Wearable Technology for Sleep Environment Modification
This invention is a system which automatically changes the firmness and/or configuration of a portion of a mattress on which a person sleeps based on changes in the person's body motion, body configuration, and/or snoring. The person's body motion or body configuration can be measured by a wearable motion sensor. The firmness and/or configuration of the portion of the mattress can be changed by inflation or deflation of the mattress or by electromagnetic adjustment of the compressive resistance of mattress springs.
1 . A system for modifying a person's sleep environment comprising:
a wearable motion sensor that is configured to be wom by a sleeping person in order to measure the person's body motion or body configuration; and
a mattress on which the person sleeps, wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically changed based on the person's body motion or body configuration.
2 . The system in claim 1 wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically increased when the person is restless based on data from the wearable motion sensor.
3 . The system in claim 2 wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically increased by inflation of the mattress when the person is restless based on data from the wearable motion sensor.
4 . The system in claim 2 wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically increased by an increase in the compressive resistance of springs in the mattress when the person is restless based on data from the wearable motion sensor.
5 . The system in claim 1 wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically decreased when the person is restless based on data from the wearable motion sensor.
6 . The system in claim 5 wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically decreased by deflation of the mattress when the person is restless based on data from the wearable motion sensor.
7 . The system in claim 5 wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically decreased by a decrease in the compressive resistance of springs in the mattress when the person is restless based on data from the wearable motion sensor.
8 . A system for modifying a person's sleep environment comprising:
a wearable motion sensor that is configured to be wom by a sleeping person in order to measure the person's body motion or body configuration; and
a mattress on which the person sleeps, wherein the shape, motion, slope, tilt, or configuration of the mattress is automatically changed based on the person's body motion or body configuration.
9 . The system in claim 8 wherein the longitudinal slope or other longitudinal configuration of the mattress is automatically changed based on the person's body motion or body configuration.
10 . The system in claim 8 wherein the lateral slope or other lateral configuration of the mattress is automatically changed based on the person's body motion or body configuration.
11 . A system for modifying a person's sleep environment comprising:
a snoring sensor which is configured to be in proximity to a sleeping person; and
a mattress on which the person sleeps, wherein the configuration of the mattress is automatically changed when data from the snoring sensor indicates that the person is snoring.
12 . The system in claim 11 wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically increased when data from the snoring sensor indicates that the person is snoring.
13 . The system in claim 12 wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically increased by inflation of the mattress when data from the snoring sensor indicates that the person is snoring.
14 . The system in claim 12 wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically increased by an increase in the compressive resistance of springs in the mattress when data from the snoring sensor indicates that the person is snoring.
15 . The system in claim 11 wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically decreased when data from the snoring sensor indicates that the person is snoring.
16 . The system in claim 15 wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically decreased by deflation of the mattress when data from the snoring sensor indicates that the person is snoring.
17 . The system in claim 15 wherein the firmness of the mattress is automatically decreased by a decrease in the compressive resistance of springs in the mattress when data from the snoring sensor indicates that the person is snoring.
18 . The system in claim 11 wherein the longitudinal slope or other longitudinal configuration of the mattress is automatically changed when data from the snoring sensor indicates that the person is snoring.
19 . The system in claim 11 wherein the lateral slope or other lateral configuration of the mattress is automatically changed when data from the snoring sensor indicates that the person is snoring.
20 . The system in claim 11 wherein the mattress is automatically vibrated or oscillated when data from the snoring sensor indicates that the person is snoring.