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A sleep efficiency monitor and methods for pacing and leading a sleeper through an optimal sleep pattern. Embodiments of the present invention include a physiological characteristic monitor for monitoring the sleep stages of a sleeper, a sensory stimulus generator for generating stimulus to affect t

A sleep efficiency monitor and methods for pacing and leading a sleeper through an optimal sleep pattern. Embodiments of the present invention include a physiological characteristic monitor for monitoring the sleep stages of a sleeper, a sensory stimulus generator for generating stimulus to affect the sleep stages of a sleeper, and a processor for determining what sleep stage the sleeper is in and what sensory stimulus is needed to cause the sleeper to move to another sleep stage. A personalized sleep profile may also be established for the sleeper and sleep guided in accordance with the profile parameters to optimize a sleep session. By providing sensory stimulus to a sleeper, the sleeper may be guided through the various sleep stages in an optimal pattern so that the sleeper awakens refreshed even if sleep is disrupted during the night or the sleeper's allotted sleep period is different than usual. Embodiments of the invention also involve calibration of the sleep guidance system to a particular sleeper.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of guiding a sleep pattern of a sleeper, the method comprising: monitoring at least one physiological characteristic of a sleeper indicative of a current sleep stage of the sleeper; generating a sensory stimulus to lead the sleeper to a sleep stage different fr

The invention claimed is: 1. A method of guiding a sleep pattern of a sleeper, the method comprising: monitoring at least one physiological characteristic of a sleeper indicative of a current sleep stage of the sleeper; generating a sensory stimulus to lead the sleeper to a sleep stage different from the current sleep stage; and calibrating to the sleeper's sleep pattern by monitoring the physiological characteristic of the sleeper for at least one full sleep cycle prior to generating the sensory stimulus. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein calibrating to the sleeper's sleep pattern further comprises determining at least one physiological characteristic indicative of when the sleeper is changing from one sleep stage to another sleep stage. 3. A method of guiding a sleep pattern of sleeper, the method comprising: monitoring at least one physiological characteristic of a sleeper indicative of a current sleep stage of the sleeper; generating a sensory stimulus to lead the sleeper to a sleep stage different from the current sleep stage; and establishing a personalized sleeper profile including at least one data reference indicating a sensory stimulus setting for the sleeper and referencing that data reference when generating the sensory stimulus to lead the sleeper. 4. A method of guiding a sleep pattern of a sleeper, the method comprising: monitoring at least one physiological characteristic of a sleeper indicative of a current sleep stage of the sleeper; and generating a sensory stimulus to lead the sleeper to a sleep stage different from the current sleep stage, wherein the at least one physiological characteristic monitored is indicative of a sleep stage associated with sleep apnea of the sleeper and the sensory stimulus generated is generated to lead the sleeper to a sleep stage not associated with the sleeper's sleep apnea. 5. A method of guiding a sleep pattern of a sleeper, the method comprising: monitoring at least one physiological characteristic of a sleeper indicative of a current sleep stage of the sleeper; and generating a sensory stimulus to lead the sleeper to a sleep stage different from the current sleep stage, wherein the at least one physiological characteristic monitored is indicative of a sleep stage associated with sleepwalking by the sleeper and the sensory stimulus generated is generated to lead the sleeper to a sleep stage not associated with the sleeper's sleepwalking. 6. A method of guiding a sleep pattern of a sleeper, the method comprising: monitoring at least one physiological characteristic of a sleeper indicative of a current sleep stage of the sleeper; and generating a sensory stimulus to lead the sleeper to a sleep singe different from the current sleep stage, wherein the at least one physiological characteristic monitored is indicative of a sleep stage associated with bedwetting by the sleeper and the sensory stimulus generated is generated to lead the sleeper to a sleep stage not associated with the sleeper's bedwetting. 7. A method of guiding a sleep pattern of a sleeper, the method comprising: monitoring at least one physiological characteristic of a sleeper indicative of a current sleep stage of the sleeper; and generating a sensory stimulus to lead the sleeper to a sleep stage different from the current sleep stage, wherein the at least one physiological characteristic monitored is indicative of a sleep stage associated with nightmares of the sleeper and the sensory stimulus generated is generated to lead the sleeper to a sleep stage not associated with the sleeper's nightmare. 8. A method of guiding a sleep pattern of a sleeper between NREM and REM sleep, the method comprising: monitoring at least one physiological characteristic of the sleeper indicative of NREM sleep; generating a sensory stimulus having at least one characteristic configured to lead the sleeper to enter REM sleep; monitoring the physiological characteristic to determine whether the sensory stimulus was effective to lead the sleeper to enter REM sleep; and establishing a personalized sleeper profile including at least one data reference indicating a sensory stimulus setting for the sleeper and referencing that data reference when generating the sensory stimulus to lead the sleeper. 9. A sleep pattern adjustor comprising: a physiological characteristic monitor; a sensory stimulus generator; and a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generate at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage, wherein the processor is further configured to calibrate to the sleeper's sleep pattern by monitoring at least one physiological characteristic of the sleeper for at least a portion of a sleep cycle prior to the sensory stimulus generator generating sensory stimuli. 10. The sleep pattern adjustor of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to calibrate to the sleeper's sleep pattern by determining at least one physiological characteristic indicative of when the sleeper is changing between sleep stages. 11. A sleep pattern adjustor comprising: a physiological characteristic monitor; a sensory stimulus generator; and a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generate at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage, wherein the processor is further configured to reference a personalized sleeper profile for the sleeper and generate sensory stimulus in accordance with the sleeper's personalized sleeper profile. 12. A sleep pattern adjustor comprising: a physiological characteristic monitor; a sensory stimulus generator; and a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generate at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage, wherein the processor is configured to receive input indicative of a sleep stage associated with the sleeper experiencing sleep apnea and provide output to generate sensory stimulus in response to the input received to lead the sleeper to a different sleep stage not associated with the sleeper experiencing sleep apnea. 13. A sleep pattern adjustor comprising: a physiological characteristic monitor; a sensory stimulus generator; and a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generate at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second steep stage, wherein the processor is configured to receive input indicative of a sleep stage associated with the sleeper sleepwalking and provide output to generate sensory stimulus in response to the input received to lead the sleeper to a different sleep stage not associated with the sleeper sleepwalking. 14. A sleep pattern adjustor comprising: a physiological characteristic monitor; a sensory stimulus generator; and a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generate at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage, wherein the processor is configured to receive input indicative of a sleep stage associated with the sleeper wetting the bed and provide output to generate sensory stimulus in response to the input received to lead the sleeper to a different sleep stage not associated with the sleeper wetting the bed. 15. A sleep pattern adjustor comprising: a physiological characteristic monitor; a sensory stimulus generator; and a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generator at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage, wherein the processor is configured to receive input indicative of a sleep stage associated with the sleeper having a nightmare and provide output to generate sensory stimulus in response to the input received to lead the sleeper to a different sleep stage not associated with the sleeper having a nightmare. 16. A sleep pattern adjustor comprising: a physiological characteristic monitor; a sensory stimulus generator; and a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a first sleep stage of a sleeper and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to cause the sensory stimulus generator to generate at least a first sensory stimulus in response to the input received from the physiological characteristic monitor to lead the sleeper from the first sleep stage to a second sleep stage, wherein the processor is configured to store a personalized sleep profile and generate the sensory stimulus in accordance with data from the personalized sleep profile. 17. The sleep pattern adjustor of claim 16, wherein the personalized sleep profile comprises data indicative of the sleeper's sleep stages and data indicative of the stimuli to which the sleeper responds for pacing and leading the sleeper from the first sleep stage to the second sleep stage. 18. An apparatus for guiding a sleep pattern of a sleeper to change between NREM and REM sleep, the apparatus comprising: a physiological characteristic monitor configured to monitor at least one physiological characteristic of a sleeper; a sensory stimulus generator configured to generate at least one sensory stimulus in response to the physiological characteristic of the sleeper; and a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a NREM sleep stage, and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to lead the sleeper to change to a REM sleep stage, wherein the processor is further configured to calibrate to the sleeper's sleep patterns and to calculate an optional sleep pattern related to an amount of time remaining in a preselected sleep period duration. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to guide the sleeper through the optimal sleep pattern by causing the sensory stimulus generator to generate the at least one sensory stimulus responsive to the physiological characteristic of the sleeper to pace the sleeper, adjusting at least one characteristic of the sensory stimulus generated to lead the sleeper, and determine whether the sleeper is following the lead by monitoring the physiological characteristic of the sleeper through the physiological characteristic monitor. 20. An apparatus for guiding a sleep pattern of a sleeper to change between NREM and REM sleep, the apparatus comprising: a physiological characteristic monitor configured to monitor at least one physiological characteristic of a sleeper; a sensory stimulus generator configured to generate at least one sensory stimulus in response to the physiological characteristic of the sleeper; and a processor operatively associated with the physiological characteristic monitor and the sensory stimulus generator, the processor configured to receive input from the physiological characteristic monitor indicative of a NREM sleep stage, and provide output to the sensory stimulus generator to lead the sleeper to change to a REM sleep stage, wherein the processor is further configured to reference a personalized sleeper profile for the sleeper and the sensory stimulus generator is configured to generate sensory stimulus in accordance with the sleeper's personalized sleeper profile.