Sleep management system

Abstract

To provide a sleep management system capable of reducing a burden on a care-taker (parent) by managing an infant's sleeping time as planned.SOLUTION: A sleep managing system includes: odor detection means 2 for detecting an odor of excrement passed from an infant during sleeping hours; cry detection means 3 for detecting a cry when an infant cries during sleeping hours; excrement notification means 4 for notifying a care-taker of a fact that an infant has passed excrement; intra-womb sound generation means 5 for generating a mother's intra-womb sound to an infant; and a control part S to which an odor detection signal from the odor detection means 2 and a cry detection signal from the cry detection means 3 are input. The control part S actuates the excrement notification means 4 when an odor of infant's excrement is detected by the odor detection means 2 during the infant's sleeping hours, and actuates the intra-womb sound generation means 5 when a cry when an infant cries is detected by the cry detection means 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a sleep management system for managing the sleep of infants and young children.

Background Art

[0002] Among infants and young children, especially those up to 3 months old after birth, because their stomachs are small, they get hungry every 2 to 3 hours after going to bed and cry at night. Also, they may cry at night when they feel uncomfortable due to excrement or when they feel some kind of stress. When an infant cries at night as described above, a bone conduction speaker is activated to lull the infant to sleep (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In Patent Document 1, although a bone conduction speaker is activated to lull an infant to sleep when the infant cries at night, it does not lead to the infant stopping crying at night, and the burden on the caregiver increases. In particular, in the following cases, the burden on the caregiver further increases. That is, if an infant does not sleep well during the night sleep time, the infant may sleep for a long time during the day, and day and night may be reversed. In such a case, the number of times the infant cries at night increases from the time of going to bed to getting up, and the number of times the caregiver needs to handle to eliminate the crying increases by that increased amount. Therefore, there is the disadvantage that the sleep time of the caregiver (parent) is reduced and the burden on the caregiver (parent) increases. Note that in infants and young children other than infants, day and night may also be reversed and the number of times of crying at night increases, and there is the same disadvantage that the burden on the parent increases.

[0005] In view of the above situation, the present invention aims to provide a sleep management system that can reduce the burden on caregivers (parents) by managing the sleep time of infants as scheduled.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The sleep management system of the present invention includes an odor detection means for detecting the odor of excrement excreted by an infant during bedtime, a crying sound detection means for detecting the crying sound of the infant when crying during bedtime, an excrement notification means for notifying the caregiver to that effect when the odor detection means detects that the infant has excreted excrement, a fetal sound generation means for generating the fetal sound of the mother for the infant, and a control unit to which signals from the odor detection means and signals from the crying sound detection means are input. The control unit is characterized in that when the odor detection means detects the odor of the excrement of the infant during bedtime, it activates the excrement notification means, and when the crying sound detection means detects the crying sound of the infant when crying, it activates the fetal sound generation means.

[0007] According to the present invention, when the odor detection means detects the odor of the excrement of the infant during bedtime, the control unit can activate the excrement notification means to notify the caregiver that the infant has excreted excrement. As a result, the caregiver can immediately change the diaper of the infant to make the infant feel comfortable and avoid the infant from crying. Thereby, the infant can continue to be in a sleeping state, so that the bedtime of the infant can be maintained at the scheduled time. Therefore, the burden on the caregiver (parent) can be reduced. Also, even if the caregiver fails to change the diaper of the infant in time and the infant starts crying, it is expected that the infant will stop crying when the control unit activates the fetal sound generation means to let the infant hear the fetal sound of the mother. Therefore, the sleep time of the infant can be managed as scheduled, and the burden on the caregiver (parent) can be reduced.

[0008] Furthermore, the sleep management system of the present invention includes a measuring means for measuring the time from when the odor detecting means detects that the infant has excreted excrement until the cry detecting means detects the cry of the infant, an arithmetic means for obtaining an average time by integrating and averaging all the measurement times measured by the measuring means during the period from when the infant goes to bed until getting up, and an average time notification means for notifying the caregiver of the average time obtained by the arithmetic means. The control unit may activate the excrement notification means and the average time notification means when the odor detecting means detects that the infant in the bedtime has excreted excrement.

[0009] As described above, by measuring the time from when the odor detecting means detects that the infant has excreted excrement until the cry detecting means detects the cry of the infant, and notifying the caregiver of the average time obtained by integrating and averaging all the measurement times measured by the measuring means, it is possible to grasp the time until the infant cries. As a result, by completing the diaper change within the average time, the infant can continue to be in a sleeping state.

[0010] Furthermore, the sleep management system of the present invention includes a cradle having a basket part for laying the infant and a drive part for reciprocally rocking the basket part. The control unit may drive the in-utero sound generating means and drive the drive part to reciprocally rock the basket part when the cry detecting means detects the cry of the infant when the infant cries.

[0011] As described above, when the cry detecting means detects the cry of the infant when the infant cries, not only generating the in-utero sound by the in-utero sound generating means but also reciprocally rocking the basket part, it can be expected that the infant will stop crying.

[0012] Furthermore, the sleep management system of the present invention may include a storage unit that stores the feeding time when an infant is fed during bedtime, a feeding time determination unit that determines whether it is the feeding time stored in the storage unit when the odor detection means is in a non-detection state where it does not detect the odor of excrement and the crying sound detection means is in a detection state where it detects the crying sound of the infant, and a feeding time notification unit that notifies a caregiver that it is the feeding time when the feeding time determination unit determines that it is the feeding time.

[0013] As described above, when the infant is not excreting excrement, that is, when the odor detection means 2 is in a non-detection state where it does not detect the odor and the crying sound detection means is in a detection state where it detects the crying sound of the infant, if the feeding time determination means determines that it is the feeding time, the feeding time notification means notifies the caregiver that it is the feeding time. Thereby, it can be expected that the infant will stop crying immediately by being fed. And after feeding, the infant can continue to be in a sleeping state.

[0014] Furthermore, the feeding time in the sleep management system of the present invention may be a time taking into account a predetermined error time.

[0015] As described above, by setting the feeding time as a time taking into account a predetermined error time, the feeding time determination means can accurately determine the feeding time.

[0016] Furthermore, the sleep management system of the present invention may include a feeding amount measurement unit that measures the amount of artificial milk or breast milk consumed by the infant when being fed during bedtime, a feeding time determination unit that determines the next feeding time based on the feeding amount measured by the feeding amount measurement unit, and a rewriting unit that rewrites the feeding time pre-stored in the storage unit to the feeding time determined by the feeding time determination unit.

[0017] Since the time until the next hunger (feeding time) varies depending on the amount of artificial milk or breast milk consumed by an infant during bedtime feeding, the amount of artificial milk or breast milk consumed by the infant during bedtime feeding is measured, and the feeding time for the next feeding is determined based on the measured amount of milk consumed. Then, the feeding time pre-stored in the memory unit can be rewritten with the accurate feeding time determined by the feeding time determination means.

Advantages of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, during bedtime of an infant, when the odor detection means detects the odor of the infant's excrement, the excrement notification means is activated, and when the crying sound detection means detects the crying sound when the infant cries, the in-utero sound generation means is activated, thereby enabling the sleep time of the infant to be managed as scheduled. Accordingly, a sleep management system capable of reducing the burden on the caregiver (parent) can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] The sleep management system of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 1, the sleep management system includes a clock unit 1, an odor detection means 2, a crying sound detection means 3, a control unit S, an excrement notification means 4, an in-utero sound generation means 5, and an average time notification means 6.

[0022] The clock unit 1 measures the current time and inputs the measured current time to the control unit S. The clock unit 1 may be provided inside the control unit S or outside the control unit S.

[0023] The odor detection means 2 is composed of an odor sensor attached to the diaper 8 of the infant 7 shown in FIG. 2. The odor sensor is a sensor that measures the intensity of odor during the infant's bedtime. A detection signal from the odor sensor is output to the control unit S, and the control unit S determines that excrement (urine or feces) has been detected when it is higher than a preset odor level. In this embodiment, the target is an infant who is a child from 0 days old to less than 1 year old, but it may also be a toddler who is a child under 6 years old from 1 year old to starting school at elementary school. In particular, it targets infants and toddlers who are sleeping wearing diapers.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the crying sound detection means 3 is composed of a microphone attached to one of the two columns (the right column in FIG. 2) located on the head side of the infant 7 among the four columns 9A of the infant bed 9. The crying sound of the infant detected by this microphone during bedtime is input to the control unit S, and it is determined whether the infant is crying based on the volume and frequency components of the crying sound.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit S receives the current time signal from the clock unit 1 and the detection signals from the odor detection means 2 and the crying sound detection means 3. The control unit S also includes a measurement means 10, a calculation means 11, a bedtime determination means 12, and a wake-up time determination means 13.

[0026] The measurement means 10 is composed of, for example, a timer, and is a means for measuring the time from when the odor detection means 2 detects that the infant has excreted excrement until the crying sound detection means 3 detects the crying sound of the infant. That is, it measures the time from when the infant excretes excrement until it feels uncomfortable and cries. When the excrement is urine (only liquid), if the diaper has high absorbency, the time will be relatively long. When the excrement is feces (including solids), even if the diaper has high absorbency, the time will be relatively short.

[0027] The calculation means 11 is a means for obtaining an average time by integrating and averaging all the measurement times measured by the measurement means 10 from when the infant goes to bed until waking up. In this embodiment, although it is the average time, it may be the shortest measurement time among the plurality of measured measurement times, or it may be the longest time among the plurality of measured measurement times. For example, when the time from when the odor detection means 2 detects that the infant has excreted excrement until the cry detection means 3 detects the cry of the infant is measured four times, after adding up the four measured values, the value obtained by dividing by 4 is the average time.

[0028] Based on the time measured by the measurement means 10 as described above, the calculation means 11 obtains an average time, and based on the obtained average time, the sleep management system is activated to manage the sleep time of the infant.

[0029] The excrement notification means 4 is a means for notifying the caregiver (father or mother) that the infant has excreted excrement when a detection signal from the odor sensor is output to the control unit S, and notifies the caregiver (for example, the father) by voice that the infant has excreted excrement. It may be composed of one or a combination of two or more of a voice generator, a vibration generator that vibrates the caregiver's (for example, the father's) pillow to convey that the infant has excreted excrement, a light generator that conveys to the caregiver (for example, the father) by light that the infant has excreted excrement, and a liquid crystal display that conveys to the caregiver (for example, the father) by a text message that the infant has excreted excrement.

[0030] The in-utero sound generation means 5 includes an IC chip (not shown) in which the in-utero sound of the mother who is pregnant with the infant is stored, and speakers 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D (see FIG. 2) that amplify the in-utero sound reproduced by the IC chip and transmit it to the infant. It is known that when the infant cries, letting the infant hear the in-utero sound of the mother gives the infant a sense of security and stops the infant from crying.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, speakers 14A to 14D are provided at the four corners of the room R where the infant 7 sleeps. Among the four speakers 14A to 14D, they are attached to side plates 17 and 18 fixed to the left and right walls 15 and 16 at intervals in the front-rear direction. And the control unit S identifies the position of the infant 7 in the room R based on a signal from a transmitter (not shown) attached to the infant 7, and selects a speaker that plays the in-utero sound. In FIG. 2, the in-utero sound will be played through the two front speakers 14A and 14B which are on the side close to the left and right ears of the infant 7. Also, these speakers 14A to 14D are configured to be able to play the in-utero sound only in a specific area (an area where the infant can hear).

[0032] The average time notification means 6 is a means for notifying the caregiver of the average time obtained by the arithmetic means 11. For example, it may be composed of at least one of a voice generation device that notifies the caregiver (for example, the father) by voice such as "Please change the baby's diaper within 5 minutes", and a liquid crystal display that conveys a character message such as "Please change the baby's diaper within 5 minutes" to the caregiver (for example, the father).

[0033] Although not shown, a cradle having a basket part for laying the infant and a drive part for reciprocally swinging the basket part are provided. When the cry detection means 3 detects the crying sound of the infant when crying, the control unit S drives the in-utero sound generation means 5 and reciprocally swings the basket part by driving the drive part.

[0034] The bedtime determination means 12 is a means for determining whether the current time measured by the clock unit 1 has reached the bedtime of the infant preset and stored in the storage unit 19 of the control unit S. If the control unit S determines that it is the bedtime of the infant (for example, 8:00 p.m.) by the bedtime determination means 12, it starts the operation of the sleep management system.

[0035] The wake-up time determination means 13 is a means for determining whether the current time measured by the clock unit 1 has reached the wake-up time (e.g., 8:00 am) of the infant preset and stored in the storage unit 19 of the control unit S. If the control unit S determines that the wake-up time of the infant has arrived by the wake-up time determination means 13, it terminates the operation of the sleep management system.

[0036] The operation of the sleep management system will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 3.

[0037] The control unit S determines whether the bedtime of the infant preset and stored in advance by the bedtime determination means 12 has arrived (step S1). When it is determined that the bedtime has arrived, the operation of the sleep management system is started, and it is determined whether an odor has been detected by the odor detection means 2 (step S2). If no odor is detected by the odor detection means 2, it is determined whether the crying sound of the infant has been detected (step S5). When an odor is detected in step S2, the average time until the infant starts crying is notified to the caregiver (e.g., father) (step S3), and the caregiver (e.g., father) is notified that the infant has excreted excrement (step S4). The notified caregiver (e.g., father) wipes the excrement attached to the infant's buttocks and changes the diaper.

[0038] After step S4, it is confirmed whether the crying sound of the infant has been detected by the crying sound detection means 3 (step S5). When the crying sound detection means 3 detects the crying sound of the infant in step S5, the in-utero sound generation means 5 generates the in-utero sound for a predetermined time (step S6). At the same time, the drive unit is driven so that the basket part reciprocates and swings for a predetermined time (step S7). After the swinging of the basket part, it is confirmed whether it is the wake-up time (step S8). If it is the sleep time instead of the wake-up time, the process returns to step S2. If it is determined in step S8 that it is the wake-up time, the control is terminated.

[0039] The average time until the baby starts crying needs to be calculated and memorized in advance, and the calculation of the average time will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 4. This calculation of the average time may be performed automatically every day, or may be performed automatically every time a predetermined number of days have passed, or may be performed after the caregiver performs an operation to start the calculation on the day when the caregiver wants to perform the calculation.

[0040] When the calculation of the average time starts, the bedtime determination means 12 determines whether it is the baby's bedtime (step S10). If it is determined that it is the bedtime, the operation of the sleep management system is started, and it is determined whether the odor detection means 2 has detected an odor (step S11). If the odor detection means 2 has not detected an odor, it is determined whether the baby's crying sound has been detected (step S13). When an odor is detected in step S11, the measurement means 10 starts measuring time (step S12). The measurement of the time is performed until the crying sound is detected. When the crying sound is detected, the measurement of the time ends (step S14), and the measured time is stored in the storage unit 19 (step S15). After storing the time, it is determined whether it is the wake-up time (step S16). If it is determined that it is not the wake-up time but the bedtime, the process returns to step S11 to repeat the measurement of the time. When it is determined in step S16 that it is the wake-up time, all the measured times are integrated and averaged (step S17), and the averaged time is stored in the storage unit 19, and then the calculation of the average time ends.

[0041] An infant may cry even when not in a state of being uncomfortable due to excreting excrement. Therefore, in the present invention, the storage unit 19 that stores the feeding time of the infant in advance, and when the odor detection means 2 is in a non-detection state where it has not detected the odor of excrement and the crying sound detection means 3 is in a detection state where it has detected the crying sound of the infant, the control unit S is provided with a feeding time determination means 20 that determines whether it is the feeding time stored in the storage unit 19 in advance. Further, the sleep management system is provided with a feeding time notification means 21 for notifying the caregiver that it is the feeding time when it is determined by the feeding time determination means 20 that it is the feeding time.

[0042] Therefore, when the infant is not excreting excrement, that is, when the odor detection means 2 does not detect an odor, if the infant cries, it can be considered whether it is feeding time or not during feeding time, for example, when the infant is feeling stressed or in poor physical condition. Since the feeding time often occurs at approximately fixed intervals, when feeding multiple times (for example, 4 times) during sleep time in the storage unit 19 of the control unit S in advance, a plurality of (4) feeding times are stored, and a time obtained by adding a predetermined error time to each feeding time is stored as the feeding time. For example, if the error time is set to plus 10 minutes, when the feeding time is 22:00, 22:10 obtained by adding 10 minutes is the feeding time. Also, if the error time is set to minus 10 minutes, when the feeding time is 22:00, 21:50 obtained by subtracting 10 minutes is the feeding time. When the error time is set, the control unit S stores in the storage unit 19 a time obtained by adding the set error time (a time obtained by adding or subtracting the error time) to each of all the feeding start times stored in the storage unit 19. When the crying sound detection means 3 detects that the infant has cried in a state where the odor detection means 2 does not detect an odor, and when the feeding time determination means 20 determines that it corresponds to the stored feeding time, the feeding time notification means 21 notifies the caregiver that it is feeding time. The caregiver who notices the notification can expect the infant to stop crying by feeding the infant. The feeding time notification means 21 may be configured by one or a combination of two or more of a sound generation device that notifies the caregiver by voice, a vibration generation device that vibrates the caregiver's pillow with a vibrator, a light generation device that irradiates light toward the caregiver, and a liquid crystal display that notifies the caregiver with a text message. Also, when the feeding time determination means 20 determines that it does not correspond to the feeding time stored in the storage unit 19, a notification means (not shown) notifies the caregiver to that effect, that is, that the infant is crying due to a cause other than feeding time, such as stress or poor physical condition. As the notification means, the same configuration as the feeding time notification means 21 can be used.

[0043] Further, the control unit S of the sleep management system of the present invention includes a milk intake measurement means for measuring the milk intake of an infant when breastfeeding during bedtime, a breastfeeding time determination means for determining the next breastfeeding time based on the milk intake measured by the milk intake measurement means, and a rewriting means for rewriting the breastfeeding time stored in advance in the storage unit 19 to the breastfeeding time determined by the breastfeeding time determination means. Examples of artificial milk include whole milk, whole powdered milk, skimmed powdered milk of animals such as cows and goats, or those obtained by adding nutritional components to these milks as necessary, or those formulated with nutritional components such as fats and oils, fatty acids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and proteins.

[0044] When the milk intake measurement means allows an infant to drink artificial milk, it places the container containing the artificial milk before feeding the infant, for example, on a scale to measure the weight, and then places the container after feeding the infant on the scale to measure the weight. Then, by subtracting the weight of the container after feeding from the weight of the container before feeding using the arithmetic means 11 provided in the control unit S, it is a means for calculating the milk intake of the infant. Also, when the milk intake measurement means allows an infant to drink breast milk, it measures the total weight of the mother and the infant, for example, by having the mother hold the infant before breastfeeding and getting on a weighing scale, and then measures the total weight of the mother and the infant by having the mother hold the infant after breastfeeding and getting on the weighing scale. Then, by subtracting the total weight before breastfeeding from the total weight after breastfeeding using the arithmetic means 11 provided in the control unit S, it may also be a means for calculating the milk intake of the infant. Further, the milk intake measurement means may measure the first weight of the infant before drinking artificial milk or breast milk, measure the second weight of the infant after drinking artificial milk or breast milk, and subtract the first weight from the second weight using the arithmetic means 11 provided in the control unit S to calculate the milk intake of the infant. When the milk intake measurement means measures the milk intake of an infant drinking artificial milk or breast milk, the milk intake is automatically input to the control unit S.

[0045] The breastfeeding time determination means calculates the estimated time when the baby is hungry by taking into account the age, gender, and weight of the baby stored in advance, based on the breastfeeding amount input to the control unit S, by the arithmetic means 11 provided in the control unit S, and determines the breastfeeding time.

[0046] The rewriting means is a means for rewriting the breastfeeding time stored in advance in the storage unit 19 to the breastfeeding time determined by the breastfeeding time determination means. When the breastfeeding time stored in advance in the storage unit 19 and the breastfeeding time determined by the breastfeeding time determination means are the same time, the rewriting is aborted.

[0047] By the way, since the time (breastfeeding time) when the baby's stomach becomes empty next varies depending on the breastfeeding amount of artificial milk or breast milk the baby drinks during breastfeeding, the breastfeeding amount the baby drinks is measured by the breastfeeding amount measuring means, and the next breastfeeding time is determined by the breastfeeding time determination means based on the measured breastfeeding amount. Then, the breastfeeding time stored in the storage unit 19 can be rewritten by the rewriting means to the accurate breastfeeding time determined by the breastfeeding time determination means. Therefore, the accurate breastfeeding time can be notified to the caregiver (parent), and the burden on the caregiver (parent) can be reduced.

[0048] Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0049] 1... clock unit, 2... odor detection means, 3... crying sound detection means, 4... excrement notification means, 5... intrauterine sound generation means, 6... average time notification means, 7... baby, 8... diaper, 9... baby bed, 9A... pillar, 10... measurement means, 11... arithmetic means, 12... bedtime determination means, 13... wake-up time determination means, 14A to 14D... speakers, 15, 16... left and right walls, 17, 18... side plates, R... room, S... control unit

Claims

1. An odor detection means for detecting the odor of excrement excreted by an infant during bedtime, a crying sound detection means for detecting the crying sound when the infant cries during bedtime, an excrement notification means for notifying the caregiver to that effect when the odor detection means detects that the infant has excreted excrement, a fetal sound generation means for generating the mother's in-utero sound for the infant, and a control unit to which signals from the odor detection means and signals from the crying sound detection means are input, The control unit operates the excrement notification means when the odor detection means detects the odor of excrement of the infant during bedtime, and operates the fetal sound generation means when the crying sound detection means detects the crying sound when the infant cries. A sleep management system characterized by this.

2. A measurement means for measuring the time from when the odor detection means detects that the infant has excreted excrement to when the crying sound detection means detects the crying sound of the infant, and an arithmetic means for integrating and averaging all the measurement times measured by the measurement means during the period from when the infant goes to bed to when the infant wakes up, and an average time notification means for notifying the caregiver of the average time obtained by the arithmetic means, The control unit operates the excrement notification means and the average time notification means when the odor detection means detects that the infant has excreted excrement during bedtime. The sleep management system according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

3. A cradle having a basket part for laying the infant and a drive part for reciprocally rocking the basket part, The control unit drives the fetal sound generation means and drives the drive part to reciprocally rock the basket part when the crying sound detection means detects the crying sound when the infant cries. The sleep management system according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

4. A storage unit for storing in advance the breastfeeding time when the infant breastfeeds during bedtime, and a breastfeeding time determination means for determining whether it is the breastfeeding time stored in the storage unit when the odor detection means is in a non-detection state where it does not detect the odor of excrement and the crying sound detection means is in a detection state where it detects the crying sound of the infant, and a breastfeeding time notification means for notifying the caregiver that it is the breastfeeding time when it is determined by the breastfeeding time determination means that it is the breastfeeding time. The sleep management system according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising this.

5. The sleep management system according to claim 4, wherein the feeding time is a time taking into account a predetermined error time.

6. The sleep management system according to claim 4, comprising: a feeding amount measuring means for measuring the feeding amount of an artificial milk or breast milk consumed by an infant when feeding during bedtime; a feeding time determining means for determining the next feeding time based on the feeding amount measured by the feeding amount measuring means; and a rewriting means for rewriting the feeding time pre-stored in the storage unit to the feeding time determined by the feeding time determining means.

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