Patent Description:
Recently, the Internet of Things (IoT), which refers to a technology or environment in which a sensor is attached to an object to exchange data through the Internet in real time, is attracting attention.

There are no specific restrictions on the types of things to which the IoT is applied, and one of such things is an intelligent pillow or a smart pad which alleviates the symptoms of a user's sleep disorder and help them sleep well.

<CIT> discloses a device for adjusting the height of a pillow using an air cell, in which the air cell is installed inside the pillow, and a plurality of body pressure measurement sensors are attached to the outer surface of the pillow to automatically adjust the air pressure of the air cell according to the shape of the head and neck and the pressing force thereof.

<CIT> discloses a pillow whose height is automatically adjusted, which includes a sensing unit installed on the upper surface of the outer skin of the pillow body to detect the user's sleeping posture and a touch switch that generates an electrical signal when touched by the conductive human skin.

However, if the body pressure sensor or sensing unit is installed on the outer skin of the pillow, it may cause discomfort from pressing the head and face, which may rather interfere with the user's sound sleep. Further, the body pressure sensor is not easy to purchase on the market and, although DIYed, it may be very pricey due to its high product costs.

<CIT> discloses a pillow for preventing snoring, in which a signal detection unit is provided on each of the left and right ends of the pillow body to detect a snoring sound, and more air is injected to the air bag on the side where the stronger sound is detected to move the user's head and hence prevent snorting.

In practice, however, it is not easy to detect the sound intensity of snoring distinctly for the left and right, nor is it easy to move the user's head with only the left and right air pockets when the user snores while lying face up on the pillow.

<CIT> discloses a pillow with a built-in speaker. However, as the speaker is built into the pillow itself, it may press on the user's head, causing discomfort while lying on the pillow.

As described above, the pillow or pad according to the prior art can alleviate the symptoms of sleep disorder and automatically adjust the height. To that end, the pillow or pad should be able to first detect the position of the user's head or the position to which an external force is applied.

In order to realize such position detection, a plurality of sensing means or electronic components are arranged on the pillow itself, but this may result in a malfunction or damage and inaccurate detection. In addition, a sensitive user may feel uncomfortable due to foreign objects, noise, and vibration, and the user's body may be exposed to electromagnetic waves.

<CIT> provides a kind of head position detection method and easy pillows, according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

Some embodiments of the present invention aim to provide an external force detecting system and method for driving the external force detecting system, which has the portion where the user's head is placed configured as simple as possible to eliminate the risk of damage or malfunction and may be able to more accurately detect the position where an external force is applied without misdetermination.

Further, some embodiments of the present invention aim to an external force detecting system and method for driving the external force detecting system, which may alleviate snoring or teething during sleep or sleep apnea.

Further, some embodiments of the present invention aim to provide an external force detecting system and method for driving the external force detecting system, which may be operated in a customized manner considering the fact that a different external force per user is applied.

However, the objects of the embodiments are not limited thereto, and other objects may also be present.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, as a technical means, according to the present invention, an external force detecting system of a pillow, as defined by independent claim <NUM>, comprises a body including a plurality of same air bags, a driver including a motor pump and a processor, the motor pump injecting air to expand the plurality of air bags or discharging air to contract the air bags, the processor controlling operations of the motor pump and detecting an air bag pressurized by an external force applied to the body, a plurality of air passages being identical in number to the plurality of air bags, the plurality of air passages having first ends individually connected to the air bags and second ends connected with the driver, and an air pressure sensing unit disposed between the first ends and the motor pump to measure air pressures of the air bags into which the same amount of air has been injected.

The processor obtains a maximum air pressure and a minimum air pressure among the measured air pressures and compares a difference between the maximum air pressure and the minimum air pressure with a threshold to thereby determine whether the detected air bag is pressurized by a user.

In some embodiments, the processor receives the user's physical information, obtains the threshold according to a weight of the user's head based on the physical information, and compares the difference with the obtained threshold to thereby determine whether the detected air bag is pressurized by the user's head.

In some embodiments, the driver further includes a sound receiver receiving a sound from surroundings, and the processor determines whether the user is in any abnormal state of snoring during sleep, teething during sleep, or sleep apnea, based on a result of analysis of the received sound.

When the user is in the abnormal state, the processor controls to allow a larger amount of air than the same amount to be injected into the detected air bag.

In some embodiments, when the driver is implemented as a casing including a predetermined space, a connector including a plurality of through holes is formed on a first surface of the casing. The second ends are coupled from an outside of the casing to the through holes in a one-to-one correspondence. A plurality of air pathways connected from an inside of the casing to the motor pump are coupled to the second ends in a one-to-one correspondence. The air pressure sensing unit is disposed in the casing.

In some embodiments, the driver further includes a main air pathway connected with the motor pump, a plurality of sub air pathways branched from the main air pathway and connected with the second ends in a one-to-one correspondence, and a valve group installed between the motor pump and the through holes to block or open an air flow. The processor controls operations of individual valves included in the valve group to sequentially inject the same amount of air into the air bags.

The air pressure sensing unit includes a plurality of air pressure sensors individually disposed on the sub air pathways. The valve group includes a plurality of valves disposed between the air pressure sensors and the main air pathway.

The air pressure sensing unit includes a main air pressure sensor disposed on the main air pathway. The valve group includes a plurality of valves individually disposed on the sub air pathways and a main valve disposed on the main air pathway between the main air pressure sensor and the motor pump.

In some embodiments, the body is formed of memory foam. A predetermined pattern is engraved in a surface of the body.

In some embodiments, a power supply connecting terminal separate from the through holes is further included in the connector. When power is applied from the power supply connecting terminal, the driver automatically initiates a predetermined series of driving processes.

To achieve the foregoing objectives, according to the present invention, a method for driving an external force detecting system of a pillow, as defined by independent claim <NUM>, comprises controlling, by a driver, to inject the same amount of air into a plurality of same air bags, which are in an initial state in a body spaced apart from the driver, via air passages individually connected with the air bags, measuring, by an air pressure sensing unit spaced apart from the body, air pressures of air bags into which the same amount of air has been injected, detecting, by the driver, an air bag pressurized by an external force applied to the body by comparing the measured air pressures, obtaining, by the driver, a maximum air pressure and a minimum air pressure among the measured air pressures, and determining, by the driver, whether the detected air bag is pressurized by a user by comparing a difference between the maximum air pressure and the minimum air pressure and a threshold.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, by the driver, the user's physical information and obtaining, by the driver, the threshold according to a weight of the user's head based on the physical information, wherein said determining includes comparing the difference with the obtained threshold to thereby determine whether the detected air bag is pressurized by the user's head.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, by a sound receiver disposed in the driver, a sound from surroundings, determining, by the driver, whether the user is in any abnormal state of snoring during sleep, teething during sleep, or sleep apnea, based on a result of analysis of the received sound, and upon determining that the detected air bag is pressurized by the user and that the user is in the abnormal state, controlling, by the driver, to allow a larger amount of air than the same amount to be injected into the detected air bag.

In some embodiments, the driver further includes a motor pump, a main air pathway connected with the motor pump, a plurality of sub air pathways branched from the main air pathway and connected with the air passages in a one-to-one correspondence, and a valve group installed between the motor pump and the air passages to block or open an air flow.

Said controlling includes controlling operations of the motor pump and individual valves included in the valve group to sequentially inject the same amount of air into the plurality of same air bags which are in the initial state.

In some embodiments, said controlling, said measuring, said detecting, said obtaining, and said determining are performed automatically as a predetermined series of driving processes when power is applied to the driver.

The external force detecting system and the method for driving the same proposed according to the present invention are expected to have the following effects.

The body of the external force detecting system includes no sensing means or electronic component and be thus freed from any concern about damage or malfunction or may significantly reduce risk of electromagnetic waves.

Further, the body of the external force detecting system has a very simple structure. Thus, even when the user's head is positioned on the body, the user may be avoided from any disturbance while sleeping.

Further, the driver of the external force detecting system may inject a minimum amount of air for air pressure measurement, thus allowing for accurate detection of the position of the user's head without disturbing the sleeping user.

Further, the air pressure sensing unit of the external force detecting system need not have high sensitivity, and this may provide an advantage in light of costs, as compared with methods adopting other sensing means.

Further, according to some embodiments, it is possible to quickly and precisely detect the position where an external force is applied to the body, by the simplified method which measures air pressure and to mitigate or remove the abnormal state of the sleeping user using the detected position information.

Further, although the user's head and other body portion (e.g., the user's hand) both are placed in different positions of the body of the system, the position of the user's head may be accurately detected using the maximum air pressure and minimum air pressure.

Further, even when a thing other than the user's head is placed on the body of the system, the system and method may compare the difference between the maximum air pressure and minimum air pressure and a threshold and use the result of comparison, thereby preventing the other thing from being mistaken for the user's head and resultant malfunctions.

Further, in some embodiments, the threshold according to the weight of the user's head may be calculated, and the calculated threshold may be put to use. The threshold may be set to differ per user so that the optimal operation is rendered possible for the corresponding user.

The history information about the operation of the system may be provided to the user's communication device via a dedicated application to enable user-customized analysis reporting and mitigation of the abnormal state while the user is sleeping. Thus, the user's satisfaction may be increased.

Further, no separate power on/off buttons are provided so that applying power, itself, may mean a state in which driving has started or a state in which a start signal is awaited. Thus, in contrast to the typical or conventional process for driving a wired electronic product, which requires two steps (of connecting the power line and pressing the power-on button), the driving process may be simplified into one step, increasing the user convenience.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings for one of ordinary skill in the art to easily practice the present invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in other various forms and is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein. For clarity, components or parts irrelevant to the present invention are omitted from the drawings or the detailed description.

In embodiments of the present invention, when an element is "connected" with another element, the element may be "directly connected" with the other element, or the element may be "electrically connected" with the other element via an intervening element. When an element "includes" another element, the element may further include the other element, rather excluding the other element, unless particularly stated otherwise.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a view schematically illustrating an external force detecting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a view illustrating example main components of an external force detecting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

An external force detecting system includes a body <NUM> and a driver <NUM> connected with the body <NUM> via an air passage <NUM>.

The body <NUM> includes a plurality of same air bags <NUM> which may be expanded or contracted.

Here, "same air bags <NUM>" means that the air bags <NUM> have substantially the same size, shape, material, expansion coefficient, maximum air capacity, or characteristic. Although <FIG> illustrates that the body <NUM> includes four rectangular air bags spaced apart from one another at a predetermined interval in the left and right directions, the number, shape, interval, and arrangement of the air bags are not limited to those shown.

Initially, the air bags <NUM> may remain flat with no air injected. If air has been injected into any air bag, a process for returning the air bag to the initial state, that is, a state in which there is substantially no air injection, may be performed.

The body <NUM> may be configured to be placed under the lower head of the user to receive the user's head. The body <NUM> may be implemented as, e.g., a pillow, pad, or cushion. Thus, at least the user's head may pressurize a specific spot of the body <NUM> in an upper or lower direction while the user is sleeping.

As shown in <FIG>, the body <NUM> may be formed of memory foam or elastic material to stably support the user's head. The surface of the body portion <NUM> may be engraved or grooved to have a predetermined pattern, such as a grid pattern. The engraved portion <NUM> may allow the body <NUM> to naturally transform and deliver more comfort to the user while the user's head is placed on top of the body <NUM>.

The body <NUM> may include no sensing means or electronic component and be thus freed from any concern about damage or malfunction or may significantly reduce risk of electromagnetic waves. As the body <NUM> is formed with a very simplified structure as described above, the user may be free from discomfort or sleep disturbance that would otherwise arise from its internal configuration.

The number of air passages <NUM> may be the same as the number of air bags <NUM>. The respective first ends of the air passages <NUM> may be individually connected to the air bags of the body <NUM> (e.g., in a one-to-one correspondence), and the respective second ends of the air passages <NUM> may be connected to through holes <NUM> of the driver <NUM>.

To be prevented from being twisted or tangled, the air passages <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be covered and fastened by an integrated tube or fastener as shown in <FIG>. The second ends of the air passages <NUM> may be implemented with male-and-female coupling adapters.

Throughout the specification, the air bags are denoted a first air bag <NUM>, a second air bag <NUM>, a third air bag <NUM>, and a fourth air bag <NUM> from the left to right. The first air passage <NUM>, the second air passage <NUM>, the third air passage <NUM>, and the fourth air passage <NUM>, respectively, are connected to the first air bag <NUM>, the second air bag <NUM>, the third air bag <NUM>, and the fourth air bag <NUM> in a one-to-one correspondence manner.

The driver <NUM> is a component physically spaced apart from the body <NUM> and is connected to the body <NUM> via each air passage <NUM>. Preferably, the driver <NUM> is spaced apart from the user's body at a predetermined distance or interval to reduce electromagnetic waves or noise.

The driver <NUM> includes a connector <NUM> which have as many through holes <NUM> as the number of air bags <NUM> in one side surface thereof.

Specifically, the driver <NUM> includes a motor pump <NUM>, an air pressure sensing unit <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, a sound receiver <NUM>, and a valve group <NUM>. In other words, the driver <NUM> includes sensing means or electronic components unlike the body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the driver <NUM> may be implemented as a box-like casing with a predetermined space therein.

A connector <NUM> including a plurality of through holes <NUM> and a power supply connecting terminal <NUM> separated from the plurality of through holes <NUM> may be formed on one surface of the casing. A space and hole may be formed in the opposite surface of the casing to receive the sound receiver <NUM>.

The respective second ends of the air passages <NUM> may be individually coupled from the outside of the casing to the plurality of through holes <NUM> in a one-to-one correspondence manner and be coupled with a plurality of air pathways connected to the motor pump <NUM> from the inside of the casing, in a one-to-one correspondence manner.

The motor pump <NUM> may inject air through the second ends of the air passages <NUM> into the air bags <NUM> to expand the air bags <NUM> or may discharge the air from the air bags <NUM> to contract the air bags <NUM>.

The air pressure sensing unit <NUM> may be disposed between the motor pump <NUM> and the respective ends of the air passages <NUM> to measure the air pressure of the air bags <NUM> into which the same amount of air has been injected.

The air pressure sensing unit <NUM> may be disposed in a position other than in the body <NUM> (e.g., the air pressure sensing unit <NUM> may be placed in a specific position on the air passages <NUM> or, if the driver <NUM> is implemented as a casing, the air pressure sensing unit <NUM> may be positioned inside the casing) and may control to allow the same amount of air to be sequentially injected into the air bags <NUM>.

Here, the "same amount of air" may be typically determined in a range from <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the maximum air capacity. Where the same amount of air is less than <NUM>% of the maximum air capacity, the accuracy of air pressure measurement may be about <NUM>%. Where the same amount of air exceeds <NUM>% of the maximum air capacity, the user may feel expansion or contraction of the air bag and thus discomfort while air is injected or discharged to measure the air pressure.

Thus, it is preferable that the same amount of air is determined in a range from <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the maximum air capacity. As an example, a test performed with air whose amount is <NUM>% of the maximum air capacity injected into the air bags revealed that the accuracy of air pressure measurement and the time taken to expand one air bag were <NUM>% and <NUM> seconds, respectively, and, during the course, the user felt no change in the air bags. As such, the same amount of air may be determined considering the accuracy (<NUM>% or more) of air pressure measurement, the time taken for the air pressure measurement process (within a few seconds), or whether it is sensed by the user.

Before the air pressure sensing unit <NUM> measures the air pressure, the same amount of air may be injected into each empty air bag <NUM>, and such air injection process may be sequentially performed. For example, the same amount of air may be sequentially injected into the air bags <NUM> in the order of the first air bag <NUM>, the third air bag <NUM>, the fourth air bag <NUM>, and the second air bag <NUM>.

According to an embodiment, the air pressure sensing unit <NUM> may include a single air pressure sensor (which may be denoted a main air pressure sensor) and, in such a case, the air pressure measurement process may be sequentially performed like the air injection process. For example, air pressure measurement for the air bags <NUM> may be sequentially performed in the order of the first air bag <NUM>, the third air bag <NUM>, the fourth air bag <NUM>, and the second air bag <NUM>. After the air pressure measurement process is done, the air may be discharged out of each air bag <NUM> by the motor pump <NUM>.

According to another embodiment, the air pressure sensing unit <NUM> may include a plurality of air pressure sensors in which case the air pressure measurement process may be simultaneously performed. For example, the air pressure of the first air bag <NUM> may be measured by a first air pressure sensor, and the air pressure of the second air bag <NUM> may be measured by a second air pressure sensor. After the air pressure measurement process is done, the air may be discharged out of each air bag <NUM> by the motor pump <NUM>.

One or more processors <NUM> control the operations of the motor pump <NUM> and the other components of the driver <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor unit (MPU), a micro-controller unit (MCU), or any kind or type of processor known in the art.

The processor <NUM> may perform computation on at least one application or program to execute the driving method according to some embodiments of the present invention.

The processor <NUM> may compare the air pressures measured by the air pressure sensing unit <NUM> and detect at least one air bag pressurized by the external force applied to the body <NUM>.

The external force may mean a force exerted in the upper and lower directions.

The processor <NUM> is described below in greater detail with reference to <FIG>.

The sound receiver <NUM> may receive the sound generated from the surroundings, generate an electrical signal corresponding to the received sound, and transmit the electrical signal to the processor <NUM>.

The sound receiver <NUM> may receive the sound generated from the sleeping user, and the processor <NUM> may analyze the received sound and use the result of analysis to grasp the user's current state or condition.

The sound receiver <NUM> may be implemented as, e.g., a microphone.

The valve group <NUM> may be installed between the motor pump <NUM> and the second ends of the air passages <NUM> or the through holes of the connector <NUM> and block or open the air flow according to control signals from the processor <NUM>.

As described above, the driver <NUM> may have the connector <NUM>, and the connector <NUM> may further include the power supply connecting terminal <NUM> separately from the through holes <NUM>.

If the power supply connecting terminal <NUM> is connected with a power line <NUM> so that power is applied from the power supply connecting terminal <NUM>, the driver <NUM> may automatically initiate and perform a series of driving processes, such as reception of sound, grasping the user's state or condition, sequential injection of the same amount of air, air pressure measurement, and external force detection, in a predetermined order even without the user's separate action or manipulation. The driving process may be periodically repeated.

The driver <NUM> may be configured with no separate power on/off button. As such, as no power on/off button is provided, the connection between the power supply connecting terminal <NUM> and the power line <NUM>, itself, may mean a state in which driving has started or a state in which a start signal (e.g., reception of a sound) is awaited. Thus, in contrast to the typical or conventional process for driving a wired electronic product, which requires two steps (of connecting the power line and pressing the power-on button), the driving process may be simplified into one step, increasing the user convenience and satisfaction.

Additionally, the driver <NUM> may further include a memory (not shown) for storing various data, commands, and/or information, and a network interface (not shown).

The memory may be, e.g., an RAM, SRAM, DRAM, PSRAM, SDPARM, DDR SDRAM, or any other memories known in the art to which the present invention pertains.

The network interface may be connected with the user's communication device, server, or database via a network so as to perform communication.

The user's communication device may be implemented as a computer or a portable terminal. The computer may include, e.g., a WEB browser-equipped personal computer (PC), desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet PC, slate PC, or vehicle navigation device. Examples of the portable terminal may include portable and mobile wireless communication devices, e.g., a Personal Communication System (PCS), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Personal Digital Cellular (PDC), Personal Handyphone System (PHS), Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), International Mobile Telecommunication (IMT)-<NUM>, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)-<NUM>, W-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Wireless Broadband Internet (WiBro) terminal, a smartphone, or any other various types of handheld wireless communication devices.

The network interface may be implemented as a communication module known in the art to which the present invention pertains, so as to support various communication schemes or standards. For example, the network interface may be implemented as a wired/wireless communication module, a network card, or an infrared (IR) communication module.

Wi-Fi, Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), and World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX). , Mobile WiMAX, WiBro, 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced), Bluetooth, infrared communication (IrDA, infrared data association), NFC (Near Field Communication), Zigbee, LAN (Local Area Network), Wireless LAN (Wireless Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), and PAN (Personal Area Network) technologies may be applied to the network interface.

Where the network interface is connected to the Internet to provide services, it may follow the TCP/IP which is the standard protocol for information transmission on the Internet. In other words, the network interface may mean a global open computer network structure that provides HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol), Telnet, FTP (File Transfer Protocol), DNS (Domain Name System), SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), NFS (Network File Service), or NIS (Network Information Service).

As such, the driver <NUM> of the external force detecting system may perform communication with the user's communication device, and the user may receive an analysis report for abnormal conditions during sleep (e.g., snoring during sleep, teething during sleep, sleep apnea) via a dedicated application installed on the communication device and history information for the operation of the external force detecting system to improve the abnormal conditions. Further, the user may change the driving conditions or setting values of the driver <NUM> to be user-customizable via the dedicated application and may perform a test as to whether the air bag corresponding to the position pressurized as an external force is applied to any position of the body <NUM> is normally expanded.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a processor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Although <FIG> illustrates that the detailed components of the processor are separate components from one another, some or all of the components may be integrated into a single component. The detailed components may be implemented as different modules depending on their functions or may be implemented in such a manner that their respective coded programs are performed by a processor.

The processor <NUM> may include a motor pump controller <NUM>, an air pressure analyzer <NUM>, a sound analyzer <NUM>, a valve group controller <NUM>, and an external force detector <NUM>.

The motor pump controller <NUM> may generate control signals for controlling the operation of the motor pump <NUM> to inject air into each air bag <NUM> or to discharge the air out of the air bag <NUM> and the motor pump controller <NUM> may interwork with the valve group controller <NUM>.

The air pressure analyzer <NUM> may obtain the maximum air pressure and minimum air pressure among the measured air pressures and compare the difference between the maximum air pressure and the minimum air pressure with a threshold to determine whether the detected air bag is pressurized by the user.

Where the difference between the maximum air pressure and the minimum air pressure is equal to or larger than the threshold, the air pressure analyzer <NUM> may determine that the detected air bag is pressurized by the user (particularly, by the user's head) and that the user's head is positioned on the detected air bag. In such a case, the external force detector <NUM> may detect that an external force has been generated on the air bag, for which the maximum air pressure has been measured, of the body <NUM>, by the user's head.

Where the difference between the maximum air pressure and the minimum air pressure is smaller than the threshold, the air pressure analyzer <NUM> may determine that the detected air bag is pressurized by the user's body portion than the user's head, or a thing (e.g., the user's mobile phone, tablet PC, or book) other than the user's head. In such a case, the external force detector <NUM> may detect that an external force has been generated on the air bag, for which the maximum air pressure has been measured, of the body <NUM>, by the user's body portion other than the user's head or a thing other than the user's head.

Setting the threshold as such may minimize the processor <NUM>'s mistaking another item or user's hand for the user's head although the other item or user's hand is placed on the body <NUM>. Further, because the maximum air pressure and the minimum air pressure are used, although both the user's head and hand are placed in different positions of the body <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may rapidly and accurately detect the position of the user's head.

The above-described threshold may be adjusted by the user and, according to an embodiment, the threshold may be calculated according to the weight of the user's head.

The air pressure analyzer <NUM> may receive physical information about the user and calculate the threshold according to the weight of the user's head, based on the physical information.

For example, the user may input physical information, such as her gender, age, and weight, via a dedicated application, and the air pressure analyzer <NUM> may obtain average head weight data corresponding to the physical information using statistical data regarding head weights.

In general, a person's head weight ranges from <NUM> to <NUM>. Thus, the obtained head weight data may be divided into the case of being less than <NUM>, the case of being not less than <NUM> and less than <NUM>, the case of being not less than <NUM> and less than <NUM>, and the case of being <NUM> and more, and for each case, a different threshold may be calculated.

By so doing, the air pressure analyzer <NUM> may more accurately determine whether the detected air bag is pressurized by the user's head by comparing the difference with the calculated threshold, and the threshold may be set in a user customized manner.

The sound analyzer <NUM> may determine whether the user is in any one abnormal state of snoring during sleep, teething during sleep, or sleep apnea based on the result of analysis of the sound received from the sound receiver <NUM>.

In analyzing the sound, noise may be filtered out, and user's sound information may be extracted. The extracted user sound information may be compared with sound pattern information conventionally known for the abnormal state. A reference decibel value may be set so that the user sound information may be extracted when the maximum value of the sound signal is above a predetermined decibel.

Where the user is in the abnormal state, the process of measuring the air pressure of each air bag <NUM> may be performed.

The valve group controller <NUM> may generate a control signal for controlling the operation of each valve included in the valve group <NUM>, thereby blocking or opening the air flow.

The valve group controller <NUM>, along with the motor pump controller <NUM>, may control the operation of the individual valves and the motor pump <NUM> so that the same amount of air is sequentially or simultaneously injected into the air bags <NUM>.

The valve group controller <NUM>, along with the motor pump controller <NUM>, may control the operation of the individual valves and the motor pump <NUM> so that the injected air is sequentially or simultaneously discharged from the air bags <NUM>.

The external force detector <NUM> may detect at least one air bag pressurized by the external force, in the upper and lower directions, applied to the body <NUM>, using each measured air pressure or the result of analysis by the air pressure analyzer <NUM>.

Where the user is in the abnormal state, the motor pump controller <NUM> may control to allow more air than the same amount of air to be injected into the air bag detected by the external force detector <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating detailed components of a driving unit and a correction relationship therebetween, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to an embodiment, a connector <NUM> may be formed on one surface of the driver, and the connector <NUM> may include a plurality of through holes <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

According to an embodiment, the driver may further include a main air pathway <NUM> connected with the motor pump <NUM>, a plurality of sub air pathways <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> branched from the main air pathway <NUM> and respectively connected with the second ends of the air passages <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in a one-to-one correspondence manner, and a valve group installed between the motor pump <NUM> and the through holes <NUM> to block or open the air flow.

In other words, the first air passage <NUM> is connected with the first sub air pathway <NUM> via the first through hole, the second air passage <NUM> is connected with the second sub air pathway <NUM> via the second through hole, the third air passage <NUM> is connected with the third sub air pathway <NUM> via the third through hole, and the fourth air passage <NUM> is connected with the fourth sub air pathway <NUM> via the fourth through hole.

According to an embodiment, the air pressure sensing unit of the driver may include a main air pressure sensor <NUM> disposed on the main air pathway <NUM>. The valve group may include a plurality of valves <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> disposed on the sub air pathways <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and a main valve <NUM> disposed on the main air pathway <NUM> between the main air pressure sensor <NUM> and the motor pump <NUM>.

The processor may control the operation of the individual valves of the valve group so that the same amount of air is sequentially injected into the air bags <NUM>.

First, the processor may turn on the first valve <NUM> and the main valve <NUM> and turn off the other valves <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and then inject as much air as V into the first air bag <NUM>. After injecting as much air as V, the processor turns off the main valve <NUM> and measures the air pressure of the first air bag <NUM>. After measuring the air pressure of the first air bag <NUM>, the processor discharges the air out of the first air bag <NUM>.

Next, the processor may turn on the second valve <NUM> and the main valve <NUM> and turn off the other valves <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and then inject as much air as V, which is the same amount of air injected into the first air bag <NUM>, into the second air bag <NUM>. After injecting as much air as V, the processor turns off the main valve <NUM> and measures the air pressure of the second air bag <NUM>. After measuring the air pressure of the second air bag <NUM>, the processor discharges the air out of the second air bag <NUM>.

Next, the processor measures the air pressure of the third air bag <NUM> and the fourth air bag <NUM> in the same manner as described above.

According to an embodiment, the driver controls the operation of the motor pump <NUM> and the individual valves of the valve group as described above and may thus measure the air pressure of each air bag <NUM> under the same condition using the main air pressure sensor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method for driving an external force detecting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The driving method is described with reference to the detailed configurations of the drivers in the external force detecting system of <FIG> and the external force detecting system of <FIG>.

As described above, the driver <NUM>, which is spaced apart from, and separately configured from, the body <NUM>, includes the air pressure sensing unit <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, and the motor pump <NUM> which injects or discharges air via the plurality of air passages <NUM> individually connected with the air bags <NUM>.

First, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> controls to inject the same amount of air into the plurality of same air bags <NUM>, which stays in the initial state in the body <NUM> spaced apart from the driver <NUM>. In other words, before the air is injected, the air bags <NUM> are in substantially the same state.

If a certain air bag is in the state in which air has been injected thereinto, unlike the other air bags, a separate operation for discharging the air out of the certain air bag may be performed.

Next, the air pressure sensing unit <NUM> (or <NUM>) is spaced apart from the body <NUM> and measures the air pressure of each of the air bags <NUM> into which the same amount of air has been injected.

Specifically, in step S410, by the operation of the processor <NUM>, the motor pump <NUM>, and the individual valves <NUM> to <NUM> of the valve group <NUM>, as much air as x may be injected into the nth air bag. In step S420, the air pressure sensing unit <NUM> (or <NUM>) may measure the air pressure of the nth air bag. In step S430, by the operation of the processor <NUM>, the motor pump <NUM>, and the individual valves <NUM> to <NUM> of the valve group <NUM>, the air injected into the nth air bag may be discharged.

Here, n increases by one from one, and steps S410 to S430 are performed repeatedly as many times as the number of the air bags.

More specifically, the driver <NUM> may further include a main air pathway <NUM> connected with the motor pump <NUM>, a plurality of sub air pathways <NUM> to <NUM> branched from the main air pathway <NUM> and connected with the air passages <NUM> in a one-to-one correspondence manner, and a valve group <NUM> installed between the motor pump <NUM> and the air passages <NUM> to block or open the air flow.

In the process of sequentially injecting air into the air bags, the operation of the motor pump <NUM> and the individual valves <NUM> to <NUM> included in the valve group <NUM> may be controlled to sequentially inject as much air as x, which is the same amount of air, into the air bags which are in the initial state.

In step S440, if n is equal to or smaller than the number of air bags, n is increased by one, and step S410 is performed. If n is larger than the number of air bags, step S450 is performed.

In step S450, the driver <NUM> or the processor <NUM> compares the measured air pressures. In step S460, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> detects the air bag pressurized by the external force applied to the body <NUM>.

Steps S450 and S460 of <FIG> are described below in greater detail with reference to <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an external force detecting method by an external force detecting system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In step S510, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> obtains the maximum air pressure and the minimum air pressure among the measured air pressures.

In step S520, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> may calculate the difference between the maximum air pressure and the minimum air pressure. In step S530, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> may compare the calculated difference with a threshold, thereby determining whether the detected air bag is pressurized by the user (particularly by the user's head).

The driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> may receive physical information about the user and calculate the threshold according to the weight of the user's head, based on the physical information.

In step S530, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> may compare the difference with the calculated threshold, thereby determining whether the detected air bag is pressurized by the user's head.

In step S530, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> may perform step S540 if the difference is equal to or larger than the threshold and, otherwise, perform step S550.

In step S540, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> may detect the air bag, for which the maximum air pressure is measured, and determine that the user's head is positioned on the detected air bag.

In step S550, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> may detect the air bag, for which the maximum air pressure is measured, and determine that a thing or the user's body portion other than the user's head is positioned on the detected air bag.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an example of influence on a user as an external force detecting system is driven according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Four air bags <NUM> are arranged side-by-side in the body <NUM>, and the user's head H is positioned on the fourth air bag <NUM>.

The sound receiver <NUM> may be disposed in the driver <NUM> and receive sound generated from the surroundings.

The driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> may determine whether the user is in any one abnormal state of snoring during sleep, teething during sleep, or sleep apnea based on the result of analysis of the received sound.

By the process described above in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> may detect the fourth air bag <NUM> to which an external force is applied.

Upon determining that the detected fourth air bag <NUM> is pressurized by the user and that the user is in the abnormal state, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> may control to inject more air than the same amount of air into the detected fourth air bag <NUM>.

As air is injected into the fourth air bag <NUM>, the user's head H may be moved and repositioned so that the abnormal state of the sleeping user may be mitigated or removed.

As such, the external force detecting system may use both the information about the user's abnormal state extracted and analyzed from the surrounding sound and the information about the processor where the external force is applied by the user, detected by comparing the air pressures measured on the air bags, thereby minimizing malfunctions and enabling a subsequent measure or step to move the user's head for the position of the user's head precisely grasped at the time when the user's abnormal state needs to be mitigated.

Even after performing a series of subsequent steps or measures, the external force detecting system may extract and analyze sound from the user in real0time, thereby monitoring whether the abnormal state of the sleeping user has been mitigated. Unless the abnormal state is mitigated, the external force detecting system may again detect the position of the user's head and inject air into the air bag corresponding to the newly detected position. After the user's head is repositioned, the air injected into the air bag may be fully discharged and return to its initial state.

<FIG> is a view illustrating detailed components of a driving unit and a correction relationship therebetween, according to another embodiment of the present invention.

According to the second embodiment, a connector <NUM> may be formed on one surface of the driver, and the connector <NUM> may include a plurality of through holes <NUM> and a power supply connecting terminal <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

According to the second embodiment, the driver may further include a main air pathway <NUM> connected with the motor pump <NUM>, a plurality of sub air pathways <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> branched from the main air pathway <NUM> and respectively connected with the second ends of the air passages <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in a one-to-one correspondence manner, and a valve group installed between the motor pump <NUM> and the through holes <NUM> to block or open the air flow.

According to the second embodiment, the air pressure sensing unit of the driver may include a plurality of air pressure sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> respectively disposed on the sub air pathways <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The valve group may include a plurality of valves <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> respectively disposed on the sub air pathways <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> between the main air pathway <NUM> and the air pressure sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

First, the processor may turn on the first valve <NUM> and turn off the other valves <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and then inject as much air as V into the first air bag <NUM>. After injecting as much air as V, the processor turns off the first valve <NUM>, and the first air pressure sensor <NUM> measures the air pressure of the first air bag <NUM>.

Next, the processor turns on the second valve <NUM> and turns off the other valves <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and then inject as much air as V, which is the same amount of air injected into the first air bag <NUM>, into the second air bag <NUM>. After injecting as much air as V, the processor turns off the second valve <NUM>, and the second air pressure sensor <NUM> measures the air pressure of the second air bag <NUM>.

The air injected into the air bags <NUM> may be discharged sequentially after the air pressure measurement is performed on the individual air bags or simultaneously after the air pressure measurement is performed on all of the air bags.

According to the second embodiment, the driver controls the operation of the motor pump <NUM> and the individual valves of the valve group as described above and may thus measure the air pressure of each air bag <NUM> under the same condition using the plurality of air pressure sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

While the driver according to the first embodiment measures the air pressure of all the air bags <NUM> using the main air pressure sensor <NUM>, the driver according to the second embodiment measures each air bag using its respective corresponding one of the plurality of air pressure sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

Thus, the driver according to the first embodiment may lead to a reduction in the number of air pressure sensors which are pricey but may have a complicated driving procedure. The driver according to the second embodiment may result in a rise in cost due to the number of air pressure sensors but may have a simplified driving procedure and thus a reduced time for air pressure measurement.

However, whichever embodiment is adopted, the body and the driver are separately configured, thereby minimizing malfunctions or damage to the detailed configuration of the driver and significantly reducing the risk of electromagnetic waves. Further, it is possible to accurately detect the position of the user's head without disturbing the sleeping user and to mitigate or remove the abnormal state of the sleeping user using the detected position information about the user.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method for driving an external force detecting system according to another embodiment of the present invention. The driving method is described with reference to the detailed configurations of the drivers in the external force detecting system of <FIG> and the external force detecting system of <FIG>.

Next, the air pressure sensing unit <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is spaced apart from the body <NUM> and measures the air pressure of each of the air bags <NUM> into which the same amount of air has been injected.

Specifically, in step S610, as much air as x is injected into the nth air bag by the operation of the processor <NUM>, the motor pump <NUM>, and the individual valves <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> included in the valve group <NUM>.

Here, n increases by one from one, and step S610 is performed repeatedly as many times as the number of the air bags.

More specifically, the driver <NUM> may further include a main air pathway <NUM> connected with the motor pump <NUM>, a plurality of sub air pathways <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> branched from the main air pathway <NUM> and connected with the air passages <NUM> in a one-to-one correspondence manner, and a valve group <NUM> installed between the motor pump <NUM> and the air passages <NUM> to block or open the air flow.

In this case, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> may control the operation of the motor pump <NUM> and the individual valves <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> included in the valve group <NUM> to inject as much air as x, which is the same amount of air, into the plurality of same air bags which are in the initial state or in the same state.

In step S620, if n is equal to or smaller than the number of air bags, n is increased by one, and step S610 is performed. If n is larger than the number of air bags, step S620 is performed.

In step S620, the air pressure of the nth air bag may be measured by the plurality of air pressure sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and, in step S630, the air injected into the nth air bag may be discharged by the operation of the processor <NUM>, the motor pump <NUM>, and the individual valves <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> included in the valve group <NUM>.

In step S650, the driver <NUM> or the processor <NUM> compares the measured air pressures. In step S660, the driver <NUM> or processor <NUM> detects the air bag pressurized by the external force applied to the body <NUM>.

What has been described above in connection with <FIG> and <FIG> may be applied likewise to methods for driving an external force detecting system according to other embodiments of the present invention, and no detailed description thereof is given here.

Each step (the steps of controlling, measuring, detecting, obtaining, and determining) of the method for driving the external force detecting system described above may be performed automatically as a predetermined series of driving process when power is applied to the driver, even without the user's separate manipulation or action. The driving process may be periodically repeated.

In other words, applying power to the driver may mean a state in which driving has started or a state in which a start signal (e.g., reception of a sound) is awaited. Thus, in contrast to the typical or conventional process for driving a wired electronic product, which requires two steps (of connecting the power line and pressing the power-on button), the driving process may be simplified into one step, increasing the user convenience and satisfaction.

Some embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in the form of a computer readable recording medium that records a program to execute computer-executable commands or a program for executing at least any one of the above-described driving methods. The computer-readable storage medium may be an available medium that is accessible by a computer. The computer-readable storage medium may include a volatile medium, a non-volatile medium, a separable medium, and/or an inseparable medium. The computer-readable storage medium may include a computer storage medium. The computer storage medium may include a volatile medium, a non-volatile medium, a separable medium, and/or an inseparable medium that is implemented in any method or scheme to store computer-readable commands, data architecture, program modules, or other data or information.

All or some of the components or operations of the present invention ay be implemented in or by a computer system having a general-purpose hardware architecture or a dedicated computer, computer system, or device.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, It will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be implemented in other various specific forms without changing the essence or technical spirit of the present disclosure. Thus, it should be noted that the above-described embodiments are provided as examples and should not be interpreted as limiting. Each of the components may be separated into two or more units or modules to perform its function(s) or operation(s), and two or more of the components may be integrated into a single unit or module to perform their functions or operations.

Claim 1:
An external force detecting system of a pillow, comprising:
a body (<NUM>) including a plurality of same air bags (<NUM>);
a driver (<NUM>) including a motor pump (<NUM>) and a processor (<NUM>), the motor pump (<NUM>) injecting air to expand the plurality of air bags (<NUM>) or discharging air to contract the air bags(<NUM>), the processor (<NUM>) controlling operations of the motor pump (<NUM>) and detecting an air bag pressurized by an external force applied to the body (<NUM>);
a plurality of air passages (<NUM>) being identical in number to the plurality of air bags (<NUM>), the plurality of air passages (<NUM>) having first ends individually connected to the air bags (<NUM>) and second ends connected with the driver (<NUM>); and characterised in that the external force detecting system of a pillow further comprises
an air pressure sensing unit (<NUM>) disposed between the first ends and the motor pump (<NUM>) to measure air pressures of the air bags (<NUM>) into which the same amount of air has been injected, wherein the processor (<NUM>) obtains a maximum air pressure and a minimum air pressure among the measured air pressures, compares a difference between the maximum air pressure and the minimum air pressure with a threshold to thereby determine whether the detected air bag is pressurized by a user.