Sleep Position Trainer Non-Movement Timer Alert

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sleep posture alerting devices do not adequately address individual user needs, leading to suboptimal sleep quality and potential physical issues like neck and shoulder complaints due to prolonged undesired postures during sleep.

Innovation Solution

A sleep position trainer with a control unit, sensor, and alert unit that includes a non-movement timer to detect and alert users to change positions, customizable threshold values based on user data, and adaptable alert stimuli to prevent habituation and improve compliance with sleep disorder treatment protocols.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If alert stimuli are provided continuously to prevent undesired postures, then sleep quality improves, but user habituation occurs reducing alert effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealert effectivenessVSAvoiduser habituation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The alert unit provides stimuli periodically rather than continuously. The control unit monitors posture over time and triggers alerts at specific intervals when undesired postures are detected, preventing habituation while maintaining effectiveness through timed, intermittent stimulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The alert characteristics are dynamically adjusted based on user response and posture duration. The system adapts alert intensity, frequency, and type according to individual user needs and real-time posture data, preventing habituation through variable stimulation patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If generic alert protocols are used for all users, then device complexity is reduced, but individual user needs are not met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotocol simplicityVSAvoidindividual user accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows customization of multiple parameters including alert threshold values, alert types, alert intensity, and monitoring duration. Users can adjust these parameters to suit their individual needs while the device maintains a relatively simple overall structure through modular configuration options.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system includes preliminary setup routines where users configure their preferences and thresholds before actual monitoring begins. This preliminary configuration phase allows individual customization without complicating the core monitoring and alerting functionality during sleep.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If posture monitoring is continuous throughout sleep, then sleep quality improvement is maximized, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposture detection accuracyVSAvoiddevice power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The position sensor operates periodically rather than continuously, sampling posture at predetermined time intervals during sleep. This reduces energy consumption while maintaining adequate posture detection accuracy by checking at strategic moments throughout the sleep period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system monitors posture with high accuracy during critical periods when posture changes are most likely to occur, such as during transitions between sleep stages or when alerts are imminent, while reducing monitoring intensity during stable periods to conserve energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3600032B1Sleep position trainer with non-movement timer
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV
  • EP3600032B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3600032B1 patent drawingFigure 3A
  • EP3600032B1 patent drawingFigure 3B

AI summary

A sleep position trainer (1) has a normal operational mode for alerting when a posture of the body detected by the position sensor (34) corresponds with an undesired body posture. The sleep position trainer further comprises a non-movement timer (t1) for timing a non-movement period of the user wearing the sleep position trainer. An output signal is send to an alert unit in case that a posture of the body detected by a position sensor (34) corresponds with a body posture when a threshold value of the non-movement timer (t1) of at least 15 minutes is exceeded.