JPH0344538B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

This invention relates to an easy chair that allows a user sitting in the chair to actively induce their brain waves into an alpha wave state, and also allows them to play a tape without using headphones or bothering others. It relates to devices equipped with audio means that can be enjoyed in person.

[Background of the invention]

It is well known that the human body is controlled by the brain, and that spontaneous, rhythmic potential changes caused by the activity of nerve cells in the brain are called brain waves. As long as humans live normally, brain waves are generated. Depending on their frequency, brain waves are divided into delta (δ) waves (0.4-4Hz), theta (θ) waves (4-7Hz), alpha (α) waves (7-14Hz), and beta (β) waves (over 14Hz). Can be divided. Delta waves occur during deep sleep, theta waves occur during light or medium sleep, alpha waves occur when you are concentrating, relaxing, or before sleep, and beta waves occur when you are nervous or asleep. It has been empirically confirmed that this occurs more often when you feel anxious or irritated. By the way, if mental stress continues, the brain waves remain in the beta wave state, and if this continues, extreme mental fatigue will occur. Continuation of such mental stress also has an adverse effect on the physical body, resulting in so-called neurological diseases. On the other hand, alpha waves appear when humans are at their most mentally relaxed, and it has recently been discovered that they are closely related to memory, concentration, and inspiration. In other words, it is becoming clear that the best time to improve memory, concentrate, and generate original ideas is when your brain waves are in the alpha wave state. However, in the past, it was impossible to check the current state of one's brain waves without going to the neurology department of a major hospital, and even more so, it was impossible to check the current state of one's brain waves, and even more so, it was not possible to check the current state of one's brain waves. Because it was not thought that it was possible to induce one's own brain waves into a certain state, even though it is understood that it is convenient for the mind and body that the brain waves are in the alpha state, people actively try to control their own brain waves. Generally speaking, the idea of easily inducing alpha waves into the alpha wave state could not have occurred. On the other hand, there are various audio devices available in the world, but in order to enjoy music alone, it is necessary to use headphones with a cord extended from the device itself, and in this case, the distance between the audio device and the user is large. It has been pointed out that the distance makes it difficult to operate the device, such as changing the track list, and that headphones are not necessarily good for human ears. This invention breaks through the conventional wisdom mentioned above and allows anyone to easily induce their own brain waves into an alpha wave state when sitting and resting at home, etc., and actively enjoy the benefits of this. Its purpose is to provide an easy chair.

[Means to achieve the purpose]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following technical measures. That is, the present invention provides an easy chair having a seat portion, a backrest portion, and an armrest portion, and a pair of guides that can be applied to both sides of the head of a user sitting on the easy chair, and a pair of guides that can be applied to both sides of the head of a user sitting on the easy chair. alpha wave inducing means having a low frequency generating means built into a storage box formed with a lid that can be opened and closed in the left and right directions on the upper surface of the armrest portion and capable of passing a low frequency current therebetween; , a pair of measurement terminals that can be brought into contact with two points on the user's skin, and an undulation in the front-back direction within the storage box of the armrest so that it can stand outside the storage box when the opening/closing lid is opened. Feedback means rotatably incorporated and having a display means for visually indicating the resistance value between the measurement terminals;
and an audio system consisting of a tape playing device built into the armrest, and speaker devices built into both inner surfaces of a front extending portion formed in the backrest so as to surround the user's head from the left and right. It is characterized by being equipped with means.

[Effect]

A pair of guides of the alpha wave inducing means are brought into contact with both sides of the head of a user seated on the chair body, for example, the mastoid process behind both ears. The low frequency current generating means of the alpha wave inducing means causes a minute current of, for example, on the order of several milliamperes to flow between the pair of conductors at a frequency of, for example, 7 Hz. This 7
The frequency Hz corresponds to the lowest alpha wave frequency. In short, the low frequency current consisting of such a minute current means that the current changes at 7 Hz, and the waveform may be a rectangular wave or other shapes. Then, the chair user's brain receives electrical stimulation at 7 Hz, and brain waves are induced at 7 Hz in synchronization with this electrical stimulation. The time it takes to synchronize varies depending on the current value, the user's brain wave state at the time of starting energization, and individual differences, but in a similar experiment, approximately 93% of subjects fell asleep within 5 minutes after starting energization. This has been confirmed. The exact reason why brain waves synchronize with low-frequency electrical stimulation when the brain receives low-frequency electrical stimulation is currently unknown, but there is a type of bond between the non-specialized nucleus of the thalamus and the cerebral cortex. It is speculated that this is due to the existence of a reverberating circuit, which causes synchronous brain waves in response to external electrical stimulation. In this way, the alpha wave inducing means actively induces the brain waves of the user of the easy chair of the present invention into the alpha wave state, but with this alone, the user does not actually have his or her own brain waves in the alpha wave state. There is no way to know if it has migrated or not. In the present invention, the feedback means allows the user to indirectly recognize the changes in the brain waves visually or aurally, thereby making the effect of alpha wave induction more effective. In the feedback means of the present invention, measurement terminals are brought into contact with two points on the user's skin, and the resistance value between the measurement terminals is visually or audibly displayed. This is based on the fact that as the frequency of brain waves goes higher, the degree of mental and physical tension increases, and the resulting sweating effect also increases. When the sweating effect increases, sweat intervenes between the skin and the terminals, reducing the contact resistance between the skin and the terminals. Therefore, when the resistance value between the terminals is small, in other words, when the current value between the terminals is large, the brain waves are in the high frequency region (beta waves), and when the resistance value between the terminals is small, in other words, when the current value between the terminals is large, the brain waves are in the high frequency region (beta wave). When the current value is small, this corresponds to the fact that the brain waves are in the low frequency region (alpha waves). The resistance value between the terminals can be determined, for example, by lighting up a number of light emitting diodes arranged in a line from one end to the other according to the resistance value or current value between the terminals.
It can be displayed quantitatively and visually as the length of the light band. Moreover, since both the low frequency generating means and the feedback means are incorporated in a storage box with an opening/closing lid formed in the armrest of the easy chair, the user can read the information while sitting in the easy chair. These means can be easily operated, and in particular, the display means is built into the storage box so that it can be raised and rotated in the front and rear directions so that it can stand up outside the storage box when the opening/closing lid is opened. Therefore, the visibility of the display means of the feedback means in a seated state can be improved, and when the feedback means is not in use, it can be easily stored in the storage box, thereby further increasing the convenience of use. . On the other hand, when the cassette tape playing device of the audio means is operated, sound is emitted from the speaker device formed particularly in the backrest portion in the present invention. This speaker device is built into both inner surfaces of the pair of left and right front extensions formed on the backrest, so the sound is transmitted to both ears of the user whose head is located between the two front extensions. , communicated effectively. Therefore, even if the output of the speaker device is set to a low output, the user can enjoy music at a sufficient volume without disturbing those around him. Furthermore, unlike when using headphones, there is no foreign body sensation in both ears, so music can be enjoyed more naturally. Since the cassette tape playing device of this audio means is also built into the wrist of the armchair of the easy chair, the user can operate the cassette tape playing device while sitting in the easy chair. There is a convenience that can be done.

【Effect of the invention】

As a result of the above, according to the easy chair of the present invention, the chair user's brain waves are actively guided to the alpha wave state by the alpha wave inducing means, and the user can enjoy the benefits of having the brain waves in the alpha state. While it can be easily enjoyed while sitting on a chair, the user can recognize the effect of the alpha wave inducing means through the feedback means, so that the brain waves are guided to the alpha wave state. The benefits can be further enhanced. Furthermore, the display means of the feedback means is rotatable in the front and rear directions in a storage box with an opening/closing lid formed on the upper surface of the armrest of the easy chair so that it stands up outside the storage box when the opening/closing lid is opened. Since the display means is housed in an upright position by a simple operation, the user can effectively enjoy the effects of the alpha wave guiding means while visually checking the state of the brain waves. When not in use, the display means can be rotated in the storage direction and stored in a storage box closed with an opening/closing lid. Further, according to the easy chair of the present invention, the cassette tape playing device can be operated while seated, without causing a nuisance to those around you.
To enjoy music, etc. in a natural state at sufficient volume without having to wear a device that feels like a foreign body, such as a headphone, on the head.

[Explanation of Examples]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. The appearance of the easy chair of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The chair body 1 includes a seat part 2, a backrest part 3 that can be reclined with respect to the seat part 2, and armrest parts 4 on both sides of the seat part 2. On the upper surface of the left armrest 4a, a storage box 6 having an opening/closing lid 5 and a control section 8 which is normally covered by an opening/closing cover 7 are provided one after the other. The storage box 6 is designed to accommodate a conductor unit 9 of an alpha wave guiding means A and a terminal unit 10 of a feedback means B, which will be described later, and has an indication of the feedback means B on the front edge of the opening of the box. The means 11 is mounted so as to be pivotable up and down. The easy chair of the present invention also includes a cassette drum playing device C built into the control section 8, and a cassette tape playing device C built into the control section 8, and a swelled head rest section 13 of the backrest section 3 that surrounds the user's head from the left and right sides. Speaker devices 12, 12 respectively incorporated into the inner surfaces of a pair of front extending portions 14, 14 formed in
Equipped with audio means. The alpha wave guiding means A includes a low frequency generation and amplification section 15 incorporated inside the control section 8.
(See the circuit block section in FIG. 9) and a conductor unit 9 connected to this. In this example, the conductor unit 9 is connected to a jack 17a (see FIG. By inserting the connecting terminal 17 at the tip of the cord 16 into the (see), it is possible to connect to the low frequency generation and amplification section 15. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the conductor unit 9 is configured to be able to elastically hold both sides of the user's head, and is attached to both ends of an inverted U-shaped holding member 18. A conductor main body 20 surrounded by a sponge pad 19 is attached to each part so as to be exposed inward. The user presses the left and right conductor bodies 2 as if using headphones.
The conductor unit 9 is attached to the head, with the conductor unit 9 placed in contact with, for example, the mastoid process at the rear of the ear. It has been confirmed that when the conductor main body 20 is made of a magnet, the magnetic force promotes blood circulation in the mastoid process, thereby further enhancing the effect of alpha wave guidance. The specific circuit configuration of the low frequency generation and amplification section 15 does not matter as long as it is capable of flowing a low frequency current of, for example, 7 Hz between the conductor bodies 20 on the order of several milliamperes. In this example, as shown in the circuit block diagram of FIG. 9, the current value of the low frequency current can be changed by the volume 21 according to the user's preference or constitution. The knob 22 of the volume 21 is provided at an appropriate position on the surface of the control section 8 (see FIG. 4). Note that the frequency of the low frequency current may be fixed to, for example, 7 Hz, or may be fixed depending on the frequency band of the alpha wave.
For example, it may be possible to change the frequency from 7Hz to 14Hz. However, it is considered more effective to set the alpha wave frequency to a lower frequency, such as 7 Hz or 8 Hz. On the other hand, the feedback means B includes a circuit section 24 built into the control section 8, a terminal unit 10 connected to this circuit section, and a display means 1.
1. As shown in FIG. 7, the terminal unit 10 includes a pair of ring-shaped measurement terminal bodies 23, 23 that can be fitted onto a user's finger, and each measurement terminal 23,
A connecting terminal 26 at the tip of the cord 25 is inserted into a jack 26a provided at an appropriate portion of the control section 8 to be connected to the circuit section 24. As shown in the circuit block diagram of FIG. 8, the circuit section 24 includes measurement terminals 23,
23 (specifically, measured as a current value when a constant voltage is applied between the terminals) into a voltage, and an amplification/oscillation unit 27a that performs frequency oscillation according to this voltage value; , and a second amplifying section 27b that further amplifies the converted voltage to drive the display means 11. In addition, the above amplification
The oscillator 27a is also connected to a buzzer 29 via a volume 28, and is adapted to emit a buzzer sound with a pitch corresponding to the voltage value. The intensity of this buzzer sound can be adjusted using the volume 28 mentioned above. As shown in FIG. 3, the display means 11 has a form in which a plurality of light emitting diodes 30 are lined up, and the number of diodes that emit light depends on the voltage from the second amplifying section 27b. By increasing or decreasing the number of diodes, the change in voltage, in other words, the change in current value when a constant voltage is applied between the measurement terminal bodies 23, 23 of the terminal unit 10 causes a light band formed by arranging light emitting diodes. It can be visually recognized by the change in length. The diodes 30 can be arranged such that, for example, some green-emitting diodes are lined up, followed by some orange-emitting diodes, and then red-emitting diodes are lined up, and the above-mentioned diodes 30 are arranged according to the magnitude of the voltage value. It is preferable that the light band expands and contracts from green to red. As described later, the measurement terminal bodies 23, 23
When the resistance between the measurement terminal bodies 23 and 23 is small, that is, when the current value is large, the user's mind and body are in a state of stress. The younger the user is, the more relaxed the user's mind and body are. Accordingly, when the user is relaxed, the above-mentioned light band only extends to the green emitting region, and when the user is nervous, the above-mentioned light band extends only to the green emitting region. Because the band extends into the area of red light, the mental and physical condition of the user of the easy chair can be easily recognized on the display means not only by the length of the light band but also by its color. be. Note that the volume indicated by the reference numeral 31 in FIGS. 4 and 8 is a volume for calibration. That is, it is for adjusting so that the light band of the display means 11 initially extends to the red light emitting region. In this example, the buzzer 29 allows the user to recognize the level of mental and physical tension based on the pitch of the sound. Mental and physical tension can be recognized. Further, in FIGS. 4 and 8, the reference numeral 32 indicates a timer switch,
This allows the operating times of the alpha wave guiding means A and the feedback means B to be set as desired. Next, the usage and operation of the easy chair of the above example will be explained. The user sits comfortably on the chair body 1, adjusts the light band of the display means 11 to a predetermined length by operating the volume 31 as described above, and adjusts the volume 21 to adjust the alpha Wave guiding means A
The conductor unit 9 and terminal unit 10 are attached to the head and fingers, respectively, as described above, while setting the strength of the low frequency current as desired or in a predetermined manner. Then, the user's brain receives electrical stimulation from the low-frequency current flowing between the conductor bodies 20 and 20 of the conductor unit 9, and after a few minutes, the user's brain waves synchronize with the frequency of the low-frequency current. be guided. That is, even if the brain waves are initially in the beta wave state, by using the easy chair of the present invention, the brain waves will be induced into the alpha wave state after a few minutes. This situation is indirectly recognized by the feedback means B to the user. In other words, there is a close correlation between brain waves and sweating, and when the brain is under stress, the sweating effect of the skin increases.
When the brain is in a relaxed state, the sweating effect of the skin decreases. When the skin perspiration is active, sweat is present between the measurement terminal 23 of the measurement terminal unit 10 and the skin, causing both terminals 2
3 and 23 decreases, the light band of the display means 11 becomes longer, and when the skin sweating effect decreases, the amount of sweat interposed between the measurement terminal 23 and the skin decreases. The resistance value between both terminals 23, 23 increases, and the light band of the display means 11 becomes shorter. As mentioned above, the skin sweating effect decreases in conjunction with the alpha wave guidance of the brain waves by the alpha wave guiding means A, so as the brain waves change from, for example, the beta wave region to the alpha wave region, the light of the display means 11 decreases. The band gradually becomes shorter. In this way, by observing changes in the length of the light band of the display means, the user recognizes moment-to-moment changes in his or her brain, that is, mental state and physical state, caused by the alpha wave inducing means. be able to. In addition, in this example,
As described above, even if the user closes his/her eyes, the change can be recognized by the pitch of the buzzer sound. When your brain waves are in the alpha wave state, you enter a so-called meditative state, where rich ideas and inspiration are born, and it has the effect of dispelling mental stress, and in conjunction with this, the body relaxes. As explained in the "Background of the Invention", it is also useful for treating neurological diseases. Furthermore, the easy chair of the present invention is equipped with an audio means consisting of a cassette tape playing device and a speaker device particularly integrated into the backrest, so that you can listen to music or learn languages using only this device. Even greater effects can be expected if the alpha wave inducing means A and feedback means B described above are used while practicing and relaxing music is played at a low volume. Moreover, the audio means in the present invention is
The cassette tape playing device is built into the armrest and can be easily operated.In addition, the cassette tape playing device is built into the armrest and can be easily operated. Since you will hear the sound from the speaker device built into the backrest, you can listen to natural sound without dispersing noise to the surroundings or using equipment such as headphones while relaxing on the backrest. It is possible to do this. By repeatedly using the easy chair of the present invention, one can self-control one's mind and body to relax even when the alpha wave inducing means is turned off. That is, by using only the feedback means B, the user can learn through training how to consciously guide the brain waves to the alpha region.
This is because the display means 11 allows the user to recognize moment-to-moment changes in the level of mental tension. By mastering self-guidance techniques for mental stability in this way, you will be able to control your mind to its optimal and strongest state regardless of time and place, gain confidence in all aspects, and become mentally stable. It can enrich your life. The easy chair of the present invention is revolutionary in that it allows the above-mentioned effects to be enjoyed while sitting at home, and its practical effects are tremendous. Of course, the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, the conductors or measurement terminals may be connected to the circuit body with a cord in advance, even if they are not integrated into a unit. The display means may be composed of a row of light emitting diodes, or may have a rotating needle as in a traditional voltage or ammeter, or an 8-segment display may be used to display numerical values digitally. It may be shown as follows.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are perspective views of the overall appearance of the easy chair of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the display means, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the control section, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are the guides. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the terminal unit, FIG. 8 is a circuit block diagram of the feedback means, and FIG. 9 is a circuit block diagram of the alpha wave guiding means. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Chair body, 2... Seat part, 3... Backrest part, 11... Display means, 12... Speaker device,
14...Front extension part, 15...Low frequency generation and amplification part (low frequency generation means), 20... Conductor (main body), 23
...terminal (main body), A... alpha wave guiding means,
B... Feedback means, C... Cassette tape playing device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An easy chair having a seat, a backrest, and an armrest, a pair of guides that can be applied to both sides of the head of a user sitting on the easy chair, and a pair of guides that can be applied to both sides of the head of a user sitting on the easy chair. An alpha wave induction device having a low frequency generating means built into a storage box formed with a lid that can be opened and closed in the left and right directions on the upper surface of the armrest portion and capable of passing a low frequency current between the arms. a pair of measurement terminals that can be brought into contact with two points on the user's skin; Feedback means, which is incorporated so as to be rotatable in ups and downs, and has a display means that visually indicates the resistance value between the measurement terminals;
and an audio system consisting of a tape playing device built into the armrest, and speaker devices built into both inner surfaces of a front extending portion formed in the backrest so as to surround the user's head from the left and right. An easy chair, characterized in that it is equipped with means.