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US 12,575,812 B2Granted
Activation of appliance in response to subject sleep state
AssigneeHill-Rom Services, Inc.
InventorsZvika Shinar, Guy Meger, Avner Halperin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described including using a sensor to monitor a sleeping subject and generate a signal in response to the monitoring. A noise control device is controlled in response to the signal.
Claims20
A method for use with a noise generating appliance, the method comprising:
- using a sensor to monitor sleep of a subject and to generate a signal in response thereto;
- and using a control unit:
- receiving the signal, analyzing the signal:
- in response thereto, ascertaining a sleep stage of the subject, and in response to the sleep stage and a historical sleep-related data of the subject that was exhibited in response to a historical sound signal, controlling the appliance,
- wherein controlling the appliance comprises inhibiting activation of the appliance in response to the sleep stage and the historical sleep-related data if the control unit determined that noise from the appliance will disturb the sleep of the subject.
2 more elements
A subject-monitoring apparatus for controlling a noise generating appliance, the subject-monitoring apparatus comprising:
- a sleep sensor automatically monitoring a sleep state of a subject, and generating a plurality of signals in response thereto, without contacting the subject, and
- a control unit analyzing the signals from the sleep sensor to ascertain a sleep stage of the subject being monitored, the control unit controlling a appliance in response to a sleep stage of the subject and historical sleep-related data of the subject that was exhibited in response to a historical sound signal, the control unit configured to inhibit activation of the appliance if it will disturb the sleep of the subject and if the activation of the appliance can be inhibited without predictable damage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.