Relaxation device and method

• US 20060106276A1
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biogenics II LLC
• Original Assignee: Biogenics II LLC
• Inventors: Lederer, Gabor, Shealy, C. Norman
• Granted Patent: US 7,645,226 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis

Abstract

A device for inducing a relaxation state in a user is provided. The device includes a pair of light sources directed toward a user'"'"'s eye. The two light sources emit different colors, preferably blue and red. A second pair of light sources may be directed toward the user'"'"'s other eye. The user can adjust both the color level and the brightness emitted by the pair of lights. The user further may control a flash frequency of the light emitted by the pair of lights. Additionally, the user may control the time duration of the relaxation session. Preferably, the relaxation device is portable. Preferably, the relaxation device is mounted in a pair of eyeglasses or in a mask and includes control electronics for controlling the light sources and a power source for powering the lights and the control electronics.

Claims

1. A device for inducing a relaxation state in a user, the device comprising:

a first light source, the first light source emitting a first light beam having a first color toward a first eye of a user, the first light beam generated using a first amplitude modulated signal;

a second light source adjacent the first light source, the second light source emitting, simultaneous with the first light source, a second light beam having a second color toward the first eye of the user, the second light beam generated using a second amplitude modulated signal, wherein the second color is different from the first color;

a first color control, wherein the first color control provides user selection of the pulse width of a first rectangular wave;

a second color control, wherein the second color control provides user selection of the pulse width of a second rectangular wave; and

a brightness control, wherein the brightness control provides user variation of the repetition rate of the first rectangular wave thereby forming the first amplitude modulated signal and provides user variation of the repetition rate of the second rectangular wave thereby forming the second amplitude modulated signal;

wherein the first light beam and the second light beam provide a first combined color perceived by the first eye of the user; and

further wherein the first color control and the second color control provide user control of the first combined color, and the brightness control provides user control of the brightness of the first combined color.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the separation distance between the first light source and the second light source is in the range of approximately 3 to approximately 4 millimeters.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first color is red and the second color is blue.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the pulse width of the first rectangular wave is in the range from approximately 62.5 microseconds to approximately 500 microseconds.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the pulse width of the second rectangular wave is in the range from approximately 62.5 microseconds to approximately 500 microseconds.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third light source, the third light source emitting a third light beam having a third color toward a second eye of the user, the third light beam generated using the first amplitude modulated signal; and

a fourth light source adjacent the third light source, the fourth light source emitting, simultaneous with the third light source, a fourth light beam having a fourth color toward the second eye of the user, the fourth light beam generated using the second amplitude modulated signal, wherein the fourth color is different from the third color;

wherein the third light beam and the fourth light beam provide a second combined color perceived by the second eye of the user; and

further wherein the first color control and the second color control provide user control of the second combined color, and the brightness control provides user control of the brightness of the second combined color.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the separation distance between the third light source and the fourth light source is in the range of approximately 3 to approximately 4 millimeters.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein the third color is red and the fourth color is blue.

9. A device for inducing a relaxation state in a user, the device comprising:

a surface;

a light emitting apparatus coupled to the surface, the light emitting apparatus comprising;

a first light source, the first light source emitting a first light beam having a first color toward a first eye of a user, the first light beam generated using a first amplitude modulated signal;

a second light source adjacent the first light source, the second light source emitting, simultaneous with the first light source, a second light beam having a second color toward the first eye of the user, the second light beam generated using a second amplitude modulated signal, wherein the second color is different from the first color;

a first color control, wherein the first color control provides user selection of the pulse width of a first rectangular wave;

a second color control, wherein the second color control provides user selection of the pulse width of a second rectangular wave; and

a brightness control, wherein the brightness control provides user variation of the repetition rate of the first rectangular wave thereby forming the first amplitude modulated signal and provides user variation of the repetition rate of the second rectangular wave thereby forming the second amplitude modulated signal;

wherein the first light beam and the second light beam provide a first combined color perceived by the first eye of the user; and

further wherein the first color control and the second color control provide user control of the first combined color, and the brightness control provides user control of the brightness of the first combined color; and

a power source, the power source coupled to the light emitting apparatus and providing power to the light emitting apparatus.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the separation distance between the first light source and the second light source is in the range of approximately 3 to approximately 4 millimeters.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the first color is red and the second color is blue.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the pulse width of the first rectangular wave is in the range from approximately 62.5 microseconds to approximately 500 microseconds.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the pulse width of the second rectangular wave is in the range from approximately 62.5 microseconds to approximately 500 microseconds.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the light emitting apparatus further comprises:

a third light source, the third light source emitting a third light beam having a third color toward a second eye of the user, the third light beam generated using the first amplitude modulated signal; and

a fourth light source adjacent the third light source, the fourth light source emitting, simultaneous with the third light source, a fourth light beam having a fourth color toward the second eye of the user, the fourth light beam generated using the second amplitude modulated signal, wherein the fourth color is different from the third color;

wherein the third light beam and the fourth light beam provide a second combined color perceived by the second eye of the user; and

further wherein the first color control and the second color control provide user control of the second combined color, and the brightness control provides user control of the brightness of the second combined color.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the separation distance between the third light source and the fourth light source is in the range of approximately 3 to approximately 4 millimeters.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the third color is red and the fourth color is blue.

17. A method of inducing a relaxation state in a user, the method comprising:

receiving a first input from a first color control, wherein the first color control provides user selection of the pulse width of a first rectangular wave;

receiving a second input from a second color control, wherein the second color control provides user selection of the pulse width of a second rectangular wave;

receiving a second input from a brightness control, wherein the brightness control provides user variation of the repetition rate of the first rectangular wave thereby forming a first amplitude modulated signal and provides user variation of the repetition rate of the second rectangular wave thereby forming a second amplitude modulated signal;

emitting a first light beam from a first light source toward a first eye of a user, the first light beam having a first color and generated from the first amplitude modulated signal;

emitting, simultaneous with the first light beam, a second light beam from a first light source toward the first eye of the user, the second light beam having a second color and generated from the second amplitude modulated signal, wherein the second color is different from the first color; and

providing a first combined color perceived by the first eye of the user from the first light beam and the second light beam wherein the first color control and the second color control provide user control of the first combined color, and the brightness control provides user control of the brightness of the first combined color.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the separation distance between the first light source and the second light source is in the range of approximately 3 to approximately 4 millimeters.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first color is red and the second color is blue.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the pulse width of the first rectangular wave is in the range from approximately 62.5 microseconds to approximately 500 microseconds.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the pulse width of the second rectangular wave is in the range from approximately 62.5 microseconds to approximately 500 microseconds.

22. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

emitting a third light beam from a third light source toward a second eye of the user, the third light beam having a third color and generated from the first amplitude modulated signal;

emitting, simultaneous with the third light beam, a fourth light beam from a fourth light source toward the second eye of the user, the fourth light beam having a fourth color and generated from the second amplitude modulated signal, wherein the fourth color is different from the third color; and

providing a second combined color perceived by the second eye of the user from the third light beam and the fourth light beam wherein the first color control and the second color control provide user control of the second combined color, and the brightness control provides user control of the brightness of the second combined color.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the separation distance between the third light source and the fourth light source is in the range of approximately 3 to approximately 4 millimeters.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the third color is red and the fourth color is blue.