Systems and Methods for Delivering Sensory Input During a Dream State

• US 20140342338A1
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InCube Labs LLC. (In-Cube, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: InCube Labs LLC. (In-Cube, Inc.)
• Inventors: Imran, Mir, Harris, Joel M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,242,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/319
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/011 Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/04 with audible presentation of the material to be studied sound recording or reproducing G11B

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus, systems and methods for detecting neurological activity indicative of a dream state of a human. Many embodiments of the invention provide apparatus, systems and methods for detecting neurological activity of a human indicative of a dream state or the onset thereof and delivering an input to the user (such as an audio or other sensory input) during the dream state. Particular embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for detecting neurological activity indicative of the onset or occurrence of a dream state of a human and delivering an audio or other sensory input during the user'"'"'s dream state. The audio input may be used for learning, delivering messages to the user'"'"'s subconscious, and/or promoting a state of relaxation.

Claims

1. A system for delivering audio content to a user during a dream state, the system comprising:

a plurality of electrodes positionable on the head of the user, the electrodes configured to detect electrical signals of the user'"'"'s brain or head indicative of the dream state at least a portion of the plurality of electrodes being configured to detect saccadic eye movement of the user indicative of the dream state;

logic resources operably coupled to the plurality of electrodes, the logic resource configured to analyze the electrical signals to determine when the dream state occurs;

an audio storage device operably coupled to the logic resources;

the storage device configured to store audio content to be delivered to the user; and

an audio output device coupled to at least one of the logic resources or the audio output device, the audio output device configured to output an audio signal to the user containing the audio content.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising circuitry for processing the electrical signals.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry comprises an amplifier or an operational amplifier.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry comprises a filter, a high pass filter, a low pass filter or a band pass filter.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the processing circuitry comprises an signal converter, an A/D converter or a D/A converter.

6. The system of claim 1, where the audio output device comprises an earpiece or headphones.

7. The system of claim 1, where the audio output device comprises an external device.

8. The system of claim 7, where the audio output device is wirelessly coupled to at least one of the logic resources or the audio storage device.

9. The system of claim 8, where the audio output device is a speaker in a portable electronic device, cell phone or tablet device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed on a flexible material which bends and flexes with movement of the user'"'"'s head to maintain electrical contact of the electrodes with the user'"'"'s skin during movement of the user'"'"'s head.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a headband device configured to be worn on the user'"'"'s head, the electrodes disposed on the headband.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the headband is configured to bend and flex with movement of the user'"'"'s head to maintain electrical contact of the electrodes with the user'"'"'s skin during movement of the user'"'"'s head.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of electrodes are disposed on an interior surface of the headband.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the logical resources, audio storage device and audio output device are attached to the headband.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrodes includes a first portion configured to detect saccadic eye movement of the user indicative of a dream state and a second portion configured to detect electrical activity of the user'"'"'s brain indicative of the dream state.

16. A system for delivering audio content to a user during a dream state, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors positionable on the skin of the user, the sensors configured to detect a condition of the users skin indicative of the dream state;

logic resources operably coupled to the plurality of sensors, the logic resource configured to analyze inputs from the sensors to determine when the dream state occurs;

an audio storage device operably coupled to the logic resources;

the storage device configured to store audio content to be delivered to the user, and

an audio output device coupled to at least one of the logic resources or the audio output device, the audio output device configured to output an audio signal to the user containing the audio content.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensors are temperature sensors configured to detect a temperature of the users skin.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensors are impedance sensors configured to detect an impedance of the users skin.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the sensors positioned on the head of the user.

20. A method for delivering to an audio input to a user during a dream state, the method comprising:

sensing electrical activity associated with movement of the users eyes;

determining if the user is in a dream state or onset of a dream state based on analysis of the sensed electrical activity; and

delivering audio input to the user in response to the determination of the dream state or dream state onset.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the audio input comprises spoken words.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the spoken words contain content used for learning by the user.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the spoken words comprise a lecture on a subject to be learned by the user.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the dream state corresponds to a REM sleep state.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrical activity is sensed using electrodes positioned on the user'"'"'s head.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the electrodes are positioned on the user'"'"'s forehead or face.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the electrodes are positioned on a headband device worn by the user.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

detecting electrical activity indicative of a period of optimal receptivity by the user to content contained in the audio input; and

wherein the audio input is delivered during the period of optimal receptivity.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the period of optimal receptivity comprises a portion of a period of a REM sleep state.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the electrical activity detected is used to detect saccadic eye movement of the user associated with a dream state.