Rest pattern timing system

• US 6,078,549 A
• Filed: 02/07/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RMP, Inc.
• Original Assignee: RMP, Inc.
• Inventors: O'Reilly, S. Regan, Jarman, Monique F., Jarman, F. Murray, Wyatt, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): MISKA, VIT W
• Application Number:
  US09/020,154
• Time in Patent Office: 864 Days
• Field of Search: 368/69, 368/107-113, 368/276, 368/10, 368/11, 200/DIG. 2, 200/61.58 R, 307/116, 340/573, 340/575
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 8/08 Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 200/02 Body attached switches

Abstract

A sleep pattern timing apparatus for a user to record time before onset of sleep and to separately record sleep time to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of sleeping disorders can include a timer for recording awake time and sleep time of the user and preferably a plurality of switches such as a galvanic skin response switch and a tactile plunger-type switch electrically connected to the timer so that the timer records sleep time when at least one switch is released. Using an awake timer subsystem, the apparatus can also begin recording awake time when all switches are concurrently actuated and discontinues recording of awake time when at least one switch is released. A plurality of switches can reduce the opportunity for false actuation. The apparatus can be housed in a hand held housing to fall away when released to further reduce false actuation. The apparatus may be attached to the user with a wrist band for easy retrieval during sleep interruptions.

Claims

1. A sleep pattern timing apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a timer for recording sleep time of the user;

a housing to enclose said timer, said housing being sized to be hand held; and

a plurality of manual contact actuated switches, each switch being disposed separately on said housing so one of said switches can be contacted by a finger on a user'"'"'s hand and another of aid switches can be contacted by another part of the user'"'"'s hand, said plurality of manual contact actuated switches being electrically connected to said timer to control the stopping of sleep time recording by said timer when each of said plurality of manual contact actuated switches are contacted by a hand of the user and to control the starting of sleep time recording by said timer when any of said plurality of manual contact actuated switches is released;

whereby the user can automatically record his sleep time without assistance for use in the diagnosis or treatment of sleeping disorders.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of manual contact actuated switches includes a first switch and a second switch opposing each other on said housing, whereby said first switch and said second switch can each be actuated by a pinching contact between the user'"'"'s thumb and a finger.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said first switch is a galvanic skin response switch.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said second switch is a tactile plunger-type switch.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said timer includes an awake timer subsystem for recording of awake time when all of said plurality of manual contact actuated switches are contacted.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising an audible alarm electrically connected to the timer for confirming to the user that said awake timer subsystem has started recording awake time.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 5, further comprising a visual confirmation means for confirming to the user that said timer has started recording awake time.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a leash for securing said housing to the user.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said timer includes a delay for preventing said timer from starting the recording of sleep time until one of said plurality of manual contact actuated switches is released for a predetermined wait time and for preventing said timer from stopping the recording of sleep time until said plurality of manual contact actuated switches are concurrently contacted for a second predetermined wait time.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a reset button disposed on said housing and electrically connecting to the timer to reset the timer to zero, wherein said timer includes a memory to retain a value of sleep time recorded when said plurality of manual contact actuated switches are concurrently contacted and adds an additional value of time recorded when said plurality of manual contact actuated switches are again released, whereby the user can cumulatively record elapsed time of separate, interrupted sleep periods.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said awake timer subsystem includes a second memory to retain a value of awake time recorded until said plurality of manual contact actuated switches are concurrently released and adds an additional value of awake time recorded when said plurality of manual contact actuated switches are again contacted, whereby the user can cumulatively record elapsed time of separate, awake periods.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing has a height between said top and bottom sides, said height smaller than said second width.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of manual contact switches are disposed on one of a top and bottom side of the housing adjacent a first end of said housing, said housing having a first width across said top and bottom sides at said first end, said first width reducing to a second width at a second end opposite said first end, whereby the housing provides a relatively larger surface area at the switch for pinching between a finger and thumb and a relatively slender portion for placement between remaining fingers and palm of the user'"'"'s hand.

14. A sleep pattern timing apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

a timer for recording awake time of the user;

a housing to enclose said timer, said housing being sized to be hand held; and

a plurality of manual contact actuated switches, each switch being disposed separately on said housing so one of said switches can be contacted by a finger on a user'"'"'s hand and another of said switchs an be contacted-by another part of the user'"'"'s hand, said plurality of manual contact actuated switches being electrically connected to said timer to control the starting of awake time recording by said timer when each of said plurality of manual contact actuated switches are contacted by a hand of the user and to control the stopping of awake time recording by said timer when any of said plurality of manual contact actuated switches is released;

whereby the user can automatically record his sleep time without assistance for use in the diagnosis or treatment of sleeping disorders.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said plurality of manual contact switches are disposed on one of a top and bottom side of the housing adjacent a first end of said housing, said housing having a first width across said top and bottom sides at said first end, said first width reducing to a second width at a second end opposite said first end, whereby the housing provides a relatively larger surface area at the switch for pinching between a finger and thumb and a relatively slender portion for placement between remaining fingers and palm of the user'"'"'s hand.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said housing has a height between said top and bottom sides, said height smaller than said second width.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said plurality of manual contact switches are galvanic skin response switches.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said plurality of manual contact switches are tactile plunger-type switches.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said timer includes an awake timer subsystem for recording awake time when said plurality of manual contact actuated switches are contacted.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising a leash for securing said housing on the user, whereby said housing can be readily retrieved for further use during sleep interruptions.