Abstract: Methods of driving a massage chair are described for dispensing effective massage to reduce stress and relieve pain in an effective manner. The massage chair includes a backrest, a seat, two massage arms assembled with the backrest and having at least two contact members, a plurality of bottom airbags disposed in the seat, and a plurality of lateral airbags disposed at a left and a right side of the seat. The method includes defining a coordinate reference including a lengthwise axis extending along a length of the backrest, a transversal axis extending from a left toward a right side of the backrest, and a front-rear axis extending from a front toward a rear of the backrest, and driving the massage arms to perform certain sequences of massage actions to provide relief in the neck and shoulder areas, the lower back, and thigh and hip.

Abstract: A system and/or massage apparatus to obtain massage data from the massage apparatus (such as a massage chair) for control of a virtual representation of the massage apparatus in a simulated environment is developed. The system and/or massage apparatus is especially suited for a simulated and/or interactive environment such as virtual reality/augmented reality environment. The actual motion(s) of one or more physical massage mechanisms of the massage apparatus is obtained in the form of data signal(s), processed, rendered and displayed in the simulated and/or interactive environment as three-dimensional content. A user interface in the simulated or interactive environment may be used in a real-time or near real-time basis to provide a seamless experience to a user.

Abstract: Disclosed is a massage apparatus including a processor configurable to receive a first dataset associated with a physio-logical parameter of an individual to derive a first emotional indication of the individual; wherein the first emotional indication and the first dataset are configured as inputs to derive a second emotional indication of the individual.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to lower limb massage systems having portions forming an L-shaped interior. Tubular portion includes first end section and upper left and right walls. Elongated portion includes second end section and front top and bottom walls. Corner portion is formed between tubular and elongated portions. Corner portion includes lower left and right walls and rear top and bottom walls. First expandable member forms the front top wall portion, and is expandable towards the elongated portion interior. Second expandable member forms the rear top wall portion, and is expandable towards the corner portion interior. Protruding members are positionable below the rear bottom wall and actuatable to protrude towards the corner portion interior. Second expandable member and protruding members cooperate to apply pressure on the bottom of the foot. Protruding members rotate around an axis perpendicular to a line drawn between second end section and bend section of the corner portion.

Abstract: A massage apparatus includes a massage system, a scent-emitting module, and a microcontroller respectively connected with the massage system and the scent delivery module, the microcontroller being operable to activate the massage system to apply a massage action and to activate the scent-emitting module to emit an aromatic scent.

Abstract: A massage chair includes a backrest, and two sets of massage arms assembled with the backrest and spaced apart from each other along a transversal axis of the backrest, each set including a first and a second massage arm that respectively have a first and a second contact member and are movable relative to each other. The method includes positioning the two sets of the massage arms such that at least the first contact members of the first massage arms contact a desired region of a user's body, actuating the two sets of the massage arms to perform a sequence of kneading pulses or a continuous kneading displacement from a wide state to a narrow state to apply a gripping action on the user's body, and stopping the two sets of the massage arms in the narrow state for a period of time to maintain the gripping action on the user's body.

Abstract: A method of providing massage related services comprises providing a massage apparatus, establishing a connection between a terminal device and a server computer, transferring a massage program executable on the massage apparatus from the server computer to the terminal device, establishing a connection between the terminal device and the massage apparatus, and transferring the massage program from the terminal device to the massage apparatus. Once the new massage program is downloaded in the massage apparatus, a graphical user interface displayed by a remote controller of the massage apparatus can be updated with a new icon associated with the new massage program. The new massage program then can be executed either from the remote controller or the terminal device. In some embodiments, a massage apparatus and a system including the massage apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A massage apparatus includes a massage system, a scent-emitting module, and a microcontroller respectively connected with the massage system and the scent delivery module, the microcontroller being operable to activate the massage system to apply a massage action and to activate the scent-emitting module to emit an aromatic scent.

Abstract: A massage chair includes a backrest, and two sets of massage arms assembled with the backrest and spaced apart from each other along a transversal axis of the backrest, each set including a first and a second massage arm that respectively have a first and a second contact member and are movable relative to each other. The method includes positioning the two sets of the massage arms such that at least the first contact members of the first massage arms contact a desired region of a user's body, actuating the two sets of the massage arms to perform a sequence of kneading pulses or a continuous kneading displacement from a wide state to a narrow state to apply a gripping action on the user's body, and stopping the two sets of the massage arms in the narrow state for a period of time to maintain the gripping action on the user's body.

Abstract: A method of providing massage related services comprises providing a massage apparatus, establishing a connection between a terminal device and a server computer, transferring a massage program executable on the massage apparatus from the server computer to the terminal device, establishing a connection between the terminal device and the massage apparatus, and transferring the massage program from the terminal device to the massage apparatus. Once the new massage program is downloaded in the massage apparatus, a graphical user interface displayed by a remote controller of the massage apparatus can be updated with a new icon associated with the new massage program. The new massage program then can be executed either from the remote controller or the terminal device. In some embodiments, a massage apparatus and a system including the massage apparatus are also described.

Abstract: Methods of driving a massage chair are described for dispensing effective massage to reduce stress and relieve pain in an effective manner. The massage chair includes a backrest, a seat, two massage arms assembled with the backrest and having at least two contact members, a plurality of bottom airbags disposed in the seat, and a plurality of lateral airbags disposed at a left and a right side of the seat. The method includes defining a coordinate reference including a lengthwise axis extending along a length of the backrest, a transversal axis extending from a left toward a right side of the backrest, and a front-rear axis extending from a front toward a rear of the backrest, and driving the massage arms to perform certain sequences of massage actions to provide relief in the neck and shoulder areas, the lower back, and thigh and hip.

Abstract: A pneumatic massaging device comprising a first inflatable part (15) to be in contact with a foot of a user, wherein said first inflatable part comprises at least two inflatable chambers (21, 26). The first of said at least two inflatable chambers is designed such that it is in contact with the plantar arch (8) and sole regions of the foot and the second of said at least two inflatable chambers is designed such that it is in contact with the sole region (5), lateral region (4) or vamp region (3) of the foot. The pneumatic massaging device is designed such that the first inflatable part (15) may further comprise a third inflatable (26) chamber. This third chamber is designed such that it is in contact with the sole of the foot. Furthermore, the first inflatable part (15) may also comprise a plurality of inflatable chambers wherein said plurality of inflatable chambers is designed such that it is in contact with or adjacent to the sole of the foot.

Abstract: An air bag having a first monolithic layer and a second monolithic layer, said first and second monolithic layer being attached to each other along a closed line such that the surface area of the first monolithic layer within the closed line is larger than the surface area of the second monolithic layer within said closed line. The first monolithic layer and the second monolithic layer define a fluid chamber bounded by said closed line, wherein the first monolithic layer rests on the second monolithic layer, and is of an at least substantially corrugated shape when said fluid chamber is deflated. The air bag also includes at least one fluid port in fluid communication with the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A pneumatic massaging device comprising a first inflatable part (15) to be in contact with a foot of a user, wherein said first inflatable part comprises at least two inflatable chambers (21, 26). The first of said at least two inflatable chambers is designed such that it is in contact with the plantar arch (8) and sole regions of the foot and the second of said at least two inflatable chambers is designed such that it is in contact with the sole region (5), lateral region (4) or vamp region (3) of the foot. The pneumatic massaging device is designed such that the first inflatable part (15) may further comprise a third inflatable (26) chamber. This third chamber is designed such that it is in contact with the sole of the foot. Furthermore, the first inflatable part (15) may also comprise a plurality of inflatable chambers wherein said plurality of inflatable chambers is designed such that it is in contact with or adjacent to the sole of the foot.

Abstract: An electronic ballast circuit for igniting, supplying and dimming a gas discharge lamp which comprises an oscillation control circuit, an IR2155 self-oscillating half-bridge driver, a dimming control circuit, a load circuit including at least one gas discharge lamp and an over-current protection circuit, wherein the oscillation control circuit controls a current through the lamp by pulse width modulation of a drive signal during a pre-heating stage and the normal operation to control the dimming of the gas discharge lamp.