Patent · US Expired

Microcontroller based massage system

US6375630B1 · kind B1 · utility

52Cited by
4References
32Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 1998
Grant dateApr 23, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61H2201/5097
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A massaging system includes a pad; a heater element, and motorized vibrators in respective regions of the pad; corresponding heater and motor drivers in the pad; a control wand removably connectable to the pad and having a microcontroller with RAM and ROM, a serial EEPROM; a serial interface to a shift register in the pad for signaling pulse width modulation of the drivers. The ROM defines a master set of operating modes and variations thereof in response to operator input of intensity, region, heat input; and mode signals to the controller. The EEPROM has data for implementing and configuring a subset of the master modes. The system can also provide composite modes including a test mode that automatically sequentially activates each mode and variation of the subset of the modes without delays for exercising non-implemented modes. The system can have a power detector for identifying sources of power having different current limitations, the system being operated with PWM duty cycle limiting when raw power voltage falls below a preset level. Also disclosed is a set-up method for writing data to the EEPROM using the serial interface when the wand is disconnected from the pad for faci…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.