JPH04272711A - Sleeping device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To offer the comfortable and safe sleeping device which can preheat and warm quickly the whole bedding. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with a bed heater 1 which is provided in a bed and can vary the heating value, an in-bed detecting means 6 for detecting whether a sleeping person exists in a bed or not, a sleep deciding means 7 for deciding whether the sleeping person is sleeping or not, based on a living body signal of the sleeping person, and a control means 8 for switching the heating value of the bed heater 1 from high setting to middle setting by a detecting signal of the in-bed detecting means 6, and switching the heating value of the bed heater 1 to low setting by a deciding signal of the sleep deciding means 7, and in a state that the sleeping person does not exist in a bed, the bed heater 1 becomes high setting and preheats quickly the inside of the bed. Also, when the sleeping person goes into the bed, the in-bed detecting means 6 outputs a detecting signal, and by receiving it, the heating value of the bed heater 1 becomes middle setting being suitable for the in-bed state, and a warming operation is executed. Moreover, in the case the sleeping person sleeps, the heating value of the bed heater 1 is switched to the heat quantity of low setting being suitable for the sleep.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to controlling the amount of heat in a sleeping device equipped with a heater for keeping warm.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional sleeping device of this type includes a main body 21 of a heating device in which a main heater 19 and a preheater 20 are disposed, and a body 21 that is turned on when the main body 21 receives a human body load. A normally open pressure sensitive switch 22 is provided to energize the main heater 19. With this configuration, when the main body 21 is not subject to a human body load, the preheating heater performs preheating with a small heat output, and when the body 21 is subject to a human body load, the main heater 19 outputs a large heat output when the pressure sensitive switch 22 is turned on. It was automatically obtained, had good operability, and could save power (for example, Publication of Utility Model Publication No. 56-1103).

0003

However, in the conventional configuration described above, the main heater 19 and the preheater 20 are covered with the heating device main body 21, such as a blanket, which has poor heat dissipation properties, making it impossible to increase the heat output. In particular, even if power is applied to the preheater 20, which has a small heat output, the area around the heater will be heated immediately, but the temperature rise of the entire main body will be delayed. Even if the main heater 19 is energized due to the human body load on the main body 21, it takes time for the sleeper to become warm even if the heat output is increased after the sleeper goes to bed, making it inconvenient to use. There was also the issue of poor comfort.

[0004] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a comfortable and safe sleeping device that can quickly preheat and keep warm the entire bedding.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the present invention provides a bed heater with variable calorific value disposed in the bed, and a bed presence detection means for detecting the presence/absence of a sleeper in the bed. and a sleep onset determining means for determining whether the sleeper has fallen asleep based on the biological signals of the sleeper, and switching the heat generation amount of the bed heater from a high setting to a medium setting based on the detection signal of the bed presence detection means, and determining the sleep onset. The structure includes a control means for switching the heat generation amount to a low setting based on a determination signal from the means.

[0006]

[Function] With the above-described structure, the bed heater is set to a high setting when there is no sleeper in the bed, and quickly preheats the inside of the bed.

[0007] When the sleeper enters the bed, the bed presence detection means outputs a detection signal, and in response to this, the heat generation amount of the bed heater is set to a medium setting suitable for the state of the bed heater, and the bed heater is operated to keep warm.

[0008] When the sleeper falls asleep, the amount of heat generated by the bed heater is switched to a low setting suitable for falling asleep.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a bed heater having a linear heater 2 disposed on its upper surface, which is placed on a mattress 3. A flexible piezoelectric element 4 detects the body movement of the person on the mattress 3, and is disposed in the bed heater 1 here. Reference numeral 5 denotes a bed presence determination means for determining whether a person is present or absent on the mattress 3 based on a body movement signal from the piezoelectric element 4. The piezoelectric element 4 and the bed presence determination means 5 constitute a bed presence detection means 6. Reference numeral 7 indicates sleep onset determination means for determining whether or not a sleeper has fallen asleep based on the determination signal from the bed presence determination means 5; and 8, heat generation by the linear heater 2 upon receiving the determination signal from the bed presence determination means 5 and the determination signal from the sleep onset determination means 7. It is a control means for switching the amount to a predetermined value, and is composed of a logic circuit 9 and a heater driver 10. The heater driver 10 is composed of a thyristor, and opens and closes the circuit of the linear heater 2 by known phase control to change the energization rate and switch the amount of heat generated by the linear heater 2 into three stages: high, medium and low. When the logic circuit 9 receives the absent bed signal (low level) from the bed presence determination means 5, it drives the heater driver 10 and sets the heat generation amount of the linear heater 2 to a high setting. Further, when a bed presence signal (high level) is input from the bed presence determination means 5, the heat generation amount of the linear heater 2 is set to medium, and when a sleep onset signal (high level) is input from the sleep onset determination means 7, it is set to low. . Reference numeral 11 denotes a power switch operated by the user. When this switch 11 is turned off, the logic circuit 9 opens the heater driver 10 and stops the blower unit 4.

[0011] The bed heater 1 has a linear heater 2 and a piezoelectric element 4 wired inside, and the entire bed heater 1 is constructed in the shape of a bed pad using cloth and a medium wire.

Next, the configurations of the bed presence detection means 6 and the sleep onset determination means 7 will be explained using FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 6 denotes bed presence detection means, which is composed of a piezoelectric element 4 and bed presence determination means 5. The bed presence determination means 5 includes a filter section 12, an amplification section 13,
It is composed of a rectifying section 14, an integrating section 15, and a comparing section 16. 7 is sleep onset determination means, which includes a timer section 17 and a determination section 1;
It consists of 8. The piezoelectric element 4 is formed into a tape shape by forming a thin film of a polymeric piezoelectric material such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and attaching flexible electrode films to both sides.

In the above configuration, when a human body is present on the mattress 2, the piezoelectric element 4 is deformed by body movements such as heartbeat, breathing, and turning over of the human body on the mattress 2, and a voltage is generated due to the piezoelectric effect. Then, only a predetermined frequency component of the generated voltage output is passed through the filter section 12, amplified and rectified, and then integrated by the integrating section 15. Figure 3 shows the output signal of the integrating section 15 in an actual situation.
Shown below. As shown in the figure, there is a large output when gross body movements occur, such as entering or leaving the bed or turning over, but when the person is in bed and in a resting state, the level is low due to minute body movements associated with the human body's heartbeat and breathing. Output is obtained, and when the patient leaves the bed, the output becomes zero. That is, as long as a human body is present on the bed during sleep, a low-level output can be obtained at least due to minute body movements associated with the human body's heartbeat and breathing as described above. Utilizing this fact, the comparison section 16 converts the output signal of the integration section 15 into
If it is within the range of Va and Vb, it is determined that there is a bed and outputs a high level, otherwise it outputs a low level. Although there are individual differences in the human body's minute movements associated with heartbeat and breathing as described above, Va and Vb can be determined through experiments on human subjects. The timer section 17 operates to measure time if the output signal of the comparison section 16 is at a high level. Here, the inventors investigated the relationship between body movements such as turning over in bed and sleep state through sleep experiments, and found that there is a high probability of falling asleep if there is no body movement for about 15 minutes or more. Obtained. As a result, the determination unit 18 determines that the sleeper on the bed has fallen asleep if the time measured by the timer unit 17 exceeds a certain set value, for example 15 minutes, and the output signal becomes high level. Barrow level.

[0014] When it is determined that the bed is occupied as described above and the comparator 16 outputs a high level, the control means 8 drives the bed heater 1 at a high setting. therefore,
The entire bedding such as sheets and comforters placed on the bed heater 1 can be rapidly preheated.

[0015] When it is determined that the bed is present and a low level is output from the comparison section 16, the control means 8 drives the bed heater 1 at a medium setting. The medium setting here is a warming operation that allows the sleeper to pass the time between going to bed and falling asleep, and since this is the time when the sleeper is engaged in activities such as reading or watching TV, it is necessary to keep the upper body upright and keep the upper body upright. The patient's body is in a state where it is easy to get cold, such as with the arm out of the bed. Therefore, the setting is slightly higher than the setting during sleep.

Further, when the sleeper falls asleep and a high-level signal is output from the determining section 18, the control means 8 drives the bed heater 1 with a low heat value setting. When a sleeper falls asleep, the exposed area to the room becomes smaller and body movements decrease, so heat radiation from the body decreases. Therefore, only a small amount of heat is needed for heat retention.

[0017] As described above, when there is no one on the bed, the bed can be rapidly heated by generating a high amount of heat, so that the time required to preheat the bedclothes can be shortened. In addition, it is easy to use because even if the person goes to bed, it automatically switches to the optimal heat setting. Furthermore, even if a person falls asleep, the system automatically switches to a lower amount of heat, so there is no risk of low-temperature burns or dehydration.

[0018]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the sleeping device of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) When the sleeper is not in bed, the heat output of the bed heater is set to a high value, so that the entire bedclothes can be warmed rapidly, and the waiting time for preheating is short. (2) When the sleeper enters the bed, the bed presence detection means outputs a bed presence detection signal, and in response to this signal, the heat output of the bed heater is switched to the medium setting, so the appropriate temperature is automatically obtained, making it comfortable and easy to use. Good. (3) When the sleeper falls asleep, the sleep onset determination means outputs a sleep onset determination signal, and in response to this signal, the heat output of the bed heater is switched to a low setting. There are no symptoms or dangers.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sleeping device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[
Figure 2: Block diagram of the bed presence detection means and sleep onset determination means of the sleeping device

[Figure 3] Output waveform diagram from the integrating section of the sleeping device

[Figure 4]
Top view of a conventional sleeping device

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Bed heater 6. Bed presence detection means 7. Sleep onset determination means 8 Control means

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claims: 1. A bed heater with a variable calorific value disposed in a bed, a bed presence detection means for detecting the presence/absence of a sleeper in the bed, and a sleeper based on a biological signal of the sleeper. a sleep onset determination means for determining sleep onset, and a detection signal from the bed presence detection means to switch the heat generation amount of the bed heater from a high setting to a medium setting, and a determination signal from the sleep sleep determination means to switch the heat generation amount to a low setting. Sleeping device with control means.