WO1993002440A1

WO1993002440A1 - Neurogenetic microprogrammer, an educational device and method

Info

Publication number: WO1993002440A1
Application number: PCT/US1992/005911
Authority: WO
Inventors: John M. Myrick; William G. Haab
Original assignee: Haab William G; Myrick John M
Priority date: 1991-07-15
Filing date: 1992-07-15
Publication date: 1993-02-04
Also published as: AU2365792A

Abstract

This invention is a device and method for providing sonic input to infants - both before and after their birth - as well as adults. The electronic miniaturized device utilizes integrated circuitry (112), eliminating the need for separate components such as remote transmitter or other sonic source, all features being contained in a single independent unit. This invention further relates to circuit controlling sound combinations (120), such as patterned tones, or other sonic arrangements provided for prenatal and postnatal infants, along with adults, as well as the circuitry (148) which allows changes in these sound configurations.

Description

NEUROGENETIC MICROPROGRAMMER, . AN EDUCATIONAL DEVICE AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention specifies a method of sonically stimulating infants before and after birth--as well as adults- -with a device for conveying sounds to said individuals, thus initiating respective prenatal and postnatal benefits. Additionally, this invention includes circuits regulating sonic patterns for said individuals, such as tonal configurations, or other possible sound sequences, along with the circuitry permitting alterations in these sonic permutations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Neurogenesis describes the origin of neural circuits in early animal life, the first two years for humans. A special kind of information processing called imprinting--our earliest education--takes place during the prenatal and neonatal periods; effective stimuli for such initial learning are by definition extremely simple and repetitive. Recent clinical evidence supports significant advantages to prebirth and postbirth infants and their later development--cognitively as well as behaviorally--if they are sonically stimulated beyond those sounds occurring naturally; such benefits extend to family bonding and adult life. However, no one has heretofore introduced a method or means for providing in a miniaturized, self-contained unit such stimuli.

This particular innovation constitutes a method and device for conveying patterned sound to the unborn infant from an independent unit utilizing electronic microcircuitry and situated in proximity to the mother or located near the postnatal child. This invention can also be used as a method and device for conveying patterned sound to adults. Such a device is wholly self contained and, because all sonic material is programmed within, it allows substantially greater operational simplicity, portability, user comfort, convenience, and lower cost than alternative arrangements which could be manufactured for similar purpose.

These and related means, aspects, and advantages of the invention can be more completely know ^•from the following text and illustrations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figs. 1A, IB, 1C are top, side and bottom views of one possible embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a side view showing the programmed device as a sonic source.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the preferred embodiment.

Fig. 4 diagrams tone bursts and windows.

Fig. 5 charts tone windows showing a sample program list.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT One illustration of the physical housing containing the preferred embodiment can be seen in Figs. 1 and 2 which show several views of a single device and its operation as a sonic source.

According to the depicted embodiment, the apparatus has a case 12, a plurality of switch buttons 14, a recessed LCD 16, a bottom surface 18, a rubber ring 20, and a transducer diagram 22. When used as a sonic source (Fig. 2) the apparatus outputs sound waves 24 with at least a first direction of propagation 26.

Circuit module 112, in Fig. 3, contains the components to operate the preprogrammed microcircuits whose output appears at line 124. The patterns at 124 are pictured in Figs. 11 and 12 or some similar configuration. At 124 the tones are in fact logic pulses with frequencies between 1 and 10,000 hertz, of less than 1 second in duration, typically below 100 milliseconds, an interval of time referred to as a "window," and the segment of tone in that time window referred to as a tonal "burst." These aforementioned bursts drive the input to a transducer or speaker driver circuit, 126, with a digital waveform. The output 228 of 126, as depicted in Fig. 4, at

SUBSTITUTESHEET 3 line 128, is essentially sinusoidal because of the reactive loading at 128 by the speaker or transducer 130. The sound vibrations emanating from 130 are thus natural to the human ear, whether prenatally or after birth.

The gain of 126, the transducer driver, is controlled by line 122 from the level control circuit, 120, which is in turn programmed by line 118 containing a multiterm digital word from 112, the programmed microcircuit. The gain of 126 determines the level of the sinusoidal tone burst at 130, the transducer. This level is determined by the infant's mother who operates particular switches, 110, but can also be controlled by the software preprogrammed into the internal proms in the microcircuit, 112.

The aforementioned switches, 110, can also be used to select the particular sonic patterns preprogrammed into the programmed microcircuit, 112.

Emphasis should be placed upon the optimal flexibility of this preferred embodiment or device because of its programmability. This embodiment includes the ability to change or modify the preprogramming by selected uses of the manual programming switches, 110.

The liquid crystal display, 116, the DC power supply, 132, and the low voltage AC module, 140, are supportive circuits of the aforementioned embodiment. The LCD, 116, displays present status of the gain, selected patterned sound, and any other function that has been programmed into the programmed microcircuit, 112. The DC power supply provides power to 112, 120, and 126 directly— programmed microcircuit, level control, and transducer driver circuit. The LCD, 116, is powered by the logic pulses from 112 on line 114. The low voltage AC module conveys AC power to the DC power supply, 132, which can be used to power 132 directly or employed to charge an internal battery in the DC power supply, 132.

The programmed microcircuit 112, LCD 116, and level control, 120, use very low power in a sleep mode of the programmed microcircuit 112, and would be operating in the microamp region of current, in turn minimizing drain by the only power component of this preferred embodiment, the transducer driver 126, therefore conserving battery power.

The preferred embodiment might include an auxiliary sound source, 148, driving the transducer driver, 126, on line 146. This auxiliary sound source, 148, allows other drives from a wireless microphone or some other external source of sonic material to drive the transducer drive, 126, which in turn drives the transducer, 130, on line 128. Included could be an auxiliary audio output circuit, 144, driven by line 142 from the transducer drive, 126. The auxiliary audio output circuit, 144, could drive an external speaker for postnatal use.

Should any sonic material be subsequently found to support significant prenatal or postnatal advantages, the aforementioned embodiment can be programmed for patterns of relevant tones or tone bursts.

Other embodiments could feature an internally programmed sequence of sonic material, either continuously playing or externally controlled by switch buttons, thus eliminating need for an external sonic material selection switch; internal circuitry programmable from external housing controls; or an opening in the housing for insertion of alternative circuitry on a miniature disk or similar format containing sonic material. Fig. 5 depicts 12 possible patterns (1-12) . Various shapes for the housing such as a rectangle, oval, heart design, or the like, are also possible, as are diverse comfortable housing materials of attractive texture and color.

By providing sonic material for her unborn child by means of this invention, a mother can perform all normal functions, including bathing or swimming if a housing and speaker face impervious to liquid (such as a hydrophone) are utilized, as well as like purpose for herself.

The miniaturized configuration of this invention eliminates need for separate components such as a remote transmitter or other sonic source, thus affording greater operational simplicity, portability, user comfort, convenience, and lower cost than possible alternative arrangements. The only exception to this description is 5 postnatal use, where an external speaker for ex tero application is desired.

The present invention includes a method for producing and conveying sonic material or other patterned sound to the unborn child and his/her mother constituting a programmed, independent, and self contained sonic source means in proximity to a mother for stimulating her unborn child; and conveying said sonic material or patterned sound to the unborn child and his/her mother from an independent integrated circuit sonic source means. The present invention further includes a method which applies to adults. The present invention further includes a method which includes providing integrated circuitry producing appropriate sonic stimuli and providing means for creating this sonic stimuli through microprogrammed integrated circuits. The present invention further includes apparatus which is composed of integrated circuitry producing appropriate educational material. The present invention further includes apparatus which is composed of integrated circuitry producing appropriate musical material. The present invention further includes apparatus which is composed of integrated circuitry producing appropriate spoken material. The present invention further includes apparatus which is composed of integrated circuitry producing other appropriate sonic patterns. The present invention further includes a device for prenatally and postnatally stimulating a child and his/her mother, as well as adults, constituting a miniaturized independent programmed integrated circuit sonic source whereby sound stimuli can be produced. The present invention further includes apparatus which is composed of integrated circuitry programmable by any applicable new software. The present invention further includes apparatus which is composed of integrated circuitry whose timing precision is crystal controlled. The present invention further includes apparatus which is composed of integrated circuitry whose output level is automatically limited to incremental rather than substantial changes for user safety and comfort. The present invention further includes apparatus which is composed of integrated circuitry whose power drain is minimized and automatically controlled for optimal battery life. The present invention further includes apparatus which is composed of integrated circuitry whose volume output can be selected manually by- the user in an exclusively graduated mode. The present invention further includes apparatus which is composed of integrated circuitry whose status--such as volume level, program number, or future operational parameters--can be read on a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. The present invention further includes apparatus which is composed of integrated circuitry reprogrammable by selecting programs already stored or embedded in the device yet inoperative until future need is justified. The present invention further includes apparatus which is composed of integrated circuitry that can have its inoperative or embedded programs activated through switch combinations exclusively controlled by the manufacturer or accessible to the user when a key code is supplied.

Having presented a preferred embodiment of our invention and several variants, it shall be understood that additional changes can be made without deviating from the essence of the invention. Any of these modifications are subsumed by the claims mentioned below unless specifically omitted therefrom.

The exclusive property or privilege claims which this invention embodies follow:

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for producing and conveying sonic material or other patterned sound to an unborn child and his/her mother comprising: positioning a programmed, independent and self- contained sonic source device in proximity to a pregnant woman for stimulating her unborn child, said sonic source device including an integrated circuit signal source; and conveying the sonic material to said unborn child and said pregnant woman from said sonic source device.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising storing a program for generating desired sonic material in a programmable read only memory or other digital memory contained in said sonic source device.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising generating a pattern of pulse signals and converting said pulse signals to tones or tone bursts having sinusoidal components.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: providing user-activatable switches on said sonic source device and modifying said sonic material using said user-activatable switches to select a sonic pattern, program said sonic source device or modify the volume of said sonic material.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising wireless transmission of a signal to said sonic source device for ultimate sonic output.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: limiting the level of output of said sonic material; displaying device status on a display portion of ' said sonic source device; supplying power to said sonic source device using a DC power supply which is at least partially rechargeable from an AC source; switching said sonic source device to a low power mode to conserve power; and providing an auxiliary sound source or output for said sonic source device.

7. Apparatus for prenatally and postnatally stimulating a human, comprising: a miniaturized sound generating unit which includes at least a memory, an integrated circuit, coupled to said memory, for outputting a signal in accordance with information stored in said memory; and a transducer/amplifier, coupled to said integrated circuit, for converting said signal into an audio output wherein said sound generating unit is independent so as to be capable of providing said audio output solely in response to said information stored in said memory, without the need for signals from an external device.

8. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said sound generating unit is user programmable for selecting or modifying said audio output.

9. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a liquid-impervious housing for said sound generating unit.

10. Apparatus, as claimed in claim 7, wherein said integrated circuit outputs a signal with a frequency of about 1 Hz or greater, and further comprising: means for controlling gain of the sound generating unit in response to information stored in said memory; a crystal, coupled to said integrated circuit, for controlling timing of said signal; means for selecting, as said audio output, from among educational material, musical material, spoken material and sonic patterns; means for selecting volume of said audio output in an exclusively graduated mode; a display for displaying status of said integrated circuitry; means for activating a stored and previously inoperable program in response to input of a key code.