Brainwave actuated apparatus

• US 9,563,273 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InteraXon Inc.
• Original Assignee: InteraXon Inc.
• Inventors: Mann, W. Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US13/154,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20110298706A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,073 Days
• Field of Search: 700/83, 700/275, 700/280, 345/157, 341/20
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/375 using biofeedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• 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: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/08 Load balancing or load distribution transferring a connection for handling the traffic H04W36/22; wireless traffic scheduling H04W72/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A brainwave actuated apparatus has a brainwave sensor for outputting a brainwave signal, an effector responsive to an input signal, and a controller operatively connected to an output of said brainwave sensor and a control input to said effector. The controller is adapted to determine characteristics of a brainwave signal output by said brainwave sensor and based on said characteristics, derive a control signal to output to said effector.

Claims

1. A brainwave actuated apparatus configured to operate a multi-user game, comprising:

a first brainwave sensor for outputting a first brainwave signal originating from a first user;

a second brainwave sensor for outputting a second brainwave signal originating from a second user;

a device operating in accordance with an input signal;

a controller operatively connected to an output of said first brainwave sensor, an output of said second brainwave sensor, and a control input of said device, said controller adapted to;

determine first characteristics of said first brainwave signal;

determine second characteristics of said second brainwave signal;

based on a summation of said first characteristics and said second characteristics, derive a control signal to output to said device;

wherein said first characteristics and said second characteristics are intensities and wherein said summation is a sum of said intensities;

wherein the device configures a multi-user game, the first user and second user being participants in the multi-user game, the multi-user game being a co-operative game having a goal condition triggered at least by the sum of said intensities being a defined brainstate; and

wherein the device comprises at least one vibratory element, the at least one vibratory element capable of providing variable tactile feedback to at least one of the first or the second user upon the goal condition being triggered.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one vibratory element vibrates with an intensity dependent upon the control signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device vibrates the musical instrument.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said controller comprises an alpha wave consolidator that produces the sum of said intensities.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control signal is based at least partly on the summation of said first characteristics and said second characteristics being indicative of each of said first user and said second user being in a meditative state.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control signal is based at least partly on the summation of said first characteristics and second characteristics being indicative of coherence of at least one detected brainwave frequency in each of the first characteristics and the second characteristics.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device is local to the first user or the second user.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device is remote from the first user or the second user.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a Transmitient User Interface (TUI).

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a Recipient User Interface (RUI).

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device comprises at least one of a motor, a tactor, and an effector.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a bridge that provides feedback responsive to the control signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a display device for displaying a task related to the goal condition of the co-operative game.

14. A method, comprising:

sensing a first brainwave signal originating from a first user;

sensing a second brainwave signal originating from a second user;

determine first characteristics of said first brainwave signal;

determine second characteristics of said second brainwave signal;

based on a summation of said first characteristics and said second characteristics, deriving a control signal to output to a device; and

wherein said first characteristics and said second characteristics are intensities and wherein said summation is a sum of said intensities,

wherein the device configures a multi-user game, the first user and second user being participants in the multi-user game, the multi-user game being a co-operative game having a goal condition triggered at least by the sum of said intensities being a defined brainstate, and vibrating at least one vibratory element of the device for providing variable tactile stimulation to at least one of the first or the second user upon the goal condition being triggered.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the sum of said intensities are produced by a controller comprising an alpha wave consolidator.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the control signal is based at least partly on the summation of said first characteristics and said second characteristics being indicative of each of said first user and said second user being in a meditative state.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the control signal is based at least partly on the summation of said first characteristics and second characteristics being indicative of coherence of at least one detected brainwave frequency in each of the first characteristics and the second characteristics.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising displaying, on a display screen, a task related to the goal condition of the co-operative game.