DK159588B - DEVICE FOR PREVENTING A SLEEPING PERSON'S SNORKS - Google Patents

Description

DK 159588 B

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to an apparatus for preventing the snoring of a sleeping person by means of a microphone adapted to record a snoring sound and with a wake-up device controlled by the microphone in the form of two electrodes for contact with the sleeping person.

Such anti-snoring equipment is known from GB Patent No. 358,878. The writing shows a microphone that records the snoring sound and which, via electrical wires directly connected to an alarm device, triggers the awakening of the sleeping person with a pin that vibrates against the person's skin.

Another apparatus is known from German Patent Specification No. 1,151,347. The microphone known from this also records snore noise and controls through an electric control wire an electric motor which, by moving the sleeping person's sleeping place, changes the person's position until the person has stopped snoring. However, the equipment requires a bulky and quite expensive installation by the bed.

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From German Publication No. 3,018,336, a further apparatus is known in which a microphone through wires and controls is connected directly to skin electrodes on the sleeping person.

25

In all known devices, the sleeping person is directly connected to the microphone through threads, which is a major disadvantage as a sleeping person changes position countless times during sleep, thus being at risk of being entangled in the 30 threads.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus for preventing the snoring of a sleeping person which is easy to transport and which is independent of the position of the sleeping person.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that after the microphone a transmitter is arranged to wirelessly transmit DK 159588 B j 2

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signals representing a snore sound, and that the alarm device exhibits a receiver for signals from the transmitter, as well as a voltage source associated with the receiver to form an operational, portable unit and which voltage source can be controlled by the received signals and has two output terminals connected to the two electrodes.

Receiver / voltage source device, such as may be built into a common housing and which, by means of a strap or the like, can be carried on the arm just like a wrist watch, is separated from the microphone, which together with the transmitter also preferably forms a unit which can be placed at the head end of the bed. If the microphone picks up a snoring sound of a strength above a predetermined sound level, the voltage source is switched on so that between the two electrodes spaced apart on the housing and in contact with the sleeper person's bare arm - floats a pacing stream until snoring noises. Thus, the sleeping person is not connected to the microphone through a cable, but can move freely during sleep. Since the microphone is installed permanently, and thus does not participate in the sleep movements, it does not capture any rattling sounds, as would be the case if the microphone was built with the electrodes to a fixed unit and made the sleep movements.

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The transmitter and receiver are preferably configured as an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver, respectively. The transmit power of such ultrasonic transmitters can be kept at a relatively low level so that receivers arranged in the neighboring room 30 are not affected. If radio transmitters were used instead, interference could occur under adverse conditions.

To ensure that the stimulation current only flows when the power of the snare sound reaches above a predetermined level, the apparatus may be arranged such that the transmitter emits signals which are amplitude modulated in dependence on the snoring sound 3.

DK 159588 B

and that a threshold value step is controlled after the receiver which controls the voltage release from the voltage source and whose trigger level can be adjusted, corresponding to a desired level of snorkel sound strength. In this embodiment, the threshold value stage is part of the receive / voltage source unit, which is particularly advantageous when the output voltage of the voltage source is to be adjusted depending on the strength of the snorkel sound, thus increasing the output voltage with increasing volume.

Alternatively, however, the apparatus may also be arranged such that, after the microphone, a threshold stage controlling the transmitter is coupled to a desired trigger level corresponding to a desired snore sound level and that the transmitter transmits one of the voltage source upon exceeding the trigger level. the strength of the snoring sound independent of the control signal. This embodiment assesses the strength of the snoring sound within the microphone / transmitter unit, so that only a small number of components should be present on the receiver / voltage disc unit, which adversely affects the size and power consumption of this unit.

The device must only respond to snoring sounds, and in particular to snoring sounds from a particular person, and not to other noise from the surroundings. Therefore, in the signal transmission path between the microphone and the voltage source, a bandpass filter is advantageously inserted which essentially only passes frequencies from the snoring sound. For the above mentioned space and power saving reasons, the tape pass 1 is preferably inserted between the microphone and the transmitter, although it may also be inserted after the receiver. The bandpass must be as narrow as possible in order to suppress noise from the surroundings as well as possible. Since the frequency bed for snoring sounds may be different, the tape pass through the tape pass is preferably adjustable. A bandpass fi lter with an adjustable passageway whose width or preferably center frequency can be controlled can be built up as an active filter that fills only a little.

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DK 159588 B

The output voltage of the voltage source is preferably in the range between 20 and 40 volts. The accumulator voltage of the receiver / power supply unit is generally significantly lower than these voltage values. The low operating voltage could be brought to higher voltage values by means of a transformer by alternating direction or by chopping. In any case, the transformer would require considerable space on the receiver side. In addition, its relatively high weight and relatively high manufacturing cost. Therefore, a preferred embodiment is arranged so that the voltage source exhibits a voltage multiplier circuit fed by a square pulse generator to which the electrodes are connected. The voltage multiplier circuit preferably emits a grounded balanced voltage. The voltage multiplier circuit is preferably configured as a cascade circuit with diodes. However, voltage multiplier circuits built according to the chopper amplifier principle are also suitable.

Furthermore, voltage multiplier circuits of this kind have the advantage that the output voltage can be controlled relatively easily. This is particularly desirable if the output voltage is to be controlled in dependence on the amplitude of the received signal representing the volume of the snoring sound in order to increase the stimulation current to which the sleeper is subjected to 25 with increasing volume of the snoring sound.

The receiver and voltage source are preferably built into a common housing which is equipped with straps or the like for attachment to the arm. On the side of the housing which, in the position of use 30, faces the sleeper's arm, the two electrodes are arranged in isolation from each other and spaced apart. Receiver / Voltage Ski The idea unit can be worn as a wrist watch and is not a nuisance during sleep.

The electrodes may consist of conductive hard rubber, nickel or silver or may be designed as silver / silver chloride electrodes. Since in many cases an electrolyte gel must be used for

DK 159588 B

The improvement of contact between the electrodes and the skin / the electrodes preferably consists of porous graphite. It has been found that such electrodes to improve contact formation only need to be wetted with water.

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The invention is explained in more detail below by some embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which f in g. 1 shows a block diagram of a microphone / transmitter unit; 2 is a block diagram of a receiver-voltage control unit; FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a receiver / voltage control unit, and FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a receiver / voltage disk unit for attachment as a wrist watch on a sleeping person's arm.

The device for preventing the snoring of a sleeping person comprises a microphone / transmitter unit 1 (Fig. 1), such as e.g. can be set up at the main fence, as well as a receiver / voltage source unit 3 (Fig. 2) separated therefrom with two electrodes 5 spaced apart in contact with the sleeping person. When a snoring sound occurs, a stimulating current flows between the electrodes 5, to which the sleeper responds by stopping snoring.

The microphone / transmitter unit 1 comprises a microphone 7 which, via a preamplifier 9, is connected to an active bandpass filter 11.

The active bandpass can usually be designed as a frequency dependent counterconnected and / or feedback amplifier, where resistor / capacitor networks can be suitably used with an appropriate frequency response.

The pass bandwidth of the tape pass 1 is relatively narrow. Its center frequency, e.g. can be selected in the frequency range from 10 to 100 Hz, able to adapt 6

DK 159588 B

The throughput characteristics of the tape pass 1 of the snorkel sound frequency bed are controlled by an adjusting means 13, e.g. a potentiometer in one of the frequency dependent networks. The output signals of the bandpassed II are fed to an ultrasonic transmitter 15 which emits ultrasonic signals of an amplitude corresponding to the strength of the snoring sound.

An ultrasonic receiver 17 in the receiver / voltage source unit 3 receives the transmitted ultrasound signals and transmits the signal proportions proportional to the volume to a threshold step 19, the threshold level of which can be controlled by a setting means 21 to a desired trigger level for the stimulation currents. Threshold stage 19, upon exceeding the trigger level, triggers a square generator 23, whose square output pulses are applied to a voltage multiplier circuit 25. The voltage multiplier 25 can be realized in the form of an earth-balanced circuit coupling built up, for example, by diodes. in a Greinacher coupling. An amplifier coupling with preferably ground-balanced outputs controlled by the square pulse generator 20, like a chopper amplifier, can also be used. The voltage multiplier 25 comprises a control means 27 where the output voltage between the electrodes 5 can be adjusted in an interval of approx. 20 to approx. 40 volts. The operating voltage source for the receiver / voltage ski unit 3 is not shown in fig. 2. To achieve network independent operation, it can be a battery or accumulator.

FIG. 3 shows the wiring diagram of another embodiment of a receiver voltage control unit 29 substantially different from that of FIG. 2 in that an ultrasonic receiver 31 is connected to a square pulse generator 33, the output voltage or frequency of which can be controlled depending on the output signals of the ultrasonic receiver 31. For the square pulse generator, there is also a voltage multiplier circuit 35, which is connected to two electrodes 37, which are preferably balanced against ground, are connected to the rectifier.

DK 159588 B

the output voltage of the multiplier 35 such that the output voltage increases with increasing volume of the snoring sound. The output value's basic value can be set with a voltage multiplier adjusting means 39. In addition, a threshold step 41 is connected to the output of the ultrasonic receiver 31 which, when exceeding a trigger level, releases the square pulse generator 33 and thus the generation of stimulation signals. The trigger level can be set with a threshold 43 adjusting means 43.

In the embodiment described above, the microphone / transmitter unit transmits 1 ultrasonic signals, the amplitude of which is proportional to the strength of the snoring sound. The threshold value step, which determines the trigger level, is provided in the above described embodiments on the same side as the receive / voltage switch unit 3 and 29. Alternatively, this threshold value step may also be on the same side as the microphone / transmitter unit. , whereby the transmitter then only emits a switch-on signal whose amplitude is independent of the power of the snoring sound. Instead of an ultrasonic transmitter and a 20 ultrasonic receiver, a radio transmitter or a radio receiver can also be used.

FIG. 4 shows the receiver / voltage switch unit. This comprises a common housing 45 for the components included in the above 25 with reference to FIG. 2 and 3 as described. On opposite sides of housing 45 are two straps 49 and 51 which can be joined by a buckle 47 such that housing 45 can sit around the arm of a sleeping person, just like a wrist watch. On the side of the housing 45 facing the arm 30 are arranged two freely projecting electrodes 53 which are arranged so that they are insulated relative to each other and have a spacing of approx. 20 mm. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrodes 53 project from the surface of the housing 45, as two convex bodies. The protruding portions of the electrodes 53 consist of porous graphite 35 which can be wetted with water to improve contact formation.

The contact surfaces of the electrodes may further consist of conductive hard rubber, nickel or silver. In addition, silver / silver chloride

Claims (13)

An apparatus for preventing a sleeping person's snoring with a microphone (7) adapted to record a snoring sound and a microphone (7) controlled alarm device in the form of two electrodes (5, 37, 53) intended for contact with the sleeping person, characterized in that, after the microphone (7), a transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit signals representing a snoring sound is coupled, that the alarm device exhibits a receiver (17, 31) for signals from the transmitter (15). ) as well as a voltage source (23, 25, 33, 15 35) connected to the receiver to form an operationally transportable unit (3, 29, 45) and which voltage source can be controlled by the received signals and having output terminals which are connected to the two electrodes (5, 37, 53). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (15) and the receiver (17, 31) are designed as an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver, respectively. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transmitter (15) emits signals which are amplitude modulated in dependence on the strength of the snorkel sound and that a threshold step (19, 41) is coupled to the receiver (17, 31) which controls the voltage release from the voltage source (23, 25, 33, 35) and whose trigger level can be set corresponding to a desired noise level of the snoring sound. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that between the microphone (7) and the transmitter (15) there is inserted an active bandpass filter (11) known per se with adjustable throughput frequency band, using at least one frequency dependent counter-coupled and / or feedback amplifier, which active filter is designed with a center frequency that can be set in the frequency range from 10 to 100 Hz. DK 159588 B Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the voltage source (23, 25, 33, 35) has a voltage multiplier circuit (25, 35) which is fed by a square pulse generator and that the electrodes (5, 37) are connected to outputs from voltage - 5 thing multiplier circuit. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the voltage multiplier circuit (25, 35) gives a ground-balanced DC voltage at its outputs. 10 Apparatus according to claims 3 and 5, characterized in that the output voltage of the voltage multiplier (35) can be controlled depending on the amplitude of the received signal representing the volume of the snoring sound, so that the output voltage increases with increasing amplitude. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the frequency of the square pulse generator (33) can be controlled depending on the amplitude of the received signal. 20 Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the voltage source (23, 25, 33, 35) comprises a manually adjustable link (27, 39) with which the output voltage can be set between approx. 20 and 40 volts. 25 Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrodes (5, 37, 53) have contact surfaces consisting of conductive hard rubber or nickel or silver. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrodes (5, 37, 53) are designed as silver / silver chloride electrodes. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrodes (5, 37, 53) have contact surfaces consisting of porous graph in DK 159588B Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiver and voltage source are built into a common housing (45) provided with a strap (49, 51) for attachment to an arm and the two electrodes (53) are arranged on it. side of the housing, 5 which in path 11 does not face the sleeping person, the electrodes being spaced apart and isolated from each other. 15 20 25 30 35