Mood-actuated device

• US 9,046,884 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2012
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Roseway, Asta J., Davis, Felecia A., Carroll, Erin A., Czerwinski, Mary, Maclean, Diana L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sample, Jonathan L
• Application Number:
  US13/732,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0487 Special user inputs or interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0533 Measuring galvanic skin response
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/74 Details of notification to user or communication with user or patient indicating measured values G01D7/00; user input means input or output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0066 with heating or cooling
• 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 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/0421 Controlled or regulated
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/04 Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers G05B19/418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/01 : Mobile robot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/02 : Arm motion controller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 901/20 : with provision for altering speed of driven element

Abstract

This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing a mood-actuated device. In various embodiments, indicators of an emotional state of a user are sensed, and a mood-actuated device is controlled to react based on the emotional state of the user. In some embodiments, the mood-actuated device includes a mechanical component that is configured to react by moving based on the emotional state of the user.

Claims

1. A robotic butterfly, comprising:

one or more bio sensors configured to sense indicators of an emotional state of a user;

mechanical wings configured to react based on the emotional state of the user; and

a microcontroller configured to cause the mechanical wings to move in a first way if a first emotional state of the user is sensed by the one or more bio sensors, and to move in a second, different, way if a second emotional state of the user is sensed by the one or more bio sensors.

2. The robotic butterfly as recited in claim 1, wherein the mechanical wings are interlaced with wires that contract when heated, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to cause the mechanical wings to move by causing the wires to be heated or cooled.

3. The robotic butterfly as recited in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to cause the mechanical wings of the robotic butterfly to move in a gentle hover to indicate the first emotional state of the user, and to move in a large flap to indicate the second emotional state of the user.

4. The robotic butterfly as recited in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to cause the mechanical wings of the robotic butterfly to move at a first speed to indicate the first emotional state of the user, and to move at a second speed to indicate the second emotional state of the user.

5. A mood-actuated device, comprising:

a bio sensor configured to sense indicators of an emotional state of a user; and

mechanical wings configured to move based on the emotional state of the user by moving at a first speed if the bio sensor senses indicators of a first emotional state of the user and by moving at a second speed if the bio sensor senses indicators of a second emotional state of the user.

6. The mood-actuated device as recited in claim 5, wherein mood-actuated device comprises a robotic butterfly, and wherein the mechanical wings comprise wings of the robotic butterfly.

7. The mood-actuated device as recited in claim 5, wherein the mechanical wings are configured to move based on the emotional state of the user by moving in a way that is mapped to the emotional state of the user.

8. The mood-actuated device as recited in claim 5, wherein the mechanical wings are configured to move based on the emotional state of the user by moving in a way that is mapped to the emotional state of the user such that the movement visually mirrors the emotional state of the user.

9. The mood-actuated device as recited in claim 5, wherein the mechanical wings are configured to move based on the emotional state of the user by moving in a way that is designed to help change the emotional state of the user.

10. The mood-actuated device as recited in claim 5, wherein the mood-actuated device is wearable by the user.

11. The mood-actuated device as recited in claim 5, wherein the bio sensor is configured to make physical contact with the user.

12. The mood-actuated device as recited in claim 5, wherein the bio sensor comprises at least one of a heart rate monitor, an electrocardiography monitor, or a galvanic skin response monitor.

13. A method, comprising:

sensing indicators of an emotional state of a user; and

causing mechanical wings of a mood-actuated device to move based on the emotional state of the user by moving at a first speed to indicate a first emotional state of the user or by moving at a second speed to indicate a second emotional state of the user.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the mood-actuated device comprises a robotic butterfly, and wherein the mechanical wings comprises wings of the robotic butterfly.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the causing comprises causing the mechanical wings of the robotic butterfly to move at the first speed to correspond to a gentle hover to indicate the first emotional state of the user, and to move at the second speed to correspond to a large flap to indicate the second emotional state of the user.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein first emotional state of the user comprises a relaxed state, and wherein the second emotional state of the user comprises a stressed state.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the mechanical wings move in a way that is designed to indicate the emotional state of the user.

18. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the mechanical wings move in a way that is designed to visually mirror the emotional state of the user.

19. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the mechanical wings move in a way that is designed to help change the emotional state of the user.