US 11,937,701 B2
Bed microclimate control
Kody Lee Karschnik, Plymouth, MN (US); Chee Nong Yang, Princeton, MN (US); Eric Stephen Rose, Piedmont, SC (US); Caleb Siffring, Victoria, MN (US); Alexander Norell, San Jose, CA (US); and Reuben Wesley Meline, Maple Grove, MN (US)
Assigned to Sleep Number Corporation, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by Sleep Number Corporation, Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Jan. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/140,702.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/957,103, filed on Jan. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0204715 A1, Jul. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. A47C 21/04 (2006.01); A47C 19/02 (2006.01); A47C 20/04 (2006.01); A47C 27/08 (2006.01); A47C 27/10 (2006.01); A47C 27/14 (2006.01); A47C 27/18 (2006.01); A47C 31/00 (2006.01); G05B 19/042 (2006.01); G05B 19/4155 (2006.01); A47C 27/15 (2006.01)
CPC A47C 21/048 (2013.01) [A47C 19/027 (2013.01); A47C 20/041 (2013.01); A47C 21/044 (2013.01); A47C 27/081 (2013.01); A47C 27/082 (2013.01); A47C 27/083 (2013.01); A47C 27/10 (2013.01); A47C 27/14 (2013.01); A47C 27/18 (2013.01); A47C 31/001 (2013.01); A47C 31/005 (2013.01); A47C 31/007 (2013.01); G05B 19/0426 (2013.01); G05B 19/4155 (2013.01); A47C 20/04 (2013.01); A47C 27/15 (2013.01); A47C 31/008 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2614 (2013.01); G05B 2219/2638 (2013.01); G05B 2219/37371 (2013.01); G05B 2219/50333 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling an air controller configured to draw air from an air distribution layer for a mattress and supply conditioned air to the air distribution layer, the method comprising:
providing the air controller comprising:
a reversible fan; and
a heating element;
controlling the air controller in a first mode by operating the reversible fan to circulate air through the air distribution layer according to a first mode setting specified by a user;
determining that the user exits the mattress;
based on determining that the user has exited the mattress, controlling the air controller to automatically switch from the first mode to a refresh mode by operating the reversible fan at a predetermined refresh mode setting that is different from the first mode setting to cause air to circulate through the air distribution layer for a predetermined period of time;
based on the first mode being a heating mode, controlling the air controller in the heating mode whereby the heating element is operated to heat air and the fan is operated to move the heated air to the air distribution layer;
determining that the user is on the mattress, wherein the air controller is operated in a cooling mode or the heating mode while the user is determined to be on the mattress;
determining that the user is not on the mattress, wherein the air controller is operated in the refresh mode while the user is determined to be not on the mattress;
wherein, in the refresh mode, the reversible fan is operated in a direction reverse to a direction of operating the reversible fan in the first mode; and
wherein the heating element is not operated in the refresh mode.