The invention relates to a sunrise wake system configured over a window and configured to produce a sunrise profile of emitted light from a light strip configured on a blackout shade.
Many individuals have lifestyles requiring them to wake up at times that do not align with the natural sunrise. This includes people who prefer to wake up well after sunrise and shift workers who must wake up during daylight hours or at night. These individuals miss the gradual and natural process of waking up with the sunrise, which is generally beneficial as it provides a smooth transition from sleep to wakefulness. Additionally, individuals who sleep during daylight hours face challenges in blocking out sunlight completely. Blackout shades are commonly used to prevent external light from entering through windows, creating the necessary darkness for restful sleep.
However, while blackout shades are effective at darkening a room, they create an environment that can make it difficult for users to wake up naturally. The abrupt transition from complete darkness to artificial light or an alarm can be jarring and less conducive to a smooth wake-up process. Traditional alarm clocks and mobile phone alarms do not provide a gradual light increase that simulates a natural sunrise, which is essential for a natural waking process. Therefore, there is a need for a solution that combines the benefits of blackout shades with a controlled light source that mimics the natural progression of a sunrise, enhancing the wake-up experience for individuals who do not wake up with the actual sunrise. The present invention addresses these issues by integrating a light-emitting device with a blackout shade to simulate natural sunrise, thereby improving the wake-up experience.
The invention is directed to a sunrise wake system that includes a sunrise shade assembly that includes a sunrise shade configured over a window to block out exterior light and then produce emitted light that mimics the natural light of a sunrise. A person may set a wake time, a sunrise profile, and a wake duration, and then the system will activate at the wake time and run the selected sunrise profile over the wake duration. A mobile electronic device, such as a mobile phone operating a system APP, may interface with the sunrise shade assembly to provide instructions to the shade controller to activate a light strip to emit emitted light that changes in wavelength and temperature according to the sunrise profile. A light strip may include a plurality of light devices and may emit different wavelengths of light. The shade controller may control which light devices and the intensity of the light emitted by the light devices to produce the sunrise profile. The sunrise shade may include a blackout shade and a light strip coupled thereto. The sunrise shade may be coupled to an actuator to move from an open configuration to a closed configuration. A shade actuator may include a spool and a motor, wherein the sunrise shade is spooled about the spool to actuate from an open configuration to said closed configuration.
A sunrise shade includes a blackout shade that is configured to extend over a window and preferably beyond the window perimeter, the perimeter of the glass portion of the window to block out exterior light.
A mobile electronic device may be interfaced with a shade controller of the sunrise wake system to set wake times, set the light strip to illuminate via the sunrise input, set a sound to be emitted or change the type of sound via the sound input, set a wake duration with a wake duration input, and set a sunrise profile via a sunrise profile input. The mobile electronic device may include a controller such as a microprocessor and a wireless signal transceiver that sends a wireless signal to a wireless signal receiver of the sunrise wake system or more specifically to the sunrise shade assembly. An exemplary sunrise profile may be set by a person according to their preference but may be as short as 5 or 10 minutes or more, to about 30 minutes or more, or an hour or more, or even about 90 minutes or more and any range between and including the time durations provided.
The mobile electronic device, such as a mobile phone, may interface with the sunrise shade assembly and enable a person to set a wake time and a wake duration, the time of the sunrise profile from start to end. The end of the sunrise profile may be when the light reaches a set intensity and/or when it becomes constant.
A sunrise profile may be a profile of emitted light that changes in wavelength, intensity and/or temperature. In an exemplary sunrise profile, an initial light phase may include a red emitted light. A warming temperature phase may have emitted light that decreases in temperature but may increase in intensity from the initial light phase. Subsequently, a cooling temperature profile may have emitted light that increases in temperature and increases in intensity or lumens of emitted from the light strip.
A user may provide feedback to the sunrise wake system using their mobile phone, including feedback on the duration, start-time, or warming and/or brightness profiles. The sunrise wake system may use this feedback and machine learning and/or AI to modify the sunrise profile to improve the specific profile for the user. Also, a sunrise wake system may interface with a user's calendar and automatically set a sunrise wake profile including a start time, duration, and specific profiles with respect to the user's calendar. The system may learn that the user does not like to begin the profile before 6:30 am and therefore, may provide a shorter profile on days where the user has calendar items starting at earlier times, such as at 7:30 am for example. The sunrise wake system may take into account the types of calendar items as well, such as a sales meeting versus, a workout session, and again, tailor the sunrise wake profile according to the event(s) on the calendar.
The light profile may begin with red emitted light being emitted from red light devices and then include first emitted light and second emitted light emitted from the respective first light devices and second light devices. The light strip may continue to emit light from the light strip after the wake duration or the sunrise shade may actuate to an open configuration if a detector detects suitable exterior light. The shade actuator may move the sunrise shade with the light strip to an open configuration by rolling the sunrise shade into a spool. The light strip may be flexible and include light-emitting diode (LED) devices.
The sunrise shade assembly may be powered by a battery, which may be a rechargeable battery or may include an electrical plug that can be plugged into a power source, such as an electrical outlet.
An alarm sound may be emitted by the mobile electronic device by a speaker that may be configured on the mobile electronic device or coupled thereto, either with a wire or wirelessly. A speaker may be coupled to the mobile electronic device, such as a mobile phone by a Bluetooth connection, for example. A person may have one or more speakers in their bedroom and these speakers may emit an alarm sound when instructed by the mobile electronic device. The alarm sound may be selected as desired and may be music, natural sounds, such as birds chirping, water flowing, waterfalls, thunderstorms or rain sounds, or other natural sounds, or may be more traditional buzzer sound that is constant or changing in volume, emission, and duration. The sunrise wake system may be set by the user through their mobile electronic device to initiate a natural alarm sound at a specific time with the sunrise profile, such as proximal to the end of the wake profile, wherein the alarm sound is initiated after 50% of the sunrise profile has elapsed. The natural sounds may initially be emitted at first low volume level and then increase in volume to a second higher volume level. If the sunrise profile has not been stopped or if the person has not interfaced with the system prior to the end of the sunrise profile, a buzzer alarm sound may be emitted from the speaker or speakers.
An exemplary sunrise shade assembly includes a sunrise shade that includes a blackout shade that is opaque to block sunlight and other outdoor light from passing therethrough, a light strip that may extend along a perimeter of the sunrise shade, and a shade cover layer that extends over the light strip and may act as a diffusing layer for the light emitted by the light devices of the light strip. A shade cover layer may be configured over the light strip and may also diffuse light emitted by the light devices.
The light devices may be configured in a pattern along the light strip, with the first light device and second light device being paired adjacent each other and the red light device separated. There may be fewer red light devices than the first and second light devices, wherein the first and second light devices are configured at a ratio to the red light device of 1:1 or more, 1.5:1 or more, 2:1 or more, 3:1 or more, 5:1 or more and any range between and including the ratios provided.
The sunrise shade includes a blackout shade with a light strip configured around the perimeter and a shade cover layer extending over the light strip and blackout shade. The diffusion cover is shown as a strip of material that also extends along the perimeter of the sunrise shade and over the light strip. The light strip may be configured with a diffusion cover over the light devices of the light strip. The diffusion cover may diffuse the light to provide a more dispersed light.
A light device, such as a light strip may extend along a length about the perimeter of the blackout shade that enables the light to be emitted to mimic the sunlight through a window. This elongated light device emits light along a length of about 1 m or more, about 1.25 m or more, about 1.5 m or more, about 2.0 m or more, and any range between and including the length of light emission along the light strip provided. A single-point light source, such as a bulb would not produce the same large profile of light emission as a light strip configured around the perimeter of a blackout shade. Put another way, the light strip emits light around an area of the blackout shade, wherein the light strip extends up along one side of the blackout shade, across the blackout shade to the opposing side of the blackout shade, and then down along the opposing side. A blackout shade may be configured to cover a variety of windows, such as a widow with a width of about 75 cm and a height of about 1.5 m or even 2 m or more. The area encompassed or enclosed by this extension and configuration of the light strip is very much larger than the area of a light bulb, which may only be about 25 cm2. The area encompassed by the light strip on the blackout shade may be about 0.5 m2, about 0.75 m2, about 1 m2, about 1.5 m2, or even 2 m2, and any range between and including the values provided.
A bedroom may be configured with a large window or double wide window from a standard window which is usually about 60 cm or more, about 75 cm or more, or even about 1 m or more. A double wide or wider window may be about 1.0 m or more, about 1.5 m or more, for example. Two blackout shades may be used to cover a larger window and the two blackout shades may be coupled together by a clip or fastener, such as a hook-and-loop fastener, or magnets.
The sunrise wake system produces a sunrise profile of emitted light that changes temperature (K) by varying the wavelength of the light emitted from the light strip. Also, the intensity of the light may gradually increase from the initial light phase to the warming temperature phase. Red light devices may emit red light initially in the initial light phase of the sunrise profile. The period of time for the initial light phase may be set by the user and may be about 5 minutes or more, to about 10 minutes or more. Then the first light device and the second light device emit light in the warming temperature phase of the sunrise profile which is a gradual decrease in temperature from the end of the initial light phase, and again this phase may be set by the user and may be about 5 minutes or more, to about 10 minutes or more. Finally, the first light device and second light device emit light to increase the temperature of the emitted light from the end of the warming temperature phase in a cooling temperature phase, and again this phase may be set by the user and may be about 5 minutes or more, to about 10 minutes or more.
An exemplary light strip has a plurality of first-light devices and second-light devices and a plurality of red-light devices that emit respectively a first-emitted light, a second-emitted light, and red-emitted light. The red light device may emit red light initially in the initial light phase of the sunrise. Then the first light device and the second light device may emit light in the warming temperature phase followed by a cooling temperature phase of the sunrise profile. The first light device and second light device may emit different wavelengths of light, with a wavelength differential such as 50 nm or more 100 nm or more, or 250 nm or more, or even 500 nm or more between the first and second light devices. This combination of different wavelengths enables emitted light from the light strip to have a temperature in the range from about 1,000K to about 10,000K or more, about 12,000K or more, about 15,000K or more, and any range between and including the values provided.
The summary of the invention is provided as a general introduction to some of the embodiments of the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Any specific measurements, numerical values, time durations, or examples provided are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. The invention encompasses variations, modifications, and alternative configurations that achieve similar results or address similar problems as those described in the embodiments.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the figures. The figures represent an illustration of some of the embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. Some of the figures may not show all of the features and components of the invention for ease of illustration, but it is to be understood that where possible, features and components from one figure may be included in the other figures. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Also, uses of “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.
Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described herein and are illustrated in the accompanying figures. The embodiments described are only for purposes of illustrating the present invention and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention, and certain modifications, combinations, and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art and all such alternate embodiments, combinations, modifications, and improvements are within the scope of the present invention.
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The blackout shade may block the sunlight 17 from the sun 16 (shown in
A mobile electronic device 80, such as a mobile phone 81, may be interfaced with a shade controller 70 of the sunrise wake system 11 to set wake times, set the light strip to illuminate via the sunrise input 91, set a sound to be emitted, or change the type of sound via the sound input 92, set a wake duration with a wake duration input 96, and set a sunrise profile via a sunrise profile input 98. The controller may have a wireless signal transceiver 74 to receive instructions from the mobile phone 81. The mobile electronic device 80 may include a controller 82 such as a microprocessor and a wireless signal transceiver 88 that sends a wireless signal 89 to a wireless signal receiver of the sunrise wake system 11 or more specifically to the sunrise shade assembly 11. The mobile phone 81 may have an interface screen 84, which may be a touch screen.
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The sunrise shade assembly 11 may be powered by a battery 72, which may be a rechargeable battery or may include an electrical plug 62 that can be plugged into a power source, such as an electrical outlet, and have a strip power cord 61 extending from the electrical outlet to the battery, or directly to the power strip when being directly powered by from electrical power from the electrical outlet.
The alarm sound may be emitted by the mobile electronic device 80, such as by a speaker 86 on the mobile electronic device, or mobile phone 81, or from a speaker 87, an auxiliary speaker, that is coupled with the mobile electronic device. The speaker on the nightstand may be coupled to the mobile electronic device via a wire, or via a wireless signal, such as a short-range wireless signal having a range of about 50 m or less, 40 m or less, 25 m or less, or even about 15 m or less, such as a Bluetooth signal. The alarm sound may be selected as desired and may be natural sounds as described herein, sounds from nature, or music, or a more traditional alarm sound such as a buzzer. As described herein, the sound may initially be emitted at a low volume or a first-decibel level and then increase in volume over time to a second-decibel level that is greater than the first-decibel level. Also, the type of sound emitted may change over time. Natural sounds, such as birds chirping may initially be emitted and then towards the end of the sunrise profile, music may be played and then eventually a traditional alarm buzzer sound may be emitted.
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It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Specific embodiments, features, and elements described herein may be modified, and/or combined in any suitable manner. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications, combinations, and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
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