Jb Research, Inc.

Inseat Solutions, LLC

Other

Salton, Inc.

Educational Insights, Inc.

Stanley Cutler

Alton B Otis, Jr

Taylor Chau

Gayle B Gerth

Charles G Sleichter, Iii

Burton Cutler

Brian A Mehler

Jay Cutler

A vibro-tactile cutaneous alert stimulation and massaging system for equipment such as a vehicle includes a pad; a heater element, and motorized vibrators in respective regions of the pad; a plurality of vibratory transducers for location relative to plural zones of the seat, each transducer being responsive to a transducer power signal; a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface; an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor in response to operator input, the signaling including an intensity control value, a plurality of mode signals, and a plurality of region signals relating transducers to be enabled; and a driver circuit responsive to the output interface for producing the power signal separately for each of the transducers. The controller responds to the input elements to activate the transducers in: a massaging mode selectively producing activation of the drive signals at adjustable intensity corresponding to the intensity control value; and an alert mode producing a predetermined sequence of vibro-tactile cutaneous alert stimulation cycles, each alert stimulation cycle having idle portion between 1 and 30 seconds, and an active portion of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating the muscle groups of the driver for improving the driver's alertness, the intensity of vibration in the alert mode being greater than the maximum intensity in the massaging mode. Additional transducers can be spaced along a restraining seat belt for imparting directionally oriented stimuli warning of an impending collision. Also disclosed are methods for alerting a vehicle driver and for tactile-signaling a directionally oriented external condition to a vehicle driver or occupant.

Vibro-tactile alert and massaging system having directionally oriented stimuli

A massaging system includes a pad comprising with multiple zones sand vibratory transducers in the pad for vibrating the zones. Each transducer includes a motor and a mass element eccentrically coupled to the motor. The massaging system also includes a microcontroller having an input interface and an output interface, a program memory coupled to the microcontroller, and input elements coupled to the input interface for signaling the microcontroller in response to operator input. A motor driver coupled to the output interface and the vibratory transducers drives the vibratory transducers in response to the operator input, while firmware stored in the memory and executed by the microcontroller selectively operates the vibratory transducers in a tapping mode and a wave mode in response to the operator input.

Microcontroller based massage system

A massaging system includes a pad; a heater element, and motorized vibrators in respective regions of the pad; corresponding heater and motor drivers in the pad; a control wand removably connectable to the pad and having a microcontroller with RAM and ROM, a serial EEPROM; a serial interface to a shift register in the pad for signaling pulse width modulation of the drivers. The ROM defines a master set of operating modes and variations thereof in response to operator input of intensity, region, heat input; and mode signals to the controller. The EEPROM has data for implementing and configuring a subset of the master modes. The system can also provide composite modes including a test mode that automatically sequentially activates each mode and variation of the subset of the modes without delays for exercising non-implemented modes. The system can have a power detector for identifying sources of power having different current limitations, the system being operated with PWM duty cycle limiting when raw power voltage falls below a preset level. Also disclosed is a set-up method for writing data to the EEPROM using the serial interface when the wand is disconnected from the pad for facilitating production of a variety of systems with reduced inventory requirements. The system can also include an audio envelope detector having a dual-slope integrating ADC in the pad that is cycled by serial signals driving the shift register, a single comparator output of the ADC signaling the microcontroller.

A remote controlled massage device includes a remote control unit having a microprocessor, a keypad, and a transmitter, the microprocessor being programmed for generating output data directly corresponding to individual keystrokes of the keypad that define activation of particular vibrator elements, operation in particular time-variant power level sequences, relative vibration intensity, and relative speed of advancing through the time-variant power sequences. The transmitter has a transducer for radiating signals corresponding to the output data, for reflection from a ceiling under which the device is located, the data being transmitted in plural identical packets having a header, a sequence number, a device code program data, and an error code, subsequent sets of the identical packets having different sequence numbers. A massage unit of the device includes a cushion; electrically powered vibrator elements in the cushion; a detector supportable in an upwardly directed orientation relative to the cushion for receiving the reflected radiation signals; and a micro controller system electrically connected for driving the vibrator elements in a plurality of modes having variant power levels in response to the detector, the packets being validated using the error code and a settable device code of the massage unit, storing the sequence number of a last-received valid packet. Next-received valid packets having sequence numbers matching that of a last-received valid packet are ignored.

Infrared control system for a massage chair

A tactile alert stimulation and massaging system for equipment such as a vehicle includes a pad; a heater element, and motorized vibrators in respective regions of the pad; a plurality of vibratory transducers for location relative to plural zones of the seat, each transducer being responsive to a transducer power signal; a microprocessor controller having program and variable memory and an input and output interface; an array of input elements connected to the input interface for signaling the microprocessor in response to operator input, the signaling including an intensity control value, a plurality of mode signals, and a plurality of region signals relating transducers to be enabled; a driver circuit responsive to the output interface for producing, separately for each of the transducers, the power signal; and the microprocessor controller being operative in response to the input elements for activating the transducers for operation thereof in a plurality of modes including a massaging mode selectively producing activation of the drive signals at adjustable intensity corresponding to the intensity control value for soothingly massaging muscle groups of the driver; and an alert mode producing a predetermined sequence of alert stimulation cycles, each alert stimulation cycle having an idle portion of between 1 second and 30 seconds, and an active portion of sufficient duration, frequency, and intensity for selectively stimulating the muscle groups of the driver thereby to improve the driver's alertness, wherein successive alert stimulation cycles differ in at least one of intensity, frequency, active portion duration, idle portion duration, and transducers enabled.

Tactile alert and massaging system

A computer controlled massaging system includes a pad; a plurality of motorized vibrators in respective regions of the pad; a heater element in the pad; a microprocessor controller; an array of input elements responsive to operator input for signaling an intensity control value, at least one region signal relating motors to be activated, and a heat control input; and a plurality of motor drivers and a heater driver responsive to the controller. The motors can be variably driven using pulse-width modulation, with duty cycle compensation for voltage drops resulting from added loads, and with current limiting when, for example, the system is powered from an AC line using a low-voltage transformer of limited capacity. Also disclosed is a corresponding method for massaging. The system can have a power detector for identifying sources of power having greater and lesser voltage drops as loads are added, the controller being programmed for increasing a base duty cycle and reducing a load increment duty cycle during operation from the power source of lesser voltage drop. A configuration selector can signal particular components being electrically connected in the system for utilizing a single set of programmed instructions in the program memory in variously configured examples of the massaging system. The system can also include an audio detector having an audio mode input element for selectively activating the motors in response to a detected envelope of an external audio signal. The system can also include a test mode that automatically sequentially activates components of the system.

An audio-responsive massage system includes a pad for contacting a user of the system; a plurality of vibratory transducers, each transducer having an eccentric element for vibrating the pad at variable intensity and associated vibration frequency in response to a power signal; a microphone for response to a remotely located source to provide an audio signal; an audio filter for selecting a desired frequency characteristic of the audio signal; a detector circuit for producing a control signal as an amplitude envelope of the audio signal and including a detector diode connected for feeding a low-pass filter; a power amplifier for producing the power signal in response to a control signal; and a sequencer for periodically activating different ones of the transducers for drive by the power amplifier. Also disclosed is a method for massaging a user in response to an audio source including the steps of providing a massaging pad having a vibratory transducer coupled thereto, and a coupler connected to the transducer for variably powering the transducer; contacting the user with the pad; operating an envelope detector in response to the audio source for producing a control signal; and feeding the control signal to the coupler for activating the transducer, thereby massaging the user with variable intensity in response to the amplitude envelope of the audio source.

Audio responsive massage system

The present invention is an electronic teaching system containing two principal components: a projection frame and a hand-held remote unit. The projection frame mediates the electronic test and holds a transparency on an overhead projector so that the transparency may be projected for an entire class to view. Typically the transparency features a series of questions and possible answers to the questions. The projection frame asks the questions and displays the results of the testing process. In a preferred embodiment the projection frame bears a series of pointers, one for each question. When a given question is asked, the corresponding pointer becomes illuminated. Students participate in the test by matching the correct answer to the appropriate question. The students use the second component of the present invention, the hand-held remote unit which bears a keyboard, to answer the question currently being asked by the projection frame. The hand-held remote unit and the projection frame are in wireless communication so that the projection frame is able to respond to the students' answers by indicating correctness of the answers and by awarding points for correct answers.

Electronic testing system for use by multiple students

An electromechanical apparatus is disclosed herein such as a cushion, pad or mattress, including pulsing elements for massaging a variety of body locations having a plurality of vibrating transducers situated in groups within a cushioned member so that the groups of transducers operate in given locations or sections of the cushioned member to provide either an automatic or manually controlled rolling or travelling vibratory motion across the member. A manually operated dwell of the vibratory motion is provided at selected locations. A handheld controller supplies the groups of transducers with electrical signals to produce an operating sequence of vibratory oscillations in individual transducers as well as selected groups and the aforementioned rolling or travelling vibratory motion.

Massaging apparatus with sequential vibration

An electronic educational teaching apparatus is disclosed herein for use in learning key subjects such as geography, which has an information card presenting visual question and answer data and supported in a holder or stand which houses an electronic circuit for comparing user input answer data with memory stored correct answer data. In one form, the apparatus includes a microprocessor employed with an input keyboard for entering answer data and an output display to indicate answer results. Internal circuits compare the user input answer data with the stored correct answer data and with interconnecting circuits to sense right and wrong answers with alarm, display and score registering capability. The keyboard input is processed by the microprocessor, then coupled to LED displays via LED drivers. An audible device is connected to the microprocessor for providing audible indications of answer correctness. Power supply circuits, including D.C. regulation circuits, reset and timing circuits are operably interconnected with the microprocessor.

Electronic teaching apparatus

Self-teaching apparatus is disclosed herein having a platform for supporting a card carrying printed indicia and a record disc. Information carried on the disc and the printed area is coordinated so as to be meaningful in practice. Record disc playback mechanism and an operating circuit is intercoupled with an electrical probe actuator so that the auditory instructions or information can be related to the printed indicia. In one form, a solid, pliable platform is employed with a membrane switch included in the circuit and, in another form, holes are placed through the platform for passing an electric tip on the probe for contact with a plate connected to the circuit. The card is provided with holes in the latter form and without holes in the former form.

Growing community of inventors

Van Nuys, CA, United States of America

Stanley Cutler