System for altering motional response to music

• US 8,838,230 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2008
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chan, Alistair K., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): GETZOW, SCOTT M
• Application Number:
  US12/290,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20100114186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,146 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607 55- 57, 607/62, 607/1, 607/3, 607/48, 600/300, 600/301, 600/595
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0072 with application of electrical currents
• 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 2230/63 Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition

Abstract

A system for altering a user'"'"'s motional response to music is generally described. The system includes a current source and a music source including at least one musical piece. The system also includes an information source including information associated with at least one characteristic of the at least one musical piece. Further, the system includes a sound delivering device configured with a sound producing structure and in communication with the music source. A feedback sensor device is configured to detect motions associated with the user. A control unit is configured to receive signals from the feedback sensor and receive the information, the control unit generating control signals based on the signals and the information. Further, electrical contacts are configured to contact flesh of the user and deliver current from the current source to the vestibular system of the user in response to the control signals.

Claims

1. A system for altering a user'"'"'s motional response to music, the system comprising:

a current source;

a music source including at least one musical piece;

an information source including information associated with at least one characteristic of the at least one musical piece;

a sound delivering device configured with a sound producing structure and in communication with the music source;

a feedback sensor device configured to detect motions associated with a user and produce signals representative of the detected motions;

a control unit configured to receive the signals from the feedback sensor device and receive the information, the control unit generating control signals based on a comparison of the signals and the information; and

electrical contacts configured to contact flesh adjacent a vestibular nerve of the user and deliver current from the current source directly through the flesh to a vestibular system of the user in response to the control signals to alter the user'"'"'s motional response to the at least one musical piece.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sound delivering device includes earphones.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sound delivering device includes earbuds.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sound delivering device includes speakers.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit includes user definable settings.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit includes user adjustable settings.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit includes adaptive settings.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes desired motion information.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes desired rate of motion information.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the information includes desired direction of motion information.

11. A system for altering a user'"'"'s motional response to sound, the system comprising:

a current source;

a receiving device configured to receive sound produced by a sound producing structure and generating information by identifying at least one characteristic of at least one musical piece;

a feedback sensor device configured to detect motions associated with a user and produce signals representative of the detected motions;

a control unit configured to receive the signals from the feedback sensor device and receive the information, the control unit generating control signals based on a comparison of the signals and the information; and

electrical contacts configured to contact flesh adjacent a vestibular nerve of the user and deliver a current from the current source directly through the flesh to a vestibular system of the user in response to the control signals to alter the user'"'"'s motional response to the at least one musical piece.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sound delivering device includes earphones.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the sound delivering device includes earbuds.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the sound delivering device includes speakers.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit includes user definable settings.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit includes user adjustable settings.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit includes adaptive settings.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the information includes desired motion information.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the information includes desired rate of motion information.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the information includes desired direction of motion information.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the feedback sensor device includes at least one accelerometer.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the feedback sensor device includes at least one strain gauge.

23. The system of claim 11, wherein the feedback sensor device includes at least one gyro.

24. The system of claim 11, wherein the feedback sensor device includes at least one laser gyro.

25. The system of claim 11, wherein the feedback sensor device includes at least one MEMs gyro.

26. The system of claim 11, wherein the feedback sensor device includes at least one magnetic field sensor.

27. The system of claim 11, wherein the feedback sensor device includes at least one current sensor.

28. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one characteristic includes beats.

29. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one characteristic includes rhythm.

30. A system for altering a user'"'"'s motional response to sound, the system comprising:

a time-varying galvanic current source;

a sound source including at least one collection of multiple sounds;

an information source including information associated with at least one characteristic of the at least one collection of multiple sounds;

a sound delivering device configured with a sound producing structure and in communication with the sound source;

a feedback sensor configured to detect motions associated with a user and produce signals representative of the detected motions;

a control unit configured to receive the signals from the feedback sensor and receive the information, the control unit generating control signals based on a comparison of the signals and the information; and

electrical contacts configured to contact flesh adjacent a vestibular nerve of the user and deliver galvanic current from the time-varying galvanic current source through the flesh to a vestibular system of the user in response to the control signals to alter the user'"'"'s motional response to the at least one collection of multiple sounds.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein a feedback sensor includes at least one accelerometer.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein a feedback sensor includes at least one strain gauge.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein a feedback sensor includes at least one gyro.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein a feedback sensor includes at least one laser gyro.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the at least one characteristic is selectable.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein a magnitude of a current is adjustable.

37. The system of claim 30, wherein the electrical contacts may be varied in location.

38. The system of claim 30, wherein a polarity of a current is variable.

39. The system of claim 30, wherein the control signals are selectively used to vary the sound source.

40. A system for altering a user'"'"'s motional response to a sensory input, the system comprising:

a current source;

a photic sensory input device configured with a structure for producing at least one series of photic sensory inputs;

an information source including information associated with at least one characteristic of the at least one series of photic sensory inputs;

a feedback sensor device configured to detect motions associated with a user and produce signals representative of the detected motions;

a control unit configured to receive the signals from the feedback sensor device and receive the information, the control unit generating control signals based on a comparison of the signals and the information; and

electrical contacts configured to contact flesh adjacent a vestibular nerve of the user and deliver a current from the current source directly through the flesh to a vestibular system of the user in response to the control signals to alter the user'"'"'s motional response to the at least one series of photic sensory inputs.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the photic sensory input device includes a video display.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the photic sensory input device includes a movie screen.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the photic sensory input device includes a light.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the control unit includes user definable settings.

45. The system of claim 40, wherein the control unit includes user adjustable settings.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein the control unit includes adaptive settings.

47. The system of claim 40, wherein the information includes desired motion information.

48. The system of claim 40, wherein the information includes desired rate of motion information.

49. The system of claim 40, wherein the information includes desired direction of motion information.