IP Verse

Automatic Electronic Air Pump

Patent No. US11084339 (titled "Automatic Electronic Air Pump") was filed by Torrx Inc on Dec 4, 2018.

What is this patent about?

’339 is related to the field of air pumps, specifically addressing the need for a portable and accurate device to inflate or deflate objects like sports balls. Traditional handheld pumps are slow and lack precision, often leading to over or under-inflation. This can negatively impact the performance of sports equipment and increase the risk of damage or injury. The patent aims to solve these problems by providing an electronic air pump with both manual and automatic modes.

The underlying idea behind ’339 is to use a microcontroller-controlled system to precisely regulate air pressure in an object. The pump incorporates a pressure sensor to measure the current pressure, and a solenoid valve and pump motor to control inflation and deflation. By integrating these components with a user interface, the device can automatically inflate or deflate an object to a user-defined target pressure, or allow for manual adjustment.

The claims of ’339 focus on a system comprising a processor and a non-transitory machine-readable medium containing instructions for controlling an electronic air pump. The instructions enable the pump to receive a target pressure, measure the current pressure, and then automatically inflate or deflate the object until the target pressure is reached. A key aspect is the averaging of multiple pressure samples to improve accuracy. The claims also cover the deflation process, including a waiting period after closing the solenoid valve to allow for pressure stabilization before taking a final measurement.

In practice, the electronic air pump operates in two modes: manual and automatic. In manual mode, the user controls the inflation or deflation using buttons, while the display shows the current pressure. In automatic mode, the user sets a target pressure, and the microcontroller takes over, activating the pump motor or solenoid valve as needed. The system uses a multivariate linear regression to estimate the pressure inside the object, compensating for pressure differences between the pump and the object during inflation or deflation.

The differentiation from prior approaches lies in the integration of electronic control and pressure sensing to achieve automated and precise inflation/deflation. Unlike simple manual pumps, this device actively monitors and adjusts the pressure. The use of a solenoid valve for deflation, combined with a pressure stabilization period, ensures accurate pressure readings. The dead front display and tactile input mechanisms also contribute to a user-friendly design, making it easier to set and monitor the pressure even in varying lighting conditions.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the mid-2010s when ’339 was filed, at a time when embedded systems commonly relied on microcontrollers to manage real-time tasks such as sensor readings and motor control. It was also a time when non-transitory computer-readable mediums were typically used for storing processor-executable instructions.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner approved the application because, after considering the applicant's arguments, the existing prior art did not teach or suggest the claimed subject matter.

Claims

This patent contains 19 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 6, and 12. The independent claims are generally directed to a system and a non-transitory computer-readable medium for controlling an electronic air pump to inflate or deflate an object to a target pressure. The dependent claims generally elaborate on specific features, components, or functionalities of the system and medium described in the independent claims.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Current air pressure
(Claim 1, Claim 6, Claim 12)		“Sports balls (such as basketballs, soccer ball, footballs, and the like) are the focal element in their sporting environment. Improperly inflated sports balls diminish the quality of a sports game leading to an unsatisfactory player experience, ball damage, or injury.”The air pressure of the object being measured by the electronic air pump.
Electronic air pump
(Claim 1, Claim 6, Claim 12)		“The disclosure generally relates to the field of air pumps, and more specifically to an electronic air pump that operates in multiple modes.”A pump that is electrically powered and used to inflate or deflate objects to a target pressure.
Predetermined time period
(Claim 1, Claim 6, Claim 12)		“The disclosed embodiments have other advantages and features which will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures ( FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an electronic air pump in a closed position, according to one embodiment.”A specific duration for which the electronic air pump automatically inflates or deflates the object.
Solenoid valve
(Claim 1)		“The disclosed embodiments have other advantages and features which will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures ( FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an electronic air pump in a closed position, according to one embodiment.”An electrically controlled valve that is closed before measuring a second air pressure.
Target pressure
(Claim 1, Claim 6, Claim 12)		“Sports balls (such as basketballs, soccer ball, footballs, and the like) are the focal element in their sporting environment. Improperly inflated sports balls diminish the quality of a sports game leading to an unsatisfactory player experience, ball damage, or injury.”A desired pressure level for an object to be inflated or deflated to, as received by the electronic air pump.

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US11084339

TORRX INC
Application Number
US16209914
Filing Date
Dec 4, 2018
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Jul 20, 2036
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents