EMOTIONAL CONTROL METHODS AND APPARATUS

• US 20140323013A1
• Filed: 10/04/2012
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Children's Medical Center Corporation
• Original Assignee: Children's Medical Center Corporation
• Inventors: Rotenberg, Alexander, Gonzalez-Heydrich, Joseph, Kahn, Jason, Ducharme, Peter
• Application Number:
  US14/349,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20140323013A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/484
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6896 Toys
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/26 the game being influenced by physiological parameters A63F2250/1031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/265 by skin resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 17/00 Toy vehicles, e.g. with self-drive; convertible into other toys A63H33/003; Cranes, winches or the like; Accessories therefor traffic games with figures moved by players A63F9/14
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 2200/00 Computerized interactive toys, e.g. dolls
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 29/22 Electric drives power supply through track A63H18/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/00 Remote-control arrangements specially adapted for toys, e.g. for toy vehicles steering mechanisms for toy vehicles A63H17/36; for model railways A63H19/24, A63H19/28
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/02 Electrical arrangements transformers H01F; converters H02M
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/04 Building blocks, strips, or similar building parts
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

A system including at least one monitor and a toy is disclosed. The at least one monitor may be communicatively coupled to at least one sensor configured to measure at least one physical parameter of an operator. The at least one monitor receives at least one measurement from the at least one sensor indicative of the at least one physical parameter of the operator. The at least one monitor may determine whether the operator is in an elevated emotional state based, at least in part, on the at least one measurement. The toy may be capable of being operated by at least one operator and may comprise a control system in communication with the at least one monitor. The control system may be configured to affect at least one behavior of the toy to cause the toy to be more difficult to use when the monitor indicates that the operator is in an elevated emotional state.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a toy capable of being manipulated and/or interacted with by an operator;

at least one monitor communicatively coupled to at least one sensor configured to measure at least one physical parameter of the operator, the at least one monitor configured to receive at least one measurement from the at least one sensor indicative of the at least one physical parameter of the operator, and to determine whether the operator is in an elevated emotional state based, at least in part, on the at least one measurement; and

a control system in communication with the at least one monitor, the control system configured to affect at least one behavior of the toy to cause the toy to be more difficult to use when the monitor indicates that the operator is in an elevated emotional state.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toy comprises a remote controlled vehicle, and wherein the control system is configured to affect at least one of speed, acceleration and steering of the vehicle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toy comprises a construction surface, and wherein the control system is configured to vibrate the construction surface when the at least one measurement is determined to meet the predetermined criteria.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the toy further comprises at least one of building material to construct a structure on the construction surface and a game to be played on the construction surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the toy comprises building material, and wherein the control system is configured to affect at least one behavior by at least one of vibrating the building material and affecting the magnetism of the building material.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the building material includes blocks.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitor and the control system form an integrated component.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitor and the control system form separate components.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises the at least one sensor, and wherein the at least one sensor and the at least one monitor form an integrated component.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises the at least one sensor, and wherein the at least one sensor and the at least one monitor form separate components.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor measures at least one of heart rate, blood pressure, electroencephalogram (EEG) information, pupil dilation, temperature, galvanic skin response, perspiration and breathing, and wherein the monitor is configured to determine whether the at least one measurement meets a predetermined criteria to evaluate whether the user is in an elevated emotional state, and wherein the control system is configured to affect the at least one behavior of the toy when the at least one measurement is determined to meet the predetermined criteria.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. At least on computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on at least one processor, perform a method for controlling a toy capable of being manipulated and/or interacted with by an operator, the method comprising:

receiving at least one measurement from at least one sensor configured to measure at least one physical parameter of the operator, the at least one measurement indicative of the at least one physical parameter;

determining whether the operator is in an elevated emotional state based, at least in part, on the at least one measurement; and

affecting at least one behavior of the toy to cause the toy to be more difficult to use when it is determined that the operator is in an elevated emotional state.

15. The at least one computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the toy comprises a remote controlled vehicle, and wherein affecting at least one behavior comprises affecting at least one of speed, acceleration and steering of the vehicle.

18. The at least one computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the toy comprises building material, and wherein affecting at least one behavior comprises affecting at least one behavior by at least one of vibrating or shaking the building material and affecting the magnetism of the building material.

20. The at least one computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein receiving at least one measurement comprises receiving at least one measurement indicative of at least one of heart rate, blood pressure, electroencephalogram (EEG) information, pupil dilation, temperature, galvanic skin response, perspiration and breathing, and wherein determining whether the operator is in an elevated emotional state includes determining whether the at least one measurement meets a predetermined criteria indicative of the operator'"'"'s emotional state, and wherein affecting the at least one behavior of the toy is performed when the at least one measurement is determined to meet the predetermined criteria.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. A method for controlling a toy capable of being manipulated and/or interacted with by an operator, the method comprising:

receiving at least one measurement from at least one sensor configured to measure at least one physical parameter of the operator, the at least one measurement indicative of the at least one physical parameter;

determining whether the operator is in an elevated emotional state based, at least in part, on the at least one measurement; and

affecting at least one behavior of the toy to cause the toy to be more difficult to use when it is determined that the operator is in an elevated emotional state.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the toy comprises a remote controlled vehicle, and wherein affecting at least one behavior comprises affecting at least one of speed, acceleration and steering of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the toy comprises a construction surface, and wherein affecting at least one behavior comprises vibrating or shaking the construction surface when the at least one measurement is determined to meet the predetermined criteria.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the toy further comprises at least one of building material to construct a structure on the construction surface and a game to be played on the construction surface.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein receiving at least one measurement comprises receiving at least one measurement indicative of at least one of heart rate, blood pressure, electroencephalogram (EEG) information, pupil dilation, temperature, galvanic skin response, perspiration and breathing, and wherein determining whether the operator is in an elevated emotional state includes determining whether the at least one measurement meets a predetermined criteria indicative of the operator'"'"'s emotional state, and wherein affecting the at least one behavior of the toy is performed when the at least one measurement is determined to meet the predetermined criteria.

27. (canceled)

28. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. (canceled)