Arising aid

• US 5,327,331 A
• Filed: 01/03/1992
• Issued: 07/05/1994
• 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.
• Application Number:
  US07/816,669
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 362/276, 362/373, 362/260, 362/801, 362/1, 362/2, 362/295, 128/395, 368/12, 368/256
• US Class Current: 362/176
• 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 deacutated 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 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, in which the artificial light increases in intensity as the preselected wake up time approaches, for at least a part of the period of exposure, said artificial light having a color temperature which remains substantially constant.

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 1 in which elapsed time between lowest and highest intensity of artificial light is between about 0 and about 7 hours.

6. The method of claim 5 in which the elapsed time between lowest and highest intensity of artificial light is between about 0.5 and about 3 hours.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the light intensity increases monotonically as a function of time during the period of exposure.

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

exposing the mammal to at least one source of artificial light for a period of exposure of at least about 0.5 hours and no longer than about 8 hours before the preselected wake up time, in which the artificial light increases in intensity as the preselected wake up time approaches, for at least a part of the period of exposure, said artificial light having a color temperature which remains substantially constant.

9. The method of claim 8 in which the period of exposure is between about 1 hour and about 6 hours before the preselected wake up time.

10. The method of claim 8 in which the artificial light is characterized by a color temperature of between about 2000 degrees and about 10,000 degrees Kelvin.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the artificial light is characterized by a color temperature of between about 3000 degrees and about 9000 degrees Kelvin.

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

13. The method of claim 12 in which the elapsed time between lowest and highest intensity of artificial light is between about 0.5 and about 3 hours.

14. The method of claim 8 in which the light intensity increases monotonically as a function of time during the period of exposure.

15. 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;

means for signalling the commencement of a period of exposure that precedes the mammal'"'"'s preselected wake up time;

means, responsive to the signalling means, for actuating the source of artificial light during the period of exposure;

means for increasing the intensity of the artificial light during the period of exposure, as the preselected wake up time approaches, while maintaining a substantially constant light color temperature.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the source produces artificial light with a color temperature of between about 2000 degrees and 10,000 degrees Kelvin.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the source produces artificial light with a color temperature of between about 3000 degrees and about 9,000 degrees Kelvin.

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

exposing the mammal to at least one source of artificial light for a period of exposure of at least about 0.5 hours and no longer than about 8 hours before the preselected wake up time, in which the artificial light increases in intensity as the preselected wake up time approaches, for at least a part of the period of exposure, said artificial light having a color temperature which remains substantially constant, in which the elapsed time between the lowest and highest intensity of artificial light is between about 0.5 and about 3 hours.

19. The method of claim 18 in which the light intensity increases monotonically as a function of time during the period of exposure.