Abstract:
In one embodiment, a mask-like apparatus worn by a user includes a programmable controller for controlling the illumination of a light source such as one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) which are positioned to illuminate the eye area of the user. The programmable controller is battery powered such that the mask is portable. Illumination intensity profiles are used by the controller to control the level of intensity of the illumination to create a time-phased increase in intensity so as to wake the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to devices used to wake individuals by gradually intensifying light directed to the eyes of the individual. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a mask-like device which is programmable to selectively intensify light directed to the eyes of an individual.  
         [0002]     One neural mechanism for human arousal after sleep is through the stimulation of a neural pathway in the brain referred to as the “retinohypothalamic pathway”, which sends signals from the retina to another brain structure called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The SCN is generally regarded as a key circadian pacemaker (i.e, “biological clock”). The connection to the optic nerves is no coincidence; the nucleus is stimulated by an increase in light entering the eyes, (such as happens at sunrise), making the sharp increase in light following the dark of night a natural stimulus for awakening. Most modem alarm clocks, however, do not entrain users to awaken in this natural manner. Instead, they use the auditory pathways to literally “alarm” the user into wakefulness, which is a more abrupt means of awakening that many may find aversive, or initially ineffective (many alarms have a “snooze” function so that users who have not become fully aroused can gain a few minutes more sleep).  
         [0003]     In recent years, other inventors have leveraged the use of timed illumination to serve as an alternative to audio alarms for awakening. These devices illuminate the entire room in which they operate, thereby subjecting any other room occupants (e.g., a spouse) to the stimulus and affecting their sleep schedule. This approach is shared with standard audio alarm clocks, which may interrupt the sleep of persons other than the intended beneficiary. Also, the effect of illumination is diminished in environments which already have a high level of ambient light, as the added neural stimulation above background must be greater in order be noticed in such ‘noisy’ environments (due to sensory adaptation). In other words, turning on a light during a daytime nap is not as likely to arouse a person as turning as turning on a light in the middle of a dark night.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0004]     The present disclosure comprises one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter:  
         [0005]     In one embodiment, present invention is a programmable apparatus for waking an individual by directing light onto the eye area of the individual while the individual is sleeping. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a mask portion, at least one light source coupled to the mask portion, a controller coupled to the at least one light source and configured to vary the intensity of the light source. In use, the mask blocks ambient light from impinging on the eye area of the individual. Light which impinges on the closed eyelids of an individual is known to stimulate the optic nerves. The mask is configured to block ambient light during times of sleep whether the individual&#39;s eyes are closed or open.  
         [0006]     At a predetermined time, the controller may begin to power at least one light source to provide a controlled intensity of light energy to impinge upon the eye area of the individual to begin stimulation of the optic nerves. The controller may be programmed to provide a gradually increasing intensity of light, a stepwise increase in the intensity of light, cyclical changes in the intensity of light, or any of a number of other variations to the intensity of light as programmed by a user.  
         [0007]     The controller may include a microprocessor, a memory device, multiple user input devices, and a display. The controller may be configured so as to allow a user to program the beginning time of a light intensity cycle, and intensity variation profile, and a light intensity cycle termination time. The controller may be configured such that the memory device is operable to store multiple intensity profiles which may be selected by a user to be activated at a predetermined time. The controller may also include a real-time clock electrical communication with the microprocessor. The controller may be coupled directly to the mask or, in some embodiments, the controller may be in electrical communication with the mask that located elsewhere. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may be omitted and replaced with any of a number of different logic devices which are capable of receiving user input&#39;s and executing commands.  
         [0008]     The mask may be configured to conform to the facial features of an individual to assist preventing ambient light from impinging on the eye areas of the individual. In some embodiments, the mask may be fabric. In other embodiments, the mask may be molded to form a cavity between the mask and the eye area of the individual with a viscoelastic material around the edges of the mask to accommodate a form fit to the face of the individual.  
         [0009]     Additional features, which alone or in combination with any other feature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims, may comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a programmable mask for waking an individual;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an electrical system of the programmable mask of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a back view of a mask portion of the programmable mask embodiment of  FIG. 1  with an array of the LEDs positioned on the mask such that the LEDs would direct light onto the eye areas of a person wearing the mask;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a back view of another embodiment of a mask portion of the programmable mask of  FIG. 1  with an array of the LEDs positioned on the mask such that the LEDs would direct light onto the eye areas of a person wearing the mask;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a user interface of the programmable mask of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a diagrammatic view of a light intensity profile wherein the light intensity increases linearly over time; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic view of a light intensity profile wherein the light intensity increases exponentially over time. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]     The present invention is a programmable mask apparatus  10 , shown in  FIG. 1 , which is configured to be worn by an individual during times of sleep and is programmable to wake the individual by directing light onto the eye areas of the individual. The programmable mask apparatus  10  includes a mask portion  12 , a retainer  14 , and a controller  16 . Controller  16  includes a display portion  18  and a user input portion  20 . A user programs the programmable mask apparatus  10  by activating various user inputs  22 ,  24 ,  26 , and  28 . Various pieces of information are displayed on the display portion  18  to provide the user feedback during programming of the programmable mask apparatus  10 , as will be discussed in further detail below.  
         [0019]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , controller  16  includes a microprocessor  30 , volatile memory  32 , nonvolatile memory  34 , user inputs  20 , display  18 , and light output driver circuitry  36 . A battery  38  powers both the microprocessor  30  and LEDs  40  which are located on the mask portion  12  (see  FIG. 1 ). Microprocessor  30  is in communication with both volatile memory  32  and nonvolatile memory  34  and stores various operating parameters of the programmable mask apparatus  10  which are then used by the microprocessor  32  control operation of the programmable mask apparatus  10  as programmed by a user.  
         [0020]     Programmable mask apparatus  10  is configured to be programmed by a user to develop a light intensity profile and to execute the light intensity profile at a time predetermined by the user. The light intensity profile may be any of a number of profiles which are used to wake the individual from sleep. For example, one profile, as shown in  FIG. 6 , linearly increases the intensity of light emitted by the LEDs over time to gradually rouse the individual. In yet another profile, shown in  FIG. 7 , the intensity of the light emitted by the LEDs increases exponentially over time. It should be understood that due to the nature of the programmable microprocessor, any of a number of profiles may be programmed by a user so that an intensity profile specific to the needs of the user may be programmed. For example, stepwise increases, logarithmic increases, sinusoidally increasing, or any of a number of other profiles may be employed based on the needs of the user.  
         [0021]     In the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 1 , user input portion  20  includes four user input devices  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 . User input devices  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28  of the illustrative embodiment are buttons which may be activated by a user to perform programming steps. Input device  22  operates as a mode select key which provides the user the ability to step through various portions of display  18 . Referring now to  FIG. 5 , display  18  is shown with various sections separated by dotted lines. Display  18  is a liquid crystal display (LCD) providing a number of rows and a number of columns of pixels which are utilized to form a display output. In some embodiments, the LCD display may be omitted and display  18  may comprise a number of liquid crystal segments which are illuminated to form output on display  18 . For example, some of the liquid crystal segments may be formed in the shape of icons to convey information.  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a clock display  42  includes an hours portion  44  and a minutes portion  46 . Clock portion  42  displays time in a  12  hour basis and so therefore includes an AM/PM indicator  48 . To program the time on clock portion  42  a user activates the mode user input  22  to activate the hours portion  44  of clock display  42 . The user then increments powers portion  44  utilizing increasing user input  24  or decreasing user input  26  as necessary to select the appropriate hour in hour portion  44 . The user then activates mode user input  22  again to deactivate hour portion  44  while simultaneously activating minute portion  46 . Again, the user utilizes increasing input  24  or decreasing input  26  to select the appropriate minute value. Once the appropriate minute value has been selected a user then activates mode user input  22  again to deactivate minute portion  46  while simultaneously activating AM/PM indicator  48 . Activating the increasing user input  24  or decreasing user input  26  to select the appropriate indication of AM or PM, the user can finalize the setting of clock portion  42 . It should be understood that in the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 5 , AM/PM indicator  48  is a single alphanumeric character and the character “a” would be chosen for AM and the character “p” would be chosen to indicate PM. In some embodiments, the clock portion  42  may display time in a military (i.e. 24 hour) format. In those embodiments, the AM/PM indicator  48  would be omitted.  
         [0023]     After setting the clock portion  42 , a user cycles to alarm active indicator  50  by activating mode user input  22 . Alarm active indicator  50  is an iconic indicator in the shape of a bell to indicate that an alarm condition has been set. When the alarm condition is set, the alarm active indicator  50  is illuminated to show the bell icon. If there is no alarm condition set, the bell icon does not appear in the alarm active indicator  50  area.  
         [0024]     When the alarm is active, a profile indicator  52  will indicate which of multiple profiles has been selected. In the illustrative embodiment described herein, the programmable mask apparatus  10  is programmed with multiple predetermined intensity profiles which may be selected by a user. The user selects the appropriate profile from a cross-reference document such as a user manual which accompanies the device. If the alarm active indicator  50  is set to active, a user then activates the mode select user input device  22  to toggle to the profile indicator  52  portion of the display  18 . The user then uses the increasing user input  24  or decreasing user input  26  to select the appropriate profile by altering the numerical display in profile indicator  52 . Profile indicator  52  displays a two digit indicator of the profile selected on profile indicator  52 . In other embodiments, the user may program a profile from a predetermined set of parameters such as beginning intensity, ending intensity, length of profile in time and profile shape.  
         [0025]     Once a profile has been selected or programmed, the user activates the mode select input device to toggle to a start time portion  54  where the user sets the appropriate start time for the profile selected in profile indicator  52  in a manner similar to the setting of clock portion  42 . Once the start time has been selected, the user activates the mode select input device  22  to toggle to an end time portion  56  of display  18  to set an appropriate end time for the profile selected. This permits the user to pre-program a termination of the profile selected. While it is contemplated that in most circumstances the user will affirmatively stop the profile by depressing a stop user input device  28 , the preprogramming of an end time assures that the mask will not run continuously if it is mistakenly removed without stopping the profile. If the time selected is 0:00, then the preprogrammed end time feature is deactivated.  
         [0026]     Referring again to  FIG. 2 , the information regarding start time, end time, and alarm status is stored in volatile memory  32  which is a flash memory device in the illustrative embodiment. Battery  38  provides power to volatile memory  32  to support maintenance of the information in volatile memory  32 . The various profiles are stored in nonvolatile memory  34 . Microprocessor  30  utilizes the information stored in memory to control the operation of light output driver circuitry  36  which then controls LEDs  40 . Light output driver circuitry  36  receives power from battery  38  and selectively powers LEDs  40  based on control signals from microprocessor  30 . In the illustrative embodiment, light output driver circuitry  36  selectively powers LEDs in an array to control the intensity of light directed onto the eye areas of the individual.  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a user facing side  58  of mask  12  shows two arrays  60 ,  62  of LEDs  40  positioned such that illumination of the LEDs  40  would result in the illumination of an eye area of an individual wearing mask  12 . Array  60  and array  62  are substantially similar in configuration and location relative to the eye area of a user. Described herein is the operation of a single array  60 , however, it should be understood that the description of array  60  is applicable to the operation of array  62  as well. The LEDs  40  are oriented such that a center LED  40  is surrounded by two concentric circles of LEDs  40 . In the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the intensity of light disposed on the eye area of a user is increased by selectively and sequentially activating the LEDs  40  so that additional illumination is provided with the activation of additional LEDs  40 . For, example, the center LED  40  may be illuminated first, the first concentric circle of LEDs  40  illuminated subsequently, and the final concentric circle of LEDs  40  illuminated. By controlling number of LEDs illuminated, the intensity of light distributed on the eye area of a user is controlled. It should be understood that a larger array may be used to provide greater intensity of emitted light.  
         [0028]     In another embodiment, control of intensity of illumination of the eye area of a user may be controlled by controlling the current passing through the LEDs. Variation in current varies the intensity of the output of the LED. In the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 4 , four LEDs  40  are positioned in each of two arrays  64 ,  66 . In this configuration, the current through the LEDs  40  in each array  64 ,  66  is controlled by the light output driver circuitry  36  (seen in  FIG. 2 ) by controlling the value of resistance in series with the LEDs as is well known in the art. The control of illumination of the light area is therefore controlled by controlling the intensity of the LEDs  40  in the arrays  64 ,  66 .  
         [0029]     While the illustrative embodiments of  FIGS. 3 and 4  discuss two approaches to controlling light intensity, it should be understood that any of a number of techniques for controlling illumination of LEDs specifically and light sources generally are known in the art. Combinations of these methods of controlling LEDs may be employed to control the intensity of illumination of the eye area of a user. In some embodiments, LEDs  40  may be omitted and another source of illumination may be substituted. For example, light bulbs, fiber optic cable, or any selectively illuminable device. Also, in some embodiments, the mask may further comprise a diffuser position  
         [0030]     The mask  12  is constructed of a flexible fabric material which allows the mask to conform to facial features of the user which thereby blocks ambient light. The mask includes an opaque material to assist in the blocking of ambient light. In some embodiments, the mask may take the form of a goggles shaped to closely match the shape of a users face to prevent ambient light. In some embodiments, the goggles may further comprise a viscoelastic foam coupled to the goggles to contact the face of the individual and provide a form fit between the goggles and the face of the individual.  
         [0031]     Although certain illustrative embodiments have been described in detail above, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of this disclosure as described and as defined in the following claims.