Bone Conduction Headband Alarm for Silent Wake-Up

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current alarm systems and monitoring devices are inconvenient as they often require users to wear them, and existing silent alarms are not customizable to individual user settings, leading to ineffective wake-up methods for users, especially those who are hearing or visually impaired.

Innovation Solution

An alarm and monitoring system comprising a primary device and secondary devices that communicate wirelessly to generate customizable alarm signals, including auditory, visual, and haptic alerts, capable of controlling other devices such as lights and thermostats to wake users effectively, regardless of their impairments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If audible alarms are used, then the alarm can be heard clearly, but it may wake up more than the intended user and is ineffective for hearing-impaired users

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealarm effectivenessVSAvoiddisturbing other sleepers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm system transmits audio signals through bone conduction via the headband, creating a localized auditory pathway that bypasses the air conduction route. This allows the intended user to hear the alarm through bone vibrations while preventing sound waves from propagating through the air to disturb other sleepers in the same environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The headband acts as an intermediary device that converts audio signals into bone conduction vibrations. This intermediary mechanism transfers the alarm signal directly through the skull to the inner ear, eliminating the need for air-borne sound waves and thus preventing disturbance to others while maintaining effective alarm delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If silent-type alarms are used, then other users are not disturbed, but the alarm must be worn on the wrist which is inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisturbance to other sleepersVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using the conventional wrist-worn approach for silent alarms, the system inverts the placement to a headband configuration. This inversion allows the alarm to remain contactless and non-intrusive like wrist alarms while providing superior comfort and ease of use through head placement, which is more natural and less restrictive than wrist wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The headband serves multiple functions: it acts as a contactless alarm holder, a bone conduction transducer, and a comfortable wearing device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for wrist placement while maintaining the silent, non-disturbing characteristic, thereby improving ease of operation without sacrificing the benefit of not disturbing others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Loss of information

If monitoring systems are used, then user health parameters can be tracked, but the devices must be worn which causes inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehealth monitoring capabilityVSAvoidwearing comfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system inverts the conventional wearable monitoring approach by placing the monitoring device in a headband configuration rather than wrist-worn. This inversion maintains continuous health parameter tracking capability while significantly improving comfort and ease of use, as headband placement is more natural and less intrusive than wrist wear for prolonged periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Adaptability or versatility

If customizable alarm signals are provided, then the alarm can be tailored to user needs, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealarm customizationVSAvoidsystem configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures multiple alarm signal types (audible, visual, haptic) and delivery methods (bone conduction, air conduction, vibration patterns) in advance. Users can selectively activate pre-defined alarm profiles rather than configuring individual parameters, which maintains high adaptability while reducing system complexity and ease of use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9922538B2Alarm and monitoring system and method of operation thereof

Publication Date: 2018.03.20 JWIN ELECTRONICS CORP

AI summary

An alarm and monitoring system including a primary device and at least one secondary device, the alarm and monitoring system including at least one controller configured to: determine whether at least one alarm event is set; establish a wireless communication between a primary device and the secondary device, when it is determined that the alarm event has been set; transmit an alarm event signal including alarm information from the primary device to the secondary device in accordance with the alarm event that is determined to have been set; generate an alarm signal by the secondary device in accordance with at least the alarm information; and render the generated alarm signal on a rendering device. The controller being configured to generate and send an actuator control signal to an actuator to adjust a condition to a predetermined state.