Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/017—Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H19/00—Massage for the genitals; Devices for improving sexual intercourse
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H19/00—Massage for the genitals; Devices for improving sexual intercourse
  • A61H19/40—Devices insertable in the genitals
  • A61H19/44—Having substantially cylindrical shape, e.g. dildos
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
  • A61H2201/01—Constructive details
  • A61H2201/0119—Support for the device
  • A61H2201/0153—Support for the device hand-held
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
  • A61H2201/50—Control means thereof
  • A61H2201/5007—Control means thereof computer controlled
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
  • A61H2201/50—Control means thereof
  • A61H2201/5007—Control means thereof computer controlled
  • A61H2201/501—Control means thereof computer controlled connected to external computer devices or networks
  • A61H2201/5012—Control means thereof computer controlled connected to external computer devices or networks using the internet
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
  • A61H2201/50—Control means thereof
  • A61H2201/5058—Sensors or detectors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
  • A61H2201/50—Control means thereof
  • A61H2201/5058—Sensors or detectors
  • A61H2201/5071—Pressure sensors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H2203/00—Additional characteristics concerning the patient
  • A61H2203/04—Position of the patient

Definitions

• This invention relates to interactive display and manipulation of computer images.
• a computer is coupled to a memory storing therein a plurality of computer-accessible movie sequences of at least one image relating to a predetermined subject.
• An appliance is associated with the at least one image, and at least one data input source is associated with the appliance for inputting tactile-dependent signals to the computer.
• a display device is connected to the computer for displaying one of the movie-sequences in accordance with the tactile-dependent signals.
• the appliance is shaped to resemble a body part, particularly a male or female sex organ and live erotic movie sequences are displayed based on the user's interaction therewith.
• US 6,368,268 (Sandvick et al.) published April 9, 2002, entitled “Method and device for interactive virtual control of sexual aids using digital computer networks" and incorporated herein by reference describes an interactive virtual sexual stimulation system.
• a person at a first user interface controls a stimulation device(s) located at a second user interface.
• the first and second user interfaces may be connected, for instance, through a web site on the Internet.
• a person at a user interface may interact with a prerecorded video feed such that the prerecorded video feed controls the stimulation device(s).
• US 6,695,770 (Choy et al.) published February 24, 2004, entitled “Simulated human interaction systems” and incorporated herein by reference discloses an apparatus for providing a virtual reality sexual experience.
• the apparatus includes audio reproduction means, visual reproduction means and tactile means for sexual stimulation.
• the apparatus further comprises a control system to correlate the audio means, visual means and tactile means to relate to one another to simulate a sexual experience.
• the apparatus provides a scenario for audio and visual outputs which is selected from a database and advances in a manner corresponding to user movements and engagement with the tactile system.
• the user simulates a sexual encounter with a doll having sensors which provide control signals to the control system to alter the audio and the visual outputs corresponding to physical interaction of the user with the part of the doll.
• the displayed images engage in a sexual activity that mimics the action of the user with the doll thereby providing tactile feedback that further stimulates the user.
• the images are animated computer generated avatars that are software-controlled based on inputs received from the user(s) using limb-tracking devices that allow the software to know exactly what each user is doing and to use motion capture for attaching life-like attributes to the computer-generated avatar.
• the apparatus is used with a head mounted display system and a movement and position sensing device applied to a critical part or parts of the body of the user.
• the sensing device may be in the form of a digital glove type device which fits over the hand or the back of the hand of the user and from an initial position tracks movement and causes visual images and corresponding sounds to be selected from the database in a corresponding manner. It is clear that any glove type device is distracting, uncomfortable and highly intrusive. These factors clearly reduce the quality of sexual stimulation when used for masturbation.
• US 6,747,632 (Howard) published June 8, 2004 and entitled "Wireless control device” discloses a wireless control device having a small, lightweight housing worn by an operator, for example on the operator's wrist, and a controlled device, for example a personal computer.
• Several optical emitters preferably light emitting diodes operating in the infrared range, and several optical detectors are provided on the housing.
• At least one ;c-axis emitter-detector pair operates to detect an x-direction of a pointing motion or gesture
• at least one y-axis emitter-detector pair operates to detect a ⁇ -direction of a pointing motion or gesture.
• the device is adapted to send optical beams to the user's bent fingers and to be reflected thereby so that when the fingers are bent, they intercept one or more optical beams emitted by the device, thus enabling movement detection and identification of which finger or fingers have been bent.
• This motion can then be used to cause a response in the controlled device.
• angles of the operator's hand at the wrist can be interpreted to induce motion of a cursor on a computer display.
• the device may also include a motion sensor, an environmental condition sensor, or a voice recognition sensor, and can also be adapted for gesture recognition and image scanning applications.
• a computer- implemented method for providing feedback during sex play comprising: using a sensor worn on a user's body part to input motion-dependent signals to a computer during free motion of said body part; accessing a plurality of computer-accessible erotic movie sequences; and displaying on a display device connected to the computer successive ones of said erotic movie-sequences in accordance with said motion-dependent signals.
• the motion-dependent signals allow selection of pre-stored images according to the distance of a user's hand from a nominal origin and the rate of movement of the user's hand as determined by a sensor worn on the user's wrist like a watch.
• the sensor signals may be supplemented using an auxiliary sex aid in the form of an appliance having sensors that are sensitive to the order, rate and/or pressure with which the sensors are operated.
• the movie images may be computer-generated non-animated images as suggested by US 6,695,770. However, preferably the movies show live artists engaging in physical encounters that suggest the desired sensation. More particularly, when used as a sex aid, the feedback is achieved using a regular DVD or comparable medium that is pre- processed so as to display different sex acts according to actions performed by the user with one or more sex appliances.
• the term "computer” embraces any device that is adapted to display movie sequences and has a processor that allows connection of an appliance for inputting tactile-dependent signals to the computer.
• the computer can be a mobile telephone having a suitable interface for connecting an appliance thereto.
• Such an interface need not, of course, required direct coupling and may be served by the IR interface now provided as standard on up-market cellular telephones.
• FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing functionally a system according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing functionally a computer for use with the system depicted in Fig. 1 ;
• Figs. 3 and 4 are pictorial representations showing use of a wrist-mounted sensor during successive stages of sex play with the system shown in Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 5 is a flow diagram showing the principal actions associated with a method for providing tactile feedback using the system depicted in Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 6 is a flow diagram showing the principal actions associated with a method for providing tactile feedback during an on line chat session using the system depicted in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 7 is a flow diagram showing the principal actions associated with a method for formatting a DVD or other video medium to allow live interaction during replay;
• Fig. 8 is a flow diagram showing the principal actions associated with a method for live interaction with the DVD or other video medium formatted according to Fig. 7;
• Fig. 9 is a pictorial representation of a penetration sensor for use with the system shown in Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 10 is a pictorial representation showing a plan view of the penetration sensor depicted in Fig. 9;
• Fig. 11 is a schematic representation of the penetration sensor depicted in
• Fig. 12 is a schematic representation of an object intersecting an infrared beam in the penetration sensor depicted in Fig. 9;
• Fig. 13 is a pictorial representation of a different type of penetration sensor for use with the system shown in Fig. 1.
• Fig. 1 shows a computer-implemented system depicted generally as 10 for providing feedback during sex play.
• the system 10 depicts a hybrid communication network comprising an IP network 11 to which there is connected a web server 12 and one or more computers 13 and 14, which will be referred to as local and remote computers used by local and remote users respectively.
• the IP network 11 is coupled by a PSTN/IP gateway 15 to a PSTN 16 to which there are connected a regular telephone 17 and a computer 18 via a modem 19.
• the PSTN 16 is likewise connected via a PSTN/Cellular gateway 20 to a cellular network 21 to which one or more cellular telephones 22 are connected.
• Signaling and media are conveyed from one network to the other via the PSTN/IP gateway 15 or the PSTN/Cellular gateway 20, which operate in a manner well known in the art to convert the signals between PSTN and IP or PSTN and Cellular protocols and vice versa.
• the computer 13, 14 each of which comprises a processor 25 coupled to a memory 26 storing therein a plurality of computer-accessible erotic movie sequences.
• the erotic movie sequences are "live" sequences derived using a Preformatted DVD or comparable computer-readable medium. However, they may also be computer generated since the specific manner in which the erotic video images are derived is not the principal feature of the present invention.
• a receiver 27 is coupled to the processor 25 for receiving sensor signals from a wrist mounted sensor 28 worn by a user 29 both shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
• a communications port 30 coupled to the processor 25 serves to connect the computers 13, 14 to each other via the IP network 11, which may be the Internet or an intranet or any equivalent network.
• the user 29 can interact with the computers 13, 14 via a user interface 31, which may include a keyboard 32 and a mouse 33 in addition to the wrist mounted sensor 28 shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
• the sensor 28 is not coupled directly to the computers 13, 14 but it is still part of the user interface 31 since it serves to allow the user 29 to input motion-dependent signals to the computers for either local or remote processing as explained below.
• the erotic movie sequences or sections thereof may be displayed on display 34 and associated sound tracks may be vocalized via a loudspeaker 35 both coupled to the processor 25.
• the user interface 31 may include other sensors so as to provide feedback of a user's emotional response. For example, as the user's heart beat varies, a varying signal may be fed from a pulsimeter attached to the user's wrist, for example, to the computer, which is programmed to display, for example, a pulsating heart whose rate of pulsation mimics the user's heart rate, thereby providing biofeedback to the user. If desired, the fed- back movie sequence shown on the display device may be specially selected to have a calming effect on the user. Other sensors may equally well be used to sense other physiological variables such as temperature, skin resistance and so on. These may be used in like manner to provide bio-feedback by controlling the image display or sound sequence according to the measured parameters.
• Fig. 5 is a flow diagram showing the principal steps associated with use of the invention for displaying erotic video image frames during sex play, successive stages of which are depicted pictorially in Fig. 3 and 4.
• the distance of the wrist-mounted sensor 28 from the receiver 27 varies and the varying distance may be computed by the computer 13 or 14 based on the time to receive successive sensor signals.
• the rate of play may be computed as a time derivative of the distance.
• the user's hand is completely exposed and unobstructed and motion is determined solely as the result of the to and fro motion of the user's wrist, which causes the distance between the wrist-mounted sensor 28 from the receiver 27 to vary.
• the user is free to stroke the shaft of the penis 41 using open fingers or to cup his or her fingers around the shaft of the penis since motion is not detected as a function of any interaction between the fingers and the wrist-mounted sensor 28.
• the computer 13 or 14 computes the required motion-dependent signals (such as distance and rate) and uses the motion-dependent signals to determine which video frame to display in accordance with the distance of the sensor 28 from the receiver 27, and to vary the rate at which to display video frames on the display device 34 in accordance with rate of movement of the sensor 28 relative to the receiver 27, while vocalizing sound via the loudspeaker 35.
• the measurements are performed continually and successive frames are selected for display in real time at a rate that reflects the rate of motion of the user's hand (or other limb).
• the computers 13 and 14 are described above as standalone devices to which both the sensor 28 and the receiver 27 are connected and which compute the motion- dependent signals for varying the rate of display of the movie frames.
• the signals may be conveyed to the remote computer 14 for displaying an erotic video sequence thereat, whose content or rate varies as a function of the user's sex play activity.
• the resulting display allows the remote user to provide supplementary feedback signals, which at their most simple may be verbal encouragement relayed back to the local user.
• the remote user can convey such verbal encouragement during a live "chat" session over the Internet or even over the PSTN 16 via the telephone 17 while viewing the erotic video sequence via the computer 18, for example.
• the web server 12 can operate as the remote computer for conveying erotic video sequences via the Internet, thus allowing the local user to access a particular Web site on the web server 12. Data may be pre-fetched to the user's site thus obviating the need for each page of sound or graphics data to be downloaded from the Web site in direct response to its selection if it already exists in the user's cache.
• the data can be fed to the user's computer locally via bulk storage media such as CD-ROM or DVD.
• a demo version of the application may be downloaded through the Internet or through the telephone line via a modem and a commercial version on CD-ROM may then be purchased for continued use.
• Such a commercial version of a movie must be adapted so as to allow the viewer to interact with the movie stars during replay. Specifically, sections that are amenable to such interaction must be marked so that the viewer knows when he is watching a section that allows interaction. Furthermore, the rate at which such sections are replayed must then be adjusted according to the rate of interaction of the user with the appliance.
• Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate use by a male
• the sensor 28 is equally suited for use by a woman who may wear the sensor on her wrist or any other suitable limb so that during sex play, the sensor 28 moves relative to the receiver 27 and thus allows video frames to be selected in accordance with the measured relative motion between the two.
• a sensor mounted on her wrist will move relative to a fixed receiver and thus allow operation of the system in analogous manner to that described above for male users.
• Fig. 7 is a flow diagram showing the principal actions associated with one suitable method for formatting a video medium such as a DVD to allow live interaction during replay.
• the DVD contains a plurality of movie frames encoded in a suitable video format such as MPEG.
• An audio sound track is also provided that is synchronized to the movie data.
• the video data is formatted by creating a file containing still images (frames) that correspond to one or more sections of movie data and contain a plurality of still images that may, for example, be in JPEG format. It is known when each frame of movie data is rendered relative to a predefined origin, typically being the start of the movie. By this token, a time stamp may be associated with each still image.
• the time stamps are likewise stored in the file, which is stored on the DVD so as to be accessible to a computer through which the DVD is played or which is responsively coupled to a regular DVD player. The time stamps serve to identify successive frames of the movie and correlate them with corresponding still pictures in the auxiliary file.
• time stamp is intended to encompass any measurable characteristic of movie frames that allows their correlation with still pictures in the auxiliary file. These do not need to be times in a literal sense; rather frames can be numbered sequentially and in this case the "time stamp" of a frame is simply its number within the ordered sequence.
• the DVD medium contains two files: one being the original movie sequence containing video and audio data; and the other being an auxiliary file containing sets of still images, each set corresponding to a specific section of the movie allowing live interaction with the user.
• an auxiliary sound track is constructed corresponding to the original sound track associated with each "interactive section" of the movie file and is stored in the auxiliary file.
• data representative of such signals may likewise be stored in the auxiliary file.
• Fig. 8 is a flow diagram showing the principal actions associated with a method for live interaction with the DVD or other video medium formatted according to Fig. 7.
• the computer reads the auxiliary file and infers from the time stamps associated with each "interactive section" of the movie file when each interactive section starts and finishes.
• the start time associated with each "interactive section” is compared with the actual running time, which of course is known.
• the computer can determine when the movie section currently being played has an "interactive section” and is thus amenable to live interaction by the viewer. If so, a marker may be displayed to alert the viewer that he may, if he wishes, interact with the current movie section.
• a marker may, for example, be an icon or text message displayed at the top of the screen. The viewer may be content to continue watching the movie in its original form, in which case he may simply do nothing.
• auxiliary sound track may be vocalized at a constant rate regardless of the rate of video display so as to avoid changes in pitch to the resulting sound.
• a predetermined number of still images may be associated with each sensor and displayed whenever the respective sensor is activated.
• the faster an object such as a man's penis is inserted into the bore of the appliance the faster it will actuate the sensors (i.e. the faster will light continuity between successive sensors be interrupted in the embodiment shown in Fig. 11) and the faster the still images will be replayed.
• the processed audio file is played alongside the processed video images so as to recreate the original sound track, which is therefore also indistinguishable from the original movie sequence.
• auxiliary files may be provided as described above and synchronized with a video tape so - li ⁇
• the video tape should be played through the computer after loading pre-formatted auxiliary file(s) on the computer.
• auxiliary file Preferably this is done by the manufacturer or distributor of the video tape so that an auxiliary file may be custom synchronized to the video tape.
• the computer is then able to correlate the time stamps of subsequent frames with the still pictures in the auxiliary file.
• approximate synchronization may also be achieved manually without pre-processing the movie media.
• the user may set a "sync" icon on the computer so as to set the origin of the movie, so that the time stamps or frame numbers of subsequent movie frames serve to allow determination of the corresponding still pictures in the auxiliary file, where such exist.
• Such approximate synchronization is not ideal but obviates the need to pre-process the original movie media and most importantly allows the auxiliary files to be sold or otherwise made available independent of the movie medium. This of course is all the more feasible when the medium on which the movie is stored is directly computer readable since the origin may simply be the first frame or may be identified by a special origin frame that serves to define the origin of still pictures in the auxiliary files.
• auxiliary files in conjunction with the original movie does not necessarily require that they be stored on the same computer readable medium, although in practice they normally will be.
• the auxiliary files may be stored on a separate medium (such as a CD-ROM) since in any case during "interactive mode" the computer selects frames for display from the auxiliary file, and it clearly makes no difference to the computer whether the auxiliary file is in the same drive as the movie or in a different drive.
• the ability to synchronize an auxiliary file with the movie or to ensure that a pre-formatted auxiliary file will be properly synchronized to the movie means that movie suppliers or suitable third parties can supply auxiliary files that correlate to predetermined sections of the movie and allow them to be viewed interactively with an appliance according to the invention.
• different auxiliary files can be provided for use with a given movie and can be sold not only independent of the movie but also discretely so as to allow a user to collect a whole series of auxiliary files associated with a movie.
• Such auxiliary files may conveniently be downloaded over the Internet, although W
• the user may also be provided with a sex aid (constituting an appliance) examples of which are described below with reference to Figs. 9 to 13 of the drawings. 5
• a sex aid constituting an appliance
• Such appliances may be used to enhance the feedback in a manner essentially described in my above-mentioned US 6,793,619.
• Fig. 9 shows pictorially a penetration sensor 50 having an internal bore 51 formed of transparent material into which a body member, such as a finger, tongue or penis, may be inserted and having sensor pairs 54, 55 disposed along an outer surface
• Each sensor pair may comprise an infrared light source 54, such as an LED, and a corresponding pair of staggered infrared detectors 55 mounted on opposite surfaces of the sensor 50, such that light emitted by any one of the infrared light sources 54 strikes two infrared detectors 55.
• Such a penetration sensor 50 may serve as a surrogate vagina
• the computer may be programmed to display images having stronger erotic content in response to increased penetration.
• the complete arrangement may be encased within a surrounding housing 56.
• the 20 50 may be formed of a plastic molding and the sensors 54 may be encapsulated within the molding or may be mounted on opposite sides thereof prior to assembly within the housing 56.
• Fig. 10 shows a detail of the penetration sensor 50 in plan view.
• 25 55 are flattened either by pre-forming the internal bore 51 with flat sides or by truncating the side-walls or by forming the surrounding housing 56 with flat side walls so that when the internal bore 51 is inserted therein, the material thereof proximate the infrared light sources and detectors is squashed, thereby producing the desired flattening effect.
• the 30 and detectors ensures that light emitted by the infrared light sources 54 propagates directly through the side wall of the penetration sensor 50 and exits the opposite side so as to strike the staggered pair of detectors 55. If a completely cylindrical cross-section were employed, at least some of the light emitted by the infrared light sources 54 would scatter and miss the detectors 55. This would at best reduce the intensity of the signal received thereby and is unsatisfactory.
• Fig. 11 is a schematic representation of the penetration sensor 50 showing its mode of operation.
• light from the infrared light sources 54 is intersected and one of the corresponding pair of detectors 55 stops receiving a signal.
• the second detector in the same pair does not stop receiving a signal until the user's finger for example intercepts the second detector.
• the time taken between the signal to the first detector being at least partially interrupted and the light to the second detector in the same pair being interrupted is a function of the rate at which the user inserts his finger into the penetration sensor 50.
• Fig. 12 shows schematically a beam of infrared light 56 emitted by one of the infrared light sources 54 striking respective detectors 55. It is seen that a cross-section of the light beam 56 is elongated i.e. oval in shape owing to the staggered displacement of the two detectors 55 relative to the corresponding sensor 54. As a result, as an object is inserted into the penetration sensor 50, it cuts the light beam 56 obtusely (i.e. non- normally) and the width of the cross-section of the light beam 56 that must be traversed by the object before light is fully interrupted from reaching the detector 55 is larger than would be the case if a single detector 55 were disposed directly opposite a light source 54.
• the inside surface of the internal bore 51 is formed of an elastic material allowing for radial expansion and contraction depending on the overall width of the body member inserted therein.
• some or all of the sensors pairs 54, 55 may be pressure sensors, which produce a signal when acted upon by the body member.
• a male user suffering from impotence, for example, who inserts his penis into the bore will exert against the inside surface of the bore 51 pressure whose magnitude is a function of his penile width. This, in turn, is clearly correlated with the strength of his erection and thus sensor signals are produced which characterize rate of "pumping" and strength of erection. Since the penis contracts after orgasm, monitoring the depth of penetration allows the moment of orgasm to be determined.
• the computer 13 or 14 is programmed to display movie-sequence depicting erotic images which may, for example, mirror the patient's actions in response to tactile stimulation of the appliance.
• Fig. 13 shows pictorially an alternative embodiment depicting an appliance 60 including a generally cylindrical phallic-shaped member 61 having sensors 62 disposed along an outer surface thereof, for use by female patients in a similar manner.
• the sensors 62 produce successive signals indicative of depth of penetration.
• the computer may be programmed to be responsive to the sensor signals for displaying images having stronger erotic content, this inducing yet further stimulation.
• the sensors 62 may be micro-switches whose states (open or closed) are toggled when depressed by the walls of the vagina. Alternatively, or additionally, they may produce signals whose magnitude is a function of electrical resistance, this in turn varying as a function of moisture in the vagina and decreasing in inverse proportion to the woman's stimulation. Alternatively, they may be pressure sensors that are activated upon the application of pressure between the appliance and the inside wall of the vagina.
• penetration sensor 50 and the appliance 60 have been described respectively with regard to male patients suffering from impotence and to female patients possibly suffering from frigidity, their use is not limited to medical applications and the devices may simply be used to enhance the users' sex play.
• Figs. 9 to 13 may be supplemented by other sensors in order that the displayed image or the sound track may be varied according to other physiological characteristics.
• heart rate as well as body temperature and resistance may be monitored, all of these being indicative of the user's state of arousal: the image or sound track being selected in accordance with a combined function of the measured variables.
• the appliances 50 and 60 may be provided with rotation sensors (not shown) allowing rotation of the appliance to be monitored. Different movie sequences may be stored each in respect of a different orientation of the appliance. Upon rotation of the appliance, a respective signal is produced by the motion sensor allowing the orientation of the appliance to be determined and a different one of the movie sequences to be downloaded. This allows for greater flexibility and range of the appliance.
• the appliances shown in Figs. 9 to 13 may themselves be provided with actuators responsive to signals which are fed together with the movie sequences according to the erotic content thereof, for example.
• tactile sensation can be fed back to the user.
• the side walls of the appliance 50 may be contracted by means of a solenoid which is actuated via a signal when the model closes her legs, thereby squeezing the user's penis.
• the signal may be downloaded from the web site or produced locally by the user's computer in response to data stored in the same computer readable medium as the movie.
• the senor 28 is equally well suited to produce signals when one user plays with a partner since in this case too as the user plays with his or her partner, the distance of the sensor 28 from the receiver 27 varies and the computer 13 or 14 can use the varying motion-dependent signals as described above, hi either case, the sensor is adapted to be worn on a user's body part for inputting motion-dependent signals to the computer during free motion of the user's body part. Sex play between partners may be enhanced by providing each of the partners with a virtual reality screen, mounted on his or her forehead, so as to project a video to the eyes of the user.
• the virtual reality screens are coupled to the computer and display successive video frames fed thereto, hi use, each partner wears a sensor and may choose a different video for display on his or her respective screen. Actions carried out by one partner on the other are sensed by the respective sensor, and the distance between the sensor and a respective transmitter, determines in real time which frames of each video to feed to the respective screens and the rate of motion determines at what rate to display successive frames.
• the sensor 28 has been described with particular reference to a wrist-mounted device, it may of course be attached to any other suitable body part, which is amenable to motion during sex play in a manner that is both free (i.e. unrestricted) and that varies in a dependable manner as a function of the sex play. So, for example, it could be attached to a user's ankle or forehead and so on.
• the sensor 28 has not been provided since any suitable sensor that produces a varying signal according to its distance from the receiver 27 may be used. In practice, particularly good results have been achieved using a simple electromagnetic sensor comprising a coil of wire coupled to an oscillator and mounted in a watch-type casing.
• the receiver 28 comprises a pickup coil for detecting signals transmitted by the sensor coil. The signal intensity varies as a function of the distance of the sensor coil from the pickup coil in the receiver 28 and thus allows determination of distance or a function thereof to be computed.
• other sensors may also be used based, for example, on an optical beam as described in above-mentioned US 6,747,632 to Howard, whose disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
• the files may be stored locally on a CD-ROM, DVD or other locally accessible media.
• the invention encompasses within its scope a medium containing a movie sequence in addition to computer readable files that contain auxiliary data pertaining to one or more sections of the movie sequence and that allow a viewer to interact with such sections using an appliance according to the invention coupled to a computer.
• any suitable movie format may be downloaded through the Internet and processed so as to create auxiliary files in the manner described above with reference to Fig. 7 so as to allow subsequent interaction with a viewer.
• the processed files may be copied to a computer readable medium such as CD- ROM or DVD. Alternatively, they may be downloaded through the Internet to a user's computer.
• the invention may also be implemented via a computer program product and a machine-readable medium allowing a computer to display to a user computer-accessible movie sequences of a predetermined subject in accordance with tactile-dependent signals received from the user.
• the computer may be a web server coupled via the Internet to a client computer to which images are downloaded for display; although as noted above the client computer may be standalone and adapted to read data that is local thereto.

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• 2004
  • 2004-10-13 WO PCT/IL2004/000936 patent/WO2006040751A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2004-10-13 JP JP2007536343A patent/JP2008515584A/ja active Pending
  • 2004-10-13 EP EP04770605A patent/EP1839105A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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