MULTI-FACTOR CONTROL OF EAR STIMULATION

• Main Authors: MALASKA, Stephen L, LEUTHARDT, Eric C, SWEENEY, Elizabeth A, KITZAN, Melanie K, WOOD, Lowell L., Jr, WOOD, Victoria Y. H, MALAMUD, Mark A, HYDE, Roderick A, GOODALL, Eleanor V, MYHRVOLD, Nathan P, TEGREENE, Clarence T, ISHIKAWA, Muriel Y, SCHEID, Brittany, KARE, Jordin T, SHARADIN, Katherine E, WHITMER, Charles
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 10.06.2020
• Subjects: ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSESOR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY; DEAF-AID SETS; DIAGNOSIS; ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; ELECTROTHERAPY; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKEACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; MAGNETOTHERAPY; MASSAGE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING ORSTIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS; RADIATION THERAPY; SURGERY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY

An ear stimulation device and systems and related methods for controlling an ear stimulation device with a personal computing device are described. The ear stimulation device system can be controlled based on analysis of an image of a user of the personal computing device captured with a camera associated with a personal computing device. 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. In another aspect, an ear stimulation device is controlled in response to determination of electrical contact of an electrode in a stimulator earpiece with an ear of a user of the personal computing device. In other aspects, multiple factors, including a mood of the user, a user control input, and a secondary factor input are used in controlling the ear stimulation device. Secondary factors include, a variety of factors relating to or influencing the state of the user, including but not limited to, environmental conditions, sleep, diet, or various activities of the user. In an aspect, a correlation module correlates mood of the user to other factors, and control of stimulation is based thereon. In various aspects, the system is also responsive to inputs from sensors or computing networks. In an aspect, the earpiece delivers an audio output such as music from an audio player.