WO2007096595A2

WO2007096595A2 - Stimulation device

Info

Publication number: WO2007096595A2
Application number: PCT/GB2007/000576
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul Martin Kenny
Original assignee: Ellelation Ltd
Priority date: 2006-02-22
Filing date: 2007-02-20
Publication date: 2007-08-30
Also published as: GB0603498D0; WO2007096595A3

Abstract

A stimulation device (10) comprises stimulation means (12) operable to create stimulation of a user of the device (10). The stimulation device includes sensor means (14) operable to obtain biometric data from the user and control means (16) operable to control the stimulation created by the stimulation means (12), in response to the biometric data. The sensor means (14) is mounted with the stimulation means (12) for the sensor means (14) to be brought to an operative relationship with a user when the stimulation means (12) is applied to the user.

Description

Stimulation Device

The present invention relates to stimulation devices.

Stimulation devices are known for use as sex toys to apply stimulation to one or more erogenous zones of the human body. They may use electrical stimulation, vibration, linear movement or pressure variation. They may provide a stimulation which is constant during use, or there may be controls by which the user may choose to change the stimulation created.

The present invention provides a stimulation device comprising:

stimulation means operable to create stimulation of a user of the device; sensor means operable to obtain biometric data from the user; and control means operable to control the stimulation created by the stimulation means, in response to the biometric data,

wherein the sensor means is mounted with the stimulation means for the sensor means to be brought to an operative relationship with a user when the stimulation means is applied to the user.

The control means preferably monitors the biometric data to assess the user's response to the stimulation and to control the stimulation means to seek to create a desired response. The control means may compare changes in the biometric data with a stored pattern of changes, and control the stimulation means in response to the result of the comparison.

The device is preferably a hand-held device having a common housing for the stimulation means, sensor means and control means. The housing may have a finger location for a finger gripping the device, in use, the sensor means being located at the finger location, to obtain biometric data from the finger.

The device may include input means for receiving data from a remote device, the control means being responsive to the remote data. The device may include output means for sending biometric data from the sensor means to a remote device.

The sensor means may be responsive to heart rate, muscular contractions and/or galvanic skin response.

The control means may be operable to control the stimulation means to create enhanced excitement of the user or to create relaxation of the user. The control means is preferably operable to control the stimulation means to change the type, pattern or intensity of stimulation created by the stimulation means.

The stimulation means is preferably operable to provide stimulation of an erogenous zone.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stimulation device according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 , with part of the housing removed; and Fig. 3 is a plot of biometric data used in operation of the device of Figs. 1 and 2.

5 Figs. 1 and 2 show a stimulation device 10 which comprises stimulation means 12 (Fig. 2) operable to create stimulation of a user of the device, in a manner which will be described. The device 10 also has sensor means at 14, operable to obtain biometric data from the user. Control means 16 is operable to control the stimulation created by the stimulation means 12, in I O response to biometric data collected by the sensors 14. The sensor 14 is mounted with the stimulation means 12, as will become apparent, so that the sensor 14 is brought to an operative relationship with a user when the stimulation means is applied to the user.

15 In more detail, the stimulation means consists of one or more electric motors 18 mounted on a vibration body 20 which projects from the housing 22 of the device 10. The motors 18 each drive a shaft 24 which carries an eccentric weight 26, so that the weights 26 create vibration when rotated by the motors 18, which results in vibration of the body 20. The device 10 can be 0 used by placing the vibration body 20 against the user's body, for example at an erogenous zone, so that vibration created by the motors 18 and weights 26 is conveyed through the vibration body 20 to the user, thereby creating stimulation of the user of the device.

5 In this example, the type of stimulation is vibration but could alternatively be electrical, linear movement, pressure variation or other form effective in creating stimulation of the user.

The stimulation created by the stimulation means 12 is variable, for 0 example by variation of the speed of the motors 18. The sensor 14 includes a light emitting device 28, preferably a red light emitting diode located in the housing 22 behind a window 30. A light level sensor 32 is also located behind the window 30. The window 30 is bounded by a frame 34. The window 30 is positioned on the housing 22 to be at a position naturally occupied by a finger (preferably the forefinger) of a user holding the housing 22, and the frame 34 forms a shallow depression of appropriate size, shape and depth to fall naturally under the finger. Thus, the frame 34 defines a finger location at the sensor 14. When a finger is located over the window 30, the finger is illuminated by the device 28 and the reflected light is sensed by the sensor 32. In this example, the sensor 32 is a reflective heart rate sensor which allows the control circuit 16 to determine the heart rate of the user, by analysis of the light reflected from the user's finger and received by the sensor 32.

Accordingly, when a user holds the device in order to apply stimulation by means of the vibration body 20, one finger of the user will naturally fall on the window 30, thereby bringing the sensor 14 into an operative relationship with the user, allowing the sensor 14 to sense the pulse rate of the user.

In other examples, other parameters could be sensed by replacing the sensor 14 with another form of biometric sensor, such as a sensor for galvanic skin response, or a sensor responsive to muscular contraction or other electrical responses.

The biometric data received from the sensor 14 is used by the control circuit 16, which responds to the biometric data to control the stimulation means 12. In one example, the control means 16 monitors the biometric data to assess the user's response to the stimulation being provided by the stimulation means 12, and to control the stimulation means to seek to create a desired response. This monitoring may be by comparison of changes in the biometric data with a stored pattern of changes, with the stimulation means being controlled in response to the result of the comparison. In one example, illustrated in Fig. 3, the control circuit 16 contains a stored pattern of heart rate changes, for example a pattern of heart rate changes indicative of increasing 5 sexual excitement. The stored pattern is illustrated as , a solid line 36. The biometric data received from the sensor 14 is illustrated as a dotted line 38. It can be seen that initially, at 40, the measured heart rate is below the stored pattern 36. When the control circuit 16 senses this situation, it responds by changing the operation of the stimulation means 12, for example to increase

I O the intensity of stimulation. This results in the measured heart rate rising at 42 toward the stored pattern 36. If the measured rate 38 rises above the stored pattern 36, as at 43, the stimulation can be varied in response, for example to reduce the intensity of stimulation to allow the heart rate 38 to relax back toward the stored pattern 36. Accordingly, by continuous or

15 periodic monitoring of the measured heart rate, and comparison with the stored pattern 36, the actual heart rate 38 can be influenced to track the stored pattern 36, which will result in increased intensity and duration of sexual excitement.

0 In an alternative example, the control circuit 16 may. compare the measured heart rate with a stored pattern indicative of a reducing heart rate, representing increased relaxation, so that the stimulation provided by the stimulation means 12 is varied to create enhanced relaxation.

5 In either case, changes to the stimulation can be simple changes in a parameter such as intensity, or changes can be pulsed or changed in waves, for example. In other example embodiments, the device 10 is able to provide more than one type of stimulation, and the control circuit 16 may be responsive to biometric data to change the stimulation or combination of types 0 of stimulation provided, to seek to create a desired response in the user. The device 10 has been described as a self-contained, hand-held device. In another embodiment, input and/or output arrangements are provided, indicated schematically at 44, allowing communication between the control circuit 16 and external devices. The external device (not shown) may be a biometric data sensor, such as the biometric sensor of another similar device, thus allowing the control circuit 16 to be responsive to data from more than one source. The control circuit 16 may also be operable to forward biometric data from the sensor 14, through the output arrangements at 44, for example to another similar device 10.

Many variations and modifications can be made from the embodiments described above, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, many different algorithms can be used for controlling the response of the control circuit 16, depending, for example, on the nature of the biometric data available to the circuit 16, and the nature of the response required. For example, different types of stimulation device 12 can be expected to require different algorithms within the circuit 16, as can different purposes, such as to increase excitement or to enhance relaxation. However, in each of these examples, the stimulation device 12, biometric sensor 14 and control circuit 16 are all integrated into one unit within the housing 22, with the biometric data being available to the circuit 16 without special effort required on the part of the user, by virtue of the form and positioning of the sensor 14, including the window 30 and frame 34. These are arranged so that when a user holds the device 10, for use, the relevant part of the anatomy is naturally brought alongside the sensor 14, without special effort or preparation being required. It is desirable for the device 10 to incorporate a power supply, such as a battery 46, in order to be self-contained.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

1. A stimulation device comprising:

2. A stimulation device according to claim 1 , wherein the control means is operable to monitor the biometric data to assess the user's response to the stimulation and to control the stimulation means to seek to create a desired response.

3. A stimulation device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control means is operable to compare changes in the biometric data with a stored pattern of changes, and to control the stimulation means in response to the result of the comparison.

4. A stimulation device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device is a hand-held device having a common housing for the stimulation means, sensor means and control means.

5. A stimulation device according to claim 4, wherein- the housing includes a finger location for a finger gripping the device, in use, the sensor means being located at the finger location, to obtain biometric data from the finger.

6. A stimulation device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device includes input means for receiving data from a remote device, the control means being responsive to the remote data.

7. A stimulation device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device includes output means for sending biometric data from the sensor means to a remote device.

8. A stimulation device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor means is responsive to heart rate and/or muscular contractions and/or galvanic skin response.

9. A stimulation device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control means is operable to control the stimulation means to create enhanced excitement of the user or to create relaxation of the user.

10. A stimulation device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control means is operable to control the stimulation means to change the type, pattern or intensity of stimulation created by the stimulation means.

11. A stimulation device substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.