Sleep Mask Light Therapy with Dynamic Intensity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current light therapy devices are either large and non-portable or head-mounted, lacking comfort and functionality for use during sleep, and often disrupt the subject's sleep due to fixed light intensity and positioning.
Innovation Solution
A sleep mask system with adjustable lighting modules and sensors that vary light intensity based on eyelid position and sleep stage, providing customizable and comfortable light therapy during sleep.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light therapy is administered at fixed high intensity to ensure therapeutic effectiveness, then treatment efficacy is improved, but subject comfort deteriorates and sleep is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The light intensity is made dynamic rather than fixed, automatically adjusting based on detected sleep stages. During deep sleep, intensity is reduced or paused to avoid disruption, while during lighter sleep stages, higher intensity can be applied to maintain therapeutic effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that continuously monitor sleep stage and provide feedback to the control system. This feedback loop enables real-time adjustment of light intensity, ensuring therapeutic effectiveness while preventing sleep disruption through automatic intensity modulation.
2Ease of operation
If light therapy devices are made portable and comfortable for sleep use, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to integration of sensors and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (light therapy delivery, sleep stage monitoring, and automatic control) into a single integrated device. The lighting module, sensors, and processor are merged into one portable unit that can be worn during sleep, eliminating the need for separate devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it delivers light therapy, monitors sleep stages through integrated sensors, and automatically adjusts treatment parameters. This multi-functionality is achieved within a single portable platform, reducing the need for multiple separate devices.
3Reliability
If light intensity is increased to ensure therapeutic benefits, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but sleep continuity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The light therapy is delivered in a periodic manner that synchronizes with sleep cycles. The system periodically adjusts intensity based on detected sleep stages, delivering higher intensity during appropriate phases while reducing or pausing during deep sleep phases to maintain sleep continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes light intensity parameters based on sleep stage detection. By modifying the intensity parameter in response to physiological feedback, the system maintains therapeutic effectiveness while preventing sleep disruption through appropriate parameter modulation.
Data Source
AI summary
A sleep mask is configured to provide light therapy to a subject. The sleep mask may provide a comfortable delivery mechanism for the light therapy, and may deliver the light therapy to the subject while the subject is asleep, in the process of going to sleep, and/or waking from sleep. In one embodiment, the sleep mask includes one or more of a shield, a strap, a first lighting module, and/or a second lighting module.