System for dynamically adjusting circadian rhythm responsive to scheduled events and associated methods

• US 9,827,439 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2015
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Healthe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: BioLogical Illumination, LLC
• Inventors: Maxik, Fredric S., Bartine, David E., Oostdyk, Mark Andrew, Regan, Matthew, Soler, Robert R., Flickinger, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Gary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luan, Scott T
• Application Number:
  US14/590,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20150148871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4857 Indicating the phase of biorhythm clocks or watches with indicators for biological cycles G04B19/264
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0066 with heating or cooling
• 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 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/005 Parameter used as control input for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0627 Dose monitoring systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 : Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 : by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 : by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 : using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A method of dynamically adjusting a circadian rhythm comprising the steps of determining a current circadian rhythm status of a circadian rhythm of an observer, accessing a calendar of the observer, and identifying a future event of the observer to precondition for, defined as an identified future event. A preconditioning schedule responsive to the identified future event may then be determined. Furthermore, communication with a light source may be established, and the light source may then be operated to emit light according to the preconditioning schedule.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically adjusting a circadian rhythm comprising the steps of:

determining a current circadian rhythm status of a circadian rhythm of an observer;

accessing a calendar of the observer;

identifying one or more future events of the observer to precondition for, defined as identified future events;

determining a preconditioning schedule for each of the identified future events, comprising the steps of;

identifying the type of circadian shift needed for the future event;

determining if the any of the preconditioning schedules for the multiple identified future events conflict;

upon a determination that a conflict exists, performing the steps of;

querying a user to select one or more non-conflicting future events,

receiving an input from the user indicating one or more future events to precondition for, and

modifying the preconditioning schedules responsive to the input;

determining the magnitude of the circadian shift;

determining the timeframe for preconditioning;

determining the magnitude of the per-day shift; and

determining if the per-day shift exceeds a maximum allowed per-day shift;

upon a determination that the per-day shift exceeds the maximum allowed per-day shift, performing the steps of;

querying the user as to whether to override the maximum allowed per-day shift,

receiving an input from the user responsive to the query of whether to exceed the maximum per-day shift, and

selecting a preconditioning schedule responsive to the user input;

establishing communication with a light source; and

operating the light source to emit light of the preconditioning schedule.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining the time zone within which the future event will occur;

determining the time of day for the observer; and

determining the date.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the maximum allowed per-day shift is 2.5 hours.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a sleep cycle of the observer; and

implementing changes to the preconditioning schedule responsive to the sleep cycle of the observer.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of monitoring a sleep pattern of the observer comprises the steps of:

determining if the observer is asleep;

recording signals from a sensor;

identifying and recording an indication of low quality sleep from the signals received from the sensor; and

determining changes to the preconditioning schedule responsive to the indication of the low quality sleep.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the sensor is at least one of an optical motion detector and an acceleration detector.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of iteratively observing if the observer is asleep, recording indications of low quality sleep, and waiting for the next indication of low quality sleep until the observer is awake.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein responsive to an indication of low quality sleep, performing the steps of:

determining whether an environmental condition of a sleeping environment associated with the observer is outside a target range, defined as an environmental change recommendation; and

signaling an environmental control system responsive to the environmental change recommendation.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the environmental control system is an HVAC system.

10. A method of dynamically adjusting a circadian rhythm comprising the steps of:

determining a current circadian rhythm status of a circadian rhythm of an observer;

determining the time of day for the observer;

determining the time zone of the observer;

determining the date;

accessing a calendar of the observer;

identifying one or more future events of the observer to precondition for, defined as identified future events;

determining a preconditioning schedule responsive to the identified future events, comprising the steps of;

identifying the type of circadian shift needed for the future event;

determining if the any of the preconditioning schedules for the multiple identified future events conflict,

upon a determination that a conflict exists, performing the steps of;

querying a user to select one or more non-conflicting future events,

receiving an input from the user indicating one or more future events to precondition for, and

modifying the preconditioning schedules responsive to the input, and

upon a determination that no conflict exists, performing the steps of;

determining the magnitude of the circadian shift, including determining the difference in time zones between the time zone of the observer and the time zone within which the future event will occur,

determining the timeframe for preconditioning,

determining the magnitude of the per-day shift,

determining if the per-day shift exceeds a maximum allowed per-day shift,

upon a determination that the per-day shift exceeds the maximum allowed per-day shift, performing the steps of;

querying the user as to whether to override the maximum allowed per-day shift,

receiving an input from the user responsive to the query of whether to exceed the maximum per-day shift, and

selecting a preconditioning schedule responsive to the user input; and

establishing communication with a light source; and

operating the light source to emit light of the preconditioning schedule.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:

determining if the observer is asleep;

recording signals from a sensor;

identifying and recording an indication of low quality sleep from the signals received from the sensor; and

determining changes to the preconditioning schedule responsive to the indication of the low quality sleep.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of iteratively observing if the observer is asleep, recording indications of low quality sleep, and waiting for the next indication of low quality sleep until the observer is awake.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein responsive to an indication of low quality sleep, performing the steps of:

determining whether an environmental condition of a sleeping environment associated with the observer is outside a target range, defined as an environmental change recommendation; and

signaling an environmental control system responsive to the environmental change recommendation.

14. A lighting system for dynamically adjusting a circadian rhythm of an observer comprising:

a lighting device comprising;

a housing

a control circuitry,

a memory, and

a light source positioned in communication with and controlled by the control circuitry;

wherein the memory comprises a calendar associated with the user comprising a future event;

wherein the control circuitry is configured to identify one or more future events from the calendar to precondition a circadian rhythm of the observer, defined as the identified future events;

wherein the control circuitry is configured to determine a preconditioning schedule for the identified future events comprising the steps of;

identifying the type of circadian shift needed for the future event;

determining if the any of the preconditioning schedules for the multiple identified future events conflict;

upon a determination that a conflict exists, performing the steps of;

querying a user to select one or more non-conflicting future events,

receiving an input from the user indicating one or more future events to precondition for, and

modifying the preconditioning schedules responsive to the input;

determining the magnitude of the circadian shift;

determining the timeframe for preconditioning; and

determining the magnitude of the per-day shift;

determining if the per-day shift exceeds a maximum allowed per-day shift;

upon a determination that the per-day shift exceeds the maximum allowed per-day shift, performing the steps of;

querying the user as to whether to override the maximum allowed per-day shift,

receiving an input from the user responsive to the query of whether to exceed the maximum per-day shift, and

selecting a preconditioning schedule responsive to the user input; and

wherein the control circuitry is configured to operate the light source according to the preconditioning schedules.

15. The lighting system of claim 14 wherein the lighting device further comprises a communication device positioned in communication with the control circuitry and configured to communicate across a network;

and wherein the communication device is configured to access a calendar and identify future events associated with the observer across the network.