Capacitive wire sensing for furniture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9528812-B2
Application number	US-201313749120-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 24, 2013
Priority date	Jan 9, 2012
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A system and method for incorporating presence-sensing technology into furniture is provided. More particularly, the invention relates to detecting presence using a metal, adjustable bed frame. The bed frame is pulsed with a voltage to provide a charge, against which capacitance is measured. A controller determines the corresponding response based on presence detection by the frame. Conductive bushings may also be used to measure capacitance using the bed frame. In further embodiments, capacitance is measured by a foil tape surrounding a perimeter of the adjustable bed. The foil tape has a voltage based on proximity of an object to the tape, and may be embedded with a capacitive wire. A processor receives information regarding changes in capacitance and determines when a change in voltage satisfies a threshold. Based on a determination of presence, or lack of presence, a variety of corresponding features of the adjustable bed may be activated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An adjustable bed, comprising:
a mattress support that comprises a plurality of support panels, at least one of said support panels movable relative to the other ones of said support panels to thereby adjust the bed from a first position to a second position;
a metal bed frame coupled to the plurality of support panels, said metal bed frame comprising a plurality of metal components and a plurality of conductive bushings;
a mattress resting on top of the mattress support, said mattress having a covering material disposed over at least a top surface of the mattress;
at least one capacitive component coupled to the bed, said at least one capacitive component separate from the mattress, wherein the at least one capacitive component is adapted to have a voltage based on proximity of an object to the at least one capacitive component, and further wherein the at least one capacitive component comprises the metal bed frame associated with the adjustable bed and below the mattress support, wherein the at least one capacitive component is configured to determine presence in proximity to an area below the mattress support based on detecting a change in voltage associated with the metal bed frame; and
a processor coupled to the at least one capacitive component, the processor adapted to receive frame detection information provided by the at least one capacitive component and to determine that a change in voltage satisfies a threshold,
wherein the change in voltage due to the change in capacitance of the at least one capacitive component as the support panels move to adjust the bed from the first position to the second position does not satisfy the threshold.

2. The bed of claim 1 , wherein the metal bed frame is coupled to the processor with at least one coaxial cable.

3. The bed of claim 2 , wherein the processor receives information directly from the at least one capacitive component.

4. The bed of claim 1 , wherein receiving information provided by the at least one capacitive component comprises pulsing the metal bed frame with a voltage to provide a charge to the metal bed frame.

5. The bed of claim 4 , wherein an analog to digital (ADC) converter is used to measure how the charge of the metal bed frame changes over time.

6. The bed of claim 1 , wherein determining that a change in voltage satisfies a threshold comprises:
monitoring a change in voltage detected by the at least one capacitive component over a particular period of time; and
comparing the change in voltage over the period of time with the threshold,
wherein the change in voltage exceeds the threshold for a threshold period of time.

7. The bed of claim 6 , wherein, based on determining that a change in voltage satisfies a threshold, the processor is adapted to discontinue motion of the adjustable bed until it is determined that a change in voltage no longer satisfies the threshold.

8. The bed of claim 6 , wherein, based on determining that a change in voltage satisfies a threshold, the processor is adapted to discontinue motion of the adjustable bed until it is determined that an indication to initiate motion is received.

9. A method for detecting presence with respect to an item of furniture, the method comprising:
receiving information provided by at least one capacitive component coupled to the item of furniture, wherein the item of furniture comprises:
(1) a furniture support comprising a plurality of moveable support panels; and
(2) a metal frame coupled to the plurality of moveable support panels, said metal frame comprising a plurality of metal components and at least one conductive bushing;

wherein the at least one capacitive component comprises the metal frame associated with the item of furniture, wherein receiving information from said at least one capacitive component comprises pulsing the metal frame of the item of furniture with a voltage to provide a charge to the metal frame,
and further wherein the at least one capacitive component is adapted to have a voltage based on proximity of an object to the at least one capacitive component, wherein the at least one capacitive component is configured to detect user presence in proximity to an area below the furniture support based on detection of a change in voltage associated with the metal frame;
determining user presence in proximity to the area below the furniture support based on determining that a change in voltage satisfies a threshold, wherein determining that a change in voltage satisfies a threshold comprises:
(1) monitoring a rate of change in voltage detected by the at least one capacitive component; and
(2) comparing the monitored rate of change in voltage with the threshold.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one conductive bushing is adapted to capacitively couple two or more metal components of the metal frame.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one conductive bushing comprises at least one material adapted to transfer energy between the two or more metal components, wherein the at least one material comprises one or more of stainless steel, carbon fiber, carbon black, carbon powder, and graphite.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one conductive bushing comprises at least one plastic bushing having one or more of a chemical additive that increases conductivity and a chemical coating that increases conductivity.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one conductive bushing comprises at least one metal coating associated with the at least one conductive bushing, wherein the at least one metal coating is applied to one or more of an outside surface of the at least one conductive bushing and an interior surface of the at least one conductive bushing.

14. A method for detecting presence with respect to an adjustable bed, the method comprising:
receiving information provided by at least one capacitive component coupled to a perimeter of a stationary surround of an adjustable bed frame, said capacitive component configured to detect user presence in proximity to an area surrounding the stationary surround, wherein the at least one capacitive component is adapted to have a voltage based on proximity of an object to the at least one capacitive component, and further wherein the at least one capacitive component comprises a foil tape applied to the perimeter of the stationary surround based on coupling to one or more of a substrate inner edge, a substrate top, and a substrate outer edge of the stationary surround;
determining that a change in voltage satisfies a threshold amount for a threshold period of time based on monitoring user presence with respect to at least a portion of the stationary surround; and
based on determining that the threshold amount is satisfied for the threshold period of time, initiating a corresponding response.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the foil tape comprises a thin-gauge foil tape, and further wherein the foil tape is embedded with a conductive material.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the foil tape is embedded with a capacitive wire.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein a sensitivity of the at least one capacitive component is adjusted such that an amount of change in voltage corresponding to direct contact with at least a portion of the stationary surround is required prior to determining that the change in voltage satisfies a threshold amount.

Assignees

• L & P Property Management Co
• L&P Property Man Co

Inventors

• Chacon Ryan Edward
• Madadi Avinash
• Rohr William
• Cassell Sam

Classifications

• H03K17/955

  using a capacitive detector · CPC title

• G01B7/003 Primary

  for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination (coordinate measuring G01B7/004) · CPC title

• G01R27/2605

  Measuring capacitance (capacitive sensors G01D5/24) · CPC title

• H03K2017/9602

  characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes · CPC title

• G01V3/088

  operating with electric fields (G01V3/082 takes precedence) · CPC title