Arising aid

• US 5,079,682 A
• Filed: 07/18/1988
• Issued: 01/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seth D. Roberts
• Original Assignee: Seth D. Roberts
• Inventors: Roberts, Seth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hagarman, Sue
• Application Number:
  US07/220,459
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 368/12, 368/256, 362/276, 362/373, 362/260, 362/801, 362/1, 128/395
• US Class Current: 362/276
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/801 Bedroom lighting, e.g. modular combinations

Abstract

A method of reducing the resistance of a sleeping mammal to arising at a preselected wake up time by exposing the mammal to at least one source of artificial light for a period of exposure of at least about 0.5 hour and no longer than about 8 hours before the preselected wake up time. The intensity of the artificial light may increase during the period of exposure. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a normally deactuated source of artificial light capable of illuminating a mammal, comprising a plurality of electric lamps, a control device, such as a timer, for signalling the commencement of a period of exposure preceding the mammal'"'"'s preselected wake up time and an increase in illumination intensity during the period of exposure, after its commencement. The apparatus further features circuitry and a power supply, responsive to the control device, for actuating one lamp in response to the commencement signal, and for actuating additional lamps later during the period of exposure.

Claims

1. A method of illuminating a mammal having a preselected wake up time, comprising:

exposing the mammal to artificial light from at least one fluorescent lamp for an uninterrupted period of exposure of at least about 0.5 hour and no longer than about 8 hours before the preselected wake up time.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the period of exposure is between about 1 hour and about 6 hours before the preselected wake up time.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the artificial light is characterized by a color temperature of between about 2000 degrees and about 10,000 degrees Kelvin.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the artificial light is characterized by a color temperature of between about 3000 degrees and about 9000 degrees Kelvin.

5. The method of claim 4 in which the color temperature of the light is substantially constant during the period of exposure.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the artificial light is characterized by a color temperature which is substantially constant during the period of exposure.

14. The method of claim 1 in which the light intensity is between about 1 lux and about 1000 lux at the head of the mammal.

15. The method of claim 14 in which the light intensity is between about 2 lux and about 200 lux at the head of the mammal.

16. The method of claim 1 in which light diffusely reflects on the mammal during the period of exposure.

7. The method of claim in which the artificial light increases in intensity as the preselected wake up time approaches, for at least a portion of the period of exposure.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the elapsed time between lowest and highest intensity of artificial light is between about 0 and about 7 hours.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the elapsed time between lowest and highest intensity of artificial light is between about 0.5 and about 3 hours.

10. The method of claim 7 in which the light intensity increases continuously as a function of time during the period of exposure.

11. The method of claim 7 in which the maximum light intensity during the period of exposure is between about 1 and about 1000 lux at the head of the mammal.

12. The method of claim 11 in which the maximum light intensity during the period of exposure is between about 2 and about 200 lux.

13. The method of claim 7 in which light intensity is increased by increasing the number of actuated fluorescent lamps during the exposure period.

17. A method of reducing the resistance of a sleeping mammal to awakening at a preselected wake up time, comprising:

exposing the mammal to artificial light from at least one fluorescent lamp for an uninterrupted period of exposure of at least about 0.5 hour and no longer than about 8 hours before the preselected wake up time.

18. The method of claim 17 in which the period of exposure is between about 1 hour and about 6 hours before the preselected wake up time.

19. The method of claim 17 in which the artificial light is characterized by a color temperature of between about 2000 degrees and about 10,000 degrees Kelvin.

20. The method of claim 19 in which the artificial light is characterized by a color temperature of between about 3000 degrees and about 9000 degrees Kelvin.

21. The method of claim 20 in which the color temperature of the light is substantially constant during the period of exposure.

22. The method of claim 17 in which the artificial light is characterized by a color temperature which is substantially constant during the period of exposure.

23. The method of claim 17 in which the artificial light increases in intensity as the preselected wake up time approaches, for at least a portion of the period of exposure.

24. The method of claim 23 in which the elapsed time between lowest and highest intensity of artificial light is between about 0 and about 7 hours.

25. The method of claim 24 in which the elapsed time between lowest and highest intensity of artificial light is between about 0.5 and about 3 hours.

26. The method of claim 23 in which the light intensity increases continuously as a function of time during the period of exposure.

27. The method of claim 23 in which the maximum light intensity during the period of exposure is between about 1 and about 1000 lux at the head of the mammal.

28. The method of claim 27 in which the maximum light intensity during the period of exposure is between about 2 and about 200 lux.

29. The method of claim 23 in which light intensity is increased by increasing the number of actuated fluorescent lamps during the exposure period.

30. The method of claim 17 in which the light intensity is between about 1 lux and about 1000 lux at the head of the mammal.

31. The method of claim 30 in which the light intensity is between about 2 lux and about 200 lux at the head of the mammal.

32. The method of claim 17 in which light diffusely reflects on the mammal during the period of exposure.

33. An apparatus for illuminating a mammal having a preselected wake up time, comprising:

a normally deactuated source of artificial light capable of illuminating a mammal, the source comprising;

a first lamp; and

a second lamp;

means for signalling the commencement of a period of exposure that precedes the mammal'"'"'s preselected wake up time and for signalling at least one increase in illumination intensity during the exposure period, after its commencement; and

means for actuating the first lamp in response to the commencement signal, and for actuating the second lamp in response to the increased intensity signal.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 in which the source provides artificial light of substantially constant frequency during operation of the apparatus.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 in which the source produces artificial light with a color temperature of between about 2000 degrees and 10,000 degrees Kelvin.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 in which the source produces artificial light with a color temperature of between about 3000 degrees and about 9000 degrees Kelvin.

37. The apparatus of claim 33 in which the source of artificial light comprises a plurality of fluorescent lamps.