Encephalolexianalyzer
First Claim
1. Method of producing a communication or control signal using the mu wave from the brain of a person, comprising:
- monitoring the mu wave from the brain of the person;
producing changes in the mu wave by performing movement or movement rehearsal by the person of a particular body part or parts of the person to attenuate the mu wave of the person in a selected pattern from the value of the mu wave when the person is neither moving nor thinking of moving;
measuring said mu wave attenuation from the brain of the person caused by movement or movement rehearsal of said body part or parts of the person;
converting said measured mu wave attenuation to a communication or control signal by signal processing the measured mu wave to obtain a power spectrum and comparing the peak power spectrum value to a predetermined threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The encephalolexianalyzer uses digital signal processing techniques on electroencephalograph (EEG) brain waves to determine whether or not someone is thinking about moving, e.g., tapping their fingers, or, alternatively, whether someone is actually moving, e.g., tapping their fingers, or at rest, i.e., not moving and not thinking of moving. The mu waves measured by a pair of electrodes placed over the motor cortex are signal processed to determine the power spectrum. At rest, the peak value of the power spectrum in the 8-13 Hz range is high, while when moving or thinking of moving, the peak value of the power spectrum in the 8-13 Hz range is low. This measured change in signal power spectrum is used to produce a control signal. The encephalolexianalyzer can be used to communicate either directly using Morse code, or via a cursor controlling a remote control; the encephalolexianalyzer can also be used to control other devices. The encephalolexianalyzer will be of great benefit to people with various handicaps and disabilities, and also has enormous commercial potential, as well as being an invaluable tool for studying the brain.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Method of producing a communication or control signal using the mu wave from the brain of a person, comprising:
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monitoring the mu wave from the brain of the person; producing changes in the mu wave by performing movement or movement rehearsal by the person of a particular body part or parts of the person to attenuate the mu wave of the person in a selected pattern from the value of the mu wave when the person is neither moving nor thinking of moving; measuring said mu wave attenuation from the brain of the person caused by movement or movement rehearsal of said body part or parts of the person; converting said measured mu wave attenuation to a communication or control signal by signal processing the measured mu wave to obtain a power spectrum and comparing the peak power spectrum value to a predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Method comprising:
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placing a pair of electrodes substantially over the motor cortex of a person'"'"'s scalp, one on each side of the head; taking an EEG by measuring a voltage difference signal between the two electrodes; taking a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the voltage difference signal; obtaining the power spectrum P=|FFT|2 of the voltage difference signal; comparing the peak value of the power spectrum of the new wave in the 8-13 Hz range to a baseline value to determine whether the person is either (a) neither moving nor thinking of moving a body part, or (b) either moving or thinking of moving a body part; producing a binary control signal by changing between (a) and (b). - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. Method of producing a communication or control signal by an unaided person, comprising:
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monitoring the mu wave from the brain of the person; determining whether the mu wave is above or below a single threshold value, wherein values above the threshold correspond to the person at rest, when the person is neither moving nor thinking of moving a body part of the person, and values below the threshold correspond to movement, when the person is either moving or thinking of moving a body part of the person; producing changes above and below the single threshold value by alternating between (a) neither moving nor thinking of moving a body part of the person and (b) either moving or thinking of moving a body part of the person, producing a binary communication or control signal from the changes of the mu wave above and below the threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification