Portable illumination device for modifying circadian rhythms
First Claim
1. A portable illumination device which is in use carried on a subject for modifying circadian rhythms of the subject, said device comprising:
- surface illuminating means having an effective surface region of at least 15 cm2 for emitting a diffused visible light of reduced luminance variation, said diffused light giving an illuminance of at least 2000 LUX measured at an eye position of the subject; and
mount means for mounting said surface illuminating means to a portion adjacent to eyes of the subject to direct said diffused light to a uniform visual field of each eye of the subject, wherein said surface illuminating means gives off said diffused light of which average luminance is set to be from 1,000 to 4,000 cd/m2 and of which maximum luminance is less than 6,000 cd/m2.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable light treatment device is capable of delivering the illumination which is sufficient in amount but mild to the subject'"'"'s eyes for assuring effective light treatment without unduly annoying the subject. The device has a surface illuminating unit having an effective surface region of at least 15 cm2 which emits a visible diffused light of reduced luminance variation. The light is selected to give an illuminance of at least 2000 LUX measured at an eye position of the subject. A mount member is provided to mount the surface illuminating unit to a portion adjacent to eyes of the subject to direct the diffused light to the eyes of the subject. Thus arranged portable illumination device has an advantage of delivering sufficient amount of the light to the subject'"'"'s eyes without dazzling the subject and therefore administering effective treatment without imposing severe restrictions to the subject'"'"'s daily activities. Preferably, the diffused light is selected to have an average luminance of from 1,000 to 4,000 cd/m2 and have a maximum luminance of less than 6,000 cd/m2 in order to minimize the dazzling effect. Further, the ratio of a maximum to minimum luminance appearing in the effective surface region is selected to be less than 2.5 and difference in luminance between any two points spaced by 2 mm is less than 100 cd/m2 in order to further minimize the dazzling effect.
84 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A portable illumination device which is in use carried on a subject for modifying circadian rhythms of the subject, said device comprising:
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surface illuminating means having an effective surface region of at least 15 cm2 for emitting a diffused visible light of reduced luminance variation, said diffused light giving an illuminance of at least 2000 LUX measured at an eye position of the subject; and mount means for mounting said surface illuminating means to a portion adjacent to eyes of the subject to direct said diffused light to a uniform visual field of each eye of the subject, wherein said surface illuminating means gives off said diffused light of which average luminance is set to be from 1,000 to 4,000 cd/m2 and of which maximum luminance is less than 6,000 cd/m2. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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2. A portable illumination device which is in use carried on a subject for modifying circadian rhythms of the subject, said device comprising:
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surface illuminating means having an effective surface region of at least 15 cm2 for emitting a diffused visible light of reduced luminance variation, said diffused light giving an illuminance of at least 2000 LUX measured at an eye position of the subject; and mount means for mounting said surface illuminating means to a portion adjacent to eyes of the subject to direct said diffused light to a uniform visual field of each eye of the subject, wherein a ratio of a maximum to minimum luminance appearing in said effective surface region is less than 2.5 and a difference in luminance between any two points spaced by 2 millimeter is less than 100 cd/m2.
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Specification