Patent Publication Number: US-2011054362-A1

Title: Massage apparatus and massage method thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclose relates to massage and, particularly, to a massage apparatus and a massage method thereof. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventional massage apparatuses cannot automatically adjust massage modes according to the needs of the user, and one kind of physiological cannot automatically stop massaging a healthy area. Therefore, it cannot apply a proper therapeutic massage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of a massage apparatus and a massage method thereof. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a massage apparatus, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a massage method applied in the massage apparatus of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments of the disclosure will now be described in detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a massage apparatus  100  includes an input unit  10 , a storage unit  20 , a measuring unit  30 , a massage unit  40 , and a processing unit  50 . 
     The input unit  10  is configured to generate an activation signal for informing the measuring unit  30  to start working in response to user input. 
     The storage unit  20  stores a plurality of reference ranges of one kind of physiological parameters and a plurality of massage commands. Each of the reference ranges corresponds to one of the massage commands Each massage command represents a massage mode. In the embodiment, the physiological parameter is a skin impedance of a human body. Different parts of the human body have different skin impedance values. When the skin impedance value of one part falls in one reference range, the massage apparatus  100  determines that one part is not healthy, thus an appropriate massage is applied on the part where needed. 
     The measuring unit  30  is configured to measure the skin impedance of the human body upon receiving the activation signal. In the embodiment, the measuring unit  30  includes two electrodes, and a plurality of electronic elements including resistors, capacitors, amplifiers, and an Analog-to-Digital Conventer (ADC). When beginning to measure the skin impedance of the part of the human body, the two electrodes contacting the part of the human body generate electrical signals. The electrical signals are then processed by the electronic elements to obtain the skin impedance. 
     The massage unit  40  is configured to massage different parts of the human body according to the massage commands 
     The processing unit  50  is configured to obtain the skin impedance from the measuring unit  30  and informs the measuring unit  30  to stop working after obtaining the skin impedance. The processing unit  50  is further configured to compare the obtained skin impedance with the reference ranges. If the obtained skin impedance is within one reference range, the processing unit  50  obtains the massage command corresponding to the one reference range and controls the massage unit  40  to massage the part of the human body within a predetermined time interval according to the one massage command. It should be noted that in the embodiment when the predetermined time interval elapses, the processing unit  50  controls the measuring unit  30  to resume working. By doing so, the massage apparatus  100  can automatically massage the part of the human body according to different preset massage modes until the part is healthy. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a flowchart of a method for massaging one part of a human body is illustrated. 
     In step S 200 , the measuring unit  30  measures the physiological parameter of one part of the human body upon receiving the activation signal. 
     In step S 202 , the processing unit  50  obtains the measured physiological parameter from the measuring unit  30  and controls the measuring unit  30  to stop measuring the physiological parameter. 
     In step S 204 , the processing unit  50  compares the measured physiological parameter with the reference ranges. If the measured physiological parameter is within one reference range, the procedure goes to step S 206 . Otherwise, the procedure ends. 
     In step S 206 , the processing unit  50  obtains the massage command corresponding to the one reference range and controls the massage unit  40  to massage the one part of the human body within the predetermined time interval according to the obtained massage command. When the predetermined time interval elapses, the processing unit  50  controls the measuring unit  30  to resume to working, thus the procedure returns to step S 200 . 
     It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.