# US 10,441,190 B2 · Systems and methods for providing a waking mechanism > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,190 B2 - Document ID: US10441190B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/518,343 - Filed: 2014-10-20 - Published: 2015-10-08 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2014-10-20 - Applicants: NodStop, LLC - Inventors: Nathaneal Hill; Jonathan Miller; Loren Adams; Logan Teancum Kratzer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441190B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/375: using biofeedback - A61B 5/18: for vehicle drivers {or machine operators} - A61B 5/374: Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves - A61B 5/4809: {Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not} - A61B 5/4812: {Detecting sleep stages or cycles} - A61B 5/6803: {Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles} - A61B 5/6814: {Head} - A61B 5/7405: {using sound} - A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)} - A61B 5/7455: {characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation} - 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 - A61M 2021/0022: {by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations} - A61M 2021/0027: {by the hearing sense} - A61M 2021/0044: {by the sight sense} - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - A61M 2230/10: Electroencephalographic signals - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract An EEG monitor with sensors placed to detect signals and analyze the signals to determine if a frequency below 12 Hz, and more particularly between 3 Hz and 8 Hz, called theta waves, are present. Theta waves are generated when the brain is entering a drowsy or sleep mode. The sensors detect brain wave signals and transmit the signals to a microprocessor which analyzes the signals and determines the brain waves being detected. The brain waves are continuously monitored and the data is continuously transmitted to a microprocessor. If brain waves are detected in the predetermined range of between 3 Hz and 8 Hz the microprocessor activates a stimulus, to wake up the person wearing the device. The stimulus may be visual, auditory or tactile, such as an actuator, a phone call or any other stimulus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A brain wave monitoring apparatus, comprising: headgear configured to be secured to a head of a user; a microprocessor coupled to the headgear; a plurality of sensors in communication with the microprocessor and coupled to the headgear, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to detect brain waves emitted from a brain of the user and output signals indicative of the detected brain waves; and a stimulator coupled to the headgear; wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive and filter the signals output from the plurality of sensors based on wave frequency to determine when to output a stimulus signal, wherein the microprocessor is configured to: read analog signals from the sensors; convert the analog signals to digital signals using based on an analog to digital converter; down-sample the digital signals based on a mean value to packets; store the packets into samples; place the samples in a logic loop which includes a convolution with filtering coefficients assigned to the samples based on wave frequency; normalize the samples; and take the root mean square of the normalized samples to create data packets; run the data packets through a packet-counter based recognition function wherein signal waves in a range of 3 Hz to 8 Hz are assigned a first filtering coefficient value and counted and signal waves in a range of greater than 8 Hz to less than 12 Hz are assigned a second filtering coefficient value and counted, wherein the first value and the second value are combined to create a packet-counter based recognition function value; and determine when to output a stimulus signal based on a comparison of the packet-counter based recognition function value indicative of the signals to a threshold value such that when the microprocessor determines that the packet-counter based recognition function value exceeds the threshold value, the microprocessor outputs a stimulus signal to the stimulator causing the stimulator to provide a visual, auditory, or tactile stimulus to the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensors further comprise dry-contact sensors. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the stimulator is positioned at a center base of the head when the headgear is secured to the head of the user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors are spaced laterally across a crown of the head. ### Claim 5 A brain wave monitoring apparatus, comprising headgear configured to be secured to a head of a user; a microprocessor coupled to the headgear; a plurality of sensors in communication with the microprocessor and coupled to the headgear, wherein the plurality of sensors are configured to detect brain waves emitted from a brain of the user and output signals indicative of the detected brain waves; and a stimulator coupled to the headgear; wherein the microprocessor is configured to: define a time interval and data size of data packets; read signals from an analog to digital converter and place the signals in the data packets; down-sample the signals; store samples of the signals in the microprocessor; pass the samples through a “for” loop that includes a convolution with filtering coefficients; normalize the samples; take the root mean square of the normalized samples to obtain a root mean square value; run the root mean square value through a packet-counter based recognition function wherein signal waves from 3 Hz to 8 Hz are counted to create a first filtering coefficient value and signal waves from greater than 8 Hz to less than 12 Hz are counted to create a second filtering coefficient value, wherein the sum of the first value and the second value comprise the packet-counter based recognition function value; compare the packet-counter based recognition function value to a threshold value; and determine whether the packet-counter based recognition function value exceeds the threshold value, such that in response to the microprocessor determining that the packet-counter based recognition function value exceeds the threshold value, the microprocessor outputs a stimulus signal to the stimulator causing the stimulator to provide a visual, auditory, or tactile stimulus to the user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the signals are between 3 and 8 Hz. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the stimulator is positioned at a center base of the head when the headgear is secured to the head of the user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the stimulus includes a tactile vibration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the stimulus includes an electric pulse. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of sensors are spaced laterally across a crown of the head. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the signals are indicative of the detected brain waves corresponding to the brain transitioning from an alert state to a sleep state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a user-operated switch configured to reset the “for” loop. ### Claim 13 A brain wave monitoring apparatus, comprising: headgear comprising a plurality of brain wave sensors configured to detect analog brain waves; a stimulator; and a microprocessor configured to: read analog signals from the sensors; convert the analog signals to digital signals using an analog to digital converter; down-sample the digital signals based on a mean value to packets; store the packets into samples; place the samples in a logic loop which includes a convolution, wherein a first filtering coefficient value is assigned to signal waves in the range of between 3 Hz to 8 Hz and a second filtering coefficient value is assigned to signal waves in the range of between 8 Hz and 12 Hz; normalize the samples; take the root mean square of the normalization to create data packets; run the data packets through a packet-counter based recognition function wherein the samples having a first filtering coefficient value and the samples having a second filtering coefficient value are combined to constitute a packet-counter based recognition function value; and determine when to output a stimulus signal based on comparison of the packet-counter based recognition function value indicative of the signals to a threshold value such that when the microprocessor determines that the packet-counter based recognition function value exceeds the threshold value the microprocessor outputs a stimulus signal to the stimulator causing the stimulator to provide a visual, auditory, or tactile stimulus to the user.