Motion-Responsive Alarm Sound Playback for Faster Wake-Up

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional alarm devices take too long for users to wake up and perform a stop action due to solely emitting an alarm sound, necessitating improved methods to expedite the waking process.

Innovation Solution

A sound playback device that includes a clock, detection, calculation, and determination parts to play different sounds based on user movement, adjusting volume and playback conditions to enhance waking efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If only an alarm sound is emitted, then the device complexity is low, but the time required for the user to wake up and perform a stop action is too long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidtime to wake up
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm device dynamically changes the sound output based on detected user movement. It transitions from playing only the first alarm sound to playing both the first and second alarm sounds when movement is detected, creating a dynamic response that adapts to the user's waking progress and reduces total wake-up time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The detection part acts as an intermediary between the user's physical state and the sound playback system. It detects user presence and movement, translating these physical cues into control signals that modify the alarm sound output, thereby mediating the interaction between user and device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the alarm device plays different sounds based on movement detection, then the waking efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewaking efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The alarm sound is segmented into multiple distinct sounds (first alarm sound and second alarm sound) with different characteristics. The detection part segments the monitoring function by separately detecting user presence and movement. This segmentation allows the device to provide differentiated audio feedback for different user states, improving waking efficiency through more nuanced sound control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sound playback part is designed to perform multiple functions: playing the first alarm sound during sleep monitoring, playing the second alarm sound when movement is detected, and adjusting playback parameters based on detection results. This multi-functionality allows a single component to handle various alarm scenarios, improving waking efficiency without requiring entirely separate systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the alarm sound volume is reduced when movement is detected, then the user experience is improved, but the alarm effectiveness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidalarm effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device applies different sound volumes to different alarm sounds based on local conditions (detected movement). When movement is detected, the first alarm sound volume is reduced while the second alarm sound is played, creating a localized quality adjustment that responds to the user's specific state and improves comfort without completely eliminating the alarm signal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 device effectively uses movement detection to transition from one sound to another, adjusting volume and playback duration to expedite waking, ensuring timely user response to alarms.

Implementation Method 1

a detection part configured to detect an object in a non-contact manner

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNon-contact detection:

Implementation Method 2

a calculation part configured to calculate a magnitude of movement of the object based on detection results by the detection part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMovement calculation:

Data Source

PatentEP4682849A1Sound playback device, sound playback method, and sound playback program
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 NINTENDO CO LTD
  • EP4682849A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4682849A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4682849A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sound playback device 1 includes: a clock part 331 for measuring time; a storing part 32 configured to store an alarm time; a detection part 21 configured to detect an object in a noncontact manner; a calculation part 332 configured to calculate a magnitude of movement of the object based on detection results; a determination part 333 configured to determine whether a motion condition is satisfied, the motion condition being satisfied when a magnitude of movement of the object is greater than or equal to a certain magnitude; and a sound playback part (334) configured to play a sound. The sound playback part starts a first sound playback processing to play a first sound when the measured time reaches a time determined in accordance with the alarm time, and starts a second sound playback processing to play a second sound when the determination part determines that the motion condition is satisfied during execution of the first sound playback processing.