A device receiving EEG signals

Abstract

The invention relates to a device structure designed to receive EEG, EMG, EOG, and / or ECG signals from a user through wired or wireless electrodes / sensors for the purpose of improving the user's mental and / or physical state. The obtained data is processed via edge computing, desktop or mobile software, and / or cloud computing systems.

Description

[0001] A DEVICE RECEIVING EEG SIGNALS

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a device structure designed to receive EEG, EMG, EOG, and / or ECG signals from a user through electrodes / sensors in a wired or wireless fashion for the purpose of improving the user’s mental and / or physical state. The obtained data is processed via edge computing, desktop or mobile software, and / or cloud computing systems.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Brain signals are electrical activities generated by neurons as they communicate with one another. Brain activity produces electrical signals that contain measurable and recordable patterns. These signals play a crucial role in various emotional states, cognitive functions, sensory processes, and motor activities. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive method used to record and measure brain signals. Various techniques, such as placing electrodes on the scalp or different regions of the head, are used to detect brain signals. EEG is widely employed for clinical and research purposes to observe brain function, detect neurological disorders, and monitor brain activity. Neurofeedback is a method that provides feedback about an individual’s brainwave patterns through real-time monitoring of brain signals. With the help of this feedback, individuals can learn to regulate their behavior and modify their brain activity. Neurofeedback is commonly used as an approach to address challenges associated with conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, epilepsy, anxiety, and other neurological or psychological disorders.

[0006] SUMMARY

[0007] In one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises at least one earbud without earphone functions (speaker and microphone), solely designed to capture EEG signals from the user's ear canal. In another embodiment of the invention, the device comprises at least one sensor electrode for capturing EEG signals from the user's head region, outer ear region and / or ear canal, along with a pair of headphones.

[0008] In another embodiment of the invention, the device comprises at least one sensor electrode and a microchip, designed to capture EEG signals from the user's head region, outer ear region and / or ear canal, which can be mounted onto the user's existing earphones.

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention relates to a device, either as a standalone earphone or attachable to an existing earphone, configured with various embodiments to integrate with multiple platforms and / or assist in enhancing focus, improving mood, and increasing productivity. The device is designed to accommodate multiple sensors and receive various inputs from those sensors. By leveraging an individual’s securely stored and personalized data, as well as brain signals, the invention can assist each user in enhancing focus, improving mood, and boosting productivity in a personalized manner.

[0011] The invention comprises a system that automatically records all EEG signals obtained from the ear into a comprehensive database containing extensive data about the individual. The mentioned system may include an EEG signal acquisition device, earphones in which the EEG signal acquisition device is positioned, remote servers attributed to the system's functions, databases, application servers, application databases, product databases, mobile and / or desktop applications and / or computers, microchips, and microprocessors used for edge computing, forming a mental and / or physical support system.

[0012] The first embodiment of the system subject to the invention comprises at least one earbud without earphone functions (speaker and microphone), designed solely to capture EEG signals from the user's ear canal. The earbud can be produced in any size, shape, or design and includes a housing with a hollow interior that accommodates at least one sensor electrode and a tip. The earbud includes an ear cushion, generally circular in shape, designed to partially indent into the hollow interior of the user's outer ear canal. The mentioned system embodiment comprises at least one electrode integrated into the earbud and positioned within the ear cushion, enabling the capture of EEG signals from the area around the ear. The electrode can be manufactured in any suitable size, shape, material, and design. It can be in any suitable shape and is mounted on the earbud's cushion, positioned to align with the outer ear canal, and customizable to optimize the acquisition of the user's EEG signals. Within the structure's housing, there is also an edge computing device (microchip) for processing EEG signals, a wireless communication module (e.g., Bluetooth), and a power source. The device described in this embodiment connects wirelessly to the user's smart device via the wireless communication module, allowing its use and management through an application. Here, the smart device can be any device containing a processor with software, such as a phone, tablet, or computer.

[0013] The second embodiment of the invention relates to a device configured to capture and process EEG signals, designed in the form and functionality of a earphone. The device includes components such as a speaker, microphone, noise-canceling hardware, a wireless communication unit (e.g., Bluetooth, Wi-Fi), computing devices, and a power source. This embodiment is technically equipped with standard earphone features and additionally includes at least one electrode integrated into the ear cushion, designed to capture EEG signals from around the ear and transmit them to an edge computing device (microchip). The headphone casing also houses an edge computing device (microchip) used for processing EEG signals. In this embodiment, the described device connects wirelessly to the user's smart device via a wireless communication module, allowing its operation and management through an application. Here, a smart device can be any device containing a processor with software, such as a phone, tablet, or computer.

[0014] The third embodiment of the invention relates to a device designed to capture and process EEG signals, which can be mounted onto any existing earphone. The device can be made from a flexible material suitable for skin contact, designed to fit over an existing headphone. This material can be one of the following:

[0015] Silicone: Offers high flexibility, waterproof properties, and a neutral pH level, making it unlikely to cause skin irritation. Commonly used in medical devices, sports equipment, and baby products.

[0016] Neoprene: Flexible, waterproof, and retains heat. Frequently used in wetsuits and sports equipment. TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane): Provides high flexibility, durability, waterproof properties, and biocompatibility. Utilized in medical devices, sports equipment, and shoe soles.

[0017] TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer): Flexible, waterproof, and can be produced in varying hardness levels. Commonly applied in toys, kitchenware, and sports equipment.

[0018] Nitrile Rubber: Offers high durability, flexibility, waterproof properties, and resistance to chemicals. Used in medical gloves, industrial gloves, and sealing materials.

[0019] In this embodiment, the device can be made of a rigid material suitable for skin contact, produced in a shape that matches the mold of the existing earphone, allowing it to be attached around the headphone. This material can be one of the following:

[0020] Thermoplastics: Soften when heated and harden when cooled, with flexibility levels varying by material. Commonly used in orthopedic devices, dental prosthetics, and sports equipment.

[0021] Composite Materials (Fiberglass, Carbon Fiber, etc.): Created by combining two or more materials, offering high strength, lightweight properties, and moldability. Widely used in prosthetics, orthopedic devices, and sports equipment.

[0022] Silicone: Can be vulcanized at high temperatures to achieve a harder and more moldable structure. Commonly applied in medical devices and industrial molds.

[0023] Polyurethane: Offers high strength, flexibility, and abrasion resistance. Can be hardened through thermal processing. Used in shoe soles, industrial components, and medical devices.

[0024] Within this embodiment, the device, designed to be mounted on an existing earphone in a rigid or flexible form comprises an electrode / sensor embedded in the device's body and positioned to capture EEG signals at the region contacting the user's ear canal; an edge computing device (microchip) inside the device body for processing EEG signals; a wireless communication module (e.g., Bluetooth); and a power source. The edge computing device (microchip) used for processing EEG signals, the wireless communication module (e.g., Bluetooth), and the power source embedded in the device body are sealed and inaccessible from the outside, ensuring a protected structure. Through the wireless communication module, the device can connect to any smart device compatible with wireless communication, enabling usage and management via an application that allows control of the device. Through this application, commands can also be sent to the microchip of the earphone to which the device is attached, enabling the management of features such as audio control, microphone control, and noise cancellation.

[0025] The descriptions of the components mentioned in the three embodiments provided above will be detailed in this section.

[0026] Electrode: EEG electrodes are generally responsible for capturing and transmitting weak signals originating from the brain. This allows for the examination of changes in brain activity under various conditions (e.g., focus, stress, sleep, wakefulness, epilepsy). The data obtained is utilized in numerous fields, including the diagnosis of neurological disorders, research into brain functions, and brain-computer interfaces. The conductive structure of the electrode detects EEG signals and transmits them to the connected microchip. The electrodes used in the invention are "dry electrodes," specifically designed for collecting signals. In the current state of the art, two types of electrodes are generally available: wet electrodes, which typically require contact with the skin using saline or a specialized gel to ensure effective signal collection. This gel establishes a good electrical connection between the electrode and the skin, providing low impedance and thereby enhancing signal quality. However, the application process is time-consuming, it may irritate the skin, and as the gel dries, impedance increases, leading to a decrease in signal quality. Therefore, it is not suitable for daily use. Dry electrodes, on the other hand, are less invasive compared to wet electrodes. They establish contact with the skin through the conductive material on the electrode without the need for any gel application. Their advantages include ease of application, making them suitable for daily use, being nonirritating to the skin, and being reusable multiple times. However, the disadvantage of dry electrodes is that they may exhibit higher impedance (lower signal quality) compared to wet electrodes. To overcome this drawback, the invention includes a microchip that reduces signal noise through preprocessing and filtering, amplifies the signal, and converts the analog signal into a digital signal. The physical properties of the electrode are as follows: • Conductivity: The electrode efficiently transmits electrical signals originating from the brain.

[0027] • Biocompatibility: Since it will be in contact with the skin, it will not cause allergic reactions or irritation.

[0028] • Durability: It will withstand repeated use without deformation and will be long- lasting.

[0029] • Flexibility: The electrode will have a certain level of flexibility to adapt to the ear cushion.

[0030] • Size: It is small and lightweight to fit within the ear cushion.

[0031] • Impedance: The electrical resistance of the electrode is a critical parameter affecting signal quality. Therefore, the electrode will be made from low-impedance materials.

[0032] Metallic conductors can be used in electrode production, including metals such as silver, gold, and platinum. Silver is particularly preferred due to its biocompatibility and low cost. Additionally, polymers like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and silicone provide flexibility and insulation for the electrode, making it easy to integrate into the ear cushion.

[0033] Edge Computing (Microchip): Signal processing microchips are integrated circuits capable of receiving analog or digital signals and performing various operations on them. These microchips take an incoming signal and process it by filtering, amplifying, converting, or analyzing it to produce the desired output. Through these chips, a wide range of signals, such as audio, video, radar, medical, and industrial signals, can be effectively processed.

[0034] The microchip, made from semiconductor materials, is designed to process signals collected by the EEG electrodes and is manufactured in a size that fits within the body specified in the described configurations of the invention. The microchip is configured to perform at least one of the following tasks:

[0035] • Signal Preprocessing: This is the process of preparing raw signals for subsequent analysis or processing stages. During this process, noise in the signal is reduced, unwanted components are filtered out, and the overall quality of the signal is enhanced. As a result, the obtained data becomes more meaningful and reliable.

[0036] • Noise Reduction: This is the process of eliminating unwanted and irrelevant information (noise) that has mixed into a received signal. By doing so, the quality of the signal is improved, enabling more accurate analyses.

[0037] • Filtering: This is the process of cleaning and refining a signal by removing or attenuating unwanted frequency components within the received signal. As a result, useful information within the signal is more clearly extracted, allowing for better analysis.

[0038] • Amplification: This is the process of increasing the strength of a weak electrical signal to make it more powerful. Signals received and transmitted in noisy environments may weaken, and amplification ensures that these signals become clearer and more interpretable.

[0039] • Data Compression: Signal compression techniques are used to reduce the size of large signal data sets, allowing them to occupy less space and be processed more quickly.

[0040] • Analog-to-Digital Conversion: An analog signal captured from the brain is a continuously varying signal with infinite possible values. A digital signal, on the other hand, consists of discrete, specific values. The process of converting an analog signal to a digital signal involves sampling the continuously changing analog signal at regular intervals and converting these samples into numerical values. This allows the analog signal to be represented as a series of numerical values, making it suitable for processing by computers.

[0041] • Spectrum Analysis: This is a technique used to examine the frequency components of a signal. In other words, it reveals how much energy is contained in the various frequencies of a signal. This analysis provides valuable insights into the structure of the signal and is widely used across many engineering and scientific fields.

[0042] • Classification: This is the process of categorizing signals with different characteristics into specific groups. It enables the selection of appropriate processing methods for different types of signals, allowing for more accurate analyses. Through classification, the microchip will group signals into meaningful categories, facilitating deeper analyses. Classified signals can be used to detect anomalies such as loss of focus, mood changes, and more.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A device capable of receiving EEG signals, characterized in that it comprises at least one earbud without earphone functions (speaker and microphone), designed solely to capture EEG signals from the user's ear canal, with an ear cushion partially indenting into the hollow interior of the user's outer ear canal; at least one sensor electrode positioned on the ear cushion; a housing with a hollow interior containing a tip; and within the housing, an edge computing device (microchip) for processing EEG signals, a wireless communication module (e.g., Bluetooth), and a power source.

2. A device capable of receiving EEG signals, characterized in that it comprises an earphone including a speaker, a microphone, noise-canceling hardware, a wireless communication module, a power source, and an edge computing device (microchip) for processing EEG signals, and at least one electrode positioned within the ear cushion of the earphone to capture EEG signals from around the ear and transmit them to the edge computing device (microchip).

3. A device capable of receiving EEG signals that can be mounted onto an earphone, characterized in that it is made of a flexible material to be attachable around an earphone; comprises an electrode / sensor embedded in the body of the device, positioned to contact the user's ear region for capturing EEG signals; and includes within the body of the device an edge computing device (microchip) for processing EEG signals, a wireless communication module (e.g., Bluetooth), and a power source.

4. A device capable of receiving EEG signals that can be mounted onto an earphone, characterized in that it is made of a rigid material molded to match the shape of the earphone to which it will be mounted; comprises an electrode / sensor embedded in the body of the device, positioned to contact the user's ear region for capturing EEG signals; and includes within the body of the device an edge computing device (microchip) for processing EEG signals, a wireless communication module (e.g., Bluetooth), and a power source.

5. A device as described in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a wireless communication module configured to connect with any smart device compatible with wireless communication.