Aroma release system and aromatic substance release method

Abstract

The present invention comprises: a release unit that releases an aromatic substance into a space in which a subject is present; and a control unit that controls the release unit so as to perform an intermittent operation in which the release unit switches between an ON state in which the release unit releases the aromatic substance and an OFF state in which the release unit does not release the aromatic substance, or a high-low differential operation in which the release unit switches between a first state in which the release unit releases the aromatic substance at a release amount equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value and a second state in which the release unit releases the aromatic substance at a release amount less than the reference value. The control unit recognizes whether the subject is in a state before falling asleep, during sleep, or after waking up, switches the operation time and the operation cycle of the intermittent operation and the high-low differential operation according to the result of the recognition, and performs control so that the operation time and the operation cycle when the subject is recognized to be in a state during sleep are longer than the operation time and the operation cycle when the subject is recognized to be in a state before falling asleep or after waking up.

Description

Aroma emission system and aroma substance emission method

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a 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 set as a period when the user should be in a sleep state before and after the scheduled time smaller than the maximum spraying output in a second time period set as a period when the user is not in a sleep state before and after the scheduled time.

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-31711

[0004] An aroma emission system for emitting an aroma substance or the like into a space where a subject exists is known. Among such aroma emission systems, there is one that focuses on the auditory characteristics during human sleep and assists in a suitable sleep state. However, conventional aroma emission systems have not considered the reactivity and cognitive ability of the brain other than hearing, and the effects of aroma substances have not been fully obtained. The present disclosure aims to make it easier to obtain the effects of aroma substances according to before falling asleep, during sleep, and after waking up.

[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 differential 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 the pre-sleep, sleep, or wake-up state, and switches the operating time and operating cycle of the intermittent operation and the differential 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 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. In this case, the effect of the aromatic substance can be easily obtained according to whether the target person is pre-sleep, sleep, or wake-up. Here, the aroma-releasing system in the second aspect of this disclosure is the aroma-releasing system in 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 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. Furthermore, the aroma-releasing system in the third aspect of this disclosure is the aroma-releasing system in the second aspect, wherein the predetermined information is biological information obtained from the subject. In this case, the subject's state can be determined based on objective information obtained from the subject. Furthermore, the aroma-releasing system in the fourth aspect of this disclosure is the aroma-releasing system in the second or third aspect, wherein the control unit controls the system to release the aromatic substance in the ON state or the first state a first number of times when it is determined to be before falling asleep, and to release the aromatic substance in the ON state or the first state a second number of times, which is more than the first number of times, when it is determined to be after waking up. In this case, the subject can be given an aromatic substance at a high concentration suitable for promoting alertness.Furthermore, the aroma emission system according to the fifth aspect of this disclosure is the 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 sixth aspect of this disclosure's method for releasing aromatic substances is a method for releasing aromatic substances into a space where a target person is present, and releases aromatic substances 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 or equal to a predetermined standard value and a second state in which aromatic substances are 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-up, 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 aromatic substances 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-up. In this case, the effect of the aromatic substances can be easily obtained according to the state of pre-sleep, sleep, and post-wake-up.

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

[0008] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings. <Configuration of the Aroma Emission System> Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the aroma emission system 1 to which this embodiment is applied. The aroma emission system 1 is a system that controls the emission of aromatic substances in a space. The space to which the emission of aromatic substances is controlled by the 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 bed mattresses and futons are placed for a person to sleep. In the following, the space to which the emission of aromatic substances is controlled by the aroma emission system 1 may be referred to as the target space. In the following, a person present in the target space to which the emission of aromatic substances is controlled by the 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. The control device 20 in this embodiment can be integrated 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, liquid fragrance substances. 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 the person falling asleep or waking up. As an example of the actions of the person falling asleep, the motion sensor 30 detects when the person enters the bedding installed in the target space (getting into bed). Also, as an example of the actions of the person waking up, the motion sensor 30 detects when the person leaves the bedding installed in the target space (getting out of bed). Then, the motion sensor 30 outputs an electrical signal to the control device 20 according to the result of detecting the presence of the person 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 luminance sensor 40 detects the luminance of the target space. The luminance sensor 40 is placed, for example, around bedding installed in the target space, and detects the luminance at predetermined locations in the target space, such as around the pillow of the bedding or around a person who is in the bedding. The luminance sensor 40 then outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the luminance of the target space to the control device 20.

[0014] The motion sensor 50 detects the body movements of the subject in the target space. The motion sensor 50 measures, for example, the amount of body movement (amount of turning over in bed), upper limb movements, continuous body movement time, and duration of stillness, and outputs the measured results to the control device 20. Examples of motion sensors 50 include a wristwatch-type acceleration sensor that can be attached to the subject's upper limbs, or millimeter-wave sensors installed around bedding in the target space. Alternatively, the subject's movements and posture may be detected using an image sensor or the like.

[0015] The biosensor 60 detects the biological information of a subject in the target space. The biosensor 60 detects, for example, the subject's electrocardiogram, heart rate, pulse wave, and brain wave. The biosensor 60 may also detect the subject's body temperature, respiratory rate, blood pressure, etc. The biosensor 60 may also have a function to detect snoring sounds. For users who snore during sleep, it will detect snoring sounds. The biosensor 60 then outputs the detected biological information of the subject to the control device 20. Examples of biosensors 60 include a wristwatch-type vital sensor that can measure electrocardiograms, heart rate, pulse waves, etc., and a head-mounted headset-type device that detects brain waves.

[0016] The terminal device 70 is composed of information equipment equipped with communication and display functions. Examples of the terminal device 70 include smartphones, tablet terminals, smartwatches, and other wearable devices. The terminal device 70 is configured to communicate with the control device 20 via a network such as Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, or the Internet. The terminal device 70 also has a function to detect its tilt. Specifically, the terminal device 70 detects its tilt using, for example, an accelerometer, gyroscope, or magnetic sensor. The terminal device 70 then outputs tilt information, which is information about the detected tilt of the terminal device 70, to the control device 20. Furthermore, the terminal device 70 outputs operation information, which is information about operations performed on the terminal device 70 by the user, to the control device 20.

[0017] The control device 20 includes an information processing unit 21 for processing information, a storage device 22 for storing information, and a communication unit 23 for realizing 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 loads various programs stored in the ROM 21B and storage device 22, etc., into the RAM 21C and executes them, thereby realizing the various functions of the control device 20 described later. The RAM 21C is a memory used as working memory for the CPU 21A, and the ROM 21B is a memory that stores various programs executed by the CPU 21A. Here, the programs realized by the CPU 21A can be provided in a state where they are 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, or a semiconductor memory. Furthermore, the programs executed by the CPU 21A may be provided using communication means such as the Internet.

[0019] The storage device 22 is configured, for example, as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and stores various types of data. In this embodiment, the storage device 22 stores, for example, information about the aromatic substances stored in the storage unit 11. The storage device 22 also stores, for example, the subject's biological information obtained from the biosensor 60. Furthermore, the storage 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. The storage device 22 also stores, for example, information about the subject's sleep onset time and wake-up time. Here, the subject's sleep onset time and wake-up time may differ from one subject to another. Also, the subject's biological information may differ from one subject to another. If there are multiple subjects using the aroma emission system 1, the storage device 22 may store the subject's sleep onset time, wake-up time, biological information, etc., associated with each subject. On the other hand, the storage device 22 may store sleep duration and biological information that are uniformly set for multiple subjects.

[0020] Furthermore, the memory device 22 stores information regarding 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 of the aromatic substance. 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 regarding 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 the Control Device> Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functions 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 which state the subject is in 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 the state of the target person 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 for the release unit 12 to release the aromatic substance, 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, the brightness sensor 40, the body movement sensor 50, the biosensor 60, and the terminal device 70. More specifically, the acquisition unit 201 acquires the electrical signal output from the human presence sensor 30, which is the result of detecting the presence of a subject in the target space. The acquisition unit 201 also acquires the 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 regarding the body movement of the subject in the target space, which is output from the body movement sensor 50. The acquisition unit 201 also acquires biosensor information of the subject in the target space, which is output from the biosensor 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 regarding operations performed by the subject on the terminal device 70, etc., which are output from 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 state determination unit 203 determines the state of the subject based on predetermined information used to determine the subject's state. More specifically, the state determination unit 203 determines whether the subject is in a pre-sleep state, a sleep state, or a post-wake state 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 wakeful state to a sleep state. The sleep state refers to the state in which a person is in sleep. The post-wake state refers to the state after a person has transitioned from a sleep state to a wakeful state. In addition to the above-mentioned states of the subject, the state determination unit 203 can also determine, for example, the subject's state when they are active during the day or when they are resting.

[0030] The state determination unit 203 determines the state of the subject based on information about the subject's body movements, for example, obtained from the body movement sensor 50. Specifically, the state 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. The state determination unit 203 also determines the state of the subject based on the subject's biological information, for example, obtained from the biosensor 60. Specifically, the state of the subject can be determined 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 body movement 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 body movement sensor 50 and the information obtained from the biosensor 60. Furthermore, the method for determining the subject's state may be adjusted by learning the relationship between the information obtained from the motion sensor 50 and 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 sleep-onset and wake-up actions based on changes in the electrical signal output from the human presence sensor 30 and determine the subject's state. Alternatively, the brightness of the target space may be evaluated based on changes in the electrical signal output from the brightness sensor 40 and the subject's state may be determined.

[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. The state recognition unit 203 may also 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 a 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, as an example, we will explain how to measure the subject's physical activity using an actigraph and determine the subject's state. An actigraph continuously records the subject's activity level using an acceleration sensor as an example of a body movement sensor 50, and based on that data, it is possible to analyze the sleep-wake rhythm and activity state. Generally, when a person is in the pre-sleep or post-wake state, a certain amount of activity is measured. Also, in the pre-sleep state, there is a tendency for the amount of activity to decrease compared to after waking. When the state determination unit 203 acquires a characteristic amount of activity before sleep, it determines that the subject is in the pre-sleep state. Also, generally, when a person is in the sleep state, there is a tendency for the amount of activity to decrease significantly. When the state determination unit 203 acquires a characteristic amount of activity during sleep, it determines that the subject is in the sleep state. Also, generally, when a person is in the post-wake state, there is a tendency for the amount of activity to increase. The state certification unit 203 determines that the subject is in the state after waking up when it obtains characteristic activity levels after waking up.

[0033] 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 sensor, and the subject's condition may be determined based on that biological information. As another example, the case in which the subject's condition is determined by measuring heart rate as an example of biological information using a vital sensor will be described. Generally, when a person is in a state before falling asleep, their heart rate tends to decrease. The condition determination unit 203 determines that the subject is in a state before falling asleep when it acquires a characteristic heart rate before falling asleep. Also, generally, when a person is in a state of sleep, their heart rate tends to be stable at a decreased level. The condition determination unit 203 determines that the subject is in a state of sleep when it acquires a characteristic heart rate during sleep. Also, generally, when a person is in a state after waking up, their heart rate tends to increase. The condition determination unit 203 determines that the subject is in a state after waking up when it acquires 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 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 by the release unit 12 according to the result of the state determination unit 203's determination of the subject's state. If the condition determination unit 205 determines that the subject is in a pre-sleep state, it sets the release conditions by the release unit 12 to pre-sleep release conditions. If the condition determination unit 205 determines that the subject is in a sleep state, it sets the release conditions by the release unit 12 to sleep release conditions. If the condition determination unit 205 determines that the subject has woken up from sleep and is in a post-wake state, it sets the release conditions by the release unit 12 to post-wake release conditions.

[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 when the release unit 12 is in the ON state may be referred to as the operating time of the intermittent operation. In the following, the time when the release unit 12 is in the OFF state may be referred to as the stop time of the intermittent operation. In the following, one 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 release unit 12 based on the release 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 release conditions determined by the release unit 12. The discharge conditions determined by the condition determination unit 205 for the discharge unit 12, and the driving of the discharge unit 12 performed 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 aroma 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 provided in the information processing unit 21 of the control device 20.

[0039] In the fragrance-releasing system 1, a 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, a biosensor 60 detects the subject's biological information and outputs the detected biological information to the control device 20. In addition, a human presence sensor 30 detects the presence and actions of the subject and outputs an electrical signal resulting from the detection to the control device 20. In addition, a 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. In addition, a 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. In addition, a terminal device 70 outputs operation information regarding the operation performed by the subject on the terminal device 70 to the control device 20. Here, the motion sensor 30, brightness sensor 40, body movement 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, the operation of the fragrance emission system 1 will be explained using the case where the subject's biosensor 60 provides biometric information as an example. As an example, we will consider the case where the subject is in one of the following states: before falling asleep, during sleep, or after waking up.

[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's state recognition unit 203 determines whether the subject is in a pre-sleep state based on the biological information output from the biological sensor 60 (step 102). If the control device 20 determines that the subject is in a pre-sleep state based on the biological information output from the biological sensor 60 (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, and releases the fragrance substance (step 104).

[0042] If the state recognition unit 203 does not recognize that the subject is in a pre-sleep state based on the biological information output from the biological sensor 60, the control device 20 determines whether the subject is in a sleep state (step 105). If the state recognition unit 203 determines that the subject is in a sleep state based on the biological information output from the biological sensor 60, the control device 20 determines that the subject is in a sleep state (step 105), the condition determination unit 205 determines the release conditions for the release unit 12 to be sleep release conditions (step 106). Next, the control device 20's drive unit 207 drives the release unit 12 of the fragrance device 10 according to the sleep release conditions determined in step 106, and releases the fragrance substance (step 107).

[0043] If the state recognition unit 203 does not recognize that the subject is in a sleeping state based on the biological information output from the biological sensor 60, the control device 20 determines whether the subject is in a waking state (step 108). If the state recognition unit 203 does not recognize that the subject is in a waking state based on the biological information output from the biological sensor 60 (step 108 is NO), the control device 20 returns to S101. If the state recognition unit 203 recognizes that the subject is in a waking state based on the biological information output from the biological sensor 60 (step 108 is YES), the condition determination unit 205 determines the release conditions for the release unit 12 to be the release conditions for waking up (step 109). Next, the control device 20's drive unit 207 drives the release unit 12 of the fragrance device 10 according to the release conditions for waking up determined in step 109, and releases the fragrance substance (step 110). This completes the series of processes by the fragrance release system 1. 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] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the release conditions of the aromatic substance and the release operation of the release unit 12. Next, the release conditions by the release unit 12 determined by the condition determination unit 205 and the release operation of the release unit 12 according to the release conditions determined by the condition determination unit 205 when the state determination unit 203 determines the state of the subject will be described. FIG. 4 shows the passage of time on the horizontal axis and the on-state and off-state of the release of the aromatic substance in the target space on the vertical axis. Also, the time point P shown in FIG. 4 indicates the start time of control, the time point Q indicates the time point when the subject falls asleep, and the time point R indicates the time point when the subject wakes up. In the present embodiment, the aromatic substance is released by intermittent operation that switches between the on-state and off-state of the release of the aromatic substance, and further, the operation time and operation cycle of this intermittent operation are switched according to the state of the subject. Here, as an example, the switching control of the release operation by the release unit 12 will be described by taking as an example the process in which the subject transitions from the state before falling asleep to the state after waking up. Also, here, it is assumed that the control device 20 acquires the biological information of the subject output from the biological sensor 60 at a predetermined timing.

[0045] The period from the time point P to the time point Q shown in FIG. 4 indicates that the subject is in the state before falling asleep. After the control of the aroma release system 1 is started, when the state determination unit 203 determines based on the acquired biological information of the subject that the subject is in the state before falling asleep, the condition determination unit 205 determines the release conditions by the release unit 12 as the release conditions before falling asleep (see FIG. 3). Under the release conditions before falling asleep, control is performed to give a gentle fluctuation of the aroma suitable for introducing the subject to sleep. More specifically, for example, the intensity of the scent of the aromatic substance is gently changed over time to suppress olfactory adaptation and continue to give a more natural and comfortable scent.

[0046] Under the release conditions before falling asleep, as shown in FIG. 4, the control of the intermittent operation by the release unit 12 is controlled in more detail compared to the case where the subject is in a sleeping state. More specifically, under the release conditions before falling asleep, the time during which the release of the aromatic substance by the release unit 12 is in the on state is made shorter than when the subject is in a sleeping state. Also, regarding the release of the aromatic substance by the release unit 12, one cycle consisting of an on state and an off state is made shorter than when the subject is in a sleeping state. In other words, when the subject is in a state before falling asleep, the operation time and operation cycle of the intermittent operation are made shorter than when the subject is in a sleeping state. Using a specific example, for instance, the operation time of the intermittent operation is set to about 1 second, the operation stop time is set to about 41 seconds, and the operation cycle is set to about 42 seconds, and by repeating this intermittent operation, the subject before falling asleep can feel a change in the fragrance. Under the release conditions before falling asleep, for example, the above intermittent operation is repeated about 22 times (cycles). Note that this operation time, operation cycle, and number of operations are just examples and are not limited thereto. Also, the above control in the intermittent operation can be set more finely according to the subject and the type of aromatic substance.

[0047] When it is determined that the subject is in a state before falling asleep, by thus shortening the operation time and operation cycle of the intermittent operation, olfactory adaptation is suppressed, and a fluctuation of the fragrance suitable for introducing sleep is given to the subject. Also, in the present embodiment, information regarding the aromatic substance is stored in the storage device 22, and under the release conditions before falling asleep, an aromatic substance suitable for introducing sleep is selected.

[0048] The period from the time point Q to the time point R shown in FIG. 4 indicates that the subject is in a sleeping state. Subsequently, when the state determination unit 203 determines that the subject is in a sleeping state based on the acquired biometric information of the subject, the condition determination unit 205 switches the release condition by the release unit 12 to the release condition during sleep (see FIG. 3). Under the release conditions during sleep, the influence on sleep by sensory stimuli is minimized while a certain pharmacological effect by the aromatic substance is obtained.

[0049] Under the 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. Non-REM sleep is further divided into stages 1 to 4 according to the depth of sleep, with stages 3 or 4 being called slow-wave sleep. Slow-wave sleep refers to a deep sleep state within non-REM sleep. Whether or not a subject is in a slow-wave sleep period 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 sensor. As an 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. Note that 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 this slow-wave sleep period.

[0050] When a subject is in a slow-wave sleep phase, their response to external stimuli becomes less responsive. Therefore, the duration for which the aromatherapy release is active (intermittent operation time) can be set to a longer duration. One example of how to set the intermittent operation time is to use the cumulative intermittent operation time before sleep onset as a baseline. This method aims to control the release of aromatherapy substances so that the upper limit concentration of the aromatherapy substance before sleep onset and the upper limit concentration during sleep remain approximately constant during each release cycle. For example, under sleep release conditions, the intermittent operation time can be set to approximately 22 seconds. This value matches the cumulative intermittent operation time before sleep onset (1 second x 22 cycles). Note that this method of setting the operation 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. Note that the above-mentioned operating time, cycle, and number of operations are examples and are not limited to these. Furthermore, the above control of intermittent operation can be set more precisely depending on the target person and the type of aromatic 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 is in a post-waking state. Subsequently, when the state recognition unit 203 recognizes that the subject is in a post-waking state based on the acquired biological information of the subject, the condition determination unit 205 switches the release conditions of the release unit 12 to post-waking release conditions (see Figure 3). Under post-waking release conditions, control is performed to provide fluctuations in the aroma suitable for promoting the subject's awakening. More specifically, for example, the intensity of the fragrance of the aromatic substance is rapidly changed over time, and the aromatic substance is provided to the subject at a high concentration suitable for promoting awakening.

[0054] Under the post-waking release conditions, as shown in Figure 4, the control of intermittent operation by the release unit 12 is more precise compared to when the subject is asleep. More specifically, under the post-waking release conditions, the time during which the fragrance substance by the release unit 12 is in the "on" state is shorter than when the subject is asleep. Also, the cycle consisting of the on and off states for the release of the fragrance substance by the release unit 12 is shorter than when the subject is asleep. In other words, when the subject is awake, the operating time and operating cycle of the intermittent operation are shortened compared to when the subject is asleep. To give a concrete example, for 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 could perceive a change in fragrance. Note that the above operating time and operating cycle are just examples and are not limited to them. Furthermore, the above control of intermittent operation can be set even more precisely depending on the subject 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 in aroma suitable for promoting wakefulness and facilitating the transition from sleep to wakefulness. In this embodiment, information regarding the aromatic substance is stored in the memory device 22, and under the release conditions after waking up, an aromatic substance suitable for the transition to wakefulness 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 subject's condition. However, it is also possible to control the release of aromatic substances by pre-setting the number of releases. Here, as an example, let's consider the number of releases of aromatic substances 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 the aromatic substances more frequently. When performing this release control, for example, the number of releases before falling asleep could be pre-set as the "first number," and the number of releases after waking up could be set to a "second number," which is greater than the first number, and the release of aromatic substances could be controlled based on these settings. To give a specific example, for example, the number of releases before falling asleep could be pre-set as "10 times," and the number of releases after waking up as "20 times," and the release of aromatic substances could be controlled based on these settings. Another control method could be to control the releases after waking up to be greater than the number of intermittent operations before falling asleep. To give a specific example, if the number of intermittent operations before falling asleep is set to approximately 22 times, as described above, then after waking up, the release of aromatic substances will be controlled with a higher 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, the relationship between controlling the increase in aromatic substance concentration and controlling intermittent operation will be explained using a specific example. In this embodiment, as a control to suppress olfactory adaptation of 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. In order to suppress olfactory adaptation of the subject, 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 amount of 3 times / 60 minutes or more and 3 times / 10 minutes or less from the start of control.

[0058] Furthermore, we consider the case where the volume of the target space is assumed to be a 6-tatami mat room, and the ventilation rate of the target space is set to once per hour. The aromatic substance used is, for example, grapefruit fragrance, and the amount of aromatic substance released per unit time is 955 mg / h. In this embodiment, based on the above conditions, when the concentration of the aromatic substance in the target space is increased at a rate of 3 times / 60 minutes from the start of control, the release of the aromatic substance is set to the ON state for about 4 seconds, and then to the OFF state for about 57 seconds, and this intermittent operation is repeated. On the other hand, when the concentration of the aromatic substance in the target space is increased at a rate of 3 times / 10 minutes from the start of control, the release of the aromatic substance is set to the ON state for about 4 seconds, and then to the OFF state for about 15 seconds, and this intermittent operation is repeated.

[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 of 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 this intermittent operation is repeated. 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 can be 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 controls the release of the aromatic substance by turning it on for about 4 seconds, then turning it off for about 57 seconds, and repeating this intermittent operation. This allows the aromatic substance to be released intermittently, and the concentration of the aromatic substance in the target space to rise gradually. Note that the relationship between the control of increasing the concentration of the aromatic substance and the control of the intermittent operation described above is just one example and is not limited to this. For example, the time it takes for olfactory adaptation to occur differs depending on the subject and the type of aromatic substance. The release conditions by the release unit 12 may be finely adjusted taking into account the olfactory adaptation patterns stored for each type of aromatic substance.

[0061] The above describes a method of suppressing olfactory adaptation by uniformly increasing the concentration of aromatic substances throughout the entire target space. On the other hand, olfactory adaptation can also be suppressed by controlling the concentration of aromatic substances in a specific local space. For example, one possible 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 at 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 discharge unit 12 releases the aromatic substance by an atomizing spray method. As an example of an atomizing spray method, if a two-fluid nozzle type is used in which two types of fluids, liquid and gas, are simultaneously sprayed from the nozzle, the amount of aromatic substance released per unit time can be stabilized to a constant amount by keeping the air pressure during spraying constant. Alternatively, if an ultrasonic method is used to diffuse the liquid aromatic substance in a mist form, the amount of aromatic substance released per unit time can be stabilized to a constant amount by keeping the frequency constant.

[0063] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiments, the drive unit 207 of the control device 20 controls the release operation of the aromatic substance from the release unit 12 by intermittent operation, switching the release unit 12 of the aroma device 10 between an on state and an off state, but the present invention is not limited to this. The drive unit 207 may also control the release operation of the aromatic substance from the release unit 12 by operating the release unit 12 in a way that switches between a first state in which the aromatic substance is released at a release amount equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value, and a second state in which the aromatic substance is released at a release amount less than the reference value. As an example of the reference value, the amount of aromatic substance released that provides olfactory stimulation to the target person can be cited. In addition, if the release unit 12 is controlled to the second state in which the aromatic substance is released at a release amount less than the reference value, the target person will not receive olfactory stimulation from the aromatic substance, and no certain pharmacological effect will be imparted by the aromatic substance.

[0064] The drive unit 207 controls the discharge unit 12 by switching between a first state and a second state, so that aromatic substances are released from the discharge unit 12 in an amount with a certain height difference or greater. This makes it possible to obtain 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 will use the time when the discharge unit 12 is in the first state as the operating time of height difference operation, and one cycle consisting of the first state and the second state as the operating cycle, and will switch the operating time and operating cycle of height difference operation according to the state 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 operating 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 aromatic substances are released in the first state before falling asleep is set as the "first number," and the number of times aromatic substances are released in the first state after waking up is set as the "second number," which is greater than the first number, and the drive unit 207 controls the release unit 12 based on these settings. This makes it possible to release aromatic substances under release conditions suitable for the target person both before falling asleep and after waking up. For example, when the target person is before falling asleep, the concentration of aromatic substances increases gradually, making it possible to provide the target person with a natural and pleasant scent suitable for inducing sleep. Furthermore, if the subject has just woken up, the concentration of the aromatic substance will rise rapidly, making it possible to apply the aromatic substance to the subject 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] Hereinafter, 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 an amount greater than or equal to a predetermined standard value and a second state in which the emission unit 12 emits an aromatic substance at an amount less than the standard value. The control device 20 determines whether the target person is in the state of pre-sleep, sleep, or post-wake-up, 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 state of pre-sleep or post-wake-up. 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-up.

[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 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 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 aromatic substance release method of this disclosure is an aromatic substance release method that releases an aromatic substance into a space where a target person is present, and releases the aromatic substance by intermittent operation, which switches between an ON state in which the aromatic substance is released and an OFF state in which the aromatic substance is not released, or by high-difference operation, which switches between a first state in which the aromatic substance is released at an amount above a predetermined standard value and a second state in which the aromatic 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 aromatic substance so 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 aromatic 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.

[0077] 1... Aroma emission system, 10... Aroma device, 11... Storage unit, 12... Emission unit, 20... Control device, 21... Information processing unit, 22... Memory 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... State recognition unit, 205... Condition determination unit, 207... Drive unit

Claims

1. A fragrance emission system comprising: an emission unit that releases a fragrance 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 fragrance substance is released and an OFF state in which the fragrance substance is not released, or a high-difference operation, switching 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, wherein 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-difference 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 state of pre-sleep or wake-up.

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

3. The aroma emission system according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined information is biological information obtained from the subject.

4. The fragrance emission system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the control unit controls the release of the fragrance 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 fragrance substance in the ON state or the first state a second number of times which is greater than the first number of times.

5. The fragrance emission system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit determines whether the subject is in a slow-wave sleep period based on the biological information, and controls the system to release the fragrance substance in the ON state or the first state when the subject is in a slow-wave sleep period.

6. A method for releasing aromatic substances into a space where a target person is present, comprising: releasing aromatic substances 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 or equal to a predetermined standard value and a second state in which aromatic substances are released at an amount less than the standard value; determining whether the target person is in a state of pre-sleep, sleep, or wake-up; and switching the operating time and operating cycle of the intermittent operation and the high-difference operation according to the result of the determination, thereby releasing aromatic substances such 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 state of pre-sleep or wake-up.

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