Baby bouncer actuator and related systems

Abstract

The invention provides a novel microprocessor-controlled actuator which bounces a baby bouncer system at soothing frequencies that are optimized for the weight of a baby supported in the baby bouncer system bed. The invention also provides a novel baby bouncer system which includes the novel microprocessor-controlled actuator. In one embodiment, the microprocessor based control system which controls the bouncing motion of the actuator also emits soothing sounds.

1 . An actuator comprising: 
 (a) a housing adapted to engage a baby bouncer system for transmission of bouncing forces;    (b) a motion sensor which can generate signals corresponding to baby bouncer system bouncing force and which is enclosed within and supported by the housing;    (c) a microprocessor based control system which can detect and store the motion sensor signals and which is enclosed within and supported by the housing;    (d) a DC electric motor which (i) is connectable to a power source, (ii) is in electrical communication with the microprocessor based control system, (iii) during operation receives a supply voltage at a level which is regulated by the microprocessor based control system, and (iv) is enclosed within and supported by the housing;    (e) a speed reduction mechanism which comprises an axial shaft connected for rotation to and driven by the DC electric motor and which is enclosed within and supported by the housing;    (f) a rotatable eccentric weight which is mounted coaxially on the speed reduction mechanism axial shaft for rotational and pendulum-like motion and which is enclosed within and supported by the housing; wherein    the microprocessor based control system is calibrated to maintain the DC electric motor supply voltage level at a value which is optimized to maintain baby bouncer system bouncing at soothing frequencies.    
   
   
       2 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the speed reduction ratio of the speed reduction mechanism is set such that the rotational speed of the actuator's eccentric weight is from about 50 to about 100 times per minute at a microprocessor-controlled DC motor supply voltage range of about 40% to about 90% of the maximum DC motor supply voltage, and the soothing frequency is the baby bouncer system resonant frequency when supporting a baby.  
   
   
       3 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor based control system is calibrated and regulates DC electric motor voltage supply by a method comprising: 
 (a) retrieving a value corresponding to the maximum DC electric motor supply voltage level (Vmax) and setting DC electric motor supply voltage level Vn initially at Vmax;    (b) selecting an actuator operation time interval t;    (c) operating the actuator for time interval t at Vn and detecting and recording motion sensor signal values Fn during time interval t;    (d) retrieving a value corresponding to the minimum DC electric motor supply voltage level (Vmin), detecting Vn, and, if Vn does not equal Vmin within an acceptable tolerance, adjusting Vn by subtracting voltage increment v;    (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until Vn equals Vmin within an acceptable tolerance;    (f) comparing Fn values recorded at each Vn and determining the maximum Fn value (Fmax) and the Vn corresponding to Fmax (V of Fmax); and    (g) setting DC electric motor voltage supply at V of F max.    
   
   
       4 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor based control system is calibrated and regulates DC electric motor voltage supply by a method comprising: 
 (a) retrieving a value corresponding to the maximum DC electric motor supply voltage level (Vmin) and setting DC electric motor supply voltage level Vn initially at Vmin;    (b) selecting an actuator operation time interval t;    (c) operating the actuator for time interval t at Vn and detecting and recording motion sensor signal values Fn during time interval t;    (d) retrieving a value corresponding to the maximum DC electric motor supply voltage level (Vmax), detecting Vn, and, if Vn does not equal Vmax within an acceptable tolerance, adjusting Vn by adding voltage increment v;    (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until Vn equals Vmax within an acceptable tolerance;    (f) comparing Fn values recorded at each Vn and determining the maximum Fn value (Fmax) and the Vn corresponding to Fmax (V of Fmax); and    (g) setting DC electric motor voltage supply at V of F max.    
   
   
       5 . An actuator of  claim 3 , wherein Vmax is about 90% of the maximum power supply voltage and Vmin is about 40% of the maximum power supply voltage.  
   
   
       6 . An actuator of  claim 4 , wherein Vmax is about 90% of the maximum power supply voltage and Vmin is about 40% of the maximum power supply voltage.  
   
   
       7 . An actuator of  claim 3 , wherein v is ranges from about 0.1 volts to about 0.5 volts.  
   
   
       8 . An actuator of  claim 4 , wherein v is ranges from about 0.1 volts to about 0.5 volts.  
   
   
       9 . An actuator of  claim 3 , wherein the maximum power supply voltage ranges from about 4.5 volts to about 9 volts.  
   
   
       10 . An actuator of  claim 4 , wherein the maximum power supply voltage ranges from about  4 . 5  volts to about  9  volts.  
   
   
       11 . An actuator of  claim 3 , wherein t ranges from about 5 seconds to about 30 seconds.  
   
   
       12 . An actuator of  claim 4 , wherein t ranges from about 5 seconds to about 30 seconds.  
   
   
       13 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein during operation the actuator bounces the baby bouncer system at a frequency of around 60 to around 100 times per minute.  
   
   
       14 . An actuator of  claim 3 , wherein during operation the actuator bounces the baby bouncer system at a frequency of around 60 to around 100 times per minute.  
   
   
       15 . An actuator of  claim 4 , wherein during operation the actuator bounces the baby bouncer system at a frequency of around 60 to around 100 times per minute.  
   
   
       16 . An actuator of  claim 3 , wherein during operation the actuator bounces the baby bouncer system at the system resonant frequency.  
   
   
       17 . An actuator of  claim 4 , wherein during operation the actuator bounces the baby bouncer system at the system resonant frequency.  
   
   
       18 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the eccentric weight rotates from about 50 to about 100 times per minute at DC electric motor supply voltage levels of about 40% to about 90% of the maximum DC electric motor supply voltage.  
   
   
       19 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor based control system is programmed to broadcast soothing sounds.  
   
   
       20 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor based control system is programmed to broadcast a prerecorded message.  
   
   
       21 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator further comprises a battery pack which powers the DC electric motor.  
   
   
       22 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage-regulated DC electric motor is powered by electrical connection to an electrical wall outlet.  
   
   
       23 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage-regulated DC electric motor is powered by electrical connection to a remote battery pack or generator.  
   
   
       24 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the DC electric motor voltage supply is regulated by either a pulse-width modulator (PWM) or linear voltage regulator under the control of the microprocessor based control system.  
   
   
       25 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises two rotatable eccentric weights which: 
 (a) are mounted on the speed reduction mechanism coaxially with the speed reduction mechanism shaft for rotational, pendulum-like motion, and    (b) are enclosed within and supported by the housing.    
   
   
       26 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 (a) the actuator is comprised of two eccentric weights which each weigh about 25 grams to about 500 grams; and    (b) the eccentric weights each have an eccentricity radius which ranges from about 10 millimeters to about 100 millimeters when the speed-reducing mechanism shaft rotates at a speed of from about 25 to about 150 revolutions per minute.    
   
   
       27 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the maximum voltage supplied to the DC electric motor ranges from about 3 volts to about 30 volts.  
   
   
       28 . An actuator of  claim 1 , wherein the DC electric motor engages and rotates the axial shaft of speed-reducing mechanism through a mechanical linkage.  
   
   
       29 . An actuator of  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical linkage is a belt pulley system, a gear train, a clutch system, or frictional wheels.  
   
   
       30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . (canceled)