Method and apparatus for using biopotentials for simultaneous multiple control functions in computer systems

Abstract

A biosignal-computer-interface apparatus and method. The apparatus includes one or more devices for generating biosignals based on at least one physiological parameter of an individual, and a computer-interface device capable of performing multiple tasks, including converting the biosignals into at least one input signal, establishing a scale encompassing different levels of the input signal, multiplying the input signal into parallel control channels, dividing the scale into multiple zones for each of the parallel control channels, assigning computer commands to each individual zone of the multiple zones, and generating the computer command assigned to at least one of the individual zones if the level of the input signal is within the at least one individual zone. The individual zones can be the same or different among the parallel control channels.

1 . A biosignal-computer-interface apparatus comprising:
 means for generating biosignals based on at least one physiological parameter of an individual;   computer-interface means for converting the biosignals into at least one input signal, establishing a scale encompassing different levels of the input signal, multiplying the input signal into parallel control channels, dividing the scale into multiple zones for each of the parallel control channels, assigning computer commands to individual zones of the multiple zones, and generating the computer command assigned to at least one of the individual zones if the level of the input signal is within the at least one individual zone;   wherein the individual zones can be the same or different among the parallel control channels.   
   
   
       2 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for assigning different modalities to each of the computer commands. 
   
   
       3 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the different modalities include at least one modality chosen from the group consisting of single, dwell, repeat, and hold functions. 
   
   
       4 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer commands assigned to the multiple zones of the parallel control channels correspond to keystrokes of a computer keyboard. 
   
   
       5 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein different modalities can be assigned to each of the computer commands. 
   
   
       6 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the different modalities include at least one keystroke modality chosen from the group consisting of single, dwell, repeat, and hold keystrokes. 
   
   
       7 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the generating means comprises non-invasive electrodes adapted to be placed on the skin of the individual. 
   
   
       8 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the generating means are adapted to sense muscle tension as the physiological parameter of the individual. 
   
   
       9 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the input signal corresponds to muscle tension of the individual sensed by the generating means, the scale encompasses a range of sensed muscle tensions, and the multiple zones of each parallel control channel are discrete muscle tension level ranges within the range of the sensed muscle tensions of the scale. 
   
   
       10 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one individual zone of the multiple zones of a first of the parallel control channels is different than at least one individual zone of the multiple zones of a second of the parallel control channels, and the computer commands generated by the computer-interface means comprise at least one computer command that is a combination of the computer commands assigned to the at least one individual zone of the first parallel control channel and the at least one individual zone of the second parallel control channel. 
   
   
       11 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer commands are adapted to control a device chosen from the group consisting of computer, communication device, vehicles, and weapon systems. 
   
   
       12 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer commands are adapted to control a computer game. 
   
   
       13 . A method of using a biosignal-computer-interface apparatus comprising:
 converting biosignals into at least one input signal;   assigning multiple computer commands to multiple individual zones of multiple parallel control channels;   generating at least one of the computer commands if the input signal exceeds a threshold of at least one of the individual zones of the parallel control channels; and   simultaneously generating the computer commands assigned to two or more of the individual zones of two or more of the parallel control channels if the input signal is within the two or more individual zones.   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising generating the biosignals based on at least one physiological parameter of an individual. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the biosignals are generated with non-invasive electrodes placed on the skin of the individual. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the physiological parameter is muscle tension. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 establishing a scale encompassing different levels of the input signal;   multiplying the input signal into the parallel control channels   dividing the scale into the individual zones of each of the parallel control channels.   
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the biosignals comprise at least one biopotential of an individual. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the biopotential is generated by muscle tension of the individual, the input signal corresponds to sensed muscle tensions of the individual, the different levels of the input signal are within a range of the sensed muscle tensions of the individual encompassed by the scale, and the individual zones of each parallel control channel are discrete muscle tension level ranges within the range of the sensed muscle tensions of the scale. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising assigning different modalities to each of the computer commands. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the different modalities include at least one modality chosen from the group consisting of single, dwell, repeat, and hold functions. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the computer commands assigned to the individual zones of the parallel control channels correspond to keystrokes of a computer keyboard. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 22 , further comprising assigning different modalities to at least two of the computer commands. 
   
   
       24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the different modalities include at least one keystroke modality chosen from the group consisting of single, dwell, repeat, and hold keystrokes. 
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one individual zone of the individual zones of a first of the parallel control channels is different than at least one individual zone of the individual zones of a second of the parallel control channels, and the generated computer commands comprise at least one computer command that is a combination of the computer commands assigned to the at least one individual zone of the first parallel control channel and the at least one individual zone of the second parallel control channel. 
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising using the computer commands to control a device chosen from the group consisting of computer, communication device, vehicles, and weapon systems. 
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising using the computer commands to control a computer game.