Software controlled electromyogram control systerm
First Claim
1. A system for enabling a user to exert control with bioelectrical impulses via an input from the user, comprising:
- a first electromyogram interface to the user in communication with a first source of bioelectrical impulses from the user;
a. a computer display capable of displaying a cursor; and
b. a computer, in communication with the electromyogram interface and the computer display, programmed to execute the following steps;
i. sense a first input from the first electromyogram interface;
change a first computer control attribute in response to a state change sensed in the first input; and
ii. generate a preselected action in response to a change in the first computer control attribute.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for enabling a user to exert control with bioelectrical impulses via an input from the user includes a first electromyogram interface, a computer display and a computer. The first electromyogram interface to the user is in communication with a first source of bioelectrical impulses from the user. The computer display is capable of displaying a cursor. The computer is in communication with the electromyogram interface and the computer display, and is programmed to sense a first input from the first electromyogram interface, change a first computer control attribute in response to a state change sensed in the first input, and generate a preselected cursor action in response to a change in the first computer control attribute.
60 Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A system for enabling a user to exert control with bioelectrical impulses via an input from the user, comprising:
-
a first electromyogram interface to the user in communication with a first source of bioelectrical impulses from the user;
a. a computer display capable of displaying a cursor; and
b. a computer, in communication with the electromyogram interface and the computer display, programmed to execute the following steps;
i. sense a first input from the first electromyogram interface;
change a first computer control attribute in response to a state change sensed in the first input; and
ii. generate a preselected action in response to a change in the first computer control attribute. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of validating an electromyogram signal, comprising the steps of:
-
a. incrementing a counter at a first rate of a first preselected number of counts per second if the electromyogram signal has been asserted;
b. decrementing the counter at a second rate of a second preselected number of counts per second if the electromyogram signal has not been asserted and if the counter has a value not equal to zero; and
c. asserting an electromyogram state change signal if the counter has a value of not less than a predetermined threshold value, not equal to zero. - View Dependent Claims (16)
-
-
17. A method of processing electromyogram information on a computer-based system that includes a computer display, comprising the steps of:
-
a. causing a cursor displayed on the computer display to move in response to a first assertion of an electromyogram signal;
b. displaying a sleep-mode icon on the display;
c. entering the computer-based system into a sleep-mode state when the cursor is in a position corresponding to the sleep-mode icon;
d. disabling a predetermined set of functions controlled by the computer-based system upon entering the sleep-mode state;
e. sensing a second assertion of the electromyogram signal; and
f. re-enabling the predetermined set of functions when the second assertion of the electromyogram signal indicates that a predetermined electromyogram state has been changed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of processing electromyogram information on a computer-based system that includes a computer display, comprising the steps of:
-
a. causing a cursor displayed on the computer display to move in response to a first assertion of an electromyogram signal;
b. displaying a special mode icon on the display;
c. entering the computer-based system into a special mode state when the cursor is in a position corresponding to the special mode icon such that a predetermined electromyogram state change signal has been asserted; and
d. generating a special mode indication when the computer-based system has entered the special mode state. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A method of processing an electromyogram information from a user, comprising the steps of:
-
a. measuring a first electromyogram signal corresponding to a first condition from the user;
b. measuring a second electromyogram signal corresponding to a second condition from the user, the second condition contrasting with the first condition;
c. applying a fast Fourier transform to the first signal, thereby generating a first frequency domain signal;
d. applying a fast Fourier transform to the second signal, thereby generating a second frequency domain signal;
e. comparing the first frequency domain signal and the second frequency domain signal according to predefined criteria, thereby creating a filter function;
f. applying a fast Fourier transform to a real-time electromyogram signal, thereby generating a real time frequency domain signal;
g. applying the filter function to the real-time frequency domain signal, thereby generating a real-time filtered signal;
h. applying an inverse fast Fourier transform to the real-time filtered signal, thereby generating a real-time filtered time domain signal corresponding to the real-time electromyogram signal. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
-
-
28. A device for interfacing an electromyogram to a computer, comprising:
-
a. a power supply;
b. a first electromyogram channel input;
c. a first output, capable of transmitting a signal from the first electromyogram channel input to the computer;
d. a first computer signal input, capable of receiving a data signal from the computer;
e. a first switch output; and
f. a first relay, activated by the first computer signal input, that electrically couples the power supply to the first switch output when a first signal is asserted at the first computer signal input, the first signal indicating that a bioelectrical impulse has been sensed by the first electromyogram channel input. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. An electromyogram interface for sensing an input from a user, comprising:
-
a. a bioelectrical impulse sensor, capable of generating a first signal when a bioelectrical impulse is asserted;
b. a piezoelectric member, capable of generating a second signal when subjected to a mechanical force corresponding to a muscle movement; and
c. a detection system, responsive to the bioelectrical impulse sensor and the piezoelectric member, that determines if the input from the user has been asserted based on the first signal and the second signal, the circuit also capable of determining if either the bioelectrical impulse sensor or the piezoelectric member is malfunctioning and, thereby determining if the input from the user has been asserted even when one of the bioelectrical impulse sensor or the piezoelectric member is malfunctioning. - View Dependent Claims (35)
-
Specification