Trophotropic response system

• US 5,518,497 A
• Filed: 12/28/1993
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nusa Widjaja
• Original Assignee: Cognitech Corporation
• Inventors: Bolton, Clive, Lee, William B., Widjaja, Nusa, Fish, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rimell, Sam
• Application Number:
  US08/174,274
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 600/26, 600/27, 600/28, 128/731, 128/732, 128/745
• US Class Current: 600/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0033 subsonic
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/08 Other bio-electrical signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0648 the light being directed to the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes

Abstract

A trophotropic response system which aids a user in achieving a relaxation response. In one embodiment the system includes a control unit and an audio-visual unit. The control unit includes a processor and associated hardware and software to control the audio-visual unit. The audio-visual unit includes a light producing unit having a pair of earphones coupled thereto. The light producing unit includes a plurality of light sources which direct light toward a diffuser screen disposed between the eyes of a user and the light sources. This arrangement permits the user to see light from the light sources diffused over a large visual angle. The light sources produce light and the earphones produce sound in response to audio and light control signals provided by the processor of the control unit. The signal characteristics of the light and sound control signals may be varied within predefined limits to aid the user in performing a relaxation exercise.

Claims

1. A trophotropic response system comprising:

a control module for providing a visual signal and an aural signal, wherein the aural signal includes at least a digitally generated ocean signal component and a binaural beat signal component;

an audio unit for receiving the aural signal from the control module; and

a visual unit for receiving the visual signal from the control module wherein the visual signal is provided having a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the binaural beat signal component of the aural signal,

wherein said visual signal is provided from a sinusoidal signal having a first pre-determined frequency and a rectangular wave signal having a predetermined duty cycle,

wherein the duty cycle of said rectangular wave signal increases monotonically from a first duty cycle at a first predetermined frequency to a second different duty cycle corresponding to the predetermined duty cycle at a second predetermined frequency.

2. The trophotropic response system of claim 1 wherein:

the binaural beat frequency begins at a first pre-determined frequency and changes at a pre-determined rate until the binaural beat frequency reaches an end frequency.

3. The trophotropic response system of claim 2 wherein:

the aural signal includes a first signal component and a second signal component wherein the relative amplitudes of the aural signals are pre-set and wherein the voltage amplitude ratios for the first and second are provided as 1;

6;

6.

4. A trophotropic response system comprising:

a control module for providing a visual signal and an aural signal, wherein the aural signal includes at least a digitally generated ocean signal component and a binaural beat signal component;

an audio unit for receiving the aural signal from the control module; and

a visual unit for receiving the visual signal from the control module wherein the visual signal is provided having a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the binaural beat signal component of the aural signal,

wherein the aural signal comprises;

a binaural beat signal corresponding to a sign wave signal wherein a first binaural beat signal provided on a left channel of the audio unit is provided having a frequency typically in the range of about 50-150 Hz and wherein the frequency of the binaural beat signal on a right channel of the audio unit corresponds to a varying frequency equal to the left channel frequency plus the binaural beat frequency.

5. The trophotropic response system of claim 4 wherein:

the aural signal further comprises an ocean signal corresponding to noise modulated by a pair of envelope signals, wherein when the amplitude of a first one of said pair of envelope signals substantially determines an overall loudness of signals on the left and right channels of the audio unit, the amplitude of a second one of said pair of signals substantially determines the relative loudness of the left and right channels and wherein the noise in each of the left and right channels is generated separately but is provided having the same amplitude.

6. The trophotropic response system of claim 5 wherein:

the first envelope signal is provided having a triangular wave shape with a frequency which varies correspondingly with the binaural beat frequency; and

the second envelope signal is provided having a triangular wave shape and is provided having a predetermined frequency, wherein the frequency and amplitude characteristics of the second envelope signal alters the way the first envelope signal affects the stereophonic balance of said left and right channels.

7. The trophotropic response system of claim 6 wherein:

the aural signal further comprises an external input signal corresponding to a user specified stereo audio input having a pre-set gain wherein the relative volume of the external input signal is controlled at the source of the external input.