CRADLE DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

A cradle device includes a supporter, a plurality of pressure sensors provided in a bottom of the supporter, a plurality of tilt adjusters configured to adjust a slope of the supporter, and a controller configured to analyze output patterns of the plurality of pressure sensors to determine a movement state of a user in the supporter and control the plurality of tilt adjusters to adjust the slope of the supporter according to the movement state. The safety of the user is promoted.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0129809, filed on Nov. 15, 2012, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept relate to a cradle device and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a cradle device capable of adjusting a slope according to a motion state of a user and a control method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

With improvement in the standard of living, the number of products typically used in homes, such as furniture and appliances, have been increased, and performance thereof has been increasing advanced. In particular, with reduction in the number of children due to reduction in fertility rates, kinds of furniture and appliances used for safety or convenience of children have been greatly increased.

Accordingly, car seats, strollers, and cradle devices for a baby have been largely sold. Among them, the cradle device is a device in which the baby spent the most time while at home. Therefore, parents having a birth plan or just giving birth to child have a considerable worry about selection of the cradle device.

However, until now, the cradle devices have not advanced beyond a simple role. There are devices equipped with a special function such as rocking cradle devices, but the devices are ineffective since the devices move in the same pattern regardless of the movement and characteristic of a baby.

Therefore, there is a need for a cradle device which may help in growth and development of the baby while the baby's safety is the top priority.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

One or more exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide a cradle device capable of being controlled by a movement state of a user and helping in growth and development with guarantee of safety of the user and a control method thereof.

Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide a cradle device including a supporter, a plurality of pressure sensors provided in a bottom of the supporter, a plurality of tilt adjusters configured to adjust a slope of the supporter, and a controller configured to analyze output patterns of the plurality of pressure sensors to determine a movement state of a user on the supporter and to control the plurality of tilt adjusters to adjust the slope of the supporter according to the determined movement state.

The cradle device may further include an input unit configured to receive an initial condition, and a storage unit configured to store the initial condition received through the input unit. The controller may control the plurality of tilt adjusters to adjust the slope of the supporter according to the initial condition.

The initial condition may include at least one selected from the group consisting of an age of the user, a physical characteristic of the user, a head direction toward which a head of the user is directed, a facial direction toward which a face of the user is directed, a pressure measurement cycle, a degree of tilt adjustment, a tilt adjustment speed, and a tilt adjustment time.

The controller may operate in a mode selected by a manager from among a normal mode configured to maintain the supporter in a flat state and a plurality of adjustment modes configured to adjust the slope of the supporter according to the movement state of the user, the plurality of adjustment modes including at least one selected from the group consisting of a stability maintenance mode to adjust the slope of the supporter in a pattern configured to maintain a state of the user when the user is in a sleeping state or a stable state, a first assistant mode to adjust the slope of the supporter to a direction to assist a turning-over attempt when the user tries to turn over, a second assistant mode to adjust the slope of the supporter to a direction to assist a standing-up attempt when the user tries to stand upright, an anxiety relief mode to adjust the slope of the supporter in a pattern configured to relieve an unstable state when the user is in the unstable state, and a danger elimination mode to adjust the slope of the supporter to a direction to eliminate a dangerous state when the user is in the dangerous state.

The controller may be automatically switched into one of the plurality of adjustment modes according to a changed movement state when the movement state of the user is changed and control the plurality of tilt adjusters to adjust the slope of the supporter according to the switched mode.

The cradle device may further include an imaging unit configured to image the user, a microphone configured to receive an acoustic signal, and a communication unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus. The controller may be configured to recognize the state of the user based on an image imaged in the imaging unit and the acoustic signal received from the microphone and to control the communication unit to transmit a notifying signal to the external apparatus when the state of the user meets a preset condition.

The plurality of tilt adjusters may be dispersedly disposed in an edge of the bottom of the supporter, and each of the plurality of tilt adjusters may include an actuator, and a driver configured to extend or reduce a corresponding tilt adjuster by applying a driving signal to the actuator according to a control signal of the controller.

The supporter may have a flexible characteristic and the plurality of tilt adjusters may be dispersedly disposed in the entire bottom of the supporter and locally deform a shape of the supporter according to control of the controller.

Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept also provide a control method of a cradle device. The control method may include analyzing output patterns of a plurality of pressure sensors provided in a bottom of a supporter to determine a movement state of a user on the supporter, and adjusting a slope of the supporter according to the determined movement state.

The control method may further include storing an initial condition when the initial condition. The slope of the supporter may be adjusted according to the initial condition.

The initial condition may include at least one selected from the group consisting of an age of the user, a physical characteristic of the user, a head direction toward which a head of the user is directed, a facial direction toward which a face of the user is directed, a pressure measurement cycle, a degree of tilt adjustment, a tilt adjustment speed, and a tilt adjustment time.

The control method may further include receiving selection of one of a normal mode configured to maintain the supporter in a flat state and a plurality of adjustment modes configured to adjust the slope of the supporter according to the movement state of the user. The slope of the supporter may be adjusted when the one of the plurality of adjustment modes is selected, the plurality of adjustment modes including at least one selected from the group consisting of a stability maintenance mode to adjust the slope of the supporter in a pattern configured to maintain a state of the user when the user is in a sleeping state or a stable state, a first assistant mode to adjust the slope of the supporter to a direction to assist a turning-over attempt when the user tries to turn over, a second assistant mode to adjust the slope of the supporter to a direction to assist a standing-up attempt when the user tries to stand upright, an anxiety relief mode to adjust the slope of the supporter in a pattern configured to relieve an unstable state when the user is in the unstable state, and a danger elimination mode to adjust the slope of the supporter to a direction to eliminate a dangerous state when the user is in the dangerous state.

The control method may further include automatically selectively switching an operation mode of the cradle device into the one of the plurality of adjustment modes according to a changed movement state when the movement state of the user is changed and adjusting the slope of the supporter according to the switched mode.

The control method may further include imaging the user, receiving an acoustic signal, determining a state of the user based on the imaging and the acoustic signal, and transmitting a notifying signal to an external apparatus when the state of the user meets a preset condition.

Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept also provide a cradle device including a supporter, a plurality of pressure sensors to determine a pressure exerted on the supporter, at least one tilt adjuster to adjust a slope of the supporter, and a controller to control the at least one tilt adjuster to adjust the slope of the supporter according to an input received from the plurality of pressure sensors regarding the determined pressure.

The controller may determine at least one of a location and orientation of an object on the supporter based on the input of the plurality of pressure sensors.

The controller may adjust the slope of the supporter to maintain the object at a central location on the supporter.

The cradle device may further include a speaker. The controller may control the speaker to output an audible notification based on the determined movement state.

The controller may change at least one of a time interval of input from the plurality of pressure sensors, a tilt adjustment time, and a tilt adjustment speed based on the determined location or orientation of the object.

The controller may control the at least one tilt adjuster based on the determined location or orientation of the object to maintain the supporter in a level orientation.

At least one of the plurality of tilt adjusters may include an elastic member to maintain contact between the at least one tilt adjuster and a floor surface under the supporter.

The controller may adjust the slope of the supporter back to an original position after a preset time.

The at least one tilt adjuster may be configured to increase or decrease its length to adjust the slope of the supporter.

The controller may not adjust the slope of the supporter if a pressure determined by the plurality of pressure sensors exceeds a predetermined threshold.

The controller may determine at least one of a height and a weight of a user on the supporter based on the output of the plurality of pressure sensors.

The controller may determine a motion of an object on the supporter based on the input of the plurality of pressure sensors. The controller may set one of a plurality of operation modes based on the determined motion.

The cradle device may further include an imaging unit to capture an image of an object on the supporter. The controller may determine an orientation of the object based on the captured image.

The object may be a user on the supporter. The controller may determine an orientation of the user based on facial recognition of the captured image.

The controller may determine a posture of a user on the supporter based on the input of the plurality of pressure sensors. The controller may control the at least one tilt adjuster to adjust the slope of the supporter based on the determined posture.

At least one of the plurality of tilt adjusters may adjust a local slope of a location on the supporter independently of the slope of the supporter by deforming the location relative to the supporter.

The controller may determine a motion of an object on the supporter based on the input of the plurality of pressure sensors. The controller may control the at least one tilt adjuster to adjust the local slope of the location on the supporter based on the determined motion of the object.

The controller may determine whether a user on the supporter is in a dangerous position based on the output of the plurality of pressure sensors. The controller may control at least one of the tilt adjusters to vibrate the supporter if it is determined that the user is in a dangerous position.

Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide a support device, including a supporter to support a load, a plurality of pressure sensors to determine a pressure exerted on the supporter by the load, at least one tilt adjuster to adjust a slope of the supporter, and a controller to control the at least one tilt adjuster to adjust the slope of the supporter according to an input received from the plurality of pressure sensors according to the determined pressure exerted on the supporter.

Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept also provide a control method of a support device, the control method including receiving input from a plurality of pressure sensors to determine pressure positions exerted on a supporter of the support device, and adjusting a slope of the supporter according to the determined exerted pressure positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cradle device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of an operation of a cradle device;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views illustrating various examples of a tilt adjuster according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 5 illustrates tilt adjusters dispersedly disposed in a bottom of a supporter and causing local shape deformation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating another example of an outer appearance configuration of a cradle device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating various examples of a shape of the supporter and an arrangement location of a pressure sensor according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept;

FIGS. 8 to 10 are views illustrating a method of determining a movement state of a user according to an output pattern of a pressure sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cradle device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a configuration of a cradle device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

FIGS. 13 and 14 are flowcharts illustrating control methods of a cradle device according to various exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept while referring to the figures.

The matters defined in the description, such as detailed construction and elements, are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept. Thus, it is apparent that the exemplary embodiments can be carried out without those specifically defined matters. Also, functions or elements known in the related art are not described in detail since they would obscure the exemplary embodiments with unnecessary detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cradle device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to FIG. 1, a cradle device 100 includes a supporter 110, a plurality of pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-n, a plurality of tilt adjusters 130-1 and 130-2, and a controller 140.

The supporter 110 is a component configured to support a body of a user. For the purposes of this exemplary embodiment, the user is a baby to be laid in the cradle device 100. Hereinafter, description will be made based on a cradle device 100 used for human beings, but the cradle device 100 may be implemented with a device used for animals or objects other than the human beings.

The plurality of pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-n are provided in a bottom the supporter 110. Each of the plurality of pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-n may be implemented with a piezoelectric pressure sensor, a strain gauge pressure sensor, a capacitive pressure sensor, or the like. A piezoelectric pressure sensor is a sensor using a piezoelectric body in which a voltage is induced in application of force, configured to calculate a pressure value according to a voltage value induced in a piezoelectric body. A strain gauge pressure sensor is a sensor using a strain gauge in which a resistance value is changed in application of tensile force or compressive force, configured to calculate a pressure value according to a resistance value of a strain gauge. The strain gauge may be implemented in a wire or spring form. A capacitive pressure sensor is a sensor using two electrodes configured to sense capacitive change according to a distance between the two electrodes, which is changed in application of pressure and calculate a pressure value. Each of the pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-n may be implemented with the above-described various types of sensors.

The plurality of tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-2 are components configured to adjust the slope of the supporter 110. FIG. 1 illustrates two tilt adjusters 130-1 and 130-2, but the number of tilt adjusters 130, and an arrangement location, a shape, and a driving principle of each tilt adjuster 130 may be variously implemented according to embodiments of the present general inventive concept. The tilt adjusters will be described in detail later.

The controller 140 may determine a movement state of the user in the supporter 110 based on pressure values output from the plurality of pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-n. That is, when the user is located in the supporter 110, since pressures are sensed in pressure sensors 120 disposed at a corresponding location and pressures are not sensed in other pressure sensors 120, the controller 140 may determine a location of the user based on the locations of the pressure sensors 120 in which the pressures are sensed. Further, when the user is lying in the supporter 110, values of the pressure sensors 120 in which the pressures are sensed are uniformly output in a certain range. However, when the user applies force in one direction to turn over or tries to stand upright in the supporter 110, values of some pressure sensors 120 among the pressure sensors 120 in which the pressures are sensed may be output as relatively large values. The controller 140 may compare the values of the pressure sensors 120 to analyze output patterns and determine a movement state of the user according to the output patterns.

When the movement state is determined, the controller 140 controls the tilt adjusters 130-1 and 130-2 to adjust the scope of the supporter 110 based on the movement state.

The method of adjusting the slope according to the movement state may be variously implemented according to embodiments of the present general inventive concept.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the controller 140 may control the tilt adjusters 130-1 and 130-2 to adjust the slope to a direction to assist the movement of the user. For example, when it is determined that the user is trying to turn over in one direction, the controller 140 may control the tilt adjusters 130-1 and 130-2 to tilt the supporter 110 to the one direction. Accordingly, the turning-over of the user may be easily performed to meet the instinct of the user to try to turn over. After the turning-over is performed, the controller 140 may control the tilt adjusters 130-1 and 130-2 to restore the slope as an original state.

Further, when it is determined that the user is trying to stand upright from a state in which the user lies on his/her back, the controller 140 may adjust the slope of the supporter 110 so that the user easily stands upright. When it is determined that the user is standing upright, the controller 140 may control the tilt adjusters 130-1 and 130-2 to restore the slope to the original state.

Accordingly, the user may feel interested in a behavior such as turning over or standing up and thus may consistently attempt the behavior. Therefore, the progress of development of the user may be promoted.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the controller 140 may adjust the slope of the supporter 110 so that the user turns over to return to an original state in which the user lies on a his/her back, when it is determined that the turning-over may not be performed again for a preset period of time after the user turns over from the original state. Accordingly, the danger of suffocation due to covering of the user's face with a blanket or a floor surface may be prevented without limiting the user's instinct to turn over.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the controller 140 may be implemented to tilt the supporter 110 so that the user slides to a central location of the supporter 110 when it is determined that the location of the user is biased to one side of the supporter 110.

As described above, the controller 140 may adjust the slope of the supporter 110 through various methods.

FIG. 2 illustrates an operation of a cradle device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. The cradle device 100 may generally include various configurations for safety of the user such as a railing, a mattress, and a cushion, but for clarity, only a supporter 110 and tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-4 are illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the supporter 110 has a rectangular plate shape and the tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-4 have pillar shapes disposed at corners of the supporter 110 in the present exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, but the shapes, locations, and the number of the supporter 110 and the tilt adjusters 130 may be variously implemented. The example for the supporter 110 and the tilt adjusters 130 will be described later.

As illustrated in view (a) of FIG. 2, when the user tries to turn over to an X direction in a state in which the user lies in a center location of the supporter 110, the controller 140 may control the first and second tilt adjusters 130-1 and 130-2 disposed in an edge of the supporter 110 at an (I) side opposite to the X direction to which the user is to turn over and lifts up the (I) side edge of the supporter 110.

Therefore, as illustrated in view (b) of FIG. 2, the slope of the supporter 110 is adjusted so that a height of an (III) side edge of the supporter 110 is lower than that of the (I) side edge of the supporter 110. The user may turn over to the X direction more easily using the adjusted slope.

FIG. 2 illustrates that since the user lies to a direction parallel to the (I) side edge and the (III) side edge, the first and second tilt adjusters 130-1 and 130-2 extend to the same height and the (I) side edge of the supporter 110 is lifted up. However, when the user lies diagonally (not illustrated), the controller 140 may extend only one of the tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-4 to lift up only one corner. FIG. 2 illustrates extending a length of each of the relevant tilt adjusters 130 and lifting up a corresponding corner of the supporter 110. However, according to the structure of the tilt adjusters 130, the length of the relevant tilt adjusters 130 may be reduced to pull down the supporter 110.

As described above, when some of the tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-4 extend or are reduced, there may be a risk of damage at connection parts between the remaining tilt adjusters 130 and the supporter 110 and a risk of swinging the cradle device 100 due to separation between the floor surface of the tilt adjusters 130. By considering the points, an elastic member (not illustrated) such as a spring or rubber may be connected between the tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-4 and the supporter 110. Accordingly, even when one corner or one side edge of the supporter 110 is lifted up or pulled down, the supporter 110 does not shake and may be supported by the floor surface. Although not illustrated in the following exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the elastic member may be disposed between each of the tilt adjuster 130 and supporter 110 or between the tilt adjuster 130 and the bottom surface of the supporter 110.

The tilt adjuster 130 may be implemented with various shapes. Specifically, the plurality of tilt adjusters 130 may be dispersedly disposed in an edge of the bottom of the supporter 110.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a tilt adjuster 130 applied to the cradle device 100. Referring to FIG. 3, one tilt adjuster 130 may be implemented with a scissors-shaped lift device.

Specifically, the tilt adjuster 130 may include an actuator 135 including a support part 131, a lifting part 132, a fixing part 133, and a moving part 134, and a driver 136. The lifting part 132 includes two steel structures connected in a scissors form. Therefore, when a distance between the fixing part 133 and the moving part 134 is reduced, the lifting part 132 is unfolded to lift up the support part 131. When the distance between the fixing part 133 and the moving part 134 is increased, the lifting part 132 is restored to an original state again. The driver 136 includes a motor configured to push the moving part 134 toward the fixing part 133 according to control of the controller 140. The fixing part 133 is fixedly attached to the floor surface or other structures and functions to support force applied when the moving part 134 is approached.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example of the tilt adjuster 130 applied to the cradle device 100. Referring to FIG. 4, the tilt adjuster 130 may be implemented with a spiral lift device.

Specifically, the tilt adjuster 130 may include an actuator 233 including a support part 231 and a lifting part 232, and a driver 234.

The lifting part 232 has a spiral structure and one end of the lifting part 232 is fixed to the support part 231 and the other end thereof is fixed to a motor shaft in the driver 234. The driver 234 may be implemented with a rotary motor. The driver 234 lifts up the support part 231 while the lifting part 232 connected to the rotary shaft rotates when the driver 234 rotates the motor shaft according to a control signal of the controller 140.

As described above, the tilt adjuster 130 may be implemented in various shapes and extend or be reduced to adjust the slope of the supporter 110,

Further, the tilt adjuster 130 may be implemented in a spring motor pillar shape. When the tilt adjuster 130 is implemented with the spring motor pillar shape, the tilt adjuster 130 may be implemented integrally with the pressure sensor 120.

The above-described exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept has described that the tilt adjuster 130 may adjust the slope of the entire supporter 110, but the slope of the supporter 110 may also be locally adjusted, as described below in reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 illustrates a configuration of a tilt adjuster 130 and a supporter 110 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring to view (a) of FIG. 5, tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-m may be totally dispersedly disposed on a bottom of the supporter 110. The supporter 110 may include a flexible material. Specifically, the supporter 110 may be implemented with a mattress formed of latex and fabric.

A shape of the supporter 110 may be deformed to locally protrude by the extending tilt 130 adjusters when some of the tilt adjusters 130 disposed on the bottom of the supporter 110 extend.

View (b) of FIG. 5 illustrates the situation that two tilt adjusters 130 disposed in a portion of the supporter 110 other than an edge thereof among the plurality of tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-m extend and two corresponding regions S1 and S2 of the supporter 110 are locally lifted up by the extension so that slopes in the two regions S1 and S2 to a surrounding region are formed.

According to the FIG. 5, the controller 140 may assist the movement of the user not by tilting the entire supporter 110 but by causing the location on which the user is laying to locally lift up or depress.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 illustrate that the tilt adjuster 130 has an elongated bar shape such as legs of a desk, but the tilt adjuster 130 may be implemented with a flat piezoelectric actuator disposed between the supporter 110 and the floor surface. Specifically, the tilt adjuster may be implemented in various types such as a unimorph type and a bimorph type.

The unimorph type has a structure in which one piezoelectric layer is stacked on a disc-like metal layer. In the unimorph piezoelectric body, when a driving signal of a first polarity having a large potential is applied to the piezoelectric layer, the piezoelectric layer is expanded. Therefore, the tilt adjuster 130 may be deformed in a shape in which a central region thereof lifts up upwards and an edge region thereof depresses downwards. Therefore, the tilt adjuster 130 may lift up the supporter 110. When the driving signal of a second polarity having a small potential is applied to the piezoelectric layer, the piezoelectric layer is reduced and the tilt adjuster 130 is deformed to an opposite direction to pull down the supporter 110.

The bimorph type has a structure in which two piezoelectric layers are sequentially stacked. An upper piezoelectric layer and a lower piezoelectric layer have characteristics that the upper and lower piezoelectric layers extend when the driving signal having the first polarity is applied and are reduced when the driving signal having the second polarity opposite to the first polarity is applied. The first polarity may be a positive (+) polarity, the second polarity may be a negative (−) polarity, and the driving signal may be a voltage waveform. Therefore, the piezoelectric layers are bent upwards or downwards according to the polarity of the driving signal and thus the supporter 110 may be lifted up or pulled down.

The above-described exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept illustrate the supporter 110 with a plate shape, but the shape of the supporter 110 may be variously implemented.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating another outer appearance configuration of a cradle device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to FIG. 6, a cradle device 100 includes a base plate 111, a supporter 110 disposed on the base plate 111, and a plurality of tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-7 configured to connect the base plate 111 and the supporter 110.

The plurality of tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-7 may be connected to a side of the supporter 110. The tilt adjuster may be implemented in the various shapes as described above to adjust the slope of the supporter 110 according to control of the controller 140.

One end or both ends of each of the tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-7 may be formed of an elastic member such as a spring or rubber. Therefore, when the tilt adjuster 130 is driven to tilt the supporter 110, the elastic member may expand or be reduced to support the supporter 110 in connection with the tilt adjusters 130.

FIG. 6 illustrates that the supporter 110 has a semi-circular cross-section, but the supporter 110 may be implemented that a separate plate is provided in an inside thereof and the user lies on the plate.

As described above, the shape of the supporter 110 and an arrangement location of the pressure sensor 120 may be variously implemented.

FIG. 7 illustrates examples of a shape of the supporter 110 and an arrangement location of a pressure sensor 120 according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept.

View (a) of FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which the supporter 110 is implanted in a rectangular plate and view (b) and FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which the supporter 110 is implemented in a circular plate.

When the supporter 110 is implemented with the rectangular plate shape as illustrated in view (a) of FIG. 7, pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-n may be disposed on a bottom of the supporter 110 in a matrix form.

When the supporter 110 is implemented in the circular plate as illustrated in view (b) of FIG. 7, the pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-n are densely disposed in a central portion thereof and appropriately disposed in an edge region thereof according to a curvature thereof.

For safety of the user, the pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-n may be embedded in the supporter 110 so as not to expose a floor surface of the supporter 110.

FIGS. 8 to 10 are views illustrating a method of determining a movement state of a user according to output patterns of pressure sensors according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept.

First, FIG. 8 illustrates a method of determining the user's attempt to turn over. As illustrated in view (a) of FIG. 8, when the user is placed on the supporter 110, pressure values are sensed in pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-10 located below the user.

The controller 140 determines a location and a size of the user based on the locations of the pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-10 sensing the pressure values. When the user lies still, the pressure values sensed in the pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-10 are relatively uniformly distributed and are not largely changed from initial pressure values. As illustrated in view (a) of FIG. 8, when the pressure values of the pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-10 are uniformly distributed and the change in the pressure values is within a preset threshold range as compared with pressure values in an initial state, the controller 140 determines that the user is in a stable state or a sleeping state. The manager (or guardian) may set a lying direction when laying the user on the supporter 100. For example, in FIG. 8, when it is assumed that a head of the user is placed to a +Y axis direction and legs of the user are placed to a −Y axis direction according to the Y-axis indicated in FIG. 8, the manager may input the directions.

When the user tries to turn over to a −X direction in this state, the user generally turns over while the user supports his/her body using his/her lower body. Therefore, large pressure is sensed in the pressure sensor 120-9 corresponding to the user's lower body. Further, while the user tries to turn over to the −X axis direction, a weight is shifted to the −X axis direction. Therefore, the weight is leaned to the pressure sensors 120-2 and 120-5 in the −X axis direction.

Referring to view (b) of FIG. 8, the controller 140 may analyze output patterns of the pressure sensors 120 in a region in which the user is located and determine that the user tries to turn over to the −X direction when the relative large pressures are sensed in a pressure sensor 120 in the −X is direction and a pressure sensor 120 in the lower body. The output patterns as a determination criterion may be measured and stored in advance through repetitive experiments. That is, when the experiments are repeatedly performed on users having various weights or sizes and output patterns of the pressure sensors 120 are statistically recorded, accuracy in determination of the controller 140 may be greatly improved. Statistic data may be used as data in a movement determination process to be described later.

As illustrated in view (b) of FIG. 8, when it is determined that the user tries to turn over to the −X direction, the controller 140 may adjust the slope through various methods according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept. For example, the controller 140 may control the tilt adjuster 130 to lift up a (IV) side edge of the supporter 110 in order to help a turning-over attempt of the user.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a method of determining standing-up of the user. Before trying to stand upright, the user has to erect his/her body using both arms and both legs. As illustrated in FIG. 9, pressures may be sensed in the pressure sensors 120-1, 120-2, 120-3, and 120-4 at locations spaced apart among all the pressure sensors 120 and pressure values of the pressure sensors 120-3 and 120-4 corresponding to the lower body of the user to which a weight is leaning more largely sensed. As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the increased pressures are sensed at pressure sensors 120-3 and 120-4, the controller 140 lifts up a corresponding side edge (I) of the supporter 110. Therefore, the user may stand upright more easily due to the slope of the supporter 110 itself.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a method of determining a case in which the user crawls in a state in which the user lies on his/her face or a case in which the user moves in a way to push against a floor using the lower body in a state in which the user lies straight. When there is location movement of the user, the center of gravity is shifted to one side in the cradle device 100 having a large height and thus there may be a danger of turn-over of the cradle device 100 even by a light external shock. Therefore, the cradle device 100 may adjust the slope of the supporter 110 so that the user returns to the original location or the user may not move the edge of the supporter 110.

Referring to view (a) of FIG. 10, pressures are sensed in pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-10 and pressures having relatively large values are sensed in the sensors 120-8 and 120-10 disposed in locations corresponding to the lower body among the pressure sensors 120-1 to 120-10. Since in this exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept the user is a little baby having weak force in the upper body, the user generally uses the lower body to move. Further, since the lower body is used, a movement direction is a head direction of the user. Therefore, when the user moves, as illustrated in view (b) of FIG. 10, the pressure sensors 120-11, 120-12, and 120-13 of the (I) side edge output new pressure values and the pressure sensors 120-8, 120-9, and 120-10 do not sense the pressure values.

As described above, when the locations of the pressure sensors 120 in which the pressures are sensed are changed and the large pressure values are consistently sensed in the lower body-side pressure sensors 120, the controller 140 may determine that the user is in a moving state. Therefore, the controller 140 may lift up the (I) side edge of the supporter 110 so that the user returns to an original location or the user may not move to an edge direction any further and thus the user is protected.

There is a case in which the manager (or guardian) puts his/her hands on the supporter 110 in which the manager (or guardian) climbs on the supporter 110 in order to lifts the user in his/her arms, to change the user's diaper, or to feed the user milk. In this case, pressure values measured in pressure sensors 120 disposed in a location on which the manager lies her/his hands may be estimated as a value much greater than pressure values of pressure sensors 120 corresponding to the location of the user. Therefore, when a pressure value greater than the pressure value measured in an initial state by a preset range or more is detected, the pressure values may be excluded in a movement determination process. Accordingly, malfunction may be prevented.

As described above, an adjustment method of the supporter 110 may be variously implemented. The adjustment method may be set suitably for growth development of the user.

That is, according to the statistics, one-month-old infants may trace moving objects with their eyes or response to sounds. Three-month-old babies may hold their heads up and raise their heads and shoulders when the babies are lying on their fronts, and five-month-old babies may turn over. The seven-month-old babies start to crawl, the eight-month-old babies may stand up with their hands catching an object, and nine-month-old babies may crawl with knees and sit by themselves. Eleven-month-old babies may even be walking. Therefore, there is unnecessary to determine turning-over or standing-up with respect to the babies below 5 months old. Further, the cradle device 100 may malfunction when physical conditions of the users are different from each other even in case of the same-month-old users.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the cradle device 100 may be implemented so that the manager sets the initial condition.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a cradle device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to FIG. 11, the cradle device 100 may further include an input unit 150 and a storage unit 160 in addition to the elements illustrated in FIG. 1, including a supporter 110, a pressure sensor 120, a tilt adjustment 130, and the controller 140.

The input unit 150 may be implemented with various kinds of keys provided in a main body of the cradle device 100, a touch pad, a touch screen, or the like. The manager may input an initial condition. The initial condition information input through the input unit 150 is stored in the storage unit 160.

The storage unit 160 may store various kinds of programs or data required to drive the cradle device 100. The controller 140 may perform the above described movement determination operation and control operation using the programs and data stored in the storage unit 160.

The initial condition may include at least one selected from the group consisting of an age of the user, a physical characteristic of the user, a head direction toward which a head of the user is directed in the supporter 110, a facial direction toward which a face of the user is directed, a pressure measurement cycle, a degree of tilt adjustment, a tilt adjustment speed, and a tilt adjustment time.

The pressure measurement cycle denotes a time period to measure pressure using the pressure sensor 120, and the degree of tilt adjustment denotes a tilting angle, a lift-up distance or a pull-down distance for tilt adjustment, or the like. The tilt adjustment speed denotes a speed to tilt the supporter 110 and restore the supporter 110 to an original state again, and the tilt adjustment time denotes a time required until restoring the supporter 110 to the original state again after tilting the supporter 110. When the age of the user is small, the tilt adjustment speed may be set to be small and when the age of the user is large, the tilt adjustment speed may be set to be large. In addition, a current growth development of the user may be input to the initial condition. That is, the manager may lay the user on the supporter 110 and input whether the user is in a sleeping state or a stable state, whether or not the user tries to stand upright, or whether or not the user tries to turn over.

Among the initial conditions, remaining conditions other than the head direction or facial direction of the user may be directly measured or be set to a default value through the controller 140. For example, the physical characteristic of the user may include a height, a weight, and the like. As described above, when the user is placed in the supporter 110, since pressure values output from the pressure sensors 120 below the user are changed, the controller 140 may calculate the height of the user and measure the weight of the user through analysis of the pressure values. Further, the controller 140 may automatically set an age of the user using the measured height or weight, and set the degree of tilt adjustment, the tilt adjustment speed, the pressure measurement cycle, and the like by applying a growth development state of the user.

The manager may arbitrarily select an operation mode of the cradle device 100. That is, the controller 140 may operate in a normal mode and an adjustment mode.

The normal mode is a mode used like an existing cradle device. In the normal mode, the controller 140 does not determine the movement state of the user and maintains the flat state of the supporter 110 regardless of the user's movement state.

In the adjustment mode, the controller 140 may adjust the slope of the supporter 110 according to the movement state of the user.

The controller 140 operates a mode selected by the manager among the normal mode and the adjustment mode. The adjustment mode may be divided into a plurality of modes. For example, the controller 140 may operate at least one adjustment mode among a stability maintenance mode to adjust a slope of the supporter 110 in a pattern configured to maintain a state of the user when the user is in a sleeping state or in a stable state, a first assistant mode to adjust the slope of the supporter 110 to a direction to assist a turning-over attempt when the user tries to turn over, a second assistant mode to adjust the slope of the supporter 110 to a direction to assist a standing-up attempt when the user tries to stand upright, an anxiety relief mode to adjust the slope of the supporter 110 in a pattern configured to relieve an unstable state when the user is in the unstable state, and a danger elimination mode to adjust the slope of the supporter 110 to a direction to eliminate a dangerous state when the user is in the dangerous state.

The stability maintenance mode is a mode to maintain the sleeping state or the stable state of the user by lightly swinging the supporter 110 through slope adjustment in a pattern configured to alternately performing lift-up or pull-down to a horizontal direction or a vertical direction on the basis of a lying direction of the user when the user is in the sleeping state or in the stable state.

The first assist mode is a mode to adjust the slope of the supporter 110 to a direction to assist easy turning-over when the user tries to turn over as illustrated in FIG. 8 and the second assist mode is a mode to assist in standing-up of the user as illustrated in FIG. 9. The anxiety relief mode is a mode to swing the supporter 110 faster and larger as compared with the stability maintenance mode to relieve the user when the user cries bitterly or rolls over. The danger elimination mode is a mode to adjust the slope of the supporter 110 to restore the user to an original state or an original location or not to allow the user to move any more at a current location in a dangerous state in which the user maintains a turning-over for a long time or the user moves to an edge portion of the cradle device 100.

The controller 140 may automatically select any one of the plurality of adjustment modes described above according to the initial condition input by the manager, or the manager may directly manually select any one of the plurality of adjustment modes. The controller 140 may be automatically switched to any one of the plurality of adjustment modes according to a changed movement state when the movement state of the user is changed while operating as the one of the above-described adjustment modes.

That is, in a state in which the manager initially set the operation mode to the stability maintenance mode, when the user awakes from sleep and is crying, the controller may be automatically switched to the anxiety relief mode to smooth the crying user. Alternatively, when the user tries to turn over or stand upright, the controller 140 may be automatically switched to the first assist mode or the second assist mode and when the user is in the dangerous state, the controller 140 may be switched to the danger elimination mode.

The conditions such as the pressure measurement cycle, the degree of tilt adjustment, the tilt adjustment speed, and the tilt adjustment time may be set differently according to the state of the user.

For example, the pressure measurement cycle may be set to a first value when the user is in the sleeping or stable state, to a second value when the user is in the standing-up attempt state, to a third value when the user is in the turning-over attempt state. Further, the tilt adjustment time may be set to a first value when the user is in the sleeping or stable state, to a second value when the user is in the standing-up attempt state, to a third value when the user is in the turning-over attempt state.

At this time, in the sleeping or stable state, the pressure is measured at a first time interval δ1, and the operation mode is maintained or switched according to the pressure measurement result. On the other hand, in the standing-up attempt state or the turning-over attempt state, the pressure may be measured to a second or third time interval δ2 or δ3. The tilt adjustment time or the tilt adjustment speed may be set to be different according to the state of the user as described above. When the state of the user is changed, the controller 140 controls the tilt adjuster 130 to adjust the slope to a condition corresponding to the changed state.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a configuration of a cradle device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to FIG. 12, a cradle device 100 may further include an imaging unit 170, a communication unit 180, and a microphone 185 in addition to the components illustrated in FIG. 1 or FIG. 11. Further, referring to FIG. 12, the cradle device 100 includes a housing 190 on which a supporter 110, tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-4, and the like are mounted and housing supporters 191-1 to 191-4 configured to support the housing 190. Although not illustrated in FIG. 12, the tilt adjusters 130-1 to 130-4 may be disposed between the supporter 110 and a floor surface of the housing 190 to adjust a slope of the supporter 110 based on the floor surface. A railing provided in the housing 190 may be closed or opened by the manager.

The imaging unit 170 is a component configured to image the user. The imaging unit 170 may be installed in the housing 190. The controller 140 may analyze the imaged image to determine a state of the user. Specifically, the imaging unit 170 may consistently perform the imaging every several ms or every several seconds and provide a plurality of imaged images to the controller 140. The controller 140 may divide each of the images into pixel block units to confirm a representative pixel value of each pixel block. When the representative pixel values of a range similar to a facial color of the user are consecutively present as a confirmation result, the controller 140 may recognize pixel blocks having the representative pixel value as a facial portion of the user.

When the facial portion of the user is recognized, the controller 140 may monitor a direction toward which the face of the user is directed by continually tracking the facial portion in the images imaged after the face recognition. When the facial portion is not recognized, the controller 140 may determine that the face of the user is directed toward a floor surface of the supporter 110 and recognize a current state to a dangerous state.

The microphone 185 is a component configured to receive an acoustic signal. That is, the microphone 185 senses various sounds generated around the cradle device 100 such as crying sound or babbling sound of the user.

The communication unit 180 is a component configured to communicate with an external apparatus 300. The communication unit 180 may perform communication according to various communication methods such as wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Zigbee, and institute of electrical and electronic engineers (IEEE). The external apparatus 300 may be a portable apparatus such as a portable phone, a tablet personal computer (PC), or a personal digital assistant (PDA) possessed by the manager. The external apparatus 300 may be a fixed type apparatus such as a server apparatus or a television (TV). When the cradle device 100 is connected to a home network, the external apparatus 300 may be implemented with a home server apparatus.

The controller 140 recognizes the state of the user based on the image imaged in the imaging unit 170 and the acoustic signal input from the microphone 185 and controls the communication unit 180 to transmit a notifying signal to the external apparatus 300 when the state of the user meets a preset condition.

Here, the preset condition may be a condition in which the facial portion of the user is not sensed for a predetermined period of time, a condition in which the user moves to a dangerous location, a condition in which the acoustic sound of the user having a preset magnitude or more is input for a preset period of time or more, and a condition in which an object other than the user is sensed in the supporter 110.

For example, when the user does not return to the original state for a constant period of time after turning-over once, the controller 140 may provide alarm sound, a vibration signal, or the like to the external apparatus 300. At this time, a menu such as a status view may be displayed in a display screen provided in the external apparatus 300. When the manager presses the menu, the external apparatus 300 may transmit an imaging command to the controller 140 and the controller 140 may control the imaging unit 170 according to the imaging command to image the user and transmit an imaging image to the external apparatus 300. Accordingly, the manager may confirm the state of the user substantially in real time. The operation of the external apparatus 300 may be performed according to execution of an application installed in the external apparatus 300.

The components such as the imaging unit 170 or the microphone 185 may not have to be fabricated integrally with the cradle device 100. That is, the imaging unit 170 or the microphone 185 may be disposed in a ceiling portion over the supporter 110 and may be implemented in a shape such as a mobile or a toy.

Although not shown in FIG. 12, the cradle device 100 may further include a speaker. The controller 140 may control the speaker to output a notifying sound when it is determined that the user is placed in a dangerous state. Further, the controller 140 may control the tilt adjuster 130 to provide vibration.

The imaging unit 170 may be always activated and operate. The imaging unit 170 may be selectively activated by the controller 140. Specifically, the controller 140 first controls the tilt adjuster 130 to adjust the slope and try to assist the return of the user to the original state when the user does not return to the original state after performing turning-over and then, the controller 140 may activate the imaging unit 170 to image the state of the user when the user does not return to the original state even after adjusting the slope in this manner.

In other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the controller 140 may transmit the imaged image imaged in the imaging unit 170 to the external apparatus 300 as it is. That is, when transmission request is received from the external apparatus 300 or when an abnormal state of the user is sensed, the controller 140 may control the imaging unit 170 or the microphone 185 to perform imaging and recording on the user and transmit the resulting data to the external apparatus 300 through the communication unit 180.

As described above, the cradle device 100 may be implemented in various shapes to guarantee safety of the user and promote growth development status.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a cradle device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to FIG. 13, the cradle device 100 analyzes output patterns of the plurality pressure sensors to determine movement of the user (operation S1310). The method of analyzing the output patterns and the method of determining the movement according to the analysis result have been described in FIGS. 8 to 10 and thus the detailed description will be omitted.

The cradle device 100 adjusts a slope of the supporter 110 according to the determined movement (operation S1320). The slope may be totally or locally adjusted according to characteristics of the supporter 110 or the tilt adjuster 130. The structure and operation method of the supporter 110 or the tilt adjuster 130 may have been described above and thus detailed description will be omitted.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a cradle device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to FIG. 14, the cradle device 100 selects a mode according to a selection of the manager (operation S1410). As described above, the mode may include a normal mode and various adjustment modes.

In operation 1420, the controller 140 of the cradle device 100 determines whether an adjustment mode is selected. Here, when it is determined that the normal mode is selected (operation 1420-N), the cradle device 100 operates as the normal mode to maintain a flat state of the supporter 110 without separate adjustment (operation S1430).

When it is determined that the adjustment mode is selected (operation S1420-Y), the cradle device 100 receives and stores an initial condition (operation S1440). The initial condition may include information regarding characteristics of the user, an operation option of the cradle device 100, and the like.

When the storage of the initial condition is completed, the cradle device 100 activates the pressure sensors 120 (operation S1450). Accordingly, when the pressure measurement values are input from the pressure sensors 120, the cradle device 100 analyzes the pressure measurement values to determine a movement state of the user (operation S1460). Then, the cradle device 100 adjusts the slope of the supporter 110 according to the movement state and restores the slope of the supporter 110 to an original state (operation S1470).

On the other hand, the cradle device 100 may determine the state of the user based on sensing values of the pressure sensors, an input value input by the manager, an imaged image, an acoustic signal, and the like. That is, the cradle device 100 may determine whether the user is in a sleeping or stable state, in an unstable state in which the user is crying or whining, in a turning-over or standing-up attempt state, in a dangerous state, or the like. When it is determined from the determination result that the state of the user is changed to other states different from the current operation mode (operation S1480-Y), the cradle device 100 changes the current operation mode to an adjustment mode corresponding to the changed state of the user (operation S1500), and performs operations such as pressure measurement, measurement value analysis, and tilt adjustment (operations S1460 and S1470). When the state of the user is not changed (operation S1480-N), the cradle device 100 repeatedly performs the above-described operations using the setting values of the current operation mode as it is so long as the control method is not determined to be completed (operation S1490-N).

The cradle device 100 may continuously monitor the state of the user as described above and care for the user until use of the cradle device 100 is completed (operation S1490-Y), at which point the control method ends.

According to the above-described exemplary embodiments, the cradle device variously adjusts a slope of the supporter according to movement of the user to assist the movement of the user. Therefore, the cradle device may prompts growth and development while promoting safety of the user.

The above-described various exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept have described based on the cradle device 100 in which the user is a human being such as a baby, but the cradle device 100 may be implemented in a protection apparatus type to protect animals other than the human beings. Further, the cradle device 100 may be implemented in a storage device type to store explosives or objects having a high risk of breakage.

The above-described exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept are directed to situations in which the user is an infant, but the present general inventive concept is not limited to this situation. Similar exemplary embodiments as above can also be used for example when the user is an adult with disabilities, who may need assistance to roll over or stand up. The present general inventive concept may also be applied to a seating surface such as a chair, for example moving the chair's orientation to complement or correct the user's posture. The present general inventive concept may also be applied to control the orientation of a surface such as a table based on an input from a pressure sensor, for example to keep the surface level even when it is not evenly loaded. A similar input could also be used to control the texture of a surface based on local deformation similar to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, for example to keep objects on the surface from rolling off.

The present general inventive concept can also be embodied as computer-readable codes on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium can include a computer-readable recording medium and a computer-readable transmission medium. The computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data as a program which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a semiconductor memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a USB memory, a memory card, a Blu-Ray disc, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer-readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. The computer-readable transmission medium can transmit carrier waves or signals (e.g., wired or wireless data transmission through the Internet). Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments to accomplish the present general inventive concept can be easily construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the present general inventive concept pertains.

The foregoing exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present inventive concept. The exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept can be readily applied to other types of devices. Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A cradle device comprising:

a supporter;

a plurality of pressure sensors provided in a bottom of the supporter;

a plurality of tilt adjusters configured to adjust a slope of the supporter; and

a controller configured to analyze output patterns of the plurality of pressure sensors to determine a movement state of a user on the supporter and to control the plurality of tilt adjusters to adjust the slope of the supporter according to the determined movement state.

2. The cradle device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an input unit configured to receive an initial condition; and

a storage unit configured to store the initial condition received through the input unit,

wherein the controller controls the plurality of tilt adjusters to adjust the slope of the supporter according to the initial condition.

3. The cradle device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the initial condition includes at least one selected from the group consisting of an age of the user, a physical characteristic of the user, a head direction toward which a head of the user is directed, a facial direction toward which a face of the user is directed, a pressure measurement cycle, a degree of tilt adjustment, a tilt adjustment speed, and a tilt adjustment time.

4. The cradle device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller operates in a mode selected by a manager from among a normal mode configured to maintain the supporter in a flat state and a plurality of adjustment modes configured to adjust the slope of the supporter according to the movement state of the user, the plurality of adjustment modes including at least one selected from the group consisting of a stability maintenance mode to adjust the slope of the supporter in a pattern configured to maintain a state of the user when the user is in a sleeping state or a stable state, a first assistant mode to adjust the slope of the supporter to a direction to assist a turning-over attempt when the user tries to turn over, a second assistant mode to adjust the slope of the supporter to a direction to assist a standing-up attempt when the user tries to stand upright, an anxiety relief mode to adjust the slope of the supporter in a pattern configured to relieve an unstable state when the user is in the unstable state, and a danger elimination mode to adjust the slope of the supporter to a direction to eliminate a dangerous state when the user is in the dangerous state.

5. The cradle device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the controller is automatically switched into one of the plurality of adjustment modes according to a changed movement state when the movement state of the user is changed and controls the plurality of tilt adjusters to adjust the slope of the supporter according to the switched mode.

6. The cradle device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an imaging unit configured to image the user;

a microphone configured to receive an acoustic signal; and

a communication unit configured to communicate with an external apparatus,

wherein the controller is configured to recognize the state of the user based on an image imaged in the imaging unit and the acoustic signal received from the microphone and to control the communication unit to transmit a notifying signal to the external apparatus when the state of the user meets a preset condition.

7. The cradle device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of tilt adjusters are dispersedly disposed in an edge of the bottom of the supporter, each of the plurality of tilt adjusters comprising an actuator and a driver configured to extend or reduce the tilt adjuster by applying a driving signal to the actuator according to a control signal of the controller.

8. The cradle device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporter has a flexible characteristic,

wherein the plurality of tilt adjusters are dispersedly disposed in the entire bottom of the supporter and locally deform a shape of the supporter according to a control of the controller.

9. A control method of a cradle device, the control method comprising:

analyzing output patterns of a plurality of pressure sensors provided in a bottom of a supporter to determine a movement state of a user on the supporter; and

adjusting a slope of the supporter according to the determined movement state.

10. The control method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising storing an initial condition,

wherein the slope of the supporter is adjusted according to the initial condition.

11. The control method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the initial condition includes at least one selected from the group consisting of an age of the user, a physical characteristic of the user, a head direction toward which a head of the user is directed, a facial direction toward which a face of the user is directed, a pressure measurement cycle, a degree of tilt adjustment, a tilt adjustment speed, and a tilt adjustment time.

12. The control method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

receiving selection of one of a normal mode configured to maintain the supporter in a flat state and a plurality of adjustment modes configured to adjust the slope of the supporter according to the movement state of the user, the slope of the supporter being adjusted when one of the plurality of adjustment modes is selected, the plurality of adjustment modes including at least one selected from the group consisting of a stability maintenance mode to adjust the slope of the supporter in a pattern configured to maintain a state of the user when the user is in a sleeping state or a stable state, a first assistant mode to adjust the slope of the supporter to a direction to assist a turning-over attempt when the user tries to turn over, a second assistant mode to adjust the slope of the supporter to a direction to assist a standing-up attempt when the user tries to stand upright, an anxiety relief mode to adjust the slope of the supporter in a pattern configured to relieve an unstable state when the user is in the unstable state, and a danger elimination mode to adjust the slope of the supporter to a direction to eliminate a dangerous state when the user is in the dangerous state.

13. The control method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

automatically selectively switching an operation mode of the cradle device into the one of the plurality of adjustment modes according to a changed movement state when the movement state of the user is changed; and

adjusting the slope of the supporter according to the switched mode.

14. The control method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

imaging the user;

receiving an acoustic signal;

determining a state of the user based on the imaging and the acoustic signal; and

transmitting a notifying signal to an external apparatus when the state of the user meets a preset condition.

15. The cradle device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker,

wherein the controller controls the speaker to output an audible notification based on the determined movement state.

16. The cradle device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of tilt adjusters comprises an elastic member to maintain contact between the at least one tilt adjuster and a floor surface under the supporter.

17. The cradle device of claim 1, wherein the controller does not adjust the slope of the supporter if a pressure determined by the plurality of pressure sensors exceeds a predetermined threshold.

18. The cradle device of claim 1, wherein the controller determines at least one of a height and a weight of a user on the supporter based on the output of the plurality of pressure sensors.

19. The cradle device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of tilt adjusters adjusts a local slope of a location on the supporter independently of the slope of the supporter by deforming the location relative to the supporter.

20. The cradle device of claim 1, wherein the controller determines whether a user on the supporter is in a dangerous position based on the output of the plurality of pressure sensors,

wherein the controller controls at least one of the plurality of tilt adjusters to vibrate the supporter if it is determined that the user is in a dangerous position.