Method and apparatus for communication

• US 5,748,113 A
• Filed: 08/19/1996
• Issued: 05/05/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: William C. Torch
• Inventors: Torch, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US08/699,670
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 341/21, 341/20, 341/173, 341/176, 340/575, 340/825.19, 340/576, 128/644, 128/733, 128/782
• US Class Current: 341/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1103 Detecting eye twinkling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6821 Eye

Abstract

A method and apparatus for communication by means of transmitting, receiving, and displaying messages generated by eyelid movement, particularly by using the differences in reflectivity of the human eye and eyelid to produce the messages.

Claims

1. A method of communication which includes:

a first person imparting movement to at least one eyelid of the first person;

detecting said eyelid movement by a detecting means including radio frequency and bio-feedback;

transmitting said detection to a detection interpreting means;

interpreting the detection of the eyelid movement by said interpreting means; and

communicating the results of said interpreting to a second person.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the detection is directed to a message transmitting means which includes eyelid motion interpretation.

3. Apparatus for communication including:

eyelid position detection means including ray emitter apparatus and ray detection apparatus;

bio-feedback means in cooperation with radio frequency signals for converting information detected by the ray detection means into meaningful data;

means for displaying the data converted by the converting means;

means for transmitting the data to a remote location and means to convert the transmitted data into pictorial, audible, or coded information.

4. The method for communicating by use of closing and opening of a human eyelid including:

a first human repeatedly opening and closing at least one of the first human'"'"'s eyelids;

detecting the opening and closing of the first human'"'"'s eyelid by means of bio-feedback and radio frequency signals;

converting the detected radio frequency signals into meaningful data;

transmitting the meaningful data to a location;

displaying the meaningful data to a second human; and

the second human taking action to convert the displayed meaningful data into a desired medium of expression.