Method for controlling the alertness of a human subject and a light source for use in this method
First Claim
1. A method for controlling the alertness of a human subject via suitable light radiation, the human subject having a cycle of melatonin variation involving at least phases of a melatonin built-up and a melatonin degradation and being in a phase of said cycle, by suppressing or allowing said melatonin built-up or by stimulating said melatonin degradation, the method comprising the acts of;
- determining the phase of said cycle of melatonin variation in said human subject;
estimating a desired effect on the phase of said cycle of said human subject;
determining said suitable light radiation in dependence of said desired effect on the phase of said cycle as a function of spectrum, intensity, exposure period and interval period for one of suppressing melatonin built-up, allowing melatonin built-up, stimulating melatonin degradation and illumination of said human subject without substantially influencing the phase of said cycle;
selecting a light source having a light radiation output in accordance with said determined suitable light radiation output;
exposing an ocular region of the human subject during an exposure period to the suitable light radiation in dependence of said desired effect on the phase of said cycle,wherein the suitable light radiation is specified by an output fraction of melatonin suppressive radiation (Melatonin Watt/Watt) and light output (lumen/Watt), the output fraction and light output being adjusted to obtain the desired effect on the phase of said cycle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for controlling the alertness of a human subject and a light source for use in this method and use of a light source for this method. The method comprises exposure of a human subject during an exposure period to suitable light radiation without substantially influencing the phase of a melatonin cycle. Melatonin is a sleep-hormone that can be used to control the alertness of a human subject. The suitable light radiation being specified by an output fraction of melatonin suppressive radiation (Melatonin Watt/Watt) and light output (lumen/Watt), the output fraction and light output being adjusted to obtain the desired effect on the phase of said cycle.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method for controlling the alertness of a human subject via suitable light radiation, the human subject having a cycle of melatonin variation involving at least phases of a melatonin built-up and a melatonin degradation and being in a phase of said cycle, by suppressing or allowing said melatonin built-up or by stimulating said melatonin degradation, the method comprising the acts of;
-
determining the phase of said cycle of melatonin variation in said human subject; estimating a desired effect on the phase of said cycle of said human subject; determining said suitable light radiation in dependence of said desired effect on the phase of said cycle as a function of spectrum, intensity, exposure period and interval period for one of suppressing melatonin built-up, allowing melatonin built-up, stimulating melatonin degradation and illumination of said human subject without substantially influencing the phase of said cycle; selecting a light source having a light radiation output in accordance with said determined suitable light radiation output; exposing an ocular region of the human subject during an exposure period to the suitable light radiation in dependence of said desired effect on the phase of said cycle, wherein the suitable light radiation is specified by an output fraction of melatonin suppressive radiation (Melatonin Watt/Watt) and light output (lumen/Watt), the output fraction and light output being adjusted to obtain the desired effect on the phase of said cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification
-
- Resources
-
Current AssigneePhilips Lighting Holding BV (Signify N.V.)
-
Original AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
-
InventorsVan Den Beld, Gerrit Jan, Skene, Debra J., Thapan, Kavita, Arendt, Josephine, Van Der Burgt, Petrus Johannes Mathijs
-
Primary Examiner(s)Farah; Ahmed M
-
Application NumberUS10/129,696Publication NumberTime in Patent Office3,679 DaysField of Search607 88- 91, 128/898US Class Current128/898CPC Class CodesA61M 2021/0044 by the sight senseA61M 2021/0055 with electric or electro-ma...A61M 2021/0083 especially for waking upA61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to...
