Sleep disconnect safety override for direct human-computer neural interfaces for the control of computer controlled functions
First Claim
1. In a system for tracking neural activity in a user and using an electrical signal based on said tracked activity for controlling computer controlled functions, a system for preventing neural activity during said user'"'"'s sleep from being used for controlling said functions comprising:
- means for predetermining a neural activity pattern indicative of the transition of a user from awake to asleep;
means for monitoring the neural activity of said user for said predetermined neural activity pattern; and
means responsive to the detection of said predetermined neural activity pattern for terminating said use of said electrical signals based on said tracked neural activity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Neural human-computer interface is likely to be used to control mechanical and electrical functions. It should be understood that falling asleep by the user during neural control operations could produce undesirable and even disastrous results. During the sleep state, the neural activity would still continue to be monitored and produce involuntary signals leading to the unintended results.
The sleep problem is circumvented by providing, in a system for tracking neural activity in a user and using an electrical signal based on said tracked activity for controlling computer controlled functions, an implementation for preventing neural activity during the user'"'"'s sleep from being used for controlling said functions that comprises the combination of predetermining a neural activity pattern indicative of the transition of a user from awake to asleep, monitoring the neural activity of said user for said predetermined neural activity pattern and responsive to the detection of the predetermined neural activity pattern terminating said use of said electrical signals. A convenient implementation for monitoring is through an electroencephalography (EEG) monitor.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. In a system for tracking neural activity in a user and using an electrical signal based on said tracked activity for controlling computer controlled functions, a system for preventing neural activity during said user'"'"'s sleep from being used for controlling said functions comprising:
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means for predetermining a neural activity pattern indicative of the transition of a user from awake to asleep;
means for monitoring the neural activity of said user for said predetermined neural activity pattern; and
means responsive to the detection of said predetermined neural activity pattern for terminating said use of said electrical signals based on said tracked neural activity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 19)
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7. In a system for tracking neural activity in a user and using an electrical signal based on said tracked activity for controlling computer controlled functions, a method for preventing neural activity during said user'"'"'s sleep from being used for controlling said functions comprising:
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predetermining a neural activity pattern indicative of the transition of a user from awake to asleep;
monitoring the neural activity of said user for said predetermined neural activity pattern; and
terminating said use of said electrical signals based upon said tracked neural activity responsive to the detection of said predetermined neural activity pattern. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20)
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13. A computer program having code recorded on a computer readable medium for preventing neural activity during a user'"'"'s sleep from being used for controlling functions in a system for tracking neural activity in a user and using an electrical signal based on said tracked activity for controlling computer controlled functions, said computer program comprising:
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means for predetermining a neural activity pattern indicative of the transition of a user from awake to asleep;
means for monitoring the neural activity of said user for said predetermined neural activity pattern; and
means responsive to the detection of said predetermined neural activity pattern for terminating said use of said electrical signals based upon said tracked neural activity. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21)
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22. In a system for tracking neural activity in a user and using an electrical signal based on said tracked activity for controlling computer controlled functions, a system for varying the use of said electrical signals being used for controlling said functions in response to variations in the states of said neural activity comprising:
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means for predetermining a neural activity pattern indicative of the transition of a user from one state of neural activity to another;
means for monitoring the neural activity of said user for said predetermined neural activity pattern; and
means responsive to the detection of said predetermined neural activity pattern for changing said use of said electrical signals to control said computer controlled functions.
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23. In a system for tracking neural activity in a user and using an electrical signal based on said tracked activity for controlling computer controlled functions, a method for varying the use of said electrical signals being used for controlling said functions in response to variations in the states of said neural activity comprising:
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predetermining a neural activity pattern indicative of the transition of a user from one state of neural activity to another;
monitoring the neural activity of said user for said predetermined neural activity pattern; and
changing said use of said electrical signals to control said computer controlled functions responsive to the detection of said predetermined neural activity pattern.
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24. In a system for tracking neural activity in a user and using an electrical signal based on said tracked activity for controlling computer controlled functions, a computer program having code recorded on a computer readable medium for varying the use of said electrical signals being used for controlling said functions in response to variations in the states of said neural activity comprising:
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means for predetermining a neural activity pattern indicative of the transition of a user from one state of neural activity to another;
means for monitoring the neural activity of said user for said predetermined neural activity pattern; and
means responsive to the detection of said predetermined neural activity pattern for changing said use of said electrical signals to control said computer controlled functions.
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Specification