Smart pillow to avoid neck pain

Abstract

A smart pillow to avoid neck pain and pressure sores and promote healthy sleep includes a body, a processing unit, a plurality of pressure sensors, and a plurality of air bags. The pressure sensors and the air bags are mounted in the body. Each air bag includes a bi-directional valve. The pressure sensors can detect values of pressure on the body and thus the body of a user, and transmit the detected pressure values to the processing unit. The processing unit can control the bi-directional valves of the air bags in accordance with the received pressure values to adjust air amounts of each of the air bags by indrawing or releasing air. The smart pillow guides and supports a user's neck.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smart pillow comprising:
 a body;   a processing unit;   a plurality of pressure sensors mounted in the body; and   a plurality of air bags mounted in the body, and each air bag comprising a bi-directional valve;   wherein the pressure sensors are used to detect values of pressure on the body, and transmit the detected pressure values to the processing unit; and   wherein the processing unit is used to receive the pressure values transmitted by the pressure sensors, and control the bi-directional valves of the air bags in accordance with the received pressure values to adjust an intake air amounts or an outlet air amounts of the air bags.   
     
     
         2 . The smart pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a head portion and two neck portions connected to opposite ends of the head portion. 
     
     
         3 . The smart pillow of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the pressure sensors comprise at least one first pressure sensor and at least one second pressure sensor;   wherein the air bags comprise at least one first air bag and at least one second air bag;   wherein the first pressure sensor and the first air bag are mounted in the head portion, and the second pressure sensor and the second air bag are mounted in the neck portion;   wherein the processing unit is used to receive a pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor, and control the bi-directional valve of the first air bag in accordance with the pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor to adjust an intake air amount or an outlet air amount of the first air bag; and   wherein the processing unit is used to receive a pressure value detected by the second pressure sensor, and control the bi-directional valve of the second air bag in accordance with the pressure value detected by the second pressure sensor to adjust an intake air amount or an outlet air amount of the second air bag.   
     
     
         4 . The smart pillow of  claim 3 , wherein the body is U-shaped. 
     
     
         5 . The smart pillow of  claim 1 , wherein the body is made of a silicone material. 
     
     
         6 . The smart pillow of  claim 2 , wherein the body is made of a silicone material. 
     
     
         7 . The smart pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor and a heating unit;
 wherein the temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature of the body, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit; and   wherein the processing unit is used to receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor, and control the heating unit in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body within a predefined temperature range.   
     
     
         8 . The smart pillow of  claim 2 , further comprising a temperature sensor and a heating unit;
 wherein the temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature value of the body, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit; and   wherein the processing unit is used to receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor, and control the heating unit in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body within a predefined temperature range.   
     
     
         9 . The smart pillow of  claim 3 , further comprising a temperature sensor and a heating unit;
 wherein the temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature value of the body, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit; and   wherein the processing unit is used to receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor, and control the heating unit in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body within a predefined temperature range.   
     
     
         10 . The smart pillow of  claim 4 , further comprising a temperature sensor and a heating unit;
 wherein the temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature value of the body, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit; and   wherein the processing unit is used to receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor, and control the heating unit in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body within a predefined temperature range.   
     
     
         11 . The smart pillow of  claim 5 , further comprising a temperature sensor and a heating unit;
 wherein the temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature value of the body, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit; and   wherein the processing unit is used to receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor, and control the heating unit in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body within a predefined temperature range.   
     
     
         12 . The smart pillow of  claim 6 , further comprising a temperature sensor and a heating unit;
 wherein the temperature sensor is used to detect a temperature value of the body, and transmit the detected temperature value to the processing unit; and   wherein the processing unit is used to receive the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor, and control the heating unit in accordance with the received temperature value to maintain the body within a predefined temperature range.   
     
     
         13 . The smart pillow of  claim 7 , wherein the heating unit is an infrared emitting device. 
     
     
         14 . The smart pillow of  claim 8 , wherein the heating unit is an infrared emitting device. 
     
     
         15 . The smart pillow of  claim 9 , wherein the heating unit is an infrared emitting device. 
     
     
         16 . The smart pillow of  claim 10 , wherein the heating unit is an infrared emitting device. 
     
     
         17 . The smart pillow of  claim 11 , wherein the heating unit is an infrared emitting device. 
     
     
         18 . The smart pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising a music player unit;
 wherein the processing unit is used to receive the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor, and determine whether or not the received pressure value is greater than a predefined pressure value; and   wherein the processing unit is used to control the music player unit to start playing music when the received pressure value is greater than the predefined pressure value.   
     
     
         19 . The smart pillow of  claim 1 , further comprising a vibration sensor;
 wherein the vibration sensor is used to detect a number of breaths of a user and a time of each breath.   
     
     
         20 . The smart pillow of  claim 19 , wherein the processing unit is used to record signals detected by the pressure sensors and the vibration sensor.