Search Patents
  • Mind-control toys and methods of interaction therewith
    Publication number: 20100105478
    Abstract: A mind-control toy is provided, comprising one or more biosensors configured to detect brainwave activity and generate signals based on the detected brainwave activity. A controller may be responsive to the signals to direct a member to effect movement of one or more objects. In some embodiments, the member includes a device for suspending the object in midair above the device, and the controller is responsive to the first signal to vary output of the device to control a suspended height of the object. In some such embodiments, the mind-control toy includes an obstacle course defining an aerial path. In other such embodiments, the mind-control toy includes a track along which players can compete or cooperate. In other embodiments, the mind-control toy includes a maze, a portion of which may be rotated using mind control to maneuver the object from a start zone to an end zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Stephen C. Hallaian, Stephen P.K. Lau, Kam Young-eun Kim Redlawsk, Joseph W. Franke
  • Mind-control toys and methods of interaction therewith
    Patent number: 8157609
    Abstract: A mind-control toy is provided, comprising one or more biosensors configured to detect brainwave activity and generate signals based on the detected brainwave activity. A controller may be responsive to the signals to direct a member to effect movement of one or more objects. In some embodiments, the member includes a device for suspending the object in midair above the device, and the controller is responsive to the first signal to vary output of the device to control a suspended height of the object. In some such embodiments, the mind-control toy includes an obstacle course defining an aerial path. In other such embodiments, the mind-control toy includes a track along which players can compete or cooperate. In other embodiments, the mind-control toy includes a maze, a portion of which may be rotated using mind control to maneuver the object from a start zone to an end zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Hallaian, Stephen P. K. Lau, Kam Young-eun Kim Redlawsk, Joseph W. Franke
  • CHANGE-OF-MIND SHIFT CONTROL OF A DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION
    Publication number: 20160069453
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), and a controller. The controller executes instructions embodying a method to control a requested change-of-mind shift of the DCT to a second desired gear state. The requested change-of-mind shift is initiated after a prior-requested but not yet fully-executed shift of the DCT to a first desired gear state. Execution of the instructions causes the controller to detect the requested change-of-mind shift, identify the second desired gear state, and abort the prior-requested shift to the first desired gear state immediately upon identifying the second desired gear state. The controller also shifts the DCT to the second desired gear state using a calibrated shift profile corresponding to the detected change-of-mind shift. The calibrated shift profile describes required oncoming and offgoing clutch torques needed for achieving the second desired gear state. Engine speed control may be used to synchronize engine and input shaft speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Harinath Atmaram, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Matthew D. Whitton, Mateusz Nowak
  • PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF A CHANGE-OF-MIND-SHIFT MANEUVER
    Publication number: 20170037957
    Abstract: A system includes a torque converter having a turbine, a transmission having friction clutches and an input member connected to the turbine, and a controller. The controller is programmed to control a change-of-mind shift maneuver of the transmission. By executing a method, the controller detects the change-of-mind shift maneuver, predicts an acceleration profile of the turbine for a next-requested shift of the detected shift maneuver as a function of a calibrated desired shift time and an output speed of the transmission, calculates a shift control value for a next-requested shift of the shift maneuver using the predicted acceleration profile, and executes the next-requested shift via the clutches using the calculated shift control value. The shift maneuver may be a skip-at-sync quick shift-to-quick shift or power downshift-to-power downshift. The shift value may be a clutch pressure for an offgoing holding clutch or a torque management level from an engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Dara Monajemi, Brian H Fiore, Jeremy V Horgan
  • Predictive control of a change-of-mind-shift maneuver
    Patent number: 9869387
    Abstract: A system includes a torque converter having a turbine, a transmission having friction clutches and an input member connected to the turbine, and a controller. The controller is programmed to control a change-of-mind shift maneuver of the transmission. By executing a method, the controller detects the change-of-mind shift maneuver, predicts an acceleration profile of the turbine for a next-requested shift of the detected shift maneuver as a function of a calibrated desired shift time and an output speed of the transmission, calculates a shift control value for a next-requested shift of the shift maneuver using the predicted acceleration profile, and executes the next-requested shift via the clutches using the calculated shift control value. The shift maneuver may be a skip-at-sync quick shift-to-quick shift or power downshift-to-power downshift. The shift value may be a clutch pressure for an offgoing holding clutch or a torque management level from an engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Dara Monajemi, Brian H Fiore, Jeremy V Horgan
  • CVT CONTROL DURING CHANGE-OF-MIND SHIFTS
    Publication number: 20170227120
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) for use with a torque generating mechanism includes an input member connectable to the torque generating mechanism, an output member, a variator assembly, and a controller. The controller is programmed to control a change-of-mind shift of the CVT requesting a transition from an initially-requested shift to a next-requested shift before completion of the initially-requested shift. Additionally, the controller is programmed to execute a method by detecting the change-of-mind shift, determining an acceleration profile of the input member for the change-of-mind shift using a calibration map indexed by a starting and target ratio of the variator assembly, and calculating a required ratio of the input and output pulleys using the acceleration profile. The controller then commands a clamping pressure of the variator assembly to thereby achieve the calculated required ratio. A vehicle includes an engine and the CVT noted above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Zhen J. Zhang, Paul G. Otanez
  • CVT control during change-of-mind shifts
    Patent number: 10145470
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission (CVT) for use with a torque generating mechanism includes an input member connectable to the torque generating mechanism, an output member, a variator assembly, and a controller. The controller is programmed to control a change-of-mind shift of the CVT requesting a transition from an initially-requested shift to a next-requested shift before completion of the initially-requested shift. Additionally, the controller is programmed to execute a method by detecting the change-of-mind shift, determining an acceleration profile of the input member for the change-of-mind shift using a calibration map indexed by a starting and target ratio of the variator assembly, and calculating a required ratio of the input and output pulleys using the acceleration profile. The controller then commands a clamping pressure of the variator assembly to thereby achieve the calculated required ratio. A vehicle includes an engine and the CVT noted above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Zhen J. Zhang, Paul G. Otanez
  • Change-of-mind shift control of a dual-clutch transmission
    Patent number: 9416869
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an engine, dual-clutch transmission (DCT), and controller. The controller executes a method to control a requested change-of-mind shift of the DCT to a second desired gear state. The requested shift is initiated after a prior-requested but not yet fully-executed shift of the DCT to a first desired gear state. The controller detects the requested shift, identifies the second desired gear state, and aborts the prior-requested shift immediately upon identifying the second desired gear state. The controller also shifts the DCT to the second desired gear state using a calibrated shift profile corresponding to the detected shift. The calibrated shift profile describes required oncoming and offgoing clutch torques needed for achieving the second desired gear state. Engine speed control may be used to synchronize engine and input shaft speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Harinath Atmaram, Ronald W. Van Diepen, Matthew D. Whitton, Mateusz Nowak
  • Mind controller
    Publication number: 20030171688
    Abstract: A mind controller is disclosed. The mind controller can induce a user's brain waves into an alpha wave state or a theta wave state by sensing and analyzing human brain waves and then transmitting a mind control audio message suitable for the analyzed human brain waves to the user, so that the user can improve mental concentration power or memory for himself/herself.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Jae Sup Yoo, Jae Chun Yoo
  • MIND-CONTROLLED SWITCH
    Publication number: 20220391015
    Abstract: A mind-controlled switch is described, which comprises input circuitry for receiving mind state data from a first external device, an actuator, responsive to user actuation to set one or more threshold mind state values, and control circuitry for controlling a second external device in dependence on the mind state data and the mind state value(s). Notably, the mind-controlled switch is provided separately both from a first external device (which actually collects the mind state data from the user) and the second external device, which is the device being controlled by the switch. Accordingly, the second external device need not have its own mind-controllable functionality, but can instead be a conventional device which is imbued with this functionality by way of the separate mind-controlled switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: Spinnaker IP Limited
    Inventor: Mohammed Azam
  • Mind-body correlation data evaluation apparatus and method of evaluating mind-body correlation data
    Publication number: 20070167690
    Abstract: A mind-body correlation data evaluation apparatus includes a stimulation providing section which provides stimulation to motivate an action of a subject, a physiological response data collecting section which collects physiological response data of the subject, a subjective rating and action rating data collecting section which collects subjective rating data and action rating data of the subject, a control and calculating section which evaluates a mind-body state of the subject based on the stimulation, and at least one of the physiological response data, the subjective rating data, and the action rating data, and a data feed-back section which feeds back to the subject at least the mind-body state of the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicants: OLEMI Trading Inc., Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Masako Miyazaki, Tatsuaki Ataka, Miho Kameyama, Takayoshi Togino
  • USER INTERFACE CONTROLS INCLUDING CAPTURING USER MOOD IN RESPONSE TO A USER CUE
    Publication number: 20110087974
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a method for operating a control in a graphical user interface (GUI) concurrently or in association with receiving a user indication of the user's state of mind. For example, a GUI control may include navigation controls in a web browser (page forward, page back, open or close a window or tab, etc.); video transport control (play, pause, stop, rewind, fast forward, scrub, etc.); hyperlink on a web page; a control in a software application, computer operating system or other function provided in a processing system interface. In a particular embodiment, when the user operates the control, such as a window close button, then depending on a concurrent or closely associated user “cue” such as a touch or swipe on the display screen, gesture, sound or utterance, button click, etc., an indication of the user's state of mind can be, conveyed to appropriate system or application hardware or software.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventor: Charles J. Kulas
  • Method and system for an intelligent supervisory control system
    Publication number: 20030176806
    Abstract: An intelligent supervisory control system or neuro-user interface (NUI), and method that utilize bioelectric state of mind or cognitive profile to control electronic and mechanical resources in an environment, such as in a 3-D PC or console game, a simulation or virtual environment, a cockpit, automobile, home, or surgical theatre. The interface comprises means for acquiring the brain signals of a user or subject, which are converted into a digital stream and mathematically processed to define an electrical state of the mind or cognitive profile of the user. Incorporating microprocessor-based software and storage facilities, the interface dynamically maps the cognitive profile onto multiple functions, which are adaptable for actuating microprocessor commands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Jaime A. Pineda, Brendan Z. Allison
  • USER INTERFACE CONTROLS INCLUDING CAPTURING USER MOOD
    Publication number: 20100306678
    Abstract: A method for operating at least one control in a graphical user interface that provides a user to output state of mind about current contents by selecting at least one of a multiple areas associated thereof. A change in texture is observed when a pointer is over at least one of the areas of the at least one control. The change in texture of the at least one control preferably includes a grid like cross-hatching, a diagonal hatching, a color change or any other visual indicators. A click on at least one of the areas of the control simultaneously operates the control and outputs the user's state of mind corresponding to the particular area. The method can be applicable to each of a navigational control, video transport control, web browser control, hyperlink, software application and computer operating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Charles J. Kulas
  • ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH TEXT PREDICTION FUNCTION AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20100199176
    Abstract: An electronic device has a predictive text entry function. The electronic device may include a display for displaying a graphical text entry interface in the form of a mind map to a user and a control circuit that controls the displayed content of the mind map. The control circuit may be configured to receive a starting text input from the user and associate the starting text input with a center of the mind map. The control circuit also may be configured to analyze the starting text input to establish branches of additional text from which the user may select to add text to the starting text.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: Fredrik A. Chronqvist
  • ADAPTIVE VOICE CONTROL AND VEHICLE COLLISION WARNING AND COUNTERMEASURE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20060271258
    Abstract: A safety system (10) for a host vehicle (12) includes a voice sensor (38) that detects voice signals from a vehicle occupant. An occupant classifier (30) determines a state of mind of the vehicle occupant. A controller (13) performs a safety countermeasure in response to the state of mind of the occupant including the transmission of the state of mind to a target vehicle. A vehicle voice control system (24) includes the voice sensor (38), which detects voice signals from the vehicle occupant. A speech classifier (32) monitors a speech characteristic, including a vehicle occupant identifiable and associated speech characteristic, in response to the voice signals and associates the voice signals with a vehicle related task in response thereto. A controller (13) performs the vehicle related task in response to the voice signals and the association.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Publication date: November 30, 2006
    Applicants: FORD MOTOR COMPANY, FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventors: Irv Salmeen, Gary Strumolo, Ronald Miller, David DiMeo, Anna Zevalkink
  • VISUAL ATTENTION APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD BASED ON MIND AWARENESS AND DISPLAY APPARATUS USING THE VISUAL ATTENTION APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20120189161
    Abstract: Disclosed are a visual attention apparatus based on mind awareness and an image output apparatus using the same. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention can reduce data throughput by performing object segmentation and context analysis according to downsampling and colors and approximate shapes of input images so as to detect attention regions using extrinsic visual attention and intrinsic visual attention. In addition, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention can detect the attention regions having different viewpoints for each user by detecting the attention regions due to the extrinsic visual attention and the intrinsic visual attention and processing and displaying the attention regions as various regions of interest, thereby increasing the image immersion and the utility of contents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Seok Bae Chang, Chang Hyun Park, Sung Won Sohn
  • Systems and Methods Involving Devices that Detect Mind/Brain Activity, Generation of Control Instructions via Same and/or Other Features
    Publication number: 20220300075
    Abstract: Systems, methods and wearable devices associated with mind/brain-computer interfaces are disclosed. Embodiments herein include features related to one or more of optical-based brain signal acquisition, decoding modalities, encoding modalities, brain-computer interfacing, AR/VR content interaction, signal to noise ration enhancement, and/or motion artefact reduction, among other features set forth herein. Certain implementations may include or involve processes of collecting and processing brain activity data, such as those associated with the use of a brain-computer interface that enables, for example, decoding and/or encoding a user's brain functioning, neural activities, and/or activity patterns associated with thoughts, including sensory-based thoughts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Jack Baber, Ekram Alam
  • Adaptive voice control and vehicle collision warning and countermeasure system
    Patent number: 7188012
    Abstract: A safety system (10) for a host vehicle (12) includes a voice sensor (38) that detects voice signals from a vehicle occupant. An occupant classifier (30) determines a state of mind of the vehicle occupant. A controller (13) performs a safety countermeasure in response to the state of mind of the occupant including the transmission of the state of mind to a target vehicle. A vehicle voice control system (24) includes the voice sensor (38), which detects voice signals from the vehicle occupant. A speech classifier (32) monitors a speech characteristic, including a vehicle occupant identifiable and associated speech characteristic, in response to the voice signals and associates the voice signals with a vehicle related task in response thereto. A controller (13) performs the vehicle related task in response to the voice signals and the association.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Irv T. Salmeen, Gary S. Strumolo, Ronald H. Miller, David D. DiMeo, Anna Zevalkink
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS THAT INVOLVE BCI (BRAIN COMPUTER INTERFACE), EXTENDED REALITY AND/OR EYE-TRACKING DEVICES, DETECT MIND/BRAIN ACTIVITY, GENERATE AND/OR PROCESS SALIENCY MAPS, EYE-TRACKING INFORMATION AND/OR VARIOUS CONTROL(S) OR INSTRUCTIONS, IMPLEMENT MIND-BASED SELECTION OF UI ELEMENTS AND/OR PERFORM OTHER FEATURES AND FUNCTIONALITY
    Publication number: 20240053825
    Abstract: Systems and methods associated with mind/brain-computer interfaces are disclosed. Certain implementations may include or involve processes of collecting and processing brain activity data, such as those associated with the use of a brain-computer interface that enables, for example, decoding and/or encoding a user's brain functioning, neural activities, and/or activity patterns associated with thoughts, including sensory-based thoughts. Consistent with various aspects of the disclosed technology, systems and methods herein include functionality whereby a user can hands-free select or click UI elements in a mixed reality environment or on a 2D computer, phone or other such screen. In some embodiments, the disclosed technology may involve a brain-interface that can decode where the user is looking (i.e., determine their visual attention) and also decode their intention to select or ‘click’ the UI element desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Jack Baber, Ekram Alam
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