Biological Sensor-Based Sleep State Control for Device Volume and Brightness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Household noise from one person can interfere with the sleep of another due to differences in life rhythms, and existing solutions do not adequately address the need to determine the sleeper's state to allow non-sleepers to use devices without disturbing them.

Innovation Solution

A method involving biological sensors to obtain sleep information, a processor determining optimal sound and illuminance levels based on the sleeper's state, and transmitting commands to devices to set these levels as upper-limit values, ensuring the sleeper remains undisturbed while allowing non-sleepers to use devices freely.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If sound volume is increased for device usage, then non-sleeper can enjoy music/video, but sleeper may be awakened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice usability for non-sleeperVSAvoidsleep disturbance to sleeper

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the sound volume upper limit based on the sleeper's real-time state. When the sleeper is detected to be in deep sleep, the upper limit is set lower; when in light sleep or awake, the upper limit is increased. This dynamic adjustment allows the non-sleeper to use the device at appropriate volumes without disturbing the sleeper.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the sleeper's state through biological sensors and uses this feedback to adjust the sound volume upper limit. The control device receives state information from sensors and automatically modifies the volume restriction accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If illuminance is increased for device usage, then non-sleeper can see screen clearly, but sleeper may be awakened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice visibility for non-sleeperVSAvoidsleep disturbance to sleeper

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the illuminance upper limit based on the sleeper's real-time state. When the sleeper is in deep sleep, the illuminance upper limit is set lower; when in light sleep or awake, the upper limit is increased. This allows the non-sleeper to view the device screen clearly without disturbing the sleeper through excessive light.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the sleeper's state through biological sensors and uses this feedback to adjust the illuminance upper limit. The control device receives state information from sensors and automatically modifies the light restriction accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Object-affected harmful factors

If sound volume upper limit is set low to protect sleeper, then sleeper remains undisturbed, but non-sleeper cannot use device freely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleep protection for sleeperVSAvoiddevice usage flexibility for non-sleeper

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The sound volume upper limit is not fixed but dynamically adjusted based on the sleeper's state. The system can accommodate higher volumes when the sleeper is awake or in light sleep, while enforcing lower limits during deep sleep. This dynamic approach provides usage flexibility to the non-sleeper while maintaining sleep protection when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses real-time feedback from biological sensors to adjust the volume upper limit, allowing the non-sleeper to use the device freely when the sleeper's state permits, while automatically restricting volume only when necessary to protect sleep quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Measurement precision

If device operation is monitored to detect sleeper state, then appropriate volume/illuminance can be set, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesleep state detection accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a control device as an intermediary that manages the complexity of coordinating between biological sensors, state determination algorithms, and device control. This intermediary layer abstracts the complex interactions and provides a unified interface for adjusting sound and illuminance based on sleeper state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10394517B2Control method, controller, and device

Publication Date: 2019.08.27 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

A method of controlling a device located in a predetermined space includes: obtaining sleep information of a person present in a first space from a biological sensor disposed in the first space, the sleep information indicating a sleep state of the person and the first space includes a first device; determining, by a processor, a first sound volume to be set for the first device based on a first database indicating a correspondence between the sleep state and a target sound volume of a corresponding device, the target sound volume of the corresponding device being a predetermined sound volume which does not awake a sleeping person at the sleep state and still be heard by an awake person; and transmitting, to the first device, a first command for setting the first sound volume in the first device as a sound volume upper-limit value.