Blanket

Abstract

To provide an improved blanket allowing a child to easily fall asleep while being a handy and easy-to-carry article.SOLUTION: The blanket 10 includes a vibrator 2 for generating vibration and a transmission film for transmitting the vibration generated by the vibrator 2 to the entire blanket 10, and is configured to give the vibration to the user. The user of the blanket 10 is, for example, a person whose body is covered with the blanket 10, and is, for example, an infant.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a blanket. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known that vibrations generated in a moving vehicle can induce sleep in infants. Therefore, the technology described in Patent Document 1 stores vibration information applied to a child car seat while the vehicle is moving, and when the vehicle is stopped, vibrates the child car seat in which the infant is seated based on the stored vibration information. This allows infants to sleep even when the vehicle is stopped, when infants are likely to wake up. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-052358 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the technology described in Patent Document 1, a vibration device is installed in the child car seat to vibrate the child car seat. Therefore, when using the child car seat in another vehicle, the child car seat with the vibration device installed needs to be carried along, which can be inconvenient for the user (e.g., the caregiver).

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a blanket that is easy to carry and can help children fall asleep easily. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, a blanket according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: The blanket itself, a film-like vibration device provided on the blanket body and vibrating at a frequency included in a specific frequency band in which the sensitivity of Pacinian corpuscles is higher than a predetermined value; Equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, an item that is simple and easy to carry can easily help a child fall asleep. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a blanket according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a waveform generation process executed by the control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] 4 is a waveform diagram showing an example of road surface vibration acquired from the vibration sensor according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 5 is a waveform diagram illustrating a process of extracting road surface vibrations in a predetermined frequency band according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are waveform diagrams showing examples of basic waveforms used in the waveform generation process according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a waveform diagram showing an example of a vibration waveform generated by the waveform generation process according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a vibration generation process executed by the control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of travel route information registered in the blanket control device according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a display image displayed on the mobile terminal according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Specific dimensions, materials, numerical values, etc. shown in the embodiments are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention and, unless otherwise specified, do not limit the present invention. Furthermore, the relative sizes of components shown in each drawing do not necessarily accurately represent the actual size relationships between the components. In this specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are designated by the same reference numerals to avoid redundant description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown.

[0010] (Blanket 10 Overview) Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a blanket 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1A is a plan view of the blanket 10. Fig. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the blanket 10 taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 1A.

[0011] The blanket 10 according to this embodiment includes a vibrator 2 that generates vibrations and a transmission film 3 that transmits the vibrations generated by the vibrator 2 to the entire blanket 10, and is configured to provide vibrations to a user. The user of the blanket 10 is, for example, a person who has the blanket 10 draped over their body. In this embodiment, the user of the blanket 10 is assumed to be, for example, an infant.

[0012] It is known that vibrations generated by moving vehicles induce sleep in infants. Examples of vibrations generated by moving vehicles include road noise, which is generated by friction or collision between the tires and the road surface on which the vehicle is traveling. The frequency band of road noise includes a frequency band to which Pacinian corpuscles are highly sensitive. Pacinian corpuscles are receptors (sensory organs) that detect vibrations and pressure changes, mainly in the skin of humans. Pacinian corpuscles in human skin are sensitive to minute vibrations. The sensitivity of Pacinian corpuscles to vibration stimuli varies depending on the frequency of the vibration applied to the Pacinian corpuscles. It is believed that sleep is induced when a vibration stimulus of a frequency that increases the sensitivity of Pacinian corpuscles above a predetermined value is applied to human skin. This predetermined value can be measured through in vivo experiments, etc. The vibration frequencies of road noise generated when a vehicle is traveling include frequencies at which the sensitivity of the Pacinian corpuscles increases above a predetermined value. Therefore, it is believed that road noise stimulates the Pacinian corpuscles of humans riding in the vehicle, causing the parasympathetic nervous system to become dominant, thereby inducing sleep. The frequency band of road noise is, for example, 50 to 500 Hz. Furthermore, within the frequency band of vibration, the specific frequency band to which the sensitivity of Pacinian corpuscles is high is, for example, 100 to 300 Hz.

[0013] Therefore, blanket 10 generates a waveform of vibration in a specific frequency band that stimulates the Pacinian corpuscles based on information about vibrations generated by moving vehicle 20, and generates vibrations of the generated waveform. This provides vibrations in the frequency band that stimulates the Pacinian corpuscles to the infant using blanket 10, making it possible to induce sleep.

[0014] (Schematic configuration of blanket 10) As shown in FIG. 1, the blanket 10 includes a blanket body 1, a vibrator 2, a transmission film 3, a control device 4, and a power supply 5.

[0015] The blanket body 1 is a substantially rectangular cloth member that constitutes the majority of the blanket 10. The blanket body 1 is a woven, nonwoven, or knitted fabric made of a heat-retaining material such as cotton, wool, silk, animal hair, acrylic, or polyester. As shown in FIG. 1B , the blanket body 1 has a two-layer structure, for example, a surface cloth 1A and a back cloth 1B. The blanket 10 includes a vibrator 2 and a transmission film 3 (described later) between the surface cloth 1A and the back cloth 1B of the blanket body 1, and a control device 4 on the surface cloth 1A. Note that the blanket body 1 is not limited to the two-layer structure shown in FIG. 1B and may have, for example, a multi-layer structure made of three or more layers of fabric, or a single-layer structure made of a single layer of fabric. In the case of a single-layer structure, the vibrator 2, transmission film 3, control device 4, power source 5, etc. may be attached to one surface of the single layer of fabric.

[0016] The vibrator 2 and the transmission film 3 are an example of a film-like vibration device. The vibrator 2 vibrates the blanket 10 through the transmission film 3 by vibrating itself. The vibrator 2 is formed of a piezoelectric element and vibrates when a voltage is applied. The vibrator 2 vibrates the blanket 10 with a waveform generated from information about vibrations generated by a moving vehicle 20, for example. As shown in FIG. 1A, the vibrator 2 is provided in approximately the center of the blanket body 1. As shown in FIG. 1B, the vibrator 2 is also provided between the outer fabric 1A and the inner fabric 1B of the blanket body 1. The vibrator 2 is preferably a flexible film so as not to impair the blanket 10's original function of insulating the user's body heat so that it does not escape from the blanket 10.

[0017] The transmission film 3 is an example of a film-like vibration transmission member. The transmission film 3 transmits the vibration of the vibrator 2 to the entire blanket body 1 along the surface direction of the blanket body 1. The transmission film 3 is, for example, a thin plastic film. As shown in FIG. 1A , the transmission film 3 has a rectangular shape and is arranged so as to intersect at approximately the center of the blanket body 1. In this embodiment, the transmission film 3 is arranged so as to intersect at approximately the center of the blanket body 1, but is not limited to this example. The shape and arrangement of the transmission film 3 may be, for example, T-shaped, L-shaped, rectangular, or the like, as long as the shape and arrangement can transmit the vibration of the vibrator 2 to the entire blanket body 1.

[0018] The control device 4 controls the operation of each part of the blanket 10. For example, the control device 4 controls the operation of the vibrator 2 of the blanket 10. The control device 4 is also connected to the vibrator 2 and the power source 5 of the blanket 10 by wire or wirelessly. The control device 4 is configured to be able to communicate with devices external to the blanket 10 by wire or wirelessly. For example, the control device 4 can communicate with the vehicle 20, the mobile terminal 30, etc. by wire or wirelessly.

[0019] The power supply 5 is a battery that supplies power to the vibrator 2 or the control device 4. The power supply 5 is, for example, a portable power source. This allows the vibrator 2 of the blanket 10 to receive power from the power supply 5 even in a location without power supply equipment, thereby vibrating the blanket 10. Furthermore, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 can receive power from the power supply 5 even in a location without power supply equipment, thereby controlling the operation of each part of the blanket 10.

[0020] (Hardware configuration of control device 4) FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the control device 4 of the blanket 10 according to this embodiment.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 4 includes one or more processors 40 , one or more memories 41 , a communication device 42 , an input device 43 , an output device 44 , and a bus 45 .

[0022] The processor 40 is an arithmetic processing unit mounted on a computer. The memory 41 includes a read-only memory (ROM) in which programs and the like are stored and a random access memory (RAM) as a work area. The processor 40 controls the operation of the vibrator 2 of the blanket 10 by executing the programs stored in the memory 41. The memory 41 is an example of a storage unit that stores various data used by the processor 40 when executing the programs. For example, the processor 40 acquires vibration information and driving route information (described later) from the vehicle 20, and stores the vibration information and driving route information in the memory 41 in association with each other.

[0023] The communication device 42 is a device for communicating with an external device connected by wire or wirelessly to the control device 4. For example, the communication device 42 communicates with the vehicle 20, the mobile terminal 30, and the like.

[0024] The input device 43 is a device used by a user (e.g., a caregiver of an infant) to turn on / off the power of the vibration device of the blanket 10 and to input information to the control device 4. The input device 43 includes, for example, a touch sensor, a remote controller, a button, a switch, or a dial. For example, when the input device 43 receives a user's input operation related to the operation of the vibrator 2 (e.g., an operation to instruct the blanket 10 to start vibrating), the input device 43 transmits an input signal corresponding to the input operation to the processor 40.

[0025] The output device 44 is a device for outputting information, images, sounds, etc. to the outside of the control device 4. The output device 44 may be, for example, a display device that displays information such as text, graphics, images, etc., or an audio output device that outputs sounds representing various types of information. For example, the output device 44 may output information related to the operation of the vibrator 2 (for example, information related to the vibration of the blanket 10).

[0026] The processor 40, memory 41, communication device 42, input device 43, and output device 44 are interconnected by a bus 45. This allows various types of information to be transmitted and received between these devices.

[0027] (Hardware configuration of external devices) As described above, the control device 4 is configured to be able to communicate with the vehicle 20 and the mobile terminal 30. As shown in Fig. 2, the vehicle 20 includes a vibration sensor 21, a receiver 22 for a satellite positioning system such as a global positioning system (GPS) or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS), and an ECU 23.

[0028] The vibration sensor 21 is a sensor that detects vibrations occurring in the vehicle 20 while it is running. The vibration sensor 21 detects, for example, road vibrations received from the road surface while the vehicle 20 is running. Specific examples of the vibration sensor 21 that detects road vibrations include an acceleration sensor provided in a so-called unsprung portion of the vehicle 20, a torque sensor provided on a torsion bar, and an audio input microphone provided inside the vehicle.

[0029] The receiving device 22 acquires terrestrial position information of the vehicle 20 from a satellite positioning system. The receiving device 22 acquires, for example, position information of the driving route on which the vibration sensor 21 detects road surface vibrations. Here, the position information of the driving route acquired by the receiving device 22 is an example of driving route information related to the driving route of the vehicle 20.

[0030] The ECU 23 is an example of a control device that controls various devices mounted on the vehicle 20. The ECU 23 is configured by, for example, a microcontroller that electronically controls the various devices mounted on the vehicle 20.

[0031] The ECU 23 has a function of communicating with each device provided in the vehicle 20, such as a control device, an on-board electronic device, etc. The ECU 23 transmits and receives various information to and from each of the devices. For example, CAN (Controller Area Network) communication may be used as a communication method between the ECU 23 and each device. The ECU 23 also functions as a communication device that communicates with an external device such as the control device 4 of the blanket 10. The ECU 23 is equipped with a wireless communication device and transmits and receives various information to and from an external device such as the control device 4 of the blanket 10. For example, the ECU 23 transmits vibration information related to road vibrations detected by the vibration sensor 21 and position information of the traveling route where the vibration sensor 21 detected the road vibrations to the control device 4 of the blanket 10.

[0032] The mobile terminal 30 communicates wirelessly with the control device 4 of the blanket 10 to transmit and receive various information. The mobile terminal 30 is, for example, a smartphone, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), a tablet PC, a smart watch, a wearable device, etc. In this embodiment, the mobile terminal 30 is an example of an operation device that allows a user to operate the blanket 10.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 30 includes one or more processors 31, one or more memories 32, a communication device 33, an input device , an output device 35, and a bus .

[0034] The processor 31 is an arithmetic processing unit mounted on a computer. The memory 32 includes a read-only memory (ROM) in which programs and the like are stored and a random access memory (RAM) as a work area. The processor 31 controls the mobile terminal 30 by executing the programs stored in the memory 32.

[0035] The communication device 33 is a device for communicating with an external device such as the control device 4 of the blanket 10 or the vehicle 20. The input device 34 is a device used by the user to input information to the mobile terminal 30. The input device 34 includes, for example, a touch sensor, a remote controller, a button, a switch, or a dial. The input device 34 may also include an input device for voice input such as a microphone or a voice recognition module. For example, when the input device 34 receives a user's input operation related to the operation of the blanket 10 (for example, an operation to instruct the blanket 10 to start vibrating), it transmits an input signal corresponding to the input operation to the processor 31.

[0036] The output device 35 is a device for outputting information to the outside of the mobile terminal 30. The output device 35 may be a display device that displays information such as text, graphics, and images, or may be an audio output device that outputs audio. For example, the output device 35 outputs information related to the vibration of the blanket 10.

[0037] The processor 31, memory 32, communication device 33, input device 34, and output device 35 are interconnected by a bus 36. This allows various types of information to be transmitted and received between these devices.

[0038] (Functional configuration of control device 4) 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the control device 4 of the blanket 10. The processor 40 of the control device 4 executes a program stored in the memory 41 to function as an acquisition unit 400, a waveform generation unit 410, and a vibration control unit 420.

[0039] The acquisition unit 400 acquires, from the traveling vehicle 20, vibration information related to road vibrations and travel route information indicating the travel route on which the vehicle 20 is traveling. For example, the acquisition unit 400 receives, as the vibration information, a detection value (e.g., waveform data of road vibrations) of the vibration sensor 21 of the vehicle 20 via the communication device 42. The acquisition unit 400 also receives, as the travel route information, position information of the vehicle 20 or identification information of the travel route from the receiving device 22 of the vehicle 20 via the communication device 42.

[0040] The acquisition unit 400 also stores in the memory 41 vibration information relating to road surface vibrations acquired from the vehicle 20 while it is traveling, in association with information about the travel route of the vehicle 20.

[0041] The waveform generating unit 410 executes a waveform generating process to generate a waveform of an output vibration based on the vibration information related to road vibration acquired by the acquiring unit 400. For example, the waveform generating unit 410 processes the waveform data of the road vibration acquired by the acquiring unit 400 to generate a waveform of an output vibration in a frequency band to which the Pacinian corpuscles are highly sensitive. The waveform generating process executed by the waveform generating unit 410 will be described in detail below.

[0042] The vibration control section 420 controls the vibration of the vibrator 2. For example, the vibration control section 420 vibrates the vibrator 2 based on the waveform of the output vibration generated by the waveform generating section 410.

[0043] (Waveform generation processing) The waveform generation process executed by the waveform generation unit 410 of the control device 4 of the blanket 10 will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 8. Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of the waveform generation process executed by the control device 4. Fig. 5 is a waveform diagram showing an example of vibration information related to road surface vibration acquired from the vibration sensor 21. Fig. 6 is a waveform diagram illustrating extraction of vibration information in a predetermined frequency band. Fig. 7 is a waveform diagram showing an example of a basic waveform. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing specific examples of the basic waveform, gain G, and output vibration waveform used in the waveform generation process.

[0044] The waveform generation process includes steps S100 to S150, as shown in Fig. 4. For example, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 executes the waveform generation process every time it acquires vibration information of road surface vibration and driving route information from the vehicle 20.

[0045] First, in step S100, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 acquires vibration information related to road vibrations from the traveling vehicle 20. For example, the control device 4 acquires, as the vibration information related to road vibrations, a detection signal indicating the waveform of road vibrations output from the vibration sensor 21 of the vehicle 20. For example, the control device 4 acquires time-series data of the waveform of road vibrations as shown in FIG. 5 from the vibration sensor 21 of the traveling vehicle 20.

[0046] Furthermore, in step S100, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 acquires, from the vehicle 20, travel route information in addition to the vibration information related to the road surface vibration. For example, the control device 4 acquires, as the travel route information, position information of the vehicle 20 (for example, latitude and longitude information indicating the position where the vehicle 20 is traveling) from the receiving device 22 of the vehicle 20. The control device 4 associates the vibration information related to the road surface vibration with the travel route information and stores them in the memory 41.

[0047] Next, in step S110, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 extracts vibration information relating to road surface vibrations of frequency components in a specific frequency band from the vibration information relating to road surface vibrations acquired in step S100. As described above, the specific frequency band is a frequency band of vibrations in which the sensitivity of Pacinian corpuscles becomes higher than a predetermined value, for example, 100 Hz to 300 Hz.

[0048] In step S110, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 extracts the waveform of road surface vibrations of frequency components included in a specific frequency band from the road surface vibrations detected by the vibration sensor 21 of the vehicle 20, as shown in Fig. 6. For example, the control device 4 outputs the waveform of road surface vibrations acquired from the vibration sensor 21 to a band-pass filter (not shown). The band-pass filter extracts the waveform of road surface vibrations of frequency components included in the specific frequency band from the waveform of the road surface vibrations.

[0049] Next, in step S120, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 calculates time-series data of the amplitude values ​​of the road vibrations from the waveform of the road vibrations in the specific frequency band extracted in step S110. For example, the control device 4 calculates time-series data of the amplitude values ​​of the road vibrations of the frequency components included in the specific frequency band extracted using a band-pass filter in step S110.

[0050] Specifically, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 performs a short-time Fourier transform (STFT) on the detection signal of the amplitude value of the frequency component included in a specific frequency band to calculate a partial overall value (POA). The POA is the sum of the double values ​​of the amplitude in a specific frequency band. A larger POA indicates a higher intensity of the detection value (larger amplitude value), and a smaller POA indicates a lower intensity of the detection value (smaller amplitude value). Based on the POA, the control device 4 calculates time-series data of the amplitude value of the road vibration of the frequency component included in the specific frequency band.

[0051] Next, in step S130, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 calculates a gain G based on the time-series data of the amplitude value of the road surface vibration calculated in step S120. The gain G is the ratio of the amplitude value of the road surface vibration calculated in step S120 to a reference amplitude value. In other words, the gain G represents the strength (amplitude) of the road surface vibration of a frequency component included in a specific frequency band among the road surface vibrations detected by the vibration sensor 21 of the vehicle 20. The magnitude of the gain G also varies according to the increase or decrease in the amplitude value of the road surface vibration (see, for example, FIG. 8B).

[0052] Next, in step S140, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 generates an output vibration waveform (see FIG. 8C) by multiplying the gain G (see FIG. 8B) calculated in step S130 by a preset basic waveform (see FIG. 8A).

[0053] Here, the fundamental waveform is a vibration waveform included in a specific frequency band, for example, a vibration waveform with a frequency included in 100 Hz to 300 Hz. The fundamental waveform may be, for example, any of the waveforms shown in Figures 7A to 7C.

[0054] 7A shows a vibration waveform of one frequency selected from frequencies included in a specific frequency band (e.g., 100 Hz to 300 Hz). FIG. 7B shows a waveform in which vibration waveforms of multiple frequencies selected from frequencies included in a specific frequency band (e.g., 100 Hz to 300 Hz) are superimposed. FIG. 7C shows a road vibration waveform of a frequency component included in a specific frequency band, among the waveforms of road vibrations detected by vibration sensor 21 of vehicle 20 while traveling. Waveform data of basic waveforms such as those shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C are stored in advance in memory 41.

[0055] For example, in step S140, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 multiplies one of the basic waveforms shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C by the gain G calculated in S130 to generate an output vibration waveform. This makes it possible to generate a waveform in which the amplitude of the basic waveform is varied in accordance with the strength of road vibrations in a specific frequency band (i.e., amplitude variation). Hereinafter, the waveform in which the amplitude of the basic waveform is varied will be referred to as the "output vibration waveform." The output vibration waveform corresponds to the waveform of the output vibration of the vibration device (vibrator 2), and the output vibration corresponds to the vibration generated by the vibration device (vibrator 2).

[0056] Here, specific examples of waveforms used in step S140 above will be described with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 8A shows a specific example of a basic waveform. Fig. 8B shows a specific example of the waveform of the gain G multiplied by the basic waveform. Fig. 8C shows a specific example of the waveform of the output vibration generated by multiplying the basic waveform by the gain G. The waveform of the output vibration shown in Fig. 8C is generated by multiplying the amplitude value of the basic waveform shown in Fig. 8A by the gain G shown in Fig. 8B.

[0057] Next, in step S150, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 associates the output vibration waveform generated in step S140 with the travel route information corresponding to the output vibration waveform (the travel route information acquired from the vehicle 20 in S100) and stores them in the memory 41, thereby registering a set of the output vibration waveform and the travel route information. Furthermore, in addition to the output vibration waveform and the travel route information, the control device 4 may also associate attribute information of the output vibration waveform and store it in the memory 41. Here, the attribute information of the output vibration waveform may include a waveform ID, which is identification information of the output vibration waveform, and the date and time of registration of the output vibration waveform. Furthermore, the travel route information corresponding to the output vibration waveform may include identification information of the route traveled by the vehicle 20 (e.g., route number, route name), position information of the latitude / longitude of the route, etc.

[0058] Furthermore, it is preferable that the control device 4 repeats the above steps S100 to S150 for road surface vibrations of a plurality of types of travel routes on which the vehicle 20 has traveled, thereby registering a plurality of sets of travel route information and waveforms of output vibrations in the memory 41. This enables the user to select a desired travel route from the plurality of registered types of travel routes in the vibration generation process (see FIG. 9) described later, and generate in the blanket 10 an output vibration corresponding to the selected road surface vibration.

[0059] As described above, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 executes the waveform generation process including steps S100 to S150 described above. As a result, the control device 4 generates an output vibration waveform in which the strength of the vibration of a basic waveform is controlled in accordance with the strength (amplitude fluctuation) of road vibrations acquired from the vibration sensor 21 of the vehicle 20. The basic waveform is a vibration waveform in a specific frequency band to which the Pacinian corpuscles are highly sensitive. Furthermore, the output vibration waveform is a vibration waveform in which the strength of the vibration of the basic waveform is adjusted in accordance with the strength of road vibrations of frequency components included in the specific frequency band. The control device 4 then vibrates the vibrator 2 of the blanket 10 based on the output vibration waveform, thereby vibrating the entire blanket 10. This allows an infant using the blanket 10 to be provided with a vibration of the output vibration waveform in the specific frequency band, thereby effectively inducing the infant to fall asleep.

[0060] (vibration generation processing) The blanket 10 according to this embodiment generates output vibrations according to the waveform of the output vibrations generated by the waveform generation process described above. The flow of the vibration generation process by the blanket 10 according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of the vibration generation process. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of travel route information registered in the control device 4 of the blanket 10. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display image displayed on the mobile terminal 30.

[0061] The vibration generation process includes steps S200 to S260, as shown in FIG.

[0062] First, in step S200, when the mobile terminal 30 receives a user input to start vibrating the blanket 10, it notifies the control device 4 of the blanket 10 of the user input.

[0063] Next, in step S210, the mobile terminal 30 displays a plurality of travel route options for which output vibration waveforms have been registered in the control device 4 of the blanket 10. For example, when the control device 4 of the blanket 10 is notified of the user input, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 refers to a plurality of sets of travel route information and output vibration waveforms registered in the memory 41 (see S150 in FIG. 4 above), and transmits information representing the travel route options for which output vibration waveforms have been registered to the mobile terminal 30. Then, the mobile terminal 30 displays the information representing the travel route options received from the control device 4 of the blanket 10 on the display device 35A, for example, as shown in FIG. 11. The display device 35A is an example of the output device 35 included in the mobile terminal 30, and is, for example, an LCD with a touch sensor of a smartphone.

[0064] The information regarding the above-mentioned driving route options may be displayed, for example, as shown in FIG. 10 or FIG.

[0065] For example, the options for the driving route may be displayed in the form of a table of driving route information shown in FIG. 10. Specifically, the table of driving route information may be, for example, a table in which route numbers, route names, and registration dates for multiple driving routes are associated with each other. For example, the route number is an example of an identifier assigned to identify a registered driving route. The route name is a name for identifying the driving route and may be a specific road name such as National Route 0. The route name may be the name of a destination such as XX Kindergarten, and the driving route corresponding to the route name may be a route from the user's home to the destination. The registration date indicates the date on which the set of the waveform of the output vibration and the driving route information was stored in the memory 41 of the control device 4. The user selects one desired driving route from the multiple options for the driving route shown in the table shown in FIG. 10.

[0066] When route options are displayed in a table format as shown in Fig. 10, the contents of the table are not particularly limited. The contents of the table may be information that allows the user to identify the route, and may include route names, addresses, etc. registered by the user.

[0067] Alternatively, the driving route options may be displayed on a map screen in a route selection image 350 in which selectable driving routes are colored, as shown in Fig. 11. For example, the user can select a desired driving route by tapping one of colored routes 350A, 350B, and 350C on the route selection image 350. The selection method shown in Fig. 11 allows the user to visually clearly view selectable driving routes on the map, and also allows the user to easily select a desired route on the map screen.

[0068] Next, in step S220, the mobile terminal 30 accepts a travel route selection by the user. For example, when the user performs an input operation to select one travel route from the travel route options shown in FIG. 10 or 11, the mobile terminal 30 transmits information indicating the travel route selected by the user to the control device 4 of the blanket 10. The control device 4 of the blanket 10 receives the information indicating the travel route selected by the user from the mobile terminal 30.

[0069] Next, in step S230, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 reads from the memory 41 the waveform data of the output vibration associated with the travel route selected by the user.

[0070] Next, in step S240, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 vibrates the vibrator 2 based on the read-out data of the waveform of the output vibration. This allows the entire blanket 10 to vibrate with an output vibration waveform that conforms to the road vibration of the selected travel route. This makes it possible to induce sleep in a user (e.g., an infant) wearing the blanket 10.

[0071] Next, in step S250, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 determines whether there is an OFF input to end the vibration of the blanket 10. Here, the OFF input is a signal that instructs the end of vibration and is received from the mobile terminal 30. When the user performs an input operation on the mobile terminal 30 to instruct the end of the vibration of the blanket 10, the OFF input is transmitted from the mobile terminal 30 to the control device 4 of the blanket 10.

[0072] If it is determined in step S250 that an OFF input has been received (YES in step S250), the operation proceeds to step S260. If it is determined in step S250 that an OFF input has not been received (NO in step S250), the operation returns to step S240.

[0073] Next, in step S250, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 stops the vibration of the vibrator 2 and ends the operation. In this way, the blanket 10 continues to vibrate in accordance with the waveform of the output vibration that conforms to the road vibration of the selected travel route until the user inputs an input to stop the vibration (OFF input).

[0074] As described above, blanket 10 according to this embodiment includes blanket body 1 and film-like vibrator 2 that is provided on blanket body 1 and vibrates at a frequency within a specific frequency band (e.g., 100 Hz to 300 Hz) in which the sensitivity of Pacinian corpuscles becomes higher than a predetermined value. This makes blanket 10 an easy-to-use and portable item that can help a child fall asleep easily.

[0075] The blanket 10 according to this embodiment further includes a communication device 42 that receives vibration information related to road vibrations of the vehicle 20 from the vehicle 20 while it is moving, and a control device 4 that controls the intensity of the output vibration of the vibrator 2 in accordance with the intensity of the road vibrations of the vehicle 20 based on the vibration information. The output vibration is the vibration output from the vibration device (vibrator 2), i.e., the vibration generated by the vibration device (vibrator 2). This allows the blanket 10 to provide the user with vibrations that replicate the road vibrations generated in the vehicle 20 while it is moving. As a result, it is possible to help a child fall asleep more easily than simply providing vibrations in a frequency band to which the Pacinian corpuscles are highly sensitive.

[0076] Moreover, in the blanket 10 according to this embodiment, the control device 4 further includes a memory 41 that stores fundamental waveforms of vibrations of frequencies included in a specific frequency band (100 Hz to 300 Hz), a waveform generation unit 410 that extracts road surface vibrations of frequency components in the specific frequency band from road surface vibrations and generates an output vibration waveform by varying the amplitude of the fundamental waveform based on the variation in the amplitude of the extracted road surface vibrations, and a vibration control unit 420 that vibrates the vibrator 2 based on the output vibration waveform generated by the waveform generation unit 410. This allows the blanket 10 to generate an output vibration waveform that reproduces the road surface vibrations of the vehicle 20 more efficiently than if the blanket 10 were to generate a vibration waveform that reproduces the road surface vibrations of the vehicle 20 from scratch.

[0077] Furthermore, in the blanket 10 according to this embodiment, the communication device 42 receives vibration information and driving route information relating to the driving route of the vehicle 20 from the vehicle 20. The control device 4 associates the waveform of the output vibration generated from the vibration information with the driving route information and stores them in the memory 41. In response to a user input specifying a driving route, the control device 4 reads the waveform of the output vibration relating to the specified driving route from the memory 41 and controls the intensity of the output vibration of the vibrator 2 based on the waveform of the output vibration to match the intensity of the road vibration of the vehicle 20 when traveling along the specified driving route. This allows the blanket 10 to freely select a vibration stored in the memory 41 and provide it to the user. When the user gets into the vehicle 20, the blanket 10 can generate vibrations more suitable for the user to fall asleep, for example, by selecting the driving route along which the user fell asleep and generating road vibrations along that driving route.

[0078] Furthermore, in blanket 10 according to this embodiment, vibrator 2 includes a film-like vibrator that vibrates at a frequency included in a specific frequency band, and a film-like vibration transmission member that is connected to vibrator 2 and transmits the vibration of vibrator 2 along the surface direction of blanket 10. This makes blanket 10 an easy-to-use and portable item that can help a child fall asleep easily.

[0079] While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. It is clear that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these modifications and alterations also fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the blanket 10 is described as having one vibrator 2, but is not limited to this example. For example, the blanket body 1 may be provided with a plurality of vibrators 2.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the case where the strength of vibration of the basic waveform is controlled based on vibration information related to road vibrations acquired from the vehicle 20 while it is moving has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the strength of vibration of the basic waveform may be controlled based on the fact that road vibrations generated in the vehicle 20 while it is moving increase with the vehicle speed. In this case, the control device 4 of the blanket 10 may be configured to be able to acquire information related to the vehicle speed from the vehicle 20 while it is moving.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the case where the user performs input operations such as selecting a travel route or starting / stopping vibration on the mobile terminal 30 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the user may perform input operations such as selecting a travel route or starting / stopping vibration directly on the control device 4 of the blanket 10 without using the mobile terminal 30 as an input interface. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1 blanket body 2 oscillators 3 Transfer Film 4. Control device 5 Power supply 10 Blankets 20 vehicles 21 Vibration Sensor 22 Receiving device 23 ECU 30 Mobile Devices 31, 40 processors 32, 41 memory 33, 42 Communication equipment 34, 43 Input devices 35, 44 Output device Buses 36 and 45 400 Acquisition Department 410 Waveform generator 420 Vibration control unit

Claims

1. The blanket itself, a film-like vibration device provided on the blanket body and vibrating at a frequency included in a specific frequency band in which the sensitivity of Pacinian corpuscles is higher than a predetermined value; Equipped with a blanket.

2. a communication device that receives vibration information related to road vibrations of a vehicle from the vehicle while the vehicle is running; a control device that controls the strength of the output vibration of the vibration device in accordance with the strength of road vibration of the vehicle based on the vibration information; The blanket of claim 1 further comprising:

3. The control device a storage unit that stores a fundamental waveform of vibrations of frequencies included in the specific frequency band; a waveform generating unit that extracts road vibrations of frequency components in the specific frequency band from the road vibrations and generates a waveform of an output vibration by varying the amplitude of the fundamental waveform based on the variation in the amplitude of the extracted road vibrations; a vibration control unit that vibrates the vibration device based on the waveform of the output vibration generated by the waveform generation unit; The blanket of claim 2 further comprising:

4. the communication device receives, from the vehicle, the vibration information and travel route information relating to a travel route of the vehicle; The control device The waveform of the output vibration generated from the vibration information is stored in a storage unit in association with the travel route information, 4. The blanket according to claim 3, wherein, in response to a user input specifying a driving route, a waveform of the output vibration related to the specified driving route is read from the storage unit, and based on the waveform of the output vibration, the intensity of the output vibration of the vibration device is controlled in accordance with the intensity of road vibrations experienced by the vehicle when traveling along the specified driving route.

5. The vibration device is a film-like vibrator that vibrates at a frequency included in the specific frequency band; a film-like vibration transmission member connected to the vibrator and transmitting the vibration of the vibrator along a surface direction of the blanket; 10. The blanket of claim 1, comprising:

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