(19)
(11)EP 4 111 912 A3

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)Date of publication A3:
08.03.2023 Bulletin 2023/10

(43)Date of publication A2:
04.01.2023 Bulletin 2023/01

(21)Application number: 22167272.8

(22)Date of filing:  08.04.2022
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A61B 5/11(2006.01)
A61B 5/024(2006.01)
A61B 5/1171(2016.01)
A47C 31/12(2006.01)
G08B 21/04(2006.01)
A47C 27/08(2006.01)
A61B 5/08(2006.01)
A47C 27/10(2006.01)
G08B 6/00(2006.01)
(52)Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
A61B 2562/046; A61B 5/6892; A61B 5/1116; A61B 5/7455; A61B 5/1036; A61B 5/0816; A61B 5/024; A61B 5/746; A61B 5/1171; G08B 6/00; A47C 31/123; A47C 27/10; A47C 27/083; G08B 21/0461; A47C 27/082
(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA ME
Designated Validation States:
KH MA MD TN

(30)Priority: 04.06.2021 US 202117339738

(71)Applicant: Apple Inc.
Cupertino, CA 95014 (US)

(72)Inventors:
  • TADELE, Wegene H.
    Cupertino, CA, 95014 (US)
  • HERRERA, Antonio F.
    Cupertino, CA, 95014 (US)
  • BRANDT, Riley E.
    Cupertino, CA, 95014 (US)
  • ZHANG, Yingjun
    Pudong, Shanghai, 200122 (CN)
  • LOR, Jason
    Cupertino, CA, 95014 (US)

(74)Representative: Lang, Johannes 
Bardehle Pagenberg Partnerschaft mbB Patentanwälte, Rechtsanwälte Prinzregentenplatz 7
81675 München
81675 München (DE)

  


(54)PNEUMATIC HAPTIC DEVICE HAVING ACTUATION CELLS FOR PRODUCING A HAPTIC OUTPUT OVER A BED MATTRESS


(57) Embodiments are directed to a pressure mapping system that includes a sensing pad configured for placement between a user and a bed. The sensing pad can include an array of actuation cells where each actuation cell in the array of actuation cells is configured to actuate in response to a fluid being introduced into the actuation cell. The sensing pad can also include an array of pressure sensors where each pressure sensor in the array of pressure sensors is configured to output pressure measurements. The pressure mapping system can also include a control system that is configured to receive the pressure measurements from the array of pressure sensors, generate a pressure map for the user based on the set of pressure measurements and a position of the pressure sensing cells on the sensing pad, and actuate a subset of the array of actuation cells based on the pressure map.







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