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Abstract of
EP 0177075
(A2)
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| The
present
invention
consists in a
multi-functional
electronic
device, having
the purpose,
when added to
an electronic
game, of
replacing in
its base
programme the
voluntary
manual
interference
for the playing
of the same
game, with a
voluntary
interference of
not manual
character, but
directly drawn
from cerebral
electrical
impulses, thus
rending the
game directly
influenceable
by the will of
the
player. |
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Disclosure
Many and various electronic games exist
presently, both of individual character and for
more players, which are based on the use of
microprocessors and of electronic memories,
into which programme softwares have been
introduced to the purpose of obtaing variable
images on a T.V.
screen, manualLy controllable, by means of
levers, knobs or push-buttons, to obtain
amusing and competitive effects. Clearly, in
order to participate in the games, the player
inserts himself into the programme from the
outside, by means of these prearranged manual
controls, mcdi fying the course of the
programmed sequences, and interfering into the
image building, with the aim of causing the
result of the game to be in his favour.
It is moreover known that by means of the
encephalographs it is possible to pick up, by
means of electrodes applied on to a man's head,
a variable set of electrical impulses, having
some prevailing frequency values, and in
particular different according to the activity
state of the brain.
The range of frequencies occurring is normally
quite narrow, and may range from 35 to 5
cycles/second, and depends on the cerebral
activity, which may vary from a state of
hyperexcitation up to a sleep state, passing
through intermediate levels. Although. the
frequency variations occur in man unconsciously
and instinctively, it is however possible to
influence, with some practice, the pas sage
from une value to another one quite easily.
The present invention takes hence advantage of
this latter possibility of human mind to
voluntarily intervene to modify the above
mentioned frequencies, also taking their
variation as a basis for controlling a
pre-consti- tuted electronic device capable of
building such adapted and encoded electrical
signals as to be suitable to be introduced into
the games instead of the manually variable
electrical components present in the same
games.
While considering that the present disclosure
is given to exemplifying only and not
limitative purposes, generally as a complement
to the same, the existence is presupposed of at
least the following basic components,
constituting the basis of the invention:
1. A system of electrodes to pick up, at the
cortical level in a suitable region of the
head, the signals outcoming from the player's
brain, consisting of electrical impulses of
some prevailing frequencies comprised within
the range of from 5 to 35 cycles/second;
2. An amplifier system to the purpose of making
electrically handleable the said picked-up
signals;
3.An adequate system of filters, such as to
sort the useful band of variable electrical
frequencies outcoming from the brain and
especially designed to eliminate those
undesirable frequencies such as e.g. the
disturbing frequency of the feed network;
Ii. A system for the elimination of the
amplitude disturbances due to more or less
unconscious events from various, also motory
muscular, origins;
5. A sensor system which originates encoded and
compatible command impulses, according to what
required by the programes of the games, for the
control of the competition, from the amplified
cerebral electrical frequency variations.
The components as indicated with the numbers 1,
2 and 3 are nowadays present in all
encephalographs, or in all the equipment pieces
designed for similar functions, with small
technical variants, which however perfectly
overcome the problems as briefly mentioned
under the same numbers 2 and 3.
Adequate amplifiers, band filters, trapping
filters for the ultra-low, lower than 5 cycles
per second, frequencies, and for the
frequencies higher than 30 cycles per second.
Also active adjustable filters exist to
eliminate the disturbing components deriving
from the feeding voltage at network frequency,
if the equipment is so fed. It must be outlined
hence that even if to embody the present
invention to a total extent, the use is
absolute ly necessary of these parts as
hereinabove briefly described and already
existing and well known, the two points 4 and 5
are instead introduced on purpose to accomplish
our purpose, which is i.e. that of commanding
the electronic games by means of voluntary
expressions of the player's mind.
Rendering the encephalographic signals, of
particular shape and value, suitable to be
encoded and compatible with those mental
systems for the commanding of the elec tronic
games is the object and hence the only
existence reason for the present invention.
In the enclosed schematic and exemplifying
figure, the following component devices are
shown in the order of the numbers: (1) Portion
of helmet or of an equivalent item of light
material, suitable to remain fixed on the
player's head, without disturbing him; (2)
electrodes of shapes adapted to render good and
constant the picking up of the electrical
systems outcoming from the brain; their
position on the head may be varied according fo
the material used and according to the point or
the points selected for the picking-up. To this
regard, the helmets used with the
encephalographs already available on the
markets are very important as examples to be
considered.
(3) High-gain amplifier, also of the
differential type as already used, in the
encephalographs, unless exemplified.
(4) Low frequency eliminating filter. (5) High
frequency eliminating filter. (6) A filter
passing the band from 5 to 35 cycles per
second, as already in use. (7) An amplitude
eliminator for the electronic signals already
amplified and deprived of any noises. The
eliminator serves to eliminate amplitude
increases which may sometimes be introduced
thouth involuntary motory actions by the
player' 8 body, and finally (8) a transducer to
prepare the signal which has to be encoded, as
a function of the frequency variations
present.
The block 9 serves to process the encoded
signal, so as to make it compatible with the
input 10 provided in the normal controls of the
game, to interfere in the course of the same
game, and as a replacement of the same.
Each function proposed in the various stages of
the unit constituting the device substituent of
the game manual controls, is a part of
elementary and well-known elec tronic circuits,
so that any engineer is capable to provide for
the accomplishment or installation thereof. The
whole unit, composed by the amplifier and by
the various blocks, as hereinabove disclosed,
may be constituted by a single piece
presentable as an auxiliary element to be
applied to the same electronic games by means
of adapting means predisposed according to the
various games types.
The present invention can be rendered very
versatje by means of the introduction of minor
changes as desired so as to make the games more
amusing and maybe more unforeseeable.
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