Thought controlled system

• US 8,350,804 B1
• Filed: 04/09/1997
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward W. Moll
• Original Assignee: Edward W. Moll
• Inventors: Moll, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US08/835,625
• Time in Patent Office: 5,753 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 341/21, 341/32, 600/544, 600/545, 600/546, 340/825.19, 128/905, 364/DIG.1
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/011 Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection

Abstract

A system for controlling a computer by thoughts in the user'"'"'s brain. The system applies stimuli of the brain via magnetic source imaging (MSI) for controlling the computer. Patterns of brain stimuli are recorded along with the particular thoughts that produced them and these thoughts are interpreted as functions for controlling the computer in much the same way as inputs from a keyboard or mouse. Criteria of acceptance of thought stimuli are generated by the system. Body stimuli, in addition to the brain stimuli, are monitored and used by the system. A user profile is maintained and displayed along with selected pictures for assisting with stimuli/thought pattern utilization. Artificial intelligence is used to enhance stimuli selection, human factors and reliability, as well as analyzing past errors, adverse occurrences and performance. Analyses and summaries are produced by the system for psychiatrists, psychologists, researchers and users to study system enhancement, biofeedback, psychological impact, brain activity, localization and identification of feelings and thought patterns. Stimuli are monitored at brain and body locations. Various functions are applied to animals.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a computer operation based on one or more stimuli sensed from at least one user thought, said apparatus comprising:

(a) stimuli input means coupled to the user for detecting at least one stimulus being caused by the at least one thought of the user;

(b) a computer having an operating system, coupled to said stimuli input means, for processing said at least one stimulus to produce a function control signal to control the operation of said computer wherein said computer does not require an articulated response from the user, said computer comprising;

(1) function selection means for receiving said at least one stimulus and wherein said function selection means comprises a memory including a correspondence between a plurality of previously-stored user stimuli and a plurality of desired function control signals;

(2) identification means, coupled to said function selection means, for comparing said at least one stimulus to said correspondence to identify a function control signal corresponding to said at least one stimulus, said function control signal being transmitted to the operating system of said computer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stimuli input means comprises magnetic source imaging means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising auxiliary stimuli input means, coupled to said computer, for providing additional or alternative stimuli inputs from the user using equipments capable of measuring such emissions.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising communicating means, coupled to said computer, for communicating information pertaining to the user'"'"'s thoughts.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said computer further comprises designating means coupled to said function selection means, said designating means permitting the user to designate a particular representation to be associated with said at least one stimulus.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stimuli input means comprises conditioning means for conditioning said at least one stimulus for use by said computer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said computer further comprises a database for storing inaccuracies regarding said correspondence between said plurality of previously-stored user stimuli and said plurality of desired function control signals.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said computer further comprises respective data bases for storing user unique stimuli from respective users, said user unique stimuli being usable by said computer for security or identification of users.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said computer further comprises stimuli selection means for selecting stimuli from the user based upon acceptance criteria to form said previously-stored user stimuli.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for detecting coactive stimuli for increasing the dependability of said function selection means.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for detecting sequential stimuli for increasing the dependability of said function selection means.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising localization means for identifying locations in the user of the source of said at least one stimulus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising adapting means for adapting said apparatus to a change of location of the source of said at least one stimulus whenever the user moves.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising bodily communication means, said bodily communication means being adapted to be coupled to the user, or within the user, to provide for a communication path for said at least one stimulus between the user'"'"'s brain and a user body part to be controlled.

15. Apparatus for controlling computer operation from one or more stimuli sensed from one or more thoughts in a user'"'"'s body, said apparatus comprising:

(a) detecting means for detecting said one or more stimuli sensed from said one or more thoughts to produce one or more detected stimuli,

(b) selecting means for receiving one or more of said detected stimuli to perform a function and selecting a correspondence to one or more user thoughts to produce a selected function and wherein said selecting means does not require an articulated response from the user,

(c) identification means for identifying one or more said detected stimuli as corresponding to said selected function for producing a function control signal,

(d) receiving means for receiving said function control signal for said controlling said computer operation.

16. An apparatus for controlling a computer operation based on one or more stimuli sensed from at least one user thought pattern, said apparatus comprising:

(a) stimuli input means coupled to the user for detecting at least one stimulus being caused by the at least one thought pattern of the user;

(b) a computer having an operating system, coupled to said stimuli input means, for processing said at least one stimulus to produce a function control signal to control the operation of said computer wherein said computer does not require an articulated response from the user, said computer comprising;

(1) function selection means for receiving said at least one stimulus and wherein said function selection means comprises a memory including a correspondence between a plurality of previously-stored user stimuli and a plurality of desired function control signals;

(2) identification means, coupled to said function selection means, for comparing said at least one stimulus to said correspondence to identify a function control signal corresponding to said at least one stimulus, said function control signal being transmitted to the operating system of said computer.

17. Apparatus for controlling computer operation from one or more stimuli sensed from one or more thought patterns in a user'"'"'s body, said apparatus comprising:

(a) detecting means for detecting said one or more stimuli sensed from said one or more thought patterns to produce one or more detected stimuli,

(b) selecting means for receiving one or more of said detected stimuli to perform a function and selecting a correspondence to one or more user thought patterns to produce a selected function and wherein said selecting means does not require an articulated response from the user,

(c) identification means for identifying one or more said detected stimuli as corresponding to said selected function for producing a function control signal,

(d) receiving means for receiving said function control signal for said controlling said computer operation.

18. An apparatus for controlling a computer operation based on one or more stimuli sensed from at least one user thought category, said apparatus comprising:

(a) stimuli input means coupled to the user for detecting at least one stimulus being caused by the at least one thought category of the user;

(b) a computer having an operating system, coupled to said stimuli input means, for processing said at least one stimulus to produce a function control signal to control the operation of said computer wherein said computer does not require an articulated response from the user, said computer comprising;

(1) function selection means for receiving said at least one stimulus and wherein said function selection means comprises a memory including a correspondence between a plurality of previously-stored user stimuli and a plurality of desired function control signals;

(2) identification means, coupled to said function selection means, for comparing said at least one stimulus to said correspondence to identify a function control signal corresponding to said at least one stimulus, said function control signal being transmitted to the operating system of said computer.

19. Apparatus for controlling computer operation from one or more stimuli sensed from one or more thought categories in a user'"'"'s body, said apparatus comprising:

(a) detecting means for detecting said one or more stimuli sensed from said one or more thought categories to produce one or more detected stimuli,

(b) selecting means for receiving one or more of said detected stimuli to perform a function and selecting a correspondence to one or more user thought categories to produce a selected function and wherein said selecting means does not require an articulated response from the user,

(c) identification means for identifying one or more said detected stimuli as corresponding to said selected function for producing a function control signal,

(d) receiving means for receiving said function control signal for said controlling said computer operation.