JP2008289756A - Sleep inducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sleep inducing device applying local vibrations to a user by miniaturizing a part generating vibrations and being actuated with small energy. <P>SOLUTION: This sleep inducing device is provided with a first vibration part 5 for applying local low-frequency vibrations to the temporal bones of a user 14, a second vibration part 7 for applying the local low-frequency vibrations to the buttocks of the user 14, and is characterized in synchronously operating the first vibration part 5 and the second vibration part 7. In especially, the frequency of the low-frequency vibrations generated by the first vibration part 5 and the second vibration part 7 is preferably 1-2 Hz. This sleep inducing device is preferably provided with a power adjustment part 9 for adjusting the strength of the low-frequency vibrations generated by the first vibration part 5 and the second vibration part 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sleep inducing device that gives a local low frequency vibration to a user.

  Conventionally, various devices for guiding a user to sleep have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

The apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes, for example, a continuous fine vibration generator that generates continuous fine vibration (vibration such as vibration of a running train) on a diaphragm provided in a bed, and a substantially constant cycle. And an intermittent single-shot vibration generator that generates a single-shot vibration (for example, intermittent vibration such as vibration generated at a rail joint). Therefore, since continuous micro vibrations and intermittent single-shot vibrations act on the lying human body, natural vibrations familiar to humans can be obtained, and a good sleep introduction effect can be obtained.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-24678

  However, since the device described in Patent Document 1 is configured to apply vibration to the entire body of the user, there is a problem that the device becomes large and requires a large amount of energy for driving.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sleep induction device that reduces the size of a portion that generates vibrations, gives local vibrations to the user, and is driven with small energy. And

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the sleep inducing device according to claim 1 includes a first excitation unit that applies local low-frequency vibration to the user's temporal bone, and a local low-frequency signal to the user's buttocks. A second vibration unit that applies vibration, and the first vibration unit and the second vibration unit are operated synchronously.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the sleep induction device according to claim 1, the frequency of the low-frequency vibration generated by the first vibration unit and the second vibration unit is 1 to 2 Hz. To do.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the output adjustment unit for adjusting the strength of the low frequency vibration generated by the first vibration unit and the second vibration unit in the sleep induction device according to claim 1 or 2. It is characterized by providing.

  Invention of Claim 4 is a sleep guidance apparatus of any one of the said Claims 1-3. WHEREIN: A head mounting body and a seating body are provided, A 1st vibration part is a head. It is built in the mounting body, and the second vibration unit is built in the seating body.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the sleep induction device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a pillow and a bed, wherein the first vibration unit is built in the pillow, The two excitation units are built in the bed.

  According to the present invention, it is provided with the 1st vibration part which gives a local low frequency vibration to a user's temporal bone, and the 2nd vibration part which gives a local low frequency vibration to a user's buttocks. Thereby, while being able to be set as a small 1st vibration part and a 2nd vibration part, it can be set as the sleep guidance apparatus driven with small energy. In particular, the user feels that the whole body is vibrating due to local vibrations on the temporal bone. In addition, the user feels the vibration even in the skin sensation due to the local vibration on the buttocks, so that the user is more likely to feel as if the whole body is vibrating. And a user can be induced | guided | derived to sleep effectively because a 1st vibration part and a 2nd vibration part drive synchronously.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the present invention may be described with specific examples, but the present invention is not limited to the following specific examples.
(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a side view of the sleep guidance device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the sleep guidance device according to the first embodiment.

  The sleep guidance device 1A has a basic configuration of a headphone 2 as a head-mounted body, a chair 3 as a seating body, and a touch panel monitor 4 as an instruction input device. Here, the headphone 2 includes a first excitation unit 5 and a first acceleration sensor 6. The chair 3 includes a second vibration unit 7, a second acceleration sensor 8, an output adjustment unit 9, a control unit (circuit) 10, and a power source 11.

  The headphone 2 includes an ear pad 12 and an arm 13, and the ear pad 12 is provided with a first vibration unit 5 and a first acceleration sensor 6. The first vibration unit 5 and the first acceleration sensor 6 are connected to a control unit 10 provided in the chair 3. In addition, the 1st vibration part 5, the 1st acceleration sensor 6, and the control part 10 may be connected by a wire, or may be connected by radio | wireless.

  Here, the 1st vibration part 5 gives a low frequency vibration to the user's 14 temporal bone. Humans feel the vibration as a whole-body skin and balance. The sense of balance is detected with a vestibular device in the temporal bone of the inner ear. The vestibular device consists of a semicircular canal that detects rotational acceleration and an otolith device that detects linear acceleration. There are two types of otoliths: an oval sac and a spherical sac. The oval sac senses linear acceleration mainly in the horizontal direction of the head, and the spherical sac senses vertical and longitudinal acceleration. The low frequency vibration generated by the first excitation unit 5 causes the spherical sac to feel vertical acceleration, and induces the user 14 to sleep.

  The vibration for inducing the user 14 to sleep needs to be a low frequency vibration. Specifically, the low-frequency vibration is low-frequency vibration having a frequency of 1 to 2 Hz and vertical linear accelerations of 0.05, 0.01, and 0.2 g. Humans often sleep on a running train, and the frequency of vibrations generated at that time is 1 to 2 Hz. For this reason, it is considered that low frequency vibrations having a frequency within this range greatly contribute to the induction of sleep.

  Further, the first acceleration sensor 6 measures the vertical acceleration of the head of the user 14 caused by the vibration generated by the first excitation unit 5 and transmits the measurement result to the control unit 10. Based on the measurement result, the vibration generated by the first vibration unit 5 is controlled.

  The chair 3 includes a second vibration unit 7, a second acceleration sensor 8, an output adjustment unit 9, a control unit 10, and a power source 11, and the second vibration unit 7, the second acceleration sensor 8, The output adjustment unit 9 and the power source 11 are connected to the control unit 10.

  Here, the 2nd vibration part 7 gives a low frequency vibration to the user's 14 buttocks.

  The vibration for inducing the user 14 to sleep needs to be a low-frequency vibration in the buttocks as in the case of the temporal bone. Specifically, the low-frequency vibration is low-frequency vibration having a frequency of 1 to 2 Hz and vertical linear accelerations of 0.05, 0.01, and 0.2 g.

  The second acceleration sensor 8 measures the vertical acceleration of the user's 14 upper and lower buttocks due to the vibration generated by the second excitation unit 7 and transmits the measurement result to the control unit 10. Based on the measurement result, the vibration generated by the second vibration unit 7 is controlled.

  Here, the control unit 10 causes the first vibration unit 5 and the second vibration unit 7 to operate synchronously. Specifically, the 1st vibration part 5 and the 2nd vibration part 7 operate | move simultaneously, and generate | occur | produce the vibration of the same phase. As a result, the user 14 feels as if the whole body is vibrating as if sitting in a chair of a moving train.

  The output adjustment unit 9 is connected to the control unit 10 and adjusts the strength of low-frequency vibration generated by the first vibration unit 5 and the second vibration unit 7. Therefore, the user 14 can freely obtain a desired vibration. Here, since the 1st vibration part 5 and the 2nd vibration part 7 operate | move synchronously, the output adjustment part 9 should just be one. The output adjustment unit 9 can be provided integrally with the control unit 10.

  And the control part 10 controls the vibration which the 1st vibration part 5 and the 2nd vibration part 7 generate | occur | produce, and arranges the environment which guides the user 14 to sleep. In this embodiment, although the control part 10 is provided in the chair 3, even if it is provided in the headphones 2 and may be provided outside 1 A of sleep induction apparatuses.

  The power source 11 is a battery, for example, and supplies energy to the first vibration unit 5 and the second vibration unit 7 through the control unit 10. In the present embodiment, the power source 11 is provided on the chair 3, but may be provided on the headphones 2 or outside the sleep induction device 1 </ b> A.

  The chair 3 may be a cushion.

  The touch panel monitor 4 is provided at the hand of the user 14 and is connected to the control unit 10. When an instruction from the user 14 is input, the touch panel monitor 4 transmits the information to the control unit 10. The user 14 operates the touch panel monitor 4 to instruct the first vibration unit 5 and the second vibration unit 7 to generate vibration, or the first vibration unit 5 and the second vibration unit 7. The timing and cycle of synchronous operation can be set. In addition, the user 14 can operate the touch panel monitor 4 to set the strength of vibration generated by the first vibration unit 5 and the second vibration unit 7. Here, the strength of the vibration generated by the first vibration unit 5 and the second vibration unit 7 is adjusted by the output adjustment unit 9 as described above. Note that the touch panel monitor 4 and the control unit 10 may be connected by wire or wirelessly.

  By the way, the headphones 2 are connected to a content player (not shown) such as a CD player, for example, and the content player plays back relaxing music with a relaxing effect and outputs it from the headphones 2. As a result, the music played by the content player and the low frequency vibrations generated by the first vibration unit 5 and the second vibration unit 7 are combined to further improve the sleep induction effect. Here, the content player is connected to the control unit 10 and the touch panel monitor 4 in a wired or wireless manner, and the control unit 10 is configured to control the content player based on an instruction of the user 14 input from the touch panel monitor 4. Also good. In this case, energy to the content player can be supplied from the power supply 11.

  Moreover, illumination (not shown) may be provided in the vicinity of the sleep guiding device 1A so that the area around the user 14 gradually becomes dark in order to guide the user 14 to sleep. Thereby, the change of the brightness of illumination and the low frequency vibration which the 1st vibration part 5 and the 2nd vibration part 7 generate | occur | produce are combined, and the sleep induction effect further improves. Here, the illumination is connected to the control unit 10 and the touch panel monitor 4 in a wired or wireless manner, and the control unit 10 is configured to control the brightness of the illumination based on an instruction of the user 14 input from the touch panel monitor 4. May be. In this case, the energy for illumination can be supplied from the power supply 11.

Therefore, the 1st vibration part 5 which gives a local low frequency vibration to the temporal bone of the user 14, and the 2nd vibration part 7 which gives a local low frequency vibration to the buttocks of the user 14 are provided. Thus, it is possible to obtain the sleep induction device 1A that can be driven with a small amount of energy, as well as the small first vibration unit 5 and the second vibration unit 7. In particular, the user 14 feels that the whole body vibrates due to local vibration to the temporal bone. In addition, since the user 14 feels the vibration even in the skin sensation due to the local vibration on the buttocks, the user 14 is more likely to feel as if the whole body is vibrating. And the user 14 can be guide | induced to sleep effectively because the 1st vibration part 5 and the 2nd vibration part 7 drive synchronously.
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 3 is a side view of the sleep guidance device according to the second embodiment.

  The sleep induction device 1B has a pillow 15, a bed 16, and a touch panel monitor 4 as a basic configuration. Here, the pillow 15 includes the first vibration unit 5 and the first acceleration sensor 6. The bed 16 includes a second vibration unit 7, a second acceleration sensor 8, an output adjustment unit 9, a control unit 10, and a power source 11. That is, in this embodiment, the pillow 15 is used instead of the headphones 2 in the first embodiment, and the bed 16 is used instead of the chair 3 in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 4 shows the head of the user 14 and the pillow 15 as viewed from the head of the user 14. Here, the pillow 15 is configured such that the central portion where the head of the user 14 is located is depressed, and the first vibration unit 5 is positioned in the vicinity of the temporal bone of the user 14. Thereby, the 1st vibration part 5 can give a local vibration to the user's 14 temporal bone.

  The touch panel monitor 4 is provided in the vicinity of the pillow 15 so that the user 14 can easily operate the touch panel monitor 4.

  In addition, in this embodiment, although the control part 10 is provided in the bed 16, even if it is provided in the pillow 15 and may be provided outside the sleep induction apparatus 1B. Moreover, in this embodiment, although the power supply 11 is provided in the bed 16, even if it is provided in the pillow 15 and may be provided outside the sleep induction apparatus 1B.

  The configuration and operation of each element are as described in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2).

  In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the content player outputs loose music from the headphones 2 has been described. However, in the present embodiment, the speaker 18 is mounted on the headboard 17 of the bed 16 and the speaker 18 can be relaxed. It is possible to adopt a configuration for outputting music that has been played.

  Other points are the same as in the first embodiment.

  Therefore, the 1st vibration part 5 which gives a local low frequency vibration to the temporal bone of the user 14, and the 2nd vibration part 7 which gives a local low frequency vibration to the buttocks of the user 14 are provided. Thereby, while being able to be set as the small 1st vibration part 5 and the 2nd vibration part 7, it can be set as the sleep guidance apparatus 1B driven with small energy. In particular, the user 14 feels that the whole body vibrates due to local vibration to the temporal bone. In addition, since the user 14 feels the vibration even in the skin sensation due to the local vibration on the buttocks, the user 14 is more likely to feel as if the whole body is vibrating. And the user 14 can be guide | induced to sleep effectively because the 1st vibration part 5 and the 2nd vibration part 7 drive synchronously.

It is a side view which shows the sleep guidance apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structure of the sleep guidance apparatus which concerns on the embodiment. It is a side view which shows the sleep guidance apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the user's head and pillow which were seen from the user's head side in the sleep guidance device concerning the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B Sleep induction apparatus 2 Headphone 3 Chair 4 Touch panel monitor 5 1st vibration part 6 1st acceleration sensor 7 2nd vibration part 8 2nd acceleration sensor 9 Output adjustment part 10 Control part 11 Power supply 12 Earrest part 13 Arm Part 14 User 15 Pillow 16 Bed 17 Headboard 18 Speaker

Claims (5)

A first excitation unit that applies local low frequency vibration to the user's temporal bone;
A second excitation unit that applies local low frequency vibration to the user's buttocks;
With
A sleep induction device, wherein the first vibration unit and the second vibration unit are operated synchronously.   The sleep induction device according to claim 1, wherein the frequency of the low-frequency vibration generated by the first vibration unit and the second vibration unit is 1 to 2 Hz.   The sleep induction device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an output adjustment unit for adjusting the strength of low-frequency vibration generated by the first vibration unit and the second vibration unit. A head-mounted body and a seating body,
The sleep induction device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first vibration unit is built in the head-mounted body, and the second vibration unit is built in the seating body. . A pillow and a bed,
The sleep induction device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first vibration unit is built in the pillow, and the second vibration unit is built in the bed.

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