Abstract
The present invention relates to a system for improving light intake, light exposure, and lifestyle management of a user, which system comprises a measuring device, a control unit, and a receiving device. The invention also related to a method for improving light intake and light exposure of a user.
Claims
1. A method for improving light intake and light exposure of a user, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining light intake data via a measuring device with a control unit, said measuring device being configured to measure light intake over time; determining a light intake goal of the user based on one or more parameters obtained by the control unit; processing said obtained data with the control unit, which processing comprises the steps of: determining a light intake level by comparing the light intake data measured by the measuring device with light intake response curves from one or more human photo pigments and/or photo receptors, converting said light intake level with a converting factor, comparing the converted light intake level to the light intake goal to determine whether the user has reached said light intake goal, determining an instruction with the control unit based on one or more of the previous steps and/or the one or more parameters; and transmitting the instruction to a receiving device with the control unit based on one or more of the previous steps and/or the one or more parameters
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of processing the obtained data with the control unit further comprises the step of determining whether a light source for the measured light intake data was a natural light source or an artificial light source.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the converting factor for converting the light intake is based on one or more of the following: melanopic daylight equivalent illuminance (MDEI), α-opic equivalent daylight (D65) illuminance (EDI), melanopic lux (z-lux), and/or melanopic action factor (a.sub.mel,v).
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more human photo pigment and/or photo receptors is a retinal ganglion cell (RGC), S-cone-opic (sc), α pigment receptor, M-cone-opic (mc), L-cone-opic (lc), rhodopic rods (rh), melanopic Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGC), a photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (pRGC), and/or a melanopsin-containing retinal ganglion cells (mRGC) receptor.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more human photo pigment and/or photo receptors is an ipRGC receptor of the type M1, M2, M3, M4, or M5.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the light intake goal is determined based on a prediction by the control unit based on the one or more parameters.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises one or more of the following: a spectrometer, a spectrophotometer, and a photodetector.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device is a wearable device.
9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device further comprises one or more of the following: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a gyro sensor.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more parameters is selected from the list comprising: a light curve derived from one or more pigment or photosensitive receptors of an eye.
11. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more parameters is a non-photopic zeitgeber.
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more parameters is a gender, an age, and/or a chronotype of the user.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the instruction transmitted in the transmitting step comprises an instruction to the user to increase or decrease his light intake.
14. A system for improving light intake and light exposure of a user, said system comprising a measuring device for measuring light intake over time, a receiving device, and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to: obtain light intake data from the measuring device; determine a light intake goal of the user based on one or more parameters; process the obtained data, wherein the processing comprises: obtaining light intake data for a time interval from the measuring device, determining a light intake level based on the obtained light intake data by comparing the light intake measured by the measuring device with light intake response curves from one or more human photo pigment and/or photo receptors, converting said light intake level with a converting factor, and comparing the converted light intake level to the light intake goal, to determine whether the user has reached said light intake goal, determine an instruction based on one or more of the previous steps and/or the one or more parameters; transmit an instruction to the receiving device based on one or more of the previous steps and/or the one or more parameters.
15. (canceled)
16. A receiving device according to claim 14, wherein said receiving device is configured to receive an instruction from the control unit and to notify the user of the instruction.
17. A computer readable medium comprising computer readable code, wherein the computer readable medium is configured to implement the method according to claim 1.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0061] The above and/or additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further elucidated by the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:
[0062] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system for improving light intake and light exposure of a user, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0063] FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of how retinal irradiance is processed by photo pigments and photoreceptors, the figure is reproduced from Lucas et. al 2014 “Measuring light in the melanopic age”.
[0064] FIG. 3 depicts the absorbance as a function of wavelength of different photo receptors.
[0065] FIG. 4 depicts the melatonin suppression of different distinct illuminance measures and photopic lux, reproduced from SSL-erate D3.7 Report 2016.
[0066] FIG. 5 depicts chronotype as a function of age and gender, the figure is reproduced from Roenneberg et al. 2004—Current Biology.
[0067] FIG. 6 depicts distinct illuminance measures and photopic lux transmittance between the outer surface of the eye and the retina at the ages 32 and 70, the figure is reproduced from CIE TN003:2015. Report on the First International Workshop on Circadian and Neurophysiological Photometry, 2013.
[0068] FIG. 7 depicts a flow chart of an embodiment of the invention according to a first aspect of the invention.
[0069] FIG. 8 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a receiving device according to a fourth aspect of the invention.
[0070] FIG. 9 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a measuring device according to a third aspect of the invention.
[0071] FIG. 10 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a control unit according of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0072] In the following description reference is made to the accompanying figures, which show by way of illustration how the invention may be practiced.
[0073] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system 100 for improving light intake and light exposure of a user, according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0074] The system 100 comprises a measuring device 170 for measuring light intake over time, a receiving device 150, and a control unit 110, where the control unit 110 is configured to obtain light intake data from the measuring device 170; determine a light intake goal of the user based on one or more parameters 130; process the obtained data, where the processing comprises: to obtain light intake data for a time interval from the measuring device 170, to determine a light intake level based on the obtained light intake data, to convert said light intake level with a converting factor, to compare the converted light intake level to the light intake goal, to determine whether the user has reached said light intake goal, to determine an instruction based on one or more of the previous steps, to transmit an instruction to the receiving device 150 based on one or more of the previous steps. In an embodiment the system 100 is comprised in one device.
[0075] FIG. 2 shows a flow diagram of how retinal irradiance is processed by photoreceptors. Older standards for measuring light intakes for a person have relied on the measurement of photopic lux. Photopic lux describes the average response of the three colour cone photoreceptors. The use of merely photopic lux have proven inadequate and too simple in explaining the body's response to retinal irradiance, especially regarding irradiated lights impact on the circadian system, c.f. Lockley et al. 2003. Therefore, a new and improved model have been developed in explaining how retinal irradiance affects the light in-take for a person. A simple representation of the new model is conceptualized in FIG. 2, where a number of photoreceptive mechanisms are depicted. In FIG. 2 r denotes rod, MC denotes medium-wavelength cone, SC denotes short-wavelength cone, mel(M) denotes pRGC and/or ipRGC, and LC denotes long-wavelength cone, each of which responds to irradiated light according to its own response curve (shown in cartoon form as plots of log sensitivity against wavelength from 400 to 700 nm) to generate a distinct measure of illuminance. Light irradiated onto a retina interacts with photoreceptive mechanisms to create input signals. The created input signals are combined within the ipRGC, to produce a combined signal that is sent to a non-image-forming centres in the brain. This combined signal influences our circadian rhythm and hormone production. The input signals, dependent on their photoreceptive mechanism, are produced by their own unique response curve, the response curve for each photo receptive mechanism defines the input signals, and thereby the wavelength dependence of the combined signal, and hence of downstream responses. Therefore, to estimate the precise impact of retinal irradiance, substantially all, some, or one of the photoreceptors and subtypes thereof of an eye should be considered to assess the full complexity of the impact of irradiated light on the circadian system and its responses.
[0076] FIG. 3 depicts the absorbance as a function of wavelength of the different photo receptors. From the absorbance it is seen that each photo receptor has a different wavelength, where its peak wavelength sensitivity is located. Even at the respective peak wavelength sensitivities different absorbance are seen for the different photoreceptors. Therefore, in calculating the effective light intake from irradiated light for different photoreceptors/distinct illuminance measures different functions are needed to be used, to account for the unique behaviour of each photoreceptor. Dependent on the context in which the light intake level is calculated, it may only be needed to calculate one or more of the distinct illuminance measures.
[0077] FIG. 4 depicts the melatonin suppression of different distinct illuminance measures and photopic lux. Melatonin is known as a dark hormone and is produced during the night. Melatonin is an important hormone in regulating the circadian rhythm. Melatonin is a physiological signal of night, and as a consequence also a seasonal marker of day-length. What is clearly seen from the depicted graphs on FIG. 4 is that melanopic lux exhibits the strongest correlation with melatonin suppression, whereas photopic lux does not correlate well with melatonin suppression. Therefore, to estimate the impact of irradiated light on the circadian rhythm, measurements of photopic lux may lead to erroneous results for a person's effective light intake and as consequence their light intake goal. Instead of photopic lux, melanopic lux may be preferred to measure irradiated lights impact on the circadian rhythm, as melanopic lux correlates better with melatonin suppression and therefore may be preferable for use in determining light intake and/or for determining a light intake goal. Of course, other distinct illuminance measures may be used in combination with melanopic lux in determining light intake, and in some embodiments melanopic lux is not used in determining light intake.
[0078] FIG. 5 depicts chronotype as a function of age and gender. The chronotype of a person has been proven to be important in determining the optimal sleep pattern and for the circadian rhythm of the person. The chronotype may vary with parameters, such as age and gender, and even people of the same age and gender may have different chronotypes. Still some trends have been noticed within chronotypes of people. As seen on the graph depicted in FIG. 5 some general trends regarding chronotypes are seen. Children have a generally early chronotype while as they age and become teenagers/young adolescents the chronotype shifts towards a later chronotype, and as the teenagers/young adolescents age and become adults they trend towards an earlier chronotype. As the chronotype of a person affects the circadian rhythm of the person it may be advantageous to include it in determining a light intake goal of the user.
[0079] FIG. 6 depicts photopic transmittance between the outer surface of the eye and the retina of different distinct illuminance measures at different ages. As seen in FIG. 6, the transmittance of the distinct illuminance measures changes greatly with the age of a person, with cyanopic lux showing a decrease of nearly 60% between the ages of 32 and 70. Therefore, in determining light intake for a person the age of the person may be highly relevant to include.
[0080] FIG. 7 depicts a flow chart of an embodiment of the invention according to a first aspect of the invention. In the first step 1, light intake data over time is obtained via a measuring device 170. The measuring device 170 may e.g. comprise a spectrometer, spectrophotometer, and/or a photodetector of any kind for obtaining light intake data. The measuring device 170 is configured for transmitting obtained light intake data to a control unit 110. The measuring device 170 may comprise a transmitter or transceiver for transmitting the obtained light intake data. The measuring device 170 may be in the form of a wearable device, e.g. a wristband. The measuring device 170 may also be in the form of one or more stationary sensors. In the second step 2, a light intake goal of a user is determined. The light intake goal is based on one or more parameters 130 obtained by the control unit 110. The one or more parameters 130 may be a non-photopic zeitgeber, a gender, an age and/or a chronotype of the user. The one or more parameters 130 may be obtained via an interface on the control unit 110 allowing the user to manually input the one or more parameters 130. In a third step 3, a light intake level is determined based on the obtained light intake data. Furthermore, determining the light intake level comprises comparing the light intake measured by the measuring device 170 with light intake response curves from one or more human photo pigments and/or photo receptors. By comparing the obtained light intake data with light intake response curves from one or more human photo pigments and/or photo receptors, it is possible to obtain a more accurate light intake level of the user. Since not all incident light is absorbed by photo receptors/photo pigments in the eye. Therefore, not all obtained light intake data contributes to the determined light intake level. In a fourth step 4, the determined light intake level is converted with a converting factor. Converting said light intake level with a converting factor. The converting factor for converting a melanopic lux (z-lux), S-cone-opic, M-cone-opic, L-cone-opic, and/or Rhodopic, and/or melanopic action factor value to a MDEI D65 or EDI may for example be 0.906 and 1.104 from MDEI D65 to melanopic lux. In some situations, the light intake level and the light intake goal may be compared without substantially converting the light intake level e.g. if the light intake level and the light intake goal substantially have the same unit. Conversion of the light intake level is done to more precisely determine or estimate the impact of the measured light on the user. By converting the light intake level, the light intake level may be normalized such that the light intake level and the light intake goal may be compared, and thereby allow for the determination of whether the user has reached the light intake goal in a more precise and personalized manner. The converting factor may e.g. be different for converting light intake data depending on the nature of the light, i.e. natural or artificial, type of outdoor sky, e.g. as cloudy, sunny, foggy etc., type of artificial light e.g. as candle light, projector, LED, computer screen, colour temperature etc. In a fifth step 5, the converted light intake level is compared to the light intake goal, to determine whether the light intake goal has been reached. In a sixth step 6, the control unit 110 determines an instruction based on any of steps one to five 1,2,3,4 and 5. The instruction may be targeted towards the user, e.g. a message telling the user to increase or decrease light exposure. The instruction may be a control of another component communicatively connectable to the control unit 110, e.g. closing or opening of curtains, dimming or brightening of a light emitting device. In a seventh step 7, the determined instruction is transmitted to a receiving device. If the instruction is a message for the user, the receiving device may be a screen for displaying the message, and the screen comprising a receiver for receiving the message.
[0081] FIG. 8 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a receiving device 150 according to the fourth aspect of the invention. The receiving device 150 is configured for receiving the instruction determined by the control unit 110 and notify the user of the received instruction. The receiving device 150 comprises a first receiver unit 151 configured for receiving an instruction determined and transmitted by the control unit 110. The first receiver unit 151 may be a transceiver or a radio receiver. The receiving device 150 further comprises a receiver processing device 152 configured for processing a received instruction. The receiver processing device 152 may further be connected or connectable to an external device, e.g. a display or another processing device. For example, when the instruction is a message for the user, then the message is determined and transmitted by the control unit. The message is received by the receiver unit 151, and subsequently processed by the receiver processing device 152, which may process the message to be shown on the external device.
[0082] FIG. 9 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a measuring device 170 according to a third aspect of the invention. The measuring device 170 being configured to measure light intake over time. The measuring device 170 comprises an optical sensor 171 configured for measuring incident light. The optical sensor 171 may be a spectrometer, a spectrophotometer, and/or a photodetector. The measuring device 150 further comprises a first transmitter unit 172 configured for transmitting the measured light intake over time. The first transmitter unit 172 is configured for transmitting the measured light intake over time to the control unit 110. The first transmitter unit 172 may be a transceiver or a radio transmitter. The measuring device 170 in the shown embodiment is a wearable device. The measuring device 170 comprises a storing device 173 for storing measured data. Storing of data may be useful if the measuring device 170 is not connected to the control unit 110 while measuring light intake, the control unit 110 may thereby obtain the measured data by reading the storing device 173 when the measuring device 170 is connected to the control unit again. The measuring device 170 comprises a GPS 174, which has the advantage that the location of the user may be tracked e.g. when the user moves from one location to another such as from home to work, travels to another city or country, or goes inside or outside. The measuring device 170 comprises an accelerometer 175. The measuring device 170 comprises a gyroscope 176. The measuring device 170 comprises a gyro sensor 177.
[0083] FIG. 10 depicts a block diagram of an embodiment of a control unit 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. The control unit 110 is configured for determining an instruction and transmitting the instruction to the receiving device 150. The control unit 110 comprises a second receiver unit 111 configured for receiving light intake data from the measuring device 170. The second receiver unit 152 may be a transceiver or a radio receiver. The control unit 110 comprises a second transmitter unit 112 configured for transmitting a determined instruction to the receiving device 150. In some embodiments the second receiver unit 111 and the second transmitter unit 112 are comprised within a transceiver unit. The control unit 110 further comprises a controller processing device 113 configured for processing received light intake data. The control unit 110 comprises a database 114. The database may comprise the one or more parameters 130 used in processing the received light intake data. The database 114 may comprise historical data about light intake data, light intake goals, light intake levels, converting factors, and/or instructions. The control unit 110 may log light intake data, light intake goals, light intake levels, converting factors, one or more parameters, and/or instructions to the database 114.
[0084] It should be emphasised that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
