Sleep-State Appliance Control Using Non-Contact Physiological Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining a woman's menstrual cycle phase and pregnancy status are often inaccurate and disruptive to sleep due to ambient noise from home appliances or household members.
Innovation Solution
A sensor monitors a subject without contact or line of sight, identifying menstrual and pregnancy states through cardiac and respiratory aspects of the sensor signal, and controls devices like music players or home appliances to facilitate sleep and provide alerts for care-providers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If home appliances operate normally, then productivity and device functionality are maintained, but sleep quality deteriorates due to ambient noise
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting sleep stages in advance and preemptively adjusting appliance operations or generating anti-noise signals before the harmful noise can significantly disrupt sleep. The sensor continuously monitors sleep parameters and the controller proactively modifies the environment to prevent sleep disruption rather than reacting after disruption occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary noise-cancellation mechanism that acts as a mediator between the appliance noise and the sleeping subject. The controller generates anti-noise signals that interfere with the harmful noise waves, creating a quieter environment for sleep while allowing appliances to continue operating normally.
2Loss of information
If menstrual cycle monitoring methods are used, then information about fertile window is obtained, but measurement precision is reduced and subject compliance is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces mechanical/manual monitoring methods (calendar tracking, urine tests, physical measurements) with an automated sensor-based monitoring system. The sensor continuously collects physiological data and the controller automatically analyzes it to determine menstrual cycle phase and fertile window, eliminating the need for manual intervention and improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system performs self-service by automatically collecting, analyzing, and interpreting physiological data without requiring subject participation in the measurement process. The sensor and controller work autonomously to provide menstrual cycle information, eliminating the need for subject compliance in data collection while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Measurement precision
If contact-based monitoring methods are used, then measurement precision improves, but ease of operation deteriorates due to subject compliance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a sensor as an intermediary device that indirectly measures physiological parameters without requiring direct contact with or active participation from the subject. The sensor captures physiological signals through non-contact means, eliminating the compliance burden while maintaining measurement precision through automated detection and analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual or contact-based measurement methods with automated non-contact sensing technology. The sensor and controller system automatically performs physiological monitoring without requiring the subject to actively participate, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining measurement accuracy through sophisticated signal processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and methods are described including using a sensor to monitor a sleeping subject and generate a signal in response to the monitoring. A noise control device is controlled in response to the signal.