System and associated methods for dynamically adjusting circadian rhythm responsive to identified future events

• US 10,258,808 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2018
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Healthe, Inc., Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: BioLogical Illumination, LLC
• Inventors: Maxik, Fredric S., Bartine, David E., Oostdyk, Mark Andrew, Regan, Matthew, Soler, Robert S., Flickinger, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Luan, Scott T
• Application Number:
  US15/935,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20180207445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4857 Indicating the phase of biorhythm clocks or watches with indicators for biological cycles G04B19/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0066 with heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0627 Dose monitoring systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 : by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 : by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 : using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A method is for dynamically adjusting a circadian rhythm of an observer via a user device that includes control circuitry and an associated memory. The method includes identifying future events to precondition for and determining a preconditioning schedule for at least one of the identified future events. Determining the schedule includes determining a preconditioning schedule for at least one of the identified future events, including identifying a circadian shift needed, to the circadian rhythm of the observer, for the at least one identified future event, determining a timeframe for preconditioning, determining a per-day shift needed based upon the identified circadian shift needed and the determined timeframe, and determining if the needed per-day shift exceeds a threshold. Upon a determination that the per-day shift exceeds the threshold, the method includes setting the preconditioning schedule responsive to the determination and operating the light source to emit light based upon the preconditioning schedule.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically adjusting a circadian rhythm of an observer via a user device that includes control circuitry and an associated memory, the method comprising:

identifying one or more future events of the observer to precondition for, defined as identified future events;

determining a preconditioning schedule for at least one of the identified future events, including

identifying a circadian shift needed to the circadian rhythm of the observer for the at least one identified future event,

determining a timeframe for preconditioning,

determining a per-day shift needed based upon the identified circadian shift needed and the determined timeframe, and

determining if the needed per-day shift exceeds a threshold,

upon a determination that the per-day shift exceeds the threshold, setting the preconditioning schedule responsive to the determination; and

operating the light source to emit light based upon the preconditioning schedule.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying one or more future events includes determining a time zone within which the future event will occur.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying one or more future events includes:

accessing future events within a time period from a calendar; and

determining which future events need preconditioning.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining if preconditioning schedules for the identified future events conflict;

upon a determination that no conflict exists, operating the light source to emit light of the preconditioning schedules; and

upon a determination that a conflict exists;

querying a user to select one or more non-conflicting future events,

receiving an input from the user indicating one or more future events to precondition for, and

operating the light source responsive to the input.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein, upon a determination that the per-day shift exceeds the threshold, further performing:

querying the user as to whether to override the threshold;

receiving an input from the user responsive to the query of whether to exceed the threshold; and

selecting the preconditioning schedule responsive to the user input.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the threshold is 2.5 hours.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring a sleep cycle of the observer; and

implementing changes to the preconditioning schedule responsive to the sleep cycle of the observer.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the step of monitoring a sleep cycle of the observer comprises:

determining if the observer is asleep;

recording signals from a sleep sensor;

identifying and recording an indication of low quality sleep from the signals received from the sleep sensor; and

determining changes to the preconditioning schedule responsive to the indication of the low quality sleep.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the sleep sensor is at least one of an optical motion detector and an acceleration detector.

10. A method of dynamically adjusting a circadian rhythm of an observer via a user device that includes a light source, control circuitry and an associated memory, the method comprising:

identifying a future event of the observer to precondition for, defined as an identified future event;

determining, using the control circuitry and associated memory of the user device, a preconditioning schedule responsive to the identified future event, by

identifying a circadian shift needed, to the circadian rhythm of the observer, for the identified future event,

determining a magnitude of the identified circadian shift and a related magnitude of a per-day shift needed for the identified future event, and

determining if the magnitude of the per-day shift exceeds a threshold, and selecting the preconditioning schedule based thereon; and

operating the light source to emit light based upon the preconditioning schedule.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein identifying the future event includes determining a time zone within which the future event will occur.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein identifying the future event includes:

accessing future events within a time period from a calendar; and

determining which future events need preconditioning.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein, upon a determination that the threshold exceeds the maximum allowed per-day shift, further performing:

querying the user as to whether to override the threshold;

receiving an input from the user responsive to the query of whether to exceed the threshold; and

selecting the preconditioning schedule responsive to the user input.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the threshold shift is 2.5 hours.

15. A system for dynamically adjusting a circadian rhythm of an observer, the system comprising:

a user device comprising control circuitry and associated memory; and

a light source configured for communication with the control circuitry;

wherein the control circuitry is configured to

identify one or more future events of the observer to precondition for, defined as identified future events,

determine a preconditioning schedule responsive to the identified future event, by

identifying a circadian shift needed, to the circadian rhythm of the observer, for the identified future event,

determining a magnitude of the circadian shift and a related magnitude of a per-day shift needed for the identified future event, and

determining if the magnitude of the per-day shift exceeds a threshold, and selecting the preconditioning schedule based thereon, and

control the light source to emit light based upon the preconditioning schedule.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the user device further comprises a communication device configured for communication with the control circuitry and configured to communicate across a network;

and wherein the communication device is configured to access a calendar and identify future events associated with the observer via the network.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

access future events within a time period from a calendar; and

determine which future events need preconditioning.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein, upon a determination that the per-day shift exceeds the threshold, the control circuitry is further configured to:

query the user as to whether to override the threshold;

receive an input from the user responsive to the query of whether to exceed the threshold; and

set the preconditioning schedule responsive to the user input.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising a sleep sensor configured to, in combination with the control circuitry, monitor a sleep cycle of the observer;

wherein the control circuitry is further configured to implement changes to the preconditioning schedule responsive to the sleep cycle of the observer.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the sleep sensor comprises at least one of an optical motion detector and an acceleration detector.