Patent No. 6071229 Video or compact disc encoder/decoder for brain wave synchronizer
Patent No. 6071229
Video or compact disc encoder/decoder for brain wave synchronizer (Rubins, Jun 6, 2000)
Abstract
A video decoder driving a sensory stimulation transducer by decoding, transforming or converting encoded data in a video signal to an output from a sensory stimulation transducer. In another aspect, a digital decoder driving a sensory stimulation transducer by decoding, transforming or converting encoded data in a subcode, or allocated, region of a storage medium to an output from a sensory stimulation transducer. The sensory stimulation transducer may be a brain wave synchronization device, such as light producing devices delivering light to a user's retina. In another aspect, a method and apparatus for pulsing light delivered by the light producing device thereby enhancing the entrainment associated with brain wave synchronization in the user.
Notes:
SUMMARY
OF THE INVENTION
In one broad aspect, the present invention provides a video decoder sensory
stimulation system for controlling the stimulation of a user's senses based
on decoded data from an encoded video signal. A video signal is encoded with
sensory stimulation data, such as brain wave synchronization data, using a suitable
encoding scheme provided by an exemplary encoder of the present invention. The
encoded signal may be stored, transmitted or broadcast as desired. An exemplary
video decoder in accord with the present invention recovers the encoded data
from an incoming video signal and decodes, converts, or transforms the data
into control data for operating a sensory stimulation transducer. The transducer
may be a brain wave synchronization transducer or an odor producing device,
among others. Accordingly, a sensory stimulation device receiving a video signal
including encoded data comprises a detection circuit receiving said video signal
and detecting said encoded data and a control circuit operating on said detected
encoded data and responsively controlling at least one sensory stimulation transducer.
Another broad aspect of the present invention provides for digital decoding
of sensory stimulation data embedded in a subcode region of a compact disk,
or similar, medium. The sensory stimulation data may comprise, for example,
brain wave synchronization data for driving a brain wave synchronization transducer,
such as LEDs. Other types of sensory stimulation transducers may be used, however,
such as buzzers, odor producing devices, or the like. Accordingly, a sensory
stimulation device comprises a storage medium having a plurality of allocated
storage regions, at least one of said allocated regions including encoded sensory
stimulation data; a retrieval device for accessing data from said storage medium
and serially providing an encoded output; a control circuit including a register
receiving said encoded output and storing it as a plurality of bits, a computer,
including a digital port, operatively monitoring the value of said plurality
of bits in said register and responsively transforming said plurality of stored
bits into a plurality of control bits provided to said digital port; and at
least one sensory stimulation transducer operatively connected to said digital
port.
A further broad aspect of the present invention provides a method of pulsing
a light producing device for producing brain wave synchronization to enhance
brain wave entrainment in a user of the device. A composite pulsing signal is
provided as a combination of synchronization and micropulse components such
that a higher actual peak intensity of light is delivered to the user's retina
for a given level of apparent light intensity observed by the user. Accordingly,
a method is provided of producing brain wave synchronization in a user of a
light producing device, the device operatively delivering light having an apparent
intensity and an actual peak intensity to the user's retina, the method comprising
pulsing the light producing device with a composite signal including a synchronization
frequency component and a micro-pulse frequency component; wherein said pulsing
provides a higher peak intensity for a given apparent intensity, thereby enhancing
the brain wave entrainment of the user.
In association with the method above, another broad aspect of the present invention
is a pulse driving device producing enhanced brain wave entrainment in a user.
Accordingly, a device producing brain wave synchronization in a user comprises
a light producing element operatively delivering light to the retina of the
user having an apparent intensity and an actual peak intensity; said light being
delivered in relatively short pulses at a peak intensity exceeding the apparent
intensity observed by the user; wherein brain wave entrainment of the user is
enhanced by the use of higher peak intensity light.
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One of ordinary skill in the art
would recognize that the magnitude of the composite signal "C" is governed by
the output characteristics of driving device 114 and the load characteristics
of light producing device 110.
Additionally, it is noted that various light producing devices provide light
intensities which vary in proportion to a driving signal based on the particular
device characteristics. It is contemplated that individual light producing devices
would be adjustable accordingly based on the teachings disclosed above.
Although the foregoing disclosure relates
to specific embodiments, the principles of the present invention inherent in
such embodiments should be recognized and broadly construed, as one of ordinary
skill in the art would understand. Accordingly, the invention should not be
limited to the details of any particular disclosed embodiment, but should be
broadly interpreted with respect to the following claims.
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