Biological timepiece
OwnerMartin C. Moore-Ede, Ross E. Mitchellinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A timepiece for continuously calculating and displaying the actual biological time of day of an individual. After an initial biological time of day is entered, the timepiece runs at a pre-determined rate corresponding to the rate at which time would progress in a free-running circadian clock for the individual. When the individual is exposed to clock-altering stimuli, such as bright light, the timepiece computes a new operation rate based upon the relative effects of the clock-altering stimuli as determined by a phase response curve for the individual. By combining information concerning the presence or absence of clock-altering stimuli with information concerning the effects of that stimuli, the watch is able compute and continuously display the individual's accurate biological time.
Claims19
A timepiece for continuously calculating and displaying the current biological time of an individual having a phase response curve and a biological time cycle, comprising:
- input means for entering an initial biological time for said individual;
- storage means for storing data representing said phase response curve of said individual;
- calculation means for determining and applying a rate of advancement or regression of biological time of said individual based upon said phase response curve;
- output means for indicating a current biological time of said individual.
A timepiece for continuously calculating and displaying the current biological time of an individual having a phase response curve and a biological time cycle, comprising:
- input means for entering an initial biological time for said individual;
- storage means for storing data representing said phase response curve of said individual;
- detection means for detecting the presence of biological clock-altering stimuli to which said individual is subjected;
- calculation means for determining and applying a rate of advancement or regression of biological time of said individual based upon said phase response curve and said biological clock-altering stimuli, when present;
- output means for indicating a current biological time of said individual.
A method for continuously providing the current biological time of an individual having a phase response curve and a biological time cycle, said method comprising the steps of receiving an initial biological time of said individual, applying to that time a rate of change based upon said phase response curve of said individual at a given time, and thereupon displaying a time indication corresponding to a new current biological time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.