JP2712671B2 - Sleep state determination device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sleep state determination device that determines a sleep state of a sleeping person.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sleep state determination apparatus of this type detects a sleep state by detecting a brain wave or eye movement of a sleeping person and performing waveform processing of a detection signal to determine a sleep state (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-253034).
And a device that detects a pulse wave of a sleeping person and performs a waveform process of a detection signal to determine a sleep state (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-150047).
In either case, as shown in FIG.
Detecting means 1 for detecting a biological signal such as a pulse wave, and detecting means 1
And a determination means 3 for determining a sleep state based on an output of the signal processing means 2.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above configuration, the detection means 1 for detecting brain waves, eye movements, pulse waves, and the like is directly mounted on the scalp or skin of a human body. In addition to the problem that sleep is disturbed, the signal processing is complicated and the cost is high.

The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problem, and has as its object to easily and inexpensively determine a sleep state without mounting the above-described detection means on a human body.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, a stimulus generating means for generating a stimulus to a sleeping person according to the present invention, and a magnitude of the stimulus is set in advance so as not to disturb the sleeping of the sleeping person. Setting means, a timer, a body movement detecting means for detecting a body movement response of the sleeping person to the stimulus, and when the stimulus is generated based on a signal from the body movement detecting means, If there is body movement, the sleeping person is determined to be in a non-sleep state,
A determination unit that determines that the sleeping person is in a sleep state when there is no body movement; and a control unit that controls the stimulus generation unit to generate a stimulus having a magnitude set at predetermined intervals based on a signal from the timer. And control means for performing the control.

Operation According to the present invention, the body motion response of the sleeping person to the stimulus generated by the stimulus generation unit is detected by the body motion detection unit, and the sleep state is determined by the determination unit based on the detected signal.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes stimulus generating means constituted by an electric vibrator whose vibration magnitude changes according to the magnitude of the applied voltage, 5 denotes setting means for setting a voltage applied to the electric vibrator, 6 Is a body movement detecting means constituted by a strain gauge or the like for detecting the body movement of the sleeping person, 7 is a judging means for judging the sleeping state of the sleeping person based on a signal from the body movement detecting means 6, 8 is a timer, and 9 is a setting. The control means controls the voltage applied to the stimulus generation means 4 based on signals from the means 5, the determination means 7 and the timer 8. When used at bedtime, the stimulus generating means 4 and the body movement detecting means 6 are arranged under a sheet, a bed, a pillow, etc. so as not to contact the sleeping person.

With the above-described configuration, the voltage set by the setting unit 5 is applied to the electric vibrator of the stimulus generating unit 4 at regular intervals determined by the timer 8 by the control unit 9, and when a vibration occurs, a biological reaction to the vibration is caused. The body motion of the sleeping person is detected by the body motion detection means 6. The sleep state is determined by the determining means 7 as a non-sleep state when there is a body movement, and as a sleep state when there is no body movement. The magnitude of the generated vibration can be adjusted by the setting means 5, and can be set to a desired magnitude that does not disturb sleep. Further, the control means 9 can also be configured not to apply a voltage to the electric vibrator so as not to generate vibration once the sleep state is reached, so that sleep after falling asleep is not disturbed.

By the above action, the sleeping state is determined by adding vibration to the sleeping person in a non-contact manner and detecting the presence or absence of body movement at that time in a non-contact manner, so that brain waves, eye movements, pulse waves, etc. are conventionally determined. There is no discomfort caused by directly attaching the detecting means to the scalp or skin of the human body, and sleep is not disturbed. In addition, there is an effect that the sleep state can be easily and inexpensively determined without the signal processing being complicated and the cost being high as in the related art.

In the above-described embodiment, the stimulus generation unit 4 is configured to generate vibration. However, the stimulus generation unit 4 may be configured to generate at least one of vibration, voice, light, fragrance, heat, air current, electromagnetic wave, and the like. Similar effects can be obtained.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the following effects can be obtained by the sleep state determination device of the present invention.

(1) When the sleeping person has a body motion when a stimulus is given to the sleeping person, it is determined that the sleeping person is in a non-sleeping state, and when there is no body movement, it is determined that the sleeping person is in a sleeping state. Therefore, the sleep state can be determined easily and at low cost.

(2) When the sleeper is determined to be asleep by the determiner, the stimulus generator is controlled so as not to generate a stimulus thereafter, so that sleep after falling asleep can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a sleep state determination device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional sleep state determination device. 4 ... stimulus generation means, 6 ... body movement detection means, 7 ... determination means.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A stimulus generating means for generating a stimulus for a sleeping person, a setting means capable of presetting a magnitude of the stimulus so as not to disturb the sleeping of the sleeping person, a timer, A body movement detecting means for detecting a body movement response of the sleeping person to the stimulus, and if the sleeping person has a body movement when the stimulus is generated based on a signal from the body movement detecting means, the sleeping person does not fall asleep. Determining that the sleeping person is in a sleeping state when there is no body movement, and a stimulus having a magnitude set at regular intervals based on a signal from the timer. And a control means for controlling the occurrence of sleep. 2. The sleep state judging device according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the stimulus generation means so as not to generate a stimulus after the sleeper is judged to be asleep by the judgment means.