JP2006297056A - Air mat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air mat permitting a user to continue exhalation to completely exhale by facilitating inhalation in respiration and to continue exhalation till user exhales completely. <P>SOLUTION: The air bags are provided at a position of user's thigh part, right and left shoulders or backside when he/she lies on his/her back on the base mat. The controller controls supply and exhaust of air of one or more air bags placed at the thigh part, right and left shoulders or backside selectively, allowing the air bags to inflect the user's body according to the exhalation in the expiratory phase of the human breathing cycle. For example, when the controller inflates the air bag 2e for the thigh part and the air bags 2a for the right and left shoulders and deflates the air bag 2d for the backside, the body is bent forward during the exhalation, allowing the user to exhale easily during breathing activity. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air mat that mainly assists an exhalation operation among breathing operations by controlling expansion and contraction of a plurality of air bags.

  Conventionally, there is known an air massage mat having an operation mode in which an air bag provided corresponding to the back of the body lying on the mat is inflated and deflated according to the inspiratory phase and the expiratory phase of breathing of the human body, respectively. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). This air massage mat has a shape that spreads the chest and abdomen from the back when the air bag inflates, making it easy to inhale and expiring when it contracts, and the air bag is the back of the human chest When it is located at the back of the body, it is easy to breathe in the chest, and when it is located at the back of the human abdomen, it is easy to breathe at the abdomen.

  As for the respiratory cycle, general respiratory and deep respiratory cycles are registered in advance, those that change with a slightly slower cycle or 1 / f fluctuation, and the human respiratory cycle in real time. Proposals have been made to provide feedback, or to change the combination and ratio of the above-mentioned cycles over time.

In addition, with regard to the manner of breathing, the effect of calming and relaxing the spirit by consciously breathing for a long period with a longer duration of exhalation phase (breathing out) has been recognized. Further, it is known that the respiratory cycle becomes longer in the sleep period and the time length of the expiration phase with respect to the inspiratory phase becomes longer. These are thought to be due to an increase in sympathetic nerve activity that promotes physiological tension in the inspiratory phase during the inspiratory phase, and conversely, parasympathetic nerve that promotes physiological rest in the expiration phase. Therefore, in order to effectively relieve physiological tension by breathing and promote physiological rest, it is desirable to exhale slowly, that is, to increase the time length required for the expiratory phase relative to the time length required for the inspiratory phase.
JP 2003-225269 A

  In the air massage mat shown in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, when breathing the air bag corresponding to the back portion of the air massage mat, the breathing motion is made to correspond to the breathing motion. Exhaust, or forcibly exhaust with an air pump that is common or separate from the time of expansion. It is also possible to set the length of time for deflating the air bag to a slow cycle corresponding to a slow exhalation operation such as deep breathing, but when the user performs the exhalation operation, it is increased by the control time. However, if the expiration time is lengthened accordingly, it is difficult to exhale and there is a possibility that an unnatural breathing pattern will result.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and to provide an air mat that facilitates exhalation operation among breathing operations and assists the exhalation operation to be easily maintained until the breath is completely exhausted. And

In order to achieve the above-described object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a plurality of air bags disposed on a base mat, an air supply / exhaust device for expanding and contracting the air bags, and a control for controlling the air supply / exhaust device. In the air mat provided with the device, the air bag is provided corresponding to the back of the body lying on the base mat, and the control device includes a plurality of air bags in the expiratory phase of the breathing cycle of the human body. Supply / exhaust control is selectively performed so as to bend the body in response to the exhalation operation.
The invention of claim 2 is the air mat according to claim 1, wherein the air bag is provided corresponding to the thigh, the left and right shoulders, or the buttocks of the back of the body that is supine on the base mat, The control device controls supply / exhaust of any one of the thigh, the left and right shoulders, or the buttocks or a plurality of air bags so as to bend the body in response to the exhalation operation.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the air mat according to the first or second aspect, wherein the air mat is used for inputting an instruction to the control device and is operated by a user to perform air bag supply / exhaust operation by the control device. An operation unit having a setting unit is provided, and the setting unit includes an operation mode for controlling the air supply / exhaust device at a cycle longer than a predetermined cycle.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the air mat according to the third aspect, wherein the setting section is configured so that the expiration operation time (x) and the inspiration operation time (y) of the breathing operation cycle satisfy x ≧ 2y. An operation mode for controlling the exhaust device is provided.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the air mat according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the air mat is driven based on a control signal for controlling the air supply / exhaust device output from the control device. The apparatus further includes a guide output unit that outputs an operation guide synchronized with the supply / exhaust operation cycle.
A sixth aspect of the present invention is the air mat according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the respiratory detection unit detects the respiratory cycle of the user, and the respiratory cycle of the user detected by the respiratory detection unit. An operation selection unit that selects an air bag supply / exhaust operation method by the control device in accordance with the detection breathing cycle (hereinafter referred to as a “detected breathing cycle”). It is controlled so that it operates, and after a certain period of time, the air supply / exhaust device is controlled to operate at a slightly slower cycle than the detected respiratory cycle, and the detected respiratory cycle at that time follows the operation cycle of the air supply / exhaust device If the detected respiratory cycle does not follow the operating cycle of the air supply / exhaust device, control is performed so that the air supply / exhaust device operates again in the initial detected respiratory cycle.
A seventh aspect of the present invention is the air mat according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising a consciousness level detecting unit for detecting a consciousness level of a user, wherein the operation selecting unit is configured to detect the consciousness level. When the consciousness level detected by the unit is considered to have reached a predetermined degree of relaxation or sleep, the control of the air supply / exhaust device is stopped.
The invention according to claim 8 is the air mat according to claim 6, further comprising a display unit for displaying information on a user's breathing cycle detected by the breathing detection unit and an operation cycle of the air supply / exhaust device. Is.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the air mat according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, the air supply / exhaust device can set a supply / exhaust operation mode of the air bag, and a part of the air bag. The air supply / exhaust operation can be set to the operation corresponding to the breathing cycle of the user, and the other air bag supply / exhaust operation can be set to the operation not corresponding to the breathing cycle of the user. is there.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the body is bent forward during the exhalation operation, and the forward bending posture makes it easy to raise the diaphragm. Since this operation can be performed naturally, a relaxation effect and a sleep-stimulating effect can be expected.
According to the invention of claim 2, the pelvis is tilted backward by lifting the thigh vertically upward, that is, the lumbosacral angle can be brought close to a flat and the waist can be bent, or the left and right shoulders can be bent. The upper body can be bent inwardly, or the pelvis can be tilted downward by sinking the buttocks vertically, that is, the waist can be bent with the lumbosacral angle approaching flat, It makes it easy to keep the exhalation operation until the breath is exhausted.
According to the invention of claim 3, it is possible for the user himself / herself to synchronize his / her breathing for a long period of time so that his / her breathing can be adjusted and led to a stable mental state, and relaxation and sleep can be promoted more effectively. I can expect.
According to invention of Claim 4, since the time length to exhale can be lengthened with respect to the time length to inhale, the sympathetic nerve which promotes physiological tension among autonomic nerves can be raised.
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the user breathes in accordance with the air bag supply / exhaust operation cycle and an operation guide synchronized therewith, for example, a guide of voice, sound, light, etc. It becomes possible to lead to a well-organized and stable mental state, and can effectively promote relaxation and sleep.
According to the invention of claim 6, it is possible to lead to a stable mental state where the breathing is surely adjusted without compromising the user's breathing cycle, and relaxation and sleep can be promoted more effectively. it can.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the air bag does not operate after the user is in a relaxed state or a sleep state, it is possible to prevent the user from being in a stable relax state or disturbing the sleep.
According to the invention of claim 8, the user's own breathing can be confirmed from the information display, and when the breathing is not complete or the matching rate with the operation of the air bag is low, the next use It becomes a motivation to raise the user's consciousness so as to match the movement of the air bag, and it can be expected to promote relaxation and sleep more effectively each time it is used.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the user does not always need to be aware of breathing, and can be expected to promote relaxation and falling asleep naturally.

  Hereinafter, an air mat according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an air mat according to the present embodiment. The air mat includes a plurality of air bags 2 disposed on a base mat 1 as a base, a supply / exhaust device 3 disposed at a corner of the base mat 1 and individually inflating and contracting each air bag 2. A control device 4 for controlling the exhaust device 3 and an operating device 5 are provided. Each of the air bags 2 is composed of one corresponding to each part of the body back in the supine state. The air bag 2a is provided corresponding to the left and right shoulders of the back of the body in the supine state, the air bag 2b is provided corresponding to the back, the air bag 2c is provided corresponding to the waist, and the air bag 2d Is provided corresponding to the buttocks, and the air bag 2e is provided corresponding to the thigh. All the air bladders 2a to 2e are connected to the air supply / exhaust device 3 via an air hose and controlled so as to assist the exhalation operation. The air supply / exhaust device 3 and the control device 4 may be installed outside the base mat 1.

  The base mat 1 may have any number of layers as long as the air bag 2 can be inflated and contracted. In this example, the air bags 2a to 2e are disposed on the base mat 1. The air bag may be disposed at any position on the base mat layer as long as the air bag can be expanded and contracted.

  FIG. 2 shows the corresponding positions of the air bags 2a to 2e to the human body part. The air bag 2a corresponding to the left and right shoulders A is arranged so that the center of lifting of the air bag is aligned with the center of the scapula. The part can be lifted. The air bag 2d corresponding to the buttocks D is disposed so that the end of the air bag is aligned with the fourth lumbar vertebra of the lumbar region, and the center of lifting by the air bag is disposed so as to match the left and right sciatic nodules in the pelvis. When assisting the exhalation operation, both of them are inflated at the same time so that the buttocks can be firmly lifted. There is one air bag 2c corresponding to the waist C.

  The air bags 2a and 2d are each composed of two so as to correspond to the left and right sides of the body, and a stretch massage can be performed by the expansion of the air bag. That is, when only one side of the two air bags corresponding to the left and right sides of the body is lifted, an operation of twisting the shoulder and the waist can be given. The number of the air bags 2a and 2d may be one, and the number and size of the air bags are not limited as long as the body can be bent.

  It is desirable that the air bags 2a to 2e be configured so that the position thereof can be changed in the longitudinal direction of the base mat 1 according to the height and physique. It can be performed.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the operation unit 5, the control device 4, and the air supply / exhaust device 3 for controlling the expansion and contraction of the air bags 2 a to 2 e of the air mat. The operation unit 5 operated by the user is for inputting an instruction to the control device 4, and includes a setting unit 5 a for an air bag supply / exhaust method by the control device 4. In accordance with the setting of the air supply / exhaust method setting unit 5a, the operation time of the air bag, the operation speed of the air bag, the selection of the operating air bag, and the switching of the operating air bag are set. It may be selected from a plurality of action courses prepared in advance. A signal set by the air supply / exhaust method setting unit 5 a is input to the control device 4.

  The control device 4 includes an operation time control unit 41 that controls the time for inflating, holding, and deflating the air bag, an operation speed control unit 42 for controlling the speed at which the air bag is inflated and deflated, and a plurality of air bags. An operation air bag selection unit 43 that selects an air bag to be held and contracted, and a switching time control unit 44 that controls the time taken to switch the air bag to be operated next. For the operation by the control device 4, a plurality of combinations of control of the operation time control unit 41, the operation speed control unit 42, the operation air bag selection unit 43, and the switching time control unit 44 are prepared in advance. It is controlled to correspond. A control signal based on the set pattern signal is transmitted from the control device 4 to the air supply / exhaust device 3, and the air pump 31, the pressurizing branch 32, and the electromagnetic valve 33 are driven in accordance with the set pattern signal. By these driving, the air bags 2a to 2e corresponding to the respective parts of the human body are inflated, held, and contracted, and the operation according to the set pattern signal can be given to the human body.

  FIG. 4 shows a time chart of operations of the air pump, the solenoid valve, and the air bag. The air bag is inflated, held, and contracted by supplying, holding, and exhausting air to each air bag.

  Hereinafter, various operations of the air mat of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 5 shows that the air bag 2e corresponding to the thigh is supplied and exhausted to bend the body. Here, FIG. 9A shows the breathing curve, and FIG. 9B shows the inflation and deflation of the air bag. When the user performs the exhalation operation, the air bag 2e is inflated, and the user performs the inhalation operation. When performing, the air bag 2e is contracted.

  FIG. 6 shows that the air bag 2a corresponding to the left and right shoulders is supplied and exhausted to bend the body. Here, as shown in FIG. 9, when the user performs an exhalation operation, the air bag 2a is inflated, and when the user performs an inhalation operation, the air bag 2a is contracted.

  FIG. 7 shows that the air bag 2d corresponding to the buttocks is supplied and exhausted to bend the body. Here, FIG. 10A shows a breathing curve, and FIG. 10B shows inflation and deflation of the air bag. When the user performs an exhalation operation, the air bag 2d is deflated, and the user performs an inhalation operation. When done, the air bladder 2d is inflated.

  FIG. 8 shows that the air bag 2e corresponding to the thigh, the air bag 2a corresponding to the left and right shoulders, and the air bag 2d corresponding to the buttocks are simultaneously supplied and exhausted to bend the body. . When the user performs an exhalation operation, the air bag 2e and the air bag 2a are inflated and the air bag 2d is contracted. When the user performs an intake operation, the air bag 2e and the air bag 2a are contracted, and the air bag 2d is inflated. Thus, the body is bent by selectively supplying and exhausting at least one of the air bags.

  Next, it will be described that the breathing operation can be facilitated by the expansion and contraction of the air bag as described above. As for the respiratory cycle, breathing is usually performed unconsciously, but relaxation effects and sleep-promoting effects can be obtained by giving a specific stimulus corresponding to the breathing and adjusting. In general, there is a method of using light intensity, light intensity, etc. as a stimulus for relaxing or promoting sleep on the basis of this, but in the present invention, it is easy to perform an exhalation operation. Therefore, the air bag is inflated and deflated so that the time length becomes longer. A person's breathing rate in the sleep period is generally about 12 to 20 times per minute (5 to 3 seconds per breath), but this cycle is a predetermined cycle, and the air bag is inflated at a cycle longer than this cycle. And shrink. For example, the operation time of the air bag is set in the air supply / exhaust method setting unit 5a so that the respiration rate is 10 times per minute (6 seconds per respiration). At this time, although the operation time of the air bag becomes longer, the user can increase the breathing length according to the operation of the air bag without overdoing it.

  Even if the breathing operation is assisted by the operation of the air bag, some training and familiarity is required to reduce the number of breaths. For example, when you start using this air mat or for beginners of breathing First of all, it is possible to select an action course with a breathing rate of 10 times per minute, so that an operation course with a breathing rate of 5 times per minute can be selected for longer periods of use or for those who have experienced breathing techniques. It may be.

  The air supply / exhaust method setting unit 5a can set an operation mode for controlling the air supply / exhaust device such that the expiration operation time (x) and the intake operation time (y) in the breathing operation cycle satisfy x ≧ 2y. In breathing and abdominal breathing (breathing using the abdominal muscles by stretching and contracting the diaphragm, breathing deeper than chest breathing), first exhale all the air in the lungs, hold the breath, and stomach for about 3 seconds Relieve sympathetic nerves, increase parasympathetic nerves, activate internal organs, and cool down by repeating the process of inhaling through the nose while inflating and exhaling in about 6 seconds, twice the time of inhalation This is an application of the assumption that it is possible to improve the stiffness of shoulders and shoulders. For example, in order to set the respiration rate to 10 times per minute (6 seconds per breath), the inspiratory operation time is set to 2 seconds, the exhalation operation time is set to 4 seconds, and the respiration rate is set to 5 times per minute (12 seconds per respiration). To achieve this, the inspiratory operation time is 4 seconds, and the expiratory operation time is 8 seconds.

  In order to verify the mental sedation effect by the method as described above, an electrocardiogram measurement experiment was conducted with two subjects (subject A and subject B). The experimental condition is that while lying on the air mat, as the breathing operation, during the exhalation operation of the breathing operation, the air bag corresponding to the thigh and the air bag corresponding to the left and right shoulders are inflated to support the buttocks Deflated the air bag. The period of this breathing operation was 11 seconds per breath. The subject was instructed to synchronize spontaneous breathing with this breathing movement. At the start of the measurement, we first laid on the air mat and practiced to synchronize spontaneous breathing with the movement of the air bag in advance. The measurement schedule was resting for 2 minutes, breathing operation for 6 minutes, and after completion of the breathing operation, resting was for 6 minutes.

  FIG. 11 shows the verification result. Here, the change in parasympathetic nervous system activity obtained from the RR interval of the electrocardiogram is shown. The parasympathetic nervous system activity is a value indicating mental sedation, and is an index indicating that the larger the value, the higher the sedative effect. Parasympathetic nervous system activity at the first rest (average value for 2 minutes ± standard deviation) is 1.00 (Subject A is 1.00 ± 0.28, Subject B is 1.00 ± 0.44) In both subjects, the parasympathetic nervous system activity slightly decreased during the breathing movement (average value for 6 minutes ± standard deviation) (0.88 ± 0.53 for subject A, 0.83 ± 0 for subject B) However, the parasympathetic nervous system activity increased (at 1.66 ± 1.26 for subject A and 1.40 for subject B) at rest (average value for 6 minutes ± standard deviation) after the end of the breathing movement. ± 0.78). From this, the mental sedation effect by the said breathing action is verified.

  FIG. 12 shows a configuration for controlling an air mat according to another embodiment of the present invention. The air mat of the present embodiment has a function of outputting an operation guide for inducing respiration to the user, and for outputting an operation guide synchronized with the supply / exhaust operation cycle of the supply / exhaust device 3. A signal conversion unit 20 and a guide output unit 30 are provided. The signal conversion unit 20 converts a control signal for controlling the air supply / exhaust device 3 output from the control device 4 into a signal for operation guide output, and the guide output unit 30 is driven based on this signal, and its output An operation guide as described later is output from the apparatus. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

  FIG. 13 shows a configuration example of an air mat according to the embodiment. This example is a case in which a speaker 6 that outputs an operation guide by voice is used as an output device of the guide output unit 30. The speaker 6 is installed in the vicinity of the user's ear, and in the air supply / exhaust operation cycle of the air bag 2, “exhale” in synchronization with the one corresponding to the exhalation operation, and in synchronization with the one corresponding to the inspiration operation. And “Inhale” and output a voice guide. The user can make the self-breathing coincide with the air supply / exhaust operation of the air bag, triggered by the switching of the sound.

  The operation of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 14A shows the breathing curve, FIG. 14B shows the expansion and contraction of the air bag 2e, and FIG. 14C shows the output of the voice guide. As shown in FIG. 5, the air bag 2e corresponding to the thigh is shown. When performing an exhalation operation by bending and supplying the body and bending the body, a voice guide “exhale” is output in the section B where the air bag 2e is inflated, and when the user performs an inhalation operation, In the section A in which the bag 2e is contracted, a voice guide “breath in” is output. By such an operation guide, the user can surely breathe and can lead to a stable mental state, and relaxation and sleep promotion can be effectively obtained.

  In addition to sound, the operation guide may be a sound with a high or low frequency or a large or small volume so as to correspond to the air supply / exhaust operation of the air bag, or a light that brightens or darkens. In this case, a sound having a low frequency in the section B in FIG. 14C, a sound having a high frequency in the section A, a sound having a low volume in the section B, a sound having a high volume in the section A, or gradually darkening in the section B. Light that gradually becomes brighter in the section A is output. Anything other than sound or light may be used as long as it is an index for adjusting the user's self-breathing and can be easily breathed by matching with it.

  FIG. 15 shows a control configuration of an air mat according to still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 16 shows a configuration of the air mat. The air mat according to the present embodiment includes a breath detection unit 40 that detects the breathing cycle of the user, and an air bag by the control device 4 according to the breathing cycle (detected breathing cycle) of the user detected by the breathing detection unit 40. And an operation selection unit 50 for selecting the second air supply / exhaust operation method. The respiration detection unit 40 includes a respiration sensor 7 that detects respiration. The operation selection unit 50 controls the air supply / exhaust device 3 to operate in the detected respiration cycle, and controls the air supply / exhaust device 3 to operate in a cycle slightly later than the detected respiration cycle after a predetermined time has elapsed. If the detected breathing cycle follows the operation cycle of the air supply / exhaust device 3, and if the detected breathing cycle does not follow the operation cycle of the air supply / exhaust device, the air supply / exhaust device operates again in the initial detected breathing cycle. Control to do.

  Examples of the respiration sensor 7 of the respiration detection unit 40 are illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18. FIG. 17 shows a strain gauge (strain element) 8 that records changes in electrical resistance associated with respiratory movements of the chest and abdominal wall, and FIG. 18 shows a thermistor 9 that is attached to the nostril and detects temperature changes in the airflow accompanying breathing. 19 and 20 show how the respiration sensors 8 and 9 are attached to the human body. The respiration sensor may be any means that can measure the respiration of the user. The breath detection unit 40 detects the breathing cycle in real time from the output value of such a breathing sensor, and the control device 4 controls the air bag 2 to expand and contract based on the breathing cycle signal.

  FIG. 21 shows a flowchart of the control processing of this embodiment. The control device 4 detects the breathing cycle of the user by the breath detection unit 40 (# 1), and operates the air bag 2 at the same cycle as the detected breathing cycle (# 2). This process is repeated for a predetermined time (# 3). The predetermined time is, for example, one minute, and first, people are used to adjusting their breathing to the operation of the air bag. After this predetermined time has elapsed, the air bag is operated at a slightly slower cycle than the detected respiratory cycle (# 4). The slightly slower cycle is, for example, a cycle that is 10% slower than the detected respiratory cycle. This is an application of gradually decreasing and stabilizing the respiratory rate as the level of consciousness decreases in the relaxed or sleepy phase, and is induced by applying a stimulus with a slightly slower cycle than the self-breathing. In this way, a decrease in breathing is promoted, and as a result, it becomes easier to relax and fall asleep. In this way, if the air bag is operated at a cycle slightly slower than the detected respiratory cycle, and the breath follows the cycle and substantially matches (Yes in # 5 and # 6), until a predetermined time elapses from the start of the operation. The process is repeated (# 7). In the above, when the breathing cycle does not follow the operation of the air bag (No in # 6), if the predetermined time has not yet elapsed from the start (No in # 8), the process returns to the original and temporarily slows down. The operation cycle of the air bag is synchronized with the initial detected breathing cycle. Here, after a predetermined time has passed, the air bag is operated at a cycle slightly slower than the re-detected respiratory cycle (# 4), and the same operation is repeated thereafter.

  Here, the following relationship between the breathing cycle and the operation of the air bag will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4A shows a breathing curve, and FIG. 4B shows the inflation and deflation of the air bag. In FIG. 2B, the period of FIG. The determination as to whether or not the follow-up is performed, for example, by the difference (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 22) between the timing of moving from the inspiratory phase to the expiratory phase and the timing of moving from the contraction to expansion of the air bag relative to the operation period of the air bag When the respiratory cycle becomes, for example, ± 20% or more, it is determined that no follow-up is performed. The above control is repeated to gradually decrease and stabilize the user's respiratory rate. The predetermined time from the start is the same as the off-timer, and may be a preset time such as 15 minutes, or may be a time arbitrarily set by the user before the start.

  FIG. 23 shows a control configuration of an air mat according to still another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment includes a consciousness level detection unit 60 that detects a user's consciousness level, and when the operation selection unit 50 determines that the user's consciousness level has reached a predetermined degree of relaxation or sleep, The control of the device 3 is stopped. The consciousness level detection unit 60 includes a biological signal sensor that detects an electroencephalogram, an electrocardiogram, respiration, body movement, and the like among the biological signals, and determines a user's consciousness level from these biological signals. In the case of aiming to fall asleep, generally sleep in the sleep period reaches a deep sleep depth such as a sleep depth 3 and 4 through a sleep depth 2 from a sleep depth 1. Is in a state of complete sleep, and in this state, no further stimulation is required to fall asleep. On the other hand, if the air bag is inflated and deflated in this state, it may interfere with stable sleep.

  Therefore, for example, when the predetermined consciousness level is set as the sleep depth 2 and the consciousness level detected by the consciousness level detection unit 60 reaches the sleep depth 2, the air bag stops to expand and contract. To. In other words, when the consciousness level falls below the predetermined consciousness level, the operation course precedes a predetermined time from the start of the operation (a time set in advance or arbitrarily set before the user himself / herself). Will end. Here, the predetermined level of consciousness may be a level set in advance or a level arbitrarily set by the user before starting. Or even if it does not stop, it may change so that an air bag may operate | move so small that a user does not notice until a predetermined end time.

  FIG. 24 shows a control configuration of an air mat according to still another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, after the control of the air supply / exhaust device 3 is stopped, it has a function of displaying information on the user's breathing cycle detected by the breathing detection unit 40 and the air supply / exhaust operation cycle of the air supply / exhaust device 3. , A calculation unit 70 and a display unit 80 are provided. The calculation unit 70 receives the detection signal output from the respiration detection unit 40 and the control signal for controlling the air supply / exhaust device 3 output from the control device 4, and calculates a display value for display on the display unit 80. To do. The display unit 80 includes the display panel 10 that displays the calculated display value.

  FIG. 25 shows an example of the display unit 10. After the control of the air supply / exhaust device is stopped, the display unit 10 displays information on the user's breathing cycle detected by the breathing detection unit 40 and the air supply / exhaust operation cycle of the air supply / exhaust device 3. Specifically, the display unit 10 displays, for example, the average, maximum, and minimum number of times per minute for the number of breaths of the user, or the number of breaths per minute of the user detected by the breath detection unit 40 and the air Display the match rate with the number of movements per minute of the bag and the same match rate at the previous use, or the number of breaths per minute detected by the breath detection unit and the number of movements per minute of the air bag Can be displayed over time, or a graph can be displayed in which changes in consciousness level are plotted. This figure shows an example in which the control is stopped because the number of breaths gradually decreases and the consciousness level reaches a predetermined level 12 minutes after the start.

  FIG. 26 shows the operation of the air bag of the air mat in still another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the air supply / exhaust device can set the air supply / exhaust operation mode of the air bag, and the air supply / exhaust operation of a part of the air bag is an operation corresponding to the breathing cycle of the user. The combination air supply / exhaust operation can be set to an operation that does not correspond to the breathing cycle of the user.

  In the same figure, operation A is the operation of the air bag corresponding to the breathing operation cycle, and operation B is the operation of the air bag not corresponding to the breathing operation cycle. The air bag is operated by combining these operations A and B. The operation of the air bag that does not correspond to the breathing operation cycle of the operation B is, for example, a massage operation by inflating and deflating the air bag as disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-225269). . In the section in which the operation of the air bag corresponding to the breathing operation cycle of the operation A is performed, the air bag is consciously adjusted to self-breathing with the operation of the air bag, or the body is bent in response to the expiration operation. When the camera is operating, the body is bent only when the timing is met without particular consciousness, and the exhalation operation is facilitated. In the section in which the operation of the air bag is performed for the massage of operation B, the user can receive massage and stretching firmly or feel relaxed comfort without being aware of the respiratory cycle. Each operation time of the operations A and B is, for example, 30 seconds. These operating times may or may not be constant. The example in this figure is a case where the operation time is not constant. Further, the operation B may be other massage means that is not the operation of the air bag, or may be other means that is effective for relaxation and sleep promotion.

  FIG. 27 shows a configuration of an air mat according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The air mat includes a base mat 1 having a three-layer structure of an upper layer 1a, an intermediate layer 1b, and a lower layer 1c, and air bags 2a to 2e are disposed under the upper layer 1a. The base mat 1 may have any number of layers as long as the breathing operation can be assisted by the expansion and contraction of the air bag, and the air bags 2a to 2e are arranged in any layer or between the layers. Also good. Further, in this drawing, an example in which the air supply / exhaust device 3 and the control device 4 are installed outside the base mat 1 is shown.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the range in which the hardness of the inflating bladder or the body lifting height changes varies depending on the user's weight, height, preference, etc., but it may cause discomfort to the user and inhibit relaxation and sleep. It should not be a change in such a range. As for the method of adjusting the hardness of the air bag to be inflated and deflated, or the height of lifting the body, in addition to air, water or gel-like things are allowed to flow into and out of the mat body, or mechanically changed. Any configuration may be used as long as the hardness or shape of the air bag can be adjusted. Furthermore, about embodiment of this invention, the reclining chair type for light breaks can also be considered besides a mat type.

The whole perspective view of the air mat concerning one embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory drawing of the correspondence between the air bag of the air mat and a body part. The block block diagram for control of the air mat. The time chart figure which showed the air bag operation | movement by the air pump and electromagnetic valve in the air mat. Explanatory drawing of one operation | movement of the air mat. Explanatory drawing of other operation | movement of the air mat. Explanatory drawing of other operation | movement of the air mat. Explanatory drawing of other operation | movement of the air mat. Respiration curve and time chart of book operation. The respiration curve and the time chart of operation | movement of this embodiment. The characteristic diagram of the parasympathetic nervous system activity evaluation result by this invention. The block block diagram for control of the air mat which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. The whole perspective view of the air mat. The respiration curve and the time chart of operation | movement of this embodiment. The block block diagram for control of the air mat which concerns on further another embodiment of this invention. The whole perspective view of the air mat. Explanatory drawing of the respiration detection sensor of the same air mat. Explanatory drawing of the other respiration detection sensor of the same air mat. Explanatory drawing which mounted | wore the human body with the respiration detection sensor of FIG. Explanatory drawing which mounted | wore the human body with the respiration detection sensor of FIG. The flowchart of one operation | movement of the air mat. The respiration curve and the time chart of operation | movement of this embodiment. The block block diagram for control of the air mat which concerns on further another embodiment of this invention. The block block diagram for control of the air mat which concerns on further another embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the display panel of the air mat. Time chart of one operation of air mat. The whole sectional view of the air mat concerning other embodiments of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base mat 2 Air bag corresponding to body 2a Shoulder air bag 2b Back air bag 2c Lumbar air bag 2d Hip air bag 2e Thigh air bag 3 Air supply / exhaust device 4 Control device 5 Operator 6 Speaker 7 Breathing sensor 10 Display Panel 20 Signal conversion unit 30 Guide output unit 40 Respiration detection unit 50 Operation setting unit 60 Consciousness level detection unit 70 Calculation unit 80 Display unit

Claims (9)

In an air mat comprising a plurality of air bags disposed on a base mat, an air supply / exhaust device for expanding and contracting the air bags, and a control device for controlling the air supply / exhaust device,
The air bag is provided corresponding to the back of the body lying on the base mat,
The air mat is characterized in that the control device selectively controls the supply and exhaust of air so that the plurality of air bags bend the body in response to the exhalation operation in the expiration phase in the breathing cycle of the human body. The air bag is provided corresponding to the thighs on the back of the body, the left and right shoulders, or the buttocks on the base mat,
The control device controls supply / exhaust of any one or a plurality of air bags of the thigh, left and right shoulders, or buttocks so as to bend the body in response to an exhalation operation. The air mat according to claim 1. For inputting instructions to the control device, the operation unit is operated by a user, and includes an operation unit having a setting unit for air bag supply / exhaust operation by the control device,
The air mat according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the setting unit includes an operation mode for controlling the air supply / exhaust device at a cycle longer than a predetermined cycle.   The setting unit includes an operation mode for controlling the air supply / exhaust device so that an expiration operation time (x) and an inspiration operation time (y) in a breathing operation cycle satisfy x ≧ 2y. The air mat according to claim 3.   The apparatus further includes a guide output unit that is driven based on a control signal that controls the air supply / exhaust device that is output from the control device, and that outputs an operation guide synchronized with the air supply / exhaust operation cycle of the air supply / exhaust device. The air mat according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A respiration detection unit for detecting the respiration cycle of the user;
An operation selecting unit that selects an air bag supply / exhaust operation method by the control device according to a user's breathing cycle detected by the breathing detection unit (hereinafter referred to as a detected breathing cycle);
The operation selection unit controls the air supply / exhaust device to operate in the detected breathing cycle, and controls the air supply / exhaust device to operate in a cycle slightly later than the detected breathing cycle after a predetermined time has passed, If the detected respiratory cycle does not follow the operating cycle of the air supply / exhaust device, the air supply / exhaust device is again in the initial detected respiratory cycle. The air mat according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the air mat is controlled to operate. A consciousness level detection unit that detects the consciousness level of the user is further provided.
The operation selection unit stops the control of the air supply / exhaust device when the consciousness level detected by the consciousness level detection unit is considered to have reached a predetermined degree of relaxation or a sleep stage. The air mat according to any one of claims 4 to 4.   The air mat according to claim 6, further comprising a display unit that displays information on a user's breathing cycle detected by the breathing detection unit and an operation cycle of the air supply / exhaust device.   The air supply / exhaust device can set the air supply / exhaust operation mode of the air bag, and the air supply / exhaust operation of a part of the air bag is an operation corresponding to the breathing cycle of the user, The air mat according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the operation can be a combination mode in which the operation does not correspond to the breathing cycle of the user.

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