U.S. patent application number 13/785587 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-19 for voice-controlled vibration electric bed.
This patent application is currently assigned to PPJ. LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is PPJ. LLC, RUOEY LUNG ENTERPRISE CORP.. Invention is credited to Philip Woods MCCARTY, Philip Reid SHERMAN, Chuan-Hang SHIH.
Application Number | 20140165291 13/785587 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50929213 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140165291 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MCCARTY; Philip Woods ; et
al. |
June 19, 2014 |
VOICE-CONTROLLED VIBRATION ELECTRIC BED
Abstract
A voice-controlled vibration electric bed includes a bed base
formed of a base support frame and movable frames, a power supply
unit mounted at the bed base, a driver electrically connected to
the power supply unit for driving the movable frames to move
relative to the base support frame, a microcomputer-based control
device electrically connected to the power supply unit and the
driver, microphones installed in the bed base and electrically
connected to the microcomputer, and a vibration device installed in
the bed base and electrically connected to the power supply unit
and also electrically connected to the control device either
directly or indirectly such that the microcomputer matches the
sound picked up by the microphones with a predetermined frequency
range and controls the vibration device to vibrate subject to the
matching result.
Inventors: |
MCCARTY; Philip Woods;
(Natick, MA) ; SHERMAN; Philip Reid; (Melville,
NY) ; SHIH; Chuan-Hang; (Lu-Kang Town, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
RUOEY LUNG ENTERPRISE CORP.
PPJ. LLC |
Lu-Kang Town
Natick |
MA |
TW
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
PPJ. LLC
Natick
MA
RUOEY LUNG ENTERPRISE CORP.
Lu-Kang Town
|
Family ID: |
50929213 |
Appl. No.: |
13/785587 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/658 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 21/003 20130101;
A61H 23/0236 20130101; A61H 2201/5048 20130101; A61H 23/02
20130101; A61H 2201/0142 20130101; A47C 21/006 20130101; A61H
2023/0209 20130101; A61H 2201/5007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/658 |
International
Class: |
A47C 21/00 20060101
A47C021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 19, 2012 |
TW |
101148392 |
Claims
1. A voice-controlled vibration electric bed, comprising: a bed
base comprising a base support frame and at least one movable frame
mounted at said base support frame; a power supply unit mounted at
said bed base for being electrically connectable to an external AC
power source to convert an AC power supplied from the external AC
power source into a converted power; a driver mounted at said base
support frame and electrically connected to said power supply unit
and adapted for driving said at least one movable frame to move
relative to said base support frame; a control device electrically
connected to said power supply unit and said driver, said control
device comprising a microcomputer adapted to provide arithmetic and
control functions; wherein the voice-controlled vibration electric
bed further comprises: at least one microphone mounted at said bed
base and electrically connected to said microcomputer; and a
vibration device mounted at said bed base and electrically
connected to said power supply unit, said vibration device being
electrically connected to said control device in one of a direct
manner and an indirect manner; said microcomputer matches the sound
picked up by said at least one microphone with a predetermined
frequency range and controls said vibration device to generate a
corresponding vibration when the sound matched with said
predetermined frequency range.
2. The voice-controlled vibration electric bed as claimed in claim
1, wherein said vibration device comprises a vibration motor and a
vibration pad.
3. The voice-controlled vibration electric bed as claimed in claim
2, wherein said vibration device is electrically connected to said
microcomputer through a driving circuit so that said vibration
device is electrically connected to said microcomputer in an
indirect manner.
4. The voice-controlled vibration electric bed as claimed in claim
1, wherein said microcomputer has set therein at least one
threshold value, and configured to control said vibration device to
generate a corresponding vibration when the relationship between
the frequency of the sound picked up by said at least one
microphone and said at least one threshold value is in compliance
with a predetermined vibration condition.
5. The voice-controlled vibration electric bed as claimed in claim
4, wherein the vibration generated by said vibration device subject
to the control of said microcomputer is synchronous to the sound
that is judged in compliance with said vibration condition.
6. The voice-controlled vibration electric bed as claimed in claim
4, wherein determining the sound to be in compliance with said
vibration condition is subject to that the frequency of the sound
is smaller than said at least one threshold value.
7. The voice-controlled vibration electric bed as claimed in claim
4, wherein determining the sound to be in compliance with said
vibration condition is subject to that the frequency of the sound
is greater than said at least one threshold value.
8. The voice-controlled vibration electric bed as claimed in claim
4, wherein determining the sound to be in compliance with said
vibration condition is subject to that the frequency of the sound
is equal to said at least one threshold value.
9. The voice-controlled vibration electric bed as claimed in claim
4, wherein said at least one threshold value comprises a first
threshold value and a second threshold value, said first threshold
value being smaller than said second threshold value; determining
the sound to be in compliance with said vibration condition is
subject to that the frequency of the sound is smaller than said
first threshold value or greater than said second threshold
value.
10. The voice-controlled vibration electric bed as claimed in claim
1, wherein the amplitude of the vibration generated by said
vibration device subject to the control of said microcomputer
corresponds to the volume of the sound picked up by said at least
one microphone.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to electric bed technology and
more particularly, to a voice-controlled vibration electric
bed.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] For enabling a user lying on the bed to read books or to
take a meal in a sitting posture or any other comfortable posture,
an electric bed is usually used to support the mattress for
different angle adjustment. Subject to the use of an electric bed,
the user lying on the bed can be adjusted to a comfortable position
to listen to music, to watch TV or movies, or to enjoy audio and
video entertainment.
[0005] However, till the present time, when a user lying on the bed
listens to music or watches movies people can only hear the music
directly. Most beds cannot interact with the sounds of the music or
movies.
[0006] Electric beds with a vibration massage function are known.
The technology of these electric beds is to install a vibration
device in the bed base for providing vibration massage effects.
[0007] Thus, enabling the vibration massage effects of an electric
bed to interact with the music or movie the user is listening to or
watching can provide the user with additional fun.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present
invention to provide a voice-controlled vibration electric bed,
which is characterized by: picking up surrounding sounds by means
of a microphone or microphones and then generating corresponding
vibrations to interact with the surrounding sounds.
[0009] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention,
a voice-controlled vibration electric bed comprises a bed base
formed of a base support frame and movable frames, a power supply
unit mounted at the bed base, a driver electrically connected to
the power supply unit for driving the movable frames to move
relative to the base support frame, a microcomputer-based control
device electrically connected to the power supply unit and the
driver, microphones installed in the bed base and electrically
connected to the microcomputer, and a vibration device installed in
the bed base and electrically connected to the power supply unit
and also electrically connected to the control device either
directly or indirectly such that the microcomputer matches the
sound picked up by the microphones with a predetermined frequency
range and controls the vibration device to vibrate subject to the
matching result.
[0010] Preferably, the vibration device comprises a vibration motor
and a vibration pad.
[0011] Preferably, the vibration device is electrically connected
to a driving circuit, which is electrically connected to the
microcomputer. Thus, the vibration device is electrically connected
to the microcomputer in an indirect manner.
[0012] Preferably, the microcomputer has set therein at least one
threshold value, and configured to control the vibration device to
generate a corresponding vibration when the relationship between
the frequency of the sound picked up by the at least one microphone
and the at least one threshold value is in compliance with a
predetermined vibration condition.
[0013] Preferably, the vibration generated by the vibration device
subject to the control of the microcomputer is synchronous to the
sound that is judged in compliance with the vibration
condition.
[0014] Preferably, determining the sound to be in compliance with
the vibration condition is subject to that the frequency of the
sound is smaller than the at least one threshold value.
[0015] Preferably, determining the sound to be in compliance with
the vibration condition is subject to that the frequency of the
sound is greater than the at least one threshold value.
[0016] Preferably, determining the sound to be in compliance with
the vibration condition is subject to that the frequency of the
sound is equal to the at least one threshold value.
[0017] Preferably, the at least one threshold value comprises a
first threshold value and a second threshold value, wherein the
first threshold value is smaller than the second threshold value.
In this case, determining the sound to be in compliance with the
vibration condition is subject to that the frequency of the sound
is smaller than the first threshold value or greater than the
second threshold value.
[0018] Preferably, the amplitude of the vibration generated by the
vibration device subject to the control of the microcomputer
corresponds to the volume of the sound picked up by the at least
one microphone.
[0019] Other advantages and features of the present invention will
be fully understood by reference to the following specification in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference
signs denote like components of structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a voice-controlled
vibration electric bed in accordance with the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the voice-controlled
vibration electric bed in accordance with the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a schematic applied view of the voice-controlled
vibration electric bed in accordance with the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a voice-controlled vibration
electric bed 10 in accordance with the present invention is shown.
The voice-controlled vibration electric bed 10 comprises a bed
frame 11, a power supply unit 21, a driver 31, a control device 41,
at least one microphone 51, and a vibration device 61.
[0024] The bed base 11 comprises a base support frame 12, and at
least one movable frame 14 mounted at the base support frame
12.
[0025] The power supply unit 21 is mounted in the bed base 11 for
being electrically connectable to an external AC power source 26 to
convert an AC power supplied from the external AC power source 26
into a converted power. In this embodiment, the external AC power
source 26 is city power supply, and the converted power supply can
an AC power supply having a voltage different from the city power
supply, or a DC power supply.
[0026] The driver 31 is mounted in the bed base 11 and electrically
connected to the power supply unit 21 for driving the at least one
movable frame 14 to move relative to the base support frame 12.
[0027] The control device 41 is electrically connected to the power
supply unit 21 and the driver 31, comprising a microcomputer 42
adapted to provide arithmetic and control functions.
[0028] The at least one microphone 51 is mounted in the bed base 11
and electrically connected to the microcomputer 42. The number of
the at least one microphone 51 can be one single. Alternatively,
multiple microphones 51 can be used and installed in the bed base
11 at different locations. Further, each microphone 51 can be a
regular microphone, a directional microphone or a microphone array.
In the example shown in FIG. 1, multiple microphones 51 are
installed in the bed base 11.
[0029] The vibration device 61 is installed in the bed base 11 and
electrically connected to the power supply unit 21. Further, the
vibration device 61 can be electrically connected to the control
device 41 either directly or indirectly. In this embodiment, the
vibration device 61 comprises a vibration motor 62 and a vibration
pad 64. Further, the vibration device 61 is electrically connected
to a driving circuit 66, which is electrically connected to the
microcomputer 42. Thus, the vibration device 61 is electrically
connected to the microcomputer 42 in an indirect manner. Further,
it is to be noted that this arrangement is not a limitation, i.e.,
the vibration device 61 can also be directly electrically connected
to the microcomputer 42. Preferably, an optimal arrangement of the
vibration device 61 is to mount the vibration pad 64 at the movable
frame 14 and disposed between the mattress (not shown) and the
movable frame 14, enabling vibrational energy to be effectively and
significantly transferred to the user lying on the mattress. It's
worth mentioning that other vibrating source, for example, woofer,
can also be used with the vibration pad 64 to substitute for the
vibration motor 61, achieving the same vibrational energy transfer
effect.
[0030] The microcomputer 42 is adapted to recognize the sound
picked up by the microphone 51, and to control the vibration device
61 subject to a predetermined frequency range of sound. In actual
practice, the microcomputer 42 has set therein a threshold value.
When the relationship between the frequency of the sound picked up
by the microphone 51 and the set threshold value meets a
predetermined vibration condition, the microcomputer 42 controls
the vibration device 61 to vibrate. Further, the vibration
generated by the vibration device 61 subject to the control of the
microcomputer 42 is judged to be a sound synchronization that
complies with the vibration condition. This sound synchronization
means that the duration of the vibration is equal to the length of
time in which the sound continues, and the vibration is started or
ended when the sound is started or ended. Further, during
application of the present invention, the microcomputer 42 can be
set to control the vibration amplitude of the vibration device 61
subject to the volume of the sound picked up by the microphone 51,
i.e., the larger the vibration amplitude the louder the sound.
[0031] The aforesaid vibration condition is: the frequency of the
sound is smaller than the threshold value.
[0032] After understanding of the architecture of the
voice-controlled vibration electric bed 10, the operation of the
voice-controlled vibration electric bed 10 is outlined
hereinafter.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 again, when the user is lying on
the voice-controlled vibration electric bed 10 and listing to
music, or watching a movie or television program, the microphone 51
picks up the sounds of the music or movie or the environmental
sounds (such as the voices of the family or the family pet sounds)
for judgment by the microcomputer 42. If the sound picked up by the
microphone 51 corresponds to a specific frequency, for example, if
the frequency of the sound is below the threshold value, it is
judged to be in compliance with the vibration condition. At this
time, the microcomputer 42 controls the vibration device 61 to
synchronously generate corresponding vibrations. The user will feel
that there is a relationship between the vibration of the
voice-controlled vibration electric bed 10 and the sound he or she
heard, or the vibration of the voice-controlled vibration electric
bed 10 goes interactive with the sound he or she heard, thereby
increasing the fun.
[0034] Further, in addition to the aforesaid correlation between
the vibration of the voice-controlled vibration electric bed 10 and
the sound picked up by the microphone 51, the microcomputer 42 can
control the vibration amplitude of the vibration device 61 subject
to the volume of the sound picked up by the microphone 51,
enhancing fun.
[0035] It is to be noted that the vibration condition defined in
the aforesaid example that the frequency of the sound is smaller
than the threshold value is not a limitation. In other examples,
the vibration condition can be selectively defined to be: (1) the
frequency of the sound is greater than the threshold value; (2) the
frequency of the sound is equal to the threshold value; (3) define
a first threshold value and a second threshold value where the
first threshold value is smaller than the second threshold value
and the sound is judged to be in compliance with the vibration
condition if the frequency of the sound is smaller than the first
threshold value or greater than the second threshold value.
[0036] In conclusion, the invention is characterized by: picking up
surrounding sounds by means of a microphone or microphones and then
generating corresponding vibrations to interact with the
surrounding sounds.
[0037] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *