MOTION SICKNESS REDUCTION, DIRECTIONAL INDICATION, AND NEURAL REHABILITATION DEVICE
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.
1 . 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.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the motion data comprises one or a combination of the headband's position, speed, velocity, or acceleration.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein, when a new direction of the motion is contained in a periodic receipt of motion data from the sensor and a newly-selected first transducer is selected by the controller to reflect the new direction, one or more transducers are activated in sequence between the previously-selected first transducer and the newly-selected first transducer to indicate a rotational transition from the old direction to the new direction.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the intensity of operation of the one or more transducers activated in sequence is gradually reduced in the reverse order of their activation so as to cause a trailing off of intensity following the indication of rotational transition.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the haptic feedback is in the form of pressure, vibration, or electrical stimulation.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor can be located at any position on the headband.
7 . 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.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the motion data comprises one or a combination of the headband's position, speed, velocity, or acceleration.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein, when a new direction of the motion is contained in a periodic receipt of motion data from the input port and a newly-selected first transducer is selected by the controller to reflect the new direction, one or more transducers are activated in sequence between the previously-selected first transducer and the newly-selected first transducer to indicate a rotational transition from the old direction to the new direction.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the intensity of operation of the one or more transducers activated in sequence is gradually reduced in the reverse order of their activation so as to cause a trailing off of intensity following the indication of rotational transition.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the direction and magnitude of motion are received from a computer generated virtual environment.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the haptic feedback is in the form of pressure, vibration, or electrical stimulation.
13 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the sensor can be located at any position on the headband.
14 . 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.
15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the motion data comprises one or a combination of the headband's position, speed, velocity, or acceleration.
16 . The method of treatment of claim 15 , wherein, when a new direction of the motion is contained in a periodic receipt of motion data from the sensor or the input port and a newly-selected first transducer is selected by the controller to reflect the new direction, one or more transducers are activated in sequence between the previously-selected first transducer and the newly-selected first transducer to indicate a rotational transition from the old direction to the new direction.
17 . The method of treatment of claim 16 , wherein the intensity of operation of the one or more transducers activated in sequence is gradually reduced in the reverse order of their activation so as to cause a trailing off of intensity following the indication of rotational transition.
18 . The method of treatment of claim 15 , wherein the direction and magnitude of motion are received from a computer generated virtual environment.
19 . The device of claim 14 , wherein the haptic feedback is in the form of pressure, vibration, or electrical stimulation.
20 . The method of treatment of claim 14 , wherein the sensor can be located at any position on the headband.