CA1111948A - Waterbed vibrator - Google Patents

Abstract

WATERBED VIBRATOR
Abstract of the Disclosure A vibrator mechanism, including a transducer and driving circuit, particularly adapted to vibrating a waterbed, includes two independently controlled vibration sources, each of which can generate vibration of varying amplitude and frequency.
These two sources are typically mounted at opposite ends of a waterbed frame and vibrated at different frequencies so that interference waves may be produced within the water of the bed to produce a pleasing effect for the user.
Additional circuitry is described which provides a time varying frequency and amplitude for each of the vibrators, and this circuitry is in turn controlled by a clock circuit so that, by using the time varying frequency and amplitude, the user may be slowly lulled to sleep or slowly awakened using the vibration within the waterbed as a stimulus for controlling the rate of falling asleep and waking up.

Description

18 I sackground of the Invention I
19 ¦ The vihration of articles of furniture for inducing 20 ¦ relaxation in the user has been accomplished in the prior 21 ¦ art using a variety of mechanisms. Because of the ready 22 ¦ availability of high power, 60-cycle current, however, the 231 bulk of these systems have used either a direct 60-cycle 2g ¦ transducer to induce vibration or a motor with an eccentric 25 ¦~weight operating from the 60-cycle current. In some 26¦ instances where a motor with an eccentric weight is used, 271 the speed of the motor is variable, for example, using a 28 solid state control or a rheostat. Such devices, however, 29 necessarily control the amplitude and frequency o~ vibration 31 simultaneously, and it is impossible, without altering the .~ l . .

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1 ¦ eccentricity of the weight (a difficult operativn) to alter

2 ¦ the frequency and vibration independently.

3 ¦ In systems where two eccentric weight motors are used

4 ¦ on a single piece of furniture, it has been found that

5 ¦ interference waves can be produced in the furniture, which

6 ¦ waves result in a pleasant sensation for the user. These ~ ¦ systems, however, as mentioned above, can produce such 8 ¦ interference waves only at predetermined amplitudes depending 9 ¦ completely upon the frequency selected for ~otor operation. _ 10 ¦ Thus, in the prior art, vibration transducers have 11 ¦ typically been limited to operation from the available 12 ¦ 60-cycle current and have not been utilized to independently 13 ¦ vary the frequency and amplitude of the vibration. Motors 14 ¦ used in the prior art are limited in the variation of waves 15 ¦ which may belinduced and, fuxthermore, are 9ubject to 16 ¦ substantial wear generated by the eccentric weight.
17 ¦ Summary of the Invention 18 ¦ The present invention alleviates these and other 19 ¦ difficulties inherent in prior art furniture vibrator 20 ¦ designs by utilizing a solid state driving circuit in 21 ¦ conjunction with a vibration transducer to generate vibration 22 ~ in furniture~l and particularly in waterbeds, having 23 ¦ independently variable amplitude and frequency characteristics.
24 ¦ In a particular embodiment of the present invention, two such 25 ¦ vibration systems are used so that interference waves may be 26 ¦ produced within the furniture of varying amplitude and 271 frequency.
28 ¦ The present invention further provides the ability 29 ¦ to induce in the vibration system a time varying amplitude 31 and frequency characteristic which is particularly adaptable 32 ~ -2-. ' . , ' , ' .

v~ 3 1 for use in combination with an alarm clock circuit forslowly inducing sleep or slowly waking up the user. When 31 this circuit is used in combination with a pair of transducers 4 ¦ and vibrators, it is possible to slowly induce sleep or ~ ¦ wake the operator up while at the same time producing 6 ¦ pleasant interference waves within the furniture by vibrating

7 ¦ the pair of transducers at different frequencies.

8 ¦ The ability to independently vary the amplitude and : ~ frequency of a vibrator attached to furniture, and particularly 10 ¦ to waterbeds, is extremely important in that substantially 11 aifferent effects can be achieved by producing, for example, 12 low frequency, high amplitude waves as opposed to high 13 frequency, low amplitude wave motion within the bed, one 14 of which may induce a very relaxed state in the user whereas the other may heighten the awareness and sensitivity of the 16 u~er.
17 These and other features of the present invention are 18 best understood through the following detailed description 19 which references the drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the vibration 21 mechanism of the present invention attached to the underside 22 of a typical waterbed; .
23 Figure 2 is an elevation view of the vibration transducer 24 utilized in the system shown in Pigure l;
Figure 3 is a block diagram illustration of the circuitry 26 used for driving the.transducers of Figure 2;
27 Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of signal levels on 28 various lines of the circuit of Figure 3, illustrating 29 frequency adjustments;
Figure 5 is a schematic illustration similar to that of 31 Figure 4, but illustrating amplitude adjustments;

1 ¦ Figure 6 is a schematlc illustration of signals on other 2 ¦ lines of the circuit of Figure 3, illustrating the alarm 3 ¦ operation of the circuit;
4 ¦ Figure 7 is a schematic illustration similar to that of 5 ¦ Figure 6, but illustrating the sleep inducing operation of the 6 circuit; and 7 Figure 8 is a detailed circuit diagram showing the 8 circuits which make up the black box members of ~igure 3.-

9 Detailea Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring initially to Figure 1, a typical waterbed 11 is shown to include a deck support grid 11, formed of 12 vertical support members, positioned below and supporting a 13 flat, horizontal deck member 13. These elements 11,13 are 14 typically constructed of wood and are used to suppoxt a flexible water mattress 15 above the floor. Attached to 16 the underside of the deck 13, preferably at diagonally 17 opposed corners of the deck 13, are a pair of vibration 18 transducers 17,19. Each of the transducers 17,19 is connected 19 electrically to a driving circuit 21 by means of wires 23 and 25, respectively.
21 The system of the present invention permits each of the 22 transducers 17 and 19 to be independently energized at 23 varying amplitudes and frequencies. When the transducers 24 17 and 19 are operated at different frequencies, each of these frequencies will be induced in the water of the mattress 26 15 and will be felt by anyone lying on the mattress 15. In 27 addition, an interference frequency, the difference between 28 the frequencies of the transaucers 17 and 19, will form an 29 interference wave within the mattress 15 which can also be felt by the user. This interference wave can typically be 31 o extremely low frequency while, at the same time, each of 32 the transducers is producing a primary, higher frequency.

1 For example, if the transducer 17 is vibrating at 45 cycles 2 per second and the transducer l9 at 42 cycles per second, they 3 will produce an interference wave of 3 cycles per second. This 4 low frequency interference wave can be extremely soothing to the user and can produce an altogether different sensation 6 from that produced by the direct vibration of either of the 7 transducers 17,19 alone.
8 Referring now to Figure 2, the particular transducer 9 utilized in the system of Figure 1 will be described. As previously stated, the transducer 17 is connected to the ll deck 13. In the preferred embodiment, it includes a generally 12 u-shaped band of spring steel 27, one flat side of which is 13 connected, as by plural screws 29, to the deck 13. The 14 band 27 is preferably isolated from the deck 15 by washers 31. The opposite flat side of the u-shaped band 27 mounts 16 a magnet coil 33. This coil, when energized, will attract 17 the opposite flat side of the u-shaped spring steel band 27.
18 Thus, when the magnet coil 33 is induced with a cyclical 19 current, it will vibrate, so that the free side of the u-shaped spring steel band 27 is forced to oscillate relative 21 the stationary side. Since the magnet 33 is relatively heavy, 22 this vibration will, in turn, induce vibration in the deck 13 23 and in the mattress 15 above the deck. The transducer 17 24 is capable of vibrating at a variety of frequencies, depending upon the inducing current, and the amplitude of vibration can 26 be varied by altering the level of the inducing current t 27 as will be described in detail below.
28 Referring now to Figure 3, the transducers 17 and 19 2~ are shown together with the control circuit which forms the driving circuit 21 of Figure l. This circuit includes a pair .

1 of astable multivibrators 35 and 37 are shown con~ected to a 2 control line 39 which, together with a pair of variable 3 res.istors 41 and 43, controls the multivibrator frequency.
4 It will be understood that each of the astable multivibrators 35l37 produces an output square wave, the frequency of which 6 is determined by the setting of the variable resistors 41,43 7 or the voltage on the control line 39.
8 The output of each of the astable multivibrators 35,37.
9 is conducted by means of a pulse shaping circuit 45,47, respectively, to a pair of monostable multivibrators 49,51.
11 The monostable multivibrators are responsive to the output 12 frequency signal from astable multivibrators 35,37 to produce 13 a controlled duration output pulse for each negative going 14 input pulse from the pulse shape circuits 45,47 so that, on their output lines 53,55, respectively, the multivibrators 49,51 16 each produce a signal, the frequency of which is determined 17 by the astable multivibrators 35,37 and the pulse width of 18 which is determined by the monostable multivibrators 49,51.
19 This pulse width ultimately determines the amplitude of vibration produced by the system. In a manner similar to the 21 resistors 41,43, variable resistors 52,54 control the time 22 delay of the monostable multivibrators 49 and 51, respectively.
23 Additionally, this time delay may be set by a control signal-24 on line 60.
Referring briefly to Figure 4, the output of astable 26 multivibrator 35 is shown as a function of time and, for 27 purposes of illustration, is shown as having a first 28 relatively low frequency during a time period Tl and a.
29 second relatively high frequency during a time period T2.
~0 Corresponding with this output, the output of the pulse shape 31 circuit 45 is shown, as is the output of monostable multivibrator 1 ¦ 49. ~n this example, the pulse width of the monostable multivibrat ~r 2 ¦ 49 is left unchanged as the frequency of the astable 3 multivibrator 35 changes. It can be seen that the frequency at the out~ut of the monostable multivibrator 49 changes significantly between times Tl and T2, but the pulse width 6 does not appreciably change.
7 In the illustration of Figure 5, times T3 and T4 are 8 shown and the outputs of elements 35, 45, and 49 are again 9 depicted. In this example, however, the setting of the astable multivibrator 35 is left unchanged, so that the frequency 11 remains constant. During the time T3, the monostable 12 multivibrator 49 is set for a relatively short time delay, 13 so that the amplitude of vibration will be relatively small.
14 During the time T4, however, the monostable multivibrator 49 has an increased time delay, so that the output pulse wid~h, 16 and the resulting amplitude of vibration, is substantially 17 increased without altering the output frequency.
18 Fram the diagrams of Figures 4 and 5 it can be seen that 19 any combination of output frequency and amplitude which is desired may be achieved by independently varying the resistors 21 41 and 43 for frequency adjustment, and the resistors 52 and 22 54 for amplitude of vibration adjustment.
23 Referring once again to Figure 3, the output signals on 24 lines 53 and 55 are coupled to driver amplifiers 61 and 63, respectively, which are in turn connected to drive the 26 transducers 17,19 in accordance with the signals on lines 27 53,55.
28` While the frequency and amplitude of vibration may be 29 controlled as previously described using the variable resistors 41, 43, 52, and 54, the present invention includes an alternate .
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1 control responsive to a digital clock circuit 65. This clock 2 circuit produces an alarm si~nal on line 67 in typical fashion, 3 which is used to drive a mode control circuit 68 at the time for which the alarm o~ the digital clock 65 is set. Once it is set, the mode control 68 drives an integrator 71 which produces 6 a negative-going ramp signal on line 73. An inverted, positiv~-~ going ramp signal is produced on line 75 by an inverting amplifier 8 77 in response to the signal on line 73.
9 The mode control 68 includes, as a second input, a sleep switch 81 which is closed by the operator to place the circuit 11 21 in a sleep inducing mode. Either of the inputs, 81,67, will 12 initiate control signals from the mode control 68 to enable 13 the integrator 71. In addition, however, the mode control 14 operates a double pole, double throw switch 83 in accordance with the initiating signal 67,81. Thus, the mode control 68 16 controls the switch 83 to connect line 39 to line 73 and line 17 60 to line 75 during the alarm period (line 67 signal) or, 18 alternatively, line 60 to line 73 and line 39 to line 75 during 19 the sleep inducing period (switch 81).
In addition, the mode control 68 automatically produces a 21 signal on a line 184 which enables the multivibrators 35,37,49,51 22 during the alarm and sleep inducing modes. A switch 183 is 23 also provided for manually enabling the multivibrators 35,37,49,51.
24 The output of the inverting amplifier 77 and mode control 68 are additionally connected to an alarm and reset control 86 which 26 monitors the output voltage on line 75 and provides an output 27 signal on a line 87 when the alarm ramp signal has terminated.
28 m is signal on line 87 drives a speaker 96 to give an audible 29 alarm sound indicating that the alarm cycle is completed. The speaker 96 assures that the operator wakes up.
31 Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the integrator 71 ramp .. ~ .

l signal, inverter 77 ramp signal, and the control of the 2 multivibrators 35, 37, 49, and 51 in response ~o these 3 siynals will be described. Figure 6 shows the alarm 4 sequence, that is, the sequence normally utilized in the morning to slowly wake the operator prior to the energization 6 of the audio speaker 96. It will be seen that, during a 7 predetermined time period, the output of the integrator 71 8 is a linearly decreasing ramp signal while the output of the 9 inverting a~plifier 77 is a linearly increasing ramp signal.
The rates of change of these signals in Figures 6 and 7 are ll greatly exaggerated to ease understanding, the transitions 12 actually occurring over an extended period of time, for example, 13 l/2 hour.
14 The multivibrators 35 and 37 respond to the ramp signal from the integrator 71 by producing an output frequency which 16 increases linearly with time. The multivibrators 49 and 51 17 simultaneously xespond to the output from the inverting 18 amplifier 77 by producing a linearly increasing amplitude signal.
l9 Thus, during this alarm period, both the frequency and the amplitude of vibration are linearly increased until they 21 reach the levels preset by resistors 41, 43, 52, and S4. -~his 22 increasing frequency and amplitude slowly brings the user 23 from a subconscious sleep level to a level of heightened 24 awareness, at the end of which the alarm 96 sounds, finally ~
waking the operator.
26 As shown in Figure 7, when the sleep switch 81 is closed, 27 the output of the integrator 71 and the inverting amplifiers 28 77 are identical to that shown in Figure 6. In this case, 29 however, the interconnections are reversed by the double 3 ~ pole, doub throw cwitch 83, so that the integrator 71 1 controls the multivibrators 49 and 51 and the inverting amplifier 2 77 controls the multivibrators 35 and 37. The result of this 3 switching is that the fre~uency as well as the amplitude of the 4 output signal from the monostable multivibrators 49,51 are redu^ed from the value preset by resistors 41, 43, 52, and 54 to a very 6 low frequency, low amplitude level, slowly bringing the operator 7 from a level of heightened awareness to a level of relatively 8 deep sleep.
9 It will-be seen that by altering the values of resistors 41 and 43, interference waves can be generated during the sleep 11 and alarm phases of operation as may be desired. The present 12 circuit thus permits a very unique system for producing time 13 variations in the frequency and amplitude of vibration to lull 14 the user to sleep ox to slowly waken him as desired.
Referring now to Figure 8, the detailed circuitry, 16 represented in block form in Figure 3, will be described.
17 A power supply 101 supplies a V+ voltage on output line 18 103 which is referenced to an output neutral or ground line 19 105. This voltage is produced by a stepping transformer 107, the secondary of which is connected in series with a filtering 21 capacitor 111 and rectifying diode 180, which is used, together 22 with resistor 115 and reference diode 113 for controlling a 23 regulating transistor 117 to provide the desired voltage. In 24 addition, the power supply 101 provides filtered driving current for the vibrators 17,19 by connecting a capacitor 121 and 26 rectifying diode 178 in series with the 60-cycle source. A pair ~7 of output lines 105,119 are connected in shunt with the filter 28 capacitor 121 and a bleeder resistor 123.
29 The astable multivibrators 35 and 37 are identical in construction and thus only the multivibrator 35 will be described.
31 This multivibrator uses an integrated circuit 124 commonly 32 available in the art under standardized part number NE555 (or

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1 others). Pin 8 of this integrated circuit is connected to line 2 103 and pin 1 thereof is connected to line 105 for powering the 3 integrated circuit. Fixed resistors 125 and 127, along with 4 variable resistor 41 and capacitor 131, all connected in series between lines 103 and 105, are connected at their junctions to 6 pins 2, 6, and 7 of the integrated circuit 124. These components 7 125, 127, 41, and 131 control the frequency of the astable 8 multivibrator configured integrated circuit 124 in the absence 9 of a voltage control signal on pin 5.
Pin 4 of the integrated circuit 124 is connected to line

11 184 for enabling (when a signal is present on line 184) or

12 disabling (when no signal is present) the integrated circuit 124.

13 Line 39, previously mentionèd, is connected to pin 5 of

14 the astable multivibrator 124 and will alter the bias on pins 2, 6, and 7 to set the free running frequency of the multivibrator 16 124 when a voltage i8 present. As the voltage on line 39 increase , 17 the frequency of the integrated circuit 124 will decrease.
18 As previously mentioned, the output at pin 3, line 135, is 19 a square wave, the frequency of which is controlled by the variable resistor 41 or the voltage on line 35, is the latter is 21 above ground level, that is, the level on line 105.
22 Each of the output lines 135 of the multivibrators 35 23 and 37 are connected to a balance indicator light 137, -24 comprising a resistor 139, diode 141, and light emitting diode 143 connected in series between these outputs. The 26 light emitting diode 143 is mounted on the front panel of 27 the circuit chassis and is illuminated to show maximum 28 intensity in a cyclicly changing pattern, the frequency of 29 which is equal to the difference frequency between the ~0 astable multivibrators 35 and 37. As previously mentioned, 31 this difference in frequency is the interference wave 32 frequency within the waterbed and the light emitting diode l~'gl~3 1 143 makes it easy for the user to adjust the frequencies of 2 the multivibrators 35 and 37 to provide a desired differen~e 3 frequency.
4 The outputs of each of the astable multivibrators on lines 135 are additionally connected to the inputs of the 6 monostable multivibrators 49 and 51. These multivibrators are 7 also identical in construction, thus only multivibrator 49 will 8 be described. This multivibrator is also built around an -9 NE555 integrated circuit 147, including pin 8, connected to line 103 and pin 1 connected to line 105 for supplying 11 power to the circuit. The output on line 135 from the 12 astable multivibrator 35 is connected to the input at pin 2 13 of the integrated circuit 147 through a pulse shaping 14 capacitor 45. The capacitor 45 produces negative going pulses at the trailing edge of the output square wave on 16 line 135 for triggering the multivibrator 49. The input on 17 pin 2 of the integrated circuit 147 is responsive only to the 18 negative going pulses, such that the frequency of the integrated 19 circuit 147, but not its pulse duration, is identical to the frequency of the signal on line 135.
21 Pins 6 and 7 of the integrated circuit 147 are each connected 22 at the ~unction of the variable resistor 52 and capacitor 151 23 which are, in turn, connected in series with a fixed resistor 24 153 between the V+ line 103 and ground 105. The variable resistor 52 sets the pulse duration of the monostable 26 multivibrator 49 and thus the intensity of vibration caused 27 by the water~ed vibrator. It can be seen, therefore, that the 28 resistor 52r in setting the pulse duration, changes the 29 vibration amplitude independent of the frequency, which is determin ~d by the re9istor 41 or the signal on line 39.
31 A voltage control signal on line 60 is connected to pin 32 5 of the integrated circuit 147 and alters the pulse duration .
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1 siynal at pin 6, if it is enabled. As the voltage on line 60 2 increases, the pulse width of ~he monostable multivibrator 49 3 increases, that is, the time period during which the output 4 voltaye is high is increased. The output at pin 3, line 153, is thus a rectangular wave, the frequency of which is determined 6 by the astable multivibrator integrated circuit 124 and the 7 pulse duration of which is determined by the monostable 8 multivibrator integrated circuit 147. As with the astable 9 multivibrator, a signal supplied to pin 4 from line 184 enables or disables the monostable multivibrator 49.
~1 The outputs of the monostable multivibrators 49 and 51 are 12 connected through bias resistors 155 to driver amplifiers 61 13 and 63. These amplifiers are identical in construction and 14 only the amplifier 61 will be described. The amplifier 61 includes a transistor 157 which is operated as a switch, that 16 i5, either totally cut off or saturated. When the output on 17 line 153 is at ground level, the transistor 157 is cut off.
18 When the output on line 153 is high, the transistor 157 is -19 saturated and thus conductive. When conductive, the voltage on lines 119 and 105 appears across the vibrator or transducer 21 17 and the current through the vibrator 17 increases until 22 limited by the resistance of the vibrator. When the transistor 23 157 cuts off, the inductance of the vibrator 17 is prohibited 24 from damaging the transistor 157 by a shunting diode 159 in typical fashion. The vibrator 19 is operated in an identical fashion 26 from the driver amplifier 63.
27 Turning now to the control circuitry used for operating 28 this vibrator circuit, a digital clock 65, in the form of 29 an integrated circuit chip, readily available on the market, is supplied with operating voltages from lines 103 and 105 31 and provides, at a time set by the operator, an alarm signal - on line 67. An alarm reset lnput on line 163 responds to 2 negative going pulse signals to reset the alarm circuit of 3 the clock 65. The line 163 is normally clamped through a resistor 165 to the voltage on line 103.
Signals on the line 67, indicating that the alarm time has 6 been reached, set a pair of flip-flops 69 and 79 which form a 7 part of the mode control 68. A diode 167 prevents the signal 8 from attempting to both set and reset the flip-flop 79 at the 9 same time. The flip-flop 69 is used to cycle the vibrators, whereas the flip-flop 79 determines the direction of cycling, 11 that is, whether the vibrator circuit is being used to induce 12 sleep in the operator or to wake the operator up slowly. When 13 the flip-flop 79 is set by the signal on line 67, the set state 1~ indicates a wake up phase. Alternatively, when the flip-flop 79 is reset by a manual closure of the switch 81~ the sleep 16 switch, the sleep inducing cycle of the vibrator will begin.
17 Note that a diode 167 sets the flip-flop 69 in response to the 18 switch 81 so that the flip-flop 69 is set for either the sleep 19 or wake up mode. The output o the flip-flop 69 is connected to the integrator 71, the output of which is at ground potential 21 until the flip-flop 69 is set. At that time the output on line 22 73 changes linearly from a high potential, the potential on lina 23 103, to ground level, the potential on line 105. The inverting 24 amplifier output is opposite that of the integrator 71, that is, when the flip-flop 69 is set, the output on line 75 changes 26 linearly from ground potential, the potential of line 105, to a 27 positive voltage potential, that of line 103. Each of these 28 outputs on lines 73 and 75 are applied to the double pole, 29 double throw solid state switch 83, a commonly available integrated circuit.
51 When the flip-flop 79 is set by the alarm on line 67, 32 and when the flip-1Op 69 i5 set, a signal on line 169 will 1 ¦ close a double pole, single throw solid state switch 171 2 ¦ to conduct the set voltages from the Q and Q o~tputs from the 3 ¦ f)ip-flop 79 to the switch control inputs of the double pole, ¦ double throw integrated circuit switch 83. Alternatively, when the sleep switch 81 has been closed so that the flip-~lop 79 6 is reset, but the flip-flop 69 is set, the signal on line 169 will close the double pole, single throw solid state 8 switch 171 to connect the reset voltages from the Q and Q
9 outputs of the flip-flop 79 to the switch 83. The double pole, double throw intègrated switch 83 is controlled by 11 the outputs from switch 171 o~ lines 173 and 175, such that if 12 the flip-flop 79 is set, indicating a wake up sequence, the 13 negative going ramp signal from the integrator 71 will be 14 connected to output 177 of the switch 83, line 39, for controlling the astable multivibrators. At the same time, the positive going 16 ramp signal on line 75 will be connected at output 179, line 60, 17 o~ the switch 83 for controlling the monostable multivibrators.
18 Alternatively, when the flip-flop 79 is reset indicating 19 a sleep inducing phase, the output of the integrator 71 will be conducted by the switch 83 to the monostable 21 multivibrator on line 60, whereas the output of the 22 inverting amplifier 77 will be connected to the astable 23 multivibrators on line 39. The state of the flip-flop 79 24 in conjunction with the switch 83 thus conducts the output of the integrator 71 and inverting amplifier 77 to the 26 multivibrators so that the astable multivibrator and the 27 monostable multivibrator in each half of the driving circuit 28 receive a ramp signal going in opposite directions. During 29 the wake up phase the vibrators begin at low frequency, low amplitude and cycle slowly to high frequency, high amplitude.

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~ i3 1 Th.is operation is reversed when flip-flop 79 is reset, that 2 i~, the vibrators begin at high frequency, high intensity 3 and cycle slowly to low frequency, low intensity.
When the end of the cycle is reached, flip~flop 69 is 5 reset by a signal produced by the alarm reset and control . .
6 circuit 86. Specifically, a comparator 85 produces an output ~ voltage signal when the negative going ramp signal from the 8 integrator 71 reaches the level of voltage on line 105. The 9 output 87 of this comparator 85 is ANDed with the Q output of the flip-flop 79 (indicating wake up rather than sleep phase) 11 in an AND gate 181, enabling a gate circuit 90 t~ energize an 12 audio oscillator 94. A reset switch 92 resets the gate 90, when ~3 closed by the operator, to disable the audio oscillator 94.
14 The oscillator is in turn connected to speaker 96 to awaken the user. Also, upon resetting flip-flop 69, line 169 opens 16 the switch 171, which in turn opens the switch 83, thereby 17 removing all control voltages from lines 39 and 60. In addition, 18 line 169 disables a gate 182 (if switch 183 is open). ~he 19 gate 182 then produces a signal on line 184 to disable. all multivibrators 35,37,49,51. If the operator wishes to 21 manually turn on the vibrator system.without using the alarm 22 circuit, he closes switch lB3, which enables the gate 182 to 23 produce a signal on line 184, enabling multivibrators 35,37, 24 49,51 regardless of the state of the flip-flop 69.
From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the 26 present circuit, in addition to permitting totally flexible 27 control of both amplitude and frequency of a pair of vibrators 28 adapted for connection to a piece of furniture such as a 29 waterbed, will slowly phase the amplitude and frequency to 31 pxoduce a wake up and sleep mode. During the w~ke up mode, the 32 -1.6- . .

~ 4 3 1 amplitude and frequency star-t at low levels and are gradually 2 increased to heighten the awareness of the individual before an 3 audible alarm sounds. During the sleep phase, the frequency and amplitude begin at a high level and are slowly reduced to i ce a res~ful sta~ in 'he us-r.

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Claims (8)

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A vibrator system for inducing vibration in furniture, comprising:
a pair of electrical-mechanical transducers mounted at spaced locations on said furniture, each of said transducers producing output mechanical vibration the amplitude and frequency of which is independently controlled by the respective amplitude and frequency of a pair of independent electrical driving signals; and--means producing said independent pair of electrical driving signals, said means supplying independent cyclicly varying signals to each of said pair of transducers, said means independently controlling the frequency and amplitude of each of said pair of signals.

2. A vibrator system as defined in Claim 1 wherein said driving signal producing means comprises:
a pair of astable multivibrators; and a pair of monostable multivibrators, each of said monostable multivibrators responsive to one of said astable multivibrators and conducted to drive one of said transducers.

3. A vibrator system as defined in Claim 1 wherein said driving signal producing means additionally comprises:
a pair of switching transistors, each of said transistors responsive to one of said monostable multivibrators for controlling the current to one of said transducers.

4. A vibrator system as defined in Claim 3 wherein each of said pair of astable multivibrators and each of said pair of monostable multivibrators includes an independent control element permitting control of the frequency and amplitude of vibration of said transducers.

5. A vibrator system as defined in Claim 4 additionally comprising:
means for indicating the difference frequency between the frequency of vibration of said pair of transducers.

6. A vibrator system as defined in Claim 4 additionally comprising:
means automatically initiating operation of said driving signal producing means at a predetermined time.

7. A vibrator system as defined in Claim 4 wherein said driving signal producing means additionally comprises:
means producing an output ramp signal for controlling the time delay of each of said two astable multivibrators and each of said two mono-stable multivibrators.

8. A vibrator for inducing vibration in furniture, comprising:
means responsive to a driving electrical current for inducing mechanical vibration in said furniture;
and means producing said driving electrical current, said means automatically changing said current to alter said mechanical vibration over a period of time.