Automated bed and method of operation and thereof

Abstract

A bed includes an electronic controller comprising a first interface to monitor at least one sensor and a second interface to control at least one actuator; and an adjustable surface configured to be at least partially adjusted by the at least one actuator. The at least one sensor is configured, at least during some time intervals, to detect a momentary application of force by a bed occupant to at least one location on the adjustable surface; and the electronic controller interprets a defined sequence of momentary applications of force to the at least one location on the adjustable surface as one of a set of defined coded commands from the bed occupant, the set of defined coded commands each indicating the bed occupant desires one of a set of defined actions by the electronic controller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bed, comprising:
 an electronic controller comprising a first interface to monitor at least one sensor and a second interface to control at least one actuator; and   an adjustable surface configured to be at least partially adjusted by the at least one actuator;   wherein the at least one sensor is configured, at least during some time intervals, to detect a momentary application of force by a bed occupant to at least one location on the adjustable surface;   and wherein the electronic controller interprets a defined sequence of momentary applications of force to the at least one location on the adjustable surface as one of a set of defined coded commands from the bed occupant, the set of defined coded commands each indicating the bed occupant desires one of a set of defined actions by the electronic controller.   
     
     
         2 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said set of defined coded commands includes a defined coded command indicating the bed occupant desires a change in the shape of the adjustable surface. 
     
     
         3 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said set of defined coded commands includes a defined coded command indicating the bed occupant desires a change in firmness of the adjustable surface. 
     
     
         4 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said set of defined coded commands includes a defined coded command indicating adjustment of said adjustable surface should be at least temporarily halted. 
     
     
         5 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said set of defined coded commands includes a defined coded command indicating said adjustable surface should be adjusted so that the bed occupant may substantially easily enter or exit the bed. 
     
     
         6 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein momentary applications of force by the bed occupant are detected by the sensor at multiple locations on the adjustable surface and the electronic controller interprets a defined sequence of momentary applications of force to the adjustable surface responsively to both the detected defined sequence of momentary applications of force and the location on the adjustable surface where the defined sequence of momentary applications of force was detected. 
     
     
         7 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises a valve that controls a fluid to at least partially adjust said adjustable surface. 
     
     
         8 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises an electric motor that may be rotated to at least partially adjust said adjustable surface. 
     
     
         9 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable surface comprises a plurality of slats extending across the adjustable surface and wherein each of said plurality of slats is coupled to at least one strut. 
     
     
         10 . The bed as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor monitors at least one of said plurality of slats. 
     
     
         11 . The bed as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor monitors at least one of said at least one strut. 
     
     
         12 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is coupled to a gantry, said gantry movable to allow said at least one sensor to monitor multiple locations of said adjustable surface at various times. 
     
     
         13 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor, at least during some intervals of time, additionally monitors at least one of the bed occupant's heart rate, breathing rate, or physical motion. 
     
     
         14 . The bed as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller further comprises a clock reference, the clock reference enabling the electronic controller to estimate at least one point in time, and wherein the electronic controller interprets a defined sequence of momentary applications of force to the adjustable surface responsively to both the detected defined sequence of momentary applications of force and the point in time at which the defined sequence of momentary applications of force was detected. 
     
     
         15 . A bed, comprising:
 an electronic controller comprising a first interface to monitor at least one sensor and a second interface to control at least one actuator; and   an adjustable surface configured to be at least partially adjusted by the at least one actuator;   wherein the at least one sensor is configured, at least during some time intervals, to detect a momentary application of force by a bed occupant to at least one location on the adjustable surface;   and wherein the electronic controller interprets a defined sequence of momentary applications of force to the at least one location on the adjustable surface as one of a set of defined coded commands from the bed occupant, the set of defined coded commands each indicating the bed occupant desires one of a set of defined actions by the electronic controller;   and wherein the at least one sensor is further configured, at least during some time intervals, to detect a distribution of force on the adjustable surface, the distribution of force at least partially due to the distributed weight of the bed occupant bearing on the adjustable surface;   and wherein the electronic controller analyzes the detected distribution of force on the adjustable surface to at least partially determine at least one of a location of the bed occupant on the adjustable surface and an orientation of the bed occupant on the adjustable surface.   
     
     
         16 . The bed as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the electronic controller interprets a defined sequence of momentary applications of force to the adjustable bed surface responsively to both the detected defined sequence of momentary applications of force and at least one of the detected location of the bed occupant on the adjustable surface and the detected orientation of the bed occupant on the adjustable surface. 
     
     
         17 . The bed as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the adjustable surface comprises a plurality of slats extending across the adjustable surface and wherein each of said plurality of slats is coupled to at least one strut. 
     
     
         18 . The bed as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one sensor monitors at least one of said plurality of slats. 
     
     
         19 . The bed as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the at least one sensor monitors at least one of said at least one strut. 
     
     
         20 . The bed as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one sensor is coupled to a gantry, said gantry movable to allow said at least one sensor to monitor multiple locations of said adjustable surface at various times.