US20140165291A1

US20140165291A1 - Voice-controlled vibration electric bed

Info

Publication number: US20140165291A1
Application number: US13/785,587
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip Woods McCarty; Philip Reid Sherman; Chuan-Hang Shih
Original assignee: Ruoey Lung Enterprise Corp; PPJ LLC
Current assignee: Ruoey Lung Enterprise Corp; PPJ LLC
Priority date: 2012-12-19
Filing date: 2013-03-05
Publication date: 2014-06-19
Also published as: TW201424720A

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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electric bed technology and more particularly, to a voice-controlled vibration electric bed.
2. Description of the Related Art
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.
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.
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.
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

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.
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.
Preferably, the vibration device comprises a vibration motor and a vibration pad.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a voice-controlled vibration electric bed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the voice-controlled vibration electric bed in accordance with the present invention.

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

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.
The bed base 11 comprises a base support frame 12, and at least one movable frame 14 mounted at the base support frame 12.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The aforesaid vibration condition is: the frequency of the sound is smaller than the threshold value.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

Claims

What is claimed is:

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.