Ion generator and method for suppressing drowsiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drowsiness during driving or light work leads to reduced work efficiency and is not effectively addressed by existing drowsiness warning devices, as the drowsiness often returns over time, even if temporarily alleviated.
Innovation Solution
An ion generator is installed in the workspace to emit air containing ions, adjusting the ion emission levels based on the worker's state of drowsiness, using a camera for monitoring, a control unit to determine the drowsiness level, and an air sending unit to direct the ionized air towards the worker.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drowsiness warning device is used to alert workers, then drowsiness can be temporarily reduced, but drowsiness will be induced again as time passes and work efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The ion generator operates continuously to emit ionized air into the workspace, maintaining a sustained alertness-promoting environment rather than providing temporary intermittent warnings. This continuous action prevents drowsiness from returning by consistently exposing workers to the ionized atmosphere.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical-chemical parameters of the workspace atmosphere by introducing ionized air, transforming the environmental conditions to actively suppress drowsiness rather than merely alerting workers to their state. This parameter change creates a new working condition that maintains alertness over time.
2Reliability
If warning devices are used to alert drowsy workers, then alertness may be temporarily improved, but work efficiency still decreases when workers are not actively engaged
Solution Approach 1:
The ion generator continuously emits ionized air throughout the workspace, maintaining workers in an alert state throughout their entire work period rather than providing temporary alerts. This continuous environmental modification sustains both alertness and work engagement, preventing efficiency degradation.
3Reliability
If ion emission is increased to suppress drowsiness more effectively, then worker alertness improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ion generator emits ionized air locally into the workspace environment rather than requiring high-intensity emission. By modifying the local atmospheric conditions in the workspace, the system achieves effective drowsiness suppression with moderate energy input, avoiding excessive energy consumption.
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
The ion generator effectively suppresses drowsiness and improves work efficiency by continuously adjusting the ion emission levels to maintain a more alert state, as demonstrated by experiment results showing lower drowsiness and improved driving response in subjects exposed to ionized air compared to those without.
Implementation Method 1
an ion generation unit that generates ions; an air sending unit that sends air toward the worker
Data Source
AI summary
An ion generator is configured to emit, in accordance with a state of a worker in a workspace (S2), air containing ions into the workspace (S3).