DEVICE FOR GENERATING SENSORY STIMULATION FOR A CHILD

Abstract

A device for producing sensory stimuli for a child by means of a body made of an elastic material and a bellows which is embedded in the elastic material of the body, including a first converter device for generating a fluid flow for moving a lying surface for a child, a second converter device for generating sound in a fluid, which corresponds at least to either heart sounds or human speech or music, and a fluid line for simultaneously conducting the fluid flow generated by the first converter device and transmitting the sound generated by the second converter device to a bellows in a body made of an elastic material.

Claims

1. A device for producing sensory stimuli for a child by means of a body made of an elastic material and a bellows which is embedded in the elastic material of the body, comprising: a first converter device for generating a fluid flow for moving a lying surface for a child; a second converter device for generating sound in a fluid, which corresponds at least to either heart sounds or human speech or music; and a fluid line for simultaneously conducting the fluid flow generated by the first converter device and transmitting the sound generated by the second converter device to a bellows in a body made of an elastic material.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a fluidic connection device comprising three connections for simultaneously connecting the first converter device and the second converter device to the fluid line; wherein a first connection of the fluidic connection device to the first converter device, a second connection of the fluidic connection device to the second converter device and a third connection of the fluid connection device are fluidically connected to the fluid line.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the fluidic connection device comprises a pipe connection piece with three connections.

4. The device of claim 3a, wherein the fluidic connection means further comprises: a first line section which connects the first converter device to a first connection of the pipe connection piece; and a second line section which connects the second converter device to a second connection of the pipe connection piece arranged symmetrically to the first connection of the pipe connection piece; wherein a third connection of the pipe connection piece is connected to the fluid line.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein: the first converter device comprises an electromotively driven bellows; and the second converter device comprises a loudspeaker.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the loudspeaker comprises an electromagnetically or electrostatically or electrostrictive membrane, an edge of which is connected in a fluid-tight manner to an edge of a sound funnel.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a third converter device for generating sound in a fluid which generate sound corresponding to at least one of human speech and music, wherein the second converter device is configured to generate sound corresponding to heart sounds; and wherein the fluid line is provided and formed for simultaneously conducting the fluid flow generated by the first converter device and transmitting the sound generated by the second converter device and transmitting the sound generated by the third converter device.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising: a fluidic connection device with four connections for simultaneously connecting the first converter device and the second converter device and the third converter device to the fluid line; wherein a first connection of the fluidic connection device to the first converter device, a second connection of the fluidic connection device to the second converter device, a third connection of the fluidic connection device to the third converter device, and a fourth connection of the fluidic connection device are fluidically connected to the fluid line.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the fluidic connection device comprises a first pipe connection piece and a second pipe connection piece; and the first pipe connection piece connects the first converter device and the second pipe connection piece to the fluid line, and the second pipe connection piece connects the second converter device and the third converter device to the first pipe connection piece.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a body made of an elastic material; a lying surface for a child on the body; and a bellows embedded in the elastic material of the body, wherein the bellows is configured to generate a vertical movement of the lying surface and to transfer sound from a fluid into the elastic material of the body; and wherein the bellows configured to be connected to the converter devices through the fluid line.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic axonometric representation of a system.

[0039] FIG. 2 is a schematic axonometric representation of the transducer device of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Those of ordinary skill in the art realize that the following descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting in any way. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0041] Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.

[0042] In this detailed description of the present invention, a person skilled in the art should note that directional terms, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” and other like terms are used for the convenience of the reader in reference to the drawings. Also, a person skilled in the art should notice this description may contain other terminology to convey position, orientation, and direction without departing from the principles of the present invention.

[0043] Furthermore, in this detailed description, a person skilled in the art should note that quantitative qualifying terms such as “generally,” “substantially,” “mostly,” and other terms are used, in general, to mean that the referred to object, characteristic, or quality constitutes a majority of the subject of the reference. The meaning of any of these terms is dependent upon the context within which it is used, and the meaning may be expressly modified.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematic axonometric representation of a system 10 with a device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli generated by a nut or another reference person of a child, and a forward direction 80, 60 for generating sensory stimuli for the child. The device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli is designed to be carried by the reference person on the body, in particular on the upper body in the region of the thorax. For this purpose, the device 30 for detecting can have one or more straps or fastening means (not shown in FIG. 1) for one or more belts, which enable a releasable and as comfortable as possible fastening of the device 30 to the upper body.

[0045] The device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli comprises one or more sensors (not shown in FIG. 1) for detecting movements of the upper body, in particular of the thorax of the reference person, as are caused in particular by respiration. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor (s) can generally be designed to detect all movements of the reference person or the upper body of the reference person.

[0046] Furthermore, the device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli comprises one or more sensors (not shown in FIG. 1) for detecting heart sounds of the reference person and noises which the reference person generates, in particular with their voice. These sensors comprise, in particular, microphones which are suitable for the described tasks due to the frequency dependence of their sensitivity and their arrangement. In particular, heart sounds are never more frequent and can be detected, above all, when the microphone is in direct contact with the skin of the subject. The voice of the reference person comprises rather higher-frequency sound and can be detected above all as airborne sound.

[0047] The device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli also comprises a device, not shown in FIG. 1, for the analog or digital storage of data which write the movements and noises detected by the sensor or sensors. Alternatively or additionally, the device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli can comprise a device for transmitting a data stream which describes the movements and noises detected by the sensor or sensors to the device 80 for producing sensory stimuli. This device for transmitting comprises, for example, a transmitter for transmitting the data stream via WLAN, WiFi, GSM, UMTS or in some other way.

[0048] The device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli also comprises one or more sensors (not shown in FIG. 1) for detecting the orientation of the device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli in the space, in particular in the gravitational field and/or in the magnetic field of the earth. Said sensor or sensors comprise, for example, one or more gyro sensors.

[0049] The device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli and/or the device 80, 60 for generating sensory stimuli further comprises one or more sensors (not shown in FIG. 1) for detecting a position of the device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli relative to the device 80, 60 for generating sensory stimuli. These sensors detect, for example, the distance of the device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli from the device 80, 60 for detecting sensory stimuli.

[0050] In the simplest case, this sensor or these sensors has a light sensor-optionally in addition to a light source or a magnetic field sensor or a sensor for detecting the field strength of a static or variable magnetic or electromagnetic field generated by the respective other device. In this case, it is optionally possible to dispense with an identification of the respective device and to interpret a mere approach of a different gene level as the approach of the other device.

[0051] The device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli also has one or more re-control lights 19 as signaling devices for the optical signaling of a status of the device 30 for detecting sensory stimuli or the common system 10. In particular, control lights 19 show, by means of color, number, brightness and/or time dependence of their illumination (for example continuous or flashing), in particular whether the device 30 is on or off, whether it is ready for operation whether data is stored or transmitted to the forward direction 80, 60 for generating sensory stimuli.

[0052] The device 80, 60 for generating sensory stimuli comprises two parts, a controller 80 and a body 60 made of an elastic material. The body 60 of an elastic material is provided for arrangement within an incubator as a mattress for a child. The body 60 has one or more bellows (not shown in FIG. 1) embedded in the elastic material. The controller 80 is a device for generating sensory stimuli by means of the body 60 and the bellows or bellows embedded in its elastic material and is provided and designed for arrangement outside the incubator.

[0053] The controller 80 outside the incubator is connected by means of a single fluid line 21 to the bellows or bellows in the body 60 within the incubator.

[0054] As described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2, both a fluid flow and sound are transmitted from the controller 80 to the body 60 via the one and only fluid line 21. The fluid flow fills and leaves the bellows or bellows embedded in the elastic material of the body 60 and thus causes a low-frequency lifting and lowering of the lying surface in accordance with the breathing movement of the reference person. The sound transmitted in the fluid filling the fluid line 21 is converted into structure-borne sound in the elastic material in the bellows embedded in the elastic material of the body 60. A child lying on the lying surface of the body 60 can hear both the vertical movements of the lying surface and over its skin the structure-borne sound in the body material and, via its ears, the airborne sound produced on the surface of the body from the structure-borne sound.

[0055] The controller 80 has on its upper side a holder 20 for holding a mobile telephone or another portable computer. In the illustrated example, this holder is designed as a trough or groove into which a mobile telephone can be placed in an approximately vertical orientation.

[0056] Furthermore, the controller 80 has a signal input 22 as a receiving device for receiving an analog or digital signal from the mobile telephone or from another signal source. Via the signal input 22, the control device can receive, for example, a signal which presents the voice of the reference person or music. The data contained in the signal are converted into sound by the controller 80 by means of the body 60 and the bellows or bellows embedded in the elastic material thereof.

[0057] Alternatively or additionally, the controller 80 can also receive data for moving the reference person, in particular the upper body or the chest of the reference person, via the signal input 22. These data are set by the controller 80 by means of the body 60 and the bellows embedded in its elastic material into a vertical movement of the lying surface of the body 60.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a schematic axonometric representation of devices in the interior of a housing of the controller 80. The controller 80 comprises a comparatively large-volume control bellows 81, the volume of which can be changed by means of a drive 83. The drive 83 comprises, for example, a spindle drive, the spindle of which is driven by means of a stepping motor.

[0059] The controller 80 also comprises a first loudspeaker 11 as a first converter device for generating airborne sound and a second loudspeaker 12 as a second converter device for generating airborne sound. In the example shown, both loudspeakers are structurally identical. The first loudspeaker 11 is, in order to produce sound, which transports speech, music or other noises, and is controlled by means of a corresponding signal. The second loudspeaker 12 is provided for generating sound, which corresponds to heart sounds of the reference person, and is controlled by a corresponding signal.

[0060] The controller 80 further comprises a fluidic connection device consisting of a plurality of line sections 13,14,15, 16 and a plurality of T-pieces 17, 18 as pipe connection pieces. A line section 16 connects the fluid connection 78 of the control bellows 81 to a first T-piece 18. A line section 14 connects a second T-piece 17 to the first T-piece 18. The first T-piece 18 connects the control bellows 81 and the second T-piece 17 to the fluid line 21 via the line sections 16, 14. A line section 13 connects a sound funnel, the edge of which is connected in a fluid-tight manner to the membrane of the first loudspeaker 11, to the second T-piece 17. A line section 15 connects a sound funnel, the edge of which is connected to the membrane of the second loudspeaker 12 in a fluid-tight manner, to the second T-piece 17. The second T-piece connects the first loudspeaker 11 and the second loudspeaker 12 to the first T-piece and via the latter to the fluid line 21.

[0061] A fluid line coupling 26 is provided in the fluid line 21, which enables a separation of the fluid line at or near the outer surface of the housing of the controller 80—see FIGS. 1 and 2 Some of the illustrative aspects of the present invention may be advantageous in solving the problems herein described and other problems not discussed which are discoverable by a skilled artisan.

[0062] While the above description contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of the presented embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of the various embodiments. While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best or only mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have been disclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

[0063] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.

[0064] The claims in the instant application are different than those of the parent application or other related applications. Applicant therefore rescinds any disclaimer of claim scope made in the parent application or any predecessor application in relation to the instant application. Any such previous disclaimer and the cited references that it was made to avoid, may need to be revisited. Further, any disclaimer made in the instant application should not be read into or against the parent application.