Controlling ear stimulation in response to image analysis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10327984-B2
Application number	US-201615340058-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 1, 2016
Priority date	Mar 27, 2015
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

Systems and related methods for controlling an ear stimulation device with a personal computing device, based on analysis of an image of a user of the personal computing device captured with a camera associated with the personal computing device, are described. One or more parameter is determined from the processed image, including, but not limited, to user identity, emotion, physiological condition, or placement of a stimulator earpiece, and control of the ear stimulation device is based thereon. If the earpiece is located incorrectly, in an aspect, delivery of a stimulus is prevented. In another aspect, the user is notified of the need to reposition an incorrectly located earpiece.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of controlling an ear stimulation device with a personal computing device, comprising:
capturing, with image capture circuitry on the personal computing device, via a user-facing camera associated with the personal computing device, an image of a user of the personal computing device;
processing the image, using image processing circuitry on the personal computing device, to determine at least one parameter; and
controlling, with neural stimulus control signal determination circuitry on the personal computing device, based at least in part on the at least one parameter, delivery of a stimulus to at least one nerve innervating a pinna of an ear of the user with the ear stimulation device,
wherein the stimulus includes as least one of a mechanical stimulus, electrical stimulus, magnetic stimulus, ultrasonic stimulus, optical stimulus, or chemical stimulus.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image processing circuitry includes application software on the personal computing device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is an emotional parameter of the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is a physiological parameter of the user.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is a medical parameter of the user.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is a biometric parameter indicative of an identity of the user.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is a heart rate of the user.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is an eye position or eye movement parameter of the user.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter is a distance of one or more portions of an earpiece of the ear stimulation device with respect to at least one anatomical feature of the ear of the user.

10. The method of claim 9 , including delivering, under control of notification circuitry on the personal computing device, a notification to the user informing the user of a need to adjust a position of the earpiece with respect to the ear of the user.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the personal computing device includes a phone, watch, wearable device, tablet computer, laptop computer, or desktop computer.

12. The method of method of claim 1 , including
processing the image, using the image processing circuitry, to determine
a presence of at least one earpiece of the ear stimulation device at the ear of the user, the ear selected from a right ear of the user and a left ear of the user; and
at least one attribute of the at least one earpiece indicative of usability of the at least one earpiece with the ear of the user at which the earpiece is located;

determining, using application software on the personal computing device, a target ear at which the at least one ear earpiece is usable, based on the at least one attribute of the at least one earpiece;
determining, using application software on the personal computing device, that the ear at which the at least one earpiece is located is not the target ear at which the at least one earpiece is usable; and
sending a control signal from the personal computing device to the ear stimulation device, under control of the neural stimulus control signal determination circuitry, to prevent delivery of a stimulus to the pinna of the ear at which the at least one earpiece is located via the at least one earpiece.

13. The method of claim 12 , including receiving, with handshake circuitry on the personal computing device, a handshake signal from ear stimulation device control circuitry associated with the ear stimulation device.

14. The method of claim 13 , including capturing the image of the user of the personal computing device responsive to receiving the handshake signal from the ear stimulation device control circuitry.

15. The method of claim 13 , including sending a handshake signal to the ear stimulation device control circuitry responsive to determining the presence of the at least one earpiece located at the ear of the user in the image.

16. The method of claim 12 , including delivering, under control of notification circuitry on the personal computing device, a notification to the user informing the user of a need to switch the at least one earpiece to the target ear if the ear at which the at least one earpiece is located is not the target ear at which the at least one earpiece is usable.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein delivering the notification to the user includes delivering a text notification.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein delivering the notification to the user includes delivering a visible notification.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein delivering the notification to the user includes delivering an audio notification.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the at least one attribute of the at least one earpiece includes determining a shape of the at least one earpiece.

21. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the at least one attribute of the at least one earpiece includes determining a color of the at least one earpiece.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the at least one attribute of the at least one earpiece includes determining a presence of an indicia on the at least one earpiece or an attachment to the at least one earpiece.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the attachment to the at least one earpiece includes a cable connected to the at least one earpiece.

24. An ear stimulation device control system, comprising:
a personal computing device;
a user-facing camera associated with the personal computing device;
image capture circuitry adapted to capture an image of a user of the personal computing device from the user-facing camera;
image processing circuitry configured to process the image to determine at least one parameter; and
neural stimulus control signal determination circuitry configured to control delivery of a stimulus to at least one nerve innervating a pinna of an ear of the user with an ear stimulation device, based at least in part on the at least one parameter,
wherein the stimulus includes as least one of a mechanical stimulus, electrical stimulus, magnetic stimulus, ultrasonic stimulus, optical stimulus, or chemical stimulus.

25. The system of claim 24 , wherein the at least one parameter is an emotional parameter of the user.

26. The system of claim 24 , wherein the at least one parameter is a physiological parameter of the user.

27. The system of claim 24 , wherein the at least one parameter is a biometric parameter indicative of an identity of the user.

28. The system of claim 24 , wherein the at least one parameter is a heart rate of the user.

29. The system of claim 24 , wherein the at least one parameter is an eye position or eye movement parameter of the user.

30. The system of claim 24 , wherein the at least one parameter is a distance of one or more portions of an earpiece of the ear stimulation device with respect to at least one anatomical feature of the ear of the user.

31. The system of claim 24 , wherein the personal computing device includes a phone, watch, wearable device, tablet computer, laptop computer, or desktop computer.

32. The system of claim 24 , wherein

Assignees

• Elwha Llc
• Equility Llc

Inventors

• Goodall Eleanor V
• Hyde Roderick A
• Ishikawa Muriel Y
• Kare Jordin T
• Kitzan Melanie K
• Leuthardt Eric C
• Malamud Mark A
• Malaska Stephen L
• Myhrvold Nathan P
• Scheid Brittany
• Sharadin Katherine E
• Sweeney Elizabeth A
• Tegreene Clarence T
• Whitmer Charles
• Wood Jr Lowell L
• Wood Victoria Y H

Classifications

• A61N1/36036 Primary

  of the outer, middle or inner ear · CPC title

• A61N2005/0647

  the applicator adapted to be worn on the head · CPC title

• A63F13/424

  involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition · CPC title

• A61N1/36021

  for treatment of pain · CPC title

• A61N2/002

  in combination with another treatment · CPC title