including a sensing surface positioned within the housing;
and
a weighted member positioned within the housing and configured for movement within the housing in the direction of the housing's longitudinal axis, wherein the weighted member is configured to apply a variable force to the sensing surface of the piezoelectric sensor in response to movement of the children's bouncer, and wherein the frequency signal output by the piezoelectric sensor corresponds to the magnitude of the variable force applied by the weighted member;
and
a bouncer control circuit configured to:
receive the frequency signal from the piezoelectric motion sensor;
and generate a control signal, based at least in part on the received frequency signal, that triggers the power supply to intermittently supply electric current to the drive assembly and thereby cause the drive assembly to impart a motive force on the children's bouncer that causes the bouncer to bounce at a frequency substantially equal to the natural frequency.

8 more elements

A control device for an infant support configured for providing a soothing sensation for a child positioned in the infant support, the control device comprising:

a drive assembly configured to, in a first control mode, impart repetitive pulse forces to the infant support with a magnitude sufficient for the pulses to be felt by a child positioned in the infant support and, in a second control mode, impart a motive force to the infant support in order to cause the infant support to bounce;
and
a control circuit configured to receive user input selecting the first control mode or the second control mode, wherein the control circuit is configured to, in response to user selection of the first control mode, actuate the drive assembly and cause the drive assembly to impart the repetitive pulse forces on the infant support at a frequency analogous to the frequency of a resting human heartbeat, and wherein the control circuit is configured to, in response to user selection of the second control mode, actuate the drive assembly and cause the drive assembly to impart the motive force to the infant support to cause the infant support to bounce.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Control device for a children's bouncer and infant support

Life of this patent

Control device for a children's bouncer and infant support

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17