Controlling ear stimulation in response to image analysis
First Claim
1. A method of controlling an ear stimulation device with a personal computing device, comprising:
- capturing, with image capture circuitry on the personal computing device, via a user-facing camera associated with the personal computing device, an image of a user of the personal computing device;
processing the image, using image processing circuitry on the personal computing device, to determine at least one parameter; and
controlling, with neural stimulus control signal determination circuitry on the personal computing device, based at least in part on the at least one parameter, delivery of a stimulus to at least one nerve innervating a pinna of an ear of the user with the ear stimulation device,wherein the stimulus includes as least one of a mechanical stimulus, electrical stimulus, magnetic stimulus, ultrasonic stimulus, optical stimulus, or chemical stimulus.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and related methods for controlling an ear stimulation device with a personal computing device, based on analysis of an image of a user of the personal computing device captured with a camera associated with the personal computing device, are described. One or more parameter is determined from the processed image, including, but not limited, to user identity, emotion, physiological condition, or placement of a stimulator earpiece, and control of the ear stimulation device is based thereon. If the earpiece is located incorrectly, in an aspect, delivery of a stimulus is prevented. In another aspect, the user is notified of the need to reposition an incorrectly located earpiece.
167 Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of controlling an ear stimulation device with a personal computing device, comprising:
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capturing, with image capture circuitry on the personal computing device, via a user-facing camera associated with the personal computing device, an image of a user of the personal computing device; processing the image, using image processing circuitry on the personal computing device, to determine at least one parameter; and controlling, with neural stimulus control signal determination circuitry on the personal computing device, based at least in part on the at least one parameter, delivery of a stimulus to at least one nerve innervating a pinna of an ear of the user with the ear stimulation device, wherein the stimulus includes as least one of a mechanical stimulus, electrical stimulus, magnetic stimulus, ultrasonic stimulus, optical stimulus, or chemical stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An ear stimulation device control system, comprising:
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a personal computing device; a user-facing camera associated with the personal computing device; image capture circuitry adapted to capture an image of a user of the personal computing device from the user-facing camera; image processing circuitry configured to process the image to determine at least one parameter; and neural stimulus control signal determination circuitry configured to control delivery of a stimulus to at least one nerve innervating a pinna of an ear of the user with an ear stimulation device, based at least in part on the at least one parameter, wherein the stimulus includes as least one of a mechanical stimulus, electrical stimulus, magnetic stimulus, ultrasonic stimulus, optical stimulus, or chemical stimulus. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An ear stimulation device control system, comprising:
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a personal computing device; a user-facing camera associated with the personal computing device; image capture circuitry adapted to capture an image of a user of the personal computing device from the user-facing camera; image processing circuitry configured to process the image to determine at least one parameter, wherein the image processing circuitry includes an earpiece location module configured to process the image to determine a presence of at least one earpiece of the ear stimulation device at the ear of the user, the ear selected from a right ear of the user and a left ear of the user; and at least one attribute of the at least one earpiece indicative of usability of the at least one earpiece with the ear of the user at which the earpiece is located; and neural stimulus control signal determination circuitry configured to control delivery of a stimulus to at least one nerve innervating an ear of the user with an ear stimulation device, based at least in part on the at least one parameter, wherein the neural stimulus control signal determination circuitry is configured to determine a target ear at which the at least one earpiece is usable, based on the at least one attribute of the at least one earpiece; determine that the ear at which the at least one earpiece is located is not the target ear at which the at least one earpiece is usable; and send a control signal from the personal computing device to the ear stimulation device to prevent delivery of the stimulus to the a least one nerve innervating the ear of the user.
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Specification