Calming device

• US 8,979,731 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2009
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Aarts, Ronaldus Maria, Westerink, Joanne Henriette Desiree Monique, Djajadiningrat, Johan Partomo, Frens, Johannes Willem, Rozendaal, Marius Cornelis
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Christine
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANNU, JOSHUA DARYL DEANON
• Application Number:
  US13/057,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20110137110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,051 Days
• Field of Search: 600 26- 28, 600544-546, 128897-899
• US Class Current: 600/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/02 for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/632 by branching, e.g. choosing one of several possible story developments at a given point in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8094 Unusual game types, e.g. virtual cooking

Abstract

A device (1), for calming down a subject, comprises a content delivering means (12,14) adapted for delivering a content in a first mode, at least one sensor (22, 24, 26, 28, 29) configured to detect an activity level of the subject and a controlling unit operatively coupled to the at least one sensor. The controlling unit receives the detected activity level and compares the detected activity level with a pre-determined threshold activity level. The controlling unit is capable of changing the delivery of the content to a second mode when the detected activity level is above the threshold activity level.

Claims

1. A device for inducing relaxation in a subject, the device comprising:

a. a content delivering means adapted for delivering a story said content delivering means comprising;

at least one sound generator generating a sound in a first mode and in a second mode;

b. at least one sensor configured to detect an activity level of the subject; and

c. a controller operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to execute;

delivering the story in the first mode using the content delivering means, wherein in the first mode content is delivered with an initial setting value;

receiving the detected activity level from the at least one sensor;

comparing the detected activity level with a pre-determined threshold activity level;

determining said detected activity level is above said pre-determined threshold activity level; and

changing the delivery of the story to the second mode when the detected activity level is above the threshold activity level wherein said delivered story in said second mode is altered from the initial setting value by at least one of;

a reduced clarity and lower understandability as compared to the sound generated in the first mode and configured to reduce the subject'"'"'s activity level.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the activity level is detected by detecting at least one of:

a bodily movement, a voice level, heart rate measurement, a breathing rate, and a sleeping stage.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the threshold activity level is varied for each subject.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one display means displaying an image in the first mode and the second mode.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein in the second mode the image displayed has a reduced viewability as compared to the image displayed in the first mode, wherein the reduced viewability is one of:

blurred, smaller, and drained of color.

6. The device of claim 1, the controller further configured to:

switch the delivery of the story to the first mode when the detected activity level is below or equals thee threshold activity level.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

change the delivery of the story from the first mode to the second mode or from the second mode to the first mode progressively.

8. A method of inducing relaxation in a subject, executed in a computer system, said method causing the computer system to execute the steps comprising:

delivering content in a first mode with an initial setting value;

detecting an activity level of the subject;

comparing the detected activity level with a pre-determined threshold activity level;

determining said detected activity level is above said pre-determined threshold activity level; and

changing the delivery of the content to a second mode when the detected activity level is above the threshold activity level by altering at least one of;

a loudness, and an image, wherein said delivered content in said second mode is altered from the initial setting value and configured to reduce the subject'"'"'s activity level, said alteration including at least one of a reduced audio clarity and a reduced visual clarity.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the content is one of:

a story, a music, and a game.

10. The method according to claim 9, the method further comprising:

switching the delivery of the content to the first mode when the detected activity level is below or equals the threshold activity level.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the content is a game, the method further comprising:

switching the delivery of the content to different modes when the detected activity level is below or equals the threshold activity level, wherein the game is played at different levels in each mode, and wherein a level of the second mode is more repetitive or rhythmic than a level of the first mode.

12. A device for inducing relaxation in a subject, thee device comprising:

a. a content delivering means adapted for delivering a story in different modes, said content delivering means comprising;

at least one display means displaying an image in a first mode and in a second mode;

b. at least one sensor configured to detect an activity level of the subject; and

c. a controller operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to execute;

delivering the story in the first mode using tile content delivering means, wherein in the first mode content is delivered with an initial setting value;

receiving the detected activity level from the at least one sensor;

comparing the detected activity level with a pre-determined threshold activity level;

determining said detected activity level is above said pre-determined threshold activity level; and

changing the delivery of the story to the second mode when the detected activity level is above the threshold activity level, wherein said delivered story in said second mode is altered from the initial setting value by at least one of;

blurred, smaller, and drained of color and configured to reduce the subject'"'"'s activity level.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the activity level is detected by detecting at least one of:

a bodily movement, a voice level, heart rate measurement, a breathing rate, and a sleeping stage.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the threshold activity level is varied for each subject.

15. The device of claim 12, further comprising:

at least one sound generator generating a sound in the first mode and in the second mode, wherein in the second mode the sound generated by said at least one sound generator is altered and has at least one of;

a reduced clarity and lower understandability as compared to the sound generated by said at least one sound generator in the first mode.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to execute:

switching the delivery of the story to the first mode when the detected activity level is below or equals the threshold activity level.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to execute:

changing the delivery of the story from the first mode to the second mode or from the second mode to the first mode progressively.

18. A device for inducing relaxation in a subject, the device comprising:

a. a content delivering means adapted for delivering a game, wherein the game is delivered at a first level in a first mode and at a second level in a second mode;

b. at least one sensor configured to detect an activity level of the subject; and

c. a controller operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller being configured to execute;

delivering said game in the first mode using the content delivering means, wherein in the first mode of said game is delivered with an initial setting value;

receiving the detected activity level from the at least one sensor;

comparing the detected activity level with a pre-determined threshold activity level;

determining said detected activity level is above said pre-determined threshold activity level; and

changing the delivery of the game to the second mode when the detected activity level is above the threshold activity level wherein operation of the game in the second level is more repetitive or rhythmic than operation of the game in the first level.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to execute:

delivering the game in different modes when the detected activity level is below or equals the threshold activity level.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to execute:

delivering the game in different modes when the detected activity level is below or equals the threshold activity level.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein performing a task in said second level is different than performing said task in said first level.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to execute:

switching the delivery of the game to the first level when the detected activity level is below or equals the threshold activity level.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to execute:

changing the delivery of the game progressively from the first level to the second level or from the second level to the first level.