JP6196785B2 - Bed temperature controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-bed temperature control device that controls the temperature in the bed, and more particularly to an in-bed temperature control device that provides good sleep, comfortable sleep, and good awakening.

  Conventionally, it has been known that it is effective to control the temperature of the bed in order to realize a comfortable sleep, and a thermal appliance such as an electric blanket is generally used to control the temperature of the bed. It has been. Among such thermal appliances, as a thermal appliance for providing a comfortable sleep and a comfortable wake-up, a thermal appliance is known in which the part that heats the upper body of the human body and the part that heats the lower body are controlled separately. (See Patent Document 1).

  In the heating device disclosed in Patent Document 1, an upper heater for heating the upper half of the human body is embedded in the upper half of the blanket body, and a lower heater for heating the lower half of the human body is embedded in the lower half of the blanket body. The upper heater and the lower heater can be individually adjusted, and at the time of falling asleep, it is configured to promote a smooth sleep by adjusting to the state of head cold foot heat. This is explained that sleep increase is promoted because the blood flow in the peripheral part of the human body increases, heat exchange with the deep part of the human body is promoted and the deep body temperature decreases.

  In addition to deep body temperature, factors that affect sleep include the state of sympathetic nerves and temperature-sensitive neurons. For example, regarding temperature sensitive neurons, the sensitivity of each part of the human body is different, and the sensitivity of the upper limb is higher than that of the lower limb. Therefore, if the temperature in the bed is individually controlled in the trunk, upper limbs and lower limbs, each factor affecting sleep can be controlled effectively, and sleep can be controlled efficiently. It becomes. However, in the heating apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the temperature in the upper limbs is controlled independently of the temperature of the trunk because the temperature in the bed is only divided into the upper body and the lower body. I can't.

JP 2003-125908 A

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a temperature control apparatus in the bed that can efficiently control sleep by individually controlling the temperature of each part in the bed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the invention according to claim 1 is a body temperature control device for controlling a temperature in a bed, in which a human body trunk is located in the bed. A trunk heating means for heating the trunk, an upper limb heating means for heating the upper limb where the upper limb of the human body is located in the bed, a lower limb heating means for heating the lower limb where the lower limb of the human body is located in the bed, A heating operation means for adjusting the temperatures of the trunk, the upper limb, and the lower limb in a bed by independently operating the trunk heating means, the upper limb heating means, and the lower limb heating means, respectively. When the time measuring means for measuring an elapsed time from bedtime, the torso, for each of the upper limb and the lower limb portion, is set as a function of the elapsed time from the sleeping Storage means for storing a constant temperature, and depending on the time measured by the time measuring means, the temperature of the trunk, the upper limb, and the lower limb in the bed become the set temperature, respectively. The heating operation means operates the trunk part heating means, the upper limb part heating means, and the lower limb part heating means, and the set temperature of the upper limb part is determined in a period until a predetermined time elapses after sleeping. The bed temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature is lower than the set temperature of the trunk and the set temperature of the lower limb is higher than the set temperature of the trunk .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bed temperature control apparatus capable of efficiently controlling sleep by independently controlling the temperatures of the trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs in the bed. Can be provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a bed temperature control apparatus that can obtain an appropriate bed temperature distribution according to the elapsed time from bedtime.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a temperature control apparatus in the bed that is promptly induced by sleep in the sleep period from when the user goes to bed until a predetermined time elapses.

According to a second aspect of the invention, at a given time period before waking up, according to claim 1, wherein the set temperature of the upper extremity and the torso is equal to or lower than the set temperature of the lower limb portion This is a bed temperature control apparatus.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a temperature control apparatus in the bed that promotes comfortable wake-up in the awakening period of a predetermined time before wake-up.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the set temperature of each of the trunk, the upper limb, and the front lower limb is set in the sleep period, which is a period from a lapse of a predetermined time after going to bed to a predetermined time before waking up. It is equal, The temperature control apparatus in the bed according to claim 1 or 2 characterized by things.

According to the invention of claim 3 , a sleeping bed that provides a comfortable sleeping comfort without interfering with sleep in the sleep period, which is a period from a lapse of a predetermined time after going to bed to a predetermined time before waking up. An internal temperature control device can be provided.

In the invention according to claim 4 , the set temperatures of the trunk part, the upper limb part, and the lower limb part in the second half of the sleep period are such that the trunk part, the upper limb part, and the lower limb part in the first half of the sleep period. It is lower than each said preset temperature, It is the temperature control apparatus in the bed of Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.

According to the invention described in claim 4 , there is provided an in-bed temperature control device that provides a comfortable sleeping comfort without disturbing sleep in any sleep stage that is dominant in each of the first half and the second half of the sleep period. Can be provided.

The invention according to claim 5, wherein the torso heating means, said upper extremity heating means and the leg portion heating means, and each consisting of planar heater and monitor, and being provided on one of the bedding The bed temperature control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 .

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, sleep can be efficiently controlled by independently controlling the temperature of the trunk, upper limb, and lower limb in the bed, using only one bedding. Therefore, it is possible to provide a temperature control device in the bed such that it becomes possible.

Invention of Claim 6 is further equipped with the head heating means which heats the head of a human body, and the said heating operation means operates the said head heating means independently. 5. The bed temperature control device according to any one of 5 above.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide an in-bed temperature control device capable of controlling sleep more efficiently by independently controlling the temperature of the head of the human body.

The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the head heating means is in a period from when the user goes to bed until a predetermined time elapses and during a period after the predetermined time elapses after going to bed until a predetermined time before waking up. 7. The bed temperature control device according to claim 6 , wherein the head heating means is operated and stops during a predetermined time period before waking up.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a bed temperature control apparatus that promotes comfortable wake-up in the awakening period of a predetermined time before wake-up.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the temperature control apparatus in a bed which can control sleep efficiently can be provided by controlling the temperature of a trunk | drum, an upper limb part, and a lower limb part in a bed independently, respectively. .

It is a figure which shows the temperature control apparatus in the bed which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is left sectional drawing, (b) is the front view seen except the comforter. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the temperature control apparatus in the bed which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a time chart which shows the preset temperature of the temperature control apparatus in the bed which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) shows the preset temperature of the trunk, the upper limbs, and the lower limbs in the bed, (b) Indicates the set temperature.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

(Embodiment)
An embodiment of a bed temperature control apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B are views showing a temperature control device in a bed according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a left sectional view, and FIG. 1B is a front view seen without a comforter. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the in-bed temperature control apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a time chart showing set temperatures of the temperature control device in the bed according to the embodiment of the present invention, (a) shows set temperatures of the trunk, upper limbs, and lower limbs in the bed, (b) Indicates the set temperature of the head.

  First, the bed which is controlled by the temperature control device in the bed according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a human body B lying on the bed 70. The bed 70 shown in FIG. 1 includes a mattress 61 and a comforter 62. A pillow 63 that supports the head H of the human body B is also disposed.

  The in-bed temperature control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a trunk heating means 11, an upper limb heating means 12, and a lower limb heating means 13 as main components, and further, heating means 11, 12, 13 The heating operation means 20 which operates is provided. The heating operation means 20 is built in the controller C, and the heating means 11, 12, and 13 are connected to the controller C. Moreover, the bed temperature control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a head heating means 14 in addition to the above-described heating means, and is similarly connected to the controller C.

  The heating means 11, 12, and 13 are arranged so that the inside of the bed 70 can be heated, and the trunk heating means 11 heats the trunk 71 where the human trunk is located in the bed 70, and the upper limb heating means 12. Heats the upper limb 72 where the upper limb of the human body is located, and the lower limb heating means 13 is configured to heat the lower limb 73 where the lower limb of the human body is located. The upper limb is divided into left and right parts, and the right limb 72a is heated by the upper limb heating means 12a and the upper limb 72b is heated by the upper limb heating means 12b. The head heating means 14 is arranged to heat the head H of the human body B.

  The heating means 11, 12, 13, and 14 are composed of planar heaters, and are configured to heat a two-dimensional region. Here, the planar heater is configured by spreading a heating element in a planar shape, and any material such as metal or carbon can be used as the heating element. In the present embodiment, the heating means 11, 12, 13, and 14 are provided in the mattress 61. In addition, it can replace with a planar heater as the heating means 11, 12, 13, and 14, and can also comprise a two-dimensional area | region so that a two-dimensional area | region can be heated by extending a heating wire similarly to an electric blanket.

  The heating means 11, 12, 13, 14 are connected to the heating operation means 20. The heating operation means 20 controls the amount of heat heated by the heating means 11, 12, 13, 14 in accordance with a signal from the comparison unit 30 described later.

  A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature inside the bed 70 is provided, the trunk temperature sensor 41 is provided in the trunk 71, the upper limb temperature sensor 42a is provided in the right upper limb 72a, and the left upper limb is provided. The part 72b is provided with an upper limb temperature sensor 42b, and the lower limb part 73 is provided with a lower limb temperature sensor 43. A head temperature sensor 44 that detects the temperature of the head H is also provided. The temperature sensors 41, 42, 43, 44 are connected to the comparison unit 30, and a signal related to the detected temperature is sent to the comparison unit 30. In the present embodiment, the temperature sensors 41, 42, 43, 44 are provided in the mattress 61.

  The comparison unit 30 is connected to temperature sensors 41, 42, 43, 44, a storage unit 51 and a time measuring unit 52. The comparison unit 30 compares the temperatures detected by the temperature sensors 41, 42, 43, and 44 with a target value described later, and sends a signal to the heating operation means 20 according to the comparison result. The heating operation means 20 operates the heating means 11, 12, 13, 14 in accordance with the signal.

  The storage means 51 stores a set temperature set as a function of the elapsed time from bedtime. This set temperature is set independently for each part (the trunk 71, the upper limb 72, and the lower limb 73) in the bed 70. A set temperature is also set for the head H. Accordingly, referring to the elapsed time measured by the time measuring means 52 and the set temperature, the target values in the respective portions in the bed 70 and the head H are calculated. And the target value in each part in the bed 70 is compared with the actual temperature detected by the temperature sensors 41, 42, 43, 44, and the heating operation means 20 is compared with the heating means 11, according to the comparison result. 12, 13, and 14 are individually operated to control the temperature in the bed 70. Here, the upper limb portion 72 is divided into a right upper limb portion 72a and a left upper limb portion 72b, but the set temperature is set to be the same on the left and right, and the upper limb portion heating means 12a and 12b are individually operated. Thus, the upper limbs 72a and 72b are controlled to have the same temperature.

  The bed temperature control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is configured as a closed loop control system, but an open loop control system can also be applied. In the case of an open loop control system, the temperature sensors 41, 42, 43, and 44 are not necessary. In addition, an appropriate known control system can be employed to control the temperature in the bed 70.

  The heating means 11, 12, 13, 14 and the temperature sensors 41, 42, 43, 44 in this embodiment are all provided in the mattress 61, but the heating means 11, 12, 13, 14 and the temperature sensor 41, The bedding provided with 42, 43, 44 is not particularly limited, and can of course be provided on the comforter 62. In addition, it is of course possible to provide it on bedding such as blankets and mattresses. Of course, the head heating means 14 and the head temperature sensor 44 may be provided on the pillow 63.

  Next, the set temperature of the bed temperature control apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3A is a time chart of the set temperature of each part in the bed 70. The set temperature is represented by a hatched portion in this figure. Each part in the bed 70 is controlled to follow the set temperature. The left end of FIG. 3A is the bedtime, and the right end is the wake-up time. That is, the in-bed temperature control apparatus 100 controls sleep by controlling the temperature in the bed 70 from sleeping until getting up to the selected temperature. The bedtime and wake-up time are set by the user operating an operation panel (not shown) provided in the controller C.

(Sleeping)
The temperature in the bed 70 during a period after going to bed until a predetermined time elapses (hereinafter referred to as “sleeping period”) will be described. In this sleep period, in order to achieve good sleep, the foot (lower limb) is warmed to enlarge the arteriovenous anastomosis and increase the peripheral blood flow as the skin surface temperature rises. Promotes heat exchange from to the end capillaries. On the other hand, heat dissipation from the foot (lower limb) is promoted by keeping the hand (upper limb) at a low temperature. In addition, we will introduce sleep by inspiring temperature-sensitive neurons associated with thermal stimulation. Therefore, the set temperature in the bed 70 in the sleep period is set as follows.
Trunk: 32 ± 2 ° C
Upper limb: 25-29 ° C,
Lower limb: 33-35 ° C.
In addition, in this embodiment, although it is set as the period until 20 minutes pass after going to sleep in the sleep period, this time can be changed arbitrarily.

(Sleeping)
A description will be given of the temperature in the bed 70 during a period from when the user goes to bed after the elapse of a predetermined time (after the onset of sleep) to the predetermined time before waking up (hereinafter referred to as “sleep period”). Since the body temperature regulation function is reduced during sleep, the quality of sleep greatly depends on the temperature in the bed 70. Therefore, control is performed so that the temperature in the bed 70 is maintained at 32 ± 2 ° C. (intermediate temperature). It should be noted that the change in deep body temperature associated with the circadian rhythm takes a maximum value at bedtime, decreases after going to bed, and takes a minimum value in the morning. In addition, during sleep, slow wave sleep (SSW) is dominant in the first half, and REM sleep is dominant in the second half. Therefore, the set temperature in the bed 70 in the sleep period is set as follows, divided into the first half and the second half.
First half of the sleep period;
Trunk, upper limb, lower limb: 30-32 ° C.
Late sleep period;
Trunk, upper limb, lower limb: 31-33 ° C.

(Awakening period)
Next, the temperature in the bed 70 during a predetermined time period before waking up (hereinafter referred to as “wakefulness period”) will be described. In this awakening period, an awakening is promoted by performing an operation opposite to that in the sleeping period. That is, activation of temperature-sensitive neurons and sympathetic nerves is achieved by cooling the feet (lower limbs) and warming the hands (upper limbs). Therefore, the set temperature in the bed 70 in the awakening period is set as follows.
Trunk: 33-35 ° C,
Upper limb: 33-35 ° C,
Lower limb: 25-29 ° C.
In this embodiment, the awakening period is 20 minutes before waking up, but this time can be arbitrarily changed.

Since not only the temperature in the bed 70 but also the temperature of the head affects sleep, the temperature control device 100 in the bed according to the present embodiment is configured to also control the temperature of the head. FIG. 3B is a time chart of the set temperature of the head. Specifically, arousal is promoted through activation of the sympathetic nerve by giving a moderate warm feeling in the sleep period and the sleep period and giving a cool feeling in the awake period. Therefore, the set temperature of the head is as follows.
Sleeping period / sleeping period: 22-25 °,
Awakening period: OFF.
The set temperature of the head is the exposure temperature.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Bed temperature control apparatus 11 Trunk heating means 12a, 12b Upper limb heating means 13 Lower limb heating means 14 Head heating means 20 Heating operation means 51 Storage means 52 Timekeeping means 70 Sleeping bed 71 Trunk part 72 Upper limb part 73 Lower limb part

Claims (7)

In the temperature control device in the bed for controlling the temperature in the bed,
A trunk heating means for heating the trunk where the trunk of the human body is located in the bed,
Upper limb heating means for heating the upper limb where the upper limb of the human body is located in the bed,
Lower limb heating means for heating the lower limb where the lower limb of the human body is located in the bed,
A heating operation means for adjusting the temperatures of the trunk, the upper limb, and the lower limb in a bed by independently operating the trunk heating means, the upper limb heating means, and the lower limb heating means, respectively. When,
A timing means for measuring elapsed time from bedtime;
For each of the trunk, the upper limbs and the lower limbs, storage means for storing a set temperature set as a function of the elapsed time from bedtime,
According to the time measured by the time measuring means, the heating operation means is the trunk heating means, so that the temperatures of the trunk, the upper limb, and the lower limb in the bed become the set temperatures. Operate the upper limb heating means and the lower limb heating means,
In the period from going to bed until a predetermined time has passed,
The set temperature of the upper limb is lower than the set temperature of the trunk,
The in-bed temperature control device , wherein the set temperature of the lower limb is higher than the set temperature of the trunk . During the predetermined time period before waking up,
The in-bed temperature control device according to claim 1, wherein the set temperatures of the upper limb and the trunk are lower than the set temperature of the lower limb . In the sleep period, which is the period from the wakeup to the predetermined time before waking up after a predetermined time has elapsed,
The in-bed temperature control device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the set temperatures of the trunk, the upper limb, and the lower limb are equal . The set temperatures of the trunk, the upper limb, and the lower limb in the second half of the sleep period are lower than the set temperatures of the trunk, the upper limb, and the lower limb in the first half of the sleep period, respectively. The in-bed temperature control device according to claim 3, wherein The torso heating means, the upper extremity heating means and the leg portion heating means, with each consisting of planar heater, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that provided on one of the bedding Bed temperature control device. A head heating means for heating the head of the human body;
The heating operation means, bed within the temperature control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that to operate independently the head heating means. The head heating means is activated during a period until a predetermined time elapses after going to bed, and after a predetermined time elapses after going to bed until a predetermined time before waking up,
The in-bed temperature control apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the head heating means stops during a predetermined time period before waking up .

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