KR20240048411A - System and method for controlling massage device - Google Patents

Abstract

The massage device control system and method according to an embodiment detects body shape feature points by measuring the pressure value, which is the user's weight, applied to each position of the load cell in a load cell disposed in the smart module of the massage device when scanning the user's body, and uses the detected body feature point as the detected body feature point. Calculate spine length. Afterwards, an operation mode suitable for the calculated spine length is extracted, and the massage device is controlled according to the operation method of the massage module set for each mode.

Description

Massage device control system and method {SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING MASSAGE DEVICE}

The present disclosure relates to a massage device control system and method. Specifically, when scanning the user's body, the pressure value is measured at each load cell position of the massage device to detect each user's body shape feature points, and the massage device according to the operation method set for each mode. It relates to a massage device control system and method for controlling.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the material described in this section is not prior art to the claims of this application, and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

The spine is considered the most important body organ in maintaining health in Western and Oriental medicine. However, the spine health of modern people is at a very serious level due to lack of exercise and long-term use of smartphones. Spine diseases that modern people suffer from include cervical/lumbar disc herniation, commonly called cervical/lumbar disc, as well as various types of spinal diseases such as spinal fractures, spondylolisthesis, spondylolysis, scoliosis, and cervical/lumbar sprains. If these spinal diseases are not treated in time, the pain becomes very serious and causes great disruption to daily life.

As a result, treatment devices with various forms and functions are being developed and released to prevent spinal diseases at home or to relieve or treat pain caused by spinal diseases. In particular, recently, massagers that allow users to perform various physical or thermal treatments on the entire spine, including the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine while the user is lying down, have received attention through various media and are being sold on the market. It is becoming.

The massager may be configured with a massage module mounted inside a bed-shaped main body, and the massage module is equipped with a massage member called a roller, ceramic or acupressure device and reciprocates in a straight line along the longitudinal direction of the main body. It can be easily installed on the main body. Such a massage machine can perform a massage for the user by stimulating the user's body with a massage member that goes up and down according to the operation of the massage module.

Here, since the massage module for a massager according to the prior art has a constant intensity of acupressure and a simple repetitive operation method, the massage module inevitably becomes dull to the same simple repetitive stimulation after several uses. In addition, there is a problem of low user satisfaction by providing the same movement route and stimulation without considering the physical characteristics of the users.

1. Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1696556 (2017.01.09) 2. Korean Patent Registration No. 10-2315568 (2021.10.15)

The massage device control system and method according to an embodiment detects body shape feature points by measuring the pressure value, which is the user's weight, applied to each position of the load cell in a load cell disposed in the smart module of the massage device when scanning the user's body, and uses the detected body feature point as the detected body feature point. Calculate spine length. Afterwards, an operation mode suitable for the calculated spine length is extracted, and the massage device is controlled according to the operation method of the massage module set for each mode.

A massage device control method according to an embodiment includes the steps of (A) scanning the user's entire spine in a scanning unit; (B) measuring load cell data including a pressure value, which is the user's weight applied to the load cell, according to the load cell position by movement of the massage device in the measuring unit; (C) converting the pressure value measured by the load cell in the conversion unit to generate a load cell conversion value; (D) extracting a peak value from the load cell conversion value in a detection unit and detecting body shape feature points based on the extracted peak value; (E) calculating the spine length for each user using body shape feature points in the calculation unit; and (F) controlling the transfer motor of the massage device according to the spine length calculated by the control unit; Includes. Step (C) in the examples; Calculating a linear slope based on the starting and ending points in the measured load cell data; and generating a load cell conversion value by removing the value corresponding to the linear slope from the measured load cell data. Includes.

Step (D) in the examples; detecting peak valley from the changed load cell data; And detecting body shape feature points including the pelvis starting position and segment positions for each spine region through the detected peak valley data; Includes.

Step (F) in the examples; Extracting a stimulation mode corresponding to the calculated spine length and spacing for each region of the spine; and controlling the transfer motor of the massage device according to the extracted stimulation mode. may include.

The massage device control system and method described above can detect each user's body shape feature points after scanning the user's body, and accurately stimulate the user's acupuncture points according to the spine length calculated from the detected body shape feature points. Through this, the massage effect can be maximized and user satisfaction can be improved.

In addition, by reflecting the body shape feature points of each user in the mode extraction process for controlling the massage device, the user's health promotion effect can be improved by enabling the user to use a massage mode suitable for the user.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the effects described above, and should be understood to include all effects that can be inferred from the configuration of the invention described in the detailed description or claims of the present invention.

1 is a diagram for explaining a method of measuring spine length in a massage device control system according to an embodiment
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a foldable thermal therapy device applying a massage device and a massage device control system according to an embodiment.
Figure 3 is a side view of a massage device and a massage device control system according to an embodiment applied to a foldable thermal therapy device.
Figure 4 is a diagram showing the data processing configuration of the smart module 700 included in the massage device 1000 according to an embodiment.
Figure 5 is a graph showing the load cell measurement value (a), linear slope (b), and load cell conversion value (c) according to an embodiment.
Figure 6 is a diagram showing the data processing flow of a massage device control method according to an embodiment
Figure 7 is a table showing the massage device driving mode of the massage device control system and method according to the embodiment.
Figure 8 is a diagram showing a height control chart for each intensity of the massage device in the massage device control system and method according to the embodiment.
Figure 9 is a diagram showing spinal acupressure points
10 to 12 are diagrams showing the movement position and pressure intensity of the massage device provided in the driving mode of the massage device control system according to the embodiment.

The advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described in detail below along with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below and may be implemented in various different forms. The present embodiments are merely provided to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to provide common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to fully inform those who have the scope of the invention, and the present invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

In describing embodiments of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. The terms described below are terms defined in consideration of functions in embodiments of the present invention, and may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user or operator. Therefore, the definition should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

1 is a diagram for explaining a method of measuring spine length in a massage device control system according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, the massage device control system according to the embodiment measures the pressure value, which is the user's weight, applied to each moving position of the load cell from the load cell disposed in the smart module of the massage device 1000 when the user's body is scanned through the massage device. Then, body shape feature points are detected. In an embodiment, a load cell is a pressure sensor that measures applied force and outputs the value as an electrical signal. In an embodiment, the spine length may be calculated using body shape feature points detected based on the pressure value measured by the load cell. In the embodiment, as shown in the graph of FIG. 1, the load cell starting position is set to the spine starting position (a), and the detected spine ending position (b) is calculated according to the body shape feature points for each user. Through this, an operation mode suitable for the spine length calculated individually for each user can be extracted, and the massage device can be controlled according to the operation method of the massage module set for each mode. The term 'module' used in this specification should be interpreted to include software, hardware, or a combination thereof, depending on the context in which the term is used. For example, software may be machine language, firmware, embedded code, and application software. As another example, hardware may be a circuit, processor, computer, integrated circuit, integrated circuit core, sensor, Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS), passive device, or a combination thereof. The smart module according to the embodiment may store massage device operation information including relative position information of acupressure points and acupuncture points around vertebrae constituting the spine, movement path of the massage device for each mode, acupressure method, etc.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a foldable thermal therapy device to which a massage device and a massage device control system according to an embodiment are applied, and FIG. 3 is a side view of a massage device and a massage device control system according to an embodiment applied to a foldable thermal therapy device.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the foldable thermal therapy device unfolds the folding unit 200 hinged to the upper part of the main unit 100 and unfolds the folding unit 300, which slides to the lower part of the main unit 100. 200) is supported to provide users with massage, thermal therapy, and scalp care through the head unit 600, and the folding unit 200 and folding support unit 300 are combined and folded at the upper and lower sides of the main unit 100, respectively. In its original state, the user can use it as a chair, thereby increasing space utilization and providing convenience. The foldable thermotherapy device consists of a main unit (100), a folding unit (200), a folding support unit (300), a leg unit (400), an extension support unit (500), a head unit (600), a control button unit (700), and a speaker unit. It may include (800), and a mounting portion (900). A thermal therapy device to which a massage device and a massage device control system according to an embodiment are applied includes a main body unit 100 forming a body, a folding unit 200 whose one side is folded by being coupled to the upper part of the main body unit 100, and a main body unit 100. A folding support unit 300 that supports the folding unit 200 unfolded in the rear direction and is slidably coupled to the lower part of the main body unit 100, and a leg unit coupled to the main body unit 100 and supporting the main body unit 100. It includes 400 and provides massage and heat treatment when the folding unit 200 is unfolded toward the rear of the main unit 100. When the folding unit 200 is folded in contact with the main unit 100, it can be used as a chair. The main unit 100 includes a driving unit 110 that moves up, down, front, back, left and right to provide massage, and a driving unit 110 that radiates heat to provide warmth. It includes a body heating unit 120 for treatment and a power port 130 for connecting a power source, and the folding unit 200 includes a folding body 210 and a folding body 210 that form a body. It may include a hinge portion 220 that is hingedly coupled to the main body unit 100, and a folding heating portion 230 that radiates heat to perform thermal treatment. The main body unit 100 forms the body of the foldable thermotherapy device and serves as a frame, and may include a driving part 110, a body heating part 120, a power port part 130, and a slide groove part 140. there is. As can be seen in the example of FIG. 3, the driving unit 110 moves up and down, front and back, left and right, and may serve to provide massage to the user. In an embodiment, the driving unit 110 may include a load cell, which is a pressure sensor that moves up and down, front and back, left and right, and measures pressure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the data processing configuration of the smart module 700 included in the massage device 1000 according to an embodiment. Referring to Figure 4, the smart module 700 of the massage device according to the embodiment includes a scan unit 710, a measurement unit 720, a conversion unit 730, a detection unit 740, a calculation unit 750, and a control unit ( 760).

The scan unit 710 scans the user's entire spine. The measuring unit 720 measures load cell data including a pressure value, which is the user's weight applied according to the load cell position due to movement of the massage device. The conversion unit 730 converts the pressure value measured by the load cell and generates a load cell conversion value. Referring to Figure 5, which graphically shows the load cell measurement value (a), linear slope (b), and load cell conversion value (c) according to the embodiment, in the embodiment, the conversion unit 730 is converted from the measured load cell data (a). Calculate the linear slope (b) based on the start and end points. Afterwards, the value corresponding to the linear slope (b) is removed from the measured load cell data to generate the load cell conversion value (c).

The detection unit 740 extracts a peak value from the load cell conversion value (c) and detects body shape feature points based on the extracted peak value. As shown in FIG. 5, in the embodiment, the body feature point that is the end point of the spine can be detected as p1 and p2, where the slope of the load cell conversion value changes by more than a certain level. Additionally, body shape feature points p1 and p2 can be detected through peak valley detection. In an embodiment, p1 and p2 may each be spinal endpoints detected from different users. Additionally, in the embodiment, the detection unit 740 detects a peak valley from the changed load cell data, and detects body shape feature points including the pelvis start position and segment positions for each spine region through the detected peak valley data. In an embodiment, the detector 740 may detect the pit valley through a peak valley detection algorithm. In the embodiment, the number N of points to be applied to the peak valley detection algorithm is input. In the embodiment, N means the number of scan data. In an embodiment, the data size can be compared and scanned from short wavelength to long wavelength. At this time, N continuously increasing or decreasing data points are scanned in the form of a group (G), and the groups that increase (or decrease) by N are classified into an increase section and a decrease section. For example, the x-axis wavelength range of the increase section can be classified as M1, M2, and M3, and the x-axis wavelength range of the decrease section can be classified as m1, m2, and m3. Afterwards, each group is listed in order. Specifically, they can be listed as M1, m1, m2, M2, m3, m4, m5, M3, and m6. In the embodiment, if groups of the same classification are attached (({M1 M2}, {m3 m4 m5}, etc.), the previous group is deleted. In the embodiment, when the previous group is deleted, M1, m2, M2, After that, the listed data of m5, M3, and m6 can be obtained, and the maximum value within the section where M group and m group are attached is set as peak (Peak - P1, P2, P3, ...), and m group and M are determined. The peak valley is detected by determining the minimum value within the section where the group is attached as valley (V1, V2, V3, ...), and body shape feature points including the pelvic starting position and segment position for each spine region are detected through the detected peak valley data. can be detected.

Additionally, in the embodiment, the detection unit 740 may change the peak valley detection conditions by adjusting the number N of scan data. If peaks (belly) are not detected within the desired area, the number of scan data can be adjusted. If the measurement scanning interval is tight and the difference between two consecutive measurement values becomes smaller than the photometric repeatability, the trend of continuous increase or decrease may be broken and classification into an increase or decrease group may not be possible. , In the embodiment, the detection unit 740 adjusts the measurement scan interval so that the difference between two consecutive measurement values can be distinguished while the peak is detected.

The calculation unit 750 calculates the spine length for each user using body shape feature points. Additionally, the calculation unit 750 may calculate the location of acupuncture points for each user using the detected body feature points. The control unit 760 controls the transfer motor of the massage device according to the calculated spine length. In an embodiment, the control unit 760 may extract a stimulation mode corresponding to the calculated spine length and spacing for each region of the spine and control the transport motor of the load cell according to the extracted stimulation mode.

Hereinafter, the massage device control method will be described in turn. Since the operation (function) of the massage device control method according to the embodiment is essentially the same as the function of the massage device control system, descriptions overlapping with FIGS. 1 to 5 will be omitted.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing the data processing flow of a massage device control method according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step S100, the scan unit scans the user's entire spine. In step S200, the measuring unit measures load cell data including the pressure value, which is the user's weight applied according to the load cell position due to movement of the massage device. In step S300, the conversion unit converts the pressure value measured by the load cell to generate a load cell conversion value. Referring to FIG. 5, which graphically shows the load cell measured value (a), linear slope (b), and load cell conversion value (c) according to the embodiment, in the embodiment, in step S300, the starting and ending points in the measured load cell data (a) Calculate the linear slope (b) based on . Thereafter, the load cell conversion value (c) can be generated by removing the value corresponding to the linear slope (b) from the measured load cell data.

In step S400, the detection unit extracts a peak value from the load cell conversion value and detects body shape feature points based on the extracted peak value. As shown in FIG. 5, in the embodiment, the body feature point that is the end point of the spine can be detected as p1 and p2, where the slope of the load cell conversion value changes by more than a certain level. In an example, P1 and P2 are spinal endpoints each detected from different users. Additionally, in the embodiment, the detection unit 740 detects the peak valley from the changed load cell data, and detects body shape feature points including the pelvis start position and segment positions for each spine region through the detected peak valley data. In the embodiment, step S400 may detect pit valley through a peak valley detection algorithm. In the embodiment, the number N of points to be applied to the peak valley detection algorithm is input. In the embodiment, N refers to the number of scanned data. Then, the data size is compared and scanned from short wavelength to long wavelength. At this time, N continuously increasing or decreasing data points are scanned in the form of a group (G), and the groups that increase (or decrease) by N are classified into an increase section and a decrease section. for example,

The x-axis wavelength range of the increasing section can be classified into M1, M2, and M3, and the x-axis wavelength range of the decreasing section can be classified into m1, m2, and m3. Afterwards, each group is listed in order. Specifically, they can be listed as M1, m1, m2, M2, m3, m4, m5, M3, and m6. In the embodiment, if groups of the same classification are attached (({M1 M2}, {m3 m4 m5}, etc.), the previous group is deleted. In the embodiment, when the previous group is deleted, M1, m2, M2, After that, the listed data of m5, M3, and m6 can be obtained, and the maximum value within the section where M group and m group are attached is set as peak (Peak - P1, P2, P3, ...), and m group and M are determined. The peak valley is detected by determining the minimum value within the section where the group is attached as valley (V1, V2, V3, ...), and body shape feature points including the pelvic starting position and segment position for each spine region are detected through the detected peak valley data. can be detected.

In the embodiment, in step S400, the peak valley detection conditions can be changed by adjusting the number N of scan data. If peaks (belly) are not detected within the desired area, the number of scan data can be adjusted. In an embodiment, if the measurement scanning interval is tight and the difference between two consecutive measurements becomes smaller than the photometric repeatability, the tendency to continuously increase (or decrease) may be broken, resulting in an increase (or decrease). Since classification into groups may not be possible, the detection unit 740 adjusts the measurement scan interval so that the peak is detected and the difference between two consecutive measurement values can be distinguished.

In step S500, the calculation unit can calculate the spine length for each user using the body shape feature points, and calculate the location of the acupoint points for each user based on the spinal segment points for each user. In step S600, the transfer motor of the massage device is controlled according to the spine length calculated by the control unit and the location of each user's acupuncture point.

Figure 7 is a table showing massage device driving modes of a massage device control system and method according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the embodiment, the massage device driving modes are classified into modes 1 to 10. Each mode has a different key treatment spine, function, and effect. In the embodiment, body shape features including the positions of spinal segments are identified, and a driving mode can be selected according to the identified body shape features. In an embodiment, when the intervertebral space between vertebrae is detected to be below a certain level, the massage device may be driven by selecting a mode that focuses treatment on the spinal region where the intervertebral space is below a certain level.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing a height control chart for each massage device intensity of the massage device control system and method according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the embodiment, the intensity and height of the massage device can be controlled in detail step by step according to the segment position of the spine. In an embodiment, the intensity for each location may be adjusted according to the detected body feature points and measured intervertebral space data. For example, when the intervertebral space between vertebrae is detected to be below a certain level, the massage intensity applied to the spinal area where the intervertebral space is below a certain level can be increased.

Figure 9 is a diagram showing spinal acupressure points. As shown in FIG. 9, acupressure points and acupressure points are distributed based on the position of each segment of the spine, so in the embodiment, body shape feature points are detected for each user to accurately determine the positions of acupressure points and acupuncture points distributed along the length of the user's spine. It can be detected. In an embodiment, the massage device may be controlled so that appropriate pressure is applied to the detected acupressure points and acupuncture points. In an embodiment, user satisfaction can be maximized by driving the massage device by reflecting the characteristics of the spine length of the user using the massage device.

10 to 12 are diagrams showing the movement position and pressure intensity of the massage device provided in the driving mode of the massage device control system according to the embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 10 to 12 , in the embodiment, the movement path of the massage device and the pressure applied to the user for each movement position can be adjusted according to each mode. In addition, in the embodiment, a mode optimized for the user is selected by identifying the user's spine length, body shape characteristic points, etc., each user's acupressure point is accurately detected in the selected mode, the massage device is moved, and appropriate pressure is applied to the corresponding acupressure point or acupuncture point. By doing so, the user's health promotion effect can be improved.

The massage device control system and method described above can detect body shape feature points when scanning the user's body and accurately stimulate the user's acupuncture points according to the spine length calculated from the detected body feature point. Through this, the massage effect can be maximized and user satisfaction can be improved. In addition, by reflecting the body shape characteristics of each user in the massage device mode extraction process, the user's health promotion effect can be improved by enabling a massage mode suitable for the user to be used.

The disclosed content is merely an example, and may be modified and implemented in various ways by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the claims, so the scope of protection of the disclosed content is limited to the specific scope described above. It is not limited to the examples.

Claims (10)

In a method of controlling a massage device,
(A) scanning the user's entire spine in the scanning unit;
(B) measuring load cell data including a pressure value, which is the user's weight applied to the load cell, according to the load cell position due to movement of the massage device in the measuring unit;
(C) converting the pressure value measured by the load cell in the conversion unit to generate a load cell conversion value;
(D) extracting a peak value from the load cell conversion value in a detection unit and detecting body shape feature points based on the extracted peak value;
(E) calculating the spine length for each user using body shape feature points in the calculation unit; and
(F) controlling the transfer motor of the massage device according to the spine length calculated by the control unit; A method of controlling a massage device comprising:
The method of claim 1, wherein step (C); Is
Calculating a linear slope based on the starting and ending points from the measured load cell data; and
Generating a load cell conversion value by removing a value corresponding to a linear slope from the measured load cell data; A massage device control method comprising:
The method of claim 1, wherein step (D); Is
Detecting peak valley from changed load cell data; and
Detecting body shape feature points including the pelvis starting position and segment positions for each spine region through the detected peak valley data; A massage device control method comprising:
Step (E) above; Is
Calculating the location of acupuncture points around the spine for each user using the body shape feature points; A massage device control method comprising:
The method of claim 1, wherein step (F); Is
Extracting a stimulation mode corresponding to the calculated spine length and spacing for each region of the spine; and
Controlling a transfer motor of the massage device according to the extracted stimulation mode; A massage device control method comprising:
In the massage device control system,
a scanning unit that scans the entire spine of a user using the massage device;
a measuring unit that measures load cell data including a pressure value, which is the user's weight applied to the load cell, according to the position of the load cell due to movement of the massage device;
A conversion unit that converts the pressure value measured by the load cell to generate a load cell conversion value;
a detection unit that extracts a peak value from the load cell conversion value and detects body shape feature points based on the extracted peak value;
A calculation unit that calculates the spine length for each user using body shape feature points; and
a control unit that controls the transfer motor of the massage device according to the calculated spine length; A massage device control system comprising:
The method of claim 6, further comprising: the detection unit; Is
A massage device control system that calculates a linear slope based on the starting and ending points of the measured load cell data and generates a load cell conversion value by removing the value corresponding to the linear slope from the measured load cell data.
The method of claim 6, further comprising: the detection unit; Is
Peak Valley is detected from the changed load cell data, body shape feature points including the pelvic starting position and segment position for each spine region are detected through the detected peak valley data, and the body shape feature points are used to determine the location of acupuncture points for each user. A massage device control method characterized by calculating.
The method of claim 6, further comprising: the control unit; Is
A massage device control system comprising extracting a stimulation mode corresponding to the calculated spine length and spacing for each region of the spine, and controlling a transfer motor of the massage device according to the extracted stimulation mode.
The method of claim 6, further comprising: the calculation unit; Is
A massage device control system characterized by calculating the location of acupuncture points around the spine for each user using the body shape feature points.