JPH0288995A - Wake-up device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To give an appropriate optical stimulus to the user of the title device before the user getting off his bed so that the user can be woken up surely by controlling a light emitting means which accelerates the waking of the user with the optical stimulus and a sound producing means which accelerates the waking of the user with an acoustic stimulus. CONSTITUTION:This wake-up device is provided with time limiting means 8 and 1C which successively generates 1st and 2nd time limiting signals prior to a wake-up signal, light emitting means 5 which accelerates the waking of the user of the wake-up device with an optical stimulus, and sound producing means 4 which accelerates the waking of the user with an acoustic stimulus. The means 5 is actuated by the 1st time limiting signal and the light emitting quantity of the means 5 gradually increases as the time elapses so as to make the sleeping state of the user shallower until the 2nd time limiting signal is issued. Since the light emitting quantity of the means 5 is changed at fixed time intervals after the 2nd time limiting signal, the optical stimulus is not smoothly increased, but abruptly increased so that the user can be stimulated strongly. As a result, the user can be led to waking even when the sleeping state is deep. Therefore, the user can wake up surely with relatively weak sounds without unpleasantness at the wake-up time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an alarm device that wakes up a person by stimulating them with light and sound at a predetermined time set in advance.

[Prior Art] A conventional alarm device alarms when a preset time arrives.
Since the device was designed to generate an alarm sound and use sound stimulation to wake the patient, it was necessary to stimulate the patient with a loud sound, which caused discomfort when the patient woke up. Furthermore, if the volume is set low, there is a risk that the user will not wake up when he or she is in deep sleep, resulting in an insufficient awakening effect.

In order to solve these problems, the present inventors used optical stimulation that gradually increases the amount of light to induce light sleep prior to a preset wake-up time, and then woken the patient up using sound stimulation. proposed a device (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 162-1988)
Publication No. 786).

In addition, a device has been considered in which the light is flickered on and off without changing the amount of light when the light is turned on, in advance of the wake-up time, to induce a light sleep, and then the device is awakened by sound stimulation (Jikkosho 59). -17111).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with a device that gradually increases the intensity of light stimulation before the time of waking up, the increase in the amount of stimulation is smooth, so habituation to the stimulation occurs, and when the sleep is very deep, a state of light sleep occurs. In some cases, it was not possible to lead to

In addition, if the light is made to flicker without changing the amount of light when the light is on, there is a large difference in the level between when the light is on and when the light is off, so stimulation is often too strong, and there is no change in the level when the light is on. Therefore, it was difficult to gradually lead to a shallower sleep state. In other words, if the level of 5 lights is low, it will not be possible to induce light sleep, and conversely, if the level is high, the light stimulation will cause you to wake up suddenly before the wake-up time, making it difficult to wake up. The problem was that the pleasure could not be removed.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by providing appropriate optical stimulation before the waking time, the present invention guides the sleep state to gradually become light regardless of the sleep state. This aims to provide an alarm device that both ensures that the user wakes up and does not cause discomfort when the user wakes up.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a time setting means for setting a desired wake-up time, a wake-up signal at the wake-up time set by the time setting means, and a wake-up signal. a time-limiting means for sequentially generating a first time-limited signal and a second time-limited signal prior to the signal; a light-generating means for promoting awakening by optical stimulation; a sound-generating means for promoting awakening by sound stimulation; A light control means for setting the light generation means to a predetermined light intensity in response to a time limit signal and a second time limit signal, and a sound control means for operating the sound generation means at a predetermined volume in response to the wake-up signal. The light control means controls the light generating means to turn on the light generating means when the first time limit signal is inputted, and thereafter controls the amount of light to gradually increase with the passage of time, and also controls the light generation means so that the amount of light gradually increases with the passage of time. The light intensity is controlled to be changed at a predetermined level a predetermined number of times at fixed time intervals from the time when the light intensity is set as a reference level.

Further, the light control means may control the number of times the light amount is changed at regular time intervals after the second time limit signal is input so as to increase over time.

According to the above configuration, the light generating means is activated by the first time-limited signal issued before the wake-up time, and the amount of light gradually increases thereafter, so that the sleep state is gradually led to a shallower state. Moreover, after the second time-limited signal is output, the amount of light is changed at a predetermined level at a predetermined time interval a predetermined number of times, so that the increase in optical stimulation is not smooth and it is difficult to get used to the stimulation. As a result, even if the sleep state is deep, it is possible to reliably guide the patient into a light sleep state. Furthermore, since the amount of light at that point in time is used as a reference level and changes by a predetermined level at regular intervals, if the change level is chosen appropriately, the stimulation is not as strong as blinking the light, and it does not cause sudden awakening. As a result of 0 or more, even if you are in a deep sleep state, you can definitely lead to a shallow state, and you can wake up suddenly,
This does not cause habituation to the stimulation, and the patient can be reliably woken up at wake-up time with a relatively weak sound stimulation without discomfort.

In addition, by increasing the number of times the light intensity is changed over time, as sleep becomes lighter, it is possible to provide the optimal amount of stimulation that matches the sleep state at that time, which will help you achieve your goals. Better results can be obtained.

〔Example〕

As shown in FIG. 1, it is equipped with a calculation M phloem l composed of a microcomputer having functions as a time limit means, a light control means, and a sound control means. As inputs to the 1i calculation section 1, an operation section 2 consisting of a plurality of switches having a function as time setting means and a function selection section 3 consisting of switches for setting various functions are connected. In addition, the calculation control unit 1
The output is controlled by a sound generating section 4 consisting of a buzzer (which may also be a speaker that outputs an alarm sound consisting of an electronic sound or a synthesized voice) as a sound generating means, and a light generating section 5 consisting of an incandescent lamp as a light generating means. phase control element (for example,
An output section 6 equipped with a triac (triac) is connected to a display section 7 consisting of a liquid crystal display that displays the time, setting mode, etc. Further, the arithmetic control section 1 receives a clock signal from a clock generator M8, and also receives a zero-cross signal from a zero-cross detection section 9 that detects the zero-cross point of the commercial AC power source AC. The power supply unit 10 is a commercial alternating current power supply AC
is set to a constant DC voltage, and the power failure detection unit 11 detects a power failure and maintains the set value of the arithmetic control unit 1 for a certain period of time (for example, 24
Switch to the internal power supply so that the power can be maintained (hours). Here, the zero cross signal determines the firing timing of the phase M control element provided in the output section 6.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, the lamp has an appearance similar to an incandescent lamp stand. On the surface of the base 21, there are an on switch 22 for turning on the light generating section 5, an off switch 23 for turning off the light generating section 5, and an off switch 23 for turning off the light generating section 5. A sleeve setting switch 24 for setting the light to turn off, a function selection switch 25 for selecting whether to use the light generating section 5 as normal lighting or as an alarm clock, and enabling or disabling the alarm function of the sound generating section 4. The alarm switch 26 for selecting whether to do so, and the display section 7 are exposed. The alarm switch 26 has a snooze function so that the sound generating section 4 will operate again after a certain period of time if the alarm switch 26 is simply pushed down.

To completely stop the operation of the sound generator 4, after pushing down the alarm switch 26, slide it along the surface of the base 21 and lock it.A removable cover 27 is attached to the base 21. A recess 28 is formed which is covered by the recess 28 .
Inside are a clock setting mode switch 31 for switching to a mode for setting the current time, a wake-up time setting mode switch 32 for switching to a mode for setting the wake-up time, an hour setting switch 33 and a minute setting switch 34 for setting the time.
, a reset switch 35 for clearing the wake-up time setting;
Volume setting switch 36 for setting the output volume of the sound generator 4
, a light I setting switch 3 for setting the output light amount of the light generating section 5;
7 is provided. Both the volume setting switch 36 and the light intensity setting switch 37 can be set in three stages. Among these switches, the switch provided in the recess 28 belongs to the operation section 2, and the switch exposed on the base 21 belongs to the function selection section 3.

Hereinafter, the 0 function selection switch 25 will be used to explain the operation.
Alarm" is selected, and the output volume of the sound generator 4 and the output light intensity of the light generator 5 are set using the operation unit 2 using the volume setting switch 36 and the light intensity setting switch 37. Also, press the wake-up time setting mode switch 32 and set the wake-up time using the hour setting switch 33 and minute setting switch 34. The 0 o'clock setting switch 33 and the minute setting switch 34 are scan inputs. , the value will automatically increase if you hold it down for a certain period of time. Further, during the setting, the setting time is displayed on the display section 7. After setting the wake-up time in this way, if the alarm switch 26 is made to protrude upward, the following operation will occur.

As shown in Figure 3, when a certain amount of time (for example, 30 minutes before) comes before the set wake-up time, ! The first time limit signal is generated by the timer 1c functioning as a time limit means in the iI calculation control section 1. At time 1+>, the light control section 1a outputs the first time limit signal to the output section 6.
However, the light generating section 5 is turned on for a very short period of one cycle of the commercial AC power supply AC, and the light generating section 5 lights up with the minimum amount of light. Thereafter, the light 11t control section la controls the firing angle of the output section 6 so as to gradually increase the amount of light. Set wake-up time t
0 predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes), a second time limit signal is generated from the timer IC. When the second time limit signal is generated (time tz), the light control section 1a changes the light amount of the light generation section 5 at regular time intervals (for example, one minute) to perform a flickering operation. Here, the range in which the amount of light changes is determined to be a constant level, and the amount of light at the time the flicker operation starts is set as the reference level, and the amount of light changes back and forth between the reference level and the reference level. Change the amount of light. That is, instead of providing a period in which the light is completely turned off as in the conventional case, only the level changes when the light is on. This makes it possible to vary the stimulus without making it too strong. Also, the reference level will increase each time. Further, the number of times the light amount changes in one flicker operation is set to increase with the passage of time. In this way, the light stimulation can be rapidly increased with the passage of time, and the effect of inducing a light sleep state will be even higher. In other words, even if you are in a very deep sleep state when the first timed signal is output,
Since the brain is stimulated, if the amount of stimulation is rapidly increased from a weak stimulation, it can lead to light sleep. In this way, when the set wake-up time comes, the sound control section 1b causes the sound generating means 4 to sound to wake the patient up with sound stimulation. Here, since the state of sleep is shallow due to the light stimulation, the awakening effect can be obtained with a relatively low volume, and there is no discomfort caused by loud noises.Furthermore, since the state of sleep is light, it is possible to wake up suddenly from deep sleep. There is no discomfort like in the past.

By the way, since there are individual differences in how people feel about light, a light amount setting switch 37 is provided so that settings can be made in accordance with individual differences, and the light amount setting switch 3
By operating 7, the amount of stimulation can be changed as follows. That is, by operating the light amount setting switch 37, the maximum light amount at the wake-up time t0 can be changed as shown in FIG. Here, the solid line in Figure 3 indicates the standard level, and the broken line indicates the low level.
As shown in FIG. 4, the light intensity setting switch 37 may be used to change the level for flickering operation. In other words, at the standard level, as shown by the solid line in FIG.
The amount of light at the time the flicker operation starts is made to approximately match the center level of the level change, and at low levels, the light amount at the time the flicker operation is started reaches the maximum value of the level change, as shown by the broken line in Figure 4. Make sure that they roughly match, and further,
At a high level, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 4, the amount of light at the time the flickering operation is started is made to approximately match the minimum value of the level change. Note that when the stimulus I is changed significantly due to individual differences in optical stimulation, the above-mentioned re-operation can also be used in combination.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention includes a time setting means for setting a desired wake-up time, a wake-up signal at the wake-up time set by the time setting means, and a first wake-up signal prior to the wake-up signal. A time limit means for sequentially generating a time limit signal and a second time limit signal; a light generating means for promoting awakening by optical stimulation; a sound generating means for promoting awakening by sound stimulation; and a first time limit signal and a second time limit signal. a light control means for setting the light generation means to a predetermined amount of light in response to the wake-up signal; and a sound control means for operating the sound generation means with a predetermined sound I in response to the wake-up signal; When the first time limit signal is input, the light generating means is turned on and thereafter the light amount is controlled to gradually increase as time passes, and at fixed time intervals from the time the second time limit signal is input. The light intensity is controlled to be changed a predetermined number of times at a predetermined level using the light intensity at that point in time as a reference level, and the light generating means is activated by the first timed signal issued before the wake-up time. After that, the amount of light gradually increases, so that the sleep state is gradually led to a shallower state.Furthermore, after the second time-limited signal is output, the amount of light is gradually increased at a predetermined level at regular time intervals. Since the number of changes is varied, there is an advantage that the increase in optical stimulation is not smooth and it is difficult to get used to the stimulation. As a result, even if the sleep state is deep, it is possible to reliably guide the patient into a light sleep state. Furthermore, since the amount of light at that point in time is changed by a predetermined level based on the standard level, if the change level is selected appropriately, the stimulation will not be as strong as blinking the light.
As a result of 0 or more, which does not cause sudden awakening, even deep sleep can be reliably guided to a shallow state, and furthermore, it does not cause sudden awakening or habituation to stimulation. When it is time to wake up, a relatively weak sound stimulus can be used to reliably wake the patient without discomfort.

In addition, when the light control means controls the number of times the light amount is changed at each fixed time interval after the second time limit signal is inputted so as to increase with the passage of time, sleep As the depth of sleep becomes shallower, the optimum amount of stimulation matching the sleep state at that time can be applied, which has the advantage that awakening from a deep sleep state can be more reliably performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the same essential parts, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory views of the same operation. 1... Arithmetic control section, 1a... Light control section, 1b...
Sound control section, 1c... timer, 2... reproduction section, 4...
- 9 generating section, 5... light generating section. Agent Patent Attorney Ishi 1) Chief 7 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Procedural Amendment (Voluntary) January 7, 1986

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Time setting means for setting a desired wake-up time, and generating a wake-up signal at the wake-up time set by the time setting means, and generating a first time limit signal and a second time limit signal prior to the wake-up signal. A time-limiting means that generates sequentially, a light-generating means for promoting awakening by optical stimulation, a sound-generating means for promoting awakening by sound stimulation, and a light-generating means for predetermined timing in response to the first time-limiting signal and the second time-limiting signal. The light control means is equipped with a light control means for setting the amount of light, and a sound control means for operating the sound generation means at a predetermined volume in response to the wake-up signal, and the light control means turns off the light at the time when the first time limit signal is input. After the generator is turned on, the amount of light is controlled to gradually increase as time passes, and the amount of light at that point is set as a reference level at fixed time intervals from the time when the second time limit signal is input. An alarm device characterized by controlling the amount of light to be changed at a predetermined level a predetermined number of times. (2) The light control means is characterized in that the light control means controls the number of times the light amount is changed at regular time intervals after the second time limit signal is input so as to increase as time passes. The alarm device according to claim 1.