Patent Application
20220143359
This invention has been made by the members of MIMURA Seminar, Graduate School of Law, Nihon Univ. as a team. The present invention relates to an anti-drowsiness device, particularly an anti-drowsiness device that removes a person's drowsiness by applying any physical, electrical, or chemical stimulations to the human body in response to human movement or brain waves.
Conventionally, there is an anti-drowsiness device that removes a person's drowsiness by applying any physical or electrical stimulations in response to the movement of the person. The conventional anti-drowsiness device has been used while driving a car. For example, such a conventional anti-drowsiness device has a switch and an electrode, the switch is connected to a seat belt or the like, and the electrode is attached to an earlobe. The conventional anti-drowsiness device is designed to prevent drowsiness by sending a weak electric current to the earlobes when the driver presses a switch on the seat belt.
However, the conventional anti-drowsiness device has a problem that it is difficult for the driver to press the switch when he or she feels drowsy because the driver manually presses the switch by himself/herself.
According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem can be solved. And the device can automatically apply any physical or electrical stimulations to the human body instead of manually before the person suffers from drowsiness, especially by sensing brain-waves.
Further, some improved conventional devices give some simulations automatically. But, the improved conventional devices are activated by sensing the human movement or the head tilt. However, it is difficult to adjust the sensing condition for the tilt of the head, and even if the user has no drowsiness, the electric stimulation is applied to the human only by tilting the head a little.
According to the present invention, the above-mentioned problem can be solved, and detecting brain-waves with higher accuracy in detecting drowsiness than sensing in tilting the head, it is possible to give electrical stimulation when the person is really drowsy.
The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same reference numerals indicate the same or similar components passing through all the embodiments.
The electrostimulator 2 has a function of generating a 0.5 mA˜3 mA current on the scalp when receiving the sleep-detection signal transmitted from the electroencephalograph 1, and generates an electric signal to the scalp. The electroencephalograph 1 is arranged, for example, in the vicinity of the head top part, and the electrostimulator 2 is arranged in the vicinity of the electroencephalograph 1. The electrostimulator 2 also has a meter 5 capable of changing signal output strength and a light 7. The meter 5 includes a slidable stimulation intensity setting member 6, and when a strong stimulation is desired, the stimulation intensity setting member 6 is slided to a “high (H)”position.
By a well-known method, when the electroencephalograph 1 senses the brain-waves of 7-8 Hz, the electrostimulator 2 sends a sleep-detection signal. BY applying this signal, a light 7 formed on the electrostimulator 2 emits green light. The electrostimulator 2 receiving the signal gives electrostimulation to the scalp. Thus, sleepiness is gone. Also, by the light emission of the light 7, a person near the user recognizes that the anti-drowsiness device 100 is activated, and it can be understood that the user is sleeping. When the light is on for a certain amount of time, the color of the light changes from green to red.
For example, when it exceeds one minute, the color is changed to red.
The anti-drowsiness device 200 includes a head cover 10, an electroencephalograph 1 formed on a head cover 10, a physical stimulant spray device 20 for spraying stimulant liquid or stimulant gas, and a physical stimulation massage machine 30. The electroencephalograph 1 is connected to the physical stimulant spray device 20 and the physical stimulation massage machine 30 via Bluetooth. The electroencephalograph 1 always receives brain-waves emitted from the frontal lobe, for example, and transmits a sleep-detection signal to the physical stimulant spray device 20 and the physical stimulation massage machine 30 when the brain-waves show 7 to 8 Hz.
The main body 31 has a massage function utilizing the conventional technology using air compression. In order to massage the user's calf, the main body 31 has an airbag to control air filling and air discharging into the airbag in use. In case that the switch 33 is turned on, the sleep-detection signal receiver 32 activates a function of automatically operating the massage machine 30, and then it massages the user's calf when receiving the sleep-detection signal transmitted from the electroencephalograph 1.
An anti-drowsiness device 300 of the third embodiment is for detecting unusual driving conditions and notifying it to the driver, in particular drowsiness or dozing of the driver, which may make it difficult to continue driving safely.
The anti-drowsiness device 300 includes an event data recorder (EDR) 310, a spray 320 for splaying an high-concentration oxygen 320, an electrostimulator 330 and an alarm generator340. The EDR 310 is equipped with a memory and an AI 315, and records all driving motions as a driving data being stored in the memory. The AI 315 analyzes the data and learns the driver's usual driving habits. By recording this driving behavior, the EDR 310 recognizes what kind of driving habits the driver has when driving safely. When the driver dozes off, an unusual driving operation, which is different from the safe driving operation, is recorded. Therefore, the EDR 310 detects the driver's driving condition by comparing the usual driving behavior recorded in the memory with the unusual driving behavior. The spray 320, the electrostimulator 330, and alarm generator 340 are electrically connected to the EDR 310.
According to the anti-drowsiness device 300 when the EDR 310 detects the unusual driving operation record, the EDR 310 initially generates the sleep-detection signal, and outputs it to the alarm generator 340. The alarm generator 340 generates an alarm, and alerts the driver when it receives the sleep-detection signal. In case that the driver notices the alarm and goes back to the normal driving condition. The EDR 310 recognizes such a condition, and then it will stop transmitting the sleep-detection signal. As a result, the operation of the alarm generator 340 is also stopped, and the alarm is stopped.
On the other hand, when the driver ignores the alarm and the unusual driving operation is maintained, the sleep-detection signal will be outputted continuously. Therefore, when the sleep-detection signal has been outputted for a certain period of time, the sleep-detection signal is then outputted to the spray 320. When the spray 320 receives the sleep-detection signal, it will spray the high-concentration oxygen to the driver's face. The spray 320 can surely reach the driver by installing it on the center of a steering wheel. The oxygen awakes the driver, and even more refreshes the driver. Also, the oxygen will be penetrated into the body and it will be expected to have the effect of activating human's cells and leading the body to vitality.
Furthermore, in order to ensure the effect, when the sleep-detection signal has been outputted to the spray 320, it is also outputted to the electrostimulator 330, which is placed to the driver's seat, so that it is possible to give the drivers back and the driver's bottom muscles electrical stimulation. Thus, it makes the driver's muscles active, stimulates the flow of blood, and accelerates blood circulation. As a result, sleepiness is gone.
In the third preferred embodiment, instead of using the brain-waves, which shows drowsiness, by detecting the driver's unusual driving condition, the anti-drowsiness device 300 encourages the driver to drive safely. On the other hand, in the first embodiment and the second preferred embodiment, since the brain-waves are used, it is possible to use in any occasion other than driving.
While the invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intended to be construed in a limiting sense. Thus, shapes, size and physical relationship of each component are roughly illustrated so the scope of the invention should not be construed to be limited to them. Further, to clarify the components of the invention, hatching is partially omitted in the cross-sectional views.
Various other modifications of the illustrated embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art in reference to this description. Therefore, the appended claims are intended to cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of the invention.
