Pillow with wireless charging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11424646-B2
Application number	US-201916731986-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2019
Priority date	Apr 16, 2019
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

A bed has a mattress. A first wireless charging array is positioned on a top side of the mattress nearer a head of the mattress. A pillow is configured to be positioned atop the first wireless charging array. The pillow includes a second wireless charging array located on an underside of a pillow. The second wireless charging array is configured to receive energy from the first wireless charging array. A companion device is configured to use the energy. An energy storage device is within the pillow. The energy storage device is configured to store charge received by the first wireless charging array. The energy storage device is configured to supply power to the companion device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a bed having a mattress;
a first wireless charging array positioned on a top side of the mattress nearer a head of the mattress;
a presences sensor configured to detect a presence of an occupant, the presence sensor configured to produce a presence stream indicative of an occupancy status of the mattress; and
a pillow configured to be positioned atop the first wireless charging array, the pillow comprising:
a second wireless charging array located on an underside of a pillow, the second wireless charging array configured to receive energy from the first wireless charging array;
a companion device configured to use the energy;
an energy storage device within the pillow, the energy storage device configured to store charge received by the first wireless charging array, the energy storage device configured to supply power to the companion device;

a controller configured to:
receiving the presence stream;
determine presence of an occupant in response to receiving the presence stream;
deactivate the first wireless charging array and second wireless charging array in response to the presence of an occupant;
activate the companion device in response to the presence of an occupant, the companion device being powered solely by the energy storage device during use;
determine a lack of an occupant in response to receiving the presence stream; and
activate the first wireless charging array and second wireless charging array in response to determining the lack of an occupant.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pillow comprises the presence sensor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless charging array comprises an inductive coil and the second wireless charging array comprises an inductive coil configured to inductively couple with one another.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless charging array comprises a light emitter and the second wireless charging array comprises a solar cell configured to convert the emitted light into electricity.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a super capacitor.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the companion device comprises a heater.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the companion device comprises a massager.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the companion device comprises a cooler.

9. A pillow comprising:
a first wireless charging array located on an underside of a pillow, the first wireless charging array configured to receive energy from a second wireless charging array positioned proximate the first wireless charging array;
a companion device configured to use the energy;
an energy storage device within the pillow, the energy storage device configured to store charge received by the first wireless charging array, the energy storage device configured to supply power to the companion device; and
a controller coupled to the pillow, the controller configured to:
determine presence of an occupant in response to sensed data from a presence sensor, the presences sensor configured to detect a presence of an occupant, the presence sensor configured to produce a presence stream indicative of an occupancy status of a mattress, the presence sensor being communicably coupled to the controller;
deactivate the first wireless charging array and second wireless charging array in response to detection of the presence of the occupant;
activate the companion device in response to detection of the presence of an occupant, the companion device being powered by the energy storage device during use;
determine a lack of the occupant in response to sensed data from the presence sensor; and
activate the first wireless charging array and second wireless charging array in response to determining the lack of the occupant.

10. The pillow of claim 9 , wherein the first wireless charging array comprises a plurality of inductive coils.

11. The pillow of claim 9 , wherein the first wireless charging array comprises a solar cell.

12. The pillow of claim 9 , wherein the energy storage device comprises a super capacitor.

13. The pillow of claim 9 , wherein the companion device comprises a heater.

14. A method comprising:
determining, by a controller and a presence sensor, a lack of an occupant on a pillow;
responsive to determining the lack of the occupant, receiving energy, by an energy receiver within the pillow, from an energy transmitter positioned proximate the energy receiver;
charging, by the received energy, an energy storage device within the pillow;
determining, by the controller and the presence sensor, a presence of the occupant on the pillow;
responsive to determining the presence of the occupant, ceasing energy transfer by the energy receiver within the pillow; and
activating a companion device responsive to determining the presence of the occupant, wherein activating the companion device comprises powering the companion device solely by the energy storage device within the pillow.

Assignees

• Sleep Number Corp

Inventors

• Holmvik Tyler
• Siffring Caleb
• Grabinger Cory

Classifications

• H02J7/70

  characterised by the mechanical construction · CPC title

• H02J50/402

  the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas · CPC title

• A47C27/10

  with two or more independently-fillable chambers · CPC title

• H02J50/80

  involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices · CPC title

• A47C21/048

  for heating · CPC title