(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`
`
`1111 1111111111 111111 11111 11111 11111 1111 11111 I 1 1 11111 11111 1 11111 11 111111 1111 11 11111
`
`(43) International Publication Date
`8 October 2009 (08.10.2009)
`
`PCT
`
`(10) International Publication Number
`WO 2009/123641 Al
`
`(51) international Patent Classification:
`,447C 27/08 (2006.01)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`PCT/US2008/059409
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`4 April 2008 (04.04.2008)
`
`English
`
`English
`
`(71) Applicant for all designated States except US): SE-
`LECT COMFORT CORPORATION [US/USI; 6105
`Trenton Lane North, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55442
`(US).
`
`(72) Inventors; and
`(75) Inventors/Applicants (for US only): MAHONEY, Paul
`James [US/US]; 1331 Dallager Court, Stillwater, Min-
`nesota 55082 (US). HILDEN, Matthew Glen [US/US]:
`4211 Zenith Avenue N., Robbinsdale, Minnesota 55422
`
`(US). TILSTRA, Matthew Wayne [US/US]; 139 1 5 Ilill
`Place Drive, Rogers, Minnesota 55374 (US).
`
`(74) Agent: KIEDROWSKI, Adam; Oppenheimer Wolff &
`Donnelly LLP, Plaza VII, Suite 3300, 45 South Seventh
`Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-1609 (US).
`
`(81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM,
`AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BE, BG, BB, BR, 13W, BY, BZ,
`CA, CH, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, DZ,
`EC, EE, EG, ES, FE, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN,
`HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, KR,
`KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME,
`MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO,
`NZ, OM, PG, Ell, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SC, SD, SE, SG,
`SK, SL, SM, SV, SY, TI, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG,
`US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW.
`(84) Designated States (Unless otherwise indicated, for every
`kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH,
`GM, KB, LS, MW, MX, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM,
`ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ,
`
`[Continued on next page]
`
`(54) Title: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT
`
`(57) Abstract: A method for adjusting pressure within an
`air bed comprises providing an air bed that includes an air
`chamber and a pump having a pump housing, selecting a
`desired pressure setpoint thr the stir chamber, calculating
`a pressure target, adjusting pressure within the air cham-
`ber until a pressure within the pump housing is substan-
`tially equal to the pressure target, determining an actual
`chamber pressure within the air chamber, and comparing
`the actual chamber pressure to the desired pressure set-
`point to determine an adjustment factor error. The pres-
`sure target may be calculated based upon the desired pres-
`sure setpoint and a pressure adjustment factor. Further-
`more, the pressure adjustment factor may be modified
`based upon the adjustment factor error determined by
`comparing the acntal chamber pressure to the desired
`pressure setpoint,
`
`24
`
`10
`
`20
`
`I4A
`
`18
`
`12—r-
`
`6
`2
`
`22
`
`14B
`
`29
`
`30
`
`16
`
`Fig. 1
`
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`Page 1
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`

`

`III
`WO 2009/123641 A1111111111 111111111111111111111
`11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`
`TM), European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE,
`ES, FE, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV,
`MC, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, S[, SK, TR), OAPI
`(BF, El, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, OW, ML, MR,
`NE, SN, TD, TG),
`
`Declarations under Rule 4.17:
`
`— as to applicant's entitlement to apply for and be granted
`a patent (Rule 4.1 7(ii))
`— of inventorship (Rule 4.17(lv))
`
`Published:
`— with international search report (Art. 21(3))
`
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`

`WO 2009/123641
`
`PCT/US2008/059409
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a system and method for
`[0001]
`adjusting the pressure in an inflatable object. More particularly, the
`present invention relates to a system ano method for adjusting the
`pressure in an air bed in less time and with greater accuracy.
`
`Advances made in the quality of air beds having air chambers
`[0002]
`as support bases have resulted in vastly increased popularity and sales of
`such air beds. These air beds are advantageous in that they have an
`electronic control panel which allows a user to select a desired inflation
`setting for optimal comfort and to change the inflation setting at any time,
`thereby providing changes in the firmness of the bed.
`
`I0
`
`15
`
`Air bed systems, such as the one described in U.S. Patent No.
`[0003]
`5,904,172 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety,
`generally allow a user to select a desired pressure for each air chamber
`20 within the mattress. Upon selecting the desired pressure, a signal is sent
`to a pump and valve assembly in order to inflate or deflate the air bladders
`as necessary in order to achieve approximately the desired pressure
`within the air bladders.
`
`25
`
`30
`
`In one embodiment of an air bed system, there are two
`[0004]
`separate air hoses coupled to each of the air bladders. A first air hose
`extends between the interior of the air bladder and the valve assembly
`associated with the pump. This first air hose fluidly couples the pump to
`the air bladder, and is structured to allow air to be added or removed from
`the air bladder. A second hose extends from the air bladder to a pressure
`transducer, which continuously monitors the pressure within the air
`bladder. Thus, as air is being added or removed from the air bladder, the
`pressure transducer coupled to the second hose is able to continuously
`check the actual air bladder pressure, which may then be compared to the
`
`-1-
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`

`WO 2009/123641
`
`PCT/US2008/059409
`
`5
`
`desired air pressure in order to determine when the desired air pressure
`within the bladder has been reached.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`[0005]
`In another embodiment of an air bed system, there is only a
`single hose coupled to each of the air bladders. In particular, the hose
`extends between the interior of the air bladder and the valve assembly
`associated with the pump, and is structured to allow air to be added or
`removed from the air bladder.
`Instead of having a second hose with a
`pressure transducer coupled thereto for continuously reading the pressure
`within the air bladder, a pressure transducer is positioned within a
`chamber of the valve assembly. Once the user selects the desired air
`pressure within the air bladder, the pressure transducer first senses a
`pressure in the chamber, which it equates to an actual pressure in the air
`bladder. Then, air is added or removed from the bladder as necessary
`based upon feedback from the sensed pressure. After a first iteration of
`sensing the pressure and adding or removing air, the pump turns off and
`the pressure within the chamber is once again sensed by the pressure
`transducer and compared to the desired air pressure. The process of
`adding or removing air, turning off the pump, and sensing pressure within
`the chamber is repeated for several more iterations until the pressure
`sensed within the chamber is within an acceptable range close to the
`desired pressure. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, numerous
`iterations of inflating and deflating the air bladder may be required until the
`sensed chamber pressure falls within the acceptable range of the desired
`pressure.
`
`[0006]
`Thus, while this second embodiment of an air bed system may
`be desired because it minimizes the necessary number of hoses, it is
`rather inefficient in that numerous iterations may be required betre the
`sensed pressure reaches the desired pressure. Furthermore, the pump
`must be turned off each time the pressure transducer takes a pressure
`measurement, which increases the amount of time that the user must wait
`until the air bladder reaches the desired pressure.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`-2-
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`

`[0007)
`
`Therefore, there is a need for an improved pressure adjustment system an d
`
`method for an air bed that is able to minimize the amount of time and the number of
`
`adjustment iterations necessary to achieve a desired pressure in an air bladder, while
`
`also increasing the accuracy of the actual bladder pressure.
`
`[0007A1
`
`Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like
`
`which has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an
`
`admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were
`
`common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present disclosure as it existed
`
`before the priority date of each claim of this application.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`moon]
`"comprises" or "comprising'', will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated
`
`Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as
`
`element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion
`of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps.
`[0008)
`The present invention solves the foregoing problems by providing a method
`for adjusting pressure within an air bed comprising providing an air bed that includes
`an air chamber and a pump having a pump housing, selecting a desired pressure
`setpoint for the air chamber, calculating a pressure target, adjusting pressure within
`the air chamber until a pressure within the pump housing is substantially equal to the
`pressure target, determining an actual chamber pressure within the air chamber, and
`comparing the actual chamber pressure to the desired pressure setpoint to determine
`an adjustment factor error, The pressure target may be calculated based upon the
`desired pressure setpoint and a pressure adjustment factor. Furthermore, the
`pressure adjustment factor may be modified based upon the adjustment factor error
`determined by comparing the actual chamber pressure to the desired pressure
`setpoint.
`
`[00091 The present invention also provides a pressure adjustment system for an air
`bed comprising an air chamber, a pump in fluid communication with the air chamber
`
`-3-
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`04 Jul 2012
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`

`

`and including a pump manifold and at least one valve, an input device adapted to
`
`receive a desired pressure setpoint selected by a user, a pressure sensing means
`
`adapted to monitor pressure within the pump manifold, and a control device operably
`
`connected to the input device and to the pressure sensing means. The control device
`includes control logic that is capable of calculating a manifold pressure target based
`
`upon the desired pressure setpoint and a pressure adjustment factor, monitoring
`
`pressure within the pump manifold, adjusting pressure within the air chamber until
`
`the sensed manifold pressure is within an acceptable pressure target error range of
`
`the manifold pressure target, comparing an actual chamber pressure to the
`
`CN1
`
`C>
`CN1
`
`ti
`
`O
`
`2008353972
`
`-3A-
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`

`WO 2009/123641
`
`PCT/US2008/059409
`
`5
`
`desired pressure setpoint to quantify an adjustment factor error, and
`calculating an updated pressure adjustment factor based upon the
`adjustment factor error.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of
`[0010]
`an air bed system.
`
`10
`
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the various components of the air
`[0011]
`bed system illustrated in FIG. 1.
`
`FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram model of the air bed system
`[0012]
`illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
`
`15
`
`the pressure
`illustrating
`is an exemplary graph
`FIG. 4
`[0013]
`relationships derived from the circuit diagram model of FIG. 3.
`
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a pressure
`[0014]
`setpoint monitoring method in accordance with the present invention.
`
`20
`
`flowchart illustrating one embodiment of an
`[0015]
`FIG. 6 is a
`improved pressure adjustment method in accordance with the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of an
`[0016]
`improved pressure adjustment method in accordance with the present
`invention.
`
`25
`
`[0017]
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an air bed system
`according to the present invention incorporated into a network system for
`remote access.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`30
`
`Referring now to the figures, and first to FIG. 1, there is shown
`[0018]
`a diagrammatic representation of air bed system 10 of the present
`invention. The system 10 includes bed 12, which generally comprises at
`
`-4-
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`WO 2009/123641
`
`PCT/US2008/059409
`
`5
`
`least one air chamber 14 surrounded by a resilient, preferably foam,
`border 16 and encapsulated by bed ticking 18.
`
`10
`
`As illustrated in FIG, 1, bed 12 is a two chamber design having
`[0019]
`a first air chamber 14A and a second air chamber 148. Chambers 14A
`and 14B are in fluid communication with pump 20. Pump 20 is in electrical
`communication with a manual, hand-held remote control 22 via control box
`24. Remote control 22 may be either "wired" or "wireless." Control box 24
`operates pump 20 to cause increases and decreases in the fluid pressure
`of chambers 14A and 14B based upon commands input by a user through
`remote control 22. Remote control 22 includes display 26, output selecting
`15 means 28, pressure increase button 29, and pressure decrease button 30.
`Output selecting means 28 allows the user to switch the pump output
`between first and second chambers 14A and 14B, thus enabling control of
`multiple chambers with a single remote control unit. Alternatively,
`separate remote control units may be provided for each chamber.
`20 Pressure increase and decrease buttons 29 and 30 allow a user to
`increase or decrease the pressure, respectively, in the chamber selected
`with output selecting means 28. As those skilled in the art will appreciate,
`the selected chamber causes a
`adjusting
`the pressure within
`corresponding adjustment to the firmness of the chamber.
`
`25
`
`[0020]
`
`FIG. 2 shows a block diagram detailing the data communication
`between the various components of system 10. Beginning with control
`
`box 24, it can be seen that control box 24 comprises power supply 34, at
`least one microprocessor 36, memory 37, at least one switching means
`38, and at least one analog to digita (A/D) converter 40. Switching
`30 means 38 may be, for example, a relay or a solid state switch.
`
`[0021]
`
`Pump 20 is preferably in two-way communication with control
`box 24. Also in two-way communication with control box 24 is hand-held
`remote control 22. Pump 20 includes motor 42, pump manifold 43, relief
`valve 44, first control valve 45A, second control valve 45B, and pressure
`transducer 46, and is fluidly connected with left chamber 14A and right
`chamber 14B via first tube 48A and second tube 48B, respectively. First
`
`35
`
`-5-
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`WO 2009/123641
`
`PCT/US2008/059409
`
`5
`
`and second control valves 45A and 45B are controllable by switching
`means 38, and are structured to regulate the flow of fluid between pump
`20 and first and second chambers 14A and 148, respectively.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`In operation, power supply 34 receives power, preferably 110
`[0022]
`VAC power, from an external source and converts it to the various forms
`required by the different components. Microprocessor 36 is used to
`control various logic sequences of the present invention. Examples of
`such sequences are illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, which will be discussed in
`detail below.
`
`The embodiment of system 10 shown in FIG. 2 contemplates
`[0023]
`two chambers 14A and 14B and a single pump 20. Alternatively, in the
`case of a bed with two chambers, it is envisioned that a second pump may
`be incorporated into the system such that a separate pump is associated
`with each chamber. Separate pumps would allow each chamber to be
`inflated or deflated independently and simultaneously. Additionally, a
`second pressure transducer may also be incorporated into the system
`such that a separate pressure transducer is associated with each
`chamber.
`
`In the event that microprocessor 36 sends a decrease pressure
`[0024]
`command to one of the chambers, switching means 38 is used to convert
`the low voltage command signals sent by microprocessor 36 to higher
`operating voltages sufficient to operate relief valve 44 of pump 20.
`Alternatively, switching means 38 could be located within pump 20,
`Opening relief valve 44 allows air to escape from first and second
`chambers 14A and 14B through air tubes 48A and 48B. During deflation,
`pressure transducer 46 sends pressure readings to microprocessor 36 via
`AID converter 40. AID converter 40 receives analog information from
`pressure transducer 46 and converts that information to digital information
`useable by microprocessor 36.
`
`In the event that microprocessor 36 sends an increase pressure
`[0025]
`command, pump motor 42 may be energized, sending air to the
`designated chamber through air tube 48A or 488 via the corresponding
`-6-
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`WO 2009/123641
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`PCT/US2008/059409
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`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`valve 45A or 45B. While air is being delivered to the designated chamber
`in order to increase the firmness of the chamber, pressure transducer 46
`senses pressure within pump manifold 43. Again, pressure transducer 46
`sends pressure readings to microprocessor 36 via ND converter 40.
`Microprocessor 36 uses the information received from AID converter 40 to
`determine the difference between the actual pressure in the chamber 14
`and the desired pressure. Microprocessor 36 sends the digital signal to
`remote control 22 to update display 26 on the remote control in order to
`convey the pressure information to the user.
`
`Generally speaking, during an inflation or deflation process, the
`[0026]
`pressure sensed within pump manifold 43 provides an approximation of
`the pressure within the chamber. However, when it is necessary to obtain
`an accurate approximation of the chamber pressure, other methods must
`be used.
`
`One method of obtaining a pump manifold pressure reading
`[0027]
`that is substantially equivalent to the actual pressure within a chamber is
`to turn off the pump, allow the pressure within the chamber and the pump
`manifold to equalize, and then sense the pressure within the pump
`manifold with a pressure transducer, Thus, providing a sufficient amount
`of time to allow the pressures within the pump manifold 43 and the
`chamber to equalize may result in pressure readings that are accurate
`approximations of the actual pressure within the chamber. One obvious
`drawback to this type of method is the need to turn off the pump prior to
`obtaining the pump manifold pressure reading.
`
`A second method of obtaining a pump manifold pressure
`[0028]
`reading that is substantially equivalent to the actual pressure within a
`chamber is through use of the pressure adjustment method in accordance
`with the present invention. The pressure adjustment method is described
`in detail in FIGS. 5-7. However, in general, the method functions by
`the chamber pressure based upon a mathematical
`approximating
`relationship between the chamber pressure and the pressure measured
`within the pump manifold (during both an inflation cycle and a deflation
`
`-7-
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`WO 2009/123641
`
`PCT/US2008/059409
`
`cycle), thereby eliminating the need to turn off the pump in order to obtain
`a substantially accurate approximation of the chamber pressure. As a
`result, a desired pressure setpoint within a chamber may be achieved
`faster, with greater accuracy, and without the need for turning the pump off
`to allow the pressures to equalize.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram model 50 of the air bed system 10
`[0029]
`illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3, first and second chambers 14A
`and 148 may be modeled by capacitors 51A and 51B, motor 42 of pump
`20 may be modeled by current source 52 and resistor 53, relief valve 44
`may be modeled by resistor 54, pressure transducer 46 may be modeled
`by resistor 56 and a voltage sensing lead 57, first and second tubes 48A
`and 48B may be modeled by resistors 58A and 58B, and first and second
`valves 49A and 49B may be modeled by resistors 59A and 598.
`Additionally, pump manifold 43 may be modeled by another capacitor 60
`because it also acts as a chamber, albeit much smaller than first and
`second chambers 14A and 148,
`
`[0030]
`As those skilled in the art will appreciate, by assuming current
`source 52 is a constant current source, pressure readings may be
`analogized with voltage readings. Thus, in reference to the circuit diagram
`50 in FIG. 3, the voltages associated with capacitors 51A and 516 may be
`used to analyze pressure within first and second chambers 14A and 14B,
`respectively. Because the voltage readings are not dependent upon the
`capacitance value of capacitors 51A and 5113, the capacitance value may
`be discarded for purposes of the present analysis. Translated to pressure
`terms, this means that the size of first and second chambers 14A and 148
`is irrelevant when measuring the pressure within the chambers.
`
`[0031]
`Furthermore, weight positioned on a chamber (such as that
`caused by the user lying on bed 12) is directly related to the volume of the
`chamber and does not affect the ability of the system to measure the
`pressure within the chamber. In addition, because the system measures
`pressure in real time, weight changes do not affect the ability of the control
`system to accurately measure chamber pressure.
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`-8-
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`WO 2009/123647
`
`PCT/US2008/059409
`
`5
`
`The relationship between the voltage on
`[0032]
`first or second
`capacitors 51A or 51B and the voltage sensed at voltage sensing lead 57
`is dependent upon whether current is flowing toward the capacitor (i.e., the
`chamber is going through an inflation cycle) or away from the capacitor
`(i.e., the chamber is going through a deflation cycle). In particular, and as
`10 will be discussed in detail with reference to FIG. 4, modeling air bed
`system 10 as circuit diagram 50 results in an additive manifold pressure
`offset factor during an inflation cycle and a multiplicative manifold pressure
`factor during a deflation cycle.
`
`15
`
`The relationship between voltage associated with a chamber
`[0033]
`capacitor (i.e., the "chamber voltage") and the sensed "manifold" voltage
`during an inflation cycle may be stated as follows:
`
`[0034]
`
`Chamber Voltage = (Manifold Voltage) — (Inflate Factor) (Eq. 1)
`
`[0035]
`Restated in terms of pressure, the relationship between the
`pressure within a chamber and a sensed manifold pressure during an
`inflation cycle may be stated as follows:
`
`20
`
`[0036]
`2)
`
`Chamber Pressure = (Manifold Pressure) — (Inflate Factor) (Eq.
`
`In one exemplary embodiment, the inflate offset factor may
`[0037]
`generally fall in a range between about 0.0201 and about 0.1601.
`25 Because pressure readings may be analogous to voltage readings as
`discussed previously, the value of the inflate offset factor will be the same
`regardless of whether the relationship between the chamber and the pump
`manifold is being stated in terms of pressure or voltage.
`
`30
`
`The relationship between voltage associated with a chamber
`[0038]
`capacitor and the sensed manifold voltage during a deflation cycle may be
`stated as follows:
`
`[0039]
`3)
`
`Chamber Voltage = (Manifold Voltage) x (Deflate Factor) (Eq.
`
`-9-
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`WO 2009/123641
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`PCT/US2008/059409
`
`5
`
`Restated in terms of pressure, the relationship between the
`[0040]
`pressure within a chamber and a sensed manifold pressure during a
`deflation cycle may be stated as follows:
`
`Chamber Pressure = (Manifold Pressure) x (Deflate Factor)
`
`[0041]
`(Eq. 4)
`
`10
`
`15
`
`In one exemplary embodiment, the deflate factor may generally
`[0042]
`fall in a range between about 1.6 and about 6,5. Once again, because
`pressure readings may be analogous to voltage readings as discussed
`previously, the value of the deflate factor will be the same regardless of
`whether the relationship between the chamber and the pump manifold is
`being stated in terms of pressure or voltage.
`
`FIG. 4 is an exemplary graph 70 illustrating the pressure
`[0043]
`relationships derived from circuit diagram 50 of FIG. 3 and discussed in
`In particular, the vertical axis on the graph represents
`detail above.
`pressure in pounds per square inch (psi), while the horizontal axis on the
`graph represents time in milliseconds (ms). Thus, the graph illustrates a
`measure of chamber pressure over time.
`
`In particular, a first portion 71 of the graph 70 between about 0
`[0044]
`ms and about 65000 ms represents the inflation of a chamber from about
`0 psi to about 0.6 psi. A second portion 72 of the graph 70 between about
`65000 ms and about 135000 ms represents the pressure in the chamber
`being maintained at about 0.6 psi. Finally, a third portion 73 of the graph
`70 between about 135000 ms and about 200000 ms represents deflation
`of the chamber from about 0.6 psi to about 0 psi.
`
`[0045] With further reference to the graph in FIG, 4, the solid line 76
`represents the actual pressure within the chamber throughout the inflation
`and deflation cycles, while broken line 78 represents the sensed pump
`manifold pressure throughout the inflation and deflation cycles. As
`illustrated in FIG. 4, in the first portion 71 of the graph 70 representing
`inflation of the chamber, lines 76 and 78 are generally linear and offset
`from one another by a substantially constant additive offset factor 80. In
`
`20
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`25
`
`30
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`35
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`EXHIBIT 2081
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`PCT/US2008/059409
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`5
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`10
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`15
`
`this exemplary graph, the additive Inflate offset factor is about 0.0505.
`Thus, the pressure within the chamber may be approximated during an
`inflation cycle by subtracting from the sensed manifold pressure an inflate
`offset factor of about 0.0505. Lines 76 and 78 generally converge in the
`second portion 72 of the graph 70 when the chamber is being neither
`inflated nor deflated. Finally, in the third portion 73 of the graph 74
`representing deflation of the chamber, lines 76 and 78 are both non-linear
`and offset from one another by a substantially constant multiplicative factor
`82. In this exemplary graph, the multiplicative deflate factor is about 2.25.
`Thus, the pressure within the chamber may be approximated during a
`deflation cycle by multiplying the sensed manifold pressure by a deflate
`factor of about 2.25.
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`Now that a brief description of an air bed system and the
`[0046]
`relationship between chamber and pump manifold pressures have been
`provided, one embodiment of an improved pressure adjustment method
`according to the present invention will be described in detail. For
`purposes of discussion only,
`the pressure adjustment method in
`accordance with the present invention will be described in reference to first
`chamber 14A. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
`pressure adjustment method applies in a similar manner to other
`chambers, such as second chamber 148 of bed 12.
`
`In particular, FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a sample control
`[0047]
`logic sequence of a pressure setpoint monitoring method 100 according to
`the present invention. The sequence begins at step 102 upon the
`occurrence of a "power-on" event. A power-on event may be, for example,
`coupling power supply 34 of control box 24 to an external power source.
`The sequence continues at step 104 where microprocessor 36 obtains one
`or more default adjustment constants stored in, for example, memory 37.
`In one exemplary embodiment, these default adjustments correspond with
`the additive inflate factor and the multiplicative deflate factor previously
`described. Thus, for instance, the default additive inflate factor may be
`about 0.0505, while the default multiplicative deflate factor may be about
`2.25. Workers skilled in the art will appreciate that these default values
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`EXHIBIT 2081
`IPR2019-00500
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`10
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`are approximate and were determined for the particular air bed system
`modeled in FIGS. 1-3 above with an average sized user, and that these
`values may change as modifications are made to the air bed system.
`These default adjustment constants will be used by the improved pressure
`adjustment method of the present invention until they are later updated
`after a first pressure adjustment iteration as will be discussed in further
`detail to follow.
`
`15
`
`The sequence continues at step 106 where microprocessor 36
`[0048]
`detects whether a new pressure setpoint has been selected by the user to
`either increase or decrease the pressure in first chamber 14A. The new
`pressure setpoint may be a pressure that is either higher or lower than the
`current pressure in first chamber 14A, as desired by the user. As will be
`appreciated by those skilled in the art, the range of possible chamber
`pressures is not important to the operation of the present invention. Thus,
`numerous pressure ranges are contemplated. The new pressure setpoint
`20 may be selected by, for example, manipulating pressure increase button
`29 or pressure decrease button 30 on manual remote control 22.
`Alternatively, the pressure increase and decrease buttons may be
`provided on another component of system 10, such as pump 20.
`
`25
`
`If microprocessor 36 does not detect that a new pressure
`[0049]
`setpoint has been selected, the sequence then continues at step 108
`where microprocessor 36 determines whether or not there has been an
`If microprocessor 36
`loss in power.
`interfering event, such as a
`determines that a loss in power has occurred, the adjustment factors are
`then discarded in step 110 and the sequence loops back to step 102 to
`30 monitor for the occurrence of another power-on event. However, if
`microprocessor 36 determines that a loss in power has not occurred, the
`sequence enters monitoring loop 112 where microprocessor 36 continually
`monitors whether a new pressure setpoint is selected in step 106 or
`whether a loss in power has occurred in step 108.
`
`35
`
`Alternatively, if microprocessor 36 detects that a new pressure
`[0050]
`setpoint has been selected in step 106, then the sequence continues to
`
`-12-
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`EXHIBIT 2081
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`5
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`pressure adjustment method 150 as will be described in detail in reference
`to FIG. 6. Thus, the selection of a new pressure setpoint by the user
`triggers a pressure adjustment.
`
`10
`
`As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, air bed system
`[00611
`10 may include a back-up power source such that if the power to power
`supply 34 is interrupted, the pressure adjustment factors remain stored
`within memory 37. As a result, it may be possible to avoid the discarding
`step previously described.
`
`20
`
`FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a sample control logic sequence
`[00521
`of an exemplary pressure adjustment method 150 according to the present
`invention. The sequence begins at step 152 when pressure transducer 46
`samples the pr