ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM INTERFACE SYSTEM AND ACTIVATION APPARATUS
First Claim
1. An electroencephalogram interface system comprising:
- a biological signal detection section for detecting an electroencephalogram signal from a user, and a control section for distinguishing a component of an event-related potential which is contained in the electroencephalogram signal and causing a device to operate based on the distinguished event-related potential, wherein,the electroencephalogram interface system further comprises;
an activation apparatus for activating the control section, andan output section for presenting a visual stimulation which flickers with a predetermined frequency based on a signal from the activation apparatus; and
the activation apparatus includes;
a frequency analysis section for analyzing a frequency component of the electroencephalogram signal detected by the biological signal detection section, and detecting an intensity corresponding to the predetermined frequency;
a determination section for comparing the detected intensity of the predetermined frequency and a predetermined threshold, and if the intensity of the predetermined frequency is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, determining that the user has been paying attention to the visual stimulation and thus activating the control section;
a biological signal analysis section for analyzing signal intensities of a plurality of frequencies contained in the electroencephalogram signal detected by the biological signal detection section;
a setting section for setting the predetermined frequency based on a result of analysis by the biological signal analysis section; and
an adjustment section for generating a signal for presenting the visual stimulation at the frequency having been set,wherein the biological signal analysis section continuously analyzes the signal intensities of the plurality of frequencies, and sets as the predetermined frequency a frequency which is different from a frequency whose signal intensity is increasing.
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Abstract
An electroencephalogram interface is activated by utilizing a biological signal, in particular a steady-state visual evoked potential, from a user.
An electroencephalogram interface system (1) includes a biological signal detection section (4) for detecting an electroencephalogram signal from a user (3) and a control section (5) for distinguishing a component of an event-related potential which is contained in the electroencephalogram signal and causing a device to operate based on the distinguished event-related potential. The electroencephalogram interface system (1) further includes an activation apparatus (2) for activating the control section (5) and an output section (6) for presenting a visual stimulation which flickers with a predetermined frequency based on a signal from the activation apparatus (2). The activation apparatus (2) includes: a frequency analysis section (7) for analyzing a frequency component of the electroencephalogram signal detected by the biological signal detection section (4), and detecting an intensity corresponding to the predetermined frequency; and a determination section (8) for comparing the detected intensity of the predetermined frequency and a predetermined threshold, and if the intensity of the predetermined frequency is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold, determining that the user (3) has been paying attention to the visual stimulation and thus activating the control section (5).
24 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electroencephalogram interface system comprising:
- a biological signal detection section for detecting an electroencephalogram signal from a user, and a control section for distinguishing a component of an event-related potential which is contained in the electroencephalogram signal and causing a device to operate based on the distinguished event-related potential, wherein,
the electroencephalogram interface system further comprises; an activation apparatus for activating the control section, and an output section for presenting a visual stimulation which flickers with a predetermined frequency based on a signal from the activation apparatus; and the activation apparatus includes; a frequency analysis section for analyzing a frequency component of the electroencephalogram signal detected by the biological signal detection section, and detecting an intensity corresponding to the predetermined frequency; a determination section for comparing the detected intensity of the predetermined frequency and a predetermined threshold, and if the intensity of the predetermined frequency is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold, determining that the user has been paying attention to the visual stimulation and thus activating the control section; a biological signal analysis section for analyzing signal intensities of a plurality of frequencies contained in the electroencephalogram signal detected by the biological signal detection section; a setting section for setting the predetermined frequency based on a result of analysis by the biological signal analysis section; and an adjustment section for generating a signal for presenting the visual stimulation at the frequency having been set, wherein the biological signal analysis section continuously analyzes the signal intensities of the plurality of frequencies, and sets as the predetermined frequency a frequency which is different from a frequency whose signal intensity is increasing.
- a biological signal detection section for detecting an electroencephalogram signal from a user, and a control section for distinguishing a component of an event-related potential which is contained in the electroencephalogram signal and causing a device to operate based on the distinguished event-related potential, wherein,
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2. In an electroencephalogram interface system having a biological signal detection section for detecting an electroencephalogram signal from a user and a control section for distinguishing a component of an event-related potential which is contained in the electroencephalogram signal and causing a device to operate based on the distinguished event-related potential, an activation apparatus to be used for activating the control section, wherein,
the electroencephalogram interface system further has an output section for presenting a visual stimulation which flickers with a predetermined frequency based on a signal from the activation apparatus, the activation apparatus comprising: -
a frequency analysis section for analyzing a frequency component of the electroencephalogram signal detected by the biological signal detection section, and detecting an intensity corresponding to the predetermined frequency; a determination section for determining whether the user has been paying attention to the visual stimulation or not based on the detected intensity of the predetermined frequency, and activating the control section based on a result of determination; a biological signal analysis section for analyzing signal intensities of a plurality of frequencies contained in the electroencephalogram signal detected by the biological signal detection section; a setting section for setting the predetermined frequency based on a result of analysis by the biological signal analysis section; and an adjustment section for generating a signal for presenting the visual stimulation at the frequency having been set, wherein the biological signal analysis section continuously analyzes the signal intensities of the plurality of frequencies, and sets as the predetermined frequency a frequency which is different from a frequency whose signal intensity is increasing. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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5. (canceled)
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6. (canceled)
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12. An electroencephalogram interface system for detecting an electroencephalogram signal from a user and controlling an operation of at least one device based on the electroencephalogram signal, comprising:
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a biological signal detection section for detecting an electroencephalogram signal from a user; an output section being provided corresponding to the at least one device and having a light source for presenting a visual stimulation; and an activation apparatus for controlling activation of the at least one device and stopping of an operation thereof, wherein the activation apparatus includes; a frequency analysis section for analyzing a frequency component of the electroencephalogram signal detected by the biological signal detection section, and detecting an intensity corresponding to the predetermined frequency; a determination section for determining whether the user has been paying attention to the visual stimulation or not based on the detected intensity of the predetermined frequency, and activating the at least one device or stopping an operation thereof based on a result of determination; a biological signal analysis section for analyzing signal intensities of a plurality of frequencies contained in the electroencephalogram signal detected by the biological signal detection section; a setting section for setting the predetermined frequency based on a result of analysis by the biological signal analysis section; and an adjustment section for generating a signal for presenting the visual stimulation at the frequency having been set, wherein the biological signal analysis section continuously analyzes the signal intensities of the plurality of frequencies, and sets as the predetermined frequency a frequency which is different from a frequency whose signal intensity is increasing.
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13. A method to be used in an electroencephalogram interface system for controlling a device based on an electroencephalogram signal from a user, comprising the steps of:
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presenting a visual stimulation flickering with a predetermined frequency; detecting an electroencephalogram signal from a user; analyzing a frequency component of the detected electroencephalogram signal, and detecting an intensity corresponding to the predetermined frequency; comparing the detected intensity of the predetermined frequency and a predetermined threshold; activating the device if the intensity of the predetermined frequency is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold; analyzing signal intensities of a plurality of frequencies contained in the electroencephalogram signal detected by the biological signal detection section; setting the predetermined frequency based on a result of analysis by the biological signal analysis section; and generating a signal for presenting the visual stimulation at the frequency having been set, wherein the analyzing step continuously analyzes signal intensities of the plurality of frequencies, and sets as the predetermined frequency a frequency which is different from a frequency whose signal intensity is increasing.
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14. In an electroencephalogram interface system having a biological signal detection section for detecting an electroencephalogram signal from a user and a control section for distinguishing a component of an event-related potential which is contained in the electroencephalogram signal and causing a device to operate based on the distinguished event-related potential, a computer program embodied in a computer-readable medium and to be executed in an activation apparatus used for activating the control section, wherein,
the electroencephalogram interface system further includes an output section for presenting a visual stimulation which flickers with a predetermined frequency based on a signal from the activation apparatus, the computer program comprising the steps of: -
analyzing a frequency component of the electroencephalogram signal detected by the biological signal detection section, and detecting an intensity corresponding to the predetermined frequency; determining whether the user has been paying attention to the visual stimulation or not based on the detected intensity of the predetermined frequency, and activating the control section based on a result of determination; analyzing signal intensities of a plurality of frequencies contained in the electroencephalogram signal detected by the biological signal detection section; setting the predetermined frequency based on a result of analysis by the biological signal analysis section; and generating a signal for presenting the visual stimulation at the frequency having been set, wherein the analyzing step continuously analyzes signal intensities of the plurality of frequencies, and sets as the predetermined frequency a frequency which is different from a frequency whose signal intensity is increasing.
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Specification