Sequence initiation for placing a smart bed in an out-of-bed state

Abstract

A smart bed automatically initiates an out-of-bed sequence upon detecting the presence of an individual in a sleeping position on a sleep surface of the smart bed. Such a smart bed may include a mattress that defines the sleep surface, at least one sensor associated with the sleep surface, and a processor that communicates with the at least one sensor and controls one or more functions of the mattress. Initiation of the out-of-bed sequence may include initiating one or more functions of the smart bed and, optionally, one or more functions of an environment within which the smart bed is located.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A smart bed, comprising:
 a mattress including at least one air bladder and at least one pump that communicates with an interior of the at least one air bladder to pressurize the at least one air bladder, the mattress defining a sleep surface;   a pressure sensor associated with the sleep surface of the mattress;   a processor in communication with the pressure sensor and the pump, the processor programmed to:
 detect a presence of an individual on the sleep surface; 
 detect removal of the individual from the sleep surface; and 
 upon detecting the removal of the individual from the sleep surface, cause the pump to adjust a pressure in the at least one air bladder in a manner that places the mattress in an out-of-bed state. 
   
     
     
         2 . The smart bed of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
 following removal of the individual from the sleep surface, detect an absence of the individual from the sleep surface for a predetermined duration of time before causing the pump to adjust the pressure in the at least one air bladder.   
     
     
         3 . The smart bed of  claim 1 , wherein the processor, upon detecting the removal of the individual from the sleep surface, causes the at least one pump to increase a pressure in the at least one air bladder to render the sleep surface planar or convex. 
     
     
         4 . The smart bed of  claim 1 , wherein the processor, upon detecting the removal of the individual from the sleep surface, causes the at least one pump to increase a pressure in the at least one air bladder to puff the mattress. 
     
     
         5 . The smart bed of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adjustable base carrying the mattress; and   at least one motor associated with the adjustable base in a manner that enables adjustment of the adjustable base.   
     
     
         6 . The smart bed of  claim 5 , wherein the processor, upon detecting removal of the individual from the sleep surface, causes the motor to place the adjustable base and the mattress into flat arrangements. 
     
     
         7 . The smart bed of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
 after detecting removal of the individual from the sleep surface and causing the at least one pump to adjust the pressure within the at least one air bladder, detect a presence of the individual on the sleep surface; and   upon detecting the presence of the individual on the sleep surface, cause the at least one pump to readjust the pressure within the at least one air bladder to place the smart bed in a sleep state.   
     
     
         8 . A smart bed, comprising:
 an adjustable base;   a motor associated with the adjustable base in a manner that enables adjustment of the adjustable base;   a mattress carried by the adjustable base and including at least one air bladder and a pump that communicates with an interior of the at least one air bladder to pressurize the at least one air bladder, the mattress defining a sleep surface;   a pressure sensor associated with the sleep surface of the mattress;   a processor in communication with the pressure sensor and the pump, the processor programmed to:   detect a presence of an individual on the sleep surface;   detect removal of the individual from the sleep surface; and   upon detecting removal of the individual from the sleep surface, cause the pump to adjust a pressure in the at least one air bladder and cause the motor to adjust the adjustable base to place the mattress in an out-of-bed state.   
     
     
         9 . The smart bed of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
 following removal of the individual from the sleep surface, detect an absence of the individual from the sleep surface for a predetermined duration of time before causing the pump to adjust the pressure in the at least one air bladder and before causing the motor to adjust the adjustable base.   
     
     
         10 . The smart bed of  claim 8 , wherein the out-of-bed state includes planar or convex orientation of the sleep surface of the mattress. 
     
     
         11 . The smart bed of  claim 8 , wherein the processor, upon detecting the removal of the individual from the sleep surface, causes the pump to increase a pressure in the at least one air bladder to puff the mattress. 
     
     
         12 . The smart bed of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
 after detecting removal of the individual from the sleep surface and causing the pump to adjust the pressure within the at least one air bladder, detect a presence of the individual on the sleep surface; and   upon detecting the presence of the individual on the sleep surface, cause the pump to readjust the pressure within the at least one air bladder to place the smart bed in a sleep state.   
     
     
         13 . The smart bed of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is further programmed to:
 upon detecting the presence of the individual on the sleep surface, cause the motor to readjust the adjustable base to further place the adjustable base and the mattress in the sleep state.   
     
     
         14 . A method for placing a mattress of a smart bed in an out-of-bed state, comprising:
 detecting removal of an individual from a sleep surface of the mattress; and   upon detecting removal of the individual from the sleep surface, adjusting a pressure within at least one air bladder of the mattress to place the mattress in an out of bed state.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 following removal of the individual from the sleep surface, detecting an absence of the individual from the sleep surface for a predetermined duration of time before adjusting the pressure within the at least one air bladder of the mattress.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein adjusting the pressure within the at least one air bladder comprises increasing a pressure within the at least one air bladder. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein adjusting the pressure within the at least one air bladder comprises puffing the mattress. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 upon detecting removal of the individual from the sleep surface, flattening an adjustable base that carries the mattress.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 after detecting removal of the individual from the sleep surface and adjusting the pressure within the at least one air bladder, detecting a presence of the individual on the sleep surface; and   upon detecting the presence of the individual on the sleep surface, readjusting the pressure within the at least one air bladder to place the smart bed in a sleep state.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising continuously periodically monitoring a presence or absence of the individual from the sleep surface. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein detecting removal of an individual from a sleep surface of the mattress comprises identifying each elemental motion of a sequence of elemental motions of the individual, each elemental motion detected by a sensor attached to the sleep surface of the mattress; and
 identifying a state of the individual as either in bed or out-of-bed, and wherein identifying the state of the individual comprises matching the sequence of identified elemental motions of the individual with a library of stored sequences of elemental motions, wherein each stored sequence of elemental motions corresponds with either an in-bed or an out-of-bed state.