Abstract:
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.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to remote controlled massage systems, and more particularly to remote controlled massage chairs.  
           [0002]    There is a need for a remote controlled massage chair that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0003]    The present invention meets this need by providing a remote controlled massage appliance that is particularly versatile regarding operation of a remote controller thereof. In one aspect of the invention, a massage device includes a remote control unit having a housing, a microprocessor, a keypad interfaced with the microprocessor, and a transmitter interfaced to the microprocessor for radiating output data signals being reflectable from a ceiling under which the appliance is located; and a massage unit having a cushion, vibrator elements in the cushion, an upwardly oriented detector for receiving the signals reflected from the ceiling, and a micro controller system for driving the vibrator elements in a plurality of modes having variant power levels in response to the detector.  
           [0004]    The output data can directly correspond to individual keystrokes, which can include keystrokes defining activation of particular ones of the elements, time-variant power level sequences, vibration intensity, and the relative speed of advancing in the sequences. The micro controller system can have storage for a plurality of massaging programs, the output data including direct correspondence with varient power levels of a single selected program.  
           [0005]    Preferably the output data is transmitted in plural identical packets, each including a header a sequence number, program data, and an error code that is used for validation, packets not validated being ignored. Further, packets having sequence numbers matching the last-received valid packet are also preferably ignored.  
           [0006]    Preferably the packets include device code data that is matched with a corresponding device code of the massage unit for permitting reliable operation in close proximity with counterparts of the massage device. 
       
    
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagrammatical view of a massage chair in an infrared remote control system according to the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a front view of a remote controller unit of the system of FIG. 1;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the remote controller unit of FIG. 2;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a receiver unit portion of the system of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another receiver unit portion of the system of FIG. 1; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a further receiver unit portion of the system of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    The present invention is directed to a micro controller based remote control system for controlling the operation of a massage appliance such as a massage chair. With reference to FIGS.  1 - 4  of the drawings, a remote control system  10  has a remote control unit  12  for transmitting control signals to a micro controller unit  14  that is supported within an appliance such as a massage chair  16 , which can be a recliner chair having a frame  17 . In one embodiment of the invention, an Infra Red (IR) detector  18  is located on one of the chair&#39;s arms  20  or, as shown in FIG. 1, atop the chair&#39;s back  22 , the detector  18  facing upwards to receive IR rays reflected from the ceiling  24  or other structures (not shown). As further shown in FIG. 1, an array of motor-driven vibrators  26  (also sometimes referred to as motors) are spaced within five zones (Z1-Z5) of a cushion  28  of the chair, individual ones of the motors  26  having the following designations:  
                                                   Z1R, Z2R, Z3R, Z4R, Z5R           Z1C, Z2C           Z1L, Z2L, Z3L, Z4L, Z5L                      
 
         [0015]    Also located in the cushion  28  are a pair of heaters  27 , one heater  27 A for zone Z1C, the other heater  27 B for zone Z2C.  
         [0016]    A wand  30 , preferably having a minimum of two IR LEDs  32  can be utilized as the remote controller  12 . The wand  30  can be removably located at the top end of a wand case  34  near left and right corners of the chair  16 , the IR LEDs  32  being set at optimum angles for enhancing a range of positioning of the wand  30  over which the control signals are detectable by the detector  18 . Wand interaction with chair reception should operate reliably when held vertically in any combination ±45° degrees tilt fore and aft, and ±30° tilt left and right. When used with the detector  18  mounted (for example, as a pendulum) at the top of the chair back  22 , the specified interface reliability applies regardless of the recliner chair back position.  
         [0017]    As further shown in FIG. 3, the remote control unit  12  includes a microprocessor  36  that includes non-volatile program memory and read/write memory for variable storage, the microprocessor  36  being interfaced with a transmitter circuit  37  for driving the LEDs  32 , key matrix  38  for receipt of user input, and a device code switch  40 , the switch  40  being further described below. A device suitable for use as the microprocessor  36  is commercially available as type S57C0002 from sources known to those having skill in the microcomputer art.  
         [0018]    The micro controller unit  14  includes a microprocessor  42 , that like the microprocessor  36  has program and variable memory, the microprocessor  42  being interfaced to the device code switch  41  (See FIG. 4.), and to the motors  26  through respective drivers  44  (FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 6, the microprocessor  42  is also interfaced to the heaters  27 A and  27 B, and to a speaker  46 , the speaker  46  being driven in a conventional manner to produce an audible, pleasant sounding beep in the range of 1 KHz rep rate, at a selectable volume level, each time any key is pressed on the wand. Hold-down type keys such as Intensity and Speed have repeated beeps corresponding to each step change of the controlled function. The speaker  46  can be implemented as a PCB-mounted device, being included on a suitable circuit card with other components of the micro controller unit  14 , the unit  14  being mounted inside recliner chair  16 , under the cushion  28 .  
         [0019]    Three or more separate device codes are implemented in each of the wand  30  and the micro controller unit  14  for providing reliable communication between the wand  30  and the chair  16  when other such devices are nearby. This can be implemented by a three position switch on the end of a cord between the wand  30  and the chair  16 , which cord can be positioned on the chair frame structure where it can be reached by a user, for example by tipping the chair  16  over. A corresponding three position switch on the wand  30  can be reached when a battery cover is removed. In an exemplary embodiment and as shown in the drawings, the wand  30  has the device code switch  40  (three independently settable contact closures) and the micro controller unit  14  has a corresponding three-element decoder switch  41 . In a further alternative, the wand ID code can be programmed with a sequence of button pressings, which will be maintained until the batteries are removed.  
         [0020]    A suitable power supply for the wand  30  is a pair of 1.5V dry cells, such as ordinary AAA batteries. A power circuit of the wand  30  provides protection from reverse polarity installation of batteries, to prevent any damage to the wand.  
         [0021]    Operational Modes &amp; Function Keys  
         [0022]    Referring to FIG. 2, and source code listings of Appendix A, several operation modes of the system are described below. In FIG. 2, key designations corresponding to listing codes are given below the respective keys *with certain features described in Appendix B.  
         [0023]    1. MASSAGE—This key turns massaging on and off (alternate action key). If the system 10 remains powered since the last turn-off, operation commences in the last selected mode, intensity, speed, etc. that prevailed at time of the last turn off. If the system is turned on the first time after power is applied using the Massage key, the system is activated in an arbitrary manner, such as Zone 1 of the chair  16 , at medium intensity in SELECT mode, time set for fifteen minutes. Further, other function keys (Z1 through Z5 and S/E A through F) can be implemented to activate the system  10  in that function.  
         [0024]    2. HEAT 1—A first press of the key turns heat ON HIGH; a second press switches to LOW heat, and a third press turns heat pad off. User feedback for HI and LO heat is via sound, a short beep for LO, a longer beep for HI (beep pitch about 1 KHz). The heaters  27  stay on in low heat until a suitable operating temperature is reached, and they can then cycle to maintain the low heat temperature. HEAT 1 can have its own timer set to 30 minutes. During a time period, switching to HI or LO heat will not reset the timer, but turning heat off will reset timer at next turn on.  
         [0025]    3. HEAT 2—A first press of the key turns heat ON HIGH; a second press switches to LOW heat, and a third press turns the heater  27 A off. User feedback for HI and LO heat is via sound, a short beep for LO, and a longer beep for HI (beep pitch about 1 KHZ). Operation in low heat, and timer operation is as described above.  
         [0026]    4. TIME (massage)—Alternate presses of this key change the timer interval between 15 and 30 minutes. Sounds as described above for the HI-LO heat identify time period. Operation of the Time key resets time period.  
         [0027]    5. Z1 through Z5 (Zones)—The first press of one of these keys activates that zone of the chair 16, a second press turns it off. If the system is in one of the WAVE, PULSE, or SELECT (W,P,S) modes, the system remains in that mode regardless of zone pressing action. If the system was in any other functional mode (RANDOM, Z-Z, S/E, etc.) pressing any zone key will turn that zone on in SELECT mode.  
         [0028]    6. WAVE—A press of this key turns this mode ON. Multiple Presses do not alter the mode state. Cycles any activated zones down and up, at rates determined by SPEED keys setting. WAVE mode is turned off by pressing any other mode key.  
         [0029]    7. PULSE—A first press of this key simultaneously pulses any zones turned on at SPEED key rate with 50/50 duty cycle. A second press changes the duty cycle to an unsymmetrical setting, such as 10/90 or 20/80. The duty cycle setting alternates on successive presses. This mode is terminated as described above for the WAVE mode.  
         [0030]    8. SELECT (manual)—operates any activated zones at a steady intensity. The intensity adjusts automatically to stay within rated transformer power as additional motors and/or heating pads are activated. This mode is also terminated as described above for the WAVE mode.  
         [0031]    9. RANDOM—randomly turns on one motor of the ten left and right motors in all the zones, changing motors at a rate defined by the SPEED keys. This mode is also terminated as described above for the WAVE mode.  
         [0032]    10. SWELL—This key, operative in SELECT and WAVE modes, activates and deactivates the SWELL mode (alternate action key). The intensity is varied from the lowest level to that set by the INTENSITY keys, at a rate determined by the setting of the SWELL SPEED keys (KSU/KSD). options include choice of the intensity change waveform, which can be sinusoidal or triangular, for example.  
         [0033]    11. ZIG-ZAG—This key sequentially activates the motors of zones Z1L, Z2R, Z3L, Z4R, Z5R, Z4L, Z3R, Z2L, Z1R, and Z1L, at a rate set by the SPEED keys. This mode is terminated as described above for the WAVE mode.  
         [0034]    12. PROGRAM A—The Program A key allows setting a sequence of up to 10 steps of motor activation, each step being in a selected zone (2 motors on at the same time) or a selected one 1 of 10 numbered motors (1 motor on at a time). Zone and number positions can be mixed in any desired order. Intensity can be set for each motor or zone programmed. During program execution intensity keys can be inactive, or they can adust all positions in relative ratio to their initial programed settings. An example programming sequence is as follows:  
         [0035]    (a) Press PROG A key;  
         [0036]    (b) Press a zone or numbered motor key. Motor(s) come on at medium intensity. Second press of same motor or zone will turn it off allowing user to accept or delete the last choice;  
         [0037]    (c) Adjust intensity to desired level. If no intensity change is wanted press next zone or motor key to be programmed;  
         [0038]    (d) The maximum number of program steps is 10. After the tenth setting, pressing any next key will sound a beep to inform the user that the program is full;  
         [0039]    (e) Press the Enter key (         ) to store the program and begin execution.          can be pressed after any number of motor settings from 1 to 10;  
         [0040]    (f) Pressing any other function key (zone, mode, S/E) stops the program execution but retains it in memory until power is removed. No cancel function is required; program can be changed as desired by reprogramming; and  
         [0041]    (g) The program can be recalled by pressing The Program A key again, followed by          .  
         [0042]    13. PROGRAM B—This key operates as described above for Program A. The Program A and Program B keys operate independently, thus providing separate programs for two different users (his/hers, etc.).  
         [0043]    14. ENTER         —This key is used with the Program A and Program B keys as described above.  
         [0044]    15. A-F (Special Effects, or S/E)—The Special Effects mode alternately activates preset combinations of the six motors in zones 1 and 2. If the system is operating in any mode (Wave, Pulse, Manual, Random, Swell, Zig-Zag, Program A, or Program B), and an S/E key is pressed, the previous mode setting will be retained in memory and it can be recalled by pressing the respective MODE key. If any of keys Z1 through Z5 is pressed after the S/E mode, that zone will be activated in SELECT mode, and any previous zone programs settings are canceled. Specific exemplary combinations of the Special Effects activation zones are as follows:  
         [0045]    A—Z1L and Z2R alternating with Z1R and Z2L;  
         [0046]    B—Z1L and Z1R alternating with Z1C;  
         [0047]    C—Z1L and Z2L alternating with Z1R and Z2R;  
         [0048]    D—Z1L and Z1R alternating with Z2C;  
         [0049]    E—Z2L and Z2R alternating with Z2C; and  
         [0050]    F—Z2L and Z2R alternating with Z1C.  
         [0051]    16. INTENSITY UP/DOWN—These keys vary the intensity smoothly without apparent steps, covering the total range in approximately 5 seconds, for as long as either key is held down. The intensity range provides a motor speed range equivalent to the application of from approximately 8 VDC to approximately 12 VDC across activated ones of the motors. There is no interruption of existing motor activity when either key is pressed; only the changing intensity is experienced.  
         [0052]    17. SWELL UP/DOWN—These keys alter the rate of change in the Swell mode, smoothly and without apparent steps. In an exemplary implementation, the speed ranges from approximately 1 cycle (up and down intensity) per second to approximately 1 cycle per 10 seconds.  
         [0053]    18. SPEED UP/DOWN—These keys alter the rate of cycling in any sequencing or pulsing mode, smoothly and without apparent steps. In an exemplary implementation, the speed ranges from approximately 3½ seconds dwell per position to three positions per second.  
         [0054]    19. FI/FO—(fade in/fade out)—This key provides an overlapping intensity change in transitions from activation of one motor, zone or special effects state, etc., to the next. This is an alternate action key, alternate presses restoring instantaneous transitions. The overlap period is preferably only that which is sufficient to give an impression of smooth transitions.  
         [0055]    20. MUSIC—This key switches intensity control to a function of the integrated amplitude of the audio signal from a music or other sound source. When no input signal is present, the motors do not turn or they turn slowly enough not to be felt as a massage action. The motors are operated at maximum intensity when maximum audio signals are present. An automatic level control (ALC) having a slow time constant can be provided for maintaining a relatively constant signal level range into the remainder of the massage system. This is an alternate action key, alternate presses restoring instantaneous transitions. In the MUSIC mode several options are possible; for example:  
         [0056]    (a) The INTENSITY keys are inoperative, or they operate to control maximum massaging intensity levels to be experienced by a user; and  
         [0057]    (b) The music effects can be operative during all other massage functions, or they can be confined to certain functions only, such as zone action in SELECT mode, thereby limiting the number of activated motors for assuring that a full intensity range can be experienced.  
         [0058]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as implemented in the program of Appendix A, the wand transmits individual keystrokes to a main control processor in the chair. The micro controller unit  14 , as implemented in the program of Appendix B, deciphers and interprets the keystrokes. Audible and vibration forms of feedback are provided for indicating current operating states of the controller. Alternatively, the microprocessor  36  of the wand  30  can be programmed for monitoring the entire operating state of the system  10 , including the sequences saved using the Program A and Program B keys, and the micro controller unit  14  of the chair  16  would be programmed to execute the currently selected program and/or mode settings.  
         [0059]    The wand  30  can transmit a program update to the chair  16  whenever a user key press results in a change in the current program. Some key pressing would be local to the wand  30  and would not involve a program update. The wand  30  can also incorporate its own beeper system to accommodate the aforementioned cases.  
         [0060]    The transmission to the chair is preferably the complete current program, not just the changes. In this manner, if the control unit  14  misses a transmission, the next transmission would fill in any missed changes.  
         [0061]    A data transmission consists of three or more identical packets, each packet containing a header, a device code, a sequence number, the program data and an error detecting code. The micro controller unit  14  processes each packet as follows:  
         [0062]    (a) Validate the packet using the error detecting code. If an error is detected, ignore the packet;  
         [0063]    (b) Compare the device code as transmitted from the wand  30  with the chair&#39;s device code as set by the selector switch  41 . If the codes are not the same, ignore the packet;  
         [0064]    (c) Compare the sequence number to that of the last valid packet. If they are the same, ignore the packet;  
         [0065]    (d) If the packet is acceptable, save the sequence number for comparison to future packets and then output sequence number for comparison to future packets and then output a beep. The type of beep can be specified in the packet data; and  
         [0066]    (e) Update the current massage program from the packet data.  
         [0067]    Alternatively, error detecting and correcting codes can be used to allow the chair micro controller to reconstruct certain levels of erroneous packet data. The codes are similar to those used in modern hard disk drives and long range satellite communication.  
         [0068]    As such, the chair always follows the program stored in the wand  30  even with occasional reception errors. A dedicated key can be utilized on the wand to retransmit the current program in the event of substantial infrared interference or when the chair  16  is in a questionable mode.  
         [0069]    The wand  30  can include means for visual feedback indicating the current state of the system. Examples of such feedback systems can include: (a) status LEDs driven to desired intensity level under the control of the microprocessor  36  in the wand  30 . The microprocessor can deactivate the LEDs after several seconds of inactivity and automatically restore their state whenever a new key is pressed; or (b) LCD with icons to graphically illustrate the current chair program and special local operating modes such as programming mode.  
         [0070]    Audio input can be connected directly to the chair micro controller unit  14  and can be enabled and controlled via the wand  30 . The current and stored programs in the wand  30  can be retained when there is no power by using a serial EEPROM. The EEPROM can also be used to store the device codes and allow device code entry from the keys thereby eliminating the need for selector switches.  
         [0071]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, the cushion  28  can have the micro control unit  14  packaged therewith for use as a stand-alone massaging device (apart from the chair frame  17 ). Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.