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:
 non-invasive electrodes adapted to be placed on the skin of the individual for generating at least a first biopotential based on muscle tension of an individual; and   a computer-interface adapted and operable to convert at least the first biopotential into at least a first input signal that corresponds to sensed muscle tensions of the individual, establish a scale encompassing different levels of the input signal that are within a range of the sensed muscle tensions of the individual, multiply the first input signal into multiple parallel control channels, assign multiple computer commands to multiple individual zones of the multiple parallel control channels wherein 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, generate 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 generate 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.   
     
     
         2 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising software-generated configuration panels 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 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 computer commands generated by the computer-interface 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. 
     
     
         8 . 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. 
     
     
         9 . The biosignal-computer-interface apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the computer commands are adapted to control a computer game.