Apparatus, methods and systems for using imagined direction to define actions, functions or execution
A system and method for controlling a non-tactile device including a receiving device configured to receive signals corresponding to a user's EEG or movements, translate the EEG or movements into directional intentions, transmit the directional intentions to a secondary device, receive a command for one or more actions from the secondary device based on the transmitted directional intentions and output at least one control signal to the non-tactile device based on the received command for one or more actions. The non-tactile device may receive signals corresponding to a user's EEG or movements using a gestural sensor and/or an EEG sensor.
1. A first device comprising:
an electroencephalogram (EEG) signal sensor configured to record EEG signals indicative of at least one of electrical or muscular activity corresponding to a directional intention from a user of the device;
a gestural sensor comprising a pressure sensor configured to record inner ear pressure and measure differences in air pressure within the ear canal from the user, wherein the gestural sensor is configured to record gestural signals from the user corresponding to the directional intention; and
a communication module configured to:
transmit the recorded EEG signals, gestural signals, and inner ear pressure to a secondary device communicatively coupled to the first device;
receive one or more action signals from the secondary device; and
initiate at least one action based on the received one or more action signals from the secondary device,
wherein at least a portion of the first device is configured to fit within the ear of a user.
2. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the pressure sensor is a tactile pressure sensor exterior to the ear canal.
3. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the gestural sensor comprises at least one of an accelerometer or a gyroscope.
4. The first device of claim 1 , comprising at least one of a micro-piezoelectric speaker, a light sensor, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) temperature sensor, a capacitive touch sensor, a microphone, or a piezoelectric film speaker.
5. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more action signals correspond to one or more of a line pattern, a rune, and a directional intention determined based on at least one of the transmitted EEG signals or gestural signals.
6. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the first device is configured to:
detect an initiation movement via at least one of the EEG signal sensor or the gestural sensor; and
initiate recording signals corresponding to the directional intention from the user of the device via at least one of the EEG signal sensor or the gestural sensor.
7. The first device of claim 6 , wherein the initiation movement comprises a jaw clench.
8. A method comprising:
recording, by an EEG signal sensor of a first device, an EEG signal indicative of a directional intention from a user;
detecting, by at least one of the EEG signal sensor or a gestural sensor of the first device, an initiation movement comprising a jaw clench, wherein the jaw clench is detected by determining a change in at least one of an EEG signal, EMG signal or an air pressure signal;
recording, by the gestural sensor of the first device, a gestural signal from the user indicative of the directional intention of the user responsive to detecting the initiation movement;
transmitting, by a communications component of the first device, at least one of the recorded EEG signal or the gestural signal to a secondary device external to the first device;
receiving, by the communications component of the first device, one or more action signals from the secondary device; and
initiating, by the first device, at least one action based on the received one or more action signals from the secondary device.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein recording a gestural signal from the user comprises recording at least one of an acceleration force, inner ear pressure, or rotational motion.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more action signals correspond to one or more of a line pattern, a rune, and a directional intention determined based on at least one of the transmitted EEG signals or gestural signals.
11. The method of claim 8 , comprising:
positioning the first device at least partially within a ear of the user.
12. The method of claim 8 , comprising:
preprocessing the gestural data recorded by the gestural sensor at the first device prior to transmitting the gestural data to the second device, wherein processing further comprises isolating one or more signals or waveforms of interest by applying filters, algorithms, or signal processing techniques.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one action signal controls the operation of a software application for communication.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein gestural data comprises data indicative of at least one of balance or movement of the user, head turns, head nods, or jaw clenches.
15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the gestural sensor comprises a tactile pressure sensor exterior to the ear canal.