Bed system with star topology pump controller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12274369-B2
Application number	US-202418416387-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2024
Priority date	Mar 14, 2013
Publication date	Apr 15, 2025
Grant date	Apr 15, 2025

Abstract

A method may comprise receiving, at a central controller, a command, from a remote control, to adjust a feature of a first component of an air mattress framework; relaying, from the central controller, the command to the first component; receiving from the first component at the central controller, an indication of the success of the command; and relaying the indication from the central controller to the remote control.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bed system comprising:
a foundation;
a mattress configured to be supported by the foundation;
a first controller housed in a first separate enclosure, wherein the first controller comprises at least one articulation controller configured to control articulation of the foundation; and
a pump controller configured to regulate fluid flow, wherein the pump controller comprises a processor, a storage device, a pump, and a network interface, wherein the pump controller is configured to function as a hub in a star topology so as to be capable of communication with a plurality of spoke systems including communication with the first controller, wherein the pump controller is configured to send a command to one or more valves to flow fluid to and from the pump, wherein the pump controller is configured to act as a relay between the spoke systems including between the pump controller and the first controller,
wherein the at least one articulation controller is configured to function as another hub in the star topology so as to be capable of communication with a plurality of articulation devices, wherein the at least one articulation controller is configured to send a command to the plurality of articulation devices to change a position of the bed system, wherein the at least one articulation controller is configured to establish communication links with the plurality of articulation devices.

2. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the pump controller is housed in a second separate enclosure different than the first separate enclosure housing the first controller.

3. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the spoke systems comprise at least one remote controller such that the pump controller is configured to communicate with the remote controller when connected and to relay communication between the remote controller and the first controller through the pump controller.

4. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the processor of the pump controller is configured to be in wireless communication with a processor of the first controller.

5. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the pump controller comprises one or more valves.

6. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the pump controller comprises a manifold, a valve and a sensor.

7. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the pump controller comprises a general purpose central processing unit.

8. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the spoke systems comprise at least one temperature controller such that the temperature controller is configured to communicate with the pump controller.

9. The bed system of claim 8 , further comprising a temperature control pad, the at least one temperature controller operatively coupled to the temperature control pad.

10. The bed system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one temperature controller is further configured to increase, decrease, or maintain a temperature of the bed system.

11. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one articulation controller is further configured to adjust a position of head and foot portions of the mattress.

12. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one articulation controller is further configured to provide different levels of massage to a user on the mattress.

13. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein to establish communication links with the plurality of articulation devices, the at least one articulation controller is configured to act as a relay between the pump controller and the plurality of articulation devices.

14. The bed system of claim 1 , wherein the spoke systems comprise at least one external network device, such that the at least one external network device is configured to communicate with the pump controller and with the first controller via the pump controller.

Assignees

• Sleep Number Corp

Inventors

• Nunn Rob
• Tilstra Matthew Wayne
• Hilden Matthew Glen
• Mahoney Paul James

Classifications

• A47C27/081

  of pneumatic type · CPC title

• A47C27/083

  with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors · CPC title

• A47C27/082

  with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps · CPC title

• G05B23/0267

  Fault communication, e.g. human machine interface [HMI] · CPC title

• A47C31/008 Primary

  Use of remote controls · CPC title