Patent No. 5954629 Brain wave inducing system
Patent No. 5954629
Brain wave inducing system (Yanagidaira, et al., Sep 21, 1999)
Abstract
Sensors are provided for detecting brain waves of a user, and a band-pass filter is provided for extracting a particular brain waves including an .alpha. wave included in a detected brain wave. The band-pass filter comprises a first band-pass filter having a narrow pass band, and a second band-pass filter having a wide pass band. One of the first and second band-pass filters is selected, and a stimulation signal is produced in dependency on an .alpha. wave extracted by a selected band-pass filter. In accordance with the stimulation signal, a stimulation light is emitted to the user in order to induce the user to relax or sleeping state.
Notes:
SUMMARY
OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a brain wave inducing system
which may have relaxation inducing effect and sleep inducing effect.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a system with which relaxation
effect and sleep inducing effect are easily obtained.
According to the present invention, there is provided a brain wave inducing
system comprising sensors for detecting brain waves of a user, a band-pass filter
for extracting a particular brain waves including an .alpha. wave included in
a detected brain wave, the band-pass filter comprising a first band-pass filter
having a narrow pass band, and a second band-pass filter having a wide pass
band, first selecting means for selecting one of the first and second band-pass
filters, output means for producing a stimulation signal dependent on an .alpha.
wave extracted by a selected band-pass filter, and light emitting means responsive
to the stimulation signal for emitting a stimulation light to the user.
A memory is provided for recording the extracted brain waves and for reproducing
the recorded brain waves, and second selecting means for selecting either of
the recording or reproducing of the brain waves.
The sensors are mounted on an eye mask to be attached to a forehead of the user.
The detecting means is provided for detecting a sleep falling point when the
user falls into sleep. The detecting means detects the sleep falling point by
detecting a time when .alpha. wave appearance rate reduces 50% from a reference
value.
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In
accordance with the present invention, the band for extracting the brain wave
is selected by one of the wide and narrow bands. Consequently, it is effective
to obtain the sleep inducing effect in addition to the relaxation effect.
The brain wave is stored in the memory in order to reproduce the frequency fluctuation
in the sleep transient period. Thus, it is possible to induce the sleep transient
state by drawing the brain wave without using the brain wave sensor. Since the
troublesome caused by the sensor is avoided, the relaxation effect and sleep
inducing effect are further improved.
Since the the brain wave sensor and the light emitting elements are integrally
formed in the eye mask device without the ear clip, the relaxation effect can
be easily obtained. Furthermore, the relaxation and sleep inducing effects are
improved.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with preferred specific
embodiment thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended
to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by
the following claims.
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