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US 11,599,198 B2Granted
Motion sickness reduction, directional indication, and neural rehabilitation device
AssigneeNeurohaptics, Inc.
InventorEvgene Fainstain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for motion sickness reduction, directional indication, and neural rehabilitation that provides three modes of operation. The device operates by providing haptic feedback using transducers that convert electrical signals to a tactile sensation such as pressure, vibration, electrical stimulation, temperature, or airflow. The transducers are located at different locations on the body of a user, and actively change their operation to indicate a direction of motion or rotation to the user through haptic (tactile) feedback. This tactile feedback can be used to reduce motion sickness, provide directional indication, and enhance neural rehabilitation.
Claims20
A device for motion sickness reduction associated with physical movement, comprising:
- an annular-shaped headband configured to be worn about a horizontal circumference of a human head, the headband having a circumference and comprising:
- a plurality of transducers arranged about the circumference of the headband, each transducer being configured to provide haptic feedback to a wearer of the headband;
- and
- a sensor configured to periodically measure motion of the headband;
- a controller comprising a processor, a memory, and a plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, cause the controller to:
- periodically receive motion data from the sensor, the motion data indicating the direction and the magnitude of the motion of the headband;
- identify a first transducer of the plurality of transducers that is closest in direction to the direction of the motion;
- operate the first transducer, the intensity of transducer operation corresponding to the magnitude of the motion;
- while the magnitude of the motion meets or exceeds a threshold value, operate a second transducer to the left of the first transducer and a third transducer to the right of the first transducer, the intensity of operation of the second and third transducers corresponding to the magnitude of the motion, but at a lower intensity than the operation of the first transducer;
- while the magnitude of the motion falls below the threshold value, cease the operation of the second and third transducers;
- and
- repeat the operations of the controller set forth above periodically as motion data is periodically received from the sensor.
9 more elements
A device for reducing motion sickness associated with perceived movement in a virtual environment, comprising:
- an annular-shaped headband configured to be worn about a horizontal circumference of a human head, the headband having a circumference and comprising:
- a plurality of transducers arranged about the circumference of the headband, each transducer being configured to provide haptic feedback to a wearer of the headband;
- and
- an input port configured to periodically receive a direction and magnitude of a motion;
- a controller comprising a processor, a memory, and a plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, cause the controller to:
- periodically receive motion data at the input port, the motion data indicating the direction and the magnitude of the motion;
- identify a first transducer of the plurality of transducers that is closest in direction to the direction of the motion;
- operate the first transducer, the intensity of transducer operation corresponding to the magnitude of the motion;
- while the magnitude of the motion meets or exceeds a threshold value, operate a second transducer to the left of the first transducer and a third transducer to the right of the first transducer, the intensity of operation of the second and third transducers corresponding to the magnitude of the motion, but at a lower intensity than the operation of the first transducer;
- while the magnitude of the motion falls below the threshold value, cease the operation of the second and third transducers;
- and
- repeat the operations of the controller set forth above periodically as motion data is periodically received from the sensor.
9 more elements
A method of treatment for reducing motion sickness, comprising the steps of:
- arranging a plurality of transducers about a circumference of an annular-shaped headband configured to be worn about a horizontal circumference of a human head, each transducer being configured to provide haptic feedback to a wearer of the headband;
- using a controller on the headband comprising a memory, a processor, and a plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory and operating on the processor:
- periodically receiving motion data either from a sensor of the headgear or from an input port of the headgear, the motion data indicating a direction and a magnitude of a motion;
- identifying a first transducer of the plurality of transducers that is closest in direction to the direction of the motion;
- operating the first transducer, the intensity of transducer operation corresponding to the magnitude of the motion;
- while the magnitude of the motion meets or exceeds a threshold value, operating a second transducer to the left of the first transducer and a third transducer to the right of the first transducer, the intensity of operation of the second and third transducers corresponding to the magnitude of the motion, but at a lower intensity than the operation of the first transducer;
- while the magnitude of the motion falls below the threshold value, ceasing the operation of the second and third transducers;
- and
- repeat the operations of the controller set forth above periodically as motion data is periodically received from the sensor.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.