Sleep Platform Pneumatics Management System

Abstract

A bed may provide pneumatic effects. An array of pumps may be used in providing the pneumatic effects. In some embodiments less than all of the pumps may be operated to provide some of the pneumatic effects, and in some such embodiments no individual pump may be able to provide others of the pneumatic effects, and in some or other such embodiments all of the pumps may be required to provide at least one of the pneumatic effects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bed, comprising:
 a sleep surface;   an array of pumps for providing a pneumatic effect for the sleep surface, with outputs of the array of pumps coupled together.   
     
     
         2 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pumps of the array of pumps are independently operable. 
     
     
         3 . The bed of  claim 2 , wherein less than all of the pumps may be operated to provide at least one predetermined pneumatic effect. 
     
     
         4 . The bed of  claim 3 , further comprising a controller configured to determine which pumps of the array of pumps are to be operated to provide the at least one predetermined pneumatic effect. 
     
     
         5 . The bed of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that different pumps should be operated to provide the at least one pneumatic effect at different times. 
     
     
         6 . The bed of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to maintain information as to a level of wear for each of the pumps. 
     
     
         7 . The bed of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to determine which pumps to operate based on the information as to the level of wear for each pump. 
     
     
         8 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein outputs of the array of pumps are selectively couplable to at least one chamber supporting the sleep surface. 
     
     
         9 . The bed of  claim 1 , wherein the outputs of the array of pumps are selectively coupled to any of a plurality of chambers supporting a sleep surface of the bed. 
     
     
         10 . The bed of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an activation time for operation of the pumps to provide the predetermined pneumatic effect. 
     
     
         11 . The bed of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a voltage to be supplied to the pumps to provide the predetermined pneumatic effect. 
     
     
         12 . The bed of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the indication of wear of the pumps based on operating times and operating voltages of the pumps.