Doppler Sensor Sleep State and Position Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sleep state measurement techniques fail to account for the position and motion of a user, leading to inadequate processing and alarm management during sleep.

Innovation Solution

An information processing apparatus with a sensing unit, sleep state measurement unit, and user state measurement unit that uses a Doppler sensor to measure sleep state and user state in parallel, enabling real-time processing and appropriate alarm management based on both states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional sleep state measurement techniques are used, then sleep state can be measured, but position and motion information of the user is not captured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleep state measurementVSAvoidposition and motion information

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The Doppler sensor is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: measuring sleep state, detecting user position, and monitoring motion. This multi-functional approach allows the system to capture comprehensive user information without adding separate sensing devices, thereby resolving the contradiction between measuring sleep state and capturing position/motion information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If simple processing is performed on measurement results, then processing speed is fast, but processing cannot be adapted to different sleep states and positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidprocessing adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The processing system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time user state measurements. Different processing algorithms and alarm strategies are applied depending on the detected sleep state and position, allowing the system to be both fast and adaptive by selecting appropriate processing paths based on current conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors user state and uses this feedback to adjust processing in real-time. The measurement results feed back into the processing unit, which modifies its operations based on the current sleep state and position, enabling adaptive processing without sacrificing speed through efficient feedback loops.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If alarm is always activated, then wake-up reliability is high, but unnecessary alarms occur when user is not present or already awake

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewake-up reliabilityVSAvoidunnecessary alarms

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary checks of user presence and sleep state before activating the alarm. By measuring user position and sleep state in advance, the system can determine whether alarm activation is appropriate, preventing unnecessary alarms while maintaining reliable wake-up when the user is present and sleeping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The alarm system continuously receives feedback from sensors monitoring user presence and sleep state. This feedback mechanism allows the system to dynamically control alarm activation, ensuring high reliability by only alarming when appropriate while avoiding unnecessary disturbances when the user is absent or already awake.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables real-time processing and accurate alarm management, including volume adjustment and voice message provision, to effectively wake users based on their sleep state and presence, reducing unnecessary alarms and improving wake-up timing.

Implementation Method 1

The sensing unit may include a Doppler sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDoppler effect: Doppler Effect

Data Source

PatentUS20240296729A1Information processing apparatus, information processing method, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with executable information processing program stored thereon, and information processing system

Publication Date: 2024.09.05 NINTENDO CO LTD

AI summary

A new configuration capable of performing processing in accordance with a sleep state of a user and at least one of a position and motion of the user is provided. An information processing apparatus includes a sensing unit that outputs a signal depending on motion of the user, a sleep state measurement unit that measures the sleep state of the user based on an output from the sensing unit, a user state measurement unit that measures a user state representing at least one of the position and the motion of the user based on the output from the sensing unit, and a processing performing unit that performs prescribed processing based on at least one of the sleep state of the user measured by the sleep state measurement unit and the user state measured by the user state measurement unit.