JPH04264289A - Optical method and device for alarm and clock - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To awake a sleeping person in a comfortable manner by application of light by an appropriate illuminating means by utilizing the physiological characteristic of a human body for the light. CONSTITUTION:A start signal S1 is generated by a timer 1 at a time set beforehand, and a voltage control circuit 2 receiving the start signal S1 generates a voltage and outputs a predetermined pattern voltage for impression with the voltage changed with time. A lamp 3 receiving the impression of the predetermined pattern voltage is lighted, and the quantity of emitted light is increased and decreased with time.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method for waking up a sleeping person comfortably by utilizing the physiological characteristics of the human body with respect to light, a device directly used for carrying out the method, and a clock as an applied product thereof. Regarding.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional alarm clocks notify the user of the time to wake up through the auditory senses, such as a bell or an electronic sound, at a set time.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, if a person who has been sound asleep is suddenly woken up by hearing these sounds, the person will feel extremely uncomfortable. To solve this problem, alarm clocks have been invented that gradually make the sound louder so that you can wake up from a light sleep. Although this has alleviated the discomfort to some extent, the auditory method using only sound still causes discomfort and has not been sufficiently effective. This is because the physiological rhythm of the human body does not immediately become alert when the auditory nerve is stimulated by sound alone. The object of the present invention is to provide an optical alarm method and device, as well as a clock, which can alleviate the discomfort experienced when waking up, which is a problem with conventional alarm clocks.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above-mentioned problems are achieved by the present invention adopting the following novel characteristic configuration techniques and means. That is, the first method of the present invention
The feature is that the irradiation of light starts or continues on the sleeping person from a pre-specified time or a certain period of time before the specified time, and if the irradiation starts, it can be continued as necessary. In most cases, it is a light-based wake-up method that changes the amount of light that is irradiated to wake the patient.

A second feature of the method of the present invention is that the change in the amount of irradiated light in the first feature is such that the amount of irradiated light is gradually increased and then kept at a constant value, once strong and then weakened, or undulated. This is an optical alarm method that uses various patterns that change in a stepwise manner or in a stepwise manner.

The device of the present invention is characterized by a timer that issues a start signal at a preset time, and upon receiving the start signal from the timer, generates a voltage or changes the voltage over time to output and apply a predetermined pattern voltage. This is an optical alarm device comprising at least a voltage control circuit and an illumination means that turns on when a predetermined pattern voltage is applied from the voltage control circuit or increases or decreases the amount of light emitted over time.

The clock of the present invention is characterized by a timer that emits a start signal at each preset time, and upon receiving a start signal from the timer, it generates a voltage or changes the voltage over time to output a scheduled pattern voltage. A voltage control circuit for applying voltage, a lighting means that turns on when it receives a predetermined pattern voltage from the voltage control circuit, or increases or decreases the amount of light emitted over time, and an alarm that sounds when it receives a start signal from the timer. This alarm clock is constructed by integrally incorporating a photoacoustic alarm device with a sound generating means.

[0008]

[Operation] The present invention employs the methods and means described above, so that when the designated time approaches, the sleeping person is irradiated with light or the amount of light is changed to bring the physiological state of the sleeping person into an awake state. It changes gradually and helps you wake up comfortably. That is,
It is said that the human body's natural internal rhythm is 25 hours long. There are 24 hours in a day, and even though these hours do not match, humans are able to live their lives without any inconvenience due to the sensation of sunlight, which stimulates the optic and skin nerves.
It is thought that this is because the human body becomes alert and its physiological rhythm changes. In fact, it is a common wisdom in life to install blackout curtains on bedroom windows to prevent morning sunlight from disturbing your sleep. The present invention utilizes this property to gradually change the physiological rhythm of the human body from a deep sleep state to an awake state by irradiating the human body with light or changing the amount of irradiation light for a certain period of time before the designated wake-up time. ,
You can wake up comfortably.

[0009]

Embodiments (Example of Apparatus) The apparatus of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment. In the figure, A is the alarm device of this embodiment, 1 is a timer that emits starting signals S1 and S2 at preset times, respectively, and 2 is a timer that generates a voltage when receiving the starting signal S1 from timer 1, or generates a voltage that is given in advance. 3 is a voltage control circuit that sequentially outputs and outputs a scheduled pattern voltage by changing the voltage over time according to a sequence determined by the voltage control circuit 2, and 3 is a circuit that lights up when it receives the scheduled pattern voltage from the voltage control circuit 2, and increases and decreases the amount of light emitted over time. The lamp 4, which is an illumination means, is a buzzer which is a sounding means, which sounds an alarm when it receives the activation signal S2 from the timer 1, and then changes the volume according to a predetermined sequence as necessary.

(Application Example) An example of application of the device A of the present invention to a timepiece of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a front view of this application example. In the figure, B is the digital alarm clock of this application example, 5 is a time display consisting of a liquid crystal or light emitting diode, etc., and 3' is a pivot 6 that can be adjusted up and down to illuminate the face of a sleeping person. The lamp 4' is a buzzer, and the alarm device A is integrated into the alarm clock B. In addition, as another application example, instead of the lamp 3', a lighting fixture already installed indoors may be used instead of providing it exclusively for the clock B of the present invention.

(Example of Method) The method of the present invention applied to watch B of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. Figure 3 shows the invention clock B.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of changes over time in the amount of light and sound volume emitted from the lamp 3' and the buzzer 4'. In FIG. 3, T1
is the designated wake-up time given by the operator. At time T2, which is a certain period of time earlier than T1, timer 1 issues a start signal S1 to turn on the voltage control circuit 2. The voltage control circuit 2 generates a predetermined pattern voltage in accordance with a predetermined sequence so that the lamp 3' generates a light amount as shown in FIG. 3 over time. That is, from T2 to T3 after a certain period of time, the light intensity is increased by gradually increasing the voltage, and from T3 to T1, a constant voltage is emitted by keeping the voltage constant. Then, at time T1, the timer 1 operates again and issues a start signal S2, and the buzzer 4' sounds. The reason for gradually increasing the amount of light in this way is to gradually achieve an awakening state. Also, since the pattern is similar to the amount of light from the morning sun,
Compared to simply irradiating a fixed amount of light, sleeping people experience less discomfort.

The intensity of the light can be increased not only from the state where no light is emitted as shown in Fig. 3, but also when it is emitted a small amount of light as shown in Fig. 4, that is, used as a night light. It may be strengthened from the current state. In FIGS. 3 and 4, the voltage is increased gradually in order to gradually increase the amount of light, but it is also possible to increase the voltage stepwise, thereby increasing the amount of light stepwise. Furthermore, after time T3, as shown in Fig. 5, the intensity of the light may be maintained after first decreasing it, or the intensity of the light may be increased or decreased repeatedly until the designated wake-up time T1 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. After that, the amount of light may be set to a constant value. When the amount of light is changed as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the light stimulation received by the sleeping person becomes stronger, and the person can wake up more quickly. Further, although the buzzer 4' is designed to sound at a constant volume level in FIG. 2, the volume level may be gradually increased from the time when the amount of light reaches a certain constant value.

In short, the method of the present invention starts irradiating a sleeping person with light from a pre-designated time or a certain period of time before the designated time, or continues irradiating the sleeping person, and in the case of the start, it is necessary to Depending on the situation, when continuing the irradiation, the amount of light to be irradiated must be gradually increased and then held at a constant value, once strong and then weakened, or change in a wave-like manner, or in a step-like manner. The amount of light irradiated changes over time to wake you up.

[0014]

[Effects of the Invention] Thus, the present invention utilizes the physiological characteristics of the human body, which transitions from a deep sleep state to an awake state by irradiation with light, and therefore has excellent advantages such as being able to wake up a sleeping person comfortably. be effective.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of application of the present invention to a timepiece according to the above.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of changes over time in the amount of light and sound volume emitted from the lamp and buzzer of the timepiece of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example same as the above.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example same as the above.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example same as the above.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example same as the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

A...Alarm device B...Alarm clock S1, S2...Start signal 1...Timer 2...Voltage control circuit 3, 3'...Lamp 4,4'...Buzzer 5...Time display 6...Axis

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claim 1: Start irradiating a sleeping person with light at a pre-specified time or a certain period of time before the specified time, or
A light wake-up method characterized in that the irradiation is continued and the amount of irradiation light is changed as necessary when the irradiation is started, and when the irradiation is continued, the irradiation is made to wake up. [Claim 2] The amount of irradiated light changes in various patterns, such as gradually increasing the amount of irradiated light and then keeping it at a constant value, once becoming strong and then weakening, changing in a wave-like manner, and changing in a step-like manner. The optical alarm method according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. A timer that issues a start signal at a preset time; and a voltage control circuit that generates a voltage upon receiving the start signal from the timer, or changes the voltage over time to output and apply a predetermined pattern voltage; An optical alarm device characterized by comprising at least a lighting means that turns on when receiving a predetermined pattern voltage from the voltage control circuit or increases or decreases the amount of light emitted over time. 4. A timer that issues a start signal at each preset time; and a voltage control circuit that generates a voltage upon receiving the start signal from the timer, or changes the voltage over time to output and apply a predetermined pattern voltage. , comprising a lighting means that turns on when receiving a predetermined pattern voltage from the voltage control circuit or increases or decreases the amount of light emitted over time, and a sounding means that sounds an alarm when receiving a start signal from the timer. An alarm clock characterized by an integrally integrated photoacoustic alarm device.