Brain wave inducing system

• US 5,954,629 A
• Filed: 01/31/1997
• Issued: 09/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation (Pioneer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Electronic Corporation (Pioneer Corporation)
• Inventors: Fukami, Takeshi, Yasushi, Mitsuo, Yanagidaira, Masatoshi, Kimikawa, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Dvorak, Linda C. M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US08/797,655
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 600/26-28, 600/544, 600/545, 600/558, 128/731, 128/732, 128/745
• US Class Current: 600/27
• 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 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0647 the applicator adapted to be worn on the head
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes

Abstract

Sensors are provided for detecting brain waves of a user, and a band-pass filter is provided for extracting a particular brain waves including an α wave included in a detected brain wave. The band-pass filter comprises a first band-pass filter having a narrow pass band, and a second band-pass filter having a wide pass band. One of the first and second band-pass filters is selected, and a stimulation signal is produced in dependency on an α wave extracted by a selected band-pass filter. In accordance with the stimulation signal, a stimulation light is emitted to the user in order to induce the user to relax or sleeping state.

Claims

1. A brain wave inducing system comprising:

sensors for detecting brain waves of a user;

a band-pass filter for extracting particular brain waves including an α

wave included in a detected brain wave,

the band-pass filter comprising a first band-pass filter having a narrow pass band, and a second band-pass filter having a wide pass band connected in parallel to said first band-pass filter;

first selecting means for selecting one of the first and second band-pass filters, wherein said first band pass filter corresponds to an α

wave in an eye-closed rest state of the user and has a narrow pass filter corresponding to the α

wave in an eye-closed rest state of the user, and wherein said second band pass filter corresponds to an α

wave in a sleep transient state of the user and has a wide pass filter corresponding to an α

wave in the sleep transient state of the user;

output means for producing a stimulation signal dependent on an α

wave extracted by a selected band-pass filter; and

light emitting means responsive to the stimulation signal for emitting a stimulation light to the user.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a memory for recording the extracted brain waves and for reproducing the recorded brain waves, and second selecting means for selecting either of the recording or reproducing of the brain waves.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the sensors are mounted on an eye mask to be attached to a forehead of the user.

4. The system according to claim 2 further comprising detecting means for detecting a sleep falling point when the user falls into sleep and producing a signal, the second selecting means being provided to select the recording of the brain waves from the starting of the extraction of the brain waves to until receiving the signal of the sleep falling point.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the detecting means detects the sleep falling point by detecting a time when α

wave appearance rate reduces 50% from a reference value.

6. The system according to claim 3 wherein the eye mask has a resilient member so as to be curved along the forehead.