WO2018103809A1

WO2018103809A1 - Intelligent duvet, comforter or cover

Info

Publication number: WO2018103809A1
Application number: PCT/DK2017/050415
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter BØGH PETERSEN
Original assignee: Dykon A/S
Priority date: 2016-12-07
Filing date: 2017-12-07
Publication date: 2018-06-14

Abstract

An intelligent duvet, comforter or cover for use while sleeping comprises a cover envelope (3), an internal filling material, transmitting means, a data storage and sensors (5', 5", 5'", 6', 6",6"') which sensors (5', 5", 5'", 6', 6", 6'") are at multiple positions on the envelope (3) and register one or more of the following: temperature, time, humidity, movement, vibrations, wherein the data storage is either build in the envelope (3) or externally of the envelope (3) and wherein data collected by the sensors (5', 5", 5'", 6', 6", 6"') are transmitted by the transmitting means either to the data storage build in the envelope (3) or via a communication unit (8) to the data storage (9) externally of the envelope (3). Further a method to provide an optimum duvet, comforter or cover and a method of designing a comforter or duvet are disclosed.

Description

INTELLIGENT DUVET, COMFORTER OR COVER

Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed at an intelligent duvet, comforter or cover for use while sleeping.

Within the present invention the term intelligent duvet, comforter or cover shall be understood as comprising anything that a sleeping person may use as a cover during sleep.

Background of the Invention

It is well known in colder climates to use electrical heating blankets in order to provide additional heating during cold seasons. This is in addition to normal duvets, comforters or blankets.

A further more high-tech and not very wide-spread new version of the electrical heating blanket is described in US 20150237927. In US 20150237927 is disclosed a device for creating a controlled personal environment by providing sensors detecting various parameters inside the environment. The environment may be established in the shape of a body suit, a sleeping bag, blanket or the like. In the environment is provided heating and/or cooling means which means are activated in response to input assembled from sensors arranged in the environment, such that the optimal preprogrammed environment can be achieved inside the controlled personal environment. This system is self-sufficient and as such not suitable to be implemented in ordi- nary/normal bedroom environments. The provision of completely self-sufficient personal environments does not readily adapt to bedrooms. The normal remedies such as duvets, comforters and blankets are the norm, and do not easily allow replacement for a number of reasons (economic, customs etc.). In various regions of the world it is well-known to use different types of covers when sleeping. For example in warmer climates the cover may consist of a sheet and maybe during wintertime helped by an extra blanket whereas in Northern climates thick blankets, comforters or duvets are used. The duvets or comforters are typically filled with down (natural or artificial) or other very fluffy artificial fibres which trap air in order to insulate from the ambient air such that a person using a duvet or comforter will be able to retain an optimum body temperature during sleep.

As a function of the ambient temperature, relative humidity and general moisture conditions the requirements of the duvet, comforter or cover may change over the season. Furthermore research indicates that the body temperature and need for maintaining the body temperature also changes during sleep and is different from person to person, and also varies with the person's age, gender and constitution (thin or fat).

For these reasons it is quite normal that different persons select different duvets or comforters or covers in order to try to select a duvet, comforter or cover which is more suitable for that person. As many factors have influence on a good night's sleep it should be obvious that duvets, comforters and blankets should be changed with the seasons, and also be more "person-specific".

Object of the Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a scientific method of de- termining certain factors during a specific person's sleep such that the correct duvet, comforter or cover may be purchased or may even be manufactured according to that specific person's needs.

Description of the Invention

For this reason the present invention provides an intelligent duvet, comforter or cover for use while sleeping, where said duvet, comforter or cover in multiple positions comprises sensors which sensors register one or more of the following: temperature, time, humidity, movement, vibrations, where data collected by the sensors is either transmitted by transmitting means to a data storage either internally in the duvet or cover or externally of the duvet or cover.

By providing sensors in the duvet, comforter or cover it is possible to continuously monitor various conditions during a person's sleep. As hot air travels upwards and thereby a person's heat loss also travels predominantly upwards, the duvet, comforter or cover is very important in determining the actual conditions a sleeping person will experience when in bed. Consequently, by registering temperature, time, humidity, movement, vibrations or any single one or any combination of these, it is possible to more or less map a person's sleep pattern over the course of the night. By continuous- ly monitoring these data it is possible to provide a graphical "picture" of a person's sleep over time when exposed to various conditions, for example changing seasons, variations in room temperature etc.

With these data it is also possible to compare a specific person's sleep with the re- search done for optimum sleep such that if research shows that the temperature during a certain phase of the sleep should be at a certain level and the person using the intelligent duvet, comforter, or cover according to the present invention has a substantially higher temperature and therefore is too warm it may be possible to design a duvet, cover or comforter in such a manner that more heat is allowed to escape during sleep thereby providing a more comfortable climate for the sleeping person and an increased quality of sleep.

Alternatively the data collected may be communicated to a control unit which in turn uses this input in order to adjust the environment around the sleeping person to opti- mum conditions - for example by in- or decreasing the temperature, increase the oxygen content in the air, etc.

As already discussed above, the conditions which shall be present in order to achieve a good night's sleep vary over the year with the seasons. Furthermore, gender, body size, age etc. also have influence on the quality of the sleep. By customizing the comforter or duvet according to the present invention better sleep will be achieved for extended periods of time. By further collecting data from built-in sensors and using this data as input the surrounding environment may also be controlled, thereby prolonging the periods in which the specially designed duvet or comforter provides improved sleep.

A lot of people share the bedroom with another person (husband or wife). With the present invention it is possible to provide "tailored" comforters or duvets specifically designed to that particular person's needs. However, as two persons share the same sleeping environment it will only be possible to adjust the conditions (temperature, oxygen content, humidity etc.) according to one set of data. This may be solved by using an average between the collected data from the two (or more) persons sharing the same space/room. As already mentioned the comforters/duvets are designed to provide extended comfort the compromise relating to the ambient environment will be relatively smaller than without the specifically designed comforters/duvets according to the present invention.

The same is naturally true for all the other indications given during sleep such that the intelligent duvet, comforter or cover may register a number of specific and determining data about a person's sleep and compare these with research results, thereby indicating that specific person's needs, i.e. elevating or lowering of temperature during sleep allowing more or less humidity/moisture to escape etc. In this manner, with this graphical picture of a person's sleep compared to optimum conditions, it is possible to select or even design a specific duvet, comforter or cover for everyday use which is better suited for that particular person.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the sensors are of the RFID type and/or WSN type.

RFID is a technology where a radio identification tag is used for registering, storing and transmitting data. Furthermore, due to the very limited size of the RFID tags it is possible to incorporate a number of tags in the intelligent duvet, comforter or cover such that a number of measuring points may be provided without interfering with the comfort of the duvet, comforter or cover.

The other technology used is WSN which are wireless sensor networks. Such networks are usually built from a number of autonomous sensors to monitor and register physical or environmental conditions. The sensor networks cooperatively pass data through the network to a main location. Each network may comprise a very large number of independent sensors which work together in a network such that by spreading a number of these types of sensors on the surface of the duvet, comforter or cover it is possible to collect data from a relatively large area. Each of these sensor networks is usually provided with a radio transceiver and an internal antenna or connected to an internal antenna such that a micro controller or other electronic circuit may collect the collected data from the sensors. The network is usually powered by a battery where the power source in a further advantageous embodi- ment also is provided in the duvet, comforter or cover. Typically, the power source will be connected to the sensors by means of thin, very flexible wires.

With respect to the RFID type sensors these may be passive or active. The passive sensors are only activated by an external energy source such that a radio wave "calls" the sensor whereas the active sensors also are provided with a connection to a power source such that they may actively transmit the information that they are designed to collect.

The power source may advantageously be in the shape of a flexible battery which is optionally rechargeable. An example of such a battery is available from the Panasonic Corporation in the shape of a flexible lithium-ion battery. This battery has a thickness of half a millimetre and a size of approx. 30x40 millimetres and is manufactured such that it is very flexible, i.e. it may follow the contours of the duvet, comforter or cover during use such that it causes the least inconvenience for a user. The batteries only weigh a few grams, but provide sufficient energy to power a substantial number of sensors either as RFID sensors or as sensors in the WSN network.

In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention the power source converts heat from a sleeping person to electrical energy. The electrical energy is thereafter provided to the sensors as it is needed. It is clear with the sensors used in the present invention that the requirement for electrical energy is very limited, and for example by using a thermo electrical generator the electrical needs of the sensors and the transmitting means may be satisfied.

A thermo electric generator is a solid state device that converts heat or the temperature difference directly into electrical energy. In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention the sensors, power source and data storage or transmitting means are integrated in a flexible sheet or ribbon, which is adapted to be fastened externally to a duvet or cover. By providing the sensors and other means necessary for detecting a person's sleep in a flexible sheet or ribbon it is possible to fasten this ribbon the existing duvet, comforter or cover which the person is using, in order to detect the current sleeping conditions. Based on the input from the sensors it is thereafter possible to evaluate the suitability of the duvet, comforter or cover being used at present with the person or use the col- lected data to design a personalized duvet, comforter or cover specifically for that person from which the measurements stem.

As should be evident from the description above the invention may be used in various stages having various complexities. The initial stage is where data from a large num- ber of various users has been collected and grouped into typical parameters which may be addressed by designing the duvets or comforters as average for this group of people. The groups may be selected according to gender, age, and region such that it is possible to pre-manufacture duvets/comforters whereby a user can order an average duvet which is suitable for the particular user's gender and size for example. Such an average duvet/comforter will to a large extent be a great improvement with respect to completely standard duvets/comforters, otherwise available.

The groups of duvets/comforters may also be designed for various age groups as it is a well-known fact that older people tend to have colder feet and therefore might want to have extra insulation adjacent the feet whereas for younger people it is just the opposite that they have relatively warm lower legs and feet and as such should have less insulation.

By these generalisations it is possible to pre-manufacture duvets or comforters which when dividing the population into relatively few groups will provide added comfort, particularly for average representatives of each specific group.

For persons desiring to have an entirely tailor-made duvet or comforter it is possible with the present invention as disclosed above to attach the sensors to the user's present duvet and cover and thereby collect data which shall help design the tailor-made duvet or comforter according to the collected data.

This data which is collected in situ during sleep will be compared with the data base built up of data from test persons in order to make sure that the data is reliable and within the normal limits and furthermore in order to decide which design the desired duvet or comforter shall have in the end.

In a further stage the sensors which are built into the comforter/duvet may be in com- munication with a control system. The sensors, which are usable for all variations of the invention, may be sensors which detect temperature, moisture, carbon-dioxide, movement, pulse, breathing, light, ambient noise etc. Input from one or more of these sensors to the control unit may generate output to an intelligent room control system such that for example the temperature is increased or decreased, the moisture is in- creased or decreased, additional oxygen is supplied etc. and etc.

Particularly the movement sensors and breathing sensors will provide an indication of whether or not the person sleeping is at rest or is ill or agitated, stressed or in any other manner not in the desired rest stage.

Furthermore, the sensors for detecting movement may be accelerometers which detect movement, but these may be supplemented or replaced by for example low power radar devices. It is generally known that for example wi-fi antennas emit low-power microwaves and by registering the microwave pattern reflected by a sleeping person it is possible to determine the breathing rate, the pulse and the movements of the person etc. all aspects which create changes in the reflected microwave pattern indicating some specific characteristic or activity by the sleeping person.

The associated control unit will necessarily have a pre-programmed algorithm having access to comparable data ranges such that it is possible to determine the condition of the particular person which is being the subject of the registrations.

The present invention is also directed at a method for collecting information about a person's sleep in order to provide the optimum duvet, comforter or cover. As dis- cussed above the most optimum comforter for an individual depends on a number of factors where a number of these factors are very personal and closely correlated to that individual person. The method therefore comprises installing the person in a bed, where an intelligent duvet, comforter or cover for use while sleeping is provided cov- ering said person, and where said duvet or cover in multiple positions comprises sensors which sensors when the person is sleeping register one or more of the following: temperature, time, humidity, movement, vibrations. The data collected by the sensors is transmitted by transmitting means to a data storage either internally in the comforter, duvet or cover or externally of the comforter, duvet or cover, and where the col- lected data is compared to data previously collected in order to evaluate the most appropriate characteristics of a suitable duvet or comforter.

Typically, various types of individual persons may roughly be divided into population groups. Each group has characteristics close to average values for that group. These characteristics typically relate to surface temperature and variation of temperature during sleep, age, gender, build and other relevant parameters. With these characteristics stored in a database it is possible to categorize a test person into a category, where the category is advised to select a certain type of comforter, duvet or cover. For the present invention the interesting characteristics relating to the comforter, duvet or cover are chosen among one or more of the following characteristics: type of duvet or comforter filling material, amount of filling material, distribution of filling material.

In order to obtain the data for the method above the invention is also directed to a method of designing a comforter or duvet, said duvet or comforter comprising a cover envelope and an internal duvet or comforter filling material. The filling material will typically be various types of down, artificial fibres or the like. Further, a plurality of sensors is distributed over the surface of the duvet or comforter which surface in use will be facing a dummy, where said method comprises the following steps: - providing a test dummy shaped as a human body, said dummy having a plurality of designated areas evenly distributed over said dummy, where one or more heating or cooling means as well as sensors for registering temperature and optionally humidity are provided in each designated area, said heating or cooling means as well as the sensors are in communication with a data collection means and a control box; - where said dummy is positioned on a mattress, and at least partly covered by the duvet or comforter, where said dummy, mattress and duvet or comforter is positioned in a controllable ambient environment controlled by the control box, where at least temperature can be regulated/controlled, and optionally further humidity, carbon- dioxide level, light and noise also may be controlled. The controllable ambient environment may be the applicant's sleep lab developed during this project, where all conditions relating to temperature, humidity, carbon- dioxide level, ventilation (exchange of air in m3/hour), light and noise can be regulated/controlled. Naturally for some tests it is not necessary to control all parameters, and as such temperature is the most important parameter with respect to sleep.

Further, said control box adjusts the ambient environment to pre-determined values of temperature and optionally humidity, carbon-dioxide level, light and noise, and where the sensors in the duvet or comforter as well as the sensors in the dummy provide input to the data collection means and said input is translated to a temperature distribution map of the surface temperature of the dummy.

The temperature distribution (illustrated in an appended figure in black/white) is pro- vided with a color scheme, such that it is very easy to recognize areas of the dummy which becomes cold or hot, indicating that the comforter, duvet or cover maybe needs to be modified or the like.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the method the one or more heating or cool- ing means in each designated area on the dummy are manipulated by the control box, such that the surface temperature of each designated area resembles collected and predefined data relating to one or more test persons (or population groups - see discussion above), and where said designated areas are controlled over time corresponding to the collected and predefined data of a test person's sleep cycle. In this manner it is possible to see how the duvet, comforter or cover performs for a given person, group of individuals in a certain population group - see discussion above.

Testing in the sleep lab has indicated that 25 or more designated areas provide a very detailed analysis, but also a lot less designated areas suffice in providing a solid data basis for the present invention. Therefore, more than 10, preferably more than 20 and most preferred more than 25 designated areas are distributed on the surface of the dummy.

Description of the Drawing

The invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein

Figure 1 illustrates a sleeping person

Figure 2 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention

Figure 3 illustrates a test-dummy in a bed

Detailed Description of the Invention

In figure 1 is schematically illustrated a sleeping person. The person 1 is resting his head on a pillow 2 and is being supported by a mattress 10. In order to cover the body and retain the heat a comforter 3 is provided. In the illustrated embodiment the com- forter 3 is provided with a number of sensors 5', 5", 5" ' on the side of the comforter 3 which is in contact with the sleeping person 1. On the upper side of the comforter further sensors 6', 6", 6" ' are also provided in order to be able to detect the ambient environment as well as movement of the comforter during sleep. The data collected by the sensors 5', 5", 5" ', 6', 6", 6"' are communicated as illustrated in this embodiment by wireless means 8 to a control unit 9. The control unit will typically comprise data receiving means as well as some kind of storage and means to read out the information collected by the unit 9. Data may also be collected and stored in a suitable device built into the comforter, and retrieved at a later time, either by wireless or hard-line means.

In figure 2 is illustrated a further embodiment of the invention where sensors 5 are arranged in a flexible sheet 15. The flexible sheet 15 is provided with fastening means 16 such that the sheet 15 may be fastened to any duvet, comforter or cover in order to measure specific data about a user in the normal conditions, i.e. the sleeping environment which the user is used to. The sheet 15 is furthermore provided with a battery 17, for example of the type as already described above available from Panasonic. This battery is special in that it is extremely flexible, very powerful and is rechargeable such that a very low construction height, approx. 0.5 mm, may be used. In this manner the battery may be com- pletely integrated into the sheet 15 and not become an impediment for the proper use of the sheet 15.

The sensors 5 are connected by thin wires indicated by dashed lines 18 such that readings or data collected by the sensors may be relayed to the data transmitting means 19, for example arranged as in this embodiment together with the battery.

The sensors 5 may be of various types, such as for example RFID or a number of sensors integrated in a more or less wireless sensor network which in this case is provided with power provided by the very thin wires 18.

In order not to hamper or impede or influence the normal sleep of a test person it is important that all sensors, wires, batteries and transmitting means are as small as possible and as pliable as possible such that the entire sheet 15 or comforter 3 will conform effortlessly and without impact to the environment in order to achieve readings as close to natural conditions as possible.

In fig. 3 is illustrated a test-dummy 20 in a bed 21. The dummy 20 is covered by a duvet 22. In the illustration the duvet 22 is transparent, in order to be able to see the various temperature zones on the dummy. The duvet 22, however, covers the entire body up to the nose of the dummy 20. Although difficult to recognise, the dummy has various nuances of grey towards black. The darker the hue, the warmer the surface temperature. The head 23 is the warmest whereas the feet 24 are the coldest. Also, the mid-section 25 of the body 20 is slightly warmer than for example the chest region. With a standard duvet a real person would feel warm around the mid-section, and probably have a tendency to remove the duvet during sleep. This would in turn make the feet even colder, and result in a restless and not very deep sleep, resulting in the body not attaining the expected level of rest. The test dummy 20 will typically be placed in a controlled environment, for example the applicant's sleep lab, such that any environment may be created during test/development of the duvet, comforter or cover. By being able to register the various surface temperatures for a specific person, by means of the sensors embedded in a test duvet or the like as described above, it is possible to select or design a duvet for that specific person. The data from the sensors may thereafter be used as input for the control box in the method according to the invention, in order to determine/select the most optimum comforter, duvet or cover. When having collected a large number of data from a large number of individuals it is possible to divide the data into (rough) population groups, such that it is possible to designate comforters, duvets and covers/blankets especially suitable for a certain population group which sleeps under typical conditions (with respect to temperature, humidity etc).

Claims

1. Intelligent duvet, comforter or cover for use while sleeping, where said duvet or cover in multiple positions comprises sensors which sensors register one or more of the following: temperature, time, humidity, movement, vibrations, where data collected by the sensors is either transmitted by transmitting means to a data storage either internally in the duvet or cover or externally of the duvet or cover.

2. Intelligent duvet or cover according to claim 1 where the sensors are of the RFID type and/or WSN type.

3. Intelligent duvet or cover according to claim 1 where the sensors are powered by a power source also provided in the duvet, comforter or cover, and where the power source and sensors are connected by wires.

4. Intelligent duvet or cover according to claim 3 wherein the power source is a flexible battery optionally rechargeable.

5. Intelligent duvet or cover according to claim 3 wherein the power source converts heat from a sleeping person to electrical energy.

6. Intelligent duvet or cover according to claim 1, wherein the sensors are connected to a communication unit, for communicating input from the sensors to a data storage.

7. Intelligent duvet or cover according to any preceding claim wherein sensors, power source and data storage or transmitting means are integrated in a flexible sheet or ribbon, which is adapted to be fastened externally to a duvet or cover.

8. Method for collecting information about a person's sleep in order to provide the optimum duvet, comforter or cover, wherein the method comprises installing the person in a bed, where an intelligent duvet, comforter or cover for use while sleeping is provided covering said person, and where said duvet or cover in multiple positions comprises sensors which sensors register one or more of the following: temperature, time, humidity, movement, vibrations, and where data collected by the sensors is either transmitted by transmitting means to a data storage either internally in the duvet or cover or externally of the duvet or cover, and where the collected data is compared to data previously collected in order to evaluate the most appropriate characteristics of a suitable duvet or comforter, where said characteristics are chosen among one or more of the following characteristics: type of duvet or comforter filling material, amount of filling material, distribution of filling material .

Method of designing a comforter or duvet, said duvet or comforter comprising a cover envelope and an internal duvet or comforter filling material and further a plurality of sensors distributed over the side of the duvet or comforter , where said method comprises the following steps:

- providing a test dummy shaped as a human body, said dummy having a plurality of designated areas evenly distributed over said dummy, where one or more heating or cooling means as well as sensors for registering temperature and optionally humidity are provided in each designated area, said heating or cooling means as well as the sensors are in communication with a data collection means and a control box;

- where said dummy is positioned on a mattress, and at least partly covered by the duvet or comforter, where said dummy, mattress and duvet or comforter is positioned in a controllable ambient environment controlled by the control box, where at least temperature can be regulated/controlled, and optionally further humidity, carbon-dioxide level, light and noise also may be controlled;

- where said control box adjusts the ambient environment to pre-determined values of temperature and optionally humidity, carbon-dioxide level, light and noise, and where the sensors in the duvet or comforter as well as the sensors in the dummy provide input to the data collection means; - where said input is translated to a temperature distribution map of the surface temperature of the dummy.

10. Method according to claim 9 where the one or more heating or cooling means in each designated area on the dummy are manipulated by the control box, such that the surface temperature of each designated area resembles collected and predefined data relating to one or more test persons, and where said designated areas are controlled over time corresponding to the collected and predefined data of a test person's sleep cycle.

11. Method according to claim 9 or 10 where more than 10, preferably more than 20 and most preferred more than 25 designated areas are distributed on the surface of the dummy.