Adaptive Wake-Up Stimulus Control for Sleep State Sensitivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for awakening individuals using illumination devices fail to account for individual differences in sensitivity to stimuli, leading to inconsistent awakening levels and reduced satisfaction due to either premature waking or failure to wake at the set time.

Innovation Solution

A control method that acquires time information and sleep state data to adjust the stimulus start time and change amount based on the sleeper's sleep state, using a stimulation device to gradually increase the wake-up stimulus before the set wake-up time, thereby minimizing differences in awakening levels among individuals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the same amount of light is used to stimulate sleepers with the same sleep state, then the awakening level should be consistent, but individual sensitivity differences cause varying awakening levels and premature waking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveawakening level consistencyVSAvoidindividual sensitivity variation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the stimulus amount adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The control device dynamically adjusts the stimulus amount based on real-time sleep state detection and individual sensitivity characteristics, allowing the system to adapt to varying individual responses while maintaining consistent awakening levels across different sleepers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of stimulus amount based on detected sleep state and individual sensitivity. By modifying the stimulus amount as a variable parameter rather than using a fixed value, the system can compensate for individual sensitivity differences and achieve consistent awakening effects across different individuals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the stimulus amount is increased to ensure waking at set time, then awakening reliability improves, but sensitive individuals may be woken up earlier than wake-up set time reducing satisfaction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewake-up reliabilityVSAvoidwake-up satisfaction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring sleep state and using this information to adjust the stimulus amount. The control device receives feedback from sleep state detection, processes this information, and adjusts the stimulus accordingly to ensure reliable waking without causing premature awakening, thereby maintaining wake-up satisfaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by detecting sleep state in advance and adjusting the stimulus start time and amount before the wake-up set time. This preliminary adjustment ensures that the stimulus is applied at the optimal moment for each individual, preventing both premature waking and failure to wake on time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12025958B2Control method, control device, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium recording program

Publication Date: 2024.07.02 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A control method includes acquiring time information including a wake-up set time; acquiring a sleep state of a sleeper who is stimulated by a stimulation device; determining a change of the sleep state; causing the stimulation device to start increasing a stimulus which urges the sleeper to awake at a control start time as time before the wake-up set time by a predetermined time period; and controlling a change amount of the stimulus based on the change of the sleep state with the stimulus.