Wake Up Alarm Transitioning Diffuse to Localized Sound
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wake-up alarms often cause abrupt and unpleasant awakenings, which can be uncomfortable for users, despite efforts to make the wake-up experience more pleasant through sounds and light simulations.
Innovation Solution
A wake-up alarm device that transitions from a diffuse sound, providing peak intensities from multiple directions, to a localized sound focused on a single direction, using a control unit to manage the auditory experience, allowing for a gradual and gentle wake-up process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a loud and annoying sound is used to inform the user that it is time to get up, then the alarm can effectively wake up the user, but the abrupt wake up causes discomfort and is not appreciated by many users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by gradually increasing the sound intensity over time before reaching the final alarm level. The sound starts at a low intensity and progressively increases, allowing the user's auditory system to adapt gradually, thereby reducing the shock and discomfort of the final wake-up while ensuring the alarm remains effective
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the sound intensity variable over time rather than constant. The alarm sound dynamically transitions from a gentle introductory phase to a more intense final phase, creating a progressive wake-up experience that balances effectiveness with user comfort
2Ease of operation
If diffuse sound is provided during the first part of the alert period, then the user experiences an immersive dream-like sound that causes slow wake up, but the sound intensity is lower compared to localized sound
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by first providing diffuse sound at lower intensity to create a gentle, immersive wake-up experience. This preliminary phase prepares the user's auditory system and gradually increases alertness before transitioning to the more intense localized sound phase, ensuring a smooth and pleasant transition
Data Source
AI summary
A wake up alarm providing device (10) is provided, comprising a sound producing unit (11) and a control unit (12), coupled to the sound producing unit (11). The sound producing unit (11) is arranged to provide an audible wake up signal during an alert period. The control unit (12) controls the wake up signal to comprise a diffuse sound during a first part of the alert period and to comprise a localized sound during a subsequent part of the alert period.