Apparatus for generating brain wave-inducing signals and network system including the same

• US 6,875,167 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dreamfree Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dreamfree Incorporated
• Inventors: Yoon, James
• Primary Examiner(s): WINAKUR, ERIC FRANK
• Application Number:
  US10/186,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20030195383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 600/26, 600/27, 600/28, 600/545
• 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 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0648 the light being directed to the eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0653 Organic light emitting diodes

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for generating brain wave-inducing signals and a network system including the same. The apparatus for generating brain wave-inducing signals has a system controller, a data input/output port and a brain wave-inducing signal generating unit. The data input/output port receives digital signals from an external device. The brain wave-inducing signal generating unit generates an audio signal and a light emission signal under the control of the system controller. The present invention is advantageous in that it can be miniaturized by integrating several parts into one through the combination of simple hardware with software, and can receive analog and digital signals from an external device. Further, the present invention is advantageous in that it can increase the variety of signal selection by downloading a suitable brain wave-inducing signal according to the characteristics of users from an external communication network.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating brain wave-inducing signals, comprising:

a system controller;

a data input/output port for receiving digital signals from an external device which are coupled to the system controller including information for generating brain wave-inducing signals; and

a brain wave-inducing signal generating unit for generating brain wave-inducing signals including an audio signal and a light emission signal under the control of the system controller and wherein the audio signal and the light emission signal are generated by the brain wave-inducting signal generating unit from information downloaded from an information source through a communication network.

2. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an analog signal input port.

3. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the brain wave-inducing signal generating unit comprises an audio signal generating unit and a light emission signal generating unit.

4. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the audio signal generating unit comprises a sine wave generating unit for generating a sine wave from digital signals inputted from the system controller, and a volume controller for outputting the sine wave to have a predetermined volume under the control of the system controller.

5. The brain-wave inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the brain wave-inducing signals are signals for inducing at least one type of brain waves selected from alpha, beta, theta and delta waves.

6. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information for generating the audio signal and the light emission signal is provided from files stored in a hard disc, a floppy disc, or a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM).

7. An apparatus for generating brain wave-inducing signals, comprising:

a system controller;

a data input/output port comprised of a single port for receiving analog and digital signals from the outside which are coupled to the system controller;

signal separating means for separating the analog signals and digital signals; and

a brain wave-inducing signal generating unit for generating an audio signal and a light emission signal under the control of the system controller.

8. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the brain wave-inducing signal generating unit comprises an audio signal generating unit and a light emission signal generating unit.

9. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the audio signal generating unit comprises a sine wave generating unit for generating a sine wave from digital signals inputted from the system controller, and a volume controller for outputting the sine wave to have a predetermined volume under the control of the system controller.

10. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the brain wave-inducing signal is a signal for inducing at least one type of brain waves selected from alpha, beta, theta and delta waves.

11. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the audio signal and the light emission signal are generated from files stored in a hard disc, a floppy disc, or a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM).

12. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the audio signal and the light emission signal are generated by the brain wave-inducing signal generating unit from information downloaded from an information source through a communication network;

and wherein

the brain wave-inducing output unit generates light and sound.

13. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brain wave-inducing signal generating unit comprises an audio signal generating unit and a light emission signal generating unit.

14. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the audio signal generating unit comprises a sine wave generating unit for generating a sine wave from digital signals inputted from the system controller, and a volume controller for outputting the sine wave to have a predetermined volume under the control of the system controller.

15. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brain wave-inducing signal is a signal for inducing at least one type of brain waves selected from alpha, beta, theta and delta waves.

16. The brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the information for generating the audio signal and the light emission signal is provided from files stored in a hard disc, a floppy disc, or a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM).

17. An apparatus for generating brain wave-inducing signals, comprising:

a casing having at least one function selection button;

a control circuit board arranged at a predetermined position within the casing and provided with a circuit for controlling an output of a brain wave-inducing signal;

a data input/output unit for exchanging data with an external device;

a brain wave-inducing signal output unit comprised of at least one light emitting device and an audio signal output port which are electrically connected to the control circuit board; and

a power supply unit; and

wherein

the brain wave-inducing signal output unit generates light and sound from information downloaded from an information source through a communication network.

18. A method of downloading a brain wave-inducing signal file of a desired mode from a Web server on a network, comprising the steps of:

a client requesting access from the Web server;

the Web server approving the access request from the client;

the client requesting the Web server to transmit a specific brain wave-inducing signal file;

the Web server transmitting the requested brain wave-inducing signal file to the client; and

running a browser installed in the client, and transmitting a stored brain wave-inducing signal file to a brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus.

19. A network system, comprising:

a brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus comprised of a system controller, a data input/output port for receiving digital signals from an external device, and a brain wave-inducing signal generating unit for generating an audio signal and a light emission signal under the control of the system controller;

a client for communicating with the brain wave-inducing, signal generating apparatus through a predetermined communication program; and

a Web server mutually connected to the client on a network and provided with a database in which brain wave-inducing signal files are stored.

20. The network system according to claim 19, wherein the brain wave-inducing signal generating unit comprises an audio signal generating unit and a light emission signal generating unit.

21. The network system according to claim 20, wherein the audio signal generating unit comprises a sine wave generating unit for generating a sine wave from digital signals inputted from the system controller, and a volume controller for outputting the sine wave to have a predetermined volume under the control of the system controller.

22. The network system according to claim 19, wherein the brain wave-inducing system is a signal for inducing at least one type of brain waves selected from alpha, beta, theta and delta waves.

23. A network system, comprising:

a brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus comprised of a system controller, a data input/output port comprised of a single port for receiving analog and digital signals from the outside, signal separating means for separating the analog signals and the digital signals, and a brain wave-inducing signal generating unit for generating an audio signal and a light emission signal under the control of the system controller;

a client for communicating with the brain wave-inducing signal generating apparatus through a communication program; and

a Web server mutually connected to the client on a network and provided with a database in which a variety of brain wave-inducing signal files are stored.

24. The network system according to claim 23, wherein the brain wave-inducing signal generating unit comprises an audio signal generating unit and a light emission signal generating unit.

25. The network system according to claim 24, wherein the audio signal generating unit comprises a sine wave generating unit for generating a sine wave from digital signals inputted from the system controller, and a volume controller for outputting the sine wave to have a predetermined volume under the control of the system controller.

26. The network system according to claim 23, wherein the brain wave-inducing signal is a signal for inducing at least one type of brain waves selected from alpha, beta, theta and delta waves.