# US 12,223,108 B2 · Multi-modal switching controller for communication and control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,223,108 B2 - Document ID: US12223108B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/503,296 - Filed: 2023-11-07 - Published: 2024-03-07 - Granted: 2025-02-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-23 - Assignees: Control Bionics Limited - Applicants: Control Bionics Limited - Inventors: James E. Schorey; Peter S. Ford - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12223108B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/015: {Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection} - G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)} - G06F 3/012: {Head tracking input arrangements} - G06F 3/013: {Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence)} - G06F 3/014: {Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves} - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - G06F 3/0227: {Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer (G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence)} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A controller is communicatively coupled to the one or more user input devices, such as sensors or electrodes, a user interface device, and one or more switch-controlled devices. The controller presents a configuration user interface on the user interface device including selectable configurations for access modes. The controller assigns one or more of the user input devices according to a current selected configuration of an access mode. The controller detects a volitional user input corresponding to a change in a particular signal detected by a particular user input device and switches the switch-controlled device based on the detected user input. In one or more embodiments, the system includes one or more biosignal electrodes attachable to a user and/or mechanical, positional, or other switch technologies. In one or more embodiments, the system includes one or more sensors for detection of movement, gestures, eye tracking or other input. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: one or more switches configured to be activated by a user or external event, each switch comprises at least one user input device configured to detect a user input signal or input trigger or at least one external event occurrence signal; a controller that detects a switch input corresponding to a change in a particular input signal or input trigger detected by a particular one of the one or more switches; a user interface device; and a switch-controlled device configured to detect an output signal from the controller; wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to (i) the one or more switches, (ii) the user interface device, and (iii) the switch-controlled device, and wherein the controller: presents a configuration user interface on the user interface device including selectable configurations for access modes; assigns one or more of the switches with respect to one or more switch inputs according to a current selected configuration of an access mode; and detects a switch input corresponding to a change in a particular input signal detected by a particular signal-producing input user device; identifies an assigned switch input based on the current selected configuration and the detected switch input of the particular switch input device signal; and communicates the selected switch output to the switch-controlled device, wherein the access mode comprises: a button quantity selection of one or more buttons; wherein the access mode maps or assigns an input signal or input trigger to the controller to one or more buttons corresponding to the button quantity selection on a panel-by-panel basis; wherein the one or more buttons are mapped independently to one or more controller outputs; and wherein the input signal or input trigger is producible as an output signal by the one or more controller outputs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller determines that a first user input is received in response to detecting the first volitional user input to a particular switch having a first duration; and determines that a second user input is received in response to detecting a second volitional user input to the particular switch having a second duration that is longer than the first duration and wherein the access mode comprises a first input of a first duration and a second input of a second duration of a first switch-controlled device, the first and the second durations being different. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the access mode comprises selecting one of: (i) a time scan; and (ii) a step scan. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the access mode comprises assigning a first switch-controlled device to a first input of a user interface and assigning a second switch-controlled device to a second input of the switch-controlled device. ### Claim 5 A method comprising: presenting a configuration user interface on a user interface device including selectable configurations for access modes; assigning one or more of the switches as respective to one or more user inputs according to a current selected configuration of an access mode, each switch comprising a signal user input device configured to detect a signal from the user; and detecting a user input corresponding to a change in a particular signal detected by a particular signal user input device; identifying the user input based on the current selected configuration and the detected volitional user input of the particular signal user input device; and communicating the user input to the switch-controlled device, wherein the method further comprising: receiving a button quantity selection of one of one or more buttons; and mapping or assigning one or more unique input signal or input trigger to the controller to one or more buttons corresponding to the button quantity selection on a panel-by-panel basis; wherein the one or more buttons are mapped independently to one or more controller outputs; and wherein the input signal or input trigger is producible as an output signal by the one or more controller outputs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the method further comprising: determining that a first user input is received in response to detecting the first volitional user input to a particular switch having a first duration; and determining that a second user input is received in response to detecting a second volitional user input to the particular switch having a second duration that is longer than the first duration and wherein the access mode comprises a first input of a first duration and a second input of a second duration of a first switch-controlled device, the first and the second durations being different. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the access mode comprises selecting one of: (i) a time scan; and (ii) a step scan. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein further comprising assigning a first switch-controlled device to a first input of a user interface and assigning a second switch-controlled device to a second input of the switch-controlled device. ### Claim 9 A computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage device; and program code on the computer readable storage device that when executed by a processor associated with an electronic device, the program code enables the electronic device to provide functionality of: presenting a configuration user interface on a user interface device including selectable configurations for access modes; assigning one or more of the switches as respective to one or more user inputs according to a current selected configuration of an access mode, each switch comprising a set of signal user input devices configured to detect a signal from the user; and detecting a volitional user input corresponding to a change in a particular signal detected by a particular signal user input device; identifying the user input based on the current selected configuration and the detected volitional user input of the particular signal user input device; and communicating the user input to the switch-controlled device, wherein the program code enables the electronic device to provide the functionality of: receiving a button quantity selection of one of one or more buttons; and mapping or assigning one or more unique input signal or input trigger to the controller to one or more buttons corresponding to the button quantity selection on a panel-by-panel basis; wherein the one or more buttons are mapped independently to one or more controller outputs; and wherein the input signal or input trigger is producible as an output signal by the one or more controller outputs. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program code enables the electronic device to provide the functionality of: determining that a first user input is received in response to detecting the first volitional user input to a particular switch having a first duration; and determining that a second user input is received in response to detecting a second volitional user input to the particular switch having a second duration that is longer than the first duration; and wherein the access mode comprises a first input of a first duration and a second input of a second duration of a first switch-controlled device, the first and the second durations being different. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the access mode comprises selecting one of: (i) a time scan; and (ii) a step scan. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program code enables the electronic device to provide the functionality of assigning a first switch-controlled device to a first input of a user interface and assigning a second switch-controlled device to a second input of the switch-controlled device.