JP2003079588A - Sleep cycle alarm clock - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a clock letting a user know comfortable waking time by detecting the time when the user falls asleep or starts his first REM sleep to sound an alarm every sleeping cycle of 90 minutes, based on the fact that the human sleep has a cycle of 90 minutes for REM sleep and non-REM sleep combined, which means that one can wake up refreshed if awakened after one and a half hours, three hours, four and a half hours, six hours, seven and a half hours, and so on, of sleep. SOLUTION: Pulse rate drops gradually after one falls asleep, and after reaching a minimal value, it rises greatly (about 10%) at the beginning of first REM sleep. This change is detected and signaled to a wristwatch or a clock having an alarm device to switch on an alarm that sounds every 90 minutes. Changes in pulse rate are detected by a photosensor attached to a fingertip and a built-in computing circuit is used for such a control as switching the alarm on.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a combination of a wristwatch (or clock) equipped with an alarm device and an electronic pulse rate monitor, which reduces the pulse rate when a person falls asleep, and then when the person enters REM sleep, the pulse rate is reduced. Is 10
It is a clock capable of sounding an alarm of a 90-minute cycle by detecting an increase in percentage by an arithmetic circuit incorporated in the pulse rate monitor. The pulse meter is a device in which an optical sensor (pulse sensor) incorporating a light emitting diode and a photodiode is attached to a finger, and frequency fluctuation analysis of hemoglobin in capillaries is performed to detect the pulse rate. The first REM sleep after a person falls asleep about 90 minutes after falling asleep. Capturing this first REM sleep is about as valuable as detecting sleep onset time, and makes it possible to create a clock that sounds an alarm in a 90 minute sleep cycle. After falling asleep, the first REM sleep is detected by the increase of the pulse rate, and the REM sleep time of the sleep cycle that falls every 90 minutes is captured and the alarm is sounded. Non-REM sleep and REM sleep occur in this order in human sleep, and are repeated as a set. The duration of sleep of this one set (1 cycle) is about 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes), and this is repeated several times in a normal person's daily sleep, and when REM sleep is about to end When you wake up to, you can wake up most comfortably and comfortably without feeling sleepless. Then we would go to sleep 9
It is the most refreshing thing to wake up after about 1 hour 30 minutes, 3 hours, 4 hours 30 minutes, 6 hours, 7 hours 30 minutes, and 9 hours using the sleep cycle repeated every 0 minutes. You can wake up, and it would be very convenient if you had a clock that gave an alarm sound at an appropriate time in this 90-minute cycle. People who use the "sleep cycle alarm clock" switch on the "pulse rate measuring device (pulse meter)" built into this clock before trying to go to bed. This pulse meter measures the pulse rate by attaching an optical sensor to the fingertip portion, and is set to automatically measure the pulse rate at intervals of about 3 minutes, for example. Alternatively, since one sleep cycle is 90 minutes, the pulse rate is set to be constantly measured about 70 minutes after the switch is turned on. The pulse rate falls to the bed, decreases when the person is at rest, decreases further when he starts to sleep, and rises by about 10 percent when REM sleep starts. Catch this rising pulse rate change,
The change that rises to the maximum value and falls is captured by the arithmetic circuit incorporated in the pulse rate monitor, and the switch that sets the 90-minute cycle alarm is turned on. In this way, the "sleep cycle alarm clock" is a clock that enables an alarm to be sounded every "90 minutes sleep cycle" by detecting a change in the pulse rate when the first REM sleep starts. Of course, the second and third times,
It is also possible to detect a change in the pulse rate at the start of the fourth REM sleep and sound an alarm. This "sleep cycle alarm clock" works to inform you of comfortable wake-up time, but it can also be used for a short sleep. Modern people are often busy and cannot afford to sleep for long periods of time. Many researchers say that the idea that "8 hours of sleep is necessary" has no basis. In fact, not a few people sleep for 3 hours a day. If you use the "sleep cycle alarm clock", you can freely set 90 minutes of 1 cycle for ultra-short sleep, a little longer 2 cycles 3 hours short sleep, and 3 cycles 4 hours 30 minutes short sleep. Can be taken.
The "sleep cycle alarm clock" is effective for performing a short sleep. It is a clock that can promise busy modern businessmen to both "wake up comfortably" and "short sleep." One sleep cycle is about 90 minutes, but it is thought that there is a difference in time depending on the person, so a "sleep cycle alarm clock" that can adjust one sleep cycle within a range of "90 minutes ± 15 minutes" is desirable. . The "sleep cycle alarm clock" is basically a wristwatch type, but it is also possible to separate the alarm part and inform the alarm device of a clock (alarm clock) type by setting a sleep cycle every 90 minutes by radio waves to sound an alarm. . In addition, this "sleep cycle alarm clock" detects changes in the pulse during REM sleep with a pulse meter and starts the alarm function of the clock, but as a physiological change during sleep of a person, Blood pressure also rises considerably when entering REM sleep.
An optical sensor (pulse sensor) that incorporates a light emitting diode and a photodiode to capture this rise in blood pressure.
If you use it as a sphygmomanometer that can measure blood pressure by the "pulse wave velocity method" by incorporating an electrode sensor that captures the time of systole of the heart into the pulse rate that detects the pulse rate by frequency analysis of hemoglobin fluctuations in capillaries, You can also catch the rise in blood pressure during REM sleep and start the alarm function of the watch. The “finger” is considered to be the most convenient and easiest to measure the pulse and blood pressure, but the wrist and toes are also possible in principle, and other body parts are also possible. Further, in the case of the wrist, since pressurization type blood pressure and pulse can be measured, it is also possible to make a “sleep cycle alarm clock” by combining a pressurization type pulse / sphygmomanometer and an alarm clock.

[Brief description of drawings]

[Figure 1] A diagram of a wristwatch equipped with an electronic pulse rate monitor and an alarm that allows you to measure the pulse rate with your finger.

[Fig. 2] A diagram of a ring-type pulsometer that emits radio waves to notify changes in the pulse and a wristwatch with an alarm attached to the hand

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between a ring-type pulse meter that emits radio waves to notify a change in pulse rate and a table clock with a built-in alarm.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 A pulse sensor that detects the pulse rate by inserting your finger. A pulse sensor that incorporates a light emitting diode and a photodiode. 2 Lead wire 3 A pulse meter and a wristwatch with a built-in alarm. 4 Two types of diodes that detect the pulse rate (light emitting diode and A ring-type pulse sensor with a built-in photodiode, a battery, an arithmetic circuit, and a radio wave transmitter 5 A wristwatch with a radio wave receiver and alarm 6 A clock with a radio wave receiver and alarm

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A wristwatch equipped with an alarm function has a built-in electronic pulse rate monitor capable of detecting a pulse rate with a finger, and the pulse rate is increased by 10% when the first REM sleep after falling asleep is entered. When an arithmetic circuit for detecting is detected, and when it is detected, 90 × n (n = 1, 2, 3, 4,
5,6) A wristwatch that allows an alarm to sound at an appropriate time after a minute. 2. A ring-type electronic pulse rate monitor is provided with a calculation circuit for detecting an increase in pulse rate, a radio wave transmitter and a battery, and when entering the first REM sleep after falling asleep, the pulse rate is about 10% higher than before. Is detected, and a wristwatch equipped with an alarm function is sent a radio wave to inform the watch, and when it is detected, 90 × n (n = 1,
2,3,4,5,6) A wristwatch that enables an alarm to sound at an appropriate time after a minute. 3. A ring-type electronic pulse rate monitor is provided with a calculation circuit for detecting an increase in pulse rate, a radio wave transmitter and a battery, and when entering the first REM sleep after falling asleep, the pulse rate is about 10% higher than before. Is detected, and a table clock (alarm clock) with an alarm function is transmitted by radio waves to notify it, and when it is detected, 9
A clock that can sound an alarm at an appropriate time after 0xn (n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) minutes.