Brain-body actuated system

An apparatus for controlling at least two functions of a device in response to EEG biopotentials produced by brain activity in a user and EMG biopotentials produced by muscle activity in the user, the apparatus comprising:

• a sensor adapted to be applied to the user for producing a single input signal representing an aggregate of the EEG and EMG biopotentials, said single input signal changing as a function of changes in either the EEG or EMG biopotentials;
• means for selecting at least two reference frequencies within a predetermined range of selectable frequencies;
• signal processing means responsive to said single input signal and said reference frequencies for generating at least two control signals, each of said control signals being associated with one of said reference frequencies and changing as a function of changes in either the EEG or the EMG biopotentials;
• means responsive to said control signals for presenting representations of said at least two control signals to the user, thereby enabling the user to sense changes in said control signals as a function of changes in the brain and muscle activity;
• and
• means responsive to said control signals for controlling the at least two functions of the device as a function of the changes in each of said control signals, each of the at least two functions of the device being controlled by one of the control signals.

A method of controlling at least two functions of a device in response to biopotentials produced by a user, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting the biopotentials;
• producing in response to the biopotentials a single input signal changing as a function of changes in the biopotentials;
• generating at least two control signals associated with at least two reference frequencies in response to the single input signal, each of the control signals being associated with one of the reference frequencies and changing as a function of the biopotentials;
• presenting representations of the control signals to the user to enable the user to sense changes in each of the control signals as a function of changes in the biopotentials;
• and
• controlling the at least two functions of the device in response to the changes in each of the control signals, each of the at least two functions being controlled by one of the control signals.

An apparatus for controlling at least two functions of an external device in response to biopotentials produced by a user, the apparatus comprising:

• a sensor for producing a single input signal in response to detecting the biopotentials produced by the user, the single input signal changing as a function of changes in the biopotentials;
• a signal processor operatively connected to the sensor for periodically sampling the single input signal and generating at least two control signals in response to at least two reference frequencies and the single input signal, each of the control signals being associated with one of the reference frequencies and changing as a function of the biopotentials;
• an output device connected to the signal processor and providing representations of the control signals to the user to enable the user to sense changes in each of the control signals as a function of changes in the biopotentials;
• and
• a controller operatively connected to the signal processor and adapted to be connected to the external device and controlling the at least two functions of the external device in response to the changes in the control signals, each of the two functions being controlled by one of the control signals.