Patent ID: 7956755
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. An apparatus to induce sound sleep and waking, comprising: an input unit to receive a sleep type from a user; a protocol selection unit to select a protocol to control an environment for sound sleep and waking depending on the received sleep type; a sleep environment adjustment unit to adjust a sleep environment of the user according to the selected protocol; a sleep state determination unit to determine a sleep state of the user by measuring simultaneously a plurality of physiological signals of the user measured through indicators during sleep in the sleep environment using one sensor that does not contact a body of the user and detects frequency variation depending on location of the user; and a physiological signal variation detection unit to detect a variation in the physiological signals of the user using the determined sleep state; wherein, when the variation in the physiological signals is detected by the physiological signal variation detection unit, the sleep environment adjustment unit re-adjusts the sleep environment by changing one or more parameters of the protocol depending on the variation, wherein the physiological signal variation detection unit detects variation in the physiological signals of the user by comparing at least one of increases, decreases, and lacks of change of the indicators with those of a physiological signal variation model corresponding to a determined sleep stage from among sleep stages of the user, the sleep stages including a hypnagogic stage spanning from lying in bed to immediately before feeling sleepy, a relaxation stage spanning from feeling sleepy to immediately before falling asleep, a sleep stage spanning from falling asleep to immediately before finally inducing waking, and a wake-up stage spanning from starting to wake up to finally waking up, and wherein adjusting the sleep environment includes adjusting inclination of a bed from an initial inclined position, the inclination becoming lower in the hypnagogic stage, the inclination being maintained horizontal in the relaxation stage and sleep stage, and the inclination again becoming higher in the wake-up stage, and adjusting a light in the sleep environment, the light being gradually being darkened in the hypnagogic stage, the light flickering four times at a constant interval and once at a longer interval than said constant interval to induce deep breathing in the relaxation stage, the light being kept dim in the sleep stage, and the light being gradually brightened in the wake-up stage.