Apparatus and method for relieving motion sickness

• US 6,042,533 A
• Filed: 07/24/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fountainhead, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bruce G. Kania
• Inventors: Kania, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): GILBERT, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US09/121,720
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 600/26-28, 128/897, 128/898
• US Class Current: 600/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/005 images, e.g. video
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/0094 Isolation chambers used therewith, i.e. for isolating individuals from external stimuli other treatment rooms or enclosures A61G10/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus used for relieving motion sickness. The apparatus includes a sensor which detects a motion of an object and a sensory converter coupled to the sensor and configured to convert the detected motion to corresponding sensory signals for presentation to a user. In addition, the sensory signals have a variation in spectral emphasis in proportion to the detected motion. The sensory signals include video, audio and white noise signals and resolve a conflict between vestibular, ocular, and proprioceptive inputs of the user, thus relieving motion sickness.

Claims

1. An apparatus for relieving motion sickness, comprising:

a sensor which detects a motion of an object;

a sensory converter coupled to said sensor and configured to convert said detected motion to corresponding sensory signals, said sensory signals having a variation in spectral emphasis in proportion to said detected motion; and

a presentation mechanism configured to present said sensory signals to a user.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor detects said motion in at least one of six degrees of freedom.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensory converter comprises:

a first mechanism configured to vary a frequency of a first signal within a first predetermined range around a first center frequency in proportion to a detected pitching motion of said object; and

a second mechanism configured to vary a frequency of a second signal within a second predetermined range around a second center frequency in proportion to a detected yawing motion of said object.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensory converter comprises:

a first mechanism configured to vary a frequency of a first signal within a first predetermined range around a first center frequency in proportion to a detected vertical motion of said object;

a second mechanism configured to vary a frequency of a second signal within a second predetermined range around a second center frequency in proportion to a detected yawing motion of said object; and

a third mechanism configured to vary a frequency of a third signal within a third predetermined range around a third center frequency in proportion to a detected pitching motion of said object.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor, said sensory converter, and said presentation mechanism are included in a common housing.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, said presentation mechanism comprises at least one of an earphone, headphone, speaker, and video display.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensory converter comprises a mechanism configured to generate video signals which correspond to said sensory signals.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensory converter comprises a mechanism configured to generate audio signals which correspond to said sensory signals.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensory converter comprises a mechanism configured to generate white noise signals which correspond to said sensory signals.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said sensory converter comprises:

a first mechanism configured to vary a spectral emphasis of a first frequency range of a said white noise signals in proportion to a detected pitching motion of said object; and

a second mechanism configured to vary a spectral emphasis of second frequency range of said white noise signals in proportion to a detected yawing motion of said object.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said sensory converter comprises:

a first mechanism configured to vary a spectral emphasis of a first frequency range of a said white noise signals in proportion to a detected vertical motion of said object;

a second mechanism configured to vary a spectral emphasis of second frequency range of said white noise signals in proportion to a detected yawing motion of said object; and

a third mechanism configured to vary a spectral emphasis of third frequency range of said white noise signals in proportion to a detected pitching motion of said object.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a plurality of sensors to be attached to said user.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a proximity sensor coupled to said sensory converter and configured to detect a relative location of other objects.

14. A method for relieving motion sickness, comprising:

detecting a motion of an object;

converting said motion detected in said step of detecting to corresponding sensory signals, said sensory signals having a variation in spectral emphasis in proportion to said detected motion; and

presenting said sensory signals to a user.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said step of detecting detects said motion in at least one of six degrees of freedom.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein said step of converting further comprises:

varying a frequency of a first signal within a first predetermined range around a first center frequency in proportion to a detected pitching motion of said object; and

varying a frequency of a second signal within a second predetermined range around a second center frequency in proportion to a detected yawing motion of said object.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein said step of converting comprises:

varying a frequency of a first signal within a first predetermined range around a first center frequency in proportion to a detected vertical motion of said object;

varying a frequency of a second signal within a second predetermined range around a second center frequency in proportion to a detected yawing motion of said object; and

varying a frequency of a third signal within a third predetermined range around a third center frequency in proportion to a detected pitching motion of said object.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein said step of presenting presents said sensory signals to said user using at least one of an earphone, headphone, speaker, and video display.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein said step of converting comprises:

generating video signals which correspond to said sensory signals.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein said step of converting comprises:

generating audio signals which correspond to said sensory signals.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein said step of converting comprises:

generating white noise signals which correspond to said sensory signals.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said step of converting further composes:

varying a spectral emphasis of a first frequency range of a said white noise signals in proportion to a detected pitching motion of said object; and

varying a spectral emphasis of second frequency range of said white noise signals in proportion to a detected yawing motion of said object.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein said step of converting comprises:

varying a spectral emphasis of a first frequency range of a said white noise signals in proportion to a detected vertical motion of said object;

varying a spectral emphasis of second frequency range of said white noise signals in proportion to a detected yawing motion of said object; and

varying a spectral emphasis of third frequency range of said white noise signals in proportion to a detected pitching motion of said object.

24. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

detecting a relative location of other objects; and

converting said detected relative motion to said corresponding sensory signals.