System and method for controlling electronic devices

• US 20040044418A1
• Filed: 09/04/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tim Goldstein
• Original Assignee: Tim Goldstein
• Inventors: Goldstein, Tim
• Granted Patent: US 6,920,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 11/10 Electronic devices other than hearing aids
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/04 Contact lenses for the eyes disinfection or sterilisation of contact lenses A61L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/013 Eye tracking input arrangements G06F3/015 takes precedence

Abstract

A system of the present invention automatically controls electronic devices based on physiological conditions of a user. In this regard, the system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is positioned adjacent to an eye of a user and is configured to detect a physiological response of the user. The sensor is configured to transmit, in response to a detection of the physiological response, a signal indicative of the response. The controller is configured to receive the signal and to control an electronic device based on the signal.

Claims

1. A system for controlling electronic devices based on physiological responses, comprising:

a sensor positioned adjacent to an eye of a user, said sensor configured to detect a physiological response of said user and to transmit, in response to a detection of said physiological response, a signal indicative of said physiological response; and

a controller configured to receive said signal and to control an electronic device based on said signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to determine a value indicative of an excitement level of said user based on said signal and to control said electronic device based on said value.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said physiological response is a blink of an eyelid of said user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said physiological response is involuntary.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said physiological response is indicative of an excitement level of said user.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a contact lens coupled to said sensor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said electronic device is a camera.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an antenna coupled to said contact lens.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said sensor is configured to transmit said signal to said controller via said antenna.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a switch that is positioned within a path of movement of an eyelid of said user, said switch activated when said user blinks said eyelid.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said switch is coupled to said electronic device.

12. A system for controlling electronic devices based on physiological responses, comprising:

a contact lens;

a sensor coupled to said contact lens, said sensor configured to detect a physiological response of said user and to transmit, in response to a detection of said physiological response, a signal indicative of said physiological response; and

a controller configured to receive said signal and to control an electronic device based on said signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said electronic device is a camera.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said sensor comprises a switch that is positioned within a path of movement of an eyelid of said user, said switch activated when said user blinks said eyelid.

15. A method for controlling electronic devices based on physiological responses, comprising the steps of:

positioning a sensor adjacent to an eye of a user;

detecting, via said sensor, a physiological response of said user; and

automatically controlling an electronic device based on said detecting step.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said sensor is coupled to a contact lens.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of counting, via said sensor, a number of eye blinks performed by said user within a specified time period, wherein said controlling step is based on said counting step.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

determining a value indicative of an excitement level of said user based on said based on said detecting step,

wherein said controlling step is based on said value determined in said determining step.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said electronic device is a camera.

20. A system, comprising:

a camera;

a sensor configured to detect a physiological response of a user; and

a controller configured to cause said camera to capture an image based on a detection of said physiological response by said sensor.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said physiological response is involuntary.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said controller is further configured to determine a value indicative of an excitement level of said user based on said detection and to cause said camera to capture said image based on said value.

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising a contact lens coupled to said sensor.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein said physiological response is a blink of an eyelid of said user.

25. A method, comprising the steps of:

providing a camera;

detecting a physiological response of a user of said camera; and

automatically causing said camera to capture an image based on said detecting step.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said physiological response is involuntary.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of determining, based on said detecting step, a value indicative of an excitement level of said user, wherein said causing step is performed based on said value.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said detecting step is performed by a sensor coupled to a contact lens.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein said physiological response is a blink of an eyelid of said user.