Application US20210085091 Consumer Sleep Technology

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Apple Inc.

Application US20210085091

Published 2021-03-25

Pneumatic Haptic Device Having Actuation Cells For Producing A Haptic Output Over A Bed Mattress

An in-bed haptic device may include an array of actuation cells. Actuation cells of the array of actuation cells may be configured to actuate (e.g., expand, contract, or otherwise change shape) in a predetermined sequence to provide haptic outputs. The in-bed haptic device may be configured to be placed beneath a user during use, for example between a user and a mattress. The haptic outputs may be provided to help a user relax, to move and/or wake a user, to indicate outputs, alerts, or notifications at the in-bed haptic device or another electronic device, or the like.

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4 Independent Claims

1. An in-bed haptic device, comprising: an array of actuation cells, each actuation cell of the array of actuation cells configured to actuate in response to a fluid being introduced into the actuation cell; and one or more passage members positioned beneath the array of actuation cells and defining one or more passages configured to fluidly couple the array of actuation cells to a control system; wherein: the control system is configured to introduce pressurized air into individual cells of the array of actuation cells in a predetermined sequence to provide a haptic output.
9. An in-bed haptic device, comprising: a top layer defining a top external surface; a bottom layer defining a bottom external surface, the top layer and bottom layer defining a flexible enclosure; an array of actuation cells positioned within the flexible enclosure; and a set of passages between the top layer and the bottom layer, each passage fluidly coupling a respective actuation cell of the array of actuation cells to a control system, wherein: the array of actuation cells is configured to locally deform the top layer of the flexible enclosure to provide a haptic output.
18. A system for providing haptic outputs, comprising: an in-bed haptic device comprising an array of actuation cells, each actuation cell of the array of actuation cells configured to inflate; and a control system comprising: a reservoir configured to contain a fluid; a pump configured to pressurize the fluid contained in the reservoir; a valve array configured to fluidly couple the reservoir to the array of actuation cells; and a processing unit configured to control the valve array to inflate individual actuation cells of the array of actuation cells in a predetermined sequence using the pressurized fluid to provide a haptic output.
22. An in-bed haptic device, comprising: an actuation cell comprising multiple bladders; a fluid passage coupled to the actuation cell; a pump fluidly coupled to the fluid passage and configured to introduce pressurized air into the actuation cell; multiple valves including a respective valve coupled to each of the multiple bladders; and a processing unit configured to control the multiple valves to deflate individual bladders of the multiple bladders in a defined sequence to provide a haptic output.