Sleep Induction Audio Feedback Synchronized to Breathing Cognition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sleep induction systems provide goal-oriented stimuli without considering the periodicity of users' physiological signals, such as respiration, leading to reduced effectiveness and user engagement.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device and method that identify the periodicity of users' physiological signals, like respiration, by detecting user activities independent of the physiological signals and provide auditory feedback synchronized with these periodicities to enhance user awareness and engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional systems provide goal-oriented stimuli without considering physiological signal periodicity, then the system complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the effectiveness and user engagement deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoideffectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors the user's physiological signals (respiration, heart rate) and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the auditory stimuli in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the stimuli remain synchronized with the user's actual physiological state, thereby maintaining effectiveness while keeping the system relatively simple to operate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static, pre-set goal-oriented stimuli to dynamic stimuli that automatically adapt to the user's changing physiological periodicity. The auditory feedback parameters (frequency, timing, intensity) are continuously modified based on real-time detection of physiological signal periodicity, enhancing effectiveness without requiring complex user intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If conventional systems use fixed goal-oriented stimuli, then device complexity is reduced, but user engagement and effectiveness worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoiduser engagement

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-adjustment by automatically detecting the user's physiological periodicity and modifying the auditory stimuli accordingly, without requiring complex user input or manual calibration. The device serves itself by using its own output as a reference for detecting physiological signals and adjusting future outputs, thereby maintaining simplicity while enhancing adaptability and user engagement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of physiological signal periodicity before delivering the main auditory feedback. By pre-analyzing the user's respiratory and cardiac rhythms, the system can proactively synchronize the stimuli with the detected periodicity, improving engagement effectiveness while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through phased processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If auditory feedback is not synchronized with physiological signal periodicity, then the system is simpler to implement, but user awareness and sleep induction effectiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidsynchronization precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical or manual synchronization mechanisms with signal processing and pattern recognition algorithms. By using computational methods to detect physiological periodicity and synchronize auditory feedback, the system achieves high synchronization precision while avoiding the mechanical complexity that would result from hardware-based timing mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the parameters of the auditory feedback (timing, frequency, duration) based on the detected physiological signal periodicity. By continuously adjusting these parameters to match the user's respiratory and cardiac rhythms, the system achieves precise synchronization without requiring complex hardware, relying instead on software-based parameter modulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20260083934A1Electronic device, method, and storage medium for providing auditory feedback for sleep induction

Publication Date: 2026.03.26 BELL THERAPEUTICS INC

AI summary

According to one embodiment, a method for providing a sound for sleep induction may include an operation of providing a first sound corresponding to a first user activity based on detecting the first user activity associated with user cognition regarding a period for inhalation of the user's breathing. The first user activity may be a user activity independent of the inhalation rather than a user activity caused by the inhalation of the breathing, and a start time point of providing the first sound may be substantially synchronized with a detection time point of the first user activity. The method may include an operation of providing a second sound corresponding to a second user activity based on detecting the second user activity associated with user cognition regarding a period for exhalation of the user's breathing. The second user activity may be a user activity independent of the exhalation rather than a user activity caused by the exhalation of the breathing, and a start time point of providing the second sound may be substantially synchronized with a detection time point of the second user activity.