JP2554224B2 - Relaxation system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides a subject support such as a chair with a backrest and a bed with a converter for converting an electric signal into mechanical vibration and a sound reproducing device for converting an acoustic signal such as music into sound. It relates to the equipped relaxation system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In such a relaxation system, conventionally, a contact portion of a subject support, such as a chair with a backrest equipped with a transducer for converting an electric signal into a mechanical vibration, a bed, etc., with a subject, is composed of an acoustic signal such as music. Vibrate with
This allowed the subject to enjoy music and at the same time be relaxed.

[0003]

Conventionally, as described above,
The subject tried to give the subject a relaxed state by applying vibration consisting of only acoustic signals to the subject, but this method had a problem in that the person could enjoy music but could not relax much. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a relaxation system by which a subject can effectively obtain a relaxed state.

[0004]

The relaxation system according to the present invention comprises a subject support such as a chair with a backrest and a bed, and a transducer for converting an electric signal into mechanical vibration.
A sound reproducing device for converting a sound signal of music or the like into a sound is provided, wherein the first characteristic configuration is that the electric signal has an electric signal having a frequency similar to an electroencephalogram, and the electric signal has a frequency similar to the electroencephalogram. The electrical signal is modulated in amplitude based on the acoustic signal input to the acoustic reproduction device. Second
The characteristic configuration is that the frequency of the electric signal similar to the electroencephalogram is 8H.
It is at a frequency near z.

[0005]

According to the first characteristic configuration, the subject, while listening to music or the like reproduced as sound by the sound reproducing device, mechanical vibrations obtained by converting an electric signal having an electric signal similar to an electroencephalogram by the converter. You can feel And
The amplitude of the electric signal having a frequency similar to the electroencephalogram is modulated based on the acoustic signal that is the signal source of the sound reproduced by the sound reproducing device. That is, the acoustic signal and the signal having a frequency similar to the electroencephalogram are integrated into the subject, and are applied to the subject as vibration. According to the second characteristic configuration, the subject is
You can feel the vibration of the frequency around 8Hz.

[0006]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Generally, brain waves are roughly divided into β waves (14 to 30 Hz) and FAST α waves (10 to 14 H).
z), SLOW α wave (8 to 10 Hz), θ wave (4 to 8 H)
z) and δ wave (0.5 to 4 Hz), β wave is a brain wave that appears in a state of high tension such as when studying, at work, etc. Is an electroencephalogram that appears when the person is in a mentally intensive relaxed state such as memory and problem-solving abilities. SLOW α wave is an electroencephalogram that appears when you are mentally relaxed, such as when you are lightly asleep or relaxing. Is a very stable EEG that appears in a deeply relaxed state such as during meditation, and
The delta wave is an electroencephalogram that appears during deep sleep. According to the first characteristic configuration, when the subject wants to obtain a relaxed state desired by the subject, for example, the SLOW α wave state (mental relaxed state), the subject modulates based on an acoustic signal converted into a sound by the acoustic reproduction device. The mechanical vibration due to the electric signal having the electric signal of the frequency corresponding to the generated SLOW α wave can be felt. Then, the test subject feels the vibration including the signal of the frequency similar to the electroencephalogram and the acoustic signal of the music as described above, and the acoustic signal of the music or the like that is the basis of the vibration is generated. Can be heard as sound. Therefore, the vibration felt by the subject includes not only a signal having a frequency similar to an electroencephalogram but also an acoustic signal such as music in a state of being integrated with a signal having a frequency similar to an electroencephalogram, so that the subject has less oppressive feeling. Vibration is given in a natural state.
Moreover, since the acoustic signal such as music included in the vibration felt by the subject is based on the acoustic signal such as music that is the basis of the sound reproduced by the sound reproduction device, the vibration and the sound are in harmony. It is given to the subject as a unit. Therefore, the vibration and the sound including the signal of the frequency similar to the electroencephalogram processed so as to be accepted by the subject without any discomfort and the sound are integrally guided to the subject, so that the subject can effectively obtain the relaxed state. it can. Generally, the resonance frequency of the earth is 7.83 Hz (Schumann resonance frequency), and humans have been using this 7.83 Hz since ancient times.
Since living in the frequency of Hz, it is said that the vibration of this frequency gives comfort to the person, but according to the second characteristic configuration, the subject vibrates at the frequency near the Schumann resonance frequency. Thus, the brain wave state of the subject can be promptly induced to the Schumann resonance frequency state, and the relaxed state of the subject can be promoted to the comfort state.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the relaxation system of the present invention is applied to a backrest will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, 1 is a chair, 2 is a converter for converting an electric signal into mechanical vibration, 4 is a sound reproducing device, 5 is a footrest, 6 is an electroencephalogram detecting means, and 7 is the electroencephalogram detecting means. A display device for displaying the detection result of 6, a control device 8
00 is a console. The chair 1 has an armrest portion 11,
It consists of a backrest part 12, a pillow part 13, and a seat part 14,
Each of the left and right armrest parts 11 is provided with the transducer 2 and the sound reproducing device 4, a display device 7 is provided in front of the right armrest part 11, and a control device 8 is provided below the right armrest part 11. A footrest 5 is provided at a position where the feet of the person are placed. A chair with a backrest to which the relaxation system of the present invention is applied is a transducer 2 for converting a electric signal into a mechanical vibration while a subject sitting on the chair 1 hears the music reproduced by the sound reproducing device 4 by ear. It is configured to promote the relaxed state of the subject by feeling the vibration of (1) with the palm of the hand. The electroencephalogram at this time is detected by the electroencephalogram detecting means 6, and the detection result is displayed on the display device 7. Hereinafter, each device will be described.

2 and 3, the operation of the chair with a backrest to which the relaxation system of the present invention is applied will be described. The control device 8 includes a tilt angle control means for controlling the tilt angle of the backrest portion 12, an external sound reproduction device control means for controlling the operation of the external sound reproduction device, a volume control device for controlling the sound volume of the sound reproduction device 4, and a palm. Vibration control means for controlling the vibration amount of the converter 2 applied to the foot, foot vibration control means for controlling the vibration amount of the footrest 5 applied to the sole of the foot, and the display level of each frequency band of the display device 7 are controlled. Functions as display level control means. Then, the control device 8 is configured to perform the above control based on a command from the console 100.

The external terminal 81 provided in the control device 8 is
For example, an external sound reproducer such as a CD player is connected, and the external sound reproducer control means is configured to control the operation of the CD player via the external terminal 81.

The volume control means is configured to control the volume of the sound reproducing device 4 as follows. The input acoustic signals of the left and right channels obtained by operating the external acoustic regenerator are adjusted in signal amount by the volumes 82a and 82b to become the acoustic signal A. This acoustic signal A is
The low pass is cut by the high pass filters 83a and 83b to become the acoustic signal B, and the power amplifiers 87a and 87b
The sound signal B amplified by is input to the sound reproduction device 4, and the sound reproduction device 4 is driven and converted into sound. Therefore, the test subject can hear the sound of the sound signal B reproduced by the sound reproduction device 4 by ear.

The hand vibration control means is configured to control the vibration amount of the converter 2 applied to the palm as follows. The acoustic signal A is sent to the low-pass filter 84.
The high frequency band is cut by a and 84b and becomes the acoustic signal C for vibration applied to the hand and foot. The electric signal F generated by the signal generator H is added to the acoustic signal C to generate the electric signal F.
And The signal amount of this electric signal F is set to the volume 85a,
It is adjusted by 85b, amplified by power amplifiers 88a and 88b, and added to the converters 2 of the left and right armrests. Therefore, the test subject can detect the acoustic signal C vibrated by the transducer 2.
Can be felt with the palm of the hand.

The foot vibration control means is configured to control the amount of vibration of the footrest 5 applied to the sole of the foot as follows. Like the converter 2 of the armrest portion 11 and the mounted body 31, the converter for converting the electric signal F into mechanical vibration and the sole of the foot of the subject attached to the vibrating portion are mounted on the footrest 5. The body 51 and the left and right feet are provided, and the signal amount of the electric signal F is adjusted by the volumes 86a and 86b, amplified by the power amplifiers 89a and 89b, and the left and right converters are driven by this signal. It is configured to vibrate the mounted body 51.

Therefore, the subject hears the middle and high range sounds of the input sound signal by ear, and at the same time, the middle and low range vibrations of the input sound signal and the vibration of the electric signal S are heard on the palm and soles of the feet. I can feel it. In the acoustic signal B, the vibration of the acoustic reproduction device 4 attached to the chair frame 15 during the acoustic reproduction is transmitted through the chair frame 15 and the armrest portion 1 is transmitted.
1, the low frequency band of the input acoustic signal is cut so that the cushions such as 1, the backrest portion 12, the pillow portion 13, and the seat portion 14 are not vibrated, and the acoustic signal C is a converter. In Fig. 2, only the low-frequency frequencies that can actually vibrate are extracted from the input acoustic signal.

The operation of the electroencephalogram detecting means 6 for detecting the electroencephalogram and the display device 7 for displaying the detection result will be described with reference to FIG. The electroencephalogram detection means 6 comprises a headband 61 and an ear electrode 62, each of which is provided with an electrode. Then, the electroencephalogram detection means 6 is configured to detect, as an electroencephalogram signal, a weak skin potential change between the forehead epidermis with which the electrode of the headband 61 is in contact and the ear epidermis with which the electrode of the ear electrode 62 is in contact. Has been done. The ear electrode 62 is provided so that it can be attached to the earlobe by utilizing the principle of a spring or the like.
The electroencephalogram signal detected by the electroencephalogram detection means 6 is applied to the operational amplifier 91 in the display level control means of the control device 8.
And a volume 92 to amplify it to an appropriate level, and the bandpass filters 93 to 97 for each frequency band cause β
Wave (14-30Hz), FASTα wave (10-14H)
z), SLOW α wave (8 to 10 Hz), θ wave (4 to 8 H)
z) and δ waves (0.5 to 4 Hz) are divided and extracted.
Rectify each frequency component of these extracted EEG signals,
The potential of the rectified waveform is displayed on the display device 7 as a level for each frequency component band as an average value at the present time or a fixed time. Therefore, the subject can know the current state of the electroencephalogram by directly looking at the display of the display device 7, and therefore, the present relaxed state of the subject can be determined from the state of the electroencephalogram.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, the structure of the converter 2 and the mounting structure in which the converter 2 is mounted on the chair frame 15 will be described. The converter 2 includes a magnet 20,
The pole piece 21, the yoke plate 22, the voice coil 23, the damper 24, the frame 25, the case 26, the mounting member 27, and the diaphragm 28 are included. Of these, the voice coil 23, the frame 25, and the diaphragm 28 are integrally mounted by the mounting member 27. Therefore, when an electric signal is applied to the voice coil 23, the voice coil 23 is driven, and the voice coil 23 vibrates with the driving. Board 28
Vibrates.

The vibrating plate 28 is provided with a protrusion 28a for preventing the elastic body 34 from being displaced, and the chair frame 15 is provided with a groove 15a for holding the elastic body 34 so that the elastic body 34 is not displaced. There is. Then, the diaphragm 2 of the converter 2
8 is attached to the chair frame 15 via the elastic body 34 by the attachment 30, and the vibration of the diaphragm 28 is configured not to be transmitted to the chair frame 15.
In order to prevent the converter 2 from coming off the chair frame 15,
A nut 30a is attached to the attachment 30 with play. Further, the vibration absorbing elastic body 34 is made of a vibration absorbing material such as urethane.

Next, referring to FIG. 4 and FIG.
The mounting structure of No. 1, the orientation changing mechanism, and the movement mechanism in the front-back direction of the chair will be described. The support 32 has a sphere 3
2a and a disk-shaped protrusion 32d. Object 3
1 is supported by the spherical body 32a in a state of being exposed from the surface of the armrest portion 11, and is configured so that the orientation of the mounted body 31 can be rotationally changed about the spherical body 32a. Further, the surface of the mounted body 31 has a spherical shape so as to easily support the palm of the subject. A spring 33 is inserted between the support 32 and the protrusion 32d, and when there is no object to be placed on the object 31, the object 3 is placed.
It is configured to hold the posture of No. 1 horizontally. still,
This spring 33 is for holding the posture of the mounted body 31 horizontally, and may be made of another elastic body. The vibrating plate 28 is provided with a slide groove 28b for the support 32 to slide on the vibrating plate 28 in the front-back direction of the chair, and the support 32 has a protrusion that engages with the slide groove 28b of the vibrating plate 28. 32b is provided. Therefore, since the support 32 is configured to slide on the diaphragm 28 in the front-back direction of the chair, the mounted body 31 slides in the front-back direction of the chair accordingly. Therefore, the mounted body 31 is connected to the diaphragm 2 of the converter 2 via the support body 32.
Therefore, the vibration of the vibration plate 28 is transmitted to the mounted body 31 via the support body 32.

Next, the mounting structure of the sound reproducing device 4 will be described with reference to FIG. The sound reproduction device 4 includes a speaker 41, a speaker box 42, and an elastic body 43 for sound reproduction.
It is composed of The speaker box 42 with the speaker 41 attached to the front side is attached to the chair frame 15 via the elastic body 43 with the rear part thereof being opened, so that the vibration of the speaker 41 is prevented from being transmitted to the chair frame 15. Then, the front surfaces of the left and right speakers 41 are attached so as to face in the direction of the position corresponding to the head of the subject, and the subject can hear the sounds reproduced by the left and right speakers 41. .

Next, the signal generator H for generating the electric signal S will be described with reference to FIGS. Acoustic signal A,
For example, if the signal waveform is as shown in FIG. 8, the acoustic signal A having this signal waveform is rectified and smoothed by a rectification smoothing circuit, and the positive-polarity envelope signal S11 and the negative-polarity envelope signal S12 of the rectified and smoothed signal are generated. , 8 Hz to produce an amplitude modulated wave S13 of 8 Hz by switching at a frequency of 8 Hz. Then, the high-frequency component of the amplitude-modulated wave S13 is cut by the low-pass filter, and the low-frequency component S14 of the 8-Hz amplitude-modulated wave is created. Therefore, the frequency of this signal S14 is 8 Hz, and the amplitude is modulated by the acoustic signal A. And this signal S1
4 is added to the acoustic signal C as the electric signal S to generate the electric signal F. The switching at the frequency of 8 Hz is controlled by a control device such as a microcomputer at times t1 and t2 at which the oscillation frequency of 8 Hz can be changed. Further, a portion surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. 7 is a signal S amplitude-modulated by the left and right acoustic signals.
You may make 14 right and left separately.

[Other Embodiment] In the signal generator H of the above embodiment, the electric signal S may be generated by the following method (FIG. 9, FIG. 11 or FIG. 10, FIG. 11). In FIGS. 9 and 11, the signal S21 is rectified and smoothed from the acoustic signal A, and the signal S21 is compared with a set level by a comparator to create a signal S22. With this signal S22, a signal having a frequency of 8 Hz is generated. The signal S23 may be generated by switching and then the signal S24 may be generated through a low pass filter, and the signal S24 may be used as the electric signal S. In FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the acoustic signal A is rectified and smoothed to generate the signal S31, and the voltage controlled amplifier (VC
In A), a signal having a frequency of 8 Hz may be amplitude-modulated with the signal S31 to generate a signal S32, and the signal S32 may be used as the electric signal S.

In the electric signal S similar to the electroencephalogram of the above embodiment, the electric signal S is produced by amplitude-modulating a signal having a frequency of 8 Hz with a signal corresponding to the acoustic signal A in the embodiment. Instead of the frequency signal, a signal of another frequency similar to an electroencephalogram may be used. In the electric signal S similar to the electroencephalogram of the above embodiment, the electric signal S may be generated from the electroencephalogram detected by the electroencephalogram detecting means 6, for example, the SLOWα wave extracted by the bandpass filter 96.

In the signal generator H of the above embodiment, in the embodiment, a mono signal S similar to an electroencephalogram is made from the left and right stereo signals A, and the mono signal S is added to the left and right stereo signals C to obtain the left and right signals. Are being driven, the stereo signals S are separately generated from the left and right stereo signals A, and this stereo signal S is added to the left and right stereo signals C to add the left and right supports 31 and 51. It may be configured to drive 51. In the vibration of the mounted objects 31 and 51 of the above-described embodiment, in the embodiment, the signal F for driving the vibration of the left and right mounted objects is driven by adding the brain wave-like mono signal S to the left and right stereo signals C. However, a mono signal C is created from the left and right stereo acoustic signals A, and a mono signal S is added to this mono signal C to create a mono signal F,
The left and right objects may be driven by this signal F, and accordingly, the object 51 is formed into a semi-cylindrical shape or the like on which the left and right feet rest, and one object signal F is used. Placement 5
1 may be vibrated, and the left and right feet may be vibrated by this one mounted body 51.

It should be noted that although reference numerals are given in the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair with a backrest according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram.

[Fig. 4] Converter explanatory diagram

[Fig. 5] Converter installation explanatory diagram

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of mounting the sound reproducing device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a signal generator H.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a signal generator H.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a signal generator H according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a signal generator H according to another embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a signal generator H according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Subject support 2 Transducer A Acoustic signal F Electric signal S EEG-like electric signal

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A subject support (1) such as a chair with a backrest or a bed, a transducer (2) for converting an electric signal (F) into mechanical vibration, and an acoustic re-converter for converting an acoustic signal such as music into sound.
A Rirakuze Lee Deployment system including a raw device (4), said electrical signal (F) is, have a brain wave similar frequency of the electrical signal (S), an electrical signal having a frequency of the EEG similar (S) is , Said acoustic re
Amplitude based on the acoustic signal input to the live device (4)
Relaxation system in which is modulated . 2. The relaxation system according to claim 1, wherein the electric signal (S) similar to the electroencephalogram has a frequency near 8 Hz.