Handheld Sleep Assistant Device and Method

• US 20100041965A1
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: National Taiwan University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Original Assignee: National Taiwan University (Government of The Republic of China)
• Inventors: Chen, I-Ling, Yeh, Zai-Ting, Chi, Hung Lin, Yeh, Yu Ting, Liu, Peter, Kang, Shih-Chung, Chiang, Rayleigh Ping-Ying, Chiang, Chia-Hsuan
• Application Number:
  US12/537,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20100041965A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/053 Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an electrical sleep assistant device, which comprises a handheld case, a display panel, a plurality of biosensors, and a calculation module, is provided. The case has a surface. The display panel is disposed on the surface of the case. The plurality of biosensors are disposed on the surface of the case for collecting a plurality of physiological information. The calculation module is disposed in the case, and coupled to the display panel and the plurality of biosensors. Preferably, a plurality of buttons disposed on the surface of the case, and coupled to the calculation module.

Claims

1. An electrical sleep assistant device, comprising:

a handheld case having a surface;

a display panel disposed on the surface of the case;

a plurality of biosensors disposed on the surface of the case for collecting a plurality of physiological information; and

a calculation module disposed in the case, and coupled to the display panel and the plurality of biosensors.

2. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of buttons disposed on the surface of the case, and coupled to the calculation module.

3. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a power supply device for providing an electrical power to drive the calculation module, the display panel and the plurality of biosensors.

4. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the power supply device is a rechargeable battery.

5. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rechargeable battery is one selected from a group consisting of a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-cadmium battery and a Ni-metal-hydride battery.

6. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an earphone socket disposed on the surface of the case, and coupled to the calculation module.

7. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a universal serial bus socket disposed on the surface of the case, and coupled to the calculation module.

8. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calculation module analyzes the plurality of physiological information, outputs an analyzed result to the display panel, and receives the plurality of physiological information from the plurality of biosensors.

9. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the calculation module is an electronic device including at least one of a calculation processor and a central processing unit, and a sleep assistant program is installed in the calculation module.

10. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display panel is one selected from a group consisting of a touch-screen panel, a flat-panel display, and a liquid-crystal display.

11. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of biosensors include one selected from a group consisting of a biosensor for heart beat measurement, a biosensor for body temperature measurement, a biosensor for blood pressure measurement, a biosensor for skin conductivity measurement, a biosensor for breath frequency measurement and a combination thereof.

12. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of physiological information include one selected from a group consisting of a heart beat, a body temperature, a blood pressure, a skin conductivity, a breath frequency and a combination thereof.

13. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device has a type being one selected from a group consisting of a handheld apparatus, a personal digital assistance and a pocket-type personal computer.

14. An electrical sleep assistant device, comprising:

a main body having a surface;

a display panel disposed on the surface of the main body;

a plurality of biosensors disposed on the surface for collecting a plurality of physiological information from a user; and

a calculation module disposed in the main body, and coupled to the display panel and the plurality of biosensors.

15. An electrical sleep assistant device as claimed in claim 14, wherein a sleep assistant program is installed in the calculation module, the plurality of physiological information include one selected from a group consisting of a heart beat, a body temperature, a blood pressure, a skin conductivity, a breath frequency, and a combination thereof, and the calculation module receives the plurality of physiological information from the plurality of biosensors.

16. A method for assisting in sleeping, comprising steps of:

collecting a physiological information of a user via an electrical sleep assistant device; and

implementing a sleep coaching program with the electrical sleep assistant device.

17. A method for assisting in sleeping as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sleep coaching program analyses the physiological information to provide a sleep knowledge to the user, and performs an environment modulation for the user based on the physiological information, and the electrical sleep assistant device is a hand-held device.

18. A method for assisting in sleeping as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of collecting the physiological information of the user further comprising:

collecting the physiological information with a plurality of biosensors on a surface of the electrical sleep assistant device.

19. A method for assisting in sleeping as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sleep coaching program comprises a sorting module, a sleep diary management module, a suggestion module, a training module and an environment control module.

20. An apparatus for performing the method as claimed in claim 16.