Aroma-releasing system and method for releasing aromatic substances

Abstract

This makes it easier to obtain the effects of aromatic substances before falling asleep, during sleep, and after waking up. [Solution] The device comprises a release unit that releases an aromatic substance into the space where the target person is present, and a control unit that controls the release unit to perform intermittent operation, switching between an on state in which the aromatic substance is released and an off state in which the aromatic substance is not released, or a high-difference operation, switching between a first state in which the aromatic substance is released at a rate above a predetermined standard value and a second state in which the aromatic substance is released at a rate below the standard value. The control unit determines whether the target person is in the state of pre-sleep, sleep, or wake-up, and switches the operating time and operating cycle of the intermittent operation and high-difference operation according to the determination result, controlling the operation so that the operating time and operating cycle when the target person is determined to be in the sleep state are longer than the operating time and operating cycle when the target person is determined to be in the pre-sleep or wake-up state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aroma release system and an aroma release method.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a fragrance spraying system including control means for controlling the spraying output of a fragrance and a scheduled time set in association with the sleep state of a user. The control means makes the maximum spraying output in a first time period, in which the user is supposed to be in a sleep state before and after the scheduled time, smaller than the maximum spraying output in a second time period, in which the user is not supposed to be in a sleep state before and after the scheduled time.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An aroma release system that releases an aroma substance or the like into a space where a target person is present is known. Among such aroma release systems, there is one that focuses on the auditory characteristics during a person's sleep and assists in a suitable sleep state. However, conventional aroma release systems have not been studied for brain reactivity and cognitive ability other than hearing, and the effects of aroma substances have not been fully obtained. An object of the present disclosure is to make it easier to obtain the effects of aroma substances according to the pre-sleep, sleep, and post-awakening periods.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The aroma emission system according to the first aspect of this disclosure comprises: an emission unit that emits an aromatic substance into a space where a target person is present; and a control unit that controls the emission unit to perform intermittent operation, switching between an on state in which the aromatic substance is emitted and an off state in which the aromatic substance is not emitted, or a high-low operation, switching between a first state in which the aromatic substance is emitted at an amount greater than or equal to a predetermined standard value and a second state in which the aromatic substance is emitted at an amount less than the standard value. The control unit determines whether the target person is in a state of pre-sleep, sleep, or wake-up, and switches the operating time and operating cycle of the intermittent operation and the high-low operation according to the result of the determination, controlling the system so that the operating time and operating cycle when the target person is determined to be in a sleep state are longer than the operating time and operating cycle when the target person is determined to be in a pre-sleep or wake-up state. In this case, the effects of the aromatic substance can be easily obtained according to whether the target person is pre-sleep, sleep, or wake-up. Herein, the fragrance emission system of the second aspect of this disclosure is the fragrance emission system of the first aspect, wherein the control unit determines whether the subject is in a state before falling asleep, during sleep, or after waking up, based on information predetermined as information used to determine the subject's state. In this case, the subject's state can be determined using information suitable for determining the subject's state. Furthermore, the fragrance emission system in the third aspect of this disclosure is the fragrance emission system in the second aspect, where the predetermined information is biological information obtained from the subject. In this case, the subject's condition can be determined based on objective information obtained from the subject. Furthermore, the aroma-releasing system according to the fourth aspect of this disclosure is the aroma-releasing system according to the second or third aspect, wherein the control unit controls the release of the aromatic substance in the ON state or the first state a first number of times when it is determined that the person is not yet asleep, and releases the aromatic substance in the ON state or the first state a second number of times which is greater than the first number of times when it is determined that the person has woken up. In this case, the aromatic substance can be provided to the subject at a high concentration suitable for promoting wakefulness. Furthermore, the aroma emission system according to the fifth aspect of this disclosure is an aroma emission system according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein the control unit determines, based on the biological information, whether or not the subject is in a slow-wave sleep period, and controls the system to release the aromatic substance in the ON state or the first state when the subject is in a slow-wave sleep period. In this case, the impact on sleep can be suppressed compared to when the aromatic substance is released when the subject is not in a slow-wave sleep period.

[0006] Furthermore, from another perspective, the fragrance substance release method of the sixth aspect of this disclosure is a fragrance substance release method that releases a fragrance substance into a space where a target person is present, and releases the fragrance substance by intermittent operation, which switches between an ON state in which the fragrance substance is released and an OFF state in which the fragrance substance is not released, or by high-difference operation, which switches between a first state in which the fragrance substance is released at an amount greater than or equal to a predetermined standard value and a second state in which the fragrance substance is released at an amount less than the standard value, and determines whether the target person is in the state of pre-sleep, sleep, or post-wake, and switches the operating time and operating cycle of the intermittent operation and the high-difference operation according to the result of the determination, releasing the fragrance substance such that the operating time and operating cycle when the target person is determined to be in the state of sleep are longer than the operating time and operating cycle when the target person is determined to be in the state of pre-sleep or post-wake. In this case, the effect of the fragrance substance can be easily obtained according to the state of pre-sleep, sleep, and post-wake. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the configuration of an aroma-releasing system to which this embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] This block diagram shows an example of a function realized by the control device to which this embodiment is applied. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows an example of processing by the control device of an aroma release system. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the conditions for the release of aromatic substances and an example of the release operation of the release unit. [Figure 5]This figure shows an example of controlling the concentration of aromatic substances in a target space. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. <Configuration of the aroma release system> Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of the aroma emission system 1 to which this embodiment is applied. Aroma emission system 1 is a system that controls the release of aromatic substances in a space. The space in which the release of aromatic substances is controlled by aroma emission system 1 is not particularly limited as long as it is enclosed by walls, floors, etc., and has a volume in which a person can sleep. Examples of such spaces include rooms in which bedding such as mattresses and futons are placed for sleeping. In the following, the space in which the release of aromatic substances is controlled by aroma emission system 1 may be referred to as the target space. In the following, a person present in the target space in which the release of aromatic substances is controlled by aroma emission system 1 may be referred to as the target person.

[0009] The fragrance emission system 1 of this embodiment includes a fragrance device 10 that releases fragrance substances into a target space, and a control device 20 as an example of a control unit that controls the operation of the fragrance device 10. The fragrance emission system 1 also includes a human presence sensor 30 that detects the presence of a target person in the target space. The fragrance emission system 1 also includes a brightness sensor 40 that detects the brightness (luminance) of the target space. The fragrance emission system 1 also includes a motion sensor 50 that detects the body movements of a target person in the target space. Furthermore, the fragrance emission system 1 includes a biosensor 60 that detects the biological information of a target person in the target space. In addition, the fragrance emission system 1 includes a terminal device 70 for use by the target person. In this embodiment, the control device 20 can be configured to be incorporated into the fragrance device 10 or the terminal device 70, or it can be provided as a separate device.

[0010] The fragrance device 10 comprises a storage section 11 for containing fragrance substances and a release section 12 for releasing the fragrance substances contained in the storage section 11 into the space. The storage section 11 contains, for example, a liquid fragrance substance. The storage section 11 may contain one type of fragrance substance or multiple types of fragrance substances. "Fragrance substance" means a substance that has a scent that can be perceived by humans. Furthermore, the fragrance substance may include substances that have pharmacological effects that bring about physiological changes in living organisms.

[0011] The motion sensor 30 detects the presence of a person in the target space. The motion sensor 30 detects, for example, the actions of a subject falling asleep or waking up. As an example of a subject falling asleep, the motion sensor 30 detects when the subject enters the bedding installed in the target space (getting into bed). As an example of a subject waking up, the motion sensor 30 detects when the subject leaves the bedding installed in the target space (getting out of bed). The motion sensor 30 then outputs an electrical signal to the control device 20 according to the result of detecting the presence of the subject in the target space.

[0012] An example of a human presence sensor 30 is a pressure sensor installed under bedding such as a bed mattress or futon in the target space. The pressure sensor outputs an electrical signal to the control device 20 corresponding to the pressure applied to the bedding. Another example of a human presence sensor 30 is an infrared sensor installed around the bedding in the target space. The infrared sensor outputs an electrical signal to the control device 20 corresponding to infrared rays emitted from around the bedding, for example, infrared rays emitted from a person entering or leaving the bedding.

[0013] The brightness sensor 40 detects the brightness of the target space. The brightness sensor 40 is positioned, for example, around bedding placed in the target space, and detects the brightness at predetermined locations in the target space, such as around the pillow of the bedding or around a person inside the bedding. The brightness sensor 40 then outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the brightness of the target space to the control device 20.

[0014] The body movement sensor 50 detects the body movement of the subject in the target space. The body movement sensor 50 measures, for example, the amount of body movement (rolling-over amount) of the subject, the movement of the upper limbs, the continuous time of body movement, the duration of stillness, etc., and outputs the measured results to the control device 20. Examples of the body movement sensor 50 include a wristwatch-type acceleration sensor that can be worn on the upper limb of the subject, a millimeter-wave sensor installed around bedding in the target space, etc. Also, an image sensor or the like may be used to detect the movement and posture of the subject.

[0015] The biological sensor 60 detects the biological information of the subject in the target space. The biological sensor 60 detects, for example, the electrocardiogram, heart rate, pulse wave, electroencephalogram, etc. of the subject. Also, the biological sensor 60 may detect the body temperature, respiratory rate, blood pressure, etc. of the subject. Also, the biological sensor 60 may have a function of detecting snoring sounds. For a user who snores during sleep, the snoring sound is detected. Then, the biological sensor 60 outputs the detected biological information of the subject to the control device 20. Examples of the biological sensor 60 include a wristwatch-type vital sensor that can measure electrocardiogram, heart rate, pulse wave, etc., a head-mounted headset-type device that detects electroencephalogram, etc.

[0016] The terminal device 70 is composed of an information device having a communication function and a display function. Examples of the terminal device 70 include wearable devices such as smartphones, tablet terminals, and smartwatches. The terminal device 70 is configured to be communicable with the control device 20 via a network such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi, or the Internet. Further, the terminal device 70 has a function of detecting the inclination of the terminal device 70. Incidentally, the terminal device 70 detects the inclination of the terminal device 70 using, for example, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope, a magnetic sensor, or the like. Then, the terminal device 70 outputs inclination information, which is information regarding the detected inclination of the terminal device 70, to the control device 20. Furthermore, the terminal device 70 outputs operation information, which is information regarding an operation performed on the terminal device 70 by a subject or the like, to the control device 20.

[0017] The control device 20 includes an information processing unit 21 that processes information, a storage device 22 that stores information, and a communication unit 23 that realizes communication. In the control device 20, the information processing unit 21, the storage device 22, and the communication unit 23 are connected to a bus (not shown), and data is exchanged via this bus.

[0018] The information processing unit 21 is a computer device having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21A, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 21B, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 21C. The CPU 21A realizes various functions of the control device 20 described later by loading and executing various programs stored in the ROM 21B, the storage device 22, etc. into the RAM 21C. The RAM 21C is a memory used as a working memory of the CPU 21A, etc., and the ROM 21B is a memory that stores various programs executed by the CPU 21A, etc. Here, the programs realized by the CPU 21A can be provided in a state stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a magnetic recording medium (magnetic tape, magnetic disk, etc.), an optical recording medium (optical disk, etc.), a magneto-optical recording medium, a semiconductor memory, or the like. Also, the programs executed by the CPU 21A may be provided using communication means such as the Internet.

[0019] The storage device 22 is composed of, for example, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and stores various types of data. In this embodiment, the memory device 22 stores, for example, information about the aromatic substance stored in the storage unit 11. The memory device 22 also stores, for example, the subject's biological information obtained from the biosensor 60. Furthermore, the memory device 22 stores a learning model of the subject's biological information obtained as a result of collecting and learning the subject's biological information. In addition, the memory device 22 stores, for example, information about the subject's sleep onset time and wake-up time. Here, the time each subject falls asleep and wakes up may differ. Also, the biological information of each subject may differ. If there are multiple subjects using the aroma emission system 1, the memory device 22 may store the time each subject falls asleep, wakes up, and biological information in association with each subject. On the other hand, the memory device 22 may store sleep duration and biological information that are uniformly set for multiple subjects.

[0020] Furthermore, the memory device 22 stores information about the subject's olfactory adaptation pattern to the aromatic substance. Generally, a subject in a space where an aromatic substance is released becomes accustomed to the scent of the aromatic substance over time, and olfactory adaptation occurs, making it less likely to perceive the scent. The time it takes for olfactory adaptation to occur varies depending on the subject and the type of aromatic substance. The memory device 22 stores information about the time it takes for olfactory adaptation to occur due to the aromatic substance as an olfactory adaptation pattern. More specifically, the memory device 22 stores multiple predetermined olfactory adaptation patterns for each type of aromatic substance.

[0021] The communication unit 23 communicates with the aforementioned fragrance device 10, motion sensor 30, brightness sensor 40, body movement sensor 50, biosensor 60, terminal device 70, etc., and exchanges various types of data.

[0022] <Functional Configuration of Control Device> Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a function realized by the control device 20 to which this embodiment is applied. Next, the functions of the control device 20 in this embodiment will be described. Each function in Figure 2 is mainly realized by the information processing unit 21 (see Figure 1) of the control device 20. The control device 20 is an example of a control unit. In this embodiment, the control device 20 determines the state of the subject and switches the control of the release operation of the fragrance substance by the release unit 12 according to the result of that determination.

[0023] The control device 20 includes an acquisition unit 201 that acquires information about the target person and the target space, and a state determination unit 203 that determines what state the target person is in based on the acquired information. The control device 20 also includes a condition determination unit 205 that determines the conditions for releasing the aromatic substance according to the determination result of the state determination unit 203, and a drive unit 207 that drives the release unit 12 based on the conditions determined by the condition determination unit 205. In the following, the conditions under which the release unit 12 releases aromatic substances, as determined by the condition determination unit 205, may be referred to as the release conditions by the release unit 12.

[0024] The acquisition unit 201 acquires various types of information output from the human presence sensor 30, brightness sensor 40, body movement sensor 50, biosensor 60, and terminal device 70. More specifically, the acquisition unit 201 acquires an electrical signal output from the human presence sensor 30, which is the result of detecting the presence of a person in the target space. The acquisition unit 201 also acquires an electrical signal output from the brightness sensor 40, which is the result of detecting the brightness in the target space. The acquisition unit 201 also acquires information about the body movements of the person in the target space, which is output from the body movement sensor 50. The acquisition unit 201 also acquires biometric information of the person in the target space, which is output from the biometric sensor 60. Furthermore, the acquisition unit 201 acquires tilt information, which is the result of detecting the tilt of the terminal device 70, and operation information, etc., output from the terminal device 70, regarding operations performed by the person on the terminal device 70.

[0025] Furthermore, the acquisition unit 201 may acquire spatial information, which is information relating to the target space from which the aromatic substance is released. Examples of spatial information include information relating to the volume of the target space and information relating to the ventilation of the target space. The spatial information acquired by the acquisition unit 201 can be used to control the release operation of the aromatic substance by the release unit 12. The acquisition unit 201 can accept input of spatial information from a user, for example, via a terminal device 70. The acquisition unit 201 may also acquire spatial information from a remote controller of an air conditioning device (not shown) installed in the target space, which adjusts the environment such as the temperature and humidity of the target space.

[0026] The acquisition unit 201 may directly accept input of the volume of the target space as information regarding the volume of the target space. Alternatively, the acquisition unit 201 may accept input of other information that allows for the estimation of the volume of the target space, and acquire the volume of the target space from this information. Examples of other information that allows for the estimation of the volume of the target space include the floor area and the number of tatami mats of the target space.

[0027] The acquisition unit 201 may also directly accept inputs such as the number of ventilation cycles and the amount of ventilation per cycle as information related to the ventilation of the target space. Alternatively, the acquisition unit 201 may accept inputs of other information that can be used to estimate the number of ventilation cycles and the amount of ventilation per cycle as information related to the ventilation of the target space, and acquire the number of ventilation cycles and the amount of ventilation per cycle from this information. Examples of other information that can be used to estimate the number of ventilation cycles of the target space include information about the type of space (residential, hotel, office building, etc.), information about the construction year of the buildings that make up the space, and information about the region where the space is located.

[0028] Furthermore, if there are multiple types of aromatic substances used in the fragrance device 10 (see Figure 1), the acquisition unit 201 may acquire information regarding the types of aromatic substances. In addition, the acquisition unit 201 may accept input of the types of aromatic substances from the user via a terminal device 70 or the like connected to the control device 20 via the communication unit 23.

[0029] The status determination unit 203 determines the status of the subject based on predetermined information used to determine the subject's status. More specifically, the state determination unit 203 determines whether the subject is in a state before falling asleep, during sleep, or after waking up, based on information acquired by the acquisition unit 201 from various sensors and terminal devices 70, etc. The "pre-sleep state" refers to the state immediately before a person enters sleep, when transitioning from a waking state to a sleep state. The "sleep state" refers to the state a person is in while asleep. The "post-waking state" refers to the state a person is in after transitioning from sleep to wakefulness. Furthermore, the status determination unit 203 can determine not only the status of the subject as described above, but also, for example, the subject's state when they are active during the day or when they are resting.

[0030] The status determination unit 203 determines the status of the subject based on information about the subject's body movements, for example, obtained from the body movement sensor 50. Specifically, the status of the subject can be determined by evaluating the increase or decrease in the subject's activity level output from the body movement sensor 50. Furthermore, the state recognition unit 203 recognizes the subject's state based on the subject's biological information obtained, for example, from the biosensor 60. Specifically, it can recognize the subject's state by analyzing the subject's biological information output from the biosensor 60 and evaluating the biological information that changes before falling asleep, during sleep, and after waking up. Alternatively, a learning model may be generated by learning the relationship between the information obtained from the motion sensor 50 and the information obtained from the biosensor 60, and this learning model may be used to adjust the method for determining the state of the subject based on the information obtained from the motion sensor 50 and the information obtained from the biosensor 60. Furthermore, the method for determining the state of the subject may be adjusted by learning the relationship between the information obtained from the motion sensor 50 and the information obtained from the biosensor 60 and the information obtained from the human presence sensor 30 and the information output from the brightness sensor 40. Alternatively, the state determination unit 203 may determine the subject's state by judging whether they are falling asleep or waking up based on changes in the electrical signal output from the motion sensor 30. Or, it may evaluate the brightness of the target space based on changes in the electrical signal output from the brightness sensor 40 and determine the subject's state.

[0031] Furthermore, the state recognition unit 203 may determine the subject's state without using direct information obtained from the subject. More specifically, the state recognition unit 203 may predict the subject's sleep onset time and wake-up time from a learning model generated by collecting the subject's biometric information, and determine the subject's state based on that prediction. Alternatively, the state recognition unit 203 may determine the subject's state based on self-reported input from the subject to a terminal device 70, for example. Furthermore, the state recognition unit 203 may determine the subject's state when the sleep onset time and wake-up time predetermined by the subject arrive.

[0032] Here, we will specifically explain how to determine whether the subject is in the pre-sleep, sleep, or post-wake state. As an example, we will show an example using a body movement sensor 50. Here, we will explain, as an example, how to measure a subject's physical activity using an actigraph and assess their condition. An actigraph continuously records the subject's activity level using an acceleration sensor, which is an example of a body movement sensor 50, and based on this data, it is possible to analyze sleep-wake rhythms and activity levels. Generally, a certain level of activity is measured when a person is in a state before falling asleep or after waking up. Furthermore, there is a tendency for activity levels to decrease in the state before falling asleep compared to after waking up. The state recognition unit 203 recognizes that the subject is in a state before falling asleep when it obtains characteristic activity levels before falling asleep. Furthermore, when a person is in a sleep state, their activity level tends to decrease significantly. The state recognition unit 203 recognizes that the subject is in a sleep state when it acquires characteristic activity levels during sleep. Furthermore, activity levels tend to increase when a person is in a state of having just woken up. The state recognition unit 203 recognizes that the subject is in a state of having just woken up when it obtains characteristic activity levels after waking up.

[0033] Furthermore, the information used to determine the subject's condition is not limited to the activity level described above. For example, the subject's biological information may be acquired using a biosensor 60 such as a vital signs sensor, and the subject's condition may be determined based on that biological information. As another example, we will explain the case where a vital signs sensor is used to measure heart rate as an example of biometric information and to determine the condition of the subject. Generally, when a person is in a state before falling asleep, their heart rate tends to decrease. The state recognition unit 203 recognizes that the subject is in a state before falling asleep when it obtains a characteristic heart rate before the subject falls asleep. Furthermore, when a person is generally asleep, their heart rate tends to be stable at a reduced level. When the state recognition unit 203 acquires a characteristic heart rate during sleep, it recognizes that the subject is in a state of sleep. Furthermore, heart rate tends to increase when a person is in a state of having just woken up. The state recognition unit 203 recognizes that the subject is in a state of having just woken up when it obtains a characteristic heart rate after waking up.

[0034] The above describes an example of determining the subject's state using information obtained from the motion sensor 50 and the biosensor 60, but it is not limited to this. For example, the subject's state may also be determined using information obtained from the human presence sensor 30 and the brightness sensor 40.

[0035] The status determination unit 203 may determine the status of the subject by focusing on any of the information acquired from the various sensors and terminal devices 70, or it may determine the status of the subject by combining the information acquired from the various sensors and terminal devices 70. In addition, the status determination unit 203 can also determine the status of the subject based on a predetermined time setting.

[0036] The condition determination unit 205 determines the release conditions for the release unit 12 according to the result of the status determination of the subject by the status determination unit 203. If the condition determination unit 205 determines that the subject is in a pre-sleep state, it sets the release condition by the release unit 12 to the pre-sleep release condition. If the condition determination unit 205 determines that the subject is in a sleep state, it sets the release condition by the release unit 12 to the sleep release condition. If the condition determination unit 205 determines that the subject has woken up and is in a post-wake state, it sets the release condition by the release unit 12 to the post-wake release condition.

[0037] The drive unit 207 switches the release unit 12 of the fragrance device 10 between an on state and an off state. The on state is when the release unit 12 releases fragrance substances, and the off state is when the release unit 12 has stopped releasing fragrance substances. The drive unit 207 controls the release of fragrance substances from the release unit 12 by intermittent operation, switching between the on state and the off state. In the following, the time during which the discharge unit 12 is in the ON state may be referred to as the operating time of intermittent operation. Also, in the following, the time during which the discharge unit 12 is in the OFF state may be referred to as the operating stop time of intermittent operation. Furthermore, in the following, a cycle consisting of the ON state and the OFF state may be referred to as the operating cycle. Furthermore, the drive unit 207 drives the discharge unit 12 based on the discharge conditions determined by the condition determination unit 205. In addition, the drive unit 207 controls the operating time and operating cycle of the intermittent operation based on the discharge conditions determined by the condition determination unit 205. The discharge conditions determined by the condition determination unit 205 for the discharge unit 12, and the driving of the discharge unit 12 by the drive unit 207 based on the determined discharge conditions for the discharge unit 12, will be described later.

[0038] <Operation of the aroma release system> Figure 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the control device 20 of the aroma release system 1. Next, the operation of the fragrance release system 1 in this embodiment will be explained, focusing on the processing performed by the control device 20. The processing by the control device 20 described below is performed by the CPU 21A located in the information processing unit 21 of the control device 20.

[0039] In the fragrance emission system 1, the body movement sensor 50 detects information about the subject's body movements and outputs the detected body movement information to the control device 20. In addition, the fragrance emission system 1 also has a biosensor 60 that detects the subject's biological information and outputs the detected biological information to the control device 20. Furthermore, in the fragrance emission system 1, the human presence sensor 30 detects the presence and actions of a target person and outputs an electrical signal resulting from the detection to the control device 20. In addition, in the fragrance emission system 1, the brightness sensor 40 detects the brightness at a predetermined specific location in the target space and outputs an electrical signal resulting from the detection to the control device 20. Furthermore, in the fragrance emission system 1, the terminal device 70 detects the tilt of the terminal device 70 and outputs the tilt information resulting from the detection to the control device 20. Furthermore, in the fragrance emission system 1, the terminal device 70 outputs operation information regarding the operation performed by the target person on the terminal device 70 to the control device 20. Here, the human presence sensor 30, brightness sensor 40, body motion sensor 50, biosensor 60, and terminal device 70 may output various types of information to the control device 20 at predetermined timings, or they may output to the control device 20 in response to output instructions from the control device 20. Here, we will explain the operation of the aroma emission system 1 using the example of acquiring the subject's biological information from the biosensor 60. We will also consider, as an example, the case where the subject is in one of three states: pre-sleep state, sleep state, or post-wake state.

[0040] The control device 20, at a predetermined timing, has the acquisition unit 201 acquire the subject's biological information output from the biosensor 60 (step 101).

[0041] Next, the control device 20 determines whether the subject is in a pre-sleep state based on the biological information output from the biological sensor 60, using the state determination unit 203 (step 102). If the control device 20 determines, based on the biological information output from the biological sensor 60, that the subject is in a pre-sleep state (YES in step 102), the condition determination unit 205 determines the release conditions for the release unit 12 to be pre-sleep release conditions (step 103). Next, the control device 20's drive unit 207 drives the release unit 12 of the fragrance device 10 according to the pre-sleep release conditions determined in step 103, causing the fragrance substance to be released (step 104).

[0042] If the state recognition unit 203 does not recognize that the subject is in a pre-sleep state (NO in step 102), the control device 20 determines whether the subject is in a sleep state (step 105). If the control device 20 determines, based on the biological information output from the biosensor 60, that the subject is in a sleeping state (YES in step 105), the condition determination unit 205 determines the release conditions for the release unit 12 to be the release conditions for sleep (step 106). Next, the control device 20 has the drive unit 207 drive the release unit 12 of the fragrance device 10 according to the release conditions for sleep determined in step 106, and release the fragrance substance (step 107).

[0043] If the state recognition unit 203 does not recognize that the subject is in a sleeping state (NO in step 105), the control device 20 determines whether the subject is in a waking state (step 108). If the control device 20 does not determine that the subject is in a state after waking up (NO in step 108) based on the biological information output from the biological sensor 60, the control device 20 returns to S101. If the control device 20 determines, based on the biological information output from the biosensor 60, that the subject is in a state after waking up (YES in step 108), the condition determination unit 205 determines the release conditions for the release unit 12 to be the release conditions for after waking up (step 109). Next, the control device 20 has the drive unit 207 drive the release unit 12 of the fragrance device 10 according to the release conditions for after waking up determined in step 109, and release the fragrance substance (step 110). With this, the series of processes by the fragrance release system 1 is completed. Note that the subject's state shown in Figure 3 is just an example and is not limited to these. For example, the state recognition unit 203 may recognize that the subject is in a state of daytime activity or rest based on the subject's biological information output from the biosensor 60. In this case, the release conditions for daytime activity or rest are determined, and the release operation of the aromatic substance is performed based on these release conditions.

[0044] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the conditions for the release of aromatic substances and an example of the release operation of the release unit 12. Next, we will explain the release conditions determined by the condition determination unit 205 when the condition determination unit 203 has determined the condition of the subject, and the release operation of the release unit 12 based on the release conditions determined by the condition determination unit 205. Figure 4 shows the passage of time on the horizontal axis and the on and off states of aromatic substance release in the target space on the vertical axis. In addition, time point P in Figure 4 indicates the start of control, time point Q indicates the time when the subject fell asleep, and time point R indicates the time when the subject woke up. In this embodiment, aromatic substances are released by intermittent operation, which switches between an on state and an off state for releasing aromatic substances. Furthermore, the operating time and cycle of this intermittent operation are switched according to the condition of the target person. Here, as an example, we will explain the switching control of the release operation by the release unit 12, using the process of a subject transitioning from a state before falling asleep to a state after waking up as an example. Furthermore, the control device 20 acquires the subject's biological information output from the biosensor 60 at predetermined timings.

[0045] The period from time point P to time point Q, as shown in Figure 4, indicates that the subject was in a pre-sleep state. After control of the aroma emission system 1 is initiated, the state recognition unit 203 determines, based on the acquired biological information of the subject, that the subject is in a pre-sleep state. In such cases, the condition determination unit 205 determines the emission conditions by the emission unit 12 to be pre-sleep emission conditions (see Figure 3). Under pre-sleep release conditions, the system is controlled to provide a fluctuation in aroma suitable for inducing sleep in the subject. More specifically, for example, the intensity of the fragrance of aromatic substances is gradually changed over time to suppress olfactory adaptation and continuously provide a more natural and pleasant scent.

[0046] Under pre-sleep release conditions, as shown in Figure 4, the intermittent operation control by the release unit 12 is more precisely controlled compared to when the subject is asleep. More specifically, under pre-sleep release conditions, the time during which the release unit 12 is in the "on" state for releasing aromatic substances is shorter than when the subject is asleep. In addition, the cycle consisting of the on and off states for the release of aromatic substances by the release unit 12 is shorter than when the subject is asleep. In other words, when the subject is in a pre-sleep state, the intermittent operation time and cycle should be shorter than when the subject is asleep. To give a specific example, the intermittent operation time could be set to about 1 second, the stop time to about 41 seconds, and the cycle to about 42 seconds. By repeating this intermittent operation, the subject in the pre-sleep state would perceive a change in aroma. Under pre-sleep release conditions, for example, the above intermittent operation would be repeated about 22 times (cycles). Please note that the operating time, operating cycle, and number of operations described here are examples only and are not limited to these. Furthermore, the above control settings for intermittent operation can be further refined depending on the target users and the type of fragrance substance.

[0047] If the subject is determined to be in a pre-sleep state, the operating time and cycle of the intermittent operation are shortened in this manner to suppress olfactory adaptation and provide the subject with a fluctuation in aroma suitable for sleep induction. In addition, in this embodiment, information on the aromatic substances is stored in the memory device 22, and under the release conditions before sleep induction, an aromatic substance suitable for sleep induction is selected.

[0048] The period from time point Q to time point R, as shown in Figure 4, indicates that the subject was in a sleep state. Next, if the state recognition unit 203 determines that the subject is in a sleep state based on the acquired biological information of the subject, the condition determination unit 205 switches the release condition set by the release unit 12 to the sleep release condition (see Figure 3). Under release conditions during sleep, the impact of sensory stimulation on sleep is minimized while obtaining a certain pharmacological effect from aromatic substances.

[0049] Under release conditions during sleep, as shown in Figure 4, fine intermittent operation is not performed, and gentle control is implemented. Generally, sleep consists of "REM sleep" and "non-REM sleep," which alternate every 90 minutes or so. Furthermore, "non-REM sleep" is divided into stages 1 to 4 according to the depth of sleep, and stages 3 or 4 are called slow-wave sleep. Slow-wave sleep refers to a deep state of sleep within "non-REM sleep." Whether or not a subject is in a slow-wave sleep phase can be determined using data such as pulse rate, body movement, heart rate variability, and electroencephalogram (EEG) obtained from a biosensor 60, such as a vital signs sensor. For example, when determining whether or not a subject is in slow-wave sleep based on EEG, a method of measuring and evaluating delta (δ) waves can be used. However, this method is just one example and is not limited to this. Under the release conditions during sleep, the release unit 12 releases aromatic substances when the subject is in the slow-wave sleep phase.

[0050] When the subject is in a slow-wave sleep phase, their response to external stimuli becomes less responsive, so the time during which the release of aromatic substances is kept "on" (the operating time of intermittent operation) can be set to be longer. One example of a method for setting the operating time for intermittent operation is to set the operating time during sleep based on the cumulative value of the intermittent operation time before falling asleep. This method aims to control the release of aromatic substances so that the upper limit concentration of aromatic substances before falling asleep and the upper limit concentration of aromatic substances during sleep remain approximately constant during a single release operation of aromatic substances during sleep. To give a specific example, under the release conditions during sleep, the operating time for intermittent operation can be set to approximately 22 seconds. This value matches the cumulative value of the intermittent operation time before falling asleep (1 second x 22 cycles) mentioned above. Note that this method of setting the operating time is just one example and is not limited to this. The intermittent operation cycle can be set within a range of approximately 60 to 110 minutes, taking individual differences into consideration, but is generally set to around 90 minutes. This setting is based on the cycles of "REM sleep" and "non-REM sleep." Under release conditions during sleep, this intermittent operation is repeated approximately 2 to 3 cycles. The operating time, operating cycle, and number of operations mentioned above are merely examples and are not limited to them. Furthermore, the above control for intermittent operation can be further refined depending on the target users and the type of fragrance substance.

[0051] By releasing aromatic substances while the subject is in a slow-wave sleep phase, the impact on sleep caused by sounds emitted when switching the aromatic substance release on and off, and by fluctuations in the aroma, can be reduced. Furthermore, the impact on sleep caused by stimuli such as airflow and the illumination of control lights associated with the aromatic substance release can also be reduced.

[0052] When it is determined that the subject is in a sleep state, the release of aromatic substances is turned on during the slow-wave sleep phase, thereby minimizing the impact on sleep while simultaneously providing the subject with a certain pharmacological effect from the aromatic substances. In this embodiment, information regarding aromatic substances is stored in the memory device 22, and under release conditions during sleep, an aromatic substance suitable for sleep is selected.

[0053] The period from time point R onward indicates that the subject was in a state after waking up. Next, if the state determination unit 203 determines, based on the acquired biological information of the subject, that the subject is in a state after waking up, the condition determination unit 205 switches the release condition set by the release unit 12 to the release condition after waking up (see Figure 3). Under release conditions after waking, the system is controlled to provide fluctuations in aroma suitable for promoting the subject's alertness. More specifically, for example, the intensity of the fragrance of an aromatic substance is rapidly changed over time, and the subject is given the aromatic substance at a high concentration suitable for promoting alertness.

[0054] Under the post-waking release conditions, as shown in Figure 4, the intermittent operation control by the release unit 12 is more precisely controlled compared to when the subject is asleep. More specifically, under the post-waking release conditions, the time during which the fragrance substance is in the "on" state by the release unit 12 is shorter than when the subject is asleep. In addition, the cycle of the fragrance substance release by the release unit 12, consisting of the on and off states, is shorter than when the subject is asleep. In other words, when the subject is awake, the operating time and cycle of the intermittent operation are shortened compared to when the subject is asleep. To give a specific example, the operating time of the intermittent operation could be set to about 2 seconds, the stop time to about 30 seconds, and the operating cycle to about 32 seconds, and by repeating this intermittent operation, the subject would perceive a change in aroma. The operating time and cycle described above are merely examples and are not limited to them. Furthermore, the above-mentioned control for intermittent operation can be further refined depending on the target users and the type of fragrance substance.

[0055] If the subject is determined to be in a state after waking up, the operating time and cycle of the intermittent operation are shortened compared to the state during sleep, thereby providing the subject with a fluctuation of aroma suitable for promoting wakefulness and facilitating the transition from sleep to wakefulness. Furthermore, in this embodiment, information regarding aromatic substances is stored in the storage device 22, and under the release conditions after waking up, an aromatic substance suitable for transitioning to an awakened state is selected.

[0056] In the intermittent operation control described above, the release of aromatic substances was controlled by setting the operating time and cycle according to the condition of the target person. Here, it is also possible to control the release of aromatic substances by pre-setting the number of times they are released. As an example, let's consider the number of times aromatic substances are released before falling asleep and after waking up. For example, after waking up, a high concentration of aromatic substances may be required to promote wakefulness. In this case, it is effective to increase the number of releases after waking up compared to before falling asleep, supplying aromatic substances more frequently. When performing this release control, for example, the number of releases before falling asleep is set as the "first number," and the number of releases after waking up is set to a higher number than the first number as the "second number," and the release of aromatic substances is controlled based on these settings. To give a specific example, for example, the number of releases before falling asleep is set to "10 times" and the number of releases after waking up is set to "20 times," and the release of aromatic substances is controlled based on these settings. Another control method is to control the number of releases after waking up to be greater than the number of intermittent operations before falling asleep. For example, if the number of intermittent operations before falling asleep is set to about 22 times as described above, then after waking up, the release of aromatic substances will be controlled with a greater number of releases than that. Note that these specific examples of release counts are just examples and are not limited to the numbers shown above.

[0057] Figure 5 shows an example of controlling the concentration of aromatic substances in a target space. Next, we will explain the relationship between controlling the increase in aromatic substance concentration and controlling intermittent operation using specific examples. In this embodiment, as a control to suppress olfactory adaptation in the subject, the release of aromatic substances is performed intermittently, and the release of aromatic substances is controlled so that the concentration of aromatic substances in the target space tends to rise to a predetermined concentration. To suppress olfactory adaptation in the subjects, as an example, the release conditions by the release unit 12 are set so that the concentration of aromatic substances in the target space increases by a fluctuation of 3 times or more every 60 minutes and 3 times or less every 10 minutes from the start of control.

[0058] Furthermore, we will consider the case where the target space is assumed to be a 6-tatami mat room, and the ventilation rate of the target space is 1 per hour. In addition, the aromatic substance used will be, for example, grapefruit fragrance, and the amount of aromatic substance released per unit time will be 955 mg / h. In this embodiment, when increasing the concentration of aromatic substances in the target space at a rate of 3 times / 60 minutes from the start of control based on the above conditions, the control is performed by turning on the release of aromatic substances for about 4 seconds, then turning them off for about 57 seconds, and repeating this intermittent operation. On the other hand, when increasing the concentration of aromatic substances in the target space at a rate of 3 times per 10 minutes from the start of control, the control system will keep the release of aromatic substances on for about 4 seconds, then off for about 15 seconds, and repeat this intermittent operation.

[0059] For example, if the goal is to provide a target with a high concentration of aromatic substances suitable for promoting wakefulness, the release conditions by the release unit 12 are set so that the concentration of the aromatic substances increases at a rate of, for example, 3 times per 10 minutes from the start of control, as the release condition after waking up. In this case, the release unit 12 is controlled to keep the release of aromatic substances on for about 4 seconds, then off for about 15 seconds, and repeats this intermittent operation. As a result, the aromatic substances are released intermittently, and the concentration of aromatic substances in the target space increases rapidly.

[0060] Furthermore, if, for example, the goal is to continuously provide a subject with a natural and pleasant scent suitable for inducing sleep, the release conditions by the release unit 12 are set to increase the concentration of the aromatic substance at a rate of, for example, 3 times per 60 minutes from the start of control, as a release condition before falling asleep. In this case, the release unit 12 is controlled to keep the release of the aromatic substance on for about 4 seconds, then off for about 57 seconds, and this intermittent operation is repeated. As a result, the aromatic substance is released intermittently, and the concentration of the aromatic substance in the target space increases gradually. The relationship between controlling the concentration increase of aromatic substances and controlling the intermittent operation described above is merely an example and is not limited to this. For example, the time it takes for olfactory adaptation to occur varies depending on the individual and the type of aromatic substance. The release conditions by the release unit 12 may also be finely adjusted, taking into account the olfactory adaptation patterns stored for each type of aromatic substance.

[0061] The above describes a method for suppressing olfactory adaptation in subjects by uniformly increasing the concentration of aromatic substances throughout the entire target space. On the other hand, controlling the concentration of aromatic substances in a specific local space can also suppress olfactory adaptation in the subject. For example, one method is to increase the concentration of aromatic substances around the subject's nose, which is an example of a local space. When this configuration is adopted, for example, the fragrance device 10 is placed near the subject, and aromatic substances are intermittently delivered to the area around the subject's nose with a low airflow that does not cause discomfort from the wind. Alternatively, the concentration of aromatic substances around the subject's nose may be gradually increased. When this configuration is adopted, the amount of aromatic substances consumed can be reduced compared to when the concentration of aromatic substances is uniformly increased throughout the entire target space.

[0062] In the above embodiment, the release unit 12 releases the aromatic substance by a fine atomization spraying method. As an example of an atomizing spraying method, when employing a two-fluid nozzle system that simultaneously sprays two types of fluids, liquid and gas, from the nozzle, the amount of aromatic substance released per unit time can be stabilized at a constant level by maintaining a constant air pressure during spraying. Similarly, when employing an ultrasonic system that diffuses liquid aromatic substances in a mist form, the amount of aromatic substance released per unit time can be stabilized at a constant level by maintaining a constant frequency.

[0063] Although embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, the technical scope of this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, in the above embodiment, the drive unit 207 of the control device 20 controls the release of aromatic substances from the release unit 12 of the fragrance device 10 by intermittent operation, switching the release unit 12 between an ON state and an OFF state, but it is not limited to this. The drive unit 207 may control the release of aromatic substances from the release unit 12 by switching between a first state in which the release unit 12 releases aromatic substances at a release amount equal to or greater than a predetermined standard value, and a second state in which the release unit releases aromatic substances at a release amount equal to or less than the standard value. As an example of the standard value, the release amount of aromatic substances that provides olfactory stimulation to the target person can be used as an example. In addition, if the release unit 12 is controlled to the second state in which the release unit 12 releases aromatic substances at a release amount equal to or less than the standard value, the target person will not receive olfactory stimulation from the aromatic substances, and no certain pharmacological effect will be imparted by the aromatic substances.

[0064] The drive unit 207 controls the discharge unit 12 by switching between a first state and a second state, thereby releasing aromatic substances from the discharge unit 12 at a rate with a certain height difference or greater. This allows for the same effect as when the discharge unit 12 is controlled by intermittent operation. Hereinafter, the operation of switching the discharge unit 12 between the first state and the second state will be referred to as height difference operation. The drive unit 207 uses the time when the discharge unit 12 is in the first state as the operating time for the elevation difference operation, and the period consisting of the first state and the second state as the operating cycle, and switches the operating time and operating cycle for the elevation difference operation according to the condition of the target person.

[0065] Under pre-sleep release conditions, the drive unit 207 more precisely controls the height difference operation by the release unit 12 compared to when the subject is asleep. More specifically, when the subject is pre-sleep, the drive unit 207 shortens the operating time and cycle of the height difference operation compared to when the subject is asleep. This suppresses the subject's olfactory adaptation and provides the subject with a fluctuating aroma suitable for inducing sleep.

[0066] Furthermore, when the subject is in a slow-wave sleep phase, the drive unit 207 releases the aromatic substance from the release unit 12 in the first state. In addition, when the subject is in a slow-wave sleep phase, the drive unit 12 can set the time for releasing the aromatic substance in the first state (the operating time of the elevation difference operation) to be longer. This can reduce the noise emitted when switching the release unit 12 between the first and second states, and the impact on sleep due to fluctuations in the aroma.

[0067] Furthermore, under the release conditions after waking, the drive unit 207 more precisely controls the height difference operation by the release unit 12 compared to when the subject is asleep. More specifically, when the subject is awake, the operating time and cycle of the height difference operation are shortened compared to when the subject is asleep. This provides the subject with a fluctuating aroma suitable for promoting wakefulness, facilitating the transition from sleep to wakefulness.

[0068] Furthermore, instead of controlling the release of aromatic substances by setting the operating time and operating cycle of the elevation difference operation, the drive unit 207 may control the release of aromatic substances by setting the number of times aromatic substances are released in the first state during elevation difference operation. Here, as an example, we consider the number of times aromatic substances are released in the first state before falling asleep and after waking up. For example, the number of times the aromatic substance is released in the first state before falling asleep is set as the "first number," and the number of times the aromatic substance is released in the first state after waking up is set as the "second number," which is greater than the first number. The drive unit 207 controls the release unit 12 based on these settings. This makes it possible to release the aromatic substance under release conditions suitable for the subject, both before falling asleep and after waking up. For example, when the subject is before falling asleep, the concentration of the aromatic substance increases gradually, making it possible to provide the subject with a natural and pleasant scent suitable for inducing sleep. Also, when the subject is after waking up, the concentration of the aromatic substance increases rapidly, making it possible to provide the subject with the aromatic substance at a high concentration suitable for promoting wakefulness.

[0069] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the release unit 12 releases the aromatic substance by an atomizing spray method, but is not limited to this. The release unit 12 may release the aromatic substance by, for example, an evaporative method that vaporizes a liquid aromatic substance, or an inkjet method that ejects a liquid aromatic substance in droplet form. The atomizing spray method tends to have less influence on the concentration of the aromatic substance due to differences in environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity of the target space, compared to, for example, an evaporative method. Also, the atomizing spray method tends to have less variation in the amount of aromatic substance released per unit time compared to, for example, an inkjet method. From this viewpoint, it is preferable that the release unit 12 releases the aromatic substance by an atomizing spray method.

[0070] Herein, the embodiment described above can be understood as follows. The aroma emission system 1 of this disclosure includes an emission unit 12 that emits an aromatic substance into the space where a target person is present, and a control device 20 that controls the emission unit 12 to perform intermittent operation, switching between an ON state in which the emission unit 12 emits an aromatic substance and an OFF state in which it does not emit an aromatic substance, or high-difference operation, switching between a first state in which the emission unit 12 emits an aromatic substance at a predetermined standard value or more and a second state in which the emission unit 12 emits an aromatic substance at a standard value or less. The control device 20 determines whether the target person is in the pre-sleep, sleep, or post-wake state, and switches the operating time and operating cycle of intermittent operation and high-difference operation according to the determination result, controlling the system so that the operating time and operating cycle when the target person is determined to be in the sleep state are longer than the operating time and operating cycle when the target person is determined to be in the pre-sleep or post-wake state. In this case, the effect of the aromatic substance can be easily obtained according to whether the target person is pre-sleep, sleep, or post-wake.

[0071] Here, the control device 20 determines whether the subject is in the pre-sleep, sleep, or post-wake state based on predetermined information used to determine the subject's state. In this case, the subject's state can be determined using information suitable for determining the subject's state.

[0072] Furthermore, the predetermined information consists of biometric data obtained from the subject. In this case, the subject's condition can be determined based on objective information obtained from the subject.

[0073] Furthermore, the control device 20 is controlled to release the aromatic substance in an ON state or in a first state a first number of times when it is determined that the user is not yet asleep, and to release the aromatic substance in an ON state or in a first state a second number of times, which is more than the first number of times, when it is determined that the user has woken up. In this case, the user can be provided with an aromatic substance at a high concentration suitable for promoting wakefulness.

[0074] Furthermore, the control device 20 determines whether the subject is in a slow-wave sleep phase based on biological information, and controls the device to release aromatic substances in an ON state or a first state when the subject is in a slow-wave sleep phase. In this case, the impact on sleep can be suppressed compared to when the aromatic substance release operation is performed when the subject is not in a slow-wave sleep phase.

[0075] Furthermore, from another perspective, the aroma substance release method of this disclosure is an aroma substance release method that releases an aroma substance into a space where a target person is present, and releases the aroma substance by intermittent operation, which switches between an ON state in which the aroma substance is released and an OFF state in which the aroma substance is not released, or by high-difference operation, which switches between a first state in which the aroma substance is released at an amount above a predetermined standard value and a second state in which the aroma substance is released at an amount below the standard value, and determines whether the target person is in the state of pre-sleep, sleep, or post-wake, and switches the operating time and operating cycle of the intermittent operation and high-difference operation according to the result of the determination, releasing the aroma substance in such a way that the operating time and operating cycle when the target person is determined to be in the state of sleep is longer than the operating time and operating cycle when the target person is determined to be in the state of pre-sleep or post-wake. In this case, the effect of the aroma substance can be easily obtained according to the state of pre-sleep, sleep, and post-wake.

[0076] Although the embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that the form and details can be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0077] 1…Aroma release system, 10…Aroma device, 11…Storage unit, 12…Release unit, 20…Control device, 21…Information processing unit, 22…Storage device, 23…Communication unit, 30…Human presence sensor, 40…Brightness sensor, 50…Body movement sensor, 60…Biometric sensor, 70…Terminal device, 201…Acquisition unit, 203…Status certification unit, 205…Condition determination unit, 207…Drive unit

Claims

1. A release unit that releases aromatic substances into the space where the target person is present, A control unit controls the discharge unit so that it performs intermittent operation, switching between an ON state in which it releases aromatic substances and an OFF state in which it does not release aromatic substances, or high-difference operation, switching between a first state in which it releases aromatic substances at a predetermined standard value or more and a second state in which it releases aromatic substances at a standard value less than said standard. Equipped with, The control unit determines whether the subject is in the pre-sleep, sleep, or post-wake state, and switches the operating time and cycle of the intermittent operation and the elevation difference operation according to the result of the determination, controlling the operation so that the operating time and cycle when the subject is determined to be in the sleep state are longer than the operating time and cycle when the subject is determined to be in the pre-sleep or post-wake state. Aroma release system.

2. The control unit determines whether the subject is in the state before falling asleep, during sleep, or after waking up, based on predetermined information used to determine the subject's state. The fragrance emission system according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned predetermined information is biometric information obtained from the subject. The fragrance emission system according to claim 2.

4. The control unit controls the release of the aromatic substance in the ON state or the first state a first number of times when it is determined that the user is not yet asleep, and when it is determined that the user is not yet awake, it controls the release of the aromatic substance in the ON state or the first state a second number of times which is greater than the first number of times. The fragrance emission system according to claim 2.

5. The control unit determines, based on the biological information, whether the subject is in a slow-wave sleep phase, and controls the unit to release aromatic substances in the ON state or the first state when the subject is in a slow-wave sleep phase. The fragrance emission system according to claim 3.

6. A method for releasing aromatic substances into a space where a target person is present, Aromatic substances are released by intermittent operation, which switches between an ON state in which aromatic substances are released and an OFF state in which aromatic substances are not released, or by high-difference operation, which switches between a first state in which aromatic substances are released at an amount greater than a predetermined standard value and a second state in which aromatic substances are released at an amount less than the said standard value. The system determines whether the subject is in the pre-sleep, sleep, or post-wake state, and switches the operating time and cycle of the intermittent operation and elevation difference operation according to the result of the determination, releasing aromatic substances in such a way that the operating time and cycle when the subject is determined to be in the sleep state are longer than the operating time and cycle when the subject is determined to be in the pre-sleep or post-wake state. Fragrance release method.

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